STACKING THE SHELVES (16)

Hi there! Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  Just one book (again) this week, and since I loved Blake's other work (Anna Dressed in Blood), I'm really looking forward to reading!!

List of books: Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Okay, so yes, there are a ton of books out there about the gods, but it's Kendare Blake!  I can't wait to read her take on them.  It's certain to be dark, a little creepy, and a whole lot of amazing :).  Off to check everyone else's stacks now.

Hope everyone has a great week,

Ninja Girl

CROWN OF MIDNIGHT by Sarah J. Maas

Oh my, oh my, oh my!!  Adarlan's most kick butt assassin is back with a vengeance.  In Crown of Midnight, Celaena Sardothien reminds us exactly how she earned her title, and everything--the danger, the romance, the mystery, the kicka**ery--is turned up about 100 notches.

Honestly, I've been a fan of Maas's work since Throne of Glass, the amazing introduction to Celaena's cutthroat world.  But this book just took it to a whole other level!

In book 2, we find Adarlan exactly how we left it.

--Crazy, power-hungry king determined to keep Adarlan and its people under his thumb

--Dorian/Caleana/Chaol love triangle still unsettled (see: angst/confusion/who-will-it-be?)

--Danger (and magic) lurking behind every corner and everyone hiding their own secrets.

The main difference: Caleana is now the king's Champion.  That means she's in charge of carrying out his dirty work, including using her assassin-y mojo to dispose of anyone the king deems a traitor.  But our girl isn't very good with following orders--which is one of the many reasons why we love her J.

From beginning to end, Caleana blew me away.  Her bravery, just her overall independent attitude was spot on.  She's fierce.  She's ruthless.  And she's got the skills to take down her enemies and protect the people she loves.

There were 2 particularly awesome scenes where we get to see Caleana let loose.  One was the memory of her almost-escape from Endovier.   Sometimes memories can slow down the action, but this one only enriched the story.  Caleana went off on those cruel guards, cutting them down with a fierceness I always knew was in her.

Then there was Chaol's kidnapping.  That scene was just too good!!  I can't do it justice.  Again she goes to the quiet place in her head, a place where only her goal matters and anyone who stands in her way…well.  Let's just say, they won't be standing long.  Here's one of my fave quotes from that scene:

"Enough! We have enough enemies as it is! There are worse things out there to face!"

Celaena slowly turned to him, her face splattered with blood and eyes blazing bright. "No, there aren't," she said. "Because I'm here now."

Another great part: The Romance.  The triangle is finally put to rest.  No. I'm not going to ruin it, but…she made the right choice J.  Ninja happy dance, much love to Sarah J. Maas, thank-you-thank-you for letting our girl choose the right fella.  YAY!!

Okay, finished fangirling.

The best thing to me was that Crown totally lived up to the promise in book 1.  Everything that made me love the series was built upon and made even more fantastic/intriguing in book 2.  I'd definitely recommend to anyone who loves epic fantasy with a healthy dose of romance, mystery, and assassin-y goodness. 

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

 

Hey there, "Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine, featuring those books that you wish were out. Right. This. Second.

This book has a lot going for it: down South feel, a unique paranormal twist, and (going by that awesome cover) daggers and pearls :-).  All things I love!

Goodreads summary:

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

Yes, Rachel Hawkins, just yes!!  Can't wait to check out everyone else's WoW posts.  Need to add some new, fantastic upcoming books to my TBR :).

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

BELLE EPOQUE by Elizabeth Ross

A novel of beauty and betrayal

Belle Epoque hooked me right away with an amazing concept: the beauty foil.  Basically, rich people hire unattractive people to make them seem more attractive.  Genius!  The premise is something I'd never heard before, realistic b/c it plays on society's vanity and the need to be beautiful.

Maude, our heroine, has no idea that her job interview is actually for a repoussoir (from the French verb "repousser," meaning to repulse).  Even though she needs the job to survive, her pride and self-worth are shaken.  Is she really like these other girls?  Can she bare listening to people point out her flaws and thinking her outer appearance is the only thing that matters?  Can she remain in the shadows and let her companion shine brighter?

Here's the summary that convinced me I had to read:

 

When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive.

Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect foil.

But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose.

