Doubleblind ~ Ann Aguirre

As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, Sirantha Jax is used to kicking ass. So why is she suddenly chosen as an ambassador of peace?

Before I dig in, I should warn you: If you haven’t read this series, you might want to just read the next paragraph or two. I can’t guarantee that I won’t inadvertently reveal something about books one and two in this review. But if you haven’t read this series I’m left to wonder…What are you waiting for? Get your hands on a copy of Grimspace and I promise you, you won’t look back.

Why? Well, since you asked…

What marks this series as excellent is the complexity of character, and I’m not just talking about Jax, though she is arguably a wonderful mess of a woman, a contradiction of strength and insecurity that infuriates and soothes because, I think, there are sides of her that are recognizable to most anyone. But no, not just her; the others that form her inner circle each have their own issues and demons, lashing out, reigning in, and generally poking and prodding the reader into feeling for them. Plus, there’s the fact that Ann Aguirre tells a good story, plain and simple. So definitely do yourself a favor by letting Sirantha Jax take you full speed into Grimspace.

Now, on to Doubleblind.

When I finished Wanderlust my stomach was twisted up in knots. March had tunneled back into darkness after immersing himself in Keri’s war, Jax was torn up, steeling herself for a fight or the loss of another loved one, not to mention that their world was coming to pieces at the hands of the Morgut and, surprisingly, someone much, much closer to Jax. I was eager and hesitant at the same time to start Doubleblind. But once I turned that first page, I was in, and it was a wonderful ride that kept me up until 2:00 am reading.

I’ve said in the past, and actually just now, that I have much love for the characters of this world. But the one that I failed to mention before now is actually one of my favorites: Vel. This book sends Jax on an ambassadorial mission to Vel’s home planet, Ithiss-Tor, where one wrong move could see her entire crew sent to the mines or, more likely, killed. Now, Jax is a speak first, think later type of girl in most situations, but the weight of responsibility is finally settling on her shoulders, forcing her to take her role seriously. This means learning about Ithtorian culture in order to avoid accidental insult. Vel proves to be invaluable, of course, but not just because Ithiss-Tor was once his home. No, this book illuminates the development of Jax and Vel’s friendship, and I soaked up every moment between them.

There are so many exchanges between Jax and Vel I could choose to quote, but I’m going with this one, one because I think it’s beautiful, but two because I was also intrigued by Ithtorian customs, such as bowing or offering a wa.

In a reflex that’s become second nature, I greet Vel with a warm, affectionate wa, layered from the angle of my head to the fold of my fingers behind the slant of my forearm. This time I know exactly what I’m saying:

Brown bird welcomes white wave. Wander no more, dear traveler.

Vel pauses so long that I think I got it wrong. Then he returns the greeting with heartbreaking sincerity. Brown bird honors white wave. The sea ever seeks the shore. Something tells me the chip is incapable of processing the nuances, but I can read between the lines. I’m pretty sure he’s telling me he feels at home with me, and I could never seek a higher compliment.

See? My heart was in my throat so many times. And not just because of these two because, well, there’s still March.

He’s not the same March, obviously, but we learn more about what he’s going through, and we see Jax’s determination to hold fast and fix him. Theirs is a relationship I can get behind fully because they’re willing to fight for each other, with each other, and their understanding of each other is uncanny. This part of the storyline is an emotional live wire, trust me.

And if that’s not enough…There’s diplomacy, threats, strange foods, tight caves, and just about anything else you could want. All in all, Doubleblind was a fantastic installment in the series, and while being immensely satisfying it still left me wanting more in the best possible way.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

From The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey:

“The answer, of course, buzzed and fretted against the window behind us.

What of the flies?“

-Page 167

I’m not yet too far into this one, but it is incredibly atmospheric, dark, and a bit unsettling. In other words, a perfect read for a Fall evening leading up to the month of October.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging ~ Louise Rennison

Angus:
My mixed-breed cat, half domestic tabby, half Scottish wildcat. The size of a small Labrador, only mad.

