The Book of the Night (Libyrinth #3) by Pearl North - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: The Book of the Night
Author: Pearl North
Year Published: 2012

Paul's The Book of the Night Review
Paul's The Book of the Night Pre-Reading
My The Boy From Ilysies Review
My The Boy From Ilysies Pre-Reading
My Libyrinth Review
My Libyrinth Pre-Reading

Synopsis: The world of the Libyrinth has experienced a series of wrenching changes. After the Libyrarians and their longtime foes the Singers discovered their common heritage, a young healer named Po found the Lion’s Bloom, an ancient and enormously powerful artifact capable of rewriting reality. 

Behind the mysteries of their shrouded past has always been the legendary Book of the Night. Sought for generations, both feared and revered, it is the key to this world of wonders. When vain, grasping Queen Thela steals the Lion’s Bloom and imperils the very reality of the world, only the Book can heal what she has rent asunder. An epic journey through strange lands, a perilous encounter in a clockwork city, and the revelation of the truth beyond reality will lead those who find the Book to a moment when their world will either be saved...or cease to exist.

Why?: I read (and loved) the first two books in this series, and so I'm anxious to find out what happens next! Now that Po has found the Lion's Bloom, the Libryarians and the Singers are living together peacefully, and Queen Thela is trying to destroy everything they've worked for, I really want to know how the Book of the Night can help Haly and her companions win this battle. 

Expectations: Since The Boy From Ilysies was even better than Libyrinth, I have really high expectations for this one. Mystery and adventure and everything that the first two books had, plus more explanation of the world and the Book of the Night and everything. I think there will be higher stakes and more danger in this book, so I'm looking forward to that too.

Judging a book by its cover: This cover has a little bit of a steampunk feel to it, which is pretty interesting when compared to the other covers in this series. Instead of magical, will this book be more technological? I really appreciate that it matches the other covers in the series as well. I would probably pick it up if I saw it on a shelf, but I think the darker colors and the girl might make it blend in with all of the other YA fantasy books out there.


--Ashley

Vicious by V.E. Schwab - Ashley's Review

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Title: Vicious
Author: V.E. Schwab
Year Published: 2013

My Pre-Reading
My Warm Up Review

Synopsis: A masterful, twisted tale of ambition, jealousy, betrayal, and superpowers, set in a near-future world.

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn’t automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question.

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Review: Oh my goodness, this book. I've heard such excellent things about it, but sometimes it's hard to judge a book by what other people say about it. This time, though? All of those rave reviews were spot on. I've read Victoria's YA books (The Near Witch and The Archived), and while I enjoyed those immensely, Vicious blows them completely out of the water. I didn't think it was possible, but there you have it. 

Everything about Vicious is just ExtraOrdinary. I absolutely loved the world, and I think Victoria did an incredible job with the world building in this book. It feels like our world - Victor and Eli meet in college, they have to do a thesis project in order to graduate, they go to bars and parties to celebrate or blow off steam, they and their friends major in common things like pre-med, psychology, and engineering... At first, everything seems normal. But then, the idea of an EO - an ExtraOrdinary - is introduced and things just escalate from there. The world takes on a comic book feel, which is pretty remarkable in and of itself since there are no pictures in the book to create that idea. But when I pictured the settings and the events and the people in my head, that's just how it turned out. 

I loved that there's a research bit to the idea of the EOs as well. Eli's thesis begins as purely theoretical, and we even get to see some of the science behind how EOs are "created" and why it's possible they exist. But then when his topic begins to cross with Victor's and things turn experimental, the intensity gets turned up to 11. It's interesting to see how their experiments change Eli and Victor, and how their paths diverge and eventually merge again. I think jumping around in time really helped with giving a fuller picture of Eli's character (since the present mostly focuses on Victor), and also helps us to see why Victor is the way he is now. 

One of my favorite parts in this book was how the concepts of superheroes, villains, and arch-nemeses were defined and played with. Although Eli might appear as a hero to some, he's definitely still a villain to others. But if Eli is a hero and Victor is set on revenge, does that make him the villain? Or are Eli and Victor both villains? Or both heroes? It was really interesting to me how titles change but the characters and their missions don't. The ambiguity makes the story that much richer. 

I thought all of the characters were exceptionally well developed, and I was so sad to have to leave them at the end. Although this book can definitely stand on its own and all the loose ends are definitley tied up, I really hope Victoria has a chance to revisit this incredible world and continue the story, or create a completely new one. I could go on and on and on about how much I loved everything about this book (I couldn't put it down and made the mistake of starting it before bed... needless to say, I was up until the wee hours of the morning finishing it), but you should really just go read it for yourself. I honestly think it has something for everyone in it, even though it is technically written for adults. Just go find a copy somewhere. You won't regret it. Definitely a 5/5 and one of my favorite books of all time. 

--Ashley

The Boy From Ilysies (Libyrinth #2) by Pearl North - Ashley's Review

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Title: The Boy From Ilysies

Author: Pearl North

Year Published: 2010

My The Boy from Ilysies Pre-Reading
My Libyrinth Review

My Libyrinth Pre-Reading

Synopsis: The magical sequel to Pearl North’s critically acclaimed debut novel, Libyrinth

On a world light-years away, Earth is long forgotten, except for the knowledge protected in the vast libyrinth. But that knowledge was threatened by the Singers, who for generations beyond remembering have relied on oral storytelling. They sought to destroy the books in the libyrinth, which they thought would—if read—kill the words they sing, and the knowledge in their songs.

Now a Song has created peace between the Singers and the Libyrarians who work in the libyrinth. However, the libyrinth is quickly running out of food, and the survival of the ancient edifice and those who serve it may depend on Po, a young Ilysian who has had trouble adjusting to life at the libyrinth. Caught between his longings for acceptance and the Machiavellian tactics of his queen, Po is tricked into a crime that causes him to be cast out. 

He may return only if he retrieves a legendary artifact that may be the answer to all of the libyrinth’s problems…or could turn the world into a barren, lifeless ruin. For Po, life has finally become exciting…but the cost may be his life, and the lives of those he loves.

The Boy From Ilysies is an exciting, fast-paced novel about acceptance, growing up, and learning to trust oneself.

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Review: I really enjoyed Libyrinth, and was really excited to read its sequel. And it did not disappoint! If anything, The Boy From Ilysies is even better than the first book. This series does not suffer from second-book-syndrome in any way, and it was very refreshing.

One of my favorite things about this book was that it took a previously minor character and turned him into the unlikely hero. In the first book, Po is the kinesthesiologist's apprentice and just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up flying with Clauda in the wing. At the beginning of this book, he's lost and homesick and wants to leave the Libyrinth to return home to Ilysies. But throughout the book, he matures and grows and begins to accept the other ways of life as not being so different from the one he knows. He's definitely one of the most well-developed characters in the series and in YA in general I think, and it's a real shame not more people know about him. At the start of this book, I did not like Po at all but by the end I found myself cheering him on.

Another thing that Pearl North does exceptionally well is building a new and fascinating world. I mean, I can't even begin to fathom how she came up with this concept. There are four main groups of people (the Libyrarians, the Singers, the Ayorites, and the Ilysieans), and each group has totally different viewpoints on the roles of men and women, on what/who the Ancients were, on what the driving force behind everything is, and so much more. I could barely keep them straight as the reader, I can't even imagine how North was able to create this world and then expand upon it. I thought I knew enough from the first book, but somehow North gives us even more insight into the world of these books and expands the world so much. 

The plot moves a little slowly at first, but I think it ends up being alright because we get to learn more about Po and his feelings about the Redemption and life at the Libyrinth. Once the group leaves and their mission is underway though, things pick up quite considerably. There is very little downtime, and we find ourselves right in the middle of all of the action. I also thought that switching back and forth between characters as narrators was a really great technique, and is done very well. Not only do we see what Po and his group are experiencing, but we also get to see a little bit of what is going on back at the Libyrinth. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who read and enjoyed Libyrinth. It's better than the first one, and you don't want to miss this next chapter in the trilogy! I would also recommend this series to anyone who is looking for an excellent fantasy series to start. They're easy reads, but I think they have appeal for both younger and older audiences. Anyone who loves books would love this series, regardless of age. A 4/5! I can't wait to read The Book of the Night!


--Ashley

The Boy from Ilysies (Libyrinth #2) by Pearl North - Ashley's Pre-Reading

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Title: The Boy From Ilysies
Author: Pearl North
Year Published: 2010 

My Libyrinth Review
My Libyrinth Pre-Reading

Synopsis: The magical sequel to Pearl North’s critically acclaimed debut novel, Libyrinth

On a world light-years away, Earth is long forgotten, except for the knowledge protected in the vast libyrinth. But that knowledge was threatened by the Singers, who for generations beyond remembering have relied on oral storytelling. They sought to destroy the books in the libyrinth, which they thought would—if read—kill the words they sing, and the knowledge in their songs.

Now a Song has created peace between the Singers and the Libyrarians who work in the libyrinth. However, the libyrinth is quickly running out of food, and the survival of the ancient edifice and those who serve it may depend on Po, a young Ilysian who has had trouble adjusting to life at the libyrinth. Caught between his longings for acceptance and the Machiavellian tactics of his queen, Po is tricked into a crime that causes him to be cast out. 

He may return only if he retrieves a legendary artifact that may be the answer to all of the libyrinth’s problems…or could turn the world into a barren, lifeless ruin. For Po, life has finally become exciting…but the cost may be his life, and the lives of those he loves.

The Boy From Ilysies is an exciting, fast-paced novel about acceptance, growing up, and learning to trust oneself.

Why?: I read and really enjoyed Libyrinth, so I wanted to continue the series! I've heard that this series gets better with each book, so I'm really looking forward to this one. I'm also really curious about learning more about the world and Po. 

Expectations: I have pretty high expectations for this book because I enjoyed the first one so much. I expect there to be a lot of expansion on the world, as well as on some of the more minor characters in the first book. Also, I expect there to be magic, adventure, and quite a bit of coming-of-age lessons.

Judging a book by its cover: I love this cover! I love the books and how the title stands out against the dark background. I love the stars. I would definitely pick this book up if I saw it on a shelf somewhere. 


--Ashley

Libyrinth (Libyrinth #1) by Pearl North - Ashley's Review

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Title: Libyrinth
Author: Pearl North
Year Published: 2009

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: In her debut novel, Pearl North takes readers centuries into the future, to a forgotten colony of Earth where technology masquerades as magic and wars are fought over books.

Haly is a Libyrarian, one of a group of people dedicated to preserving and protecting the knowledge passed down from the Ancients and stored in the endless maze of books known as the Libyrinth. But Haly has a secret: The books speak to her. 

When the threat of the rival Eradicants drives her from her home, Haly learns that things are not all she thinks they are. Taken prisoner by the Eradicants, who believe the written word to be evil, she sees the world through their eyes and comes to understand that they are not the book-burning monsters that she has known her entire life.

The words of a young girl hiding in an attic—written hundreds of years before Haly’s birth—will spark the interest of her captors and begin the change necessary to end the conflict between the Eradicants and Libyrarians. With the help of her loyal companion Nod, a creature of the Libyrinth, Haly must mend the rift between the two groups before their war for knowledge destroys them all. Haly’s life—and the lives of everyone she knows—will never be the same.

A powerful adventure that unites the present and future, Libyrinth is a fresh, magical novel that will draw in young readers of all genres.

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Review: Going into this book, I figured we would just get to see a lot of the Libyrinth - a library that is literally a labyrinth. But oh my goodness, this was SO much more than that! A futuristic, fantasy world that still retains information and knowledge of the world we know that is advanced in some ways and yet archaic in others. It's the perfect combination of known and unknown, and everything about it just sings! 

