In My Mailbox (13)

IMM is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's all about the incredible books we've recently gotten through the library, for review, won in a contest, bought, any way we got the books.

Please note that all links go to Amazon.


Invincible Summer, Withering Tights, Girl Wonder, Summer and the City, The Vespertine


Bad Girls Don't Die, Bloodline, A Brief History of Montmaray, Falling for Hamlet, Flawless

I'll write some reviews for the Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge. I think these books will be really good, some of them I've been waiting to read for a while.

What did you get in your mailbox? Leave a link!

Review: Red Glove

Author: Holly Black
Pages: 325
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Other book in the series: White Cat 
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge book 4
Synopsis: Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.


That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.


When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?


Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.


Buy the Book (Amazon)

**Spoilers for White Cat**

Cassel is exactly the kind of character I love. He's sarcastic with a sense of humor, witty, loyal to family, and he tries to be good even though he has done very bad things, even though it's so tempting to do bad. That dilemma he faces makes me love him even more. Evidently, with Cassel as a character I loved Red Glove.

Cassel isn't the only interesting character. Lila, the girl-turned-cat-turned-girl-who's-cursed is back. She's also a very complex character. Lila is put in a place where she will become a killer. She's the daughter and future ruler of a mobster. How about the part where Cassel's mom cursed her to love him? Cassel has to stay away from her because while his feelings are true, he never knows whether hers are.

I loved that romantic tension. Something Red Glove (THANKFULLY) doesn't have is a love triangle. No, relationships in the Curseworker series are very real and raw. The character in Red Glove are among the best I've seen. There are so many of them and each acts differently in a distinctive way. They all have faults and values and all pressure poor Cassel.

The curse-magic is back and even more natural than ever. Holly Black makes curses feel like a part of every day society. Never did I stop reading and wonder or muse about the curses, I expected it as it was.

The best thing about Red Glove was how readable it was. I was easily immersed in the story. I was kept guessing who the murderer was in the end and how Cassel was going to get out of the mess. The cons were amazing. I would love lessons from Cassel on how to read people or make a con. They were elaborate schemes and so well thought out that the failures and successes made sense. I loved that I read every word of Red Glove eagerly. I felt like I was having the most delicious chocolaty treat!

All in all, I love Holly Black's series. Read it. It gets better and better. It's dark but that's just a part of its charm. My only complaint is that I don't want this series to ever end! 5 stars,

*****

Review: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

Author: Maureen Johnson
Pages: 336
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Challenge: Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge
Synopsis: When Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she knows something exciting is going to happen. What Ginny doesn't know is that she will have the adventure of her life and it will change her in more ways than one. Life and love are waiting for her across the Atlantic, and the thirteen little blue envelopes are the key to finding them in this funny, romantic, heartbreaking novel.

Buy the Book (Amazon) 

Ginny has the coolest Aunt Peg who is artistic, fun, and makes Ginny feel interesting. Then Aunt Peg dies and leave Ginny 13 Little Blue Envelopes filled with instructions, advice, and information about her last days.

The first thing that hooked me was the premise. I'm totally an amazing race kinda girl. Having to do tasks before opening an envelope is my kind of thing so I was already excited to read this book. Maureen Johnson made the envelopes fit in with the story. They were not all of the story, but just one part of it. Ginny had many adventures on her own.

Ginny herself is an okay character. She's nice, normal, not super hormone crazed, wishes she were more interesting, has a best friend named Miriam, etc. I still feel like she's not distinct enough for me. I feel like I haven't seen even half of Ginny which isn't something very good.

Not to say Maureen can't properly characterize characters because she can. Aunt Peg was a wonderful example of that. At first she was perfect, since Ginny pretty much idolized her but as the story progressed, we saw her flaws. The best part is that she was a lovable character because of her flaws. She was complex, weird, crazy, and I loved reading about her.

There was some romance in the novel but I didn't think much of it. It wasn't a huge plot point and by the end of the story the characters hadn't decided to love each other for eternity. It felt like a real relationship and I appreciated that.

