Review: The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti

From the publisher:
“Where did they come from? Why did they fall? The question would be asked a thousand times…

Until, of course, more important question arose, at which time everyone promptly forgot that a thousand birds fell on the town of Mount Oanoke at all.”

In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a thousand dead starlings fall onto a high school baseball field, unleashing a horrifying and unexpected chain of events that will rock the close-knit community.

Beloved baseball coach and teacher Nate Winters and his wife, Alecia, are well respected throughout town. That is, until one of the many reporters investigating the bizarre bird phenomenon catches Nate embracing a wayward student, Lucia Hamm, in front of a sleazy motel. Lucia soon buoys the scandal by claiming that she and Nate are engaged in an affair, throwing the town into an uproar…and leaving Alecia to wonder if her husband has a second life.

And when Lucia suddenly disappears, the police only to have one suspect: Nate.

Nate’s coworker and sole supporter, Bridget Harris, Lucia’s creative writing teacher, is determined to prove his innocence. She has Lucia’s class journal, and while some of the entries appear particularly damning to Nate’s case, others just don’t add up. Bridget knows the key to Nate’s exoneration and the truth of Lucia’s disappearance lie within the walls of the school and in the pages of that journal.

My thoughts: This was the perfect book to read this time of year. Kind of creepy, kind of atmospheric, and definitely intriguing. I haven't read Moretti's previous bestselling The Vanishing Year, so I was able to go into this novel without any expectations. This novel is told from four points of view, Nate (the accused), Alecia (Nate's wife), Bridget (Nate and Alecia's friend, and also Nate's co-worker), and Lucia (the missing teen), which means it is very character-driven. Personally, I love character-driven books. I love being able to get inside a character's head, and try to figure out why they act the way they do. I think it allows a unique perspective into the plot, as well.

I found some of the characters hard to like and trust. Nate came across as unintentionally pompous. He had to be liked by absolutely everybody, despite their feelings towards him. Alecia was a bit hard to like, too, but I was able to sympathize with her more than Nate. She didn't know what to believe, which I understood. How easy would it be to deny that your husband is capable of something so horrible? At the same time, how easy would it be to believe once you start finding what you think is undeniable evidence? It's not as easy as one would assume.

Lucia was easy to sympathize with, especially the more you got to know her. She was a teen with typical teen problems, but she also had a difficult home life. She was my favourite character, and I wish we had more from her perspective. I loved her journal entries, and think she was very intelligent. She is accused of being a witch, and you can certainly understand why as you read the novel.

There was a lot going on in this novel, but it all fits together by the end and I loved that you never really knew who to trust. The ending was not what I expected, but I was happy with it. I rated this one 3.5 out of 5 stars, and would highly recommend it to people who love character-driven mysteries.

A copy of this book was provided by Simon and Schuster Canada, but as always, opinions are my own.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

Are you looking for the perfect summer read? Well, you can stop searching now because The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid absolutely delivers a scorching summer read. This book has it all: diversity, romance, humor, and a little intrigue. If you've never read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid, you seriously need to. I read my first book by her last year and immediately fell in love. She's one of my favourite authors and one I can truly say just keeps getting better. This story is woven together so intricately that you will begin to wonder if you're actually reading a celebrity memoir.

Evelyn Hugo is a 79 year old former Hollywood headliner who is finally ready to tell the story of her seven husbands. Throughout her time in Hollywood she was the seductive blonde with massive sex appeal and more than one scandal to her name. There is way more than meets the eye with Evelyn, though. She recruits journalist, Monique, to tell her story. Monique is fairly young and going through a divorce. Evelyn's choice to recruit Monique leaves her curious and left me wondering if there was some sort of connection between the two.

I found myself getting lost in this beautiful story. Each section is about Evelyn's relationship with one of her husbands and I could not read this fast enough. There is one person in particular who is the love of Evelyn's life and one of the reasons she has chosen to finally tell her story. I won't spoil anything, though, because it is truly better to not know who her one true love is until she wants you to know.

This story was completely captivating. Evelyn was a fantastic character full of contradictions; humble yet bold, soft yet hard, and a little infuriating at times. She was the perfect actress and one Hollywood would surely be obsessed with today if she were real. I really did feel like she was real at times, which is a testament to Taylor Jenkins Reid. Reid has a way with words, especially when dealing with love and loss. She shines brightest when she's writing about love and loss and what it means to be human. Her characters become real people right before your eyes.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a must-read this summer! It's on sale today, so go out and buy it! While you're there, pick up one of Taylor Jenkin Reid's other books because she is amazing. I would probably read her grocery list and be enthralled.

I'm part of Simon and Schuster Canada's blog tour, so a copy of the book was provided for free, but as always, opinions remain my own. Make sure to check out my fellow bloggers posts; something tells me their feelings will be similar to my own.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The hardest thing as a book blogger/reviewer is writing a review for a book you absolutely loved. If I didn't like a book, I can usually find a few reasons why and BAM, there you go. For a book I loved, I just want to write, 'THIS WAS AWESOME. READ IT,' but I don't think that's really effective.

The book that I absolutely loved and am therefore having a hard time reviewing, is One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I picked up After I Do by Reid earlier this year, and completely fell in love. Why did no one tell me to read her books earlier? When the lovely people at Simon and Schuster Canada contacted me and asked if I'd like an early copy of One True Loves, I immediately said YESPLEASEGIMMETHANKYOU. Or, you know, 'yes, please! Thank you!' