From Z to A: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Dear Aly,

It has been pretty well established that I love Maggie Stiefvater. She creates lush storylines and amazing characters, and with each new book I read of hers I fall a little bit more in love. For having picked up The Raven Cycle series on a whim, I sure am deep in.

I had the opportunity to preorder The Raven King from Fountain Bookstore and got my hands on a doodled copy with the special bookplate Maggie created for the book. Maggie’s art is beautiful and it was definitely worth the wait. I was also grateful that the shipping and receiving process went off without a hitch (if you remember, there was a certain incident with some trucks with the preorders having tipped over in a snowstorm… the horror!).

Again not spoiling anything since this is the last book in the series, The Raven King picks up where Blue Lily, Lily Blue left off. The gang is all there: Gansey, Blue, Ronan, Adam, Noah. Gansey’s search for the dead Welsh king Glendower continues, as it always does, and he’s closer than he’s ever been, and yet somehow kinda far too. There’s something stirring in a magical forest, something certain people want to get their hands on, and as per usual, there’s some pretty shady people hanging around creating chaos.

With The Raven King we see the rise in importance of Henry Cheng. He had a minor part in Blue Lilybut he really becomes an intrinsic part of the story in this last installment. I really loved getting to know him and seeing how he interacted with the rest of the characters and I felt he was a cool addition to the team.

I am very happy with this ending Maggie has written. Of course I’m sad that it’s officially Over but I feel complete. It’s a really amazing series and I think Maggie gave the characters the ending they deserved.

(Oh and the thing you think happens…. it may or may not have happened. Wink wink)

Happy reading,

Zoe

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From A to Z: Jackaby by William Ritter

Dear Z,
The hiatus is over! It has been literal months since I have read a book for fun, but summer has arrived and after a library binge I am back! Boom Baby! (Catch that Disney reference?) So the first book I have read this summer is Jackaby by William Ritter, the first in the Jackaby series. Jackaby was a quick read and really quite hilarious story. It is William Ritter’s first novel. It came to him when taking his turn to feed his newborn in the middle of the night.

Jackaby has a sort of Sherlock Holmes feel to it. If Sherlock Holmes could see the paranormal and lived in industrial America. The lovely Watson type character is a runaway girl from England seeking adventures, Abigail. She cannot see the paranormal but does come to believe in it. Our intrepid Inspector at Scotland Yard takes on Detective Marlowe. But it is more than just a Sherlock Holmes spin off. Each character has their own life. Abigail is looking for adventure, she has big dreams, and wants to be anything but a prim and proper young woman. Of Jackaby we don’t learn much, only the glimpses we get of him from Abigail.

The lore used in Jackaby is extremely detailed. Ritter didn’t just take from popular conscience what we know of those things that go bump in the night but brings up small even somewhat insignificant creatures from cultures from the Ukraine to Ireland. And the mystery involved is very skillfully kept from both the characters and the reader. never once did I know what the next turn was going to lead to. This kept me turning pages just as much as the enigmatic cast of characters, which by the way include a ghost who does laundry and a sentient duck. If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes but also enjoy shows about the paranormal such as Supernatural. This book is for you. Get a jump on it and read the first book now before the second boom comes out in September.

Until the Next Read,
A

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From Z to A: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Dear Aly,

500 years later, I finally make progress on a series, yeesh!

I’ve had Cress by Marissa Meyer in my possession for a while actually, but for some reason, I haven’t really been in the mood to read any sci-fi… until a few days ago. I noticed it on my e-Reader and on a whim decided to pick it back up, and boy, am I glad I did!!

Cress picks up where Scarlet left off. I’m not going to give any spoilers, but as I mentioned in the review for Scarlet, the stories of Cinder and Scarlet intertwine, and we are introduced to Cress, a young girl locked away in an orbiting satellite hacking and doing computer work for Queen Levana, the queen of Luna (aka the moon). Scarlet, Wolf, Cinder, and Captain Thorne set out to help Cress escape her satellite and her guardian, Mistress Sibyl. Of course things don’t go to plan and the group is forced to reexamine what needs to be done.

