December 16, 2014: 'Even in Paradise'

Welcome to Book City

Date: December 16, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Headline

Even in Paradise

Chelsey Philpot

When Julia Buchanan enrolls at St. Anne’s at the beginning of junior year, Charlotte Ryder already knows all about the former senator’s daughter. Most people do... or think they do.

Charlotte certainly never expects she’ll be Julia’s friend. But almost immediately, she is drawn into the larger than-life-new girl’s world—a world of midnight rendezvous, dazzling parties, palatial vacation homes, and fizzy champagne cocktails. And then Charlotte meets, and begins falling for, Julia’s handsome older brother, Sebastian.

But behind her self-assured smiles and toasts to the future, Charlotte soon realizes that Julia is still suffering from a tragedy. A tragedy that the Buchanan family has kept hidden... until now.

City Calendar:

This is what happened during the week.

Charlotte saves Julia from being caught by the Headmistress. She meets Julia's friends and hears of Julia's dead sister Gus. She is invited to Julia's hiding place the chapel on school campus. They listen to prayers from fellow classmates and teachers. She slowly enters Julia's world. Parents' weekend comes. Charlotte's father and step-mother can't come. Charlotte meets Julia's brother Sebastien and sister Cordelia. Julia and Charlotte sneak through the office, looking for Gus's file. They get in trouble. 

Summer comes. Charlotte goes home but is summoned to Julia's family's house on Arcadia quickly. She goes on a bus and meets Sebastien who drives them to a ferry. They get to the island, and Sebastien drives off. Julia talks about her family. Charlotte, when Julia isn't near, goes into Gus's room. Charlotte and Julia skinny dip on the water. Julia's family the Buchanans come. Charlotte meets the family. 

A party happens. Charlotte falls in love with the family. School starts. Rosalie starts to avoid Charlotte, feeling like her friend abandoned her. The regatta comes. Julia participates, and Sebastien and Charlotte watch. They kiss in the dock house. Charlotte doesn't want to go to Thanksgiving because she thinks she'll be embarrass by the kiss. Charlotte goes to the family for New Years. She goes to a club with Sebastien and Julia. She gets drunk. She kissed Sebastien again. They go back to school. Headmistress Day comes. The two friends go sledding on trays. Charlotte's birthday comes. She hangs out with her friends and Sebastien at the library when no one is there. Sebastien and Charlotte fight. Charlotte runs out. Rosalie and Charlotte have a heart-to-heart where they become friends again. She has her official birthday with her family, Julia, Sebastien, and Vinay. She is accepted into her dream school RISD. She asks Sebastien to have Arcadia for just him and her. They have sex. She finds out that Gus did the best prank of all time. She tells Julia. She learns the truth about the accident that killed Gus.
Charlotte goes to prom. Julia pulls an impromptu dance as her prank. The party for Bradley Julia's older brother happens. Julia tries to have fireworks but burns herself and the dock down. Charlotte leaves the house after Mrs. Buchanan yells at her. She doesn't go back to school. Graduation happens. Mrs. Buchanan visits Charlotte at her work place and tells her to find a runaway Julia. Charlotte does and tells Julia to go home. Julia complies. Boom dies when he tried to go home to see Julia. Charlotte attends Boom's funeral, saying it wasn't what he would want at all. She becomes famous as time wears on. She makes a piece for the Buchanans and leaves it at their doorstep. She sees Sebastien and makes up with him. 

And that's what happened this week.

Personal Ads:

Charlotte.

Normal girl. Likes Sebastien. Friend to Julia. Lives at St. Anne. Nice. Caring. Can let loose. Artist. Has father, step-mother, and two step-brothers. Is nanny to Julia sometimes. 

Julia Buchanan.

Part of the Buchanans. Oldest sister alive. In rowing. Crazy. Wild. Misses Gus. Knows the truth about Gus and David's death. (David being Gus's boyfriend.) Sister to Cordelia, Sebastien, and Bradley. Daddy's girl. Drinks. Knows French.

Opinions:

This book wasn't something I intended to read. I saw it. Wondered if I should read it. And decided 'why not'. I was surprised. It seemed like 'We Were Liars' all over again. (That was a fiasco. Trust me. I didn't like it.) But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one.

I liked Julia. Definitely. Not in the 'lesbian' way, guys. I pitied her. I saw that Julia was like a lost of people who go through traumatic experiences. She had to drown her sorrows. She drank. Tried to be like Gus. I have a feeling she didn't want people to miss Gus, so she acted like Gus. For her family. Julia is broken. Beautiful. I thought she deserved to be top dog, main character supreme. She was well-written. Emotionless. Reckless. A teenage girl but not. Rich girl but still homey. She was that girl I would befriend. In another life. 

