The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy: Review

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
By: Christopher Healy

It seems like only the princesses get the recognition these days, and the Princes Charming are fed up. Liam, Frederic, Duncan and Gustav all had a part in saving Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel. But, the songs the minstrels sing are all about the girls! So, when circumstances bring the princes together, they work to uncover a plot that could be the end of their kingdoms. And, hopefully set the record straight.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is an incredibly silly middle grade novel. Each prince has a very distinct and quirky personality. I loved the introductions to each one of them and their version of the "real story." And this book isn't your ordinary princess/prince book. There is a lot of goofy humor and slapstick-type comedy.

The story does drag a bit in places, as there are many characters to keep track of, and each needs an equal share of page time. I also felt like there were moments where the humor was just a little too goofy. But then again, I'm a 20-something girl; I am hardly the target audience. I also felt like the book could have benefited from a lot more pictures. And why does the cover only show two of the princes?!

This book is a great fit for elementary school boys. It's charming, funny, and a welcomed addition to the fractured fairytale genre.

Update: Turns out the entire cover does show all of the princes. You can click to enlarge and see what the finished cover looks like.

    

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The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi: Review

The Drowned Cities
By: Paolo Bacigalupi

In this companion novel to Ship Breaker, Mahlia and Mouse have escaped the most dire of circumstances in The Drowned Cities and are living in the jungle outskirts. America has been torn apart by war and natural disasters. The borders are guarded by enormous war beasts, not allowing anyone to leave the devastated nation.

When Mahlia and Mouse meet up with one of these bioengineered monsters and are separated, Mahlia must decide if she is willing to risk everything to save a friend, or if she will escape to the north and possibly the only safety she's ever known.

A couple years ago, Ship Breaker piqued my interest. But, I never did get my hands on a copy. But, that didn't stop me from diving into The Drowned Cities when it arrived. And, I'm happy to report that it is a true companion novel, and I didn't feel confused or lost by having not read Ship Breaker.

The Drowned Cities has a very distinct flavor to it. And, it's not going to appeal to everyone. But, if you're suffering from a dystopian fatigue, this novel just might be the thing to give you a boost. The atmosphere is creepy, gritty, and downright dangerous. Everyone is desperate, and there are no rules. Mahlia is an orphan. Her father was a member of the Chinese army, and part of a failed attempt to stop the destruction and civil war in America. Mahlia is a cast-off, and was left behind by the feeling Chinese. Her hand has been cut off, but she still deftly assists the town's doctor in stitching up wounds, since the physician is almost completely blind.

I loved so many things about The Drowned Cities. I loved Mahlia and her stubbornness. She is loyal to her friend Mouse, who really is more of a brother by circumstance than anything else. Tool was terrifying and yet, I found myself rooting for him. He's really just a product of the society that made him.

The Drowned Cities will appeal to readers who enjoyed Blood Red Road by Moira Young (my review). The atmosphere is just as vibrant as Young's series, and I really think you'll love Mahlia like I did.

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Divergent Nation: Team Amity Day

psst! confused about what all this Team Amity stuff is? check out my intro post

have you entered the Team Amity group giveaway?

and don't forget to enter to win a dystopian prize pack!

Today is the day that we've all been waiting for! It's Team Amity day! On the Divergent Facebook page and Veronica Roth's blog today, it's all about Amity.

So, today, let's make our clicks count for Amity and celebrate all things peaceful, joyous, and awesome! (Because heaven knows we all need a little bit more of that in our lives).

Here is a round-up of all the great things happening related to Team Amity on our team's blogs!