Thongs:
Stupid underwear. What’s the point of them, anyway? They just go up your bum, as far as I can tell.

Full-Frontal Snogging:
Kissing with all the trimmings, lip to lip, open mouth, tongues … everything.

Her dad’s got the mentality of a Teletubby (only not so developed). Her cat, Angus, is trying to eat the poodle next door. And her best friend thinks she looks like an alien — just because she accidentally shaved off her eyebrows. Ergghhhlack. Still, add a little boy-stalking, teacher-baiting, and full-frontal snogging with a Sex God, and Georgia’s year just might turn out to be the most fabbitty fab fab ever!

I’m pretty positive that in the short time I religiously kept a journal during my school years I was never as funny as Georgia Nicolson. Not even close. I’ve also come to realize that those blurbs on the cover? Sometimes you really need to pay attention to them because when USA Today said “Hilarious!,” they meant it.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging was a substitute read, a pinch hitter, I guess you could say. I was laboring through a book for my course and it was just taking too long; I had a few other options, and this one happened to be in the library when I needed it to be. Know what kind of difference it made? It took me a week to read exactly 32 pages of that other one, but this one? Two and half hours, tops. It was a quiet morning yesterday, just me and my pup, and my laughter punctuating the turning of the pages.

Here’s the set-up: Georgia’s obsessed with boys, her bra size, and smiling without spreading her nose. To help her best friend land the boy she’s crushing on, Georgia goes into the grocery he works at to do some reconnaissance. And while she’s chatting him up, he comes out…the Sex God, Robbie. From there, well, things like this happen…

He smiled again. He was dreamy when he smiled. Then he bent down to Libby who, true to form, gave him one of her scary “I am a crazy child” looks. She said, “I am the Queen,” and he said, “Are you?” (Ooohhh, he’s so lovely to children.)

Then Libby said, “Yes, I am the Queen and Georgia did a big poo this morning.”

I couldn’t believe it. He could not believe it. Nobody could believe it. It was unbelievable, that’s why. He stood up quickly and I said, “Er, well, I’d better be going.”

Just typing this made me crack up! And it’s all because of Georgia’s voice, her irreverence, and the way she has of making raunchy and occasionally immature humor great fun.

Aside from the funny, Georgia isn’t always the greatest friend, she does stupid things because she thinks she knows best, and she takes her lumps. In other words, she was an honest portrait of a young girl. I loved her imperfections, I loved that she was insecure about them, and I loved that she still wasn’t afraid to put herself out there from time to time.

I will absolutely be reading the next book in this series because I could definitely use another good laugh.

Non-Fiction, my intentions are true…

It’s going to take a conscious effort on my part, I know, to make non-fiction a genre I read. Ultimately, though, I feel like there’s much I’m missing because I tend to dismiss non-fiction without a second thought. There have been instances in the past where that hasn’t held true, and I’ve loved those titles, yet I always seem to forget that. Which is why I’m throwing out this intention, and I’m making good on it right away. I’ve just brought these following books home with me from the library (or added them to my hold list)…

You can click on each one for more info about it, and if you do you might see a little bit of a pattern with those last two. There is a reason for it, actually, and it has everything to do with another non-fiction title I read and thoroughly enjoyed.

When I was in college I took a class on travel writing. This class had a whole lot of appeal and was being taught by one of my favorite professors. We had several books to read, but there was one in particular that I had much love for: Unsuitable for Ladies: An Anthology of Women Travellers by Jane Robinson.

I like armchair traveling, but to travel in the footsteps of pioneering women? Even better. These women went all over the place: Egypt, Africa, the Orient. They went in style, often shocking their peers, always making their way with a courageous attitude. They recorded what they saw, how they got there, and what obstacles stood in their path. In the end, this anthology was a rousing adventure, an uplifting look at the strides women took towards equality, and a view to worlds I may never see, some I could never see because the landscape has changed so much over time.

