Blog Tour Book Review: Rogue Oracle (Delphic Oracle #2) by Alayna Williams

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Today I have two posts for you as part of the blog tour for the Delphic Oracle Series. by Alayna Williams. This is the second, a review of ROGUE ORACLE and a guest post by the author. The first post, a review of DARK ORACLE, is here. This tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. You can check out the rest of the stops here.

rogue oracleInfo:
Title: Rogue Oracle
Author: Alayna Williams
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: Blog Tour
Series? Delphic Oracle #2
Series Reviews:
Delphic Oracle #1: Dark Oracle
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery
Page Count: 360
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE, THE MORE THERE MAY BE TO FEAR.

Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around—and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn’t need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.

Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards—and Tara’s increasingly ominous dreams—suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationship with the mysterious order known as Delphi’s Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen. . . (summary from goodreads)

My Review:

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR BOOK ONE, DARK ORACLE.

ROGUE ORACLE is the second book in the Delphic Oracle Series by Alayna Williams. It picks up a couple of months after the conclusion of DARK ORACLE. Mostly healed from the emotional wounds she suffered before the first book, Tara has returned to work as a profiler. She and Harry haven’t made much progress on their burgeoning relationship, and Tara’s main priority these days is protecting Cassie from the Pythia.

Tara is plunged right back into working for the government when Harry asks for help with a case. Tara’s not thrilled about being part of “The Little Shop of Horrors” again, but she is happy that she can try to do something for Harry. The case itself is intriguing — several ex Cold War intelligence operatives have gone missing. Their knowledge of uranium stockpiles is being sold, and there’s enough to lead to another Chernobyl.

There’s an interesting fusion of science and urban fantasy in ROGUE ORACLE. After reading it, I feel like I learned a lot about Chernobyl, and I liked that the author didn’t rely just on magic to flesh out her story. The bad guy in ROGUE ORACLE is a result of that blend of science and urban fantasy, and elements from both are used to catch him.

ROGUE ORACLE smooths out some of the rough spots I had with DARK ORACLE. The writing has matured. There’s not as many extraneous descriptions, and there’s less of a focus on the tarot card readings. As Tara relies on tarot cards to interpret events, they are a vital part. However, in the first book of the series, I felt like there was a lot of space devoted to describing each card and its significance. There isn’t as much of that in ROGUE ORACLE, yet the tarot cards remain just as important.

There are some scenes from Cassie’s viewpoint, which I really enjoyed. The scenes with Cassie and the Pythia expose more of the secret world of Delphi’s Daughters, and it’s a world I’d like to see even more of. There’s a moment near the end where I went, “Ohhh. That would be a big burden to handle.” Having characters that can see the future lets the reader consider if that future is set in stone, or if it can be changed. And if it can, should it be changed.

Yet again, there are some great characters in ROGUE ORACLE. My favorites this book were the Steves, a pair of federal marshals. They are quite the colorful duo, nicknamed the Kahuna and the Cowboy by Tara. They provide some comic relief, but they also shine in serious moments, and they help Cassie recover from a traumatic experience.

The main story of ROGUE ORACLE is tied up neatly at the end of the book. Currently, there isn’t a third book in the series, but I would like to read another.

Guest Post:
Writing Destiny and Free Will
By Alayna Williams

There’s something odd about writing about free will and destiny. When I’m building a story, I’m conscious that my characters really shouldn’t have much free will. After all, I’m the gal behind the curtain, directing a story and pulling the strings of my characters. They do what I want them to do…most of the time.

Sometimes, they surprise me. I think I know where I want to take them, and they rebel. They deliberately ignore the destiny I’ve scribbled down for them in my outline and decide to go on a road trip without me. Sometimes those scenes work, and sometimes they don’t. Trying to keep my characters harnessed to complete their mission is somewhat like herding cats. If I can get them from point A in chapter one to point Z in the final chapter, I feel like I’ve got things under control.

Weird things happen when I’m writing about characters who are grappling with destiny and free will in the plot line. It’s as if my internal processes become part of the external product. I have the sense that my characters are critters on an ant farm who have just become aware of a human tapping on the glass, and they’re not happy about being trapped and manipulated.

Tara Sheridan is the heroine of my ORACLE books. She’s a criminal profiler who uses Tarot cards to solve crimes, and also a former member of a secret society of mystics, Delphi’s Daughters. Delphi’s Daughters work behind the scenes to nudge world events, for good or ill, and Tara wants out of the game. When she’s teamed with her skeptical partner, federal agent Harry Li, Tara is forced to figure out where destiny ends in her world and free will begins.

It was an exciting concept to play with. Do Tara’s cards tell of possibilities, or a fixed destiny that can’t be changed? Is free will an illusion, and Tara and Harry are simply pawns in a larger pattern? Can they break free and restore order to their world?

These are questions my characters ask each other. Some of the answers are not what they want to hear. But they are questions the characters have muttered to me as I’m shoving them along their adventures with pen and paper…and it was a lot of fun to show the readers that process.

Socialize with the author:
Alayna Williams:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Dark Oracle (Delphic Oracle #1) by Alayna Williams

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Today I have two posts for you as part of the blog tour for the Delphic Oracle Series. by Alayna Williams. This, the first, is a review of DARK ORACLE. The second will be a review of ROGUE ORACLE and a guest post by the author. This tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. You can check out the rest of the stops here.

dark oracleInfo:
Title: Dark Oracle
Author: Alayna Williams
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Publisher: Pocket Books
Source: Blog tour
Series? Delphic Oracle #1
Series Reviews:
Delphic Oracle #2: Rogue Oracle
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Thriller, Mystery
Page Count: 336
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

TARA SHERIDAN HAS A GIFT . . . AND IT ALMOST KILLED HER.

As a criminal profiler, Tara used science and her intuitive skill at Tarot card divination to track down the dangerous and depraved, including the serial killer who left her scarred from head to toe. Since that savage attack, Tara has been a recluse. But now an ancient secret society known as Delphi’s Daughters has asked for her help in locating missing scientist Lowell Magnusson. And Tara, armed with her Tarot deck, her .38, and a stack of misgivings, agrees to try.

Tara immediately senses there is far more at stake than one man’s life. At his government lab in the New Mexico desert, Magnusson had developed groundbreaking technology with terrifying potential. Working alongside the brusque but charismatic agent Harry Li, Tara discovers that Magnusson’s daughter, Cassie, has knowledge that makes her a target too. The more Tara sees into the future, the more there is to fear. She knows she has to protect Cassie. But there may be no way to protect herself—from the enemies circling around her, or from the long-buried powers stirring to life within. . . . (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
DARK ORACLE is the start to an intriguing urban fantasy series. Instead of the usual vampires, werewolves, or fae, author Alayna Williams brings in a new inspiration: the oracles of Delphi. In modern day, they are known as Delphi’s Daughters and led by the Pythia. They’re a secret society of women who can read the future, but they’re not all powerful. They’re soccer moms and bikers.

Tara is the only woman to leave Delphi’s Daughters. Skilled in the art of cartomancy (using tarot cards to read the future), she used to work for the government as a profiler. After she got chewed up and spit out by a bad case, she left the Feds and the Daughters behind, wanting solitude and to live her own life. But when a scientist working on a deadly project disappears, Tara gets dragged back into the worlds she left.

Clues to Tara’s past are sprinkled throughout the book, and build her character. She’s not the usual up-in-your-face, brash, kick-butt type of urban fantasy heroine. Tara is cautious. Well, more cautious than most, but she does charge headfirst into some situations. I liked Tara’s cautiousness and hesitance to get involved. The clues of her past hint at something dark and horrible, so I found it believable that it took her time to get over that. She goes from almost having a claustrophobia-induced panic attack at a crime scene to charging into danger to save her man.

DARK ORACLE doesn’t read like your typical urban fantasy. It has more of a mystery or detective story feel. The everyday crime story combined with some hints of magic. I liked that the paranormal world in this series isn’t always upfront. You know it’s there, and that the oracles have some influence over the events of the world, but there’s still the possibility that choice and free will can change the forecasted future. There’s also quite a bit of focus on science, which isn’t usually something you find in urban fantasy.

The writing in DARK ORACLE does get bogged down at times by the extensive descriptions of tarot reading. I both liked and disliked the use of tarot cards. I thought it was a neat way to foreshadow, but I could have done without the extended descriptions of each card and its significance. I’ll admit, I ended up skimming some of those passages. But if tarot reading is something you have an interest in, you’ll probably find those parts more interesting than I did.

Aside from Tara, the rest of the characters are pretty well done. The author makes an effort to give even the animals personality. Maggie the dog and Oscar the cat were actually some of my favorite characters, along with Cassie, the daughter of the missing scientist. The one rub for me was Harry, Tara’s love interest. I would have liked to see more development of their relationship.

The main story of this novel concludes at the end of DARK ORACLE, which is nice. No frustrating cliffhanger, but there is room for more, and I’ll be reading the sequel, ROGUE ORACLE, to see what happens to Tara, Harry, and Cassie. And the animals!

Socialize with the author:
Alayna Williams:
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Twitter

– leeanna

Book Review: The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan

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the girls of atomic cityInfo:
Title: The Girls of Atomic City
Author: Denise Kiernan
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster
Source: Publisher
Series? No
Genre: Nonfiction, History, Adult
Page Count: 400
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

The incredible story of the young women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, who unwittingly played a crucial role in one of the most significant moments in U.S. history.

The Tennessee town of Oak Ridge was created from scratch in 1942. One of the Manhattan Project’s secret cities, it didn’t appear on any maps until 1949, and yet at the height of World War II it was using more electricity than New York City and was home to more than 75,000 people, many of them young women recruited from small towns across the South. Their jobs were shrouded in mystery, but they were buoyed by a sense of shared purpose, close friendships—and a surplus of handsome scientists and Army men!

But against this vibrant wartime backdrop, a darker story was unfolding. The penalty for talking about their work—even the most innocuous details—was job loss and eviction. One woman was recruited to spy on her coworkers. They all knew something big was happening at Oak Ridge, but few could piece together the true nature of their work until the bomb “Little Boy” was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan, and the secret was out. The shocking revelation: the residents of Oak Ridge were enriching uranium for the atomic bomb.

Though the young women originally believed they would leave Oak Ridge after the war, many met husbands there, made lifelong friends, and still call the seventy-year-old town home. The reverberations from their work there—work they didn’t fully understand at the time—are still being felt today. In The Girls of Atomic City, Denise Kiernan traces the astonishing story of these unsung WWII workers through interviews with dozens of surviving women and other Oak Ridge residents. Like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, this is history and science made fresh and vibrant—a beautifully told, deeply researched story that unfolds in a suspenseful and exciting way. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
Before hearing about THE GIRLS OF ATOMIC CITY, I had never heard of Oak Ridge, or knew how the atomic bomb was created. I just knew it had been used to bring about the end of World War II. I did know a little about the science behind it, because I’ve read a few books on Marie Curie and the scientific world at that time, but not a lot.

THE GIRLS OF ATOMIC CITY is a book I savored. In fact, I took longer reading it than I should have because I didn’t want it to end. I can’t remember the last time I so thoroughly enjoyed a non-fiction book from cover to cover. I even found the notes at the end, that gave details on interviews with the women, to be interesting. The majority of the book reads like historical fiction, but even better because you know it’s true! The only parts of the book that were hard for me to get through were the Tubealloy sections; they were in a different font I found hard on the eyes, and I ended up skimming them.

The book is told from the viewpoints of a handful of women whose jobs varied from secretary to janitor to chemist. All of the women had different backgrounds, from girls fresh off the farm and out of high school to college graduates. I felt like I really came to know the women. I was sad to leave them behind when the book finished, because I got the feeling that each of them led fascinating lives even after the end of Oak Ridge as a production site for tubealloy (enriched uranium).

Oak Ridge — a secret, government run project — would never happen today. It’s impossible. Smartphones and social media and the Internet would blow the secret. I also don’t think people share the same patriotism and sense of duty to the U.S. that the WWII generation had (this is MY opinion). Celia, one of the women in the book, took a job at Oak Ridge without knowing where she would be going or what she would be doing. She just got on the train she was told to get on. I know I never would have done that! “[...] all the women on the train had been told that their new jobs served one purpose only: to bring a speedy and victorious end to the war. That was enough for her (p. 7).”

Throughout the book, I wondered how the women who lived and worked at Oak Ridge would feel about the use of the atomic bomb. The author makes sure to answer that question, in their own words. As the author says about her work, “The challenge in telling the story of the atomic bomb is one of nuance, requiring thought and sensitivity and walking a line between commemoration and celebration (p. 313).” I think Denise Kiernan more than succeeded in that challenge, and did an admirable job of melding personal stories with information about how Oak Ridge started and how it operated, as well as its impact on American history.