I’m really impressed with Marissa Meyer, yet again. She manages to weave three fairy tales into one cohesive storyline that has so much action and drama. Cress, who’s main fairytale reimagining is that of Rapunzel, stays true to the major events in the traditional story while adding a fantastic sci-fi twist. While I wasn’t sure about Captain Thorne in the last books, I am totally in love with his character now!

If you can’t get enough of the Lunar Chronicles series, a new book, Fairest, is coming in January 2015 and gives the backstory of Queen Levana. I’m super excited about reading it; the only thing I’m apprehensive about is becoming sympathetic to Queen Levana’s character. She’s the perfect fairytale villain and I really do love to hate her. I’d be interested, though, if this goes a Maleficent route and tells the story of a misunderstood heroine. But part of me hopes it shows just how terrible she really is 😉

I can’t wait for the final book, Winter, to come out in 2015!

Happy holiday reading,

Zoe

 

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From A to Z: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Dear Z,

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is technically an adult book however the amount of teens and YA lovers I’ve met who love it is immense. Why just this week while at work a teenage girl came into the office and told me how much she loved the book, she wasn’t older than 17. In fact I think I would classify this as a New Adult Book. Now I don’t know where to begin with describing this book. On the whole I absolutely adored reading it. It was quirky and fun and kept you on your toes. Author Robin Sloan showcases the modern technological world merging with a world of paper and ink thousands of years old. And he does so through one marketing major out of a job in San Francisco during the Recession.

In the book we follow Clay as he stumbles upon this odd all night bookstore while in search of job. And we also meet the eccentric cast of characters, from immortality and Google obsessed Kat, whom I didn’t particularly enjoy, to Clay’s childhood best friend/ entrepreneur. Then of course there’s the quirky, Dumbledore-like Mr. Penumbra himself. Through this book you see bookish cults, the creepy amazing capabilities of technology in our world, and how a passion for something can get you everywhere in life.

This book will take you on the weirdest journey. And I’m serious, this is probably the weirdest book I have ever read, however it is very very addicting as well. You want to know what the big mystery behind this store is exactly. Also the writing is phenomenal, Sloan does not shy away from using his talent to the max pulling out Latin terms, coding terms, technological as well as book making terms. This book will need your full attention and you will want to give it. Not to mention the cover is glow in the dark.

So if you like books that take place in San Francisco, fun mysteries, books about our modern changing world told from the rising generation, or old episodes of Twilight Zone then please pick up a copy of this book! It is a genuinely fun read and I can’t thank you enough for recommending it to me Zoe.

Until the Next Read,

A

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Indie Bookstore Featurette!

Dear Aly,

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve had time to visit the amazing indie bookstores in my area, and with my beloved neighborhood Barnes & Noble closing (after 21 years!!!), I figured it’s time to see what else is out there. I’m totally devastated by my favorite hangout going the way of the dinosaurs, but never fear! I found some totally amazing and unique bookstores. These are spread out along California’s coast, all the way up to Santa Barbara, so if you’re in the area, check em out!!!

 

