Some Fun News (& Then Some Not Quite So Fun News)!

First for the exciting news. We're featured on The Story Siren's blog in her Fresh Face Friday post! We're so super-excited and honored. We both love Kristi's blog and always check it. If you want to go check out the cute little write-up the link is below (We're the last blog mentioned!).

http://www.thestorysiren.com/2009/12/fresh-face-friday-9.html

Now to the news that isn't quite so fun. Both of us are in college, and that means the end of the semester and finals. We might be a little absent for the next week or so, but we promise we won't be gone forever! Trust us, we'd rather be reading YA and writing reviews than studying multivariable calculus and writing 8 page papers. We'll try to post whenever we can, but don't get worried if we don't! Now back to that paper...

Fire

She is the last of her kind...
It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.
Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don't need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven't, you'll be dying to read it next.

from bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars...

I loved Graceling and was really excited to read Fire. When I picked up the book I was thrown for a loop at first. It wasn't what I was expecting because it didn't seem to relate to Graceling at all, and it really didn't. This feels more like a stand alone novel then a part of a series. It almost reminds me of the relationship between Terrier by Tamora Pierce and her other Tortall novels. Reading the other books adds richness to both stories, but you don't have to have read one to enjoy the other. Once I got over my preconceived notions, the book was fantastic. I think that I might love this one more than Graceling. The concept of monsters was so interesting, and treated in a unique way. The plot was just great. I wasn't expecting the direction that it went, and I appreciated that. It moved without lagging and integrated so much into a seamless whole. There wasn't just one layer of anything; Cashore wove multiple story lines together beautifully. There was always something going on with one of the characters, but it never got to the point of feeling confusing or contrived. My attention was held rapt for the entire course of the book without wandering.

The characters were lovely as well. Fire developed so well over the course of the book; I for one was impressed. She matured in what felt like a very natural way, and the situations that forced her to grow up were believable. She became someone that I felt connected to and that I could admire. Then we have the boys. Oh goodness, they were so much fun. Brigan and Archer served perfectly for comparison in their relationships with Fire. Those relationships were so different, yet similar enough. They also both underwent radical changes throughout the course of the novel. I also thought that Arch and the other royals were great characters. They served their purposes perfectly, but they didn't overshadow the main characters unlike in so many other books that I've read.

Overall this book was a fantastic read. I think that after this and Graceling, Cashore has set herself up as a talent in YA fantasy to be both watched and reckoned with. Whether or not you've read Graceling you have to grab Fire right now. You won't be disappointed.

Book from Publisher

Another Faust

One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish — only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary "gifts." But as the students claw their way up — reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty — they start to suffer the side effects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins.

from amazon.com

Nathan says 4.5 stars...
So, the title of this book alone is worth tons of cool points. It you can't guess, this book is fraught with references to Faustian legend. I mean, the name of their school is Marlowe. I was a little taken aback with this at first. From the cover and description I thought it would be uber-creepy and serious, and it was. Then it turned into a high-school drama style story, and I was left scratching my head, and then it takes a sudden turn towards the dark and twisty once again, and I mean really twisty. The ability to both goad and intrigue readers was the book's high point. It is a suspenseful novel, that truly rethinks the nature of a Faustian deal. The characters were very well imagined, but they felt a little flat. Some of this essential to the narrative, but I would've liked to see a bit more depth. The plot was another strong point, besides just being suspenseful, it has some heft behind it, and works on the reader in subtle ways. Overall, this is a work that puts a twist on something classic, and it succeeds brilliantly.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We just wanted to tell everyone happy Thanksgiving. Today we give thanks for many things, and among them are books and great friends who read. Thanks for letting us share our thoughts with you, and thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Once again, happy Thanksgiving!

Catching Fire

If you haven't read The Hunger Games (which you should really grab ASAP) there are spoilers here! Sorry, but they're necessary for this review!

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

from bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
I know I'm a little behind on this one, but I had to post about it. I got it from the library on Friday afternoon and it was done on Friday night. This book was amazing! I was a little bit worried after reading some mixed reviews, but it was all for naught. Collins did not fall prey to the "sophomore slump" and let down from a fantastic first book. I loved the growth of the characters in the novel, and found the change in Katniss particularly engrossing. She matured so much from the beginning to the end of the book. Instead of thinking only of herself, she began to realize that her actions stood for so much more than she intended. She came to terms with being the spark of defiance and a representative for the Districts. She deepened immensely, and became someone willing to stick to her morals and beliefs. The love triangle that began in The Hunger Games became more complicated and intense, as if it wasn't muddy enough already. I have no idea who to root for in this relationship; there need to be Team Gale and Team Peeta t-shirts. The new characters that are introduced are great as well and really balance out the existing characters beautifully.