The backstory was interesting. It wasn't really touched on, but it was still interesting. Gus's fault? David's? In the end (spoiler), it's neither. It's the other girl in the car. (Highlight if you want the answer)  Julia.To me, Julia was the best. She was my favorite character in this book.
I also like the lavish lifestyle. While that turned me off for 'We Were Liars', the Buchanans are different. They don't express it as much. Except in schools. Colleges. St. Anne. They really are more down-to-earth. Rich but not spoiled. Kind. Funny. Owning a large piece of land but not letting it go to waste. (I mean...they sold it. To a museum. That's kind. Very kind.) The Buchanans were some of the nicest rich book characters. Ever. Most of them are snotty and stuck-up. Not this family.
I like the loyalty and friendship. Julia  and Charlotte. Contra mundum. They had a great friendship. I wish for that. Being together. Getting crazy together. Act now talk later. I like that. It was nice to see that friendship. Family too. Sadly, there wasn't enough family for me. I wish there was more. It would be nice to know the Buchanans better. Why did Charlotte love the family? They're kind, I know. But why? There are many whys. 
Sadly, the romance turned me off. I didn't like it. It was instant love. The spark wasn't there. I feel like it was physical attraction. Where did they fall in love? Over bottle caps? Quirks? I see why there is appeal in Sebastien. Kind. Funny. A reliable guy. But Charlotte? Boring. Annoying. Dull. Not someone I would ever date. But that's me. 
The ending drove me crazy. How could Charlotte do that? She left Julia. The star. And Charlotte got famous? How? Why? The ending was rushed. I felt annoyed. And getting together with Sebastien? Why not Julia? Where is Julia? The conflict between Julia and Charlotte is not resolved. Why? Is Sebastien more important? Where's the friendship? The family? 
And talking about Charlotte... I didn't like her. She took for granted what she was given. Plus, as a narrator, I didn't like her. She was plain. Dull. Boring. I preferred Julia. Charlotte is that boring narrator I didn't like. She was interesting. Enough. It was her loyalty that I admired the most. But that romantic drama? Pah. The girl was too touchy. They're rich. You're not. Deal. It's not Sebastien's fault if he teases you. Don't be so touchy. 
I also like  

Weather:

Sunny with 50% chance of rain

3/5

TBR Tag

The TBR Tag was created by Dana Square and  A Perfection Called Books.! We're just going to ask you some questions about your TBR. It's fun! And it's a tag so once you do it, tag your friends :D 

*all of these answers should be found on your TBR list

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

I use Goodreads. And I have a written list of the books on my Goodreads I want to read the most. It's around...a hundred books long. (Compared to my Goodreads list, that's nothing. Plus, I just get some books on a whim.)

Is your TBR mostly print or ebook?

Print. I don’t like ebooks. I can’t read them on anything but my phone. Print is easier to read for me. I also like carrying books around school and brandishing them like swords.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

Hm. I just find which one the library has next. Yup. I also look at which book is next in the series. 

A Book That's Been On Your TBR List The Longest 

The Diary of Anne Frank. Been on there for three years since May 17, 2011. Not entirely proud of that. I wasn't really into her book, though. Interestingly enough, 'Moby Dick' is right after that.

A Book You Recently Added To Your TBR
That’s a great question. –scrolls down list- Well…one I added recently is the untitled, unreleased 'The Selection' book five. (Because we all know 'The Heir' is coming out.) And I got 'The Cabinet of Wonders' on there. (The entire trilogy.) And the next 'Mortality Doctrine' book by James Dashner.  

A Book In Your TBR Strictly Because Of Its Beautiful Cover

Hold on… Aren’t you not supposed to judge books by their covers? Hm? Hm? 

But.

I'm not sure I have one for this one. I'm not a cover buy person. It might attract me at first. But it doesn't make me stick. 

A Book On Your TBR That You Never Plan on Reading

Goodness. What’s with this question? I don’t intend to read the Septimus Heap series. And some others. Like the Gone series. I read the books closer to the bottom of my TBR list. I don’t take books off. That's just not me. 

An Unpublished Book On Your TBR That You’re Excited For

Just one? Well well. I can’t simply choose one. It’s like choosing your favorite book. Hm. Depends really. Some books like 'The Young Elites' were hard for me to wait for. 'Allegiant'. But right now? Not sure. Maybe the next 'The Archived'. Which better come out soon! (Looking at you, Victoria Schwab.)

A Book On Your TBR That Basically Everyone’s Read But You 
Everyone’s read? Maybe ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Or ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’. Or ‘Ender’s Game’. Or the Gone series. I'm proud to say that I did end up reading 'If I Stay'. I mean...I haven't read 'Onyx' or whatever that alien-type series is called. And everyone seems to adore it. I'm just...not an alien-type girl. I feel left out, though. Waaahhh. 

A Book On Your TBR That Everyone Recommends To You

Ugh. I don’t like this. No one recommends books to me. I recommend books to them! I really don't. Sigh...

A Book On Your TBR That You’re Dying To Read

Dying to read? The next Penryn Young book maybe… But that’s not out yet. So yeah. Heh heh… I guess a lot of the books I'm waiting for aren't out yet! The next Sarah J Maas 'Throne of Glass' book. (Waiting impatiently.) Or the next 'The Young Elites'. Yeah! 

But I do have that one series from my childhood I never got to read. 'The Cabinet of Wonders'. I just found it again, and I'm determined to read it. At last! 

How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf?
257 books. I’m very picky. I can take hours determining what ten books to add to my list. And I’m trying to cut back on looking at beautiful covers and rancid reviews. Haha... But I add a ton of books that aren't out yet. A lot. Trust me on that one. 

