Review: Asunder by Jodi Meadows

Asunder by Jodi Meadows
Release Date ~ 1/29/2013
Format ~ ARC
Publisher ~ Katherine Tegen Books
Source ~ Publisher

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DARKSOULS
Ana has always been the only one. Asunder. Apart. But after Templedark, when many residents of Heart were lost forever, some hold Ana responsible for the darksouls–and the newsouls who may be born in their place.
SHADOWS
Many are afraid of Ana’s presence, a constant reminder of unstoppable changes and the unknown. When sylph begin behaving differently toward her and people turn violent, Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
LOVE
Ana was told that nosouls can’t love. But newsouls? More than anything, she wants to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection.
In this second book in the Incarnate trilogy, Ana discovers the truth about reincarnation and will have to find a way to embrace love and make her young life meaningful. Once again, Jodi Meadows explores the extraordinary beauty and shadowed depths of the soul in a story equal parts epic romance and captivating fantasy.

   Though the first book in this trilogy, Incarnate was really good, it wasn't quite a five star read. However, Jodi Meadows ups her game considerably in Asunder. There are higher stakes, heightened action scenes, and worthy character development.

  The first thing that struck me as an improvement since Incarnate was that I liked Ana a lot more in this book. In Incarnate I found her as endearing but kind of annoying, and in Asunder, she didn't annoy me nearly as much, and I grew to appreciate her more as a character.

   Jodi Meadows has an EPIC writing style that keeps your heart racing and has you on the edge of your seat  the entire  time. It's a very a very tense way of writing that can be nerve raking, but it's perfect for this novel, as there's an intense atmosphere to it almost the entire time.

   I think Jodi Meadows has created almost a civil rights story in Asunder. The overall feeling of Asunder are the new souls that are popping up in the world, mostly Anna, fighting for the right to be treated like normal citizens. Though it may be subtle, Anna might even be a kind-of MLK figure in this world.

   This book has ending that KILLS YOU. It's not a cliffhanger, but here is what I was like when I read the last page:

Yep. 

   Asunder was a very, very strong second novel. I need the final book stat!

The Immortal Circus Blog Tour Week Eight: Review and Teaser

Welcome to week eight of The Immortal Circus by A.R. Kahler blog tour

Episode Four

The Immortal Circus by A.R. Kahler

Release Date ~ 12/4/12

Publisher ~ 47North

Murdered contortionists aren’t exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded—especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader Mab is the Faerie Queen of legend…and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly Courts.
Aided by her friends Kingston—a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart—and his smart-ass assistant Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past—and future—than she bargains for.
The show's just beginning.

Step right up…

Review

   Despite a rocky episode in episode three, A.R. Kahler gets The Immortal Circus back on the right track. The characters continue to evolve and the plot thickens heavily, gearing up for the final episode.

  The action intensifies in this episode and there is a lot of suspense throughout. I loved the heightened intensity and it really enhanced the tone of the novel.

   

   The characters continue to develop thoroughly with plenty of interesting character twists and really enjoyable characters that keep you guessing.

   The plot continues to thicken and evolve, and although since it's the fourth episode there's not a lot I can without spoiling it, for I can say this: this serial is one hot item!

Teaser

How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Meh,” Mel says with a shrug of her shoulders. We start walking toward the pie cart. “Still feel like I’ve been run over by a truck a few hundred times, but it’s better than before.”
She pours herself a cup of water from one of the Gatorade containers when we hit the pie cart, offering me one as well.
“Any plans for the day?” she asks, sitting back on a wooden table still littered with a few bowls of half-eaten cereal.
“Juggling practice,” I say. The words feel like a death sentence. “What about you?”Her grin widens. “There’s a swimming hole nearby. An honest-to-God swimming hole with rope swings and tetanus and everything. I think a couple of us are heading over after lunch.”

Giveaway

This tour comes with a giveaway! Enter after the page break!

Waiting on Wednesday: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Release Date ~ 6/4/2013 

Publisher ~ Henry and Holt

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Darkness never dies.
Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can't outrun her past or her destiny for long.
The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling's game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the  oncoming storm.

   The first book in this trilogy, Shadow and Bone was knock-your-socks-off amazing and so unique, and I got the pleasure to meet Leigh Bardugo, who was very awesome. I cannot wait for this book! Alina was a great main character, very kickass, and I can't wait to see where she ends up in Siege and Storm. And Mal, I hope Mal is doing okay too! Simply put, I need this book stat!

Meet me at ALA Midwinter!

Hey guys! This weekend is ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, and I'm attending along with my partner in crime, Rachel from Beauty and the Bookshelf. I'll be at the YA Highway Meet-Up on Friday night and in the conference hall from Friday to Sunday! Come up and say hello! Tweet me (@NonReluctant) if you're going to and want to have a meal or hang out with us!

