Hi there! I’m Kay: an opinionated book blogger enamoured with the world of novels. Reader of Speculative Fiction (the posh word for Sci-Fi/Fantasy) and Young Adult novels. Believer in the many uses of the towel, the science of deduction and other fandom in-jokes.
This blog has been closed since early 2016. To the publishers and writers: thanks for all the support over the years. To my readers and fellow bloggers: keep in touch!
Recent Reviews
WoW: Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are being eagerly anticipated.
Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
Goodreads – YA – December 27th 2011 by Greenwillow BooksLeah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.
With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry, Sarah Dessen, and John Green.
I know absolutely nothing about this book beyond the summary and the cover – and all I can see is Perfect Chemistry, Perfect Chemistry, Perfect Chemistry. And you know what? I’m kinda looking for a new Perfect Chemistry – so I’d be pretty damn happy if that’s what this book turns out to be like! I’m looking forward to hearing more about the author (this is her debut) and the novel closer to the release date.
Monday Reading (July 18th, 2011)
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). Since I did not do a Monday Reading post last week, here’s what I’ve been reading over the last 2 weeks. Good bookish times.
- The Glass Demon by Helen Grant – Very, very good book. This is smart YA and has reassured me that, no, YA publishers don’t consider all of their readers idiots.
- Bitten by Kelley Armstrong – I enjoyed this, but I wasn’t completely overwhelmed by it. I do look forward to continuing the series, though!
- A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin – Although, yes, this book is 800 pages, it is a pretty quick read for its size. It took me about a week to get through it and I LOVED it (although, I admit, I might maybe possibly prefer the show *avoids stoning*).
- I think I need to crack down and read some review books… maybe Siren by Tricia Rayburn? I’ve wanted to read it for quite a while now, but haven’t gotten to it yet!
Summer Shorts: Zombies vs. Unicorns
Artwork from Zombies vs. Unicorns
Summer Shorts is weekly feature of short story/novella reviews, posted every weekend of July and August, 2011. Every week has a different theme – be it featuring a specific anthology, a particular genre, or a great author.
Last week I reviewed some great Kelley Armstrong stories, and this week I’m featuring two stories from the infamous anthology Zombies vs. Unicorns.
The Highest Justice by Garth Nix
Thoughts: I feel as though I got the “wrong” thing out of The Highest Justice. Nix was probably aiming to impress upon the reader how unicorns represent a higher, well, justice. Their purity of form being the physical manifestation of righteousness – dispensing out justice even when it is rather gruesome. I have no idea where he was going with his zombie so, needless to say, I didn’t get it.
And while his unicorn idea is a great one, I can’t say it carried me through this particular tale. No matter how many invisible, violent unicorns appeared – nor how many flesh-eating members of the royal family tried to take a bite out of people – my overwhelming impression of the plot was one of “meh”.
So what did I “get” out of The Highest Justice? 2,000 words of pure, unadulterated fantasy – complete with kings guards, royal betrayals and quite a bit of horseback riding. Coming straight out of reading The Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, I’d been wondering what high fantasy YA novelists were out there… apparently I need to start reading some Nix!
Bottom line? A refreshing bit of high fantasy – Garth Nix may be worth further investigation.
Favourite quotes:
Jess drew her sword and kicked her palfrey into a lurching charge. She caught the surviving bandit just before he managed to slip between two thorny bushes, and landed a solid blow on his head with the back of the blade. She hadn’t meant to be merciful, but the sword had turned in her sweaty grasp.
Purity Test by Naomi Novik
Thoughts: Oh my goodness, this was brilliant! Naomi Novik really needs to set up shop and teach other YA writers how to deliver a short story, because Purity Test? It had everything I could possibly want from a tale!
First off, it was funny as hell. I was reminded of Shrek, only with unicorns instead of donkeys and, er, more awesomeness. If I had highlighted all the quotes I wanted to share, the entire story would have been life jacket-yellow. As such, I managed to restrain myself:
“Where did you come from, anyway? Like, Fairyland or something?” The unicorn turned its head and gave her a blue-eyed glare. “Yes. Fairyland,” it said, dripping sarcasm. “Fairyland, where the fairies and the unicorns play, and never is heard a discouraging—”
–
The unicorn brightened, which Alison had to admit was something to see. “Are you a lesbian? I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count toward virginity.”
Don’t you just want to read it right now? I sure would have after that!
Second reason for Purity Test‘s awesomeness? Pacing and editing. Introducing new characters, a new universe and describing the plot? It’s a hard thing to do in only a few thousand words. A lot of novelists, quite frankly, can’t do it. It doesn’t make them bad writers, just bad story short writers. Naomi Novik, it turns out, is both a fantastic novelist AND an amazing short story writer. She throws us straight into the plot, a provides 3D characters and a hysterical universe to enjoy. I was left wanting another story, but not a continuation of the one I’d just read. Per-fect.
Bottom line? Novik had be at the first sentence and kept me enthralled until the very last line. Zombies vs. Unicorns is worth buying just for this story!
Review: Pride by Rachel Vincent
Pride by Rachel VincentSeries: Shifters #3
Published by MIRA
Pages: 432
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased myself
Add to Goodreads
Rating:
Also in this series: Stray, Rogue
I'm on trial for my life. Falsely accused of infecting my human ex-boyfriend—and killing him to cover up the crime. Infecting a human is one of three capital offenses recognized by the Pride—along with murder and disclosure of our existence to a human.
I'm two for three. A goner.
Now we've discovered a rogue stray terrorizing the mountainside, hunting a wild teenage tabbycat. It's up to us to find and stop him before a human discovers us. With my lover Marc's help, I think I can protect the vulnerable girl from both the ambitious rogue and the scheming of the territorial council.
If I survive my own trial…
Thoughts: I am SO friggin’ glad I stuck with this series! Because Faythe? The character who I have consistently used as the poster girl for “everything I hate in a narrator”? The character whose name I’d use as a synonym for “OMG she needs to die”?
Well, I kinda like her now.
People have been telling me for years (literally – I realised I started this series back in 2009) that Faythe gets better and grows up with every book. And they’re right – she does grow up. She’s not yet at the point where I actually would spend more than a half-a-minute with her, but she’s getting there. Because all the things I hated about her – her rudeness, her temper, her impulsiveness, her insistence that it is her-way-or-the-highway – they are becoming the things I love about her. Why? Because Kaci – the tabbycat in the summary – needs these qualities in Faythe in order to keep her protected. Turns out Faythe can be totally awesome while she’s protecting someone…
Moving on. The plot is as tight as always. Even though there is a tonne of werecat-political intrigue, there is also a whole bunch of action. All the bloods-and-guts scenes that I felt were missing from Rogue are back in full force. Not to mention Vincent gives us not-one-but-two excellent villains to hate. It’s fantastic…
And then there’s the wonderful-as-always Marc. He’s such a cat in some ways – violent and temperamental – but he’s also so bloody noble that I just want to squeeze him to death. Love this guy! Ooh, I also adored Elias Keller, the were-bear introduced within the first few chapters. I was intrigued to find out the verse had more were-species, and that Keller turned out be a welcome voice of reason among the pride of kitties made me even happier.
Bottom line? Pride made me a believer in this series. If you gave up on Faythe during Stray, well, you should stick it out. She may be frustrating, but the series is well worth the effort.
London UF + YA Author Signings
The summer signing season is upon us – and while the UK may not be seeing Maggie Stiefvater drive through in her shiny blue Camaro, we are being visited by some great Fantasy and YA authors! Here are a couple of events I’d be at (if it weren’t for that pesky work business!).
Orbit Books Summer Signing – 4 Authors, 1 Event
Saturday 30 July 2011 15:00 – 16:00
Forbidden Planet London – 179 Shaftesbury AvenueNicole Peeler (Tempest Rising) Tim Lebbon (Echo City) Simon Morden (Metrozone Series) and Philip Palmer (Debateable Space and Red Claw) will signing their newest novels at London’s Forbidden Planet. I plan on getting myself a signed copy of Tempest Rising next time I pass by the store – hopefully there will be some left. Cat at Beyond Books is a big fan of Peeler’s series, so I am excited that we are finally getting it in the UK!
More information about the authors and the event available here.
Alyson Noel Signing – This Saturday!
Saturday 16 July 2011 – 13.30
Foyles London – 113-119 Charing Cross Road WC2H 0EBAlyson Noel is doing a whistle-stop signing at Foyles in their Teen Noir section (yep, Foyles is awesome enough to have a “Teen Noir” section). It’s the last leg of her UK tour, so this may be your last chance to meet Alyson before she heads back to the US for good! There’s not much more info, but you can read the official announcement here.
Well, I hope I’ve sorted your Saturdays out for you. Go forth and get some signed books!