I highly recommend THE GIRLS OF ATOMIC CITY. The book takes a secret part of American history and brings it into the spotlight. After reading it, I can only wonder what other secrets about the atomic bomb are still classified. It’s the sort of history book I like to read. Instead of focusing on big name people, the author told the story of the average, everyday American woman. The women in this book will stay with me for a long time; for me, it’s ordinary women like the ones featured in THE GIRLS OF ATOMIC CITY that make history real.

Socialize with the author:
Denise Kiernan:
Website
Twitter

– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Terra (Terrestrials #1) by Gretchen Powell

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Today I have a review of TERRA by Gretchen Powell. This blog tour is hosted by Enchanted Book Promotions. Check out the rest of the stops on the tour here. After my review there is an excerpt and a giveaway.

terraInfo:
Title: Terra
Author: Gretchen Powell
Release Date: December 12, 2012
Publisher: Hopewell Media
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? Terrestrials #1
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Page Count: 286
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

A broken and desolate Earth. A young girl struggling to survive. A lost boy with a powerful secret.

A discovery that will change everything.

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth’s population, humanity is split in two: The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon is a terrestrial–a denizen of the barren groundworld–who makes her living as a scav. Long abandoned by her father, her caregivers gone, Terra supports herself and her younger brother, Mica, by scouring the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. One day, while on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16. When the value of her discovery is revealed, Terra’s world is turned upside down.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Her search for the truth leads her to Adam–a beguiling skydweller unlike any she has ever met. But Adam has secrets and a quest of his own, and with him by her side, the world Terra thought she knew begins to unravel. Soon her discoveries unearth a terrifying conspiracy that has the potential to shatter everything–a revelation that will test the bonds of loyalty, family, and love.

The first book in debut author Gretchen Powell’s anticipated Terrestrials series, Terra catapults you through a story filled with blood-pumping action, intrigue, and surprising twists that will both wrench and warm your heart. As the hidden truths of this world unfold, new dangers that loom on the horizon are sure to leave you waiting breathlessly for the sequel. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
TERRA is the story of Terra and her brother Mica. They live on Earth, but it’s not an Earth any of us would recognize. After a city fell from the sky hundreds of years ago and released a plague, there has been a divide between ground dwellers and sky dwellers. The unfortunate people that live on the surface scratch out a living by doing crappy jobs while dodging acid rain. Terra is a scav — scavenger — and to support her brother, she picks up metal and plastic discarded from the sky cities.

I liked the dystopian setting of TERRA. The author has a lot of creativity, and I enjoyed reading about the world she created. There were some parts that were information dumps, but as I generally prefer to know as much as I can about a new setting, they didn’t bother me.

Terra is the kind of girl I can get behind: a kick-butt, take no excuses, speaks before she thinks type. Her concern for her brother was touching, and it was good that she wanted to support him and give him a better chance than she had. Mica was good comic relief, and also a foil for Terra’s seriousness and sense of responsibility.

After scavenging an incredibly valuable item, Terra makes the decision to try and find more, so that she can afford to give Mica a real chance in life. Her decision leads to an incredible adventure, starting with running from raiders who want to hurt her to ending up in a plague quarantined city. That’s where she meets Adam, a guy with a boatload of secrets.

I really, really wanted to know what was up with Adam. Supposedly a sky dweller, Adam is doing research on how “the other half” lives. Terra and I both had a lot of questions about him, which brings me to the main thing about TERRA that didn’t click for me. Without giving too much away, it felt like there were two stories in TERRA. The first half of the book focuses on the dystopian world and survival, and the second half, well I can’t figure out how to explain it without spoiling some major things. But it was different. Now, I liked both stories. I just wanted them to gel together more smoothly. Maybe if the book had been longer there would have been more room to accomplish that.

A longer book would also have allowed more room to explore and develop the relationship between Terra and Adam. I was happy that the relationship wasn’t of the insta-love or head-over-heels variety, and that Terra thought about the implications of a relationship between a ground dweller and a sky dweller. But I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between them.

Something else I liked about TERRA was that the author was willing to hurt her characters and put her in some bad situations. Sometimes authors treat their characters with kid gloves (which I can understand!) but Gretchen Powell wasn’t afraid to put Terra through some hard stuff. There was a part near the end that I didn’t think was going to happen, but IT DID, and I cheered even as I thought, “Nooooo, poor Terra.”

Overall, I enjoyed reading TERRA. It’s a well-written YA dystopian/science fiction with a cliffhanger ending that made me want to read the next book RIGHT NOW.