1. The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles, CA – It’s not an indie bookstore post without The Last Bookstore!!! Located in the arts district of LA, this amazing store sells new and used books, as well as gifts and LPs. The YA section holds so much nostalgia, and there’s even a section for local NYT bestsellers (Tahereh Mafi and Marie Lu top that list!!!). The classics section has some amazing finds, and even has all the beautiful Penguin Classics editions you could ever want. Above the store is the Labyrinth: containing independent vendors, the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books, and in the back, the $1 bargain stacks. If you’re looking for a deal, this place is the best!! For the bookiest of us, The Last Bookstore is heaven!
2. The Book Den, Santa Barbara, CA – Another used and new bookstore. This place has a unique feel and some of the most beautiful classics books I’ve ever seen. You need this place in your life if you love quaint bookshops. It’s actually pretty well-stocked, and they buy books, so it’s perfect if you’re clearing out your shelves and want to fill em right back up! Haha
3. Granada Books, Santa Barbara, CA – A beautiful indie bookstore that has the coolest, most unique selection of books. They’ve only been open for about a year, but I can see them becoming a Santa Barbara staple. I found an amazing copy of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road that I couldn’t resist, and they were the only bookstore I found that actually had The Song of Achilles that I had been hunting for for weeks! The staff was so nice, and I think I kind of made their day – I was darting around the store for a good 30 minutes marveling at all the books. I even found the gorgeous Penguin editions of all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s books (they’re amazing in gold and silver on white backgrounds).
4. Chaucer’s Books, Santa Barbara, CA – Possibly my favorite place on Earth. Chaucer’s Books would appear in an encyclopedia if you looked up “bookstore.” They have so many books to sell that a lot of them are stacked up on the ground around the shelves. They’ve got everything, or they can get it for you. The YA section is tremendous!!!! Every book I could think of was there, even the oddly-elusive Raven Cycle books by Maggie Stiefvater that I check for at every store. What really wowed me though was the middle grade section. Most stores have maybe two or three shelves of middle grade books, well, Chaucer’s has a whole wall!! I found my beloved Children of the Lamp series (which I was surprised to find has 7 books in it now!!), as well as some middle grade and children’s classics! Oh, and an annotated Phantom Tollbooth, so cool!!!
5. Bay Books, Coronado, CA – Another cool and unique bookstore with a view!! It’s super close to The Hotel Del in Coronado, and the beach is just a few minutes walk. I love the atmosphere and how low key this store is. There’s always people milling about, and they have a lot of books to choose from.

Here’s a list of books I picked up recently on my vacation!

 

On The Road by Jack Kerouac

Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

The Glass Sentence by S. E. Grove

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Champion by Marie Lu

Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen by Garth Nix

 

Look for reviews for all these coming up soon!!

Happy reading,

Zoe

From Z to A: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Dear Aly,

Marissa Meyer has done it again!!! Another fantastic fairytale retelling!

Scarlet is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles series (and based on Little Red Riding Hood), the first being Cinder. In Cinder, we met Linh Cinder, a lowly cyborg mechanic thrust into a world of kings and princes, Lunar queens and mind control. In Scarlet, we follow Scarlet Benoit, a girl hailing from the French countryside trying to find her missing grandmother. She stumbles upon a boy, names Wolf, who she thinks can help her find her grandmother. Things of course get turned on their heads and we find that some characters are not at all who they seem. Cinder is also prominently featured in this book; she is on the run with an escaped criminal, Carswell Thorne. Scarlet and Cinder’s storylines hurtle towards each other and when they collide, there are some pretty epic scenes.

I like where Marissa Meyer is taking this series. These novels build upon each other, and the fairytales embedded within. Kind of like the TV show Once Upon A Time, the fairytales become entertwined, creating new pathways to new and original stories. Meyer’s characters are very complex; they keep you guessing throughout the whole book.

One thing I would have liked to see more of is scenes with Scarlet. She is the title character, but Cinder is also important, and we get a lot of scenes with her, and we are just sort of thrust into Scarlet’s world. To give us more of a backstory on Scarlet would have been helpful, but I see where including it would drag the story down.

Overall, I really enjoyed this second effort from Marissa Meyer. It’s a solid second book and doesn’t fall flat or hide in the shadow of Cinder. I can’t wait to see what’s next in the Lunar Chronicles!

Happy reading,

Zoe

From Z to A: Series Wrap Up: The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Dear Aly,

I finally finished the Grisha books by Leigh Bardugo just in time for the release of the final book, Ruin and Rising.

