by Kay | Jan 19, 2015 | Weekly Feature |
In this weekly event hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books where we discuss what we’ve been reading this week (and, occasionally, what we haven’t).
Somehow I forgot to post my reading last week! Ah well, I am still getting back into the swing of things. 🙂 So, this week I am covering TWO weeks of reading.
Currently Reading:
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder – This is my first re-read in years! I adored it when I first read it and am quite enjoying it this second time. Not quite as stellar, but still a great book.
Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder – After a few pages, I put this on hold to re-read Poison Study. Wanted to get back into the “feel” for the characters before I continued.
Entice by Carrie Jones – This one was a “I am on a plane and have finished my book, what else do I have on my phone” choice. I didn’t enjoy Book 2 all that much but do want to finish this series eventually… I admit, I haven’t restarted the book since getting off that plane, so who knows!
Recent Reads:
All Fall Down by Ally Carter – Fab! A really great start to another great Ally series. I was a bit miffed by the ending, but I know things will be more stellar in the next book.
This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner – SO GOOD I CAN’T EVEN. BUY IT AND READ IT AND LOVE IT.
Recent Listens:
Emissary by J. M. Dillard – A must-listen for die-hard Niners. Lovely alternative look at the pilot.
Warped by K.W. Jeter – Despite a great narration, this was not a very good book.
Deal Me In! update
I’m taking part in the Deal Me In challenge this year, reading a story a week during 2015 as chosen by a deck of cards. See my full list of stories to be read here.
Last week, I dealt the 7 of hearts – otherwise known as Wild Magic by Ann Aguirre. Aguirre can do no wrong – a fact that also applies to short stories. This week, fate has handed me the 8 of diamonds a.k.a. Spirey and the queen by Alastair Reynolds. I haven’t gotten to this one yet but hey, I have all week!
by Kay | Jan 16, 2015 | Reviews |
Eve and Adam by Katherine Applegate, Michael Grant
Published by Macmillan on 2012-10-02
Pages: 291
Genres: Science Fiction YA
Source: Purchased myself
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Rating: And girl created boy…
In the beginning, there was an apple—
And then there was a car crash, a horrible injury, and a hospital. But before Evening Spiker’s head clears a strange boy named Solo is rushing her to her mother’s research facility. There, under the best care available, Eve is left alone to heal.
Just when Eve thinks she will die—not from her injuries, but from boredom—her mother gives her a special project: Create the perfect boy.
Using an amazingly detailed simulation, Eve starts building a boy from the ground up. Eve is creating Adam. And he will be just perfect... won’t he?
I was quite apprehensive about reading to read Eve & Adam! I adored Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant’s Animorphs series growing up, as well as her Everworld series (click to read my rave of their books). They were some of the authors responsible for making me such a voracious reader. So… picking up one of their novels as an adult? That made me nervous! What if it was terrible??
I need not have worried – it was fab. Eve & Adam reminded me of why I loved their work as a kid. Grant and Applegate have a dark but optimistic view of the world. They never worried about making good people do bad things – or letting bad people be responsible for good. It’s a hard message to get across but they manage every time. Eve & Adam had that message in spades and, just as I did when I was 7, I loved reading about the conflict it created.
Eve & Adam explores ethics in a way only science fiction can. Are we allowed to play God? When can its benefits outweigh the suffering caused? Always? Sometimes? Never when it comes to humans, but Always when it comes to animals? What if it is your mother you have to judge? What if she is both God and the devil? Which of these roles is defines her more? Grant and Applegate don’t preach the answers to these questions, rather they let the characters explore both sides for themselves. It was really well done.
That being said, the book did feel a bit rushed. There is a lot crammed into this book – hell, we don’t even meet Adam until the last quarter of the novel! And since timing was an issue, there weren’t as many “character moments” as I would have liked. While I enjoyed the narrators, I didn’t care too much about any of them. And when a romantic triangle popped its head out towards the last part of the book? I didn’t really care either way. I would have, I’m sure, had the book been spread out in a duology. Unfortunately, the lack of “feels” brought my rating down by half a star…
Bottom line? If you like thought-provoking YA novels or enjoy science fiction of any kind, you’ll enjoy Eve & Adam.
by Kay | Jan 9, 2015 | Reviews |
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Series: Hex Hall #1
Published by Disney Publishing on 2010-05-29
Pages: 336
Genres: Paranormal YA, Young Adult
Source: Purchased myself
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Rating: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged fatheran elusive European warlockonly when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
I expected a lot from Hex Hall. I thought it would be funny and smart and a warm, cosy, awesome read. So maybe my expectations were set a bit too high… because while I enjoyed it? I am not sure I’ll be running out to buy book 2.
Let’s start off with the good things: I LOVED the boarding school aspect. Call it a symptom of a Harry Potter generation, but there is nothing in the world I enjoy more than the teenagers-dealing-with-important-things-at-school!trope. Hex Hall had plenty of that and, I admit, that was a blast.
While I would have liked to have stayed in class, Hex Hall was far more focussed more on the extracurricular elements of the school. There was a pretty good mystery keeping the plot rolling (A murderer is loose! Is it my roommate? She does drink blood! Whatever shall we do?!). I found myself quite invested in protecting BFF!Vampire!Jenna. Her determination to stay as human as possible despite the horrible things that have happened to her… it was quite inspiring.
But where the book really let me down was in the romance department. We are introduced to standard bad-boy Archer early on, and while Sophie starts out hating him she gives up on that unfortunately quickly. Oh! And now that she has a crush? He’s taken. Of course he is.
I am sick to death of the “I love him but his girlfriend is a bitch!” set-up. It drives me up the wall. Either your One True Love is as perfect as you think, in which case there is probably something awesome about his girlfriend you don’t know about – or he really is the jerkface he plays and they deserve each other. I am NOT a fan of reading about girls hating each other over some guy. Not to mention the fact that Archer is so, so not worth an iota of swooning.
Bottom line? Hex Hall is a fun, quick read – but the love triangle thing really bothered me. I may pick up book 2 someday… maybe.
by Kay | Jan 7, 2015 | Weekly Feature |
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.
The Queen of Bright & Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre
Goodreads – Contemp. YA – April 7th 2015 by Feiwel & Friends
Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.
Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.
But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…
Ann Aguirre is one of my auto-buy authors. She never disappoints! So, while this book would not ordinarily be up my alley (a bit too “teenagers find themselves tragically” for my taste), I am still looking forward to it. What can I say? It’s a magical power of Aguirre’s.
by Kay | Jan 5, 2015 | Weekly Feature |
In this weekly event hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books where we discuss what we’ve been reading this week (and, occasionally, what we haven’t).
I used to take part in this meme all the time and have really quite missed it! Shall be returning to this meme regularly over 2015.
Currently Reading:
All Fall Down by Ally Carter – I am really, really loving this book! As someone who has read absolutely every Ally Carter book this was no surprise. 😉
Currently Listening to:
Emissary by J. M. Dillard – This is narrated by the fantastic Nana Visitor who played Kira on the show. It is pretty similar to the first episode of the show, but there are some interesting and entertaining differences.
Up next from my TBR:
This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner – AT LAST. I have been DYING for this book and FINALLY it is in my hands!!! I adored These Broken Stars and highly recommend it.
Shadow Study by Maria V Snyder – I loved Poison Study series (though not the last book, I’m afraid) and am really excited that Snyder has decided to continue with Yelena’s story. Hoping that I won’t be at a disadvantage not having kept up with her other series in the same universe.
Deal Me In! update
I’m taking part in the Deal Me In challenge this year, reading a story a week during 2015 as chosen by a deck of cards. See my full list of stories to be read here. My first card of the year was a queen of hearts which gave me an Ally Carter story as well – Huzzah! I read her “A Gallagher Wedding” and thoroughly enjoyed it.
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