Excerpt:
The route to the southern wall takes three times longer than usual. With every other step, I find myself looking behind me, but by the time I finally reach the wall, I’m confident I haven’t been followed. I pull the gloves out of my pocket and put them on to protect myself against any residual water that has pooled in the wall’s cracks, then begin to climb. As I scramble up, the moonlight casts an eerie glow on the black brick, making me feel uncomfortably visible. My anxiety level is high as I reach the top, and I climb down the other side without checking the ground below. My boot lands in a shallow puddle of rainwater, splashing up a cascade of droplets that land on the arms of my jacket with a sizzle.

“Augh!” I yell out, then bite my lip and mentally curse myself for making noise. I leap out of the puddle and instinctively wipe down my arms with my gloved hands. Drawing a deep breath, I survey the damage. Fortunately, the thick soles of my new boots seem virtually unscathed, and there are only a few light scorch marks on the sleeves of my jacket. My gloves, on the other hand, are completely shredded.

“Well, those were a good investment,” I mutter under my breath, peeling off what remains of the gloves and inspecting the pink skin on my palms. My hands feel a little raw, but they don’t actively hurt. It appears the still-smoking material of the gloves absorbed most of the damage from climbing. I toss them into the puddle and offer up a sarcastic salute as they disintegrate, leaving nothing but decorative metal studs floating on the surface.

Giveaway:

US only giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

International giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaways are hosted by the author and are tour-wide.

Socialize with the author:
Gretchen Powell:
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– leeanna

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop

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the white forest

I am giving away THE WHITE FOREST by Adam McOmber. Check out my review here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner will be contacted by email, and will have 48 hours (2 days) to respond.

Open to US only. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail. All entries will be verified. Any false or multiple entries will be disqualified.

– leeanna

Check out the rest of the blogs on the hop. The hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Blog Tour Book Review: Dark Nebula (Chronicles of Kerrigan #2) by W. J. May

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Today I am the stop on the blog tour for DARK NEBULA by W. J. May. The tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours and you can find the rest of the stops here.

dark nebulaInfo:
Title: Dark Nebula
Author: W. J. May
Release Date: December 15, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? The Chronicles of Kerrigan #2
Series Reviews:
The Chronicles of Kerrigan #1: Rae of Hope
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Page Count: 265
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Leery from the horrifying incident at the end of her first year at Guilder Boarding School, Rae Kerrigan is determined to learn more about her new tattoo. looks Her expectations are high, an easy senior year and a happy reunion with Devon— the boy she’s not supposed to date. All hopes of happiness fade into shattered dreams the moment she steps back on campus.

Lies and secrets are everywhere, and a betrayal cuts Rae deeply. Among her conflicts and enemies, it appears as if her father is reaching out from beyond the grave to ruin her life. With no one to trust, Rae doesn’t know where or who to turn to for help.

Has her destiny been written? Or will she becomes the one thing she hates the most– her father’s prodigy. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
This review may contain spoilers for RAE OF HOPE.

DARK NEBULA picks up a couple of months after RAE OF HOPE, with the start of Rae’s second and last year at Guilder. Like last year, Rae’s still coping with having almost everyone in the tatù world thinking she’s going to turn out just like her dad. Simon Kerrigan had plans to take over the world, and broke almost every rule of the secretive society.

Rae’s learned more of how to use her tatù, which mimics her father’s. Simon’s power was to steal the ability of anyone he touched, and Rae’s is to store up the ability of anyone she touches and to be able to use it whenever she needs it. It’s a super powerful and unique talent.

On top of all that, Rae’s hiding a big secret. She’s dating Devon, her mentor from her first year at Guilder. Relationships between tatùs are forbidden — one of the rules her dad broke — so they have to do some major tiptoeing around. I both liked and disliked their relationship. Rae’s pining over Devon and internal monologues over whether she could trust him or not bugged me when it went on and on. But I did like that Devon does some serious thinking about their relationship, and what it could mean for their futures. You usually don’t see that in YA.

The first half or so of DARK NEBULA went by kind of slowly. It took a while for the story to really get going, but once it did, I enjoyed speeding to the ending. DARK NEBULA introduces a new character, Kraigan, who I picked out as suspicious, but not in the way he ultimately turned out to be. In RAE OF HOPE, I sometimes mixed up the characters because there were quite a few, but in DARK NEBULA, the author focused on fewer characters and developed them more.

DARK NEBULA really shows how strong Rae is, and how determined she is to prove to everyone she’s not the same as her father.

One other nice thing about The Chronicles of Kerrigan is that each book in in the series resolves the major story for that book, yet keeps the overarching plot going. I like that the books don’t end on cliffhangers, but on hooks that make you want to pick up the next one.

Again, I am curious to see where the author will take Rae and her story. I don’t want to spoil the ending of this one, but I like the step Rae took, and I wonder how her decision will play out over the next two books, HOUSE OF CARDS, coming August 2013, and ROYAL TEA, out in January 2014.

Socialize with the author:
W. J. May:
Website
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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Rae of Hope (Chronicles of Kerrigan #1) by W. J. May

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Today I am the stop on the blog tour for RAE OF HOPE by W. J. May. The tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours and you can find the rest of the stops here. Check back tomorrow for my review of the second book in the series!

rae of hopeInfo:
Title: Rae of Hope
Author: W. J. May
Release Date: September 5, 2011
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? The Chronicles of Kerrigan #1
Series Reviews:
The Chronicles of Kerrigan #2: Dark Nebula
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Page Count: 248
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth of the past?

Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school.

Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatù) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatù enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking.

Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family’s past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope for her own life. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
RAE OF HOPE would be a great book for an afternoon of light reading. It has an easy to understand magic system, a boarding school setting, and a likable cast of characters. When I started the book, the basic story — an orphan off to a new school, and the subsequent discovery that said orphan has magical powers — definitely reminded me of Harry Potter. But the concept of tatùs for magic was different, and the author created her own unique world.

I mostly enjoyed RAE OF HOPE. Rae herself is a good character, and I applauded her determination to fit in a world she knows nothing about without letting her past define her. Orphaned by a mysterious fire at the age of six, Rae eventually discovers that her father was a pretty bad guy in the secret magical world she joins when she starts school at Guilder. A lot of her classmates have been warned about her by their parents, and even her own uncle ominously tells her, “The sins of the father are the sins of the son, or in this case, daughter (p. 1).” Going up against so much negativity and judgement would be tough for anyone, so Rae’s determination to show everyone that she isn’t her father is a good lesson.

The story didn’t have too many twists or turns, but I didn’t see the ending coming, which is always a plus for me. I actually thought someone else was going to be the bad guy, so it was a nice surprise to find out I was wrong. I also liked the idea of tatùs — tattoos that show a character’s magical ability. I thought it was a good idea that characters don’t instantly become powerful when their tatùs manifest on their sixteenth birthday, but instead their powers grow over time.

I have to mention Devon, who stood out among the guys interested in Rae. Lately the YA books I’ve been reading actually have GOOD GUYS for the main character to fall in love with, which is something I really like. I’m so sick of the bad boy trend! Devon is a sweet guy who tries to help Rae fit into and understand the world she’s thrust into.

What I would have liked to see more of in RAE OF HOPE was more focus on character development. Sometimes it was hard to remember who was who, and what their tatù was. Some of the guys — Riley, Andy, Charlie, etc. — blended together. There was also a part where Rae is depressed, but instead of showing, the author tells us Rae’s depressed in a paragraph or two. And then in another paragraph or two, a fix comes along.

Overall, RAE OF HOPE is a pretty good book. I’m curious to see where the author will take Rae and the story in book two, DARK NEBULA.

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W. J. May:
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– leeanna

Book Review: Shadow on the Crown by Patricia Bracewell

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shadow on the crownInfo:
Title: Shadow on the Crown
Author: Patricia Bracewell
Release Date: February 7, 2013
Publisher: Viking Adult
Source: Viking Adult/NetGalley
Series? First in trilogy
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction
Page Count: 416
Rating: [5/5 stars]

Summary:

A rich tale of power and forbidden love revolving around a young medieval queen

In 1002, fifteen­-year-old Emma of Normandy crosses the Narrow Sea to wed the much older King Athelred of England, whom she meets for the first time at the church door. Thrust into an unfamiliar and treacherous court, with a husband who mistrusts her, stepsons who resent her and a bewitching rival who covets her crown, Emma must defend herself against her enemies and secure her status as queen by bearing a son.

Determined to outmaneuver her adversaries, Emma forges alliances with influential men at court and wins the affection of the English people. But her growing love for a man who is not her husband and the imminent threat of a Viking invasion jeopardize both her crown and her life.

