Review of Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Simon and Schuster Books
for Young Readers

The Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles Book 1)
by Kresley Cole
5+ Scribbles

After a summer in a psych ward to overcome her powerful and distressing hallucinations, Evie Green returns to high school and recovers her coveted reign as one of the popular and pretty rich girls on campus.  In the midst of patching it up with her boyfriend, Brandon, and covering up her summer hospitalization with her best friends, a new group of Cajuns waltz into school, led by Jackson Deveaux, bad-boy-about-the-bayou, and despite her disgust, Evie can’t take her eyes off of him. And then “The Flash” happens, and there is virtually no one left to look at—

Call this a story, within a story, within a story—all brilliantly interwoven—past, present, and possible future, serving to titillate and captivate the reader.  Take the first chapter, which seems as far from Evie’s high school as it could possibly be; and it is, because this riveting, spine-chilling first chapter takes place in the present. The reader experiences Evie’s past, both before and after The Flash through the eyes of the two characters chatting over hot chocolate, and discovers Evie’s highly unusual and extremely useful supernatural skills.  The hook in chapter one is enough to leave readers breathless and wanting more, but moving forward into the novel (and into Evie’s past) the tension and anticipation intensifies. It doesn’t take long to see that handsome bad boy Jack is really into Evie, even though she doesn’t admit her attraction to him, at least not at first. The cat-and-mouse of their relationship is a delicious tease, and once the real feelings between these two begin to emerge, the action between them is so hot it burns the pages. (I’m talking spontaneous combustion here!) Toss in a wonderful new twist on the paranormal, characters with special skills based on the Tarot, and you have the foundation for an exciting new series.  This is one of the most original and engaging works of the paranormal I’ve read in ages—my only regret is that I have to wait until October 1^st, 2013, to get the second book, Endless Knight. And since this novel has become the standard by which I’m judging all the other paranormal YA I read, I’m not quite sure I’m going to make it that long!

One last thing--this book rocks on audio! The accents are amazing and Jackson's French-Cajun is to die for!

Review of Ashen Winter by Mike Mullen

Tanglewood Press
GREAT COVER!

Ashen Winter (Ashen Book 2)
by Mike Mullen
4 Scribbles

In this second installment of the Ashen series, Alex and Darla have found a home on Alex’s Uncle’s farm.  The first chapter starts with action and the excitement doesn’t pause until the end. The farm is attacked by bandits, and while Darla and Alex fight the bandits off, they discover that one of the bandits is in possession of Alex’s Dad’s gun. With renewed hope that his parents might still be alive, Alex and Darla decide to embark on a new quest to find them.

About a year after the volcanic eruption that sent the world into chaos, the environment beyond the boundaries of the farm have further deteriorated. Food is nearly non-existent. Cannibals, aka, “Flensers” have become the norm, and girls are being captured by gangs to be raped and used as slaves—all circumstances proving that humanity will descend into depravity given the direst of conditions. Yet, Alex and Darla continue to believe that a future is possible, a future with family and morality, despite the gruesome happenings they see as they follow the clues to Alex’s parent’s whereabouts. And it isn’t just the ex-convicts that have gone rogue. At one point, a former bookkeeper admits to his sins, and without spoiling too much, Alex even discovers that members of his own family have become ruthless to the point of brutality in order to protect their own. This bedlam rings true; no doubt the world would descend into such base actions if starvation and want ruled. However, what does not ring true in the novel is Alex. Alex continues to make choices that endanger Darla out of his idealistic need to do what’s right; this works. Alex feels guilty for putting Darla in danger; this works. Alex becomes a foil to the world around him and a model for what we’d all like to be in such conditions; this works. What does not work is Alex’s superhuman body. Indiana Jones step aside. At one point Alex, despite having a recovering bullet wound in his shoulder, hangs by his hands from beneath a moving vehicle from one town to the next. And the fun doesn’t stop there; time and time again Alex performs feats that are physically impossible for a guy in his poor condition. After a few of these stunts in a row, I caught myself sighing and rolling my eyes, wishing I could suspend my disbelief just a bit longer. Additionally, Darla’s survival without molestation after being taken by the gangs does weaken the believability of the plot. Perhaps the author chose to avoid this outcome given the violence in the rest of the novel.  Despite these weaknesses however, I still stuck with the story. Alex is loyal land kind, Darla is street-smart and strong, and I am totally invested in the lives of both. Let’s face it—I wanted to know how things turned out! I wasn’t disappointed in the exciting cliffhanger conclusion, and I look forward to the next installment, which, by the looks of things, will be just as exciting as book one.

Review of Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

HarperCollins

Through the Ever Night
by Veronica Rossi
4 Stars

After reading book one back in February 2012, I remember saying that the first book, Under the Never Sky, laid the foundation for a “hopefully even stronger books two.”  Alas, Rossi has met my expectations, and I have rated this second installment a full star higher!

