“Faves of 2011 (so far)”: The Characters

“Faves of 2011 (so far)” originates from Nomes of Inkcrush. The only rule: books that make the cut must have been read this year.

The books have had their time in the spotlight; it’s time for the characters to shine. This was borderline painful for me because, let’s face it, I get attached to a lot of characters. How can I pick favorites? And only one or two per question at that. This is me, grumbling.

And this, this is me trying my best as, once again, here we go.

1. Best female POV: Toby Daye from Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series
With her realistic blend of strength and vulnerability, Toby quickly became one of my favorite urban fantasy heroines. She’s one of those characters that I believe in, if you know what I mean. I also worry about her, cheer for her, desperately want her to make a move on Tyablt because goodness that man is fine. In short, Toby is awesome.

Runner-up: September from The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

2. Best male POV: *rubs temples*
I pushed around and poked at so many answers for this one that I gave myself a headache. The thing is, I haven’t read many books that feature a prominent male point of view, and of the rest, well, how do I choose? I could go with Marek from Linda Gillard’s House of Silence; his voice, when the story shifted to him, was pitch perfect. I could go with Trei from Rachel Neumeier’s The Floating Islands; his grief and sense of wonder – everything about him, really – made me want to hold him close. Then there’s Shane Collins from Rachel Caine’s Bite Club; the reader finally, finally got a first person taste of him, and I liked it. And Bob from Jack Schaefer’s Shane; he was so sweet even while his innocence was slipping through his fingers as the story unfolded. And…You see what I mean? *rub, rub*

3. Best Couple: Kate and Curran from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series
You have to love a couple that has to work for their relationship. Kate and Curran are strong, independent people accustomed to doing things their own way, which means that compromise is essential to the success of their relationship. I like watching them work things out.

Runners-up: Eve and Roarke (from Treachery In Death); Kitty and Jeff (from Alien in the Family); Carrie and Graham & Sophie and John (from The Winter Sea); Chess and Terrible (from Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghost series).

4. Who I fell completely in love with (new literary crush): Tybalt (!) from Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series
Because the man is purrfect. (You know I had to do that.) But, if I must, I’ll elaborate. (Oh, such a chore! *snort*) Tybalt is not what he seems; there’s depth to him, and surprising facets. He’s a strong leader; affectionate with his (awesome) nephew; and he treats Toby with respect, believing in her when her own belief falters. He’s sexy, smells like pennyroyal, leather, musk and wild honey, and makes my heart beat faster every time his name even appears on the page. Yup. I’ve got it bad.

5. Worst (best) villain: Lord Ido from Eon and Eona by Alison Goodman
His single-minded determination to attain godlike power was chilling. He was ruthless, willing to use his charm and charisma to get his way, and showed a disturbing capacity to make people doubt his true intentions.

Runners-up: Sarad Nukpana from Lisa Shearin’s Con & Conjure; the bad guys from Ilona Andrews’ Magic Slays (I don’t want to give spoilers, hence the generic moniker).

6. Best kick-arse female: Eve Dallas from Treachery In Death by J.D. Robb
This was actually a no-brainer for me. Eve Dallas is a tough woman capable of bringing men twice her size down with little more than her hands, knees and boot-shod feet. Her lack of supernaturally supercharged strength makes her ability to kick major arse even more impressive.

Runners-up: Kat from Jeaniene Frost’s This Side of the Grave; Kate Daniels from Ilona Andrews’ Magic Slays; Kitty from Gini Koch’s Alien in the Family; and Raine Benares from Lisa Shearin’s Con & Conjure.

7. Best kick-arse male: Terrible from Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series
Kicking arse is gang enforcer Terrible’s purpose in life. And he’s very, very good at it. If a crowd of people were the Red Sea, Terrible would make like Moses the moment said crowd caught a gander of him.

Runners-up: Raphael from Nalini Singh’s Archangel’s Consort; Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s This Side of the Grave; Tybalt from Seanan McGuire’s Rosemary and Rue; Roarke from J.D. Robb’s Treachery in Death; Keir from Elizabeth Vaughan’s Warprize; Curran from Ilona Andrews’ Magic Slays.

8. Broke your heart the most: Lochan from Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
He just did.

“Faves of 2011 (so far)”: The Books

Holly’s list(s) prompted my own interest in this half-year look back at favorite books, characters, and covers. (I’m becoming quite the fan of lists. More and more lately I find myself scrawling out one list or another. Ah, memory! There was a day when you were sharp. Good times.)