In the second installment, Siege and Storm, we find Alina and Mal on the run from the Darkling (again haha). They do have to team up with him to find the second amplifier, the sea whip. This mythical creature lives in a dangerous part of the ocean, only accessable with many Grisha and a lot of luck. They actually do find the sea whip and Alina kills it, but they find an unlikely ally in the privateer the Darkling hired to take them out to sea. Again, Alina and Mal have to go on the run. This particular book focuses a lot on the relationship between Alina and Mal, and how it’s basically falling apart. Alina is Grisha, Mal is not, so that makes loving each other very hard, since Mall will die before Alina. Mal struggles a lot with his feelings and the tension between them gets kind of annoying. We’re gonna call this second-book-syndrome because it just seems like this happens a lot in the second book of a trilogy (ahem Divergent and Shatter Me).

The third and final book, Ruin and Rising comes out today, June 17, 2014!!! I was able to get my hands on the collector’s edition from Barnes & Noble. Ruin and Rising has a lot of action. There’s a lot of great Alina/Darkling interactions, and I really felt happy with the way the Darkling’s character was developed. He’s still a disillusioned, self aggrandizing dude, but we see a more vulnerable side of him as well. Mal and Alina become stronger, although Alina is faced with the hardest decision she’ll ever have to make. I felt the ending was satisfying, it wrapped up the series in a great way, and didn’t leave me wondering about anything. You can check out all my thoughts on this in my Krypton Radio review.

Again, I’m going to mention the amazing world building, because it’s, well… amazing. Leigh Bardugo managed to create a whole new language as well as a world. Her Grisha are well ordered and their ranks are easy to understand. I was really impressed with all the work she did.

Overall, AMAZING series. If you love YA high fantasy, please check out the Grisha Trilogy, you won’t be disappointed!

Happy reading,

Zoe

From A to Z Books: Confessions of A Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Dear Z,

James Patterson has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. His adult mysteries have graced the bookshelves of my living room and I have watched my mom and dad devour them as I fell asleep on the couch. And when I was old enough I read The Maximum Ride series, I obsessed actually. I was in fifth grade and it was summer and I read through as many as I could, and then followed them as they came out after that. It was the first series that I read as the books came out. So when I heard James Patterson was co-authoring a new YA series I knew I had to pick it up.

Confessions of A Murder Suspect is about a group of kids, siblings, Tandoori, Mathew, Harrison, and Hugo Angel and their parents Malcolm and Maud have just been murdered, and the biggest suspects are the Angel children themselves. The main protagonist is Tandoori (Tandy) Angel and she has made it her mission to solve the murder and catch the killer, but here’s the freaky part it may even be her. There’s more than just murder shrouding the Angel children in shadow. Gradually we learn the Angel children aren’t normal, in fact they are all out freaks of nature. Tandy struggles with memory lost, and a robot like lack of emotion, Mathew and Hugo have super strength, both have “hulk outs” as Tandy lovingly calls them, and then Harry is Tandy’s twin and the artistic protege.

Following Tandy through the skeletons in her families closet is riveting, Tandy is an interesting voice and her narrative flows smoothly. Sprinkled throughout the storyline are her confessions, for as reader we are serving as a sort of confidant to Tandy; someone whom she doesn’t have to worry about lying to her face, or killing her family. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and drama in this book and by the end I almost didn’t want to know who killed their parents, too scared for the Angel children. At every turn Patterson and Paetro threw me through a loop, never did I guess just what would happen next. I flew through this book (as much as we can with papers and spring fever) and I recommend it to anyone who loves the other YA books co-authored by Patterson, including Alex Rider, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, and Witch and Wizard. Also go check out the other mystery series by this specific duo, Women’s Murder club and Private series. I can’t wait to pick up the next in this series, already out. Okay I’m done plugging, but Patterson is a favorite so i guess I’m allowed!

Until The Next Read,

A

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From A to Z: The Madman’s Daughter

Dear Z,

Hey Zoe, I am writing this fresh off the reading binge I had today to finish The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd, so if I’m less than coherent its because my mind has been blown and my heart rendered to unidentifiable scraps. I’d heard of The Madman’s Daughter and the premise of the 2013 YA book, not to mention it’s gorgeous cover art, had enticed me for a while. So around Christmas when I went on a mini book haul, it was of course a title I picked up eagerly. And now after a busy whirlwind of January and February I have completed it. And let me tell you it has overtaken my soul! It has been a while since a book has been able to grab me so quickly and entirely.