The world building in this book is just so so good. North managed to take things that we all know, like books and libraries and kingdoms (or queendoms) and religion and just everything and combine them into something new with hints of the old. There are quotes from every type of book, from The Diary of Anne Frank to As I Lay Dying to Charlotte's Web, as well as more obscure books I've never even heard of. I loved recognizing quotes and learning new ones, and I'm so glad an index of where they were from was included in the back. The Libyrinth is incredible, and I would love to be able to explore something like that (without the fear of getting lost, of course)! 

The way the three different groups/factions were set up was really interesting too. On the one hand, there are the Ilysiens who are ruled by and have greater respect for women. Every position of authority is filled by a female. Conversely, there are the Singers, who are governed by men - every authoritative figure is a man, and women are not allowed to rise to positions of power. And then right in the middle are the Libyrarians, where men and women are treated equally. I thought it was really cool to see things from all sides of the spectrum, and to see how similar these three groups of people really are. I also liked how their religions were all very similar, but still had their differences. And it was kind of interesting to see the influence of modern-day and ancient religions intertwined with these new religions. Don't get me wrong - these religious systems are unlike any religion out there, they just have certain aspects that are reminiscent of the ones we already know.

This book is written in the third person perspective, but follows either Haly or Clauda. Both are excellent heroines who must search themselves and come to peace with their flaws before they are able to lead, but I think they both mature and develop so much over the course of the novel that they become what they need to be. Neither of them begins as a person of power - Haly is a clerk, in training to become a Libyrarian, and Clauda is nothing more than a servant. But both have destinies much greater than that, and I loved following them on their respective journeys. 

The minor characters are also very well written, although some more so than others. Selene, Siblea, and Gyneth were some of my favorite supporting characters, and I loved how they were able to change their ways of thinking and were open minded enough to accept change. Other characters, like Jolaz and Orrin, were nice to see, but did not change much at all. I would have liked to have seen more from them and to learn more about their backgrounds. And I really want to know more about Nod and the imps, because they seem like so much fun. The relationships between all of the characters is dealt with very well too, and the romance doesn't feel too quick or forced.

Although I had kind of a hard time getting into the book, it really picks up after the first 50 pages or so and I found myself not wanting to put it down. There were still parts that were kind of slow or seemed like way too much information, and I did have a hard time getting through them, but then there would be a scene or two or several that would make up for it. 

I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for a great, manageable YA fantasy book. It's a quick read that doesn't get too complicated, and it could even be read and understood by a younger crowd, I think. Any lover of books would also enjoy most of this (except for the parts that are very Fahrenheit 451). I don't think this series received enough recognition when it first came out, and hopefully will become more popular now. I can't wait to continue the series with The Boy From Ilysies! 4/5  


--Ashley

Warm Up (Vicious #0.5) by V.E. Schwab - Ashley's Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Tor.com

Title: Warm Up
Author: V.E. Schwab
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: It’s been 297 days since David died–and came back.

He may have survived the avalanche, but the aftermath has been far worse. His wife moved out, taking his son with her, and a devastated David hasn't left his house since, terrified of the mysterious new power that followed him home from the ill-fated expedition.

After months in seclusion, David’s ready for a fresh start, and ventures out, determined to keep his power in check. But David’s power isn't the one he needs to worry about.

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Review: I pre-ordered Vicious way back in July, and have been anxiously waiting for it to be released ever since. I was pretty excited when I heard there was going to be a prequel story, to get us all "warmed up" for Vicious. After reading Warm Up, I'm more excited than ever to become fully immersed in this new and exciting world! 

Even though this story is short, I still feel like I learned quite a bit about David and was really able to connect with him. His story is heartbreaking and I just wanted to give him a big hug most of the time (minus the part about his new power...). This guy just cannot catch a break.

I can't wait to find out more about the powers these people have, and to find out where they came from. I have so many questions after reading this story, and I'm really hoping Vicious will answer them. I'm also really excited that the powers these people have are more along the lines of something like "Heroes" or "Alphas," and not something like the Justice League. 

If you want a taste of a dark, unique world with characters who make you feel for them and have superpowers, then you should definitely check out this story! It's even available to read for free on Tor's website (or you can buy it for your ereader), so you don't have anything to lose! I definitely recommend this for anyone who is looking forward to Vicious! A 4/5 from me. 


--Ashley

Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan/Tor-Forge on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Delia's Shadow
Author: Jaime Lee Moyer
Year Published: 2013

My Pre-Reading

Synopsis: A dark, romantic fantasy set against the backdrop of San Francisco devastated by the Great Quake.

It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side.

Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest.

It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again. 

And who is now aware of Delia’s existence.

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Review: You know when you love a book so much that you just can't into words how you feel about it? Yeah. That's this book. I mean, I knew it was going to be dark and have romance and ghosts and a serial killer, but it just blew me away how well everything is woven together. I felt all of the feels in this book, and it was absolutely wonderful.

Ghost stories have been done before. Some people can see ghosts, others can't. People are haunted by certain ghosts. But somehow Jaime manages to take this popular plot and turn it into something completely different. Delia's ghost, her Shadow if you will, wants something from her. So badly, in fact, that she traveled across the country to get Delia back to San Francisco. I loved how her story is intertwined with Delia's and her friends' stories. There are so many little details that I didn't pick up on until later that made me realize just how ridiculously connected everything is. 

The mystery part, to me, felt like it was split into two segments. First, who is Shadow and what happened to her? Then, once we figure that out, the mystery becomes finding out who the serial killer is. Although both have several twists and are not immediately obvious, I do think the first was more shocking than the second. It took me a little longer to figure out all the twists with the first one, and I was surprised when information was revealed. I thought the romance part was done very well too - Sadie & Jack's story is super sweet and I love them together, and Delia & Gabe's budding romance begins slowly and reluctantly and evolves as the two become better and better friends. Nothing happens too quickly, and if things progress a little fast it's always explained well.

I'm still not really used to switching perspectives and switching narration styles at the same time, so it took me a little while to get into the transitions from Delia's first person to Gabe's third person. I think it works very well in this book, but it's just very jarring the first couple of times. I think Gabe's sections helped give a more complete picture of all of the characters, since we view them from an outside source, but I really liked being inside Delia's mind and seeing the ghosts as she saw them and feeling the things she felt. I don't think it would have worked if we had been outside of Delia's mind, since I don't think I would have been so completely immersed in the whole ghost experience.

I really just loved everything about this book, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a dark, gritty, romance full of mystery and ghosts. I would NOT recommend this to a younger audience though, because there is a lot of blood and death and gruesome descriptions of how the victims were tortured before they died. So anyone with a weak stomach should probably avoid this book as well. This book reminded me quite a bit of Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard, so I think fans of that series would also enjoy this one. A 5/5 from me, and I can't wait for the sequel! 

--Ashley

Libyrinth (Libyrinth #1) by Pearl North - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Libyrinth
Author: Pearl North
Year Published: 2009

Synopsis: In her debut novel, Pearl North takes readers centuries into the future, to a forgotten colony of Earth where technology masquerades as magic and wars are fought over books.

Haly is a Libyrarian, one of a group of people dedicated to preserving and protecting the knowledge passed down from the Ancients and stored in the endless maze of books known as the Libyrinth. But Haly has a secret: The books speak to her. 

When the threat of the rival Eradicants drives her from her home, Haly learns that things are not all she thinks they are. Taken prisoner by the Eradicants, who believe the written word to be evil, she sees the world through their eyes and comes to understand that they are not the book-burning monsters that she has known her entire life.

The words of a young girl hiding in an attic—written hundreds of years before Haly’s birth—will spark the interest of her captors and begin the change necessary to end the conflict between the Eradicants and Libyrarians. With the help of her loyal companion Nod, a creature of the Libyrinth, Haly must mend the rift between the two groups before their war for knowledge destroys them all. Haly’s life—and the lives of everyone she knows—will never be the same.

A powerful adventure that unites the present and future, Libyrinth is a fresh, magical novel that will draw in young readers of all genres.