Based on real events recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Shadow on the Crown introduces readers to a fascinating, overlooked period of history and an unforgettable heroine whose quest to find her place in the world will resonate with modern readers. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I had a hard time reviewing SHADOW ON THE CROWN, but not because it was a bad book. Quite the opposite: the book sunk its claws into me, and I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the last page. It’s now been a month since I read it, yet I still think about it every so often.

SHADOW ON THE CROWN is the story of Emma of Normandy. I had never heard of her before, but I was instantly captivated by her character. The author’s writing is raw and honest, and there were plenty of times I felt absolutely horrible for Emma. Women in that time (~1000 A.D.) were treated like chattel, even queens, and it was sobering to read.

I had never read anything about this period of history before, and though the author admits she made some changes here and there for the sake of the narrative, she more than succeeded in getting me interested in the time. That’s what I want historical fiction to do for me, so A+ there.

I was a bit worried at the beginning of SHADOW ON THE CROWN. There’s a helpful glossary of terms and a cast of characters; the sons of Æthelred all have similar names. So I was worried that I would get them mixed up, but each had his own personality, and I could easily tell them apart.

Aside from Emma’s viewpoint, there are three others: Æthelred, the King; Athelstan, his son; and Elgiva, daughter of one of the King’s chief rivals. This gives a more complete picture of events. The plot, by the way, is well done, with lots of intricate English politics and Viking badassery.

I liked Elgiva’s narration the best after Emma’s, because of her ambition. I’d liken her to a modern woman, in that she didn’t listen to her father and brother when they tried to control her. She was out for herself.

My only complaint is I wish it had been clearer that SHADOW ON THE CROWN is the first book in a trilogy. When I was about three quarters of the way through it, I was trying to figure out how all the various storylines would tie up, only to realize most of them wouldn’t.

I can’t believe SHADOW ON THE CROWN is a debut! I’ll definitely be on the lookout for the rest of the trilogy, because the author made Emma and her story so fascinating to me. This isn’t a “girl meets her prince and lives happily ever after” historical fiction. It’s gritty, dark, and realistic, and I LOVED it.

Highly recommended.

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– leeanna

Waiting on Wednesday: Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield

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chantressChantress by Amy Butler Greenfield
Release Date: May 7, 2013

Lucy’s Chantress magic will make her the most powerful—and most hunted—girl in England.“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness.

When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.

Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion…

Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic. (summary from goodreads)

Chantress sounds like a great combination of fantasy and historical fiction, with a cool magic system. Plus the cover is gorgeous.

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Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

– leeanna

Book Review: The Enchanted Truth by Kym Petrie

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the enchanted truthInfo:
Title: The Enchanted Truth
Author: Kym Petrie
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Source: Greenleaf Book Group/NetGalley
Series? No
Genre: Fantasy, Short Story
Page Count: 40
Rating: [1/5 stars]

Summary:

In this humorous and insightful tale, a modern day princess finds herself single and asking for magical intervention to change her sorry love life. Rather than casting a spell to bring Prince Charming to her rescue, a savvy fairy godmother gives the tenderhearted damsel an unexpected gift. By entrusting her true thoughts and desires to an unlikely confidant, the young royal soon discovers that the person who could make her life everything she dreamed it would be has been with her all along.

As author Kym Petrie herself realized, every woman needs a froggy friend and a secret journal—and enough adventures with the girls to keep her heart pounding and her mind racing. Life is meant to be about happy beginnings . . . you can never have enough of them. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
THE ENCHANTED TRUTH is a very short modern day fairy tale, aimed at teaching young women that they don’t need a man to be happy. The message behind the book is good, if heavy-handed.

The story is pretty basic: instead of the fairy godmother producing a handsome prince, the princess has to think about what she wants in a man. In the process, she discovers who she is as a person. It’s short, sweet, and simple.

However, the writing made it difficult for me to enjoy THE ENCHANTED TRUTH. The writing is so overdone and overly descriptive. Here’s an example: “I’ve brought you a gift, my dear,” the bedazzled tutor said again, patting the maiden’s arm softly. “A magical gift.” (p. 6). It reminded me of one of those assignments in grade school where you’re not allowed to use the same word over again in a paragraph or page. But in real writing, it keeps the reader in the story to refer to the princess as the princess, instead of “the ingenue” or “the novice regal,” and so on.

A cute story, but not for me.

– leeanna