fantasy

Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

| Tasha

seraphina

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina has a secret that she can tell no one.  It’s a secret that is marked on her very body, permanently and from birth.  Her mother was a dragon.  Her father had not known her mother’s true identity until she died giving birth to Seraphina.  So Seraphina has lived her life mostly in secret, tutored by her dragon uncle.  But someone as talented as Seraphina is difficult to hide.  Her music draws people to her.  She joins the royal court as a music teacher just when a murder happens that points directly at the dragons.  Seraphina starts investigating things, using her special mental abilities that even she doesn’t fully understand.  That’s how she meets Prince Lucian, who is also captain of the royal guard.  He’s also a person who seeks to solve every mystery he encounters, and what a mystery Seraphina is!  Now decades of carefully constructed peace between the humans and the dragons may be at an end.  The question is where a girl who is half human and half dragon fits into a world at war.

Hartman has created a book for teens that has all of the detailed world building of an adult fantasy novel.  The politics of the society are complex and pivotal to the plot.  The heart of the book is a mystery that is complex with many possible villains.

Her dragons are a delight.  They can change into human form, but never quite understand humans and their emotions.  They are beings that are purely intellectual, carefully structuring their minds to be in balance at all times.  Love is forbidden; music and art is something they cannot create.  They are a wonderful foil to the humans of the story who are awash in teen emotions.

But it is the humans who make this story work.  Seraphina is a heroine who is a mix of human and dragon in many ways.  She is prickly yet feels emotions fiercely.  She’s a study in contrasts.  She wants to be accepted, yet pushes people away.  She wants to perform and yet needs to stay hidden.  She is drawn to the prince and yet has to lie constantly to him.  Prince Lucian too is a complex character who is a worthy pairing with Seraphina.  Their relationship grows and shrinks, changes and matures throughout the book.  It’s organic and slow, unlike the many lightning-bolt love stories we see in teen novels.

This is a book that took me a long time to finish because I never wanted it to end.  Immerse yourself in this tale of dragons, music and mystery.  Appropriate for ages 13-16.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Review: The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

| Tasha

peculiars

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

This steampunk fantasy novel is set in the late 1800s.  Lena lives with her mother and grandmother and on her 18th birthday is given a letter that her father had left for her.  Her father left when she was a tiny child, leaving only one thing behind, Lena’s very long hands and feet.  Her hands are so long that they have an additional joint and she wears special gloves to make them less conspicuous.  The world she lives in is not accepting of “Peculiars” and Lena wonders if her hands and feet mark her as more than a genetic abnormality.  There are rumors her father was a goblin.  Along with the letter, Lena receives a deed to her father’s mine in Scree.  So she sets off on a journey north to Scree but before she can get there, the train she is on is attacked and her savings are stolen.  She met a very nice young man, Jimson on the train, and he mentioned working in a library.  She also met a handsome young marshal, Thomas Saltre, who asks her help in spying on someone who is experimenting upon Peculiars.  In exchange, he will help her find a guide to head to Scree.  Filled with steam powered machines, dubious inventions, and adventure this book asks deep questions that are not easily answered.

A lot of those questions focus upon what makes people different and whether genetics decide your personality.  There is also a strong look at persecution of people who are different, with laws that make them unable to own property and not be seen as really human.  There are even beliefs that people who are Peculiar do not have souls.  It is a fantasy lens look at a society moments before what could become a genocide.  This immense societal pressure adds to the tension throughout the book, and plays a factor in the way the story turns.

The book can be slow at times, though I was enjoying the world building enough that it did not concern me.   I enjoyed lingering in the library with Jimson and Lena, enjoyed unraveling the truth of what was happening.  The characters are intriguing and complex.

With the popularity of steampunk, this book should find an eager audience.  Readers may not expect such a complex society that poses such dark questions, and that will be a welcome surprise.

Appropriate for ages 13-16.

