REVIEW: The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

 Posted by Anastasia on March 30, 2012  No Responses »
Mar 302012
 
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049. The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood and the duchess of Northumberland
Publication: Balzer + Bray (July 20, 2010), ebook, 309pp / ISBN 0061802387
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy, Romance

Read: March 12-13, 2012
Source: Bought

Summary from Amazon:

In the right dose, everything is a poison. Even love . . .

Jessamine Luxton has lived all her sixteen years in an isolated cottage near Alnwick Castle, with little company apart from the plants in her garden. Her father, Thomas, a feared and respected apothecary, has taught her much about the incredible powers of plants: that even the most innocent-looking weed can cure — or kill.

When Jessamine begins to fall in love with a mysterious boy who claims to communicate with plants, she is drawn into the dangerous world of the poison garden in a way she never could have imagined . . .

Review

This was on sale a few months ago and I snagged it, since I’ve got the second book packed and waiting for me to read it and I hate reading sequels before I read the first book.1 I couldn’t remember exactly what either books were about, but I thought it’d have magic and possibly something tragic happening, based on the cover. Continue reading »

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 3.5/5, Age Group, Fantasy, Fiction, Gothic, Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, New (Birds), Note, Paranormal, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Teen, YA

MINI-REVIEWS: Who What Wear, Goy Crazy, My Lunatic Life

 Posted by Anastasia on February 29, 2012  No Responses »
Feb 292012
 
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037. Who What Wear: The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett
Publication: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (November 1, 2010), ebook, 258pp / ISBN 140224391X
Genre: MG Fiction

Read: February 25, 2012
Source: Freebie

Mini-Review

I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book at first, because the first chapter is kind of boring. But! It gets better, and by the end I thought it was really cute. Fashion is always a tricky subject to write about because it changes so rapidly, but Who What Wear was still current enough to not be completely distracting. Emma, the protagonist, reminds me of all those adorable teenage bloggers/fashion designers who have big dreams and aren’t afraid to make them happen, and since I know of a few teenage bloggers who’ve actually made some of those dreams happen I didn’t think the plot was all that implausible, either. And like I said: it’s just darned cute. Continue reading »

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 2/5, 3.5/5, 4.5/5, Age Group, Beach Reads, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, MG, New (Birds), Note, Paranormal, Psychic Abilities, Rating, Reviews, Teen, YA

REVIEW: A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz

 Posted by Anastasia on February 15, 2012  6 Responses »
Feb 152012
 
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029. A Drowned Maiden’s Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Publication: Candlewick (March 2, 2010), originally published 2006, ebook, 389pp / ISBN 0763629308
Genre: MG Historical Fiction

Read: February 8-10, 2011
Source: Bought (Amazon)

Summary from Amazon:

Maud Flynn is known at the orphanage for her impertinence. So when the charming Miss Hyacinth chooses her to take home, the girl is pleased but baffled, until she learns of her new role: helping to stage elaborate séances for bereaved patrons. As Maud is drawn deeper into the deception, playing the “secret child,” she is torn between her need to please and her growing conscience. It takes a shocking betrayal to make clear just how heartless her so-called guardians are. Filled with fascinating details of turn-of-the-century spiritualism and page-turning suspense, this novel from Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz features a feisty heroine whom readers will not soon forget.

Review

Things I thought this book was about: ghosts, death, people drowning in some sort of romanticized/gothic romance sort of way, angst and sadness and other things I’m scared of.