Overall, 13 Little Blue Envelopes is a nice, easy read. I could easily have read it as a standalone but since there seems to be a sequel, I'll check that out too. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

News: Michael Grant's New Transmedia Project (!!)

Those of you who follow my blog for a while know of my love of Michael Grant's incredible Gone series. I love those books. They addict and enthrall me, which is why I'm so psyched about this new project I've been asked to help promote.

"The missing son of a U.N. diplomat... the reemergence of a strange organization... a pair of society twins caught in the middle... this is just the beginning of "Go BZRK," a new transmedia experience from author Michael Grant.


If you're ready to take the plunge in an interactive story like you've never experienced before, visit societytwins.com and register with nexushumanus.com to take your first steps in a strange and compelling universe.


Filled with video, puzzles, community collaboration, and more, "Go BZRK" put YOU the player right in the middle of the action as you join Nexus Humanus and unravel a mystery that may hold the key to the fate of all mankind."

Doesn't that sound absolutely incredible?! I'm registering for sure. If you need more information though, here's a Q&A with Mr. Grant:

A Q&A with author Michael Grant.

What is “Go BZRK”? Is this a book or some kind of interactive story?

Both. The book comes out this winter, but the interactive part starts now.  One leads up to the other, but they're part of a complete package.

Why “transmedia”?

There are different approaches to transmedia.  Most people take a single story and reproduce it on various platforms.  My philosophy has been to make each element - ARG, app, web, book - a thing unto itself, each revealing some aspect of the world of BZRK.  I've been fascinated with this is as a new way to tell stories.  The book remains central, but now I can reach beyond the book and create a much more complete world.  I can tell stories that enhance the book, and stories that parallel the book, and stories that are offshoots of backstory.  I guess the answer to "why" is "because it's fun."

Is this the future of publishing?

I began a few years ago reaching out to publishers and saying we collectively needed to understand that the old models were dead or dying.  I want publishing to survive, and of course I'd like my own career to thrive.  So Egmont Publishing and my partners and I certainly hope this is a part of the future of publishing. 

How long is this running? Is this part of a larger picture?

We'll be running this in several chunks between now and the book release this winter. Because these things have a hard start/stop point, August is a ramp-up phase. There'll be a lot of content coming out, but the experience really gets underway at the end of the month… just in time to distract the kids from their schoolwork.

What if someone wants to follow the story but doesn’t want to participate?

You don't have to do anything.  You can do one thing and not another.  But the deeper you plunge the wetter you get.  I think every part of this is fun, I think people will enjoy the ARG, the app, the site and the books. 

App? You've mentioned that a couple times now.

Just wait and see.

What can you tell us about the story? What is “BZRK”?

It's a battle for the soul and freedom of the human race carried out simultaneously in the world we know, and in a world that you're not going to expect. It's a world where if you make a false move, you're going to lose your mind.

Insanity… is this something you have a personal familiarity with?

The line between writer and crazy person is very thin.  Both go around holding long, involved conversations with people who aren't there.

What’s this other world thing all about?

Do you really want spoilers? I'll tell you this. We'll be going "down in the meat." It's going to be vast, bloody, and beautiful.

Wait… isn’t this supposed to be for kids?

Adults like to flatter themselves that kids won't get, won't understand, won't be able to handle, more intense, more complex stories. That's nonsense.  It's the adults who are easy to creep out or scare.  Say the word "biopsy" in a room full of adults. Or "audit."  See?  Easy to scare.  Kids are a tougher audience because kids think they're immortal.

This looks really cool, right? Check out the sites and stay tuned for more news! Oh, and if you haven't check out my reviews for Hunger by Michael Grant (Gone #2) and Lies by Michael Grant (Gone #3). I'm really excited to see what happens next! And remember to add me as a friend. My username is Tantalize.

Review: Daughter of Xanadu

Author: Dori Jones Yang
Pages: 352
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Challenge: The Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge Book 2
Synopsis: Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.


Buy the Book (Amazon)

I enjoy historical fiction. I love stories of princesses and princes, murder, betrayal, court and war. This made me excited to read about Emmajin's life was a Mongol Princess.