The plot was very intriguing. There was a bit at the beginning of the book that was a summary of The Hunger Games, but that was actually rather helpful. It allowed me to get back involved in the world and story before launching into something new. I can say that the plot was nothing like I expected it would be. I thought I knew what was going to happen, and although I guessed a couple of really obvious things, the major direction of the plot was completely different from my preconceived notions. There were enough twists to shock me when I needed it, but not to the point where I was confused about what was happening. Not only did the plot blindside me, but it was so enthralling. I couldn't put the book down even though I had other things *cough*homework*cough*. I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. The ending was a bit saddening because it just left me wanting more, and I can't get more for a long time.

Overall this book was fabulous. I loved it just as much as, and maybe more than, The Hunger Games. This is a great series for readers of all ages. It manages to send a message without preaching and captures your attention. I can't wait until the third and final book is out. If you haven't read it yet, go and get it right now.

Book from the Library

Deadly Little Secret

Some secrets shouldn't be kept...

Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4 Stars...

This book seriously creeped me out. I didn't mind it for the most part, but it was still so creepy. The chapters that were felt like pages out of the stalker's notebook were very disturbing, yet so fascinating. It really gave insight to the character, but didn't go overboard. I thought that Camelia was an interesting character, but not my favorite person. She was so unaware of everything and everyone else, particularly those who cared for her. I wanted more depth and awareness from her. Her parents were fun characters, but I feel like I just read another book with the exact same parents. I thought the plot moved along nicely, but it wasn't always clear what it was. It took it a while to get going and clarify everything, but once it happened it was fantastic. I enjoyed the suspense and the thrill of the story. I was on the edge of my seat for the last two-thirds of the book. I particularly appreciated the twists and turns; I didn't expect the ending. There was a small amount of predicatability, but that really was the only way to move the plot forward and actually have a story to tell. The characers were fun, but many of them lacked substance. I wanted more depth in everyone, and more screen time for the supporting cast. Camelia's best friends were so funny that I wanted the focus to be on them! I hope that the characters will grow a great deal throughout the rest of the series. This continues in the vein of what I expected from Stolarz, thrilling with a bit of the supernatural thrown in for good measure. This has the beginnings of a really fun series, and I'm excited to read the second book.

Book from the Library

ArchEnemy

The Heart Crystal’s power has been depleted, and Imagination along with it. The people of Wonderland have all lost their creative drive, and most alarmingly, even Queen Alyss is without her powers. There is some comfort in the fact that the vicious Redd Heart seems to be similarly disabled. Amazingly, she is attempting to team up with her enemy, Alyss, in order to reclaim Wonderland from King Arch. Alyss might have no choice but to accept Redd’s overtures, especially when she begins to receive alarming advice from the caterpillar oracles.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4.5 Stars...

I have really loved this series and am sad to see it end. The best thing about it is that it takes the Wonderland that we're all familiar with, and that some of us love, and simply turns it on its head. The characters hardly have anything in common with those from the storybooks of my childhood, but I appreciate that. Despite being different, I felt that this book did little to develop them and relied on what had been accomplished in the previous books. There was no more depth added to all of the different characters, which was very saddening. The characters could have become so much more, but that potential was never realized. This isn't to say that they were all flat and lifeless, because there was a great deal of roundness that came from the first two books in the series. I guess I'm harping on this fact because I hate it when authors rest on their laurels when it comes to character, because they, like real people, should be constantly changing. Despite this lack of change, the rest of the book was fantastic. I simply could not put it down. It was also really fun since I just finished working on a stage production of Alice in Wonderland to be reading and watching that at the same time. The plot was filled with action from beginning to end. I couldn't tear myself away, because it seemed like something new was happening on ever other page. There weren't long periods of dullness that made me feel like napping. I read it while I worked out, and it was so interesting that it made me stop thinking about how much my legs were killing me, which is no mean feat. Even though there were multiple plotlines going on at the same time it wasn't difficult to keep everything straight and see how they connected. I was enthralled by what was happening and thought that the climax was very interesting, and rather unexpected. I think that this is a rather fitting end to a really fun series. I'm sad to leave Wonderland behind, but it's time. If you haven't read this series you really should because it's a different take on a story we all know. Pick this one up for an action-packed conclusion to a super fun series.

Book from the library