As new Blood Lord for The Tides, Perry is expected to provide for his people and keep them safe from the ever-increasing danger of the Aether storms; but, how can he do this when it is clear that not everyone trusts his judgment? Meanwhile, under threats from her old enemy, Hess, Aria must find the Clear Blue or Perry’s beloved nephew, Talon, may die at the Governor Hess’s hand.

Installment two has only slightly less action but far more sophisticated character development than book one. The results are that readers quickly become highly invested in the lives of the characters. Rossi has effectively exposed the heart of leader as he is made, and it is an enlightening picture. The reader sees what it must be like for Perry, whose control over his people is tenuous at best. He faces betrayal from some of his tribesmen, especially when he wants to bring Aria to his people as his chosen bride. Perry’s idealistic nature drives him to test the patience of his people again and again, and he learns that hard choices often have to be made to preserve the tribe.  Should he bow to the will of his people or rule from his heart? In addition to suffering the pain of betrayal, Perry must face the uncertainty of choices. Should he prepare the people to leave or prepare crops for a coming year? How will he face his own self-doubt and at the same time inspire the confidence of his people? Should the love of his people trump his love for Aria? No less significant is Aria’s growth. Her relationship with Roar is refreshing—a male-female friendship based on mutual trust and respect without any romantic overtones—the type of relationship not often seen in YA fiction but a healthy relationship nonetheless. Aria is no longer the meek, helpless dweller she was when she first came from the dome, and her willingness to embark on a dangerous mission without Perry to save the life of a stranger proves her resourcefulness. She also faces former enemies, like Soren, with a new perspective that allows her to see him for what he is and not what she imagined him to be.  Aria has evolved into a young woman finally capable of surviving reality—something necessary in this changing world. It will be interesting to see if Aria becomes Perry’s counterpart in book three, the leader of the now-abandoned Dwellers, or if the two will reunite and pursue their romance once more. Either way, my faith in Rossi has been redeemed. I look forward to reading book three, and hope that it earns yet another coveted Scribble!

Review of Legend by Marie Lu

Putnam Juvenile

Legend
by Marie Lu
4 Stars

June’s Republican roots go deep, before their deaths, June’s parents were scientists for the Republic of America, and she and her older brother Metias are soldiers proud to serve against the Republic’s main enemy, The Colonies. But when tragedy strikes, June swears revenge, and Day, a gifted street-kid turned most-wanted criminal is at the top of her list—bad news for Day, since June is a prodigy, having earned a perfect score on the Republic’s Trials, and June intends to use every last one of her superior skills to find Day and get some payback. Yet June doesn’t realize that Day didn’t earn his notoriety for being stupid, and she certainly doesn’t figure catching him might be the hardest thing she has ever tried to accomplish.

Probably the most refreshing and perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this novel is June’s character. June is a perfect example of what propaganda and privilege can accomplish when used as a weapon. June feels a sense of entitlement and possesses a hardened nature at the start of the novel which is disturbing and unusual in a protagonist. She turns a blind eye to prisoners of war as they are brutally tortured in front of her and by her brother’s best friend. She clearly believes there has never been a United States, and while half of her country suffers in poverty and with a constant fear of the deadly plague, she shrugs it off, figuring this is of no concern to her since she’s been vaccinated. In fact, a more ruthless and despicable protagonist is hard to imagine. Yet her character changes, and not because she spends time on the streets sympathizing with the commoners; June only begins to change when she discovers evidence that her beloved Republic has been keeping secrets. Less impressive is Day’s character; he is far too forgiving and kind in my opinion, given his circumstances. And while the post-natural-disaster-science-fiction premise is lurking around every corner nowadays, Lu’s work has solid plotting, teeth-grinding action and plenty of intrigue to keep this novel plowing all the way to its fiery conclusion. This action, coupled with unique characters, will have readers excited to read Prodigy, book two in the Legend trilogy, out January 29 of 2013.  

Review of Pure by Julianna Baggott

Grand Central
Publishing-

Pure

by Julianna Baggot

4 Scribbles

Why would anyone want to leave a perfectly safe, protected environment like "The Dome" after a nuclear detonation, especially when those who survived outside The Dome are dangerous, hungry mutants? Partridge wants to leave, but only because he believes his mother may be alive and living somewhere amongst the "Wretches" outside, and he knows he has to find her. After his escape, he meets Pressia, running for her life from the deadly OSR, a militant organization that rules the new world. Unexpectedly, the two join forces, but neither can anticipate the truths nor the treachery their partnership will uncover.