I've never actually read or know much about Marco Polo or the Mongols. I was excited to read about this part of history though. The Mongols were very much warriors with harsh customs. They felt it was their God-given duty to unify the world under one rule. I was horrified of some of the things I read and that our main character, Emmajin supported but she lived a very different life from me so I can imagine she'd have a different view.

Emmajin was a confusing character. She changed significantly throughout the book. I'm glad of the change but I wish I could read more of the new Emmajin to understand her better. During most of the story, I disagreed with Emmajin. I don't believe in war, and I wanted to yell at her about all the glory she thought she'd get. While I was unhappy with the reason for her change, I really do hope she makes the most out of it.

There was of course romance in this book. I'm not sure how I felt about it. Marco was a nice enough guy but I don't understand how there was a huge romance between Emmajin and him. They hadn't known each other long, but their romance is an important plot device in the book. Maybe others would enjoy it better.

One of the best things about Daughter of Xanadu is the culture. We readers will get a good idea of Mongol's culture and lifestyle and how the life of a Latin, Marco Polo may differ from that. I laughed at some of the scenes where Emmajin asks about different colours of eyes and hair- it really makes me appreciate how diverse the world we live in today is.

Overall, a unique tale of a girl who encounters love, war, and destiny. A good read, 3.5 stars.

*** & 1/2 *

Cover Wars: Swear vs. Fever

Cover Wars is a fun little feature all about fighting for the title of most beautiful cover. It's a peaceful battle and the whole point is to showcase the gorgeous covers. If you know of a beautiful cover that could be used in an upcoming battle, leave a comment and I'll check it out. :)

Last week Swear was declared winner. The majority voted for Swear, as it has a particularly gorgeous cover. This week, Swear is against the much waited cover for Fever by Lauren DeStefano (sequel to Wither). I have no idea how this battle will turn out but one thing is for sure- it all depends on you. VOTE!!

vs

Both of the girls are posing as if something awful has happened to them. One looks drugged, the other in despair. Which of these covers is your favourite? Which is more appealing? You can vote on the right and stay tuned next Monday when the winner will be revealed!

Review: Battle Dress

Author: Amy Efaw
Pages: 304
Publisher: Speak
Source: Library
Challenge: The Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge
Synopsis: Based on the author's own experiences as a cadet at the exclusive United States Military Academy at West Point, Battle Dress is the brutally honest tale of seventeen-year-old Andi Davis, who views her acceptance at West Point as a chance to escape her dysfunctional family and prove to herself that she has what it takes to survive "The Beast," insider terminology for Basic Training. But nothing could have prepared Andi for the rigors that follow - or for the inner strength that she will need to succeed as a woman in a nearly all-male society. Compelling and powerful, but never militaristic, this is a tale of triumph that won't fail to move readers.

Buy the Book (Amazon)

Battle Dress was so much fun to read! It's all about Andi starting Cadet training during the summer and I loved reading it. It's reinforced my thoughts of never joining the army but it's also made me want to read more!

Battle Dress is the kind of book that leaves you wanting more. I laughed a ton during the beginning (though I'm not sure if the humor was intentional... I have a weird sense of funny) but then I got used to the insults hurled by Cadets. The actual story is very simple since most of the writing is Cadets screaming and about what Andi did at Beast, but there is a very strong theme and characters anyway.

Andi is totally relatable. Her family has some huge screws loose and I would have left them too if I were in her position. That doesn't mean Andi hates them all- there are some good parts to everyone of course, even if it's extremely hard to find. Andi is independent which I loved. This girl ain't looking for no Prince Charming. I bet she could kick Prince Charming's butt.

Andi is a winner, a completely hardcore winner. She has this drive and ambition. She proves mind over matter and she tries so hard at everything and succeeds. She does encounter setbacks but she rises above them. She's awesome and the perfect narrator.

I need to admit, reading of the military left me a bit horrified while interested. I know what the military is for of course, but I never imagined the lessons they'd have to learn to get the job. I never imagined the training and keeping the purpose in mind. Battle Dress raised awareness of that for me.

Overall, a great read, Battle Dress shows the importance of humor, drive, and persistence. Never surrendering my interest, I was completely engrossed in this book. 4 stars,

****