The Book Thief Review

In Nazi Germany, a girl is brought to a foster home, for reasons she is only mildly sure of. Her brother was supposed to be with her, but instead she has a book that she stole from his burial. When she arrives to Himmel Street, she doesn't know what to expect. What she finds is a family in the face of global tragedy. Then a man by the name of Max shows up at her door one night, and things start to grow grim.

Really that is all I can tell you about The Book Thief without spoilers, though the book itself does give you various spoilers throughout. This is because the narrator is Death, and Death has little time for building suspense and mystery.

The unique narrator is just one of the things that makes this book memorable. Another would be the author's choice to set this book inside Germany during WWII. There's also the writing, and the fantastic characters Zusak brings to life.

All of these things take a while to culminate together and make you truly care, but once you do, man, you do. Which is what makes the ending so gut-wrenching.

In the end I just wanted to let you know that all of those things you've heard about The Book Thief over the years are 100% true. Yep, it'll make you laugh and cry (or sob). Yep, it'll have you pondering the frailty of life and the bonds we form. Yep, you should definitely ignore the thickness of it and just read it.

Plot: Gorgeously woven and intense.

Characters: Fantastic. I felt like I was living on Himmel Street myself.

Writing: See above.

Ending: Writing Marcus Zusak some hate mail.

Content warning: There are, of course, mentions of the brutality of the period. However, there aren't as many as there could have been. There's some swearing, but it's mostly in German. This one is probably better suited for an older teen, though.

Overall:

Don't you EVER interrupt me while I'm reading a book/crying.

Though I took my sweet time getting through The Book Thief, it still captured my heart fully. Days after reading it, I'm still thinking about it.

I received my copy for free from my library.

Code Name Verity Review

Author: Elizabeth Wein
Release date: May 15, 2012
Pages: 332
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
How I got it: For review from publisher 

Oct. 11th, 1943—A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun. 

When “Verity” is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn’t stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she’s living a spy’s worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution. 

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?  

Harrowing and beautifully written, Elizabeth Wein creates a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other. Code Name Verity is an outstanding novel that will stick with you long after the last page.

So after all the things I'd heard about Code Name Verity I decided to give it a go, despite it being about 70 years away from my comfort zone. There was no bawling from me like there has been from many others, but I'm still glad I listened to the hype in this case, because Wein has crafted a truly unique and brave story that I'm glad to be able to call YA.

Both Verity and Maddie are strong, lovable heroines who I was unable to relate to, but that I really really admired and respected. Actually that's how I felt about the entire book: I have nothing in the world but respect for it, not even any real emotional attachment to it. When I picked it up I enjoyed it and was constantly left guessing but when I put it down I didn't seem to miss it much.

Really there's not much more I can say about this one about giving things away. I enjoyed it and am definitely glad I read it, but for whatever reason I was just unable to connect with it on an emotional level. If you take emotions out of it, then this is a truly fantastic book. Very literary, very smart, very much in the running for the Printz. Even if it's out of your comfort zone like it is mine, I recommend giving it a try. It's well worth the read, even if it wasn't magnificent for me.

Plot: Very slowly paced (intentionally, probably) but also very well-executed.

Characters: Admired them a lot.

Writing: Where the book really shines, in my opinion.

Ending: Really freaking sad, but it had to be, I guess. And good. It was sad and good.

Overall:

I'll put this book down at the drop of the hat, but when I pick it up I can't help but be thoroughly impressed.

This was a very tricky review for me to write, because I have such mixed feelings about it, but in a way I never have before. I don't know. Code Name Verity seemed kind of like a classic to me, in that I may not have loved it, but I'd still recommend everyone read it. Sorry, crappy review, but that's all I've got for you.

Exile Review

Author: Anne Osterlund
Release date: April 28, 2011
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 304
How I got it: From author for review
Other titles in series: Aurelia 

Crown princess Aurelia is a survivor. She survived attempted assassination. She survived the king's rejection. She survived her mother's abandonment. And now, in exile, she must survive her kingdom-from hostile crowds to raw frontier to desert sands. But even as unknown assailants track Aurelia and expedition guide Robert, she knows her greatest risk is falling in love...

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Exile was a lot like its predecessor, Aurelia, in that it could've been great but fell completely flat for me.

In Exile, there is a lot of unnecessary talking and then more talking and not much doing. It felt very drawn out for me, and if I enjoyed the romance the author was trying to focus on then maybe I wouldn't mind that. However, I cannot say I enjoyed the romance. I was told that these two characters felt something for each other, but not once in the entire novel did I feel any kind of romantic tension between them. It all felt very forced.

I do wish I liked the romance more, because I do like Aurelia. She's damaged but soft-hearted and vulnerable in a unique and compelling way that most main characters are not. Robert is also nice, but he is so driven by his "love" for Aurelia that it was his main characteristic.

This series is not my favorite despite its heaps of potential. If it sounds like something you would like, then I wouldn't tell you not to read it, but I would suggest checking it out from the library instead of buying it.

Plot: Rather boring.

Characters: I like Aurelia but that's it.

Writing: There was no TENSION. I need my SEXUAL TENSION.

Ending: Fine, though not exciting enough to make me want to read the next book.

Kid friendly? Very. There's a brief mention of sex but it never happens, and their swear words are about crowns.

Overall:

Kinda had to force myself to get through this one.

This is just not the series for me, plain and simple. 

Other thoughts on Exile:

Reading Vacation

Bookworm1858

Maxine Matthew

Grave Mercy Review

Author: Robin LaFevers
Release date: April 2, 2012
Publisher: Harcourt
Pages: 549
How I got it: For review via Netgalley 

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? 

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. 

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

So I didn't expect to like Grave Mercy that much, (I'm not even sure what compelled me to request it. Probably the cover.) because I'm just not a historical fiction kind of girl and this book is set in the late 1400's. But I figured I'd give it a try since I'd heard good things about it and I had been told it had assassin nuns.

Much to my surprise, I ended up absolutely LOVING Grave Mercy. Between the court politics, amazing heroine, swoon-worthy guy, and oh yeah THE ASSASSINS NUNS, I was floored by Grave Mercy. Seriously, where has this book been all my life? Days later and I still cannot stop thinking about this fantastic story.

Ismae is fricking AWESOME. She'd been dealt a crappy hand in life, until one night when she was fourteen she was driven to a convent and promised to be taught all of the ways to kill a man. Now Ismae's seventeen and deadly, and she's just now stepping out into the world to you know KILL PEOPLE. Which leads her to meet Duval, the duchess' handmaiden and all-around wonderful human being that made me swoon. The SEXUAL TENSION between these two was crazy great.

But do not think that this is YA historical romance book! It is SO MUCH MORE. This book has politics and power struggles up the ying-yang. Oh an FIGHTING and DEATH and shizz. It is such a well-crafted story.

Mayhap I'm a tad obsessed with Grave Mercy. Like, I may have to write and/or read fanfiction while I wait for the next book (which is something I've NEVER DONE), which will be told from Sybella's point of view. (YAY.) It has been a looong since I've freaked out so much because of a book, especially one that isn't a contemporary. So, what I'm trying to say is this:

Read this book if you like historical fiction. Read this book if you don't. Just READ IT.

(Also, now I need some more historical fiction recommendations. Help me out?)

Plot: Sososo good.

Characters: Sooooooo good!

Writing: Superb.

Ending: LOOOVE.

Kid friendly? There's mentions of rape and sexual harassment and consensual sex, as well as drinking and some swearing.

Overall:

I may have ignored my friend a little too much to read this book.

While I was reading most of Grave Mercy I had a friend over, and I may have forced her to sit and read with me because I just could not put this book down. (But I think it's okay since she's done it to me before too.) A new and surprising addition to my Favorites shelf! 

Haunting Violet Review

Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Pages: 352 (HC)
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: From publisher for review

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

I always have fun when reading Harvey's Drake Chronicles, so I was really excited to read a new novel by her. Sadly, it fell a bit short of my expectations.

Haunting Violet starts off strong. Usually historical fictions start slow for me, but this novel starts with a bang. But about halfway through, it gets slow and begins to read like a drawn-out game of Clue.

Though Haunting Violet did have it's strong points despite it's awkward pacing, like Violet. I can't put my finger on why, but I just really liked her character. She was realistic, with a believable amount of wit and the standard "eff-society" 'tude that most historical main characters have. Also, I didn't see the villain coming, so it was pretty unpredictable.

It had both it's ups and downs, but really I just didn't connect to this story like I'd wanted to in the end. Not the novel for me, I'm afraid.

Plot: A bit too unoriginal and oddly paced.

Characters: I liked Violet, but the side characters were all kind of bland.

Writing: Very good.

Ending: Well done.

Kind Friendly? There was mild swearing, drinking, gambling, and murder.
Should I read it? A lot of people seem to love this one, so if it seems like something you'd like, go for it.

Overall:

And be sure to check out the new bind-up of the Harvey's Drake Chronicles--Ruling Passion--coming soon.

Blog Tour: Lily of the Nile Review and Interview

Author: Stephanie Dray
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Pages: 368 (PB)
Publisher: Berkley
Most Appropriate For Ages: ??
Where I Got It: For review from publicist

With her parents dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, Princess Selene must save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers...

In the aftermath of Alexandria's tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she's ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she's put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene's captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the emperor's sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans...

Trapped in a Roman court of intrigue that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. Faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to honor her mother's lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win or die?

Lily of the Nile is far from my normal read, but it ended up fascinating me more than I would've expected.

Selene is a smart and strong heroine, and she is sure to empower girl readers everywhere. There's no romance in this book, which was an interesting, nice change from YA's overly-used love triangles and mysterious sulky boys.

The book was sometimes a little too easy for me to put down, but that's pretty much my only complaint. There isn't much of a fantasy element. Instead, Lily of the Nile is full of riveting ancient political strategy, as well as religion, and I found myself learning a great deal about ancient Rome and Egypt...without being bored to tears.

Entertaining, educational, and memorable, Lily of the Nile is sure to wow fans of historical fiction, as well as introduce many to the genre and this exciting time in history.