With that in mind, I find myself very much attracted to non-fiction about women abroad, hence those last two books above. And really, despite the fact that it seems like I’m diving in, I’m actually going to take this non-fiction thing slow. A little here and there. And I’ll see where it takes me.

As You Wish ~ Jackson Pearce

Ever since Viola’s boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can’t deny that he’s falling for Viola. But it’s only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she’s in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

As You Wish is another book in a long line of titles that I’ve highly anticipated. And, like several of its predecessors, it wasn’t quite as satisfying as I’d hoped it’d be, but this one at least I enjoyed very much.

First, I love that Jackson Pearce also broke the mold, so to speak, and chose a Jinn as her otherworldly character. You just don’t find them in books all that often (Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series excepted,) but come on…He can grant wishes! And I love that his power makes Viola uneasy. When presented with the possibility to have her wishes come true, Viola proved herself to be a thoughtful, careful girl who realized that her wish might cause a ripple effect, and that it might hurt other people.

Viola was an immensely likable character. I really only had one issue with her, and it was something very similar to a problem I had with Mary from Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth: repetition of thought. Just as Mary seemed to think “ocean” every five seconds, Viola spends a whole lot of time contemplating how she wants to be whole. Mentioning it once or twice, fine, because it fit the story of having not gotten over a break-up with a boy she loved. But it seemed to take on a life of it’s own, this thought of hers, and while it also impacted her wishes, I just got to the point where I thought “enough with this already.” It’s only a small quibble and very much one that might be exclusive to me.

Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the dual narration. The chapters alternated point of view between Viola and Jinn; one would essentially pick up where the other left off, but you’d get a sense of what they each thought about everything that happens in the story. I love this trick, I really do, and am usually drawn to books that allow more than one character to have a first person voice.

Jinn was a wonderfully sweet, hopeful character, and I also loved Viola’s best friend, Lawrence. Most of the characters, in fact, were solid, adding to the story in their own way.

Overall, As You Wish is a sweet story about believing in yourself, about love, and, of course, about the power of a single wish.

Avalon High Coronation: Volume 3: Hunter’s Moon ~ Meg Cabot

Ellie has only one day left to get her boyfriend Will to truly believe he’s the reincarnation of King Arthur, or the world will plunge into eternal darkness. But Will refuses to believe her! Meanwhile, the upcoming Homecoming game and dance have everyone distracted, especially Ellie. Some people aren’t too happy about her Homecoming Queen nomination and are determined to cause trouble. Ellie’s got to save her reputation and the world before the new moon on the night of Homecoming brings them all to a dangerous crossroad. If Ellie can’t convince Will of his destiny, the world may never recover. . . .

I loved Avalon High, the novel that introduced us to Ellie and Will, and was immediately intrigued and excited by the idea of  a sequel being published in manga form. And despite the brevity of the three installments in said manga sequel, I’ve enjoyed them immensely, too. I’m pretty bummed that this is the last one, actually.

The thing is, I think Ellie and Will (and the rest) survived the transition from novel to manga wonderfully. Meg Cabot conveys Will’s dedication to Ellie, his drive to do what’s right, and the insecurity he feels around his father in the condensed dialogue this format allows for. Ellie, who seems a wee bit more naive in the Coronation series, still shines with hope and belief.

Some of it’s kind of cheesy, sure, but that’s part of what I loved about it. I can go along with a lot if the characters support it. And, okay, the resolution was kind of shiny happy, but still…I reached the last page and smiled. I’m glad Meg Cabot and her publisher decided to go ahead with this project, and, hey, I wouldn’t complain if she revisits it – however unlikely that may seem now – somewhere down the road.

Hush, Hush ~ Becca Fitzpatrick

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

In the end, Hush, Hush wasn’t for me. You should know that up front. Just as you should know that my expectation was that I’d love it. The cover was tempting and the story sounded like something I’d enjoy. I excitedly began reading, willing to be drawn in, but very shortly I felt underwhelmed.

When I reflected on why that was, the first thing that came to mind was the characters. First, for me, Nora didn’t come together as a whole person. I understood what Nora’s character was representative of: An intelligent, independent girl who still suffered the loss of her father. The type of strong girl that you want to follow because maybe you see something of yourself in her, or maybe her voice makes the reader sympathetic to her life. But it occurred to me, fairly early on in fact, that I didn’t feel the need to follow her, that there was little to no drive to find out what would happen to her, and I think it was because she didn’t feel real to me. What made it harder, too, was that the more she fought her attraction to Patch, the less I enjoyed her narrative because it just didn’t ring true.

I guess that brings me to Patch. From beginning to end, I didn’t like him. It was a gut reaction. And the thing is, I love bad boys as much as the next girl, but – again, for me, at least – there has to be something redeeming about that bad boy if he’s going to be the romantic lead, and I didn’t see that thread in Patch. He acted like a jerk a lot of the time, had seriously questionable motives that he atoned for in questionable ways, and the end wasn’t enough to tip me over into liking him.

And the other characters? I hate to say it, but…they kind of followed suit.

I had issues with the plot, as well: The prologue was too leading, I didn’t care for the section in which Nora determines more about Patch (it was too close to the route Bella took to learn about Edward,) and a few other things.

That said, I did enjoy the origin of angels and fallen angels, how they could do certain things, etc. I thought that was unique and fresh and a nice break from the typical supernatural triumvirate of vampires, shifters, and zombies. Plus, I’m positive that other readers will love Hush, Hush, and that many already have. Like I said from the start, it just wasn’t for me.

Retro Friday Review: Lion of Ireland ~ Morgan Llywelyn

King, warrior, and lover Brian Boru was stronger, braver, and wiser than all other men–the greatest king Ireland has ever known. Out of the mists of the country’s most violent age, he merged to lead his people to the peak of their golden era.

His women were as remarkable as his adventures: Fiona, the druidess with mystical powers; Deirdre, beautiful victim of a Norse invader’s brutal lust; Gormlaith, six-foot, read-haired goddess of sensuality.

Set against the barbaric splendors of the tenth century, this is a story rich in truth and legend-in which friends become deadly enemies, bedrooms turn into battlefields, and dreams of glory are finally fulfilled. Morgan Llywelyn has written one of the greatest novels of Irish history.

It’s been years now, so many years, since I first found Lion of Ireland in a small bookstore just outside of my hometown. It was a paperback stuck way down on a bottom shelf that I sat on the floor to read. And then, after reading those first few paragraphs, I took it home. This is how it began…

The little boy sat on the crown of a rocky hill, his thin arms hugging his scabby knees. He tilted his head back and gazed up into the immense vault of the sky, feeling wonderfully alone.

You know, it was this book that drove me to take a course during my under-grad years on Irish history. The interest would have been there anyway but, if I’m being honest, it was my fondness for this novel that did it. And when a few of my friends decided to try their hand at a book club and it came my turn to suggest a book, this was the one I picked, the one they came back sighing over.

Lion of Ireland firmly gripped my emotions as I read. I cried, I held my breath, I waited for any moment I could steal to read it in between school and work. Llywelyn’s writing was seamless, flowing beautifully at times and brutally at others; it was her writing that made Brian crushingly compelling.

The soft colors of late afternoon, gentle blue and lavender and apple green, were painting the earth in shades of enchantment. It was like fairyland; it was like Erin in the age of the Tuatha de Danann. Out of the misted wood beyond the river men might come riding in strange costumes, bringing new ideas, singing songs that had never been heard before. On yonder slope a city might rise to his bidding, where people could live better lives than they knew now, and the name of Brian mac Cennedi would be remembered through the centuries.