“Faves of 2011 (so far)” originates from Nomes of Inkcrush. The only rule: books that make the cut must have been read this year.

I’ll be covering the first topic – “the books” – in this post, and will follow up with the other two – “the characters (& the covers)” and “the scenes & the random” – later this week or perhaps next. Here we go.

The Books:

1. Most powerful book: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
This book wrecked me. Literally. I turned to menial domestic tasks to cope, to try to stop thinking about it; I couldn’t listen to the singer whose song is playing in the background during a key scene for weeks after; and, finally, I physically had to move the book from my line of sight. Powerful? Yes, I’d say so.

2. Best ache-y, heart-breaking, tear-jerker read: See above

3. Delicious rainy day comfort read: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
I wasn’t even finished with this one when I realized it was going to become a favorite comfort read. The story is so absorbing, so romantically sweeping and sigh-worthy; it gives me a happy boost just thinking about it.

Runner-up: House of Silence by Linda Gillard

4. The beautiful prose award & 5. Most atmospheric and vivid setting & 6. Most original and imaginative: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente
I am convinced there is magic in this book. Real, potent magic, because I’m still under its spell. To say that Valente is a talented writer is a gross understatement of her imagination and skill.

7. I-had-no-idea-I-would-love this-so award: Shane by Jack Schaefer
Shane was a wonderful surprise. Had someone told me, years before picking this book up, that I would love a western, well…I wouldn’t have believed them. But then, this one did have built-in Chelle appeal in the form of strong men with an even stronger bond.

8. Most haunting story: Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

9. Series that I’m loving: the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire
It was love at first page. I read the first four books in the series in four days; what more proof do you need? Amazing characters (Tybalt!), fantastic world-building (Tybalt!), and a million other things mark this series as one that should not be missed (Tybalt!).

On-going love: Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, In Death series by J.D. Robb, Kitty Katt series by Gini Koch

10. Most memorable voice award: Chess Putnam from Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series
Urban fantasy heroines with traumatic pasts and messed up lives are a dime a dozen, but Chess has them all beat. Her drug addiction, her need for that next fix, gave her voice a unique tone of…desperation. And that on top of the traumatic past and otherwise messed up life.

11. Would make the best movie: The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier
I’d love to see it as a live action movie, but I would be equally thrilled to see what Hayao Miyazaki would do with it (and not just because he already has floating islands nailed down).

Runner-up: House of Silence by Linda Gillard

Warprize – Elizabeth Vaughan

Publisher’s Summary:
“Xylara is the Daughter of the Warrior King, Xyron. With her father dead and her incompetent half-brother on the throne, the kingdom is in danger of falling to the warring Firelanders.

Before she was old enough for a marriage-of-alliance, Xylara was trained as a healer. She can’t usurp her brother or negotiate a peace–but she can heal the brave ones injured in battle.

But not only her countrymen are wounded, and Xylara’s conscience won’t let Firelander warriors die when she can do something to save them. She learns their language and their customs and tries to make them as comfortable as possible, despite their prisoner-of-war status.

She never expects that these deeds, done in good faith, would lead to the handsome and mysterious Firelander Warlord demanding her in exchange for a cease-fire. Xylara knows she must trade the life she has always known for the well-being of her people, and so she becomes…Warprize.”

In an attempt to stave off the yearlong bibliorestlessness I’ve been arrested by, I’ve tried to let mood dictate my book choices as much as possible. Several encounters with Warprize – on Amazon, to start, where it garnered excellent reviews – piqued my interest, catching me up in a need to read the book as soon as possible; that lightning strike desire turned into a week dedicated to Elizabeth Vaughan’s Chronicles of the Warlands.

The first thing I feel compelled to say is that, from my perspective, the paranormal romance label on the book’s spine is misleading. Does the series incorporate subtle mystical elements? Yes. The hero’s nomadic people subscribe to shamanic-like beliefs: they draw strength from and pray to the elements, and the dead guide the living. The mysticism is subtle; with one notable exception, anything remotely paranormal happens outside of our heroine Lara’s first person narrative sight and, as a result, the reader’s. Even then, these elements don’t manifest until well into the second book. Point being, if you do not typically read paranormal romances, don’t let the book’s placement in that category put you off. Warprize has the feel of an historical set during the Middle Ages, which is bolstered by events in later books, including an encounter with a plague ridden feudal outpost, and Lara’s reliance on natural remedies.