Things this book is actually about: ghosts and death and little kids drowning, Spiritualism, con artists, family and love and adorable snarky orphan girls kicking butt! Continue reading »

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 4.5/5, Age Group, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, MG, New (Birds), Note, Paranormal, Rating, Reviews

MINI-REVIEWS: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Vesper, Dramarama

 Posted by Anastasia on February 3, 2012  No Responses »
Feb 032012
 
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017. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Publication: Dell Books for Young Readers (April 26, 2005), Paperback, 352pp / ISBN 0553494791
Genre: YA Fiction

Read: January 26-27, 2012
Source: Bought

Mini-Review

I’ve been meaning to read this book for forever, mainly because it’s one of those generation-defining books that’re so important. I’ve seen bits of the movie and I know vaguely what it/the book is about, so I was expecting something cute and touching and possibly melodramatic. There’s actually not that much melodrama in it, but it IS cute and touching. And kind of boring, to be honest. Continue reading »

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 2.5/5, 3/5, 4/5, Age Group, Beach Reads, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, GLBTQ, New (Birds), Note, Paranormal, Psychic Abilities, Rating, Reviews, Teen, Werewolves, YA

MINI-REVIEWS: I Want it Now!, Ghost College, The Art of Money Getting

 Posted by Anastasia on January 24, 2012  2 Responses »
Jan 242012
 
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007. I Want it Now! A Memoir of Life on the Set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory by Julie Dawn Cole & Michael Esslinger
Publication: BearManor Media / Ocean View Publishing (July 12, 2011), ebook, 252pp / ISBN 1593930747
Genre: Memoir

Read: January 13-14, 2012
Source: Freebie

Review

Memoirs from celebrities are, I think, always hit-or-miss, and this one is sort of between the two. It’s not a bad book, necessarily, it’s just that it’s kind of boring. The writing is bland and though it’s interesting to learn more about JDC and the other people from the movie, it’s not as entertaining a read as, say, William Shatner’s memoir about Star Trek is. The best part of the book is probably the pictures and memorabilia, however. JDC included some letters she wrote her family from the set of Willy Wonka, and they’re adorable and funny and really fun to read.

Rating


It was an okay read.

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009. Ghost College by Scott Nicholson & J.R. Rain
Publication: self-published (year?), ebook, 68pp / no isbn
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Read: January 15, 2012
Source: Freebie

Mini-Review

I don’t think I remembered that this was a novella when I started reading it, which is probably why I was so surprised at how quickly the mystery/action resolved itself! I think this could totally be expanded into a longer book, which might help with the problem I had with the switch from the “is something really happening” part into the “yes, something’s happening” part. It’s abrupt and kinda ruins the suspense.

Besides that, I did enjoy reading it. I loved the protagonists– they’re so cute!– and I like the idea of paranormal investigators actually finding paranormal stuff. It seems like a fun series and the writing isn’t bad, and I’d read more from either author.

Rating


Not bad! I didn’t notice any typos or other weird stuff you sometimes find in self-pub’d books, either.

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010. The Art of Money Getting by P.T. Barnum
Publication: originally published 1880, ebook, 45pp / no isbn
Genre: Financial advice

Read: January 15-16, 2012
Source: Freebie (it’s public domain)

Mini-Review

I read this merely because I was tired of modern stuff and wanted something different, and this is the first thing I stumbled upon when looking around the iBookstore. Basically? It’s Ye Olde Financial Advice from P.T. Barnum, who I suppose would be the one to go to when wanting to learn more about getting money. The hilarious thing is that the tips he gives– don’t spend more than you earn, keep your debt down– and exactly the same sorts of tips that modern financial advisers tell people. So does that say more about them, or about us?

Rating


Maybe not as entertaining as you’d think it be coming from P.T. Barnum.

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 2.5/5, 2/5, Beach Reads, Fantasy, Fiction, Memoir, New (Birds), Non-fiction, Paranormal, Rating, Reviews, Urban Fantasy

REVIEW NOTES: Those Who Hunt the Night, Anna and the French Kiss, Making a Living Without a Job

 Posted by Anastasia on January 4, 2012  3 Responses »
Jan 042012
 
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I want to finish up on 2011′s reviews so I can start 2012! So, very quickly: review notes of three books!

167. Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly
Publication: Open Road (March 29, 2011), ebook, 350pp / ISBN 0345361326
Genre: Historical Fantasy/Paranormal, Mystery

Read: December 11-17, 2011
Source: eBookFling borrow

Review Notes

- Vampires! Yay. I’ve actually started to like vampires again…sort of.
- Vampires who do vampire-y things like eat people and be inhuman and stuff! Double yay.
- Interesting detective character– one of those amateur detectives who get in over their head, but not in a cozy mystery sort of way. I like his wife, too, who’s one of those modern-ish women in a historical fiction sort of people. But in a non-annoying way.
- It did feel a bit like “let me describe this fantasy world to you so you know how interesting/different it is compared to your world” whenever the vampires said something.
- Didn’t expect the solution! That’s good, right? I think it is.

Rating


Overall, I LOVED this book. The mystery was good, the characters were interesting, and although I didn’t like how much explaining re:vampires and their awesome vampire world was in there I still liked the writing.

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168. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Publication: Speak (August 4, 2011), ebook, 386pp / ISBN 0142419400
Genre: YA Romance

Read: December 21-23, 2011
Source: Freebie

Review Notes

- So cute!
- THIS BOOK CUTE BEYOND BELIEF
- Tell Your Girlfriend is totally the theme song.
- Maybe too much emphasis on how hot St. Clair is compared to everything else about him, but the romance builds in a way that I love. Plus St. Clair/Anna DO like more about each other than just how hot the other person is.
- Plus yay changing each other for the better!

Rating


ALL THE POSITIVE HYPE WAS TRUE.

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169. Making a Living Without a Job by Barbara J. Winter
Publication: Bantam (July 1, 1993), Paperback, 272pp / ISBN 0553371657
Genre: Non-fiction, Self-help

Read: December 24-31, 2011
Source: Gift

Review Notes

- Outdated a bit, but still v. good. Talks about mailing lists and using computers to do finances or something– recommends finding books via an offline searching service! There IS a newer version out now, though, which is good.
- Inspiring! And it helped me figure out what sort of things I’m good at already, things that I could apply towards making money (either in a “real” business or otherwise).
- Could maybe use a section on how to actually create business beyond having an idea. Doesn’t talk about anything re:how to find that info, either.

Rating


Should have read the updated version, but I still liked it. Best part was the bit that tells you how to increase your self-confidence. I needed that!

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 4.5/5, 4/5, Age Group, Beach Reads, Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, New (Birds), Non-fiction, Note, Paranormal, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Teen, Urban Fantasy, Vampires, YA

REVIEW: Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield

 Posted by Anastasia on December 23, 2011  No Responses »
Dec 232011
 
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163. Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield
Publication: WestSide Books (December 15, 2011), eArc, 370pp / ISBN 1934813621
Genre: YA Sci-fi/Paranormal

Read: December 6-8, 2011
Source: Author (thank you!)

Summary from Goodreads:

Caitlyn, a telepath, lives in a world where all paranormal talents are illegal. She is on the run from government ParaTroopers. When Caitlyn falls for Alex, a Normal, and discovers dangerous renegade Paranormals, she must choose between staying in hiding to protect herself or taking a stand to save the world.

Review

Hunted is a somewhat atypical paranormal/dystopian book. It’s set sometime in the future, though I don’t think we’re ever told exactly how far in the future it is. It’s sort of dystopian, but only for the “paras,” really. It’s an exciting story, with some conspiracy things going on and a lot of omg-what’s-going-to-happen moments. The characters were pretty good, especially Caitlyn, who doesn’t really waste any time getting in the action. She’s a very active paranormal/dystopian heroine, which is great because normally I think the typical p-heroine is passive for at least the first half of the book. Continue reading »

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 3/5, Age Group, Dystopia, Fantasy, Fiction, New (Birds), Note, Paranormal, Psychic Abilities, Rating, Reviews, Sci-Fi, Teen, YA
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