I own two copies of this book now and I revisit it every so often, but I’ve never forgotten it. If you enjoy historical fiction, Irish history, I hope you might give Lion of Ireland a try.

Retro Friday Reviews is a feature started by Angie at Angieville.

BBAW: Thanks for Introducing Me to This Book!

…let’s talk about that book you know, the one you discovered only because you read about it on a book blog and then you realized you couldn’t live without it!  And then you read it and you loved it so hard!  Tell us about it and about the blogger (or bloggers!) that introduced the book to you!

This is a tough one…and to narrow it down to one book, one blogger? That just seems cruel when there’s so much blame – I mean, gratitude – to go around. Still…After all these ellipses, I think I can do it. Kind of.

There is one blogger who is responsible for several books that I loved so hard: Angie from Angieville. She’s good. Dangerously good when it comes to tempting others with must-have books. And this is where I’m going to have to stray and pick at least a few books that are now firmly under my skin thanks to Angie.

Oh where would I be without Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares books? I read Angie’s review of Magic Lost, Trouble Found and immediately tabbed over to my library’s catalog to request it. When it finally came in, I was ten pages in when I said, the heck with this, I’m buying it. And I did. That night. I coaxed my husband back into his boots and into the car. And he had one happy wife on his hands for the rest of the evening.

The books in this series are fun and addictive. It takes a Herculean effort not to go crazy wondering what’s going to happen to Raine next. Add a sexy goblin to the mix and a gorgeous Paladin, and, well, you get the picture.

Another book that I am ridiculously grateful to her for is Simone Elkeles’ Perfect Chemistry. I’ll be honest and admit that this isn’t one I would have typically gone for, but…

This book gave me that deep in the gut euphoric feeling. You know the one? And I’ve read it a few times since that initial read, just to get that same kind of emotional boost from it. I’ve also recommended it to several teens that have come back raving about it, demanding to know why I didn’t put it in their hands sooner.

And now I’m on pins and needles waiting for the promised sequel (Rules of Attraction, May 2010.)

And these? The tip of the iceberg. All I can say is, Angie, keep ‘em coming!

BBAW: You and Your Reading Habits

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?

If I do, it’s usually because I’m trying to get in a few more chapters before work, so it’s breakfast.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?

Never, ever in my books. Textbooks, however, yeah, but they’re just asking for it.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

Usually a bookmark (which could take the form of anything, really,) and sometimes I’ll rest it open on, like, the couch arm if I’m just popping up quick to get something.

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?

Rarely non-fiction, but I want to change that.

Hard copy or audiobooks?

Hard copy.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?

Oh, no – that chapter needs to be finished before the book gets laid down.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?

I did that during my undergrad years when I had to keep a lit journal. Haven’t since then, though.

What are you currently reading?

I’m in between books, but about to start a Stuart Woods novel for a workshop next week. Orchid Beach, I think. Or maybe I’ll be weak and put it off (again) in favor of The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki.

What is the last book you bought?

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (read it in ARC form, but needed a copy of my own) and A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?

I’ve tried reading more than one, but I’m just lousy at it, and I don’t particularly enjoy doing so. I like to be fully invested, all into the one I’m reading.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?

If I’m there, it’s a favorite place to read. And if I’ve got time, you can bet I’ll probably be reading. Except Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. (Nothing, not even reading, comes between me and Supernatural.)

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?

Generally, I prefer series, as evidenced by the crazy number of them I follow.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?

Neil Gaiman. He’s a go-to guy for me. But I also constantly recommend Deanna Raybourn, and Jim Butcher, and Juliet Marillier, oh and Maria Snyder. What can I say? I’m a librarian. I do a lot of recommending.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)

Some shelves I organize by theme. Like I have an entire shelf dedicated to Sherlock Holmes. Same for Neil Gaiman. And I have a horror shelf. A poetry shelf. Etc. The rest, I’m afraid, are kind of a free for all.

Want to join in? Stop by here for the questions and to add your meme anweres to the list.