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REVIEW: Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Posted by Anastasia on May 17, 2012 2 Responses »

May 172012

043. Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway
Publication: , ebook, 256pp / ISBN
Genre: MG Fantasy

Read: March 2-3, 2012
Source: NetGalley (thank you!)

Summary from Amazon:

In Abby’s world, magic isn’t anything special: it’s a part of everyday life. So when Abby learns that she has zero magical abilities, she’s branded an “Ord”—ordinary, bad luck, and quite possibly a danger to society. The outlook for kids like Abby isn’t bright. Many are cast out by their families, while others are sold to treasure hunters (ordinary kids are impervious to spells and enchantments). Luckily for Abby, her family enrolls her in a school that teaches ordinary kids how to get around in a magical world. But with treasure-hunting kidnappers and carnivorous goblins lurking around every corner, Abby’s biggest problem may not be learning how to be ordinary—it’s whether or not she’s going to survive the school year!

Review

This is one of those books that, immediately after finishing it, makes me think it’s the best book ever. While it’s pretty darned good, and while I enjoyed reading it (and liked it enough to rate it 3.5 birds), I can’t actually remember all that much about it. Usually, with books I adore, I have a few things I particularly like and those things stick in my mind until the next time I read it. Right now, several months after reading Ordinary Magic, all I can remember is that the family relationship(s) are adorable. Continue reading »

REVIEW: Lirael by Garth Nix

Posted by Anastasia on May 12, 2012 1 Response »

May 122012

Look! I wrote a full review! And hopefully more will come. I figured I couldn’t depend on review notes since I don’t know WHEN I’ll be getting internet, so I might as well just carry on as best I can until then. They won’t have as fancy a format as I usually do, since I don’t have enough time to search for other reviews and whatnot, but I hope you like them anyway.

Sorry I haven’t been responding to comments, btw! Again, no time. If you ask a question, though, I’ll try to get back to you…soon-ish.

70. Lirael by Garth Nix
Publication: HarperTeen (October 6, 2009), ebook, 720pp / ISBN 0060005424
Genre: YA Fantasy

Read: April ?-26, 2012
Source: Bought

Series: Sabriel | Lirael (you’re here!) | Abhorsen

Summary from Amazon:

Lirael has never felt like a true daughter of the Clayr. Abandoned by her mother, ignorant of her father’s identity, Lirael resembles no one else in her large extended family living in the Clayr’s Glacier. She doesn’t even have the Sight — the ability to see into the present and possible futures — that is the very birthright of the Clayr.

Nonetheless, it is Lirael in whose hands the fate of the Old Kingdom lies. She must undertake a desperate mission under the growing shadow of an ancient evil — one that opposes the Royal Family, blocks the Sight of the Clay; and threatens to break the very boundary between Life and Death itself. With only her faithful companion, the Disreputable Dog, to help her, Lirael must find the courage to seek her own hidden destiny.

In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Sabriel, Garth Nix draws readers deeper into the magical landscape of the Old Kingdom and weaves a spellbinding tale of discovery, destiny, and danger.

Review

It took me two tries to get through Lirael, and I blame that on its slower pace. It doesn’t really speed up until a little after halfway through, and while I enjoyed the bits before then, the lack of momentum is a real killer. Luckily this time around I liked Lirael (the character) a lot more than the first time, and so I could push through the slow bits. Continue reading »

REVIEW NOTES: Crocodile on the Sandbank, The Making of a Trade School, Morgue Mama, A Spark of Death

Posted by Anastasia on May 8, 2012 3 Responses »

May 082012

Am currently writing this while sitting outside a Starbucks, squinting at my dust computer screen. For some reason not having internet is making me want to not write reviews, either. Still, I don’t want to fall TOO behind, so here are some review notes for books I’ve read fairly recently. You’ll be seeing a few of these posts until we get internet at our house.

Meanwhile, I’ve been keeping myself occupied! I’ve been reading books (of course), staring at piles of my stuff, and writing a zine. I’ve also gotten hives again, if you can believe it. I don’t know what’s wrong with the mosquitos out here, but they’re really starting to bug me (ha).

And now, reviews:

065. Crocodile on the Sandbank – Elizabeth Peters [rating: 4] e*
[historical fiction/mystery / ebook / bought / read April 8, 2012]
- For some reason Amelia annoyed me more than she did the first time I’ve read this book. Maybe because I’m more aware of her faults than before?
- I liked whats-her-face– Amelia’s friend– much more this time around than before!
- Peabody + Emerson = TWU WUV (seriously, they’re adorable)
- I totally remembered the solution to the mystery, but it was still overall enjoyable.

066. The Making of a Trade School – Mary Schenck Woolman [rating: 3] e
[non-fiction / ebook / public domain / read April 13-17, 2012]
- I suppose this isn’t very interesting unless you’ve read the Slate article about the women who went to this school.
- Or maybe if you’re interested in women’s history?
- Reads very much like a pamphlet asking for donations, only less boring.
- The historical aspect is really neat, too.
- I probably would have gone to this school if a) I’d lived during the early 20th century and b) I lived in Manhatten!

067. Morgue Mama – C.R. Corwin [rating: 3] e
[mystery / ebook / bought / read April 17-18, 2012]
- Unfortunately it did that thing I hate where the narrator is untrustworthy but you only find out that they are at the end. It just ruins the whole story, don’t you think? If you can’t trust your narrator you should be told that from the start (or at least given hints).
- Snappy newspaper reporter! Yay! Librarian-turned-slueth! Yay!
- Mystery was actually very interesting, even though it sort of reminded me of a Law and Order episode.
- Can’t get over that annoying ending!
- I will read next book (which I’ve actually already bought) despite my hatred of the ending sequence.