I loved that Maude was strong enough to escape Brittany and the fate her father had planned for her.  I loved that she was brave enough to set out on her own, move to Paris with an uncertain future and do whatever it took to survive.  And I also loved when she finally realized that Isabelle--who becomes her true friend throughout the book--is just like her.

Despite their social standings, Isabelle and Maude are both struggling for independence.  Isabelle was one of my most favorite characters in the book.  She was strong-willed, stubborn, and intelligent.  I loved that she had lofty ambitions, and I loved that she helped Maude find her passion for photography.  Both girls had actual interests beyond the "love interest."  And I think that was a beautiful thing to see J.

 

And the summary doesn't even mention some of my favorite characters: Marie-Josee, an accomplished repoussoir who instantly befriends Maude and helps her through her trials at the agency.  Paul Villette, the bohemian musician, who sees Maude's beauty even when she can't see it herself.  Although Maude makes a few mistakes that had me wanting to smack her upside the head, she really redeems herself in the end.  I enjoyed this historical YA and the compelling story of the repoussoirs.

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

STACKING THE SHELVES (15)

 

Hi there! Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  So yeah, there's this lady named Megan McCafferty that wrote what is probably one of the best YA contemporary series EVER, and I didn't know about it until a good friend let me read her copy of Sloppy Firsts.  The end result...

List of books:  Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
                         Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty
                         Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
                         Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty
                         Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty

I had to get them all.  Jessica Darling's voice is undeniably appealing--in a snarky, smarta** kind of way that only teens in YA can get away with :).  But seriously, how have I lived so long without this series????  Hope you got some great books this week as well!

Ninja Girl

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

 

Hey there, "Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine, featuring those books that you wish were out. Right. This. Second.

Won't be out until 2014.  This one sounds crazy good!

 

Goodreads summary:

Bones meets Fringe in a big, dark, scary, brilliantly-plotted urban thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her.

Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.

It reminds me of Brenna Yovanoff's Paper Valentine--which I loved!  Can't wait till this one comes out.

Have a great week,

Ninja Girl

DUALED by Elsie Chapman

I've been putting off writing this review.  *sigh*  Dualed was one of those books I was sure I'd love based on the concept.  I was completely taken in; it sounded like another great sci-fi/dystopian to add to my bookshelf.  Alternate versions of people?  A society where one must die and only one can live?  Sounded awesome!  It's also a part of my DAC Challenge, hence the review.

But I have to say: This book just wasn't for me L.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get into the story.  One of the characters I really liked died within the first few pages, and the way it happened left a bad taste in my mouth.  I hadn't grown attached to anyone, not even West, the MC, and all of a sudden BAM!  Brutal death scene--which I'm sure was meant to show how awful the society and its ways are--but I felt like that character could've been the heart of the book.  For me, this death didn't serve its purpose.

Then there's the readability factor.  In this type of book (in any book really), I like the story to be fast-paced with a good flow.  But I found myself having to go back and read passages again, more than a few times.  It could've been the sentence structure, or I could've just been having an off day.  It happens.  But when I had to stop and re-read, it really messed up the flow for me.

As far as the main characters go, West and Chord were okay.  Their romance was one of the things I liked best about the book.  I liked how Chord cared so much about West and tried to help her even when she refused his help.  I also liked Baer--a hardened, straight-talking teacher who gets very little page-time, but who I'm sure will play a role in future books.

My other main problem was with West.  Once she got her assignment (a virtual map to her alt's location), she didn't immediately seek her out.  This would've been fine.  I'm one of those people who believes that heroes don't kill people unless they're cornered and absolutely forced to do so.  And even then, they don't usually kill people.  So what happened next baffled me.  West was unwilling to kill her alt, like I said, but she goes out and becomes a striker???  Strikers kill their clients' alts for money.  So, basically, West becomes an assassin and yes, she does kill people.  Several people.  She does this with no remorse, and doesn't look at them as human beings but as a job--even though she's unwilling to kill her own alt and secure her survival.  I didn't get it.  And if it was about not being able to face yourself or kill your other self, I didn't buy it.

I had such high expectations, and this one fell flat for me.  Good attempt, just not for me.  Dualed was book 1 in a series, and I'm sorry to say I won't be getting book 2.

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl