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Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Holmberg's Magical World Not Developed Enough to Enthrall
7:18 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
All through her years at Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony Twill has dreamed of becoming a Smelter. Manipulating metal is important work. She longs to learn all the secrets of the intriguing, exciting craft. Since graduates are allowed to choose the medium (metal, plastic, rubber, or glass) to which they will bond themselves, 19-year-old Ceony has no reason to believe she will not get her wish. Until she doesn't. Thanks to an anonymous donor, she will be apprenticed to a paper magician, of all things. Ceony cannot think of anything more useless and dull than paper magic. And now she's stuck with it. For life.
As Ceony gets to know her new teacher—30-year-old Emery Thane—she begins to understand that there is more to paper magic than meets the eye. She'd still rather be working with metal, but her assigned medium does have its surprises and wonders. The same is true of the enigmatic Thane. Before Ceony has time to learn much at all from him, however, his evil ex-wife rips out his heart. Left with a dying teacher, Ceony must use all her new skills to save him. Does she have even a fraction of the knowledge and talent she needs to triumph against a powerful practitioner of the dark arts? Or will her education in paper magic end (tragically) before it's begun?
YA fantasy is such a saturated genre that it's always refreshing to find a book that stands out from the norm a little. The Paper Magician, the first novel in Charlie N. Holmberg's new trilogy, certainly does that. While the magical world she creates is imaginative and different, it's also confusing. Its rules were never very clear to me. Likewise, the characters (especially Ceony and Emery) aren't developed enough at the outset to make me really care about what happens to them throughout the rest of the novel. As far as plot goes, there's some action to liven things up, but much of the story is told through memories and flashbacks, meaning the tale has little momentum to keep it moving forward. In the end, while I appreciated the fresh aspects of Holmberg's story, I was disappointed by its weak world-building, flat characters and lackadaisical plot. There just wasn't enough to The Paper Magician to enthrall me. Too bad, because I really, really, really wanted to love this one.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a teensy bit of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence/gore, and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of The Paper Magician from the generous folks at Amazon Publishing because of my position as a judge for the Association for Mormon Letters Awards. Thank you!
Friday, June 19, 2015
Crooked House Sometimes Sluggish, Sometimes Surprising
7:15 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Crooked House, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Erica Coleman mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
When Megan Kemp calls Erica Coleman with a plea for help, Erica responds immediately. She can't leave her best friend's daughter in the lurch, no matter how crazy Megan's story sounds. And it does sound a little loony. Megan, a sophomore at Delaware State University, is convinced someone is trying to kill her roommate, Liz Johnson. After the deaths of her parents, Liz inherited a ramshackle old mansion aptly named Crooked House. The recent victim of several "accidents," the young home owner seems to have become a target for someone with deadly intentions. But why? Has Liz's failure to restore her historic home finally pushed her impassioned neighbor over the top? Is an angry ex-boyfriend out for revenge? Or is Megan reading too much into a few unlucky mishaps?
As a former police officer and current private eye, Erica is in a unique position to help Megan and her roommates get to the bottom of Liz's recent misfortunes. Leaving her police officer husband in charge of the kids at their home in Farmington, Utah, Erica moves in with the college girls at Crooked House. Living with the roommates (while spoiling them with her scrumptious baking and obsessive cleaning rituals) gives Erica a chance to observe their goings-on firsthand. Something fishy is definitely going on. As Liz's "accidents" escalate in severity, Erica knows she must find out who's responsible for them—and quickly. One person has already died. Any one of the women at Crooked House could be next.
While I'm not huge on cozy mysteries, I do appreciate a story that's both entertaining and clean. So, when I read the plot summary for Crooked House, a new mystery by Marlene Bateman (Sullivan), I thought, why not? Not realizing it's actually the third book in a series, I dove right in. Maybe it's because I "met" Erica Coleman mid-series, but I didn't feel much of a connection to the obsessive-compulsive private investigator. She struck me as a pushy, overbearing, annoying know-it-all. I just didn't like her that much. Plot-wise, Crooked House moves along fairly quickly, offering a few surprises here and there. Prose-wise, however, the storytelling feels sluggish because of Bateman's over-reliance on telling rather than showing. The inclusion of LDS doctrine in the story gives it a unique slant. Although it's dropped in rather abruptly at times, the religious aspect never gets preachy, keeping the novel accessible to non-LDS readers. Another fun element is the recipes included in the book; they sound different and delicious. A winning combination, for sure. Overall, then, I found Crooked House entertaining, if not wholly satisfying. While I appreciated its PG-ness, its uncommon setting (not many novels are set in Delaware), and its yummy-sounding recipes, I would have liked tighter plotting, more dynamic writing, and a warmer, more likable heroine. Crooked House can definitely be read as a stand-alone, but I think I would have enjoyed it more had I started with the first book in the series.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of the Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mysteries by Josi S. Kilpack [Lemon Tart; Pumpkin Roll; English Trifle; etc.])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and very mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of Crooked House from the generous (and patient!) Marlene Bateman. Thank you!
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Readin'
11:08 AM
Even though I live in a place where it's pretty much summer all year round, I'm not much for warm weather. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, on the shores of the Columbia River—my natural habitat involves cloudy skies, blustery winds, and a constant drizzle. I'm a fish out of water in this hot, dry desert. Needless to say, I don't look forward to Arizona summers. The scorching temperatures keep me inside, air conditioning and ceiling fans on full blast. I'm lucky to have a sparkling swimming pool in my backyard for quick dips, so I guess you don't have to feel too sorry for me :)
Anyway, while summer is not my favorite, it does inspire some fun reading material. I'm not one of those people who only reads light, fluffy beach novels during these warmest of months, but I do think my summer reading choices tend to be a little frothier. Maybe? I'll let you be the judge, as this week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is the ten books on my summer TBR list. I'd love to see your list as well, so why don't you join in the fun? All you have to do is click on over to The Broke and the Bookish and follow the instructions. Easy, peasy.
Alright, here we go with the Top Ten Books on my TBR Pile for Summer 2015:
1. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler—I've never read anything by Ockler, but this contemporary retelling of The Little Mermaid looks fun. I especially love that its heroine is a young woman of color.
2. Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge—Forget light and fluffy, this thriller about a deadly game orchestrated by a sadistic fiend is described as dark and twisted. Perfect summer reading?
3. Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt—I'm in the middle of this thriller about a mother with severe post-partum depression who wakes up one morning to find her baby missing. Suffering from traumatic memory loss, she has no idea what's happened to the infant; she can't help but wonder if the police are correct in naming her as the prime suspect ...
4. The Tide Watchers by Lisa Chaplin—I just received an ARC of this historical adventure/espionage novel, which looks excellent.
5. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee—I know I'm not the only one looking forward to the July 14th release date of this novel about a grown-up Jean Louise Finch.
6. The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi—Although Ship Breaker is one of my favorite watery dystopian novels, I've yet to read anything else by Bacigalupi. His newest, The Water Knife, looks promising. Set in the American Southwest, it highlights a very real and timely threat to man's survival—severe drought.
7. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler—This quirky family saga about a mysterious book and a drowned circus mermaid looks intriguing.
8. The Melody Lingers On by Mary Higgins Clark—I've loved Clark since I first read her as a teenager. Although the quality of her writing has declined, I still enjoy her quick, clean mysteries.
9. The Leveller by Julia Durango—I love the premise of this YA novel. The MC is a bounty hunter who is hired by parents to go into the virtual reality gaming world and retrieve their missing children. Sounds like a fun sci fi thriller.
10. The Lost Daughter by Lucretia Grindle—This mystery about an American high school student who goes missing in Italy sounds like a good summer read.
So, what do you think? Have you read any of these? What great stories will you be digging into this summer? I'd love to know. Leave a comment/link to your list and I'll be sure to stop by.
Happy summer reading!
Anyway, while summer is not my favorite, it does inspire some fun reading material. I'm not one of those people who only reads light, fluffy beach novels during these warmest of months, but I do think my summer reading choices tend to be a little frothier. Maybe? I'll let you be the judge, as this week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is the ten books on my summer TBR list. I'd love to see your list as well, so why don't you join in the fun? All you have to do is click on over to The Broke and the Bookish and follow the instructions. Easy, peasy.
Alright, here we go with the Top Ten Books on my TBR Pile for Summer 2015:
1. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler—I've never read anything by Ockler, but this contemporary retelling of The Little Mermaid looks fun. I especially love that its heroine is a young woman of color.
2. Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge—Forget light and fluffy, this thriller about a deadly game orchestrated by a sadistic fiend is described as dark and twisted. Perfect summer reading?
3. Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt—I'm in the middle of this thriller about a mother with severe post-partum depression who wakes up one morning to find her baby missing. Suffering from traumatic memory loss, she has no idea what's happened to the infant; she can't help but wonder if the police are correct in naming her as the prime suspect ...
4. The Tide Watchers by Lisa Chaplin—I just received an ARC of this historical adventure/espionage novel, which looks excellent.
5. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee—I know I'm not the only one looking forward to the July 14th release date of this novel about a grown-up Jean Louise Finch.
6. The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi—Although Ship Breaker is one of my favorite watery dystopian novels, I've yet to read anything else by Bacigalupi. His newest, The Water Knife, looks promising. Set in the American Southwest, it highlights a very real and timely threat to man's survival—severe drought.
7. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler—This quirky family saga about a mysterious book and a drowned circus mermaid looks intriguing.
8. The Melody Lingers On by Mary Higgins Clark—I've loved Clark since I first read her as a teenager. Although the quality of her writing has declined, I still enjoy her quick, clean mysteries.