Book Report:

Plot: Occasionally slow, but always interesting.

Characters: Smart and likable.

Writing: Very good.

Ending: Satisfying, and I'll be looking for the sequel.

Kid friendly? Honestly, I'm not sure what age range is recommended for Lily of the Nile. There's a little talk of sex, but it should be safe for teens (though some of the politics may go over some younger teen's heads).

Should I read it? Yes, especially fans of historical fiction.

Overall:

And now, here's an interview with the author of Lily of the Nile, Stephanie Dray:

What originally fascinated you about history?

In school, history is often taught in a dry fashion involving much memorization of dates and timelines. I didn’t really learn to love history until I noticed the story in history. I wanted to know what these people were like and what they loved. It’s certainly eye-opening to learn about the values of the ancients, some of which are are quite foreign to us. But it’s probably even more shocking to realize how much they are like us. Cleopatra’s daughter suffered great losses and managed to triumph over them. I find that inspiring!

What do you do to get rid of writer's block?
First, I whine a lot. Then I procrastinate. Eventually, I break down and simply give myself permission to write badly. Because that’s the real cause of writer’s block. It’s not that you don’t have any ideas--it’s that you don’t think they’re good enough to write down.

Aside from writing and reading, what other hobbies do you enjoy?
I’m a mother of three cats and one of them loves to learn tricks. So I’ve trained him to sit up, shake paws, give me a high-five and to give me a kiss on the nose. Right now, we’re working on getting him to jump through a hoop but he finds the whole thing a little insulting to his feline dignity.

What books would you recommend to new, teen fans of historical fiction?
A nice comparison to Lily of the Nile might be Michelle Moran’s Cleopatra’s Daughter. I think young readers would enjoy that! Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution is something teen readers should check out too.


What do you want readers to take away from Lily of the Nile?
Selene’s life was a journey--from spurned prisoner of war to powerful queen. She found a way to triumph over all the tragedies in her life and forge her own path. Selene was a survivor; there were scars that she’d never recover from, but she still found her purpose. I’d like readers to take inspiration from that.

BIO


Stephanie Dray is the author of a forthcoming trilogy of historical fiction novels set in the Augustan Age, starting with Lily of the Nile: A Novel of Cleopatra's Daughter. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.


She is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline for which is March 1, 2011, but join her newsletter now for updates and a chance to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.

Thanks to Stephanie for the interview!

Prophecy of the Sisters Review

Release Date: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Age Group: 12+
Pages: 343 (Hardcover)

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.
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It took me longer than I would've expected-longer than I've hoped-to get into this book. A dangerous prophecy sounds really engrossing, but it seemed to me like it dragged on quite a bit.

Once the plot actually got going, it was pretty good. But it took it kind of long to get to that point. I know this is the first book in what's supposed to be a series, but it did take some wading through on my part. I'm definitely glad I read it, don't get me wrong. It was a unique, dark, tale of the choices we have to make-and just a good fantasy.

The characters were pretty good. I didn't have one that I didn't like-save for Alice. She was deceptive and just all together evil. Lia was a well put together protagonist, and her friends Sonia and Luisa were very likable. My favorite may be Madame Berrier, who plays a big part in the story in a short amount of time.

The writing was there, definitely. Very dark, descriptive and perfect for the vibe of the book. We should be expecting good, if not great, things from author Michelle Zink.

All in all, not bad. A well though out, original story...once I got into it. I would recommend it, and will be reading the sequel.
(It was bordering on 3 1/2 and 4.)

If you liked A Great And Terrible Beauty, you may like this.


And, on a completely non-prophecy related note, I have 50 followers! Yay! Thanks guys, you rock.

A Great And Terrible Beauty Review

Release Date: December 9, 2003
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Age Group: 14+
Pages: 416 (Hardcover)

It’s 1895, and after the suicide of her mother, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off from the life she knows in India to Spence, a proper boarding school in England. Lonely, guilt-ridden, and prone to visions of the future that have an uncomfortable habit of coming true, Gemma’s reception there is a chilly one. To make things worse, she’s been followed by a mysterious young Indian man, a man sent to watch her. But why? What is her destiny? And what will her entanglement with Spence’s most powerful girls—and their foray into the spiritual world—lead to?
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I really enjoyed this book. I think I'm going to have a hard time reviewing this, just to let you know in advance. I'm not sure why, though.

The plot is extremely original, and I really enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of it, even though I was worried I wouldn't. The plot was pretty confusing at time, though, and I'd have to go back and reread something.

Gemma Doyle is 16 in 1895, but she manages to, somehow, have a modern personality. There are times where you loves her friends, and times where you hate them. They all did stuff that really annoyed me, though. There are, however, awesome supporting characters like the coolest school teacher in the world, Miss Moore.

Libba Bray's writing was outstanding! Very crisp and vivid descriptions that make you feel like you're really seeing it all. I would've liked for her to use more of this writing to describe the characters, but sadly she didn't.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable, but not perfect read. I'll definitely be reading Rebel Angels, the next in the series.


(I've changed my review system, if you look at the sidebar.)