I wasn't tagged by anyone...but you can do it! 

Claus Box Set Grand Finale

 
A themed tour through Prism Book Tours.

It's the Grand Finale for

The Claus Box Set Tour

By Tony Bertauski

Now you can purchase all three books in the Claus Series together!

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Have you ever wondered if Claus had a family? Who exactly is Jack Frost? How about a living, breathing snowman? Have you ever thought about how it all would work? Let Tony Bertauski's imagination and fabulous storytelling take you on a journey through a sci-fi winter wonderland! If you missed any of the stops for the tour, you're welcome to go back and check them out now...

Launch - The Claus Universe

The story of Santa has been told a billion, billion times on the screen and the television, the written page and the digital, in short form and long, in verse and song. He’s been animated and claymated, horrified and glorified. There’s not a single word left unwritten about the jolly old fat man.

Except, maybe, not that I recall, in science fiction...

Mommabears Book Blog - Excerpt from Claus

And in March of 1820, just as the sun had begun to rise from its long winter disappearance, they set out to do what no human – Inuit or otherwise – had done before.

They would touch the North Pole.

The Arctic was stunning.

SBM Book Obsession - Characters from the Claus Universe

Elven

An ancient race that evolved through the Ice Age, the elven are short and fat with generous layers of blubber to tolerate the cold. Their fat feet are large and wide like snowshoes, the soles scaly to slide across ice. Technologically evolved, long-lived and wise, they carve their homes in the North Pole ice and secretly monitor the growth of the human race while living in harmony with their environment.

Mythical Books - Characters from Claus

Nicholas Santa

Born in the late 1700s, Nicholas Santa set out with his wife, Jessica, and son, Jon, to become the first people to journey to the North Pole. However, they discover something much more than snow. Nicholas finds himself in the middle of an elven conflict. And we discover how he becomes the immortal and mythical figure known as Santa Claus. Why does he wear a red coat? Why is he fat? Why does he laugh like that? It all makes sense.

Wishful Endings - Characters from Jack

Janack (Jack)

An elven, son of Jocah and fraternal twin of Claus. Due to a genetic abnormality, he is the only hairless elven in existence. Jack can freeze people, elven and objects with the touch of a finger. He returns to this modern day story through the science of cloning...

Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima - Excerpt from Jack

Joe leads her into the maze. They run their hands over the flat-topped boxwoods, shuffle over the oyster shell path. The sunken garden is imbued with warmth, the kind that flows through her, melts in her stomach, opens her heart. She smiles, involuntarily, as she couldn’t frown if she tried.

The short, fat woman sits on a square pedestal inside a round pool, water dripping from her frozen hands. Light emanates from the center without a source.

“Who is she?” Sura asks.

“You’ve never heard the Myth of Jocah?”

Beck Valley Books - Characters from Flury

Flury

The snowman that lives on the property. He is rarely seen until Oliver comes to live with Grandmother. The snowman becomes his protector and slowly reveals the family secrets that have been hidden for over a hundred years.

fuonlyknew - Excerpt from Flury

“You have grown.”

She doesn’t let go while looking him over: his hair, the stray whiskers on his chin, the insufficient winter clothing. She stares at the floor. His socks are loose at the ends of his frozen toes, specks of snow clinging to the fabric. Small puddles begin to bead on the polished floor.

“And how old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

My Life Loves and Passion - Review

"These books were awesome. I am not a huge fan of holiday themed books for myself, but these were different. Each book is a very different story about 3 very common winter myths. I loved that these stories were not all candy and rainbows. There was such a good mix of fantasy and holiday spirit.

I started reading and before I knew it hours had passed. It pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading."

 The Book Lovers' Lounge - Spotlight

Book Babble - Review

"By the end of the book, I couldn't want to move on to the second one to find out what was going to happen next...

This book really took me on a wild ride. Every time I thought I had something figured out, the plot went in a completely different direction...

There is a great deal of humor in the story, and some really fun dialogue..."

More About the Series

Claus: Legend of the Fat Man

(Claus #1)
by Tony Bertauski

YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday
Paperback & ebook, 326 Pages
June 19th 2012

The Christmas story you never heard.

In the early 1800s, Nicholas, Jessica and Jon Santa attempt the first human trek to the North Pole and stumble upon an ancient race of people left over from the Ice Age. They are short, fat and hairy. They slide across the ice on scaly soles and carve their homes in the ice that floats on the Arctic Ocean. The elven are adapted to life in the extreme cold. They are as wise as they are ancient.

Their scientific advancements have yielded great inventions -- time-stopping devices and gravitational spheres that build living snowmen and genetically-modified reindeer that leap great distances. They’ve even unlocked the secrets to aging. For 40,000 years, they have lived in peace.

Until now.

An elven known as The Cold One has divided his people. He’s tired of their seclusion and wants to conquer the world. Only one elven stands between The Cold
One and total chaos. He’s white-bearded and red-coated. The Santa family will help him stop The Cold One. They will come to the aid of a legendary elven
known as...Claus.