(Rachel and I do love our scarves.)

Review: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
Release Date ~ 1/29/13
Format ~ ARC
Publisher ~ Balzer + Bray (HarperCollins)
Source ~ Publisher

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.
Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.
Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.
Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

   I started The Madman's Daughter at around ten o'clock one night, coming in without any hugely high expectations, and ended up finishing the 420 page novel at around midnight the same evening. Needless to say, I devoured this thrilling retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau. It has all the key ingredients of a great young adult novel. And it even had a love triangle I could kind of stomach, which is surprising.

   The main character, Juliet, has gone from riches to rags ever since a scandal involving her science genius father, went public and he fled down. Shortly after, her mother died. So, as you can tell, she isn't have the best of times at the moment. When she has a chance encounter with Montgomery, her father's servant and finds out her father is alive, she journeys to the mysterious island where he's doing some pretty ghastly experiments.

   Juliet was a character that you really want to have a better life, and not have some crazy mad genius as a father. You grow attached to her throughout the book and really feel her emotions. Shepherd does a brilliant job of putting you in her shoes and reading the novel through her eyes.

   YA horror is hard to find, but The Madman's Daughter is young adult horror at its best. It's creepy, it's thrilling, it's suspenseful, and sometimes it's even a little cringe worthy. All of those add up to a brilliantly delivered retelling.

   Megan Shepherd's The Madman's Daughter is truly a special book. A must buy for Gothic YA fans, and for readers is general.

Cover Comments:

This cover is so Gothic and haunting and gorgeous. It matches the feel of the novel perfectly. 

 

Movie Review: Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Lining Playbook
Release Date ~ 11/16/12
Director ~ David O'Russell
Starring ~ Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro
Written By ~ David O'Russell (Screenplay), Mathew Quick (Novel)

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

 Silver Linings Playbook, like the book, is a brilliant, heartfelt, deep, and witty film. Like all great pieces of art, it makes you reflect on your own life.

My first order of business in this review is to remark on the genius acting by both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, the latter who one a golden globe for this. After Hunger Games, I had a lot of respect for Lawrence, but after Silver Linings Playbook, I have a new found appreciation for her as a deeper, maturer, more adult actress. This is her first real role playing a "adult" character, and she has completely reinvented herself. Unlike when I see actors like Daniel Radcliffe, when I saw Jennifer Lawrence in this film, I didn't think "That's Katniss!" I saw her as the character she was portraying, Tiffany, a slightly crazy, troubled young widow with terrible socials skills. I feel like this is Jennifer all grown up, and I really like what I see. In fact, I might of even liked her more then in Hunger Games. This girl has more going for her then just the blockbuster franchise, and while I'll continue to love them, I hope she continues to do projects like this one as well.

I was also seriously impressed by Bradley Cooper as well.  He's used to playing the brooding, perfect guy that has women swooning over him, and I felt like this role pushed him to step out of his comfort zone and really put more emotion into his acting. Though Lawrence outshines him a bit in this movie, I still have a new found respect for him as well. He took a risk and performed well in that risk.

Though it wasn't one hundred percent the same as the book, and O'Russell did change some things, some drastically, it was faithful in the message trying to be presented and in the characters. Honestly, if  you're one of those asinine people who throw a fit if everything isn't exactly word for word, you're going to be disappointed, and then the world is going to have to listen to you rant about it on twitter. So if you're one of those people, it's not going to live up to your expectations, just stay home and do us all a favor.

This movie, like the novel, is pure brilliance, with characters that you can't help but love and situations we can all relate to, Silver Linings Playbook is well worth it.

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Release Date ~ 1/1/2013
Format ~ ARC
Publisher ~ Amulet
Source ~ Gifted

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This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

  

   Splintered is your classic case of amazing synopsis but a mediocre (at best) delivery. I know the entire book blogging community is in awe of this novel,  and if you asked me after a hundred pages, I would of been one of those people, but now after the entire novel,  I have to say I can't agree with them.

   The thing that kind of killed Splintered for me was how it was an idea so original and unique, but how over the course of the novel, Howard was able to turn it into your typical young adult paranormal/fantasy novel. Which isn't bad in some cases, but I really expected more from this book, and it felt flat.

The setting was pretty unique - which I liked. The setting was probably the only thing that lived up to expectation. It was weird and wacky, the way any Alice novel should be. Like I said, the rest on the other hand was a total drag.

 The characters were okay, but like most things in this book, mediocre at best. I didn't really feel any emotion towards them, which is never good. My favorite part of reading a novel is becoming emotionally invested in a character, and  Splintered failed to deliver that for me.

  Splintered had potential, but sadly did not deliver.