Because I'm Batman

In Kendare Blake's Antigoddess, the Greek gods of myth are alive and, well, dying. While some scamper to survive and turn cannibal, Athena and her brother Hermes seek out answers and a means of protecting themselves from the war soon in coming. This was my first Blake read and, while there were elements I disliked, I enjoyed the overall story and its one MC, Athena. She was my favorite Greek character during my Greek myth phase in middle school, and I liked seeing this older, modern-world version of her.

What I liked:

This copy was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Some things may have changed in the final version.

When I requested this title on NetGalley, I somehow completely overlooked that it was the second in a series. As the first book was not readily available and the publication date was fast approaching, I decided to read the book as was and review it based on its own merits. (Theoretically, books in a series, while enriched by their predecessors, should mostly stand well enough alone.) So, big disclaimer moment: I have NOT read the first book. This review is based on the second only.

What I liked:

• The "other life forms" are not at all humanoid or humans with pointy ears, and there are translation difficulties. You hear that Star Trek?
• Emilie is an overall likable protagonist. She has young, impetuous moments, and smarter, calculated moments. She has emotional ups and downs, but it feels realistic instead of swinging from extremes.
• The family themes/aspects. Emilie's family troubles are moved aside when more important matters arise, but the room for emotional growth and reconciliation was a nice touch.

What I didn't like:

• I could mostly picture the world, and the descriptions are pretty good, but I wanted to know more about how the technology and the aether worked. Two possible culprits: Emily doesn't know/care and/or the author explained most of it in the first book. Either way, I felt a bit in the dark.
• The narration. Until a third of the way in, Emily's perspective seems to play leap frog with a less personal, more removed third person perspective, and she fades into the background when too many other characters are present/speaking. After that first third, Emily's voice and thoughts become more apparent.
• Emilie's relationship speculation moment. We've just found out something major about the bad guy(s) and two pages later, Emilie is hoping that the doctor and his ex-wife didn't break up because he was still in love with Mr. So-and-so. I was like, wha? I know it was one paragraph, but it was jarring to me for several reasons: 1) I didn't read that in the doctor's dialogue. I was thinking, where did this come from? 2) It seemed out of place in a somewhat Victorian world, and 3) Emilie rarely wastes time speculating on other people's relationships. (She's usually too stuck in her own family drama, and romantic entanglements have even rarer appearances.) Why did she start now?

On the one hand, I'd like to go back and read the first book and see if it fills in some of the information gaps. On the other, while the story was pretty well written and intriguing, I didn't get attached to any of the characters, which makes me a little apathetic about picking up another in this series. Still, if you like sky-ships or a Victorian sort-of steampunk with a dash of magic, you'll probably enjoy.

In Vitro by Jessica Khoury, Sophie is out to find her mad-scientist mother, but both she and her childhood friend-turned-pilot Jim get more than they bargained for when Skin Island won't let them go. I was conflicted on rating this one. It was a little like whipped cream, I think- tasty, and you get it quickly, but not much substance and it doesn't stay with you.

What I liked:
It was a quick read. Despite some slow moments, the plot keep a fairly quick pace.

Although I had several hunches that turned out to be right, I was curious to see which plot paths the author would take. It kept me reading on.

What I didn't like:
I never really cared about any of the characters. Life-changing secrets come to light? Meh. Close scrape? Turn page. Character death? Yawn.

Underused character(s). The evil could have been so effective, but it got limited screen time and when it was there, it was too simple. What happened to complex villains? There were also some side characters I would have liked to see do more.


Final Thoughts:
I think I breezed through Vitro as quickly as I did because it was like TV- quick, easy, lots of action/plot, limited emotional/mental investment. (And I caught myself avoiding my current review book and knew I needed to get reading again.) The science ideas were semi-interesting, but I didn't connect to anyone or anything. I may read the next book in this set of companion novels(?), but it would probably be as another palate cleanser.

For more reviews, tomfoolery and book talk, check out my blog, Booked til Tuesday.

I've been searching for a good 12 Dancing Princesses retelling. I loved Wildwood Dancing and it's a fairy tale you can take in so many directions. The Princess Curse is an interesting blend of the 12 Princesses, Beauty and the Beast and the story of Persephone. It isn't the totally amazing retelling I was hoping for, but, despite its flaws, I liked it. (The nice cover art doesn't hurt either.)

This copy was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Some things may have changed in the final version.

The Tyrant's Daughter follows Laila as she adjusts to life in the United States, following her father's assassination, and sees her home and family from a new perspective. Having studied abroad, I probably should have been better prepared for the lengthy periods of confusion and culture clash. Unfortunately, the whole book was filled with this confusion, and Laila's constant lack of direction didn't work for me.

What I liked:

• There are some authentic, typical teenager moments that made me smile. Silly little things, like high school gossip. 
• Bastion, the little brother. He does not play a large, active role in the story, but he quietly adjusts to life in the States, playing and watching cartoons and being a kid. Goodness knows he's gone through some horrible things, but, from what I saw, he seems to bear it stoically with either dignity or denial. For him, life isn't paused or over. It just has a different set of scenery. 

What I didn't like:

• The narration style. The Tyrant's Daughter is told in first person point-of-view, and it's not a novel so much as a collection of small scenes woven in with many, many thoughts and commentary. It was a little like a diary, or a personal essay, and the resulting story style and structure was not my favorite. 
• The narrator. The main character, Laila, has just loss her father, her home and her country. She is struggling to adjust to life and culture in the US. She finds a new balance by adopting a sort of Humanist view--that is, there is no absolute right or wrong. Everything depends on the context in which you live. So things that were frowned upon or illegal in her Middle Eastern country are not wrong for her to do in the U.S. This perspective persists throughout most of the novel. It makes her a wishy-washy character without a firm opinion or belief about anything, and it made me fear for her future. If she will accept anything as right or wrong depending on the environment, why would she not accept terrorist extremism or the oppression of women, if it were the accepted norm, were she to return to her country? 
• Missed opportunity to include diverse beliefs. People have beliefs, religious or otherwise, and their actions and decisions are shaped by these beliefs. I wasn't looking for a clash of Islam and Christianity or a final resolution of their differences or anything; but to present both a girl from a heavily Muslim Middle Eastern country and a missionaries' kid without either one professing or seemingly being invested in faith beyond "there's something out there" struck me as strange, almost an avoidance tactic, and definitely a missed opportunity for a frank and relevant discussion. 
• The end. Laila's decision(s) is consistent with her character, but it frustrated me. She still has few clear priorities and seems likely to float along with whatever tide hits next. It gives me little hope for her future or her brother's. 

Final Thoughts:

Honestly, were I not reading this book to review on NetGalley, I probably wouldn't have finished it. I like the general concept, but the execution didn't work for me. However, if you're looking for a Middle Eastern MC, a book that delves into the perspective of a dictator's family and/or like the sound of the narrative style, you'll probably enjoy this story.

I've been working on hunting down some "adult" series and authors to read (to give me more options when YA becomes too saturated with love triangles and such). I'm glad to say that this was a promising first kill. Which sounds really horrible, now that I've written that. Anyway, Written in Red is a story of an alternate world in which humans aren't at the top of the food chain and all natural resources are controlled by the Others. A little Planet of the Apes meets The Jungle Book, but more paranormal and with human technology similar to modern day stuff.

This copy was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Some things may be changed in the final version.

White Space by Ilsa J. Bick was pitched as "The Matrix" meets Inkheart. I think that's a somewhat accurate description, but throw in a little "Inception" and a dash of "Dr. Who." If this sounds like a strange combination, it is. Think suspense thriller mixed with speculative sci-fi/fantasy and a healthy helping of horror. This is the first of Bick's books I've read (though I've been meaning to read Ashes forever), and it was way different from my usual light, fluffy reads; but overall, I think it was pretty good.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George is not the Disney Cinderella you know, and, having read a lot of Cinderella retellings, I'm pleased to say it still brings something new to the table. Poppy is part of a royal study abroad--minus the studying--to make nice with countries whose princes died after failing to break her family's curse. (I spent a semester abroad in Spain and sympathized with the culture shock element.) Poppy quickly finds dark magic at work in the form of a mysterious woman mesmerizing all the men at the balls, and it's decided: Cinderella must die. (Not so much on the dying, but it sounded more dramatic.)

What I liked:

• The protagonist, Poppy. While Rose (in Princess of the Midnight Ball) was a fine protagonist and strong in her own way, she spent much of her story either sick or as a damsel in distress, doing little to try to fix the situation. Poppy, even in danger, is rarely a damsel in distress. She fires a pistol, she is a pistol, and her louder personality and lesser conformity to societal norms resonated more with me. She's also a card shark. ;)

This book is more of a retelling than the last one, which I felt stuck closely to the original tale. Princess of Glass took more liberties with the plot and characters, and it felt more original.

What I didn't like:

• The romance is a little rushed. Poppy never melts into a puddle of goo, but...it feels a little fast. Still, not horrible compared to many fairy tale retellings, and I liked the pairing well enough.
• I am a firm believer in approaching magic spells and curses gone wrong with humor, not angst. The author gives us a little of that, but in general, everyone was worried. When your friends and family are magicked into acting like fools, have some fun with it (and take pictures for future blackmail) while you search for a cure. :D
• The ending is too rushed and too vague for me. I was unclear on exactly what beat the villain or how it happened. I must have missed something important because it looked like poof! Instant victory!
• Roger. I don't mind him as a character and he never steals the spotlight, but his being there and his peculiar skill set is a little too convenient. I like it more if Poppy has to solve the whole curse problem alone.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book, more so than the first I think. It has a spunky heroine, a prince who needs rescuing and a good dose of magic. Definitely worth a read if you like fairy tale retellings and don't mind another twist on Cinderella.

I made it through Book 4 of the Chronicles of Prydain. Only one more to go and I can officially discard the shame of having never read one of the most lauded series in children's literature. ;) This book is, as the title suggests, all about Taran ... and the wandering he does. The pacing and plotting felt pretty slow throughout, but I'm hoping this dedicated search for self-worth means the fifth book will have a little more adventure and a little less Assistant Pig-Keeper identity crisis.

What I liked:

Oddly enough, the "crafty" sections. I loved the descriptions of smithing in the forge, weaving on the loom and throwing clay on the wheel. There's a certain magic to it, watching something take shape and form. It's a bit of a spoiler (warning), but I also liked the lack of success in Taran's quest. If he had suddenly found an easy answer and rooted his identity in it, all the growth he experienced in the series would have gone down the drain.

What I didn't like:

It got very, very slow, kind of like that Dr. Seuss book "Are You My Mother?" -- very unhurried and content to ramble across the countryside, though not necessarily happy or accomplished at any point until the end. Also, there's a coincidence that was just a little too much to take, one all the heroes would have been dead without. Ah well, I suppose the main cast has to stick around for the last book.

Definitely not the most adventurous, fast-paced book in the series, but still worth the read, especially, I think, for kids. It's a little heavy handed in its delivery, but the message of basing your self-worth on your actions instead of your lineage or wealth is always relevant; and the idea that you may never be the best, or even good, at something you love to do, while crushing, is also an interesting concept to present to kids.

I am still working my way through children's classics I strangely didn't read as a child, and I'm now 3/5 of the way through the Chronicles of Prydain! This wasn't the strongest entry in the series, especially coming off The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron, but it wasn't boring and featured more character development for our adventurous Assistant Pig-Keeper. :)

What I liked:
The conflict. Lloyd Alexander is brilliant about continuously putting Taran in uncomfortable situations that force growth. Bringing back Achren and giving her story some closure was a good move, too.

What I didn't like:
There's very little of Eilonwy in the story. She's one of my favorite characters in this series and the story had a limited female presence without her. The story also heavily featured the clumsy, somewhat useless Prince Rhun who was sometimes amusing, sometimes exasperating.

The pacing felt slower and the buildup to the climax less effective than in the last two books, but it was still an enjoyable enough fantasy read, and I'm looking forward to finishing this series. :)

My copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Some things may be changed in the final version.

Defy is Sara B. Larson's debut YA novel and my first eARC from NetGalley. I was a little wary of picking up this title based on the emphasized romance in the synopsis, but I took a chance. I think I can best sum this up as Mulan meets Twilight. Alex is masquerading as a boy in the army/Prince's Guard and there's a magical background and a love triangle. Had the story focused in on the Mulan elements, I think I would have liked it. Unfortunately, it was almost all romance and love triangle.

What I liked:
I was interested in some of the supporting characters, namely the other members of the Prince's guard; they seemed like fun guys with a lot to bring to the table, and I would have liked to learn more about them.

I'm still confused about this fantasy world (South America-inspired? South Asia? India?), but I liked the general idea of two warring nations with an imperial catalyst and magical soldiers in the middle of a jungle. Again, though, I wish there were more. The lack of world building made it difficult to invest myself in the world's politics and wars. It wasn't fleshed out enough.

Marcel, Alex's twin brother, and Rylan, a member of the Prince's Guard and Alex's friend. I don't know whether Marcel was a "genius,' but he seemed to be a good big brother and I'm a sucker for those characters. Rylan was a genuinely good-hearted guy, loyal and understanding. He would have been great except for a certain piece of dialogue near the end that resulted in my taking away his Man Card.

What I didn't like:
Alex/Alexa: She is supposed to be an unbeatable fighter who has been in the army and passed for a boy for years. Her narration and actions made this premise completely unrealistic for me. There was no way she had not been exposed as a girl after three years in the army/Prince's guard unless her brother was both Einstein and Houdini.

Perspective: Alex's narration sounded like a hormone-crazed, lovesick teenager. I think the story would have been more enjoyable in third person point-of-view or from a different character's perspective.

Telling v. Showing: The majority of the first-person narration centered on Alex telling us stuff, often romance related. There were few fully described, played out scenes; and the scenes we did get often centered on her romantic interactions with the love interest(s) instead of the war, kidnapping, etc.

The Romance: I don't like love triangles, and in this case, there was nothing to be angsty about once Alex made a choice ... which she did. But then she kept whining and agonizing over it. It got old fast, especially when there were matters of life, death and country at hand.


I was pretty disappointed with this one. The story had some interesting ideas, but they were never fleshed out and took backseat to romance. In the middle of a war and being kidnapped. Alex was supposed to be a butt kicking soldier, but all she thought or talked about was the love triangle. She was the poster child for women who over-think relationships and, on several occasions, a damsel in distress. Apparently there's a sequel in the works, and I hope it does more world building and explains more about the magic system.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George is a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses featuring a knitting soldier, a few ancient magic users and, obviously, 12 princesses. It read much like the original tale in that everything went by so fast, but it was still a fun, enjoyable read.

What I liked:
This retelling retained many of the original elements of the story; all the original darkness and magic was present. The villain was fairly creepy (would have loved to see more of his world), and the curse(s) made the king's "solution" to his daughters' dancing plausible.

What I didn't like:
I wished I'd gotten to know the princesses better, besides Rose that is. Because there were so many characters and so many things going on, the plot seemed to fly by. Which sometimes made the characters/story feel surface-level only. I was in the mood for a light read, so this didn't bother me too much ... except when certain characters made stupid, cocky moves that created unnecessary complications and danger. Be a good soldier and pull off the operation smoothly; then those pages can be used for other things, like more character development. :)

While not the best fairy tale retelling I've read, this was a light, fun story and came right at a time when I needed an easy, fantastical read. If you like fairy tale retellings and/or are looking for a light fantasy read, give this one a shot.

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown stars Anna Van Housen, an aspiring magician in 1920's New York with a fame-crazed mother who does mentalist shows and forces Anna to assist in her illegal, but profitable, after-show seances. It has its flaws, but Anna is an overall likable protagonist, and the magic illusions are fun. :)

What I liked:
For the most part, Anna is a smart, resourceful, sensible girl. Her insight into and descriptions of the magic/illusions were entertaining; and I didn't mind the way her supernatural abilities were woven into the plot. The underlying conflict between mother and daughter also made for an interesting family environment and power struggle.

What I didn't like:
The love triangle was a little annoying, as were its corresponding miscommunications. The author spent a lot of time on misdirection with the main conflict/danger/antagonist, so the end felt a little out of nowhere. My biggest letdown was the lack of setting; I mean, it was there, but I didn't feel immersed in the 1920's and I really wanted to see more of that world. I wanted the same magic atmosphere I felt during the stage shows and illusions.

Despite Anna's reduced common sense regarding certain men, the story was, overall, fun and entertaining. It was an easy, light read and I'm interested in seeing where the author takes the next installment.

Good:
Really interesting use of magic, literally making dreams come true, and I liked how it tied into Cabeswater, which keeps it connected to the main quest.

The writing was descriptive and easy to fly through.

Bad:
I don't really care about any of the characters.

Increased sexuality was at best awkward and at worst creepy. Didn't enjoy the homosexual undertones. Not my cup of tea.

Adam. Mostly because I understand him too well, his infuriating pride and the selfish, hateful mentality he hangs onto. It pokes at sore spots.

I wouldn't call it boring, but there were parts where I wasn't interested. 

Lack of answers. I came out of it with a ton of questions and zero answers. How many dream thieves are there? How/why did two end up in the same town? Did Kavinsky steal from a different magic forest when he was in Jersey? The only real progress toward Glendower came at the very end, and, as interesting as all these separate magical pieces are, I'm impatient to see more connections revealed.

Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed certain aspects of this story, but when I finished the book, it left a sour aftertaste. I will be carefully considering whether to read the next.

Good:
Light, fun, humorous, though not quite as much as The Last Dragonslayer. Jennifer Strange's responsibilities seemed to weigh heavier on her.

Something, usually something strange, is always happening. The pace rarely slackens and the story always marches forward.

The story is full of weird, zany characters.

Bad:
The title felt misleading. Quarkbeasts do play a big role in the story, but it took a little long for them to appear onstage. I kept wondering where the Quarkbeasts were.

The humor quotient felt lower than in the first book. Jennifer is worried for much of the book and responds to several unfortunate happenings with dread, despair and fear. I think the drama and tension would have built up well even if she were less distraught.

No dragons. (Not that they're required, but dragons are awesome.)

Final Thoughts:
A fun, light, quirky fantastical read. A great way to spend an afternoon.