• Team Amity- HUGE Group Giveaway
• Better Read Than Dead- Insurgent Giveaway
• Better Read Than Dead- Divergent Casting Giveaway
  
• Hippies, Beauty, and Books- Insurgent ARC Giveaway
• Hippies, Beauty, and Books- Blogoversary Giveaway
  
• I Swim For Oceans- Insurgent ARC Giveaway
• A Life Bound By Books- UK Insurgent & Divergent Giveaway
  
• Emily’s Reading Room- Dystopian Grab Bag Giveaway
• All Things Urban Fantasy- Insurgent Cover Recreate Contest
• Squeaky Books- Insurgent Pre-Order Giveaway

So, go ahead, click for peace and choose Team Amity!

 

 

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo: Review

Shadow and Bone
By: Leigh Bardugo
Review by: Kylie Comfoltey

Alina Starkov is just an orphan, raised to serve her kingdom of Ravka in the King's First Army. Skinny, clumsy and sickly looking; always with bags under her eyes and, oh, that mousy hair. She's not exactly the ideal soldier but she makes a fine cartographer, and she's just happy to be in the company of her best friend and fellow orphan, the hunky tracker-extraordinaire, Mal. When they are sent into the Shadow Fold, a dark abyss full of flesh-eating abominations which separates Ravka and haunts its people, Alina fiercely protects a threatened Mal and it is discovered that Alina holds an incredible and very valuable power. Could she be the one to break the curse of the Fold and save her kingdom?

Tell the truth: when you read the word "orphan" up there, did it grab you or push you away? Did you think, "What's with all the orphans these days?" or "Yay! I love orphans?" Just curious.

I wish I could rate things on a 10 star scale. I'm so stingy with my fifth star. But it doesn't matter, have all 5 of my stars!

I thoroughly enjoyed Shadow and Bone. I was drawn into the world Leigh Bardugo created, full of "magic" and palaces and, of course, the good guy vs. bad boy love triangle. I loved reading about the Grisha. Heck, I want to be Grisha! Beauty, cool powers, strength, personal trainers (if you want to think of them that way, which I do), hot baths in a hammered copper tub, four-poster canopy bed: gimme.

It's not all shiny and happy. Grisha are basically glorified servants to the King, but they're well-educated and have almost anything they desire at their beck and call. In other words, I'd rather be Grisha than a peasant soldier.

This book has some good twists to it, though they don't come as complete surprises. Alina is a fairly strong character. She has little confidence in herself and craves to change that. She's new at the whole relationship thing, and at one point wonders if it's good enough just to be wanted by someone. Alina wants to fit in, but not badly enough to side with snobs or join the gossip club. I think she's like-able, and even relate-able for many readers. She's strong and capable and grows throughout the book.

Mal is a great character. He's strong, strikingly attractive, funny; possibly the best tracker in Ravka, so that's something. He is Alina's best friend. He's also Alina's secret crush, in an on-again-off-again way. Mostly on-again.

Then there's the Darkling. Should we love him or hate him? All that black he wears, the whole conscience-free vibe, and the fact that he doesn't appear to have a name other than "Darkling" hint toward the hate/fear arena, but he's handsome, powerful and sometimes seems so down to earth and just human. He ruffles his hair, people. Who doesn't like a good disheveled hair moment?

I could do without some of the made up language. I tend to waste minutes at a time trying to decide how to pronounce a certain word until I eventually decide to just skim over that word through the remainder of the book to avoid further time waste and frustration. A pronunciation guide might help (good news! It's on the website!). I remember the first time I picked up a Harry Potter book to read to a kid I was babysitting. I pronounced "Hermione" completely wrong and was told off by a 7-year-old. It stung. It did.

There wasn't much I didn't like about Shadow and Bone. The world Bardugo created is original and detail-rich, but not annoying. The story is not full of constant cliffhangers, so many of you will be happy about that. The plot manages to grip the reader without those frustrating cliffhangers and it certainly kept me reading. The story ends with some closure, but gets you excited for the next installment and does finish on a feel-good note. Overall, a very entertaining and memorable read. Can't wait for more!

    

Sexuality: Moderate. It doesn't pop up everywhere, but there is one semi-hot-and-heavy moment.
Drugs/Alcohol: Mild. Bardugo refers to a made-up drink throughout the book. I remember beer being mentioned, and champagne is enjoyed by Alina at a shindig.
Profanity: Mild. I remember the b-word used once.
Violence: Moderate. It's a wartime era and some of the Grisha are highly trained killers. Also, some animals were harmed in the unfolding of this novel.

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amazon | goodreads | author twitter | author website

Ruta Sepetys Signing

Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray, came to Salt Lake on April 12. I absolutely loved this book (see my review here), and felt like it was such an important story, that I dragged along Enna Isilee and Kami with me.

And, I'm so glad that I went! Ruta talked a little about how she got into writing, and it was very unconventional. She worked in the film industry, and was inspired to write Between Shades of Gray after learning about the history of her grandfather's family on a visit to Lithuania. She discovered that after her grandfather immigrated to America, many of her relatives in Lithuania were either killed or sent to labor camps during the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states.

Ruta did research through interviews, and even spent some time in a reenactment in a former Soviet prison. The experiences that she had really shaped the tone of the book.

The character of Lena was an artist because members of her family were artists. Also, the prisoners in these camps often used songs and art to convey messages to other prisoners. They even used them as a way to get news of family members in other camps. Because the Soviet's couldn't speak their language, they were able to get information through their songs and artwork.

Ruta is working on a new book on a piece of history that is even less well-known than the Soviet occupation. It is based on the sinking of the Gustloff in 1945. I did some research on this event after I went home from the event and I was horrified. I really can't wait to read Ruta's novel.

Meeting Ruta was such a pleasure! If you haven't read Between Shades of Gray, I highly recommend it. It will shed some light on a piece of history that definitely should not be forgotten. I would also recommend watching the trailer that she made for her book. Thanks for coming to Salt Lake, Ruta! And thanks to The King's English for hosting!


Ruta Sepetys discusses her upcoming novel, Between Shades of Gray from Penguin Young Readers Group on Vimeo.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Brides of Rollrock Island

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Brides of Rollrock Island

By: Margo Lanagan

On remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings—and to catch their wives.

The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment.

Margo Lanagan weaves an extraordinary tale of desire, despair, and transformation. With devastatingly beautiful prose, she reveals characters capable of unspeakable cruelty, but also unspoken love.

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There just aren't enough good stories based on selkie mythology. I can't wait to give this one a try!

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin: Review

Masque of the Red Death
By: Bethany Griffin

A plague has wiped out most of the population, save a few who were lucky (rich) enough to procure masks that can only be used by one person. In the midst of all the death and destruction, a culture of debauchery has arisen to indulge in the pleasures that may be very soon in ending. Araby is the daughter of the inventor of the mask, and spends her nights taking away the pain of the loss of her brother at the Debauchery Club. When she meets two men that break through her apathy, she has to choose when and how she will make a stand.

Masque of the Red Death is based on a story by Edgar Allen Poe. It is a story that I haven't read, though I have read others of Poe's work. And this is perhaps why I just didn't feel engaged in the story.

The atmosphere in Masque of the Red Death is chilling. It seeps through the pages and is very rich. The world that is created is one of total chaos. Death and sickness run rampant through the streets, but the privileged spend their evenings living in pleasure and indulgence. The two world elements play beautifully off each other. The Prince, as he is known, is terrifying in his power and his demeanor. For the rich, the masks become a fashion item, some of them owning several different masks. The poor have to save everything they have for one, and often have to choose between children, since a mask can only be used by one wearer. All of these elements blend together beautifully.

However mesmerizing the world, I did not care for any of the characters. Araby uses drugs to medicate her sorrow, and that's really all I knew about her character. Elliot and Will were unsatisfying as well. Similarly, I found that characters disappeared and reappeared throughout the plot, seemingly at random, and I found myself losing interest at parts. There just wasn't enough in the characters to really hook me and want to see it through to the end. I even admit to skimming a few sections in the last 75 pages.