   

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Jack: The Tale of Frost

(Claus #2)
by Tony Bertauski

YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday
Paperback & ebook, 290 Pages
October 17th 2013

Sura is sixteen years old when she meets Mr. Frost. He’s very short and very fat and he likes his room very, very cold. Some might say inhumanly cold. His first name isn’t Jack, she’s told. And that’s all she needed to know.

Mr. Frost’s love for Christmas is over-the-top and slightly psychotic. And why not? He’s made billions of dollars off the holiday he invented. Or so he claims. Rumor is he’s an elven, but that’s silly. Elven aren’t real. And if they were, they wouldn’t live in South Carolina. They wouldn’t hide in a tower and go to the basement to make…things.

Nonetheless, Sura will work for this odd little recluse. Frost Plantation is where she’ll meet the love of her life. It’s where she’ll finally feel like she belongs somewhere. And it’s where she’ll meet someone fatter, balder and stranger than Mr. Frost. It’s where she’ll meet Jack.

Jack hates Christmas.

   

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Flury: Journey of a Snowman

(Claus #3)
by Tony Bertauski

YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday
Paperback & ebook, 300 Pages
November 15th 2014

Life hasn’t been kind to Oliver Toye.

As if juvenile diabetes isn’t enough, he’s forced to live with his tyrannical grandmother in a snow-bound house. He spends his days doing chores and the nights listening to the forest rumble.

But when he discovers the first leather-bound journal, the family secrets begin to surface. The mystery of his great-grandfather’s voyage to the North Pole is revealed. That’s when the snowman appears.

Magical and mysterious, the snowman will save Oliver more than once. But when the time comes for Oliver to discover the truth, will he have the courage? When Flury needs him, will he have the strength? When believing isn’t enough, will he save the snowman from melting away?

Because sometimes even magic needs a little help.

   

Amazon - Barnes & Noble

About Tony Bertauski

During the day, I'm a horticulturist. While I've spent much of my career designing landscapes or diagnosing dying plants, I've always been a storyteller. My writing career began with magazine columns, landscape design textbooks, and a gardening column at the Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). However, I've always fancied fiction.

My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?

I'm a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I'd rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That's the sort of stuff I want to write, not the assigned reading we got in school. I want to create stories that kept you up late.

Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it's only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.

In 2008, I won the South Carolina Fiction Open with Four Letter Words, a short story inspired by my grandfather and Alzheimer's Disease. My first step as a novelist began when I developed a story to encourage my young son to read. This story became The Socket Greeny Saga. Socket tapped into my lifetime fascination with consciousness and identity, but this character does it from a young adult's struggle with his place in the world.

After Socket, I thought I was done with fiction. But then the ideas kept coming, and I kept writing. Most of my work investigates the human condition and the meaning of life, but not in ordinary fashion. About half of my work is Young Adult (Socket Greeny, Claus, Foreverland) because it speaks to that age of indecision and the struggle with identity. But I like to venture into adult fiction (Halfskin, Drayton) so I can cuss. Either way, I like to be entertaining.

And I'm a big fan of plot twists.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook

Tour Giveaway

   

$25 Amazon gift card and the Claus Box Set ebook

Open internationally
Ends December 21st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December 13, 2014: 'Renegade'

Welcome to Book City

Date: December 13, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Headline

Renegade

Antony John

The finale to the dystopian fantasy trilogy James Dashner called "fantastic" has a daring escape from pirates, life-or-death rescue missions, and a heartbreaking romance.

Thom and his fellow colonists are in danger of paying the ultimate price to secure their homeland in this last book of the Elemental trilogy. After the shocking discovery that his mother is still alive and on Roanoke, Thom is determined to return to that island. However, the island is still under pirate control, and a mysterious boy in possession of a dangerous element appears. With the help of an unlikely ally and the newly discovered ability to combine elements, Thom must summon the full extent of his power to end this battle for their home once and for all.

Packed with adventure, mystery, and romance, the gripping conclusion to the series that began with Elemental and Firenbrand is perfect for fans of Ship Breaker and Divergent.

City Calendar:

This is what happened during the week.

The elementals see Dare's ship. They take the ship. Rose and Dennis get the Plague. Alice is burned when they try to kill the rats. Thomas finds out he can take powers. They go to Roanoke. Thomas finds out that Alice has the third journal. Tomas talks to Alice about it. Alice tells him to move on. They see a raft with four dead bodies on it. They pull in the raft and find out that one body is alive. That body is Tessa. They go on the island and see a body during their search for Skya Thomas's mother. They are attacked by rats and find the pirates. They escape to the ship. Thomas sees Griffin cure Dennis of the Plague. They fight the rats that try to come on the ship. Thomas finds out that Dare is on the ship. Dare reveals he's Alice's father. Thomas confronts Tarn Alice's mother. He plans a rescue to save Alice, Jerren, his father, and Ananias who were stranded on the island. He takes Tessa to Dare, and Tessa dies. Dare explains the past. The ship goes to the island to get Kieran. (Thomas saw him before when he got attacked by rats. He saw Kieran controlling the rats.) They find him. They set the clan people free. He sees Alice, Jerren, Ananias, and his father about to be hanged by Jossi Dare's ex-second-in-hand.  They take them down after Jossi kicks Thomas's father's box down. His father dies. Rats come. The group looks for Kieran. They find him on top of the water tower. Thomas and Kieran combine to draw the rats in, so the others can kill them. The fire that kill the rats makes the stilts fall. Many die. The water tower falls. They see Dare on a piece of driftwood. Ananias appears hurt and on the verge of death. Griffin draws Dare to save Ananias. Jerren, Tarn, and Skya who were thought to be dead appear. They get to land. Griffin and Nyla save a sick man to prove they, the elementals, have worth to let them live. The clan people start to rebuild, reluctantly letting the elementals help. Griffin saves Thomas from the Plague. Thomas talks to his mother. He decides to leave and explore the mainland. Alive, Jerren, and Rose join him as he goes off to explore.

And that's what happened this week. 

Personal Ads:

Thomas.

Can take over powers. Can use electricity. Son. Brother. Friend. Likes Rose. Afraid to hurt people by touching them. 

Opinions:

I didn't really like the series. It was just okay. It didn't surprise me. 

I liked the powers. Elemental powers are fascinating. The way you could use the power in this book was interesting. Tornadoes from wind/air power. I like that the powers aren't restricted to just elemental. We have Jerren's sound powers. Tarn and Alice's enhanced sight and sound. And Griffin. The seers. The powers Thomas has. (I'm not sure how to categorize it.) They use their powers to survive. To make sure no one gets the Plague. To continue on. I think that powers would be fantastic in real life. I think I've said that people would abuse the powers, though. I'm not sure if I like the idea of people abusing fire powers. 

And plot twists were interesting. They were surprising. Alice and Dare being related? The many deaths? Skya being alive? Whoo. These people get too much thrown at them. I don't know how they bounce back. Part of plot twists is how the characters deal. They have to react. Whether someone is, for example, a traitor or maybe alive even though they were presumed dead. You can cry. Smile. Stay the same. Get angry. Get quiet. The way they react shows part of who they are. 

I also like Alice. She is feisty. Daring. Brave. I wish she was the protagonist. She has more going for her compared to Thomas. If she had crazy powers like he did, that would only make me like her more. She did what she thought would benefit everyone else. And she is like Thomas. Reclusive. Didn't interact. (You know...she's the better hero really. Thomas is too romantic. And he is simply...annoying. Alice is take-charge. She's a leader. Thomas hides in the back. Sure, he's a male Juliett from 'Shatter Me'. But that doesn't mean he can't rise up. Rose did.) 

This story had too many 'I thought you were dead' moments. This was annoying to me. It makes it sound like someone has resurrection powers. Seriously. It's driving me crazy. Jerren. Tessa. Skya. Tarn. Why is this false hope happening? We don't have people randomly showing up even though you think they're dead. It's like...a crime show. An undercover cop who has to fake his/her death. I want that for crime shows. Not my books. Especially not these post-apocalyptic, fantasy books.

The ending wasn't...satisfying. It felt like it wasn't enough of the Skeleton Town. How did they survive? Did the Elementals get killed off? Did the clan people accept them? What about Kieran? And Skya? Did she ever cross the chasm between Thomas and her? There are too many questions. I also feel like Thomas is running away from his problems. He's not fighting them. He's fleeing to the mainland. He's not trying to control his powers. I think that, even though Rose touches him, he gets nothing for what he went through. He lost more than he gained. 

Weather:

Stormy with clouds ahead and a 80% chance of rain

2.5/5

Special Report: 'Legacy'

Welcome to Book City

Date: December 12, 2014

Special Report

Spoilers Ahead

Headline

Legacy 

Ellery Kane

How do you want to feel today?

In 2041, the choice is yours. 

San Francisco is deserted, the Bay Bridge bombed, and the BART subway trains grounded. The Guardians, members of an elite and mysterious government-appointed military police force, are maintaining order at all costs—thanks to emotion-altering drugs like Emovere that suppress fear and anxiety. Lex Knightley, daughter of a prominent forensic psychiatrist, risks entering the devastated city to partner with the Resistance, a group of rebels intent upon exposing the dangers of Emovere. Lex discovers an ally in Quin McAllister, a magnetic Guardian Force recruit with a haunting past that binds them together. As she uncovers the secrets of the Guardian Force and confronts the truth about her family, Lex begins to realize that even those closest to her are not quite who they seem.

Personal Ads:

Lex.

Daughter of a scientist. Kind. Caring. Determined to not be left out. Has gone father. Likes Quin. Heroine. Not good with stressful situations. Cares for the people she loves. 

Quin.

Ex-Guardian Force. Happy one moment, sad the next. Has a bad past. Has convict father. Was cold hearted. Likes Lex. Willing to heal. A bit distant at first. 

Opinions:

This book is hard to place. I'll admit I did like some parts.

I really liked the psychological trauma part of the book was good. That might sound bad. Oops. The psychological aspect of life affects you as much as your surroundings and your genetics. Giving the Guardian Force traumatic situations they went through in the past was a good move.  I, as an aspiring psychologist, was fascinated by the drugs. I know that sounds bad. But still. The question is if people can actually make drugs to alter moods. I admit that it would be quite amazing if that was a real invention. You could make soldiers fearless. You could make surgeons prepared for surgery by making them calm. The possibilities would be endless. It would be amazing. As the book said, though, there would be people who abuse the drugs. That is envitable. All things that are good have negative downsides as well.  

I also think that the dark pasts give these characters depth. They had terrible things happen to them. There are no amazing, rich people lives. These are real situations. Real people. There might be an Elana out there. Maybe a Quin. A Max. An Eddison. A Lex. You don't know. These characters are real. They have depth that other characters don't have. 

I do think that this book showed promise. Especially when I read the blurb. Oh gosh. That blurb. It was perfect. I just wanted to dive into this book. 

I really did not like Quin. Oh gosh. I don't like him. He was annoying. He kept changing moods. He kept acting like two different people. Does he have bipolar disorder? It seemed like he had a slightly mild case. One moment, he was happy and carefree. Another moment later...solemn. Dreary. I don't understand. I guess you could say that it was his father... 

And the romance? Admittedly, there is promise for that couple. Quin needed Lex. Lex needed Quin. If they hasn't been clingy, I would have liked it. Maybe. Barely. They didn't seem like a good couple. They kept kissing and playing cat-and-mouse. Quin was hot-and-cold. I think Lex put too much of her heart into the relationship. Quin didn't give enough. He seemed to only put his body into it, not his soul or heart. 

I also dislike the ending. It seems rushed. Like the plot just ends right there. We had action piled on. Lex's mother. Her father. Quin's father. We get things happening. Fast. Quick. It was too rushed. It was hard to keep up. As I read the last few chapters, I kept groaning. It could have ended sooner. Not all the fluff in the epilogue. We don't need to know they love each other. We get that. The story should have ended sooner. It went on for too long. 

Weather:

Sunny with 50% chance of rain

3/5

December 12, 2014: 'Shadows on the Moon'

Welcome to Book City

Date: December 12, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Headline

Shadows on the Moon

Zoë Marriott

A powerful tale of magic, love and revenge with a strong female lead set in fairy-tale Japan; this is "Cinderella" meets "Memoirs of a Geisha". Trained in the magical art of shadow-weaving, sixteen-year-old Suzume is able to recreate herself in any form - a fabulous gift for a girl desperate to escape her past. But who is she really? Is she a girl of noble birth living under the tyranny of her mother's new husband, Lord Terayama, or a lowly drudge scraping a living in the ashes of Terayama's kitchens, or Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands? Whatever her true identity, Suzume is destined to capture the heart of a prince - and determined to use his power to destroy Terayama. And nothing will stop her, not even love.

City Calendar:

This is what happened during the week.

Soldiers come and kill Suzume's cousin Aimi and her father. She is saved by Youta. She is found by her mother. Terayama her father's friend and her mother get married. Suzume cuts herself in anguish. She goes to Youta one day, hoping he can help her. He helps bandage her wounds and tells her she can shadow weave. He teaches her how to use her powers, after revealing he is a shadow weaver as well. Her mother comes back from her honeymoon pregnant. They go to the Moonlit City. On the ship, she meets the foreigners. One day, she is almost pushed over the edge by her step-father. A foreign boy saves her. They arrive on land. Her mother gives birth to twin boys. Suzume finds out that Terayama told soldiers to kill her father. She runs to Youta in fright. She becomes Rin a drudge. She works with Aya and Yuki. She burns and cuts. The foreigners come to Terayama's place. Otieno the boy who waved Suzume and Terayama shoot arrows. Otieno talks to Suzume every time he can. He kisses her. She accidentally poisons her mother with sangre. She runs away, fleeing for her life. She is groped by a drunk man. She is knocked out. She ends up in a jail cell and finds the woman named Akira sharing the cell with her. She helps Akira escape. She saves Akira from a fever and becomes Yue. She goes to Akira's house. She finds out that Akira the last Shadow Bride is actually a male. Suzume decides to become the Shadow Bride to avenger her family's demise. She practices shadow weaving while she dances. She goes to a tea ceremony and sees Otieno. She leaves the ceremony after making a good impression. She meets him at the Red Bridge. Together, they make it snow for a short time. They meet again at Akira's house and take a walk together. They talk about the past and haikus. Otieno kissed Suzume. She goes to a party and plays her instrument. She pleases the crowd as is invited to more parties. She finally ends up at Yorimoto's party. This party seals her invitation or not. She is cornered by Yorimoto. Otieno saves her from Yorimoto. They have sex in the gardens. (That is what I assume.) Otineo invites Suzume to go to his land with him. She agrees. She gets her invite to the Shadow Ball. She leaves Otieno, and he leaves. She goes to the Shadow Ball. She wins the Prince's eye and becomes the Shadow Bride. She sees her mother who isn't dead and refuses to return with her. When Suzume prepares to become the Bride full, she realizes how futile this pursuit is. She almost kills herself. She doesn't, though, because of a commotion. She sees Terayama over the dead bodies of her guards and runs past him. She runs into Otieno and leaves the Ball with him. 

And that's what happened this week.

Personal Ads:

Suzume/Rin/Yue

A musician. Kind but not obviously so. Cares for her family until they perish. Shadow weaver. Akachi. Likes Otieno. Dances well. Fears for her life. 

Opinions:

I was surprised by this book. I didn't think that I would like it. (It seemed to be trend that I didn't like my Battle of the Books books.) I'll admit that it was a bit dull in the beginning, but it gained my favor as the story went on. It was also quite a long book, to my surprise. My longest so far for the month of December. 

I really liked the supernatural, shadow weaving element. It always fascinating when you have the ability to conjure illusions. (This reminds me of Adeline/Adelina, from 'The Young Elites'. She too had shadow/illusion powers.) This story isn't all supernatural. It's romance and drama and a minimal amount of action. I think that shadow weaving is fascinating. I would love to have that power. I would, most likely, use it to scare people on the streets. But the way Suzume use it...it's amazing. She uses it to disguise herself. To hide herself. She isn't trying to seduce or terrify. She's trying to live. She uses her powers to protect her life. Especially when she becomes Rin. 

Another thing I liked was the setting. The Japanese characters. I, like many anime/ex-anime watchers, like Japan. It has rich culture. The country is beautiful. The traditions run deep. The temples. The technology. It's an alluring world that seems separate. And it kind of is. Japanese don't accept outsiders. To take an exclusive look at Japan is thrilling and a coveted peek. I love how Japan was the setting. The author didn't leave it at that. The Japanese phrases. The outfits. She truly did her research. The prince/princess setting. Royalty in books is always interesting. Kings and queens fascinate. How do they live like that? Wouldn't it be nice to have servants? These are questions that people ask. Though Suzume isn't royalty, she lives in a respected family, Terayama or Hoshida. We get a look into the life of nobles. 

I think that our main girl, that I call Su, has a fantastic character change. She starts off quite the heroine. Quiet. Kind. She changes into something else. She hardens her heart at the traumatizing end of her family. She becomes distant. But she doesn't stay that way. She ends up having her frozen heart melted by Otieno. She changes so drastically. I think her change is quite amazing. She, in the middle, is a cold hearted person. Otieno breaks her stone heart. I think that is quite interesting. 

I was astonished by how much I rooted for the romance. I think that Otieno and Su suit each other. They aren't an adorable couple. But they compliment each other. Otieno is funny where Su is serious. They aren't the 'let's get naked and make the bed frame creak' couple. They're the 'shy and sneaking glances at each other'. I admire Otieno's loyalty. He stays for her. Even after she betrayed him. A good quality in a person. 

And the Akira is a guy twist? Wow. I really liked that. My problem is that...Su kept calling Akira 'she'. I felt like that wasn't entirely right. I think that people don't address transgender/genderfluid/cross dressing/etc enough. They should, though. It's how some people live. It's how they go through their lives. I liked that Zoë added the Akira-is-male element smoothly. It wasn't awkward. 

And the self harm? I won't say I condone self harm in any way, shape, or form, but this book made the realistic aspects more readable. The author made it understandable. You don't have it shoved down your throat. It was something I could read. It wasn't outright saying she was cutting herself. It wasn't mentioning self harm. Her emotions were involved. It was, overall, more understandable. 

While I wholeheartedly enjoyed this story, I did have problems. 

I didn't like rushed ending. It was odd and complicated. It also felt like it wasn't finished. What happened to her parents? The prince? She just left him. What happened? We're left with too many questions. (Unless there's a sequel that I don't know of.) The action came barreling towards you all at once. Otieno's 'leaving'. The Shadow Ball. The Shadow Bride. Terayama. Everything happens. I didn't expect much, though. We had pages left, and we had enough to go. 

Weather:

Mostly sunny with a bit of gray clouds

4.5/5

December 10, 2014: 'Fire & Flood'

Welcome to Book City

Date: December 10, 2014

Spoilers Ahead

Headline

Fire & Flood

Victoria Scott 

Time is slipping away....

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place? 

City Calendar:

This is what happened during the week.

Tella gets an earpiece. Her dad tries to destroy it. Tella saves it and follows the instruction to get a Pandora. She gets a broken egg and goes to a bus/train station. She gets a ticket and meets other Contenders on the train. She gets a sleeping pill and lands in a jungle. She gets caught in the rain and finds a guy to follow to the base camp. Her Pandora hatches, and she names it Madox. The two are attacked by ante. They run and are attacked by chimps. They jump into a ravine. They find other Contenders Caroline, Ransom, Levi, Harper, and Dink. They are attacked by a bear Pandora. They are saved by Guy the guy Tella was following. The bear Pandora's Contender Titus and Guy follow. Tella learns about the Brimstone Bleed. They get on a raft when they find they have to head north. Caroline falls off, and Dink jumps in to help her. They get out of the river and arrive at the base camp. Sadly, Levi is killed before he gets there. Guy kisses Tella at a celebration for the survivors. She gets a letter from Cody her brother she's fighting for. Caroline and Dink almost leave. 

They start the next stage the desert.