Reviewed from ARC received from Amulet Books.

Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

| Tasha

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Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Alina lost her family in the Border Wars and now depends solely on her close friendship with fellow orphan Mal.  Now the two of them are in the army together and head off for the dangerous crossing of the Fold, a place where magic contaminated the very world and covers it in darkness and horrible monsters.  When the two of them were younger, they were tested for magic themselves, but neither of them had any.  So what happens in the Fold is even more remarkable.  The ship they are crossing in is attacked by hundreds of beasts and Mal is horribly wounded.  Alina shields his body with her own as the monsters attack, but then she loses consciousness herself.  Coming to, she is guarded by soldiers and taken before the Darkling himself, a man almost as powerful as the king.  But what could she have done that would make her worthy of his attention?

It is difficult to believe that this is Bardugo’s debut novel.  Her writing has a wisdom and surety that is very special.  From page one, I was captivated by the strength of her world.  Set in a Russia-like place, the world and society are solidly built and remarkably original.  This is a world torn apart by war, where there is also an internal power struggle happening that could cause irreparable harm to the society too.  It is a world where villains look like heroes and heroes can appear villainous at times. 

The individual characters are well written and finely drawn.  Alina is a heroine who often doesn’t act like one, a girl with power that she does not understand, and a loneliness that aches the bones.  She is brave, strong and at the same time young and naïve.  The Darkling is equally successfully written.  He is aloof until he is close, disdainful until he is captivated, and completely complex.  He’s a delight of a character, one that offers no easy answers.

Highly recommended, this is one of the most original fantasies I have read in awhile.  Not populated with vampires, zombies or angels, it is still filled with magical writing, amazing characters and one incredible world.  Appropriate for ages 13-17.

Reviewed from copy received from Henry Holt and Company.

2011 Andre Norton Award Winner

| Tasha

The 2011 Nebula Winners have been announced.  As always, teens will enjoy many of the science fiction and fantasy winners for adults, but happily there is also a category just for young adult books: The Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The winner is:

The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman

Other books on the shortlist were:

   

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

The Boy at the End of the World by Greg van Eekhout

Chime by Franny Billingsley

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

  

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson

Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

| Tasha

grave mercy

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Hated by her father since the day she was born, Ismae had survived her parents’ attempt at abortion and was left permanently scarred.  Sold into the brutality of an arranged marriage, she manages to escape into the hands of the convent of St. Mortain.  There she is offered the chance to become what she has always wanted to be: a woman with choices and power.  In the case of Mortain, it is the power to kill.  Ismae discovers that she is tolerant of poisons, allowing her to work closely with them and learn all of their secrets.  She is sent to the court of Brittany to do the work of Mortain, killing those she is instructed to and reporting her political findings back to the convent.  She must pose as the mistress of Duval, bastard son of the dead Duke.  Ismae quickly becomes embroiled in the politics and betrayals of the court: the many men vying for the promised hand of the young Duchess, and the French pressuring for capitulation or war.  And of course, there is also a romance blooming.  This adventure in 15th century Brittany will be sure to please historical fiction and fantasy fans alike.

First, I have to take a moment to mention this cover.  Even better, it is a cover that is not only beautiful but wonderfully in sync with the storyline.  This is Ismae, an incredibly strong and vibrant heroine.  She has little interest in the more womanly pursuit of needlecraft and even less in flirtation.  Instead she turns into a disturbingly eager assassin, ready to dole out damage where required.  That is until things are not quite so clear as she had thought.  Then the book turns and becomes deeper and even more magnetic.  LaFevers allows her young heroine to guide this book, telling her own strange, amazing story.

The characterizations here are compelling and original.  The setting is just as much so.  And the setting here is a large part of the storyline itself.  The high court of Brittany is a place of dangers and yet wonders.  The political pressures add organically to the dynamic storyline.  The use of the old gods and ancient religion as a backbone to the story also works very well.  It adds yet another dimension to the story, creating great depth.

Highly recommended, this book is a luminous gem of a book.  Get this into the hands of older teens who will wait breathlessly for the next in the His Fair Assassin series.  Appropriate for ages 15-17.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater

| Tasha

mrs noodlekugel

Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Adam Stower

Siblings Nick and Maxine have just moved into an apartment building where they live on an upper floor.  Soon after they moved in, they discovered a tiny house behind their apartment building, but they could not figure out how to get there.  They decided to ask the janitor of the building who told them they had to go through the boiler room.  But their parents told them not to bother the woman who lived in the house and not to visit.  Of course, the two children just had to meet her.  So they traveled through the dark, pipe-filled boiler room and off to the sweet little house where they met Mrs. Noodlekugel and her talking cat, Mr. Fuzzface.  She fed them apple cookies (baked by Mr. Fuzzface) and tea.  She insisted that the four mice be invited to the tea, because you can’t have tea without mice.  And that was just the first time that the children came to visit!

Pinkwater has created a jolly book for beginning readers here.  It has the wonderful charm of an old-fashioned story filled with baked goods, talking animals and more than a touch of magic.  At the same time, it takes place in an urban setting of apartment buildings and the city.  Pinkwater’s writing is as solid as ever, creating a strong foundation for the story. 

Stower’s art adds to that feeling of the juxtaposition of vintage and new.  There are full-page illustrations and then others that offer just small images on the page.  The illustrations have a wonderful sweetness to them, especially as the magic starts.

A cheery book for new readers, this is a confection of a book for children starting to read chapter books on their own.  Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

| Tasha

false prince

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

It is a strange, unique day when only an orphan boy of no particular breeding can save a kingdom from war.   But that is the plan hatched by Conner, a nobleman, when the entire royal family is poisoned.  The only possible way to save the kingdom from immediate war is to find a young man who resembles the prince, who was thought to be dead years before.  So it is that Sage and three other young orphans are gathered up.  It is made clear from the beginning that this is no joke, and that Conner will do anything to keep this secret safe.  The boys begin learning to be princes, competing for the one spot as the prince.  They must learn to read, write, ride a horse, fight with swords, and use genteel manners.  Among them, Sage is the one with the arrogance, fearlessness and pride to be a prince, but if he doesn’t try at his lessons, he may not be the one chosen.  All of the boys realize what it means not to be chosen – certain death.

Nielsen has created a book that dashes forward, blazing with a strong concept from the beginning.  The idea of the false prince and a life-or-death competition for a single role makes for exhilarating reading.  Her pacing is brilliant, as is the ease of her writing, making the book almost impossible to put down.  In Sage, she has created a boy who could have been dislikable but instead reads as brave, valiant, and true. 

Nielsen does not shy away from violence or death.  This is a world of lies, cunning and manipulation.  Within that world, people will do what they have to in order to get ahead.  That is a large part of the appeal of Sage.  He is somehow immersed in that world of desperation, but remains unwilling to ever be desperate or eager.  He is a complex character filled with charisma.

Written in the first person, a rather daring choice for this sort of book, Nielsen manages to not allow the reader to guess the truth of the story until she reveals it.  While readers may guess at how the book will end, they will not be certain until that moment of revelation.  It’s another feature that makes the book so very readable.

The first in a trilogy, I was thrilled to find a book that stands on its own.  While there are plot points that I look forward to finding out more about, this book has a very satisfying ending.  Get this into the hands of readers who want action, intrigue and enjoy a little sinister darkness in their books.  Appropriate for ages 12-14.

Reviewed from ARC received from Scholastic.

Review: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

| Tasha

bitterblue

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Released on May 1, 2012.

A sequel to Graceling, this book takes place 8 years later.  Bitterblue has been queen of Monsea for some time, struggling to undo the evil that her father wrought throughout the country.  Her duties seem to consist of mountains of paperwork, pardoning those influenced by Leck’s powers and the occasional appearance at court.  Spending days at work, indoors with only her aging advisors around her, who seem to go blank mentally when she mentions her father, wears upon her.  So she starts to sneak out and visit her city.  She visits the amazing bridges her father had created.  Underneath one, she finds a story room where there is warmth, drinks and stories are shared.  It is there that she meets Saf and his friend Teddy, two thieves who only steal what is already stolen.  As the queen learns about her city, she discovers strange things, puzzles that add to the questions she already has.  It is this that she has to solve, if she is to be the queen she needs to be.

Cashore brings back beloved characters in this book, including Po and Katsa who are continuing their love affair, their stormy fights, and their wrestling.  In Bitterblue, she has created yet another amazing female character.  Bitterblue has not only the future of her kingdom to decide, but also the terrors of her past to overcome.  She is a survivor rising from the wreckage of her childhood, the manipulation of her father, and the devastating loss of her mother.  Readers get the exquisite pleasure of watching her become a queen and a woman before their eyes.  The growth shown in this book is gradual and organic, beautifully told.

Cashore excels at writing readable books and elaborate worlds.  Her world building is done carefully and consistently, the reader secure in the knowledge that this is a vibrant, strange world, but one that they can count on.  Her characters all make sense, living their lives in the complexity of the political world that Cashore has built.  Even if their actions make no sense at first glance, be sure that Cashore knows more than she is showing at that moment and all will be revealed.  These books are layered, complex and riveting.

I fell hard for Bitterblue and her struggles.  She is the sort of heroine who speaks to me, one who is faced with overwhelming challenges but by staying true to herself and discovering who she is deep inside, manages to come through in the end.  She is immensely human, something that Cashore makes sure all of her amazing heroines are.

If you loved Graceling and Fire, you are sure to love Bitterblue as well.  This book took four years to write, and I’m happy to give Cashore all the time she needs to create her next book too.  Appropriate for ages 15-18. 

Reviewed from ARC received from Dial Books.

Review: Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey

| Tasha

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Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey

After the death of the king, the royal treasure was stolen and has not been recovered.  Tess lives in a small village and has troubles of her own, including an abusive stepfather and the recent death of her infant brother.  When the witch hunter comes to town, Tess is accused of being a witch.  Tess is able to see the future in fire sometimes and loves going into the wilds of Dragonswood even though it is forbidden.  When she is tortured, she breaks and gives up the names of her best friends as also going into Dragonswood with her.  Sent to trial, Tess escapes with the aid of a dragon and flees her home along with her two friends.  The three of them must survive in the wilds, disguised as lepers and never revealing their identities.  But when one of their husbands is tortured too , the situation changes and they must risk their own safety to save him.  As the story continues, more of the magic of Dragonswood is revealed along with who took the royal treasure.  This is one amazing read, filled with fey and dragons.

Carey writes with the confidence of a long-time storyteller.  Here, she weaves 12th century England and its witch-hunting into a story filled with ancient magic.  The setting of Wilde Island and Dragonswood is particularly effective, itself filled with creatures of magic and the dangers as well.  The story’s pacing is well done too, gripping and fast-paced in the beginning, it slows a bit in the middle to allow the story to develop, and then picks up the speed again in the end as all of the pieces fit together at last. 

The characterization is also particularly well done.  Tess lacks self-confidence from her years of abuse and seems unlikely to become the heroine of the story.  When she breaks under torture, it is written particularly well, and shows the violence of torture and the coldness and calculating nature of it as a tool.  The other characters are also well-rendered, with secondary characters returning later in the story and becoming more fully developed. 

This book sparkles with magic, dragons and fey, but also is striking because of its human characters living in fear and darkness.  Beautiful writing and a remarkable setting lift this fantasy on dragon wings.  Appropriate for ages 14-17.

Reviewed from copy received from Dial Books.