Why?: A library that is literally a labyrinth? And has a name that's a mashup of the two words? I mean, what kind of book lover WOULDN'T want to read this book?! Plus mystery, a centuries-old feud, new creatures, adventure... this book sounds absolutely fantastic. I've heard good things about it too, so there's that. And, on top of all of that, the whole trilogy is already out so I won't have to wait a year to read the sequel! At least, not unless I want to anyway.

Expectations: Although I've never read anything else by Pearl North, I've got pretty high expectations for this book. You can't give a synopsis like the one above and throw me a mediocre book. Paul really enjoyed it too, and he usually recommends pretty good books. 

Judging a book by its cover: I'm kind of torn on this cover. I like the pages swirling around, and I love the way the title looks, but I'm not sure how I feel about the girl and the lack of a labyrinth. The cover doesn't really feel like anything special, and I don't think I'd be very likely to pick it up if I saw it in a bookstore or in a library. 


--Ashley

Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Macmillan/Tor-Forge on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Delia's Shadow
Author: Jaime Lee Moyer
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: A dark, romantic fantasy set against the backdrop of San Francisco devastated by the Great Quake

It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side.

Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest.

It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again. 

And who is now aware of Delia’s existence.

Why?: Umm... hello! Paranormal fantasy set in 1906 San Francisco only a few years after a tremendous natural disaster? With ghosts and a serial killer and a girl who can stop one by listening to the others? This sounds like my type of book! I've heard so many good things about this already, so I can't wait to dive right in.

Expectations: Definitely mystery and ghosts and an exciting story colored with elements of the Victorian era. Even though this is only Moyer's debut novel, I've already heard so many excellent things that my expectations are pretty high. Plus, there are some pretty fantastic ghost stories out there that I've already read, and I really want this one to measure up to those. 

Judging a book by its cover: This cover reminds me of the cover for the Something Strange and Deadly books, and I kind of love it. Her dress is not quite as extravagant, but I like the dark colors and how shadow-y it looks. It's very fitting! And, since it isn't just a close up of a girl's face and doesn't look like your typical YA cover, I would most likely pick it up off a shelf. I love how the lettering stands out against the dark background too. 


--Ashley

The Stranger (Of Poseidon #0.6) by Anna Banks - Ashley's Review

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Tor.com

Title: The Stranger
Author: Anna Banks
Year Published: 2013

My Of Poseidon Pre-Reading
My Legacy Lost Review

Synopsis: The Syrena don’t trust many humans. Rachel is one of them. The story of how Galen met her – and how they bonded -- is both exciting and heartbreaking.

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Review: I really hope Anna Banks keeps this short stories coming because she does an excellent job taking a little back story and telling it in such a way that it makes you feel like you really get to know these minor characters. Legacy Lost was an intriguing and heartbreaking look into Nalia and Grom's past, and this story about Rachel will tug on your heartstrings just as much. 

This story takes place somewhere in between Legacy Lost and Of Poseidon, and gives us a glimpse into how Galen and Rachel forged their partnership. From reading Of Poseidon, we get an idea of what happens, but I really enjoyed seeing what actually went down on the island and watching Galen, Rayna, and Toraf start to trust a human. Although Rachel and Galen are the main focus of this story, I think it really helps give more depth to all four characters and helps strengthen some of the relationships. 

We already know quite a bit about the world, so there's not really as much world building as before, but we do learn a little bit more about how Grom and the other Syrena view humans, and we get to see more of why Galen wants to be the ambassador between the humans and the Syrena. He makes friends easily regardless of species, and I feel like there's definitely a moral in there somewhere. We still don't know a lot about Rachel, but I still enjoyed learning more about her past and how she ends up working with Galen after he saves her.

I definitely recommend this story to anyone who has read any of the other books or stories in the Of Poseidon series! It will give you warm fuzzies and all of the feels, and I think it really helps get to know some of the characters. And it's also available to read for free on Tor's website (at the link above)! So really, you've got nothing to lose ;). A 4/5 on this little novellette! 

--Ashley

The Department of Alterations (Crewel World #0.5) by Gennifer Albin - Ashley's Review

Amazon | Goodreads | Tor.com

Title: The Department of Alterations
Author: Gennifer Albin
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: In a world woven of secrets, a woman seeks a back-alley tailor for a sinister procedure, but she can't escape from her own tangled web of lies.

The women of Arras are expected to fall into assigned roles, serve as loving wives, and provide healthy children into the world's tapestry. But perfection comes at a price and not even the looms of Arras can manipulate away every problem in the fabric of life. Something Karoline Swander knows all too well. She has a respectable job, an important husband, and she's about to commit treason.

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Review:  Ok first of all, this cover really freaks me out. I still haven't really been able to figure out what in the world it has to do with anything, and I'm a little weirded out that it looks like she's surrounded by intestines and there's a bird coming out of her mouth. I like that it's dark and creepy, because the story is kind of dark, but I just don't really get it other than that. 

That being said, I really enjoyed this story! I think reading Crewel first really helped with that, because otherwise I would have been so confused. Mrs. Swander is a very minor character in Crewel (so minor that only her name is mentioned - we never see her), but I think it's really interesting to actually find out what happened to her. It's actually kind of sad, and I totally feel for her. Poor girl.

Since this story is so short, we really only get to see the events that are happening and directly led up to her acts of treason. Although I do wish this story was longer, I was amazed at how we get such a good picture of Karoline in such a short amount of time. Albin's writing is incredible, and I loved seeing more of the world that she developed in Crewel. Everything might seem perfect, but there are still problems and there are still those who are willing to go around the law and sell services that most would consider treason. 

I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who has read Crewel and wants to learn just a little bit more about the darker side of the world! Especially since it's available to read for free on Tor's website! I wish it was longer, but it was still nicely done and well paced. A 3/5 on this little story. 

Foundation (Razorland #0.5) by Ann Aguirre - Ashley's Review

Goodreads | Tor.com

Title: Foundation
Author: Ann Aguirre
Year Published: 2012

My Enclave Review
My Endurance Review

Synopsis: In Ann Aguirre’s award-winning novel, Enclave, humans have taken refuge in colonies below ground. Here is the story of what drove them there, told through the eyes of a teen who would later have vast influence over the fate of many, and who gave his heart to the one person who needed him most.

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Review: Since I finished Enclave, I've been curious as to whether we'll find out about the origin of the Freaks. And then, when I finished Endurance, I wanted to know who Robin was. And then I found this little story, which answered both questions! Well, at least in part. We also get a little bit of background on the world and helps make a broader picture of what Deuce, Fade, Slacker, and Tegan might be up against.

For some reason, I associate the name "Robin" with a female character (I'm blaming HIMYM for that), so it took me a few pages to realize that the narrator is actually male - which I should have known from the description. The only difference this makes is that Robin is gay; otherwise, his character could be totally gender neutral. I'm not entirely sure that that bit of information is necessary to the story, or that the little bit of romance that's included is necessary. I'm also not sure it was necessary to mention that he comes from a mixed family. All of those things seem trivial to me, but I guess it helps develop him as a character? I don't know.

I did enjoy the connection between Robin and the Wordkeeper, Robin's father and Bonesaw (though it isn't explicitly mentioned), and how the system of Hunters, Builders, and Breeders is formed. By the end of the story, I understand why it was so short but I still wish we had been given more. I still have so many questions about the disease and the Freaks and everything, but hopefully we'll get those answers later on.

I would recommend this story to anyone who has read at least Enclave and Endurance. I really liked how it tied up some loose ends and connected those stories, but I wish it was longer and answered a few more questions. A 3/5 on this one from me.

--Ashley

Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth #2) by Terry Goodkind - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Stone of Tears
Author: Terry Goodkind
Year Published: 1995

Synopsis: In Wizard's First Rule, Richard Cypher's world was turned upside down. Once a simple woods guide, Richard was forced to become the Seeker of Truth, to save the world from the vile dominance of Darken Rahl, the most viciously savage and powerful wizard the world had ever seen. He was joined on this epic quest by his beloved Kahlan, the only survivor among the Confessors, who brought a powerful but benevolent justice to the land before Rahl's evil scourge. Aided by Zedd, the last of the wizards who opposed Rahl, they were able to cast him into the underworld, saving the world from the living hell of life under Rahl.