They meet Jaxon and Olivia. They trek a Ross the desert during the day. Olivia's Pandora an elephant discovers water using its special powers. Tella finds the truth about the Brimstone Bleed from Guy. Olivia is bitten by a snake. Guy chops her pinkie off. They find a flag. Tella realizes Dink is Caroline's Pandora. Guy kills Dink. They are attacked by the Triggers and Titus. Tella is taken by the Triggers. She sees a guy die by quicksand but is protected by Braun. She hears about the message about killing a Pandora to get into the base camp. Guy comes and saves Tella. Tella is forced to flee. She finds Harper and helps her friend by going to save Harper's Pandora. She is confronted by Titus. Titus's Pandora saves her from being killed by Titus. Titus is killed. Harper runs to the base camp. Tella gets down with Titus's bear and Madox's help. She meets Ransom again. She kills Levi's Pandora. She goes to the base camp. Harper, Ransom, and Caroline leave the game as the others prepare for the next leg.

And that's what happened this week.

Personal Ads:

Tella. 

Typical American girl. Has sick brother Cody. Fighting for her brother. Likes Guy. Has Madox as Pandora. Kind. Caring. Wants to help. Trusts easily. Changes into a caring person. Wants to help. 

Opinions:

I was surprised about this book. Really surprised. I had a bad first impression, but I gave it a chance. And I got pretty into this book.

I get why people say this is 'Hunger Games'-esque. But don't just...think of it in that way. Try the book. You might end up liking it. I know I didn't like it until Tella changed. (I really didn't like Beginning Tella. I mean...snotty. Stuck-up. Caring for your clothes more than your life. That's Beginnig Tella.) Just...try it. 

I mean...how can you not love the action? The action is fast-paced. You're on your feet. Will Tella survive? Will she die? You can't but wonder. I love the action. It's not the dull action you get. It's not quick, sword-fighting. It's the action I've been waiting for! I mean...how can you not love the action? (Wow. I sound...childish. I apologize.)

And the Pandoras! Amazing. Who would have thought? They're genetically altered animals. (But, -spoiler- Dink is more humanoid.) They are special. Powerful. Fire-makers. Water-finders. Earth-shakers. They're the animal versions of elemental wizard/witches/mages/magicians. Wow. That's amazing. Kudos to the author for thinking of that. I really enjoy the Pandora. They protect. They defend. And Madox? He's cute. In the overly-protective-crazy-big-brother way. He is not only Tella's Pandora. He's her friend. Her companion. The Pandoras aren't just fighting machines. They are, in an odd way, people too. 

I also like that Tella changes. She seems very...narcissistic at first. She changes, though. She starts off the typical American teen. I can't ever forget that she wondered what type of underwear she (and she had the nice Victoria Secret ones) when she woke up with new clothes on. (Plus...wasn't she wondering what perverted male or female changed her? Hm?) She drops the American teen act and gets herself together. (I assume it's because she's thrust into the Brimstone Bleed. She finally wakes up and starts acknowledging that she needs to survive. Not just for her. For Cody.) She ends up caring and the sweet mother-hen type. Which I don't mind. I think that her change is the best thing. (Not necessarily Tella herself.)

But...I had problems.

The Tella in the beginning? I was ranting. To everyone. My poor friends... She was stuck up. Self-absorbed. I know I mention her change as something I liked. But her original self was downright annoying. I couldn't stand it. I was ranting. Complaining about her personality. I know that people are certain ways. But she is the stereotypical American teen. And I hate it. I truly hate the way the world stereotypes Americans. Sure, we eat fast food. Sure, we watch too much television. Sure, we are glued to our phones. (Not all. But most. Some. Enough.) But that doesn't mean that our main girl needs to be us. No. She should be brave. (Which she doesn't really end up as.) Caring. (Which she ends up as.) And not American-y. Get my drift? I prefer not to see our faults as Americans plainly laid out for all to see in a character. Especially the main character. If it was Harper...or Caroline...I would be fine. Totally fine. Completely fine. But Tella? I expected more from you. (I know that sounds like I'm speaking to a dog. I apologize.)  

And...Guy and Tella. Why? Why? The romance in young adult fiction is just too...unrealistic. Physical attraction is one thing. And don't blame teenagers, authors! Not all of them want to just have sex in a dark, damp corner. Not all want a boyfriend/girlfriend. Why is this portraying our youth in such an unseemly light? I don't get it. But. Back to the couple of the story. Tella seems only physically attracted to Guy. And I can't tell with Guy. He's so mysterious...that we get nothing. No thoughts. No emotions. Only...Guy. Ripped, tall, tanned Guy. (What's with the tans? Not all teens are tanned. I've seen enough fair-skinned teens in my lifetime.) Tella may be going for Guy to get information. To better her in the Brimstone Bleed. I mean...that's what Beginning Tella would do. But After Tella? The kind one? The caring one? The one who didn't want to kill Titus's Pandora Tella? I'm not sure. I think...Tella does care for Guy. But not in the romantic sense you might think. Maybe the we're-fighting-to-the-death-and-I-need-allies-and-you're-hot-so-let's-protect-each-other-but-you-almost-care-for-me. If that makes any sense. 

Weather:

Sunny with a 20% chance of rain

4/5