Regarding Lara’s medical training, it gives her a sense of purpose and a stubborn streak. She will treat anyone who has need of her skills; she is a proactive heroine, willing to do what’s necessary no matter the cost to herself. Keir exhibits typical alpha traits: dominant, protective, and swift to take action. But what he is ultimately trying to do – blend his people with Lara’s so that knowledge and skills might be shared in an effort to see both peoples flourish – betrays his idealistic side. I liked both, just as I did several of the secondary characters, notably Gils (an adorable young boy who shows interest in Lara’s work), Simus (bold, charmingly brash and Keir’s second in command), and Marcus (crusty, fierce, hurting Marcus).

Despite a cultural misunderstanding (which was sparked by a lie), mutual respect and growing affection begins to bind Lara and Keir together, paving the way for their romance. I found myself enjoying the result of that misunderstanding (and actually hoped it would stretch on a bit longer than it did). Strong chemistry and subtle tension ensured that I was with Lara and Keir the whole way. And that, no doubt, is why I immediately jumped to the next book, Warsworn, as soon as this one was done.

Overall, I liked Warprize. It may not make my year end favorites list, but I spent a few pleasant hours with it for company, and sometimes that’s just what you need.

I ♥ This Art: Circus

Art buoys my spirit up. It’s a refuge and a dream, a story of my own making, inspired by the artist. You could say I’ve turned appreciating it into an art form all of its own. So why not include it here?  I ♥ This Art is a regular feature on Tempting Persephone.

“Circus” by Shelly Wan

Trashy? Not To Me

Perhaps I’ve become hypersensitive, and that may very well account for my laser point notice of this term, but in recent months it seems I cannot turn around without tripping over the word “trashy” being used in conjunction with the romance genre. Reading that term – trashy romance novels – is akin to nails on a chalkboard: it sets my teeth on edge. Why? Probably because, in part, I have a hard time working out what piece of the word’s definition is being applied.

Merriam-Webster defines trashy as being “of inferior quality” and/or “indecent”. I’ll start with the former: am I to surmise then that every novel in the genre is poorly written? Because 1) owing to the fact that it’s not true, I cannot do that and 2) every genre produces novels that may not meet someone’s standard of good writing, leaving me to wrestle with the stranglehold the term seems to have on the romance genre. Now for the latter part of the definition: I understand that the graphic nature of some romance novels is not for everyone. But. What about regency novels? Or Christian romance? Or all of the romance novels that fade to black, focus on emotion rather than mechanics, or call it a day after one sex scene? Would those novels also be considered indecent? My high tolerance for sex in literature may make it impossible for me to answer that question objectively, but, again, the romance genre isn’t the only genre to incorporate sex in the stories produced. So what, exactly, gives?

I know that some voracious readers of the genre apply the word affectionately. Maybe they’re taking it back; claiming the word so as to soften or strip away the inherent derogatory nature of it. I even know one such reader; she uses the word casually, wearing a cheeky smile. When she does, I sort of stare at her, and clamp down on the cringe that would sharpen my expression, betraying a momentary distress. She’s an open-minded, romance-loving reader, and so I know she doesn’t mean it as a judgment, and still…I struggle with it.

At this point I should probably confess: I was a romance reading teenager. I still dip into the genre often, but when I was younger? Oh, man. Every month, without fail, I’d go to the bookstore and happily pluck romance novels off of the shelves. I could not get enough. Today, so many of the romances that I read during those seemingly endless teenage years remain favorites; I go back to them time and again. And so when the teenage girl inside of me sees or hears someone refer to romance novels as trashy? She takes it as a putdown. And it stings like a fresh paper cut. If you want to add irrational to hypersensitive, so be it, but that’s my truth. One man’s trash is another’s treasure. It may be cliché, but it’s applicable.

Before I press publish, I’d like to clarify: people can say what they want. I’m not trying to be inflammatory, or trying to start an argument. This is a personal reaction to something I have a hard time understanding. If you’d like to weigh in because you disagree with something I’ve said, wonderful; I never mind when someone presents me with a differing opinion. Just please keep in mind that this post, which manages only to scratch the surface of the questions that rise in me and the nuances of my response, is a result of how the use of the word trashy in this context affects me and me alone.

Mariana – Susanna Kearsley

Publisher’s Summary:
“Julia Beckett believes in destiny. When she moves into Greywethers, a beautiful sixteenth-century farmhouse, she suspects that more than coincidence has brought her there. The locals are warm and welcoming, especially the eligible squire of Crofton Hall, yet beneath the ordinariness, Julia senses a haunting sadness about her new home. Then she learns of Mariana, a beautiful young woman who lived there three hundred years ago. It seems history has been waiting for Julia.”

Unfair it may have been, but I held Mariana up to the high standard set by The Winter Sea; I’ve no one to blame but myself for the malcontent that dug in upon finishing the novel. My expectations were unreasonably high, true, but I was aware of that bias and, not wanting to give the second of Kearsley’s books I’ve read short shrift, I read Mariana again. I’m happy to say it improved upon that second reading.

Kearsley’s storytelling is not at issue here; it’s engaging, assured and heartfelt. So it’s not that I wasn’t absorbed, that I ever felt taken by an urge to set the book down; on the contrary, I read it straight through. What inspired my initial disappointment with the book was a feeling of disconnect from the present-day couple. I cannot, however, go into detail because to do so would be to spoil several plot points. I’ll just say this: in The Winter Sea, both couples’ romance engaged my emotions, but Mariana’s resolution didn’t have the same emotional payoff. Initially. That second reading allowed me to see things more clearly, and I found myself more at ease with and satisfied by the ending.

Once again, I enjoyed the characters individually, appreciated the setting’s strong presence in the story, and immediately wanted to jump to another of Kearsley’s books to hold her special brand of magic close a little longer. Her books have moved into my comfort category; I know I’ll go to them when I’m feeling a little low and need a lift. And so, despite my at-first disappointment and that one remaining reservation, I would recommend Mariana to fans of Kearsley’s work, and to anyone who enjoys a story that wraps around you like a warm blanket on a dreary day.

I ♥ This Art: “Dejavu”

Art buoys my spirit up. It’s a refuge and a dream, a story of my own making, inspired by the artist. You could say I’ve turned appreciating it into an art form all of its own. So why not include it here?  I ♥ This Art is a bi-weekly feature on Tempting Persephone.

“Dejavu” by ashiong

Anticipating: Can’t Wait for YA

The Goddess Test – Aimee Carter

Publisher’s Summary:
“It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld— and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.”

Hello. My name is Chelle. I am a Hades fangirl. Not the Persephone-stealing, eat-my-damn-fruit, no-you-can’t-see-your-mother Hades of the original myth. But the misunderstood and lonely Hades? The darkly brooding, sexy and sensual Hades? The persuasive and powerful Hades? Even the at-times ruthless Hades? That Hades makes me want to–

Well. Nevermind that.

The Goddess Test is a quick read, light as an air-whipped confection, and ultimately prepossessing. If you know that going in and, what’s more, you’re looking only for a few hours respite or escape, you could do worse than to pick this one up. If, like me, you want it all – including depth of character and attention paid to the story’s details – you’ll likely still enjoy The Goddess Test, but the odds of it lingering in your thoughts are slim.

That said, three reasons why it won’t stay with me:

The tests. First, you must realize that Kate’s life, or soon to be lack thereof, is dependent on passing seven tests. No parameters are set; she’s given few rules, the big one being, if I remember correctly, that she can receive no assistance. The tests are, in short, a big deal. But once revealed? They were nothing short of anticlimactic. The tests demanded little of Kate; her very nature, in fact, made it impossible for her to fail. This plot point was ripe with character growth potential, and it was never realized.

Regarding Kate’s nature, she was a bit too sweet for my taste. Too…good. I know such people exist; I’m not that jaded. Yet. But Kate’s lack of emotional conflict – barring the grief she felt over her mother’s condition – made it impossible for me to truly care about her.

And Henry. Prone to internalizing and nurturing his pain, Henry knew how to brood; his sadness was crafted to reap heaps of cooing sympathy. And, I’ll admit, he almost got to me. But. He was ineffectual. He allowed other characters to disregard him. He was almost too gentle, too patient, with Kate. At times, he resembled something closer to a kicked puppy (for shame!) than a powerful, charismatic god. My Hades-loving heart was – and still is – unwilling to accept such a diluted rendering.

Will I read the next book? Yes. It was no great hardship to read The Goddess Test, pleasant is in fact the word I’d apply to it, and the ending stirred a measure of curiosity that I see no reason to leave unsatisfied.

I Cannae Do It!

You should see the stack of books to the left of my keyboard. It’s six, seven deep. And I cannot. review. a. single. one. And I’m trying! I’ve got notes. Lists. Word documents full of fits and starts and widows and orphans.

I’m telling you: My inability to get a review done is making me want to go grr.

So have some glorious Howl’s Moving Castle fan art instead. [Originally found here.]

Now, let me see. Where did I put that fanfiction writing hat? *roots around in closet*