But the veil to the underworld has been torn, and Rahl, from beyond the veil, begins to summon a sinister power more dreadful than any he has wielded before. Horrifying creatures escape through the torn veil, wreaking havoc on the unsuspecting world above.

If Rahl isn't stopped, he will free the Keeper itself, an evil entity whose power is so vast and foul that once freed, it can never again be contained.

Richard and Kahlan must face Rahl and the Keeper's terrible minions. But first, Richard must endure the ministrations of the Sisters of the Light, or die from the pain of magic that is his birthright and his curse. While Richard undertakes the arduous journey to the forbidden city of the Sisters, Kahlan must embark upon a long and dangerous mission to Aydindril, citadel of the old wizards, where she hopes to find Zedd and the help only he can lend to their desperate cause.

War, suffering, torture, and deceit lie in their paths, and nothing will save them from a destiny of violent death, unless their courage and faith are joined with luck and they find the elusive...Stone of Tears.

Why?: I read the first book (and the prequel book) in this series, and watched the TV show based on the books, and really enjoyed both. So, naturally, I was interested in seeing what happened next with Richard, Kahlan, and Zedd.

Expectations: I expect an epic fantasy, with more world building and character development. Plus, epic adventures, magic, a really evil bad guy (I mean, he's the Keeper of the dead. He's got to be pretty bad, right?), and lots of fantastical creatures. I really love all of the detail Goodkind put into the creatures and the world in Wizard's First Rule and Debt of Bones, and I'm sure he won't disappoint in Stone of Tears.

Judging a book by its cover: The cover is kind of like every other epic fantasy cover... It's not really anything special. I probably wouldn't pick it up if I saw it on a bookshelf, because I don't really think it would stand out from all of the other books around it. Which is really unfortunate.


--Ashley

The Queen's Army (The Lunar Chronicles 1.5) by Marissa Meyer - Paul's Review

Ashley's Review
My Scarlet Review

READ IT NOW: TOR.COM

Title: The Queen's Army (Lunar Chronicles 1.5)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen's army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen—and to himself—that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.

Review: I read this short story after Scarlet. I was already familiar with the characters introduced here. I think this short story adds to the characters of Ze'ev and Ran whether you have read Scarlet yet or not. Seeing Ze'ev's perspective adds to his actions throughout Scarlet.  

It's always great to get a behind-the-scenes kind of story from a book series you love. This short story does not disappoint. I hope Meyer decided to write more! 

I liked that we got to see the moon. I'm guessing we will get a better look at it in Cress or Winter, though. I like seeing things from the Lunar perspective. 

I give this short story and recommend it to anyone who has already read Cinder and is planning on or has already read Scarlet. I give it a 5/5.

-PAUL

The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer - Ashley's Review

Read it free here: http://www.tor.com/stories/2012/11/the-queens-army

Title: The Queen's Army
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year Published: 2012

Synopsis: It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen’s army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen -- and to himself -- that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.


I'm so glad that I read this before I read Scarlet. It was really nice to find out about some of the characters in Scarlet before they make an appearance, and to find out why they act the way they do. Plus, it's also a little bit of a continuation from Cinder - we know Levena is up to something and is creating an army of genetically modified soldiers, but we have no idea why or what they are. 

I really loved seeing the way Ze'ev interacted with his "pack" and how he develops over the course of the story. He's smarter than he pretends to be, and a better fighter than he lets on, but he doesn't want to be the Alpha. I think it's fairly important to learn about Z before we see him in Scarlet, because it certainly helps explain a little bit about his mentally and why he does the things he does.

Marissa Meyers' short stories do not disappoint, and I would strongly recommend this to fans of her Lunar Chronicles series. Especially if you haven't read Scarlet yet! And even if you have, I think this is still an excellent read and will really open your eyes a little bit more. 5/5, and I hope there are more short stories to go along with Cress and Winter! 


--Ashley