I would say that The Madman’s Daughter is a sci-fi/historical fiction young adult novel. It is a re-imagining of the classic tale The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells. In other words the science is creepy and the tale wonderfully Gothic. Author Megan Shepherd loved the original classic tale as a teen and wondered how a young woman (of which their were no human girls in the original classic) would fit into this world. Therefore she created Juliet Moreau. Juliet’s father was accused as a mad man, a brilliant scientist who wrapped his family up in scandal. Juliet went from high class young girl, to a maid when he disappeared without a trace. Her one and only pressing question? What happened to her father? And was he the monster everyone believed him to be? Juliet definitely gets her answers, but never in the way anyone could have predicted.

Megan Shepherd keeps you guessing well into the final chapter of the book where she then rips your heartstrings from your breast. I admit at the end of this book I shed a tear for Juliet and her Montgomery (Ah love triangles, I both love and loathe you). Each character has a story and while you may guess part of it, its entire truth will blow your original inklings out of the water. Ms. Shepherd’s imagination takes the readers to the next level, and its a thrill ride I can’t wait to take again in the sequel, Her Dark Curiosity which hit stores a mere month ago to the day. It is currently already downloaded on my Nook awaiting my eager eyes to devour it whole!! MWAHAHAHAHA…*cough cough*….ahem. Anyway if you have loved such Classics as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, Pride and Prejudice‘s love story and the mad science and adventure from all else we call Classic Literature today then this trilogy is for you. Juliet is a strong willed girl, who’s journey you must simply know the end of, not to mention who wouldn’t want to traipse around a dangerous jungle, or the Gothic streets of London chasing after scientific aberrations murdering the innocent? Oh its just too much! I can’t wait for more, so on that note I need to charge my Nook and delve right into the next book!

Until the Next Read,

A

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From A to Z Books: Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

Hey Z,

So in my current class we are studying Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. Hence I have just finished Till We Have Faces by Lewis. I did not know how I was going to like any of Lewis’ other works outside the Chronicles of Narnia, for I fully expected them to be wildly different, and I wasn’t wrong. It is way different and way amazing too! I was expecting a peacock version of one of my religion classes from high school, instead I fell in love with a myth in a whole new way. I need to delve deeper into Lewis now!

Till We Have Faces is the retelling of the myth of “Cupid and Psyche” from The Golden Asse by Apuleius. Now if you’ve never read The Golden Asse count your lucky stars, it is beyond weird and creepy, but I guess if you want to read some ancient butt and fart humor sprinkled with bestiality then go for it my friend! However I would recommend finding the Cupid and Psyche passage and reading that, for that is a lovely myth and ten times worth its reading.

Now if you are unfamiliar with Cupid and Psyche’s myth I will give you a small summary here. Psyche is the third daughter to a king and very beautiful. Aphrodite is jealous of the woman’s beauty and admirers so she sends her son Cupid to destroy her. However Cupid decides to wed her instead, but Psyche is not allowed to view his face. Psyche lives on happily but her sisters come to visit her and become jealous. They basically trick her into looking upon Cupid’s face one night. Oil from the lamp Psyche uses falls on Cupid burning him and he runs off to his mother. Psyche cries and is despondent. Aphrodite decides to give her immortality and to her son if she completes several impossible tasks. She does this with some help from animals (first Disney princess story I swear) and then gets to become a goddess and live with Cupid forever.

In Lewis’ rendition we follow the story of Psyche’s sister. It is crazy the turns Lewis takes with the story while still being true to the myth at least in part. If you love mythology and strong female protagonists this book is for you. Orual is the sister and she basically raises Psyche, her betrayal is out of love, and selfishness. At the end of the book Orual has helped Psyche with her immortality and born the weight of the hurt she inflicted upon Psyche and the gods. Anyway I could go on for days, so if you love Lewis and want some more grown up fairy tales from him check out Till We Have Faces.

Until the Next Read,

A

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