068. A Spark of Death – Bernadette Pajer [rating: 2.5] e
[historical fiction/mystery / ebook / bought / read April 18-22, 2012]
- Eh. Wasn’t as good as I’d hoped it’d be, based on the synopsis. I like turn of the century things! And scientists! But this was just “eh.”
- There was something about the writing that I didn’t like. It just didn’t work for me, for whatever reason.
- Plus I’m pretty sure there was an early 20th century manic pixie dream girl character. Annoying.
- Basically I think it wasn’t as exciting as I was expecting it to be.

REVIEW: A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle

Posted by Anastasia on May 1, 2012 3 Responses »

May 012012

005. A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle
Publication: Amulet Books (May 1, 2012), originally published 2011, eARC, 208pp / ISBN 1419701681
Genre: Children’s Magical Realism (could be MG, too)

Read: January 10, 1012
Source: Publisher via NetGalley (thank you!)

Summary from Amazon:

Mary O’Hara is a sharp and cheeky 12-year-old Dublin schoolgirl who is bravely facing the fact that her beloved Granny is dying. But Granny can’t let go of life, and when a mysterious young woman turns up in Mary’s street with a message for her Granny, Mary gets pulled into an unlikely adventure. The woman is the ghost of Granny’s own mother, who has come to help her daughter say good-bye to her loved ones and guide her safely out of this world. She needs the help of Mary and her mother, Scarlett, who embark on a road trip to the past. Four generations of women travel on a midnight car journey. One of them is dead, one of them is dying, one of them is driving, and one of them is just starting out.

Review

I’ve read a few other Roddy Doyle books before, all meant for adults and all of the literary fiction type. A Greyhound of a Girl is almost completely different: it’s meant for children, and it’s more magical realism than anything else. Like all of Roddy Doyle’s books, however, Greyhound is about family, and about navigating the rough waters that come with family. And that’s great! What’s not so great is basically everything else. Continue reading »

REVIEW: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Posted by Anastasia on April 30, 2012 3 Responses »

Apr 302012

061. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Publication: Scholastic Press (August 24, 2010), ebook, 404pp / ISBN 0439023513
Genre: YA Sci-fi,

Read: March 31-April 1, 2012
Source: Bought

Series: The Hunger Games | Catching Fire | Mockingjay (you’re here!)

Summary from Amazon:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

Review

The ending of Catching Fire was so shocking and unexpected that it actually made me NOT want to read Mockingjay, just to show the series who was the boss. So when I actually DID read Mockingjay, I was prepared for basically anything. And a good thing I was prepared, too, because Mockingjay is almost a completely different book from the rest of the series. Continue reading »

REVIEW: Vodnik by Bryce Moore

Posted by Anastasia on April 27, 2012 No Responses »

Apr 272012

060. Vodnik by Bryce Moore
Publication: Tu Books (March 1, 2012), eARC, 368pp / ISBN 1600608523
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy, Action

Read: March 30-31, 2012
Source: NetGalley (thank you!)

Summary from Amazon:

When Tomas was six, someone–something–tried to drown him. And burn him to a crisp. Tomas survived, but whatever was trying to kill him freaked out his parents enough to convince them to move from Slovakia to the United States.

Now sixteen-year-old Tomas and his family are back in Slovakia, and that something still lurks somewhere. Nearby. Ready to drown him again and imprison his soul in a teacup.

Then there’s the fire víla, the water ghost, the pitchfork-happy city folk, and Death herself who are all after him.

All this sounds a bit comical, unless the one haunted by water ghosts and fire vílas or doing time in a cramped, internet-deprived teacup is you.

If Tomas wants to survive, he’ll have to embrace the meaning behind the Slovak proverb, So smrťou ešte nik zmluvu neurobil. With Death, nobody makes a pact.

Review

For some reason I had a really hard time writing this review– not because I didn’t like Vodnik, but because there’s so much stuff to talk about that I couldn’t figure out where to start! Vodnik has got almost everything I want in a YA book: it’s set in a non-US/non-England location, it stars a not-completely-white kid, it’s got exciting action stuff and fun fantasy elements and it ALSO deals with discrimination and bullying and death! And it’s not even that badly written; if I was a teenage person I’d probably love this book a lot. As an adult person, I LIKE it but I’m not overwhelmed with my love for it. Continue reading »

REVIEW: Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott

Posted by Anastasia on April 24, 2012 No Responses »

Apr 242012

046. Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott
Publication: Candlewick (April 24, 2012), eARC, 465pp / ISBN 0763653446
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy, Romance (bit of GLBTQ)

Read: March 7-8, 2012
Source: NetGalley (thank you!)

Summary from Amazon:

A powerful tale of magic, love, and revenge set in fairy-tale Japan. Trained in the magical art of shadow-weaving, sixteen-year-old Suzume is able to re-create 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 is she Yue, the most beautiful courtesan in the Moonlit Lands? Whatever her true identity, Suzume is destined to use her skills to steal the heart of a prince in a revenge plot to destroy Terayama. And nothing will stop her, not even the one true aspect of her life- her love for a fellow shadow-weaver.

Review

This is an AWESOME book. What makes it awesome? I’ll tell you what makes it awesome:
1. the characters! Specifically, Suzume and her development over the course of the book. She goes from spoiled normal kid to PTSD-ed refugee with magical powers to someone with a lot of spoilers hanging around. It’s great! Continue reading »