What makes this novel unique might also be its only real weakness. The Wretches who live outside the dome all have experienced scars, deformities, mutations or fusions as a result of the nuclear detonation. This is science fiction and some stretching is required, but it’s hard to imagine people with birds, dogs, rocks, and even other people fused to their bodies; it’s even harder to imagine both humans and creatures still living after such a fusion. And yet, it is that very quirky detail that adds flavor to the work and sets this novel apart from a sea of post-apocalyptic works. The author makes the reader see these creatures and this scorched earth through incredibly descriptive language. Pressia survives with a doll head fused to her hand, her grandfather has a fan fused in his throat, Pressia’s nemesis-turned-friend, Bradwell ,survives with birds "nesting" in his back, and El Capitan, the vicious and emotionally broken OSR captain, lives with his brother Helmud fused to his back. Perhaps these deformities, and the deformities of every character outside the Dome, every character who is not "Pure," add a fascinating, morbid level of interest to the novel. Told in the alternating voices of Pressia and Partridge, the story contains plenty of fighting and bloody battles along the way to satisfy even the most hard-core zombie fans, while at the same time keeping characters realistically drawn with very human weaknesses and emotions. But what really cements the story and makes it enjoyable are the clues that Pressia and Partridge uncover on their journey, unexpected clues that reveal secrets about the past neither could have ever imagined—secrets and new evidence that those who think they are safe in the Dome may be even more at risk than the Wretches outside.

Review of Break my Heart 1,000 Times by Daniel Waters

Hyperion

Break My Heart 1,000 Times
By Daniel Waters
5 Scribbles!
To be released October 16, 2012

Since “The Event” years before, where millions of people were killed in an instant, ghosts have become a constant part of the world. Veronica cannot walk to school without seeing a ghost, sit through a class or have breakfast without a ghost being present—in fact so many ghosts exist, that ghosts are quite normal. People are accustomed to seeing them and have stopped trying to figure out why they appear—with the exception of Mr. Pescatelli, who is writing a book on the subject, and employs Kirk and Veronica to do field work observing and taping ghost appearances. But when Kirk and Veronica begin to uncover grisly clues to the murder of several local girls, they realize that they are putting their own lives in very serious danger.

First let me say that this is my first Daniel Waters book, despite the fact that he has written many successful YA novels before. How did I miss this talented author? The first noticeable strength of this work is the style, the prose is so rich that at times it borders on the literary, the tone macabre and sinister without being egregiously violent. Veronica and Kirk are typical, relatable teens who want a simple, uncomplicated relationship but face roadblocks at every turn, while the villain and murderer of the story is complex and more than adequately creepy. The reader will loathe the killer as they listen to his thoughts, but they will also sympathize with him, and this story element speaks for the sophistication of the writing and the author’s insight into human nature. And then there are the ghosts! It becomes clear as the novel progresses that ghosts are not simple creatures. Ghosts may differ in nature, some merely images, others harbingers of doom, and others bent on helping, facts that Veronica and Kirk discover through their chilling investigations.  Readers will be spellbound by the discoveries the protagonists make, and they will anxiously await the constant and seamless appearances of new ghosts at every turn.  In addition to the riveting story line, the reader is also led to ponder philosophical questions that make the mind bend; is time really linear? Is there life after death? Are there ghosts all around us? Why do ghosts appear?  A phenomenal work that successfully combines mystery with the paranormal and is impossible to put down, I encourage anyone with an interest in the paranormal, in mysteries, or anyone who just wants a fantastic, creepy read to buy this book the instant it hits bookstores!

Review of Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Feiwel & Friends

Enclave
By Ann Aguirre
4 Scribbles
With all of the dystopian novels flooding the market, it must be challenging to come up with truly unique outcomes for a post-apocalyptic world. Yet, in this novel, distinctive and separate social structures develop in the ruins depending on whether one is born above or below ground. Cleary, this is exactly what would be highly likely to happen in a country whose infrastructure and population has been decimated, yet Aguirre, to my knowledge, is the first author to tap into this unique dystopian approach of factions who are unaware of one another and who evolve separately.  This means that for Deuce and Fade, the main characters in the novel, survival in their own “Enclave” where hunting is strength, starvation is a real possibility, and the life-expectancy has dropped to the low-twenties, is easy compared to the world they face outside the Enclave. In fact, one of the strengths of the novel is the constantly changing environment fraught with dangers from sunburns to “Freaks,” zombie- like creatures starved for flesh.  There are bloody fight-scenes in nearly every chapter, and not just with the Freaks, because in this future, chaos reigns! Thus, the story moves quickly, teasing the reader with action throughout.  Notably, characters die and are injured, something that would really happen in such a future, and sometimes decisions death are made without regard for the value of human life.  Make no mistake, in this novel, the rules of humanity have changed. In fact, that change is best represented by Deuce, the narrator, whose cold view of murder and disdain for “breeders” is crystal. It’s an unusual tactic for a protagonist to be so difficult to identify with. Yet, slowly, the reader may begin to see the huntress coldness in Deuce diminish and want to watch her grow morally. What is not so crystal about the novel is the cavalier attitude that is developed towards rape. Without revealing too much, suffice it to say that I doubt that any girl who knew a boy was a rapist, or who had been a potential victim of his would later cuddle up to said rapist when such a solid, empathetic guy like Fade is available.  In fact, the inclusion of a rapist in the latter half of the book diminishes not only Deuce’s character development, but the novel’s overall value as an addition to YA literature. Perhaps the author was trying to show how value systems in society degrade without structure and easy access to basic needs—but since this novel is a YA work, that message may be lost in the cavalier view that a rapist makes for a good love interest. It is for this point that I have to give this novel 4 out of 5, not the full 5 scribbles.