Do I feel like I really missed something with Masque of the Red Death? Yes. I've read reviews from many people who really loved the book. Perhaps if I didn't put so much stock in a likeable character I would have been able to really embrace it.

There is a fair amount of drug usage and sexual content in Masque of the Red Death, which would probably be suitable for teens 16 or older.

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Insurgent Free Four Campaign: Success!

psst! If you're confused about what all this Insurgent and Team Amity stuff is, check out my intro post!

Have you entered the huge group giveaway? Enter to win a kindle or 15 other prizes!

And don't forget about my dystopian prize pack giveaway!

Remember last week when I told you about the Insurgent pre-order campaign? Well, we answered the call, and reached 35,000 pre-orders!

Go read the exclusive scene from Divergent from Four's point of view!

Blogger Confidential Round 3: Meet the Bloggers

Have you ever been faced with an issue while reading or blogging and thought: I wonder what other bloggers think about this?  No matter what genre or audience you blog for, we all face the same problems.  Are you a publisher or author wondering what goes on in a blogger's (and by extension a reader's) head?

Blogger confidential is a series of 12 questions asked to 11 bloggers about the nitty gritty details of blogging. Everything from what prompts a blogger to pick up a book, to what happens when a book doesn't live up to its hype.  This series was inspired by Wastepaper Prose's Author Insight series.

It's time to introduce the bloggers for round 3!

Chachic from Chachic's Book Nook

Chachic is the Filipino book blogger behind Chachic's Book Nook. She enjoys reading all sorts of genre fiction and has been blogging for over two years. She started blogging to recommend her favorite books and has since discovered that book blogging is an excellent way of connecting with fellow book lovers from all over the world. Her top three favorite hobbies are eating, sleeping and reading.

Sarah from Forever Young Adult

Forever Young Adult is a site for YA readers who are a little less Y and a bit more A. We believe that cocktails and books are best friends, and we love dishing about everything from cheesy teen movies to old school YA favorites.

Vanessa and Isalys from Book Soulmates

We are Isalys & Vanessa and we are Book Soulmates! We met through a mutual friend and instantly bonded through our common love of books, reading and history! We are employees by day and bookworms/bloggers by night. Thankfully, our respective jobs earn us enough dough to support regularly scheduled trips to Barnes & Noble and Starbucks!

Penelope from Reading Fever

Penelope is a 23-year-old who began blogging in January of 2011, naming her blog The Reading Fever; her medical term for the wholly engrossing side-effects she gets from reading great books. She loves exploring the lives and complications of characters in books, who usually have much more interesting days than she does. When not reading or blogging, she can be found either working, or cleaning up the messes of her inquisitive and experimental little boy.

Donna from Bites

Donna has been the Igor behind Bites for more than three years, spitting out honest reviews, an occasional rabid rant and other bookish shenanigannery. She likes long walks on a moonlit beach with a stake in her hand, authors that just tell the damn story and the occasional four-pound tub of Jelly Belly jelly beans. She dislikes douchebaggery, asshatitude and your general dick-wankery. It's called Bites for a reason. Dig?

Sash and Em from Sash and Em a Tale of Two Bookies

Sash and Em met in college in Fall 2006 and have been inseparable ever since. They enjoy the finer things in life; such as large cups of tea, snuggling up with a good book, and pretending they're still teens. Em usually loves Paranormal, while Sash likes Contemporary. They both enjoy a good Dystopian Society.

Rachel from Parajunkee

Rachel, the blogger otherwise known as Parajunkee, has been blogging about books and blogging itself since 2009. What started out as a social media marketing experiment has turned into much more than just a hobby it has now become her career. Rachel has been a marketing professional for over a decade, specializing in social media marketing, design and development. Her blog, because of it's success, has led to teaching others how to develop their own blogs and market their books, along with designing the framework for their internet image.

Katie from Mundie Moms

Katie, is the founder and main blogger behind Mundie Moms/Mundie Kids. She's been blogging about her love of YA and MG books since 2009. In addition to writing book reviews, hosting live author chats and blog tours, she's a fan site for Cassandra Clare's books. She enjoys a well written urban fantasy, paranormal, historical book and really anything everything in between. When not reading or blogging she's often times playing her favorite role, being a mom to her two young children. She and her family currently reside near Austin, TX, where you find her at many of the local author signings and book conventions.

Sabrina from YA Bliss

My name is Sabrina Horande aka Sab and I am college student obsessed with Young Adult books. I'm Venezuelan but I've been living and studying in Houston, TX for 4 years now. I have a particular obsession for dystopian lit, but I also love historical fiction, high fantasy and realistic fiction.

Natalie from Mindful Musings

I'm a 21 year-old English major and Spanish minor, soon to be pursuing her MA in Literature! I love to read everything from the classics to the latest big name on the market. Though I have favorite books in every genre and category, children's and young adult literature will always have a special place in my heart. I love to meet new people, so feel to drop by my blog anytime!

Lost Girls by Ann Kelley: Review

Lost Girls
By: Ann Kelley
Review by: Kylie Comfoltey

This book follows the story of 14-year-old Bonnie MacDonald who, with a group of eight fellow Amelia Earhart Cadets and one last-minute stand-in "leader," embarks on a three day camping excursion to an island off the coast of Thailand. This gorgeous island of Koh Tabu seems like paradise, but everything falls apart when the island is hit by a terrible storm the first night of their adventure, leaving the smallest of the junior cadets dead and stealing away most of the group's meager supplies.

The cadets are left to fend for themselves in a battle against harsh rains, powerful winds, frightening animals, and relentless nagging bugs with only the clothes on their backs, the food they can scavenge and the constant worry that they will never be found.

If thoughts of Lord of the Flies didn't immediately pop into your head while you read that, you must not have been forced to read it as a young, vulnerable middle-schooler. You lucky fool!

But forget Lord of the Flies. Lost Girls is inspiring, heartbreaking, frustrating and believable. My initial thought when starting the book went something like, "Great. This girl is going to bother me with her snotty teenage attitude." The writing seemed weak, the storytelling wasn't fabulous. Of course, I pressed on and I can honestly say: it got better.

For one, the writing seemed to improve through the book. Maybe it's just that the story became more gripping and the characters became more real? The stream of consciousness approach to telling this story, mixed with brutally honest entries from Bonnie's journal, is what at first annoyed me, but what eventually caused me to feel more involved in the slowly unfolding understandings, mindset and concerns of a marooned person.

The beef of this story is in the characters.

Bonnie is not always a likeable character, but she is realistic. In a book like this, I prefer realistic over likeable--and I actually did like her. Not many people could remain likeable under the circumstances these girls find themselves lost in. For goodness sake, Bonnie is only 14! Malnourished, filthy, hungry, injured, endlessly worried and exhausted; I would be at my worst!

I loved Jas. She is what I wish I would be in similar circumstances. She is knowledgeable, clever, kind and positive. She never gives up or gives in to despair. She's a total glass-half-full girl and is clearly the glue of the group.

Naturally I despised Mrs. Campbell, and I desperately wanted to slap some sense into May and Arlene. But Mrs. Campbell. Layla. She is horrible. She used up her free pass on day one. She is selfish, neglectful, irresponsible and full of lies. I don't play well with liars.

This is a story of survival, courage, and hope. It begs the question, "What would you do?" Or rather the question, "What do you hope you'd do?"

Guess you'll have to read it and let me know!

    

Sexuality: None
Drugs/Alcohol: Mild to moderate. Layla is a drug addict and an alcoholic. The girls drink beer at one point.
Profanity: Mild
Violence: Mild. There is death and injury, but no real violence.

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