9. The Leveller by Julia Durango—I love the premise of this YA novel. The MC is a bounty hunter who is hired by parents to go into the virtual reality gaming world and retrieve their missing children. Sounds like a fun sci fi thriller.
10. The Lost Daughter by Lucretia Grindle—This mystery about an American high school student who goes missing in Italy sounds like a good summer read.
So, what do you think? Have you read any of these? What great stories will you be digging into this summer? I'd love to know. Leave a comment/link to your list and I'll be sure to stop by.
Happy summer reading!
Monday, June 15, 2015
Twisty Bellweather Rhapsody An Odd, Haunting Read
7:08 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Minnie Graves is not thrilled about being a bridesmaid for her sister's wedding. The 12-year-old is trapped in a huge, creepy hotel in an itchy dress and shoes that pinch her feet. Torture. Then, things take a turn for the worse. Much worse. In an event that will haunt Minnie for the rest of her life, she witnesses the murder-suicide of a new bride and groom.
Fifteen years later, Minnie returns to the Bellweather Hotel to face her fears head-on. She's not the only one in residence. The old hotel is, in fact, teeming with guests. Hundreds of high school musicians from around New York have converged there for the annual Statewide festival. Among them are 17-year-old bassoonist Bertram ("Rabbit") Hatmaker and his dramatic, self-absorbed twin sister, Alice. Running the event is cold, cruel Olivia Fabian. Among those scarred by Olivia's sharp tongue are her daughter Jill, a flute prodigy; Natalie Wink Wilson, a pianist who is now the music director at the Hatmakers' school; and Fisher Brodie, a flamboyant Scottish symphony conductor. Add in the Bellweather's ancient concierge, Harold Hastings, and you have a full cast of odd, intriguing characters whose individual stories play out as a snowstorm threatens to strand them all at the crumbling hotel.
When Alice discovers her roommate, Jill Fabian, hanging from the ceiling in the same room where the infamous murder-suicide took place fifteen years ago, it throws everything—and everyone—into a panic. Especially when Jill's body, along with any evidence of her suicide, mysteriously vanishes. While the Bellweather is searched for signs of the young flautist, the weather worsens, bringing with it the terrifying prospect of being snowed-in with a killer or, worse, the ghost of a murderous bride.
Bellweather Rhapsody, a sophomore novel by Kate Racculia, is a difficult book to describe. It defies genre, really, with its mixture of high school drama, classic horror, dark comedy, and twisty mystery. Some reviewers have said it's like Agatha Christie meets The Shining meets Glee. Works for me. All I know is, Bellweather Rhapsody tells a strange, haunting story that's full of didn't-see-that-one-coming twists and turns. It's wholly compelling, though thoroughly depressing. And weird. While I didn't love the novel, it's one that's definitely stuck with me, if just because of its oddness.
(Readalikes: a little like The Shining by Stephen King)
Grade:
Fifteen years later, Minnie returns to the Bellweather Hotel to face her fears head-on. She's not the only one in residence. The old hotel is, in fact, teeming with guests. Hundreds of high school musicians from around New York have converged there for the annual Statewide festival. Among them are 17-year-old bassoonist Bertram ("Rabbit") Hatmaker and his dramatic, self-absorbed twin sister, Alice. Running the event is cold, cruel Olivia Fabian. Among those scarred by Olivia's sharp tongue are her daughter Jill, a flute prodigy; Natalie Wink Wilson, a pianist who is now the music director at the Hatmakers' school; and Fisher Brodie, a flamboyant Scottish symphony conductor. Add in the Bellweather's ancient concierge, Harold Hastings, and you have a full cast of odd, intriguing characters whose individual stories play out as a snowstorm threatens to strand them all at the crumbling hotel.
When Alice discovers her roommate, Jill Fabian, hanging from the ceiling in the same room where the infamous murder-suicide took place fifteen years ago, it throws everything—and everyone—into a panic. Especially when Jill's body, along with any evidence of her suicide, mysteriously vanishes. While the Bellweather is searched for signs of the young flautist, the weather worsens, bringing with it the terrifying prospect of being snowed-in with a killer or, worse, the ghost of a murderous bride.
Bellweather Rhapsody, a sophomore novel by Kate Racculia, is a difficult book to describe. It defies genre, really, with its mixture of high school drama, classic horror, dark comedy, and twisty mystery. Some reviewers have said it's like Agatha Christie meets The Shining meets Glee. Works for me. All I know is, Bellweather Rhapsody tells a strange, haunting story that's full of didn't-see-that-one-coming twists and turns. It's wholly compelling, though thoroughly depressing. And weird. While I didn't love the novel, it's one that's definitely stuck with me, if just because of its oddness.
(Readalikes: a little like The Shining by Stephen King)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence/gore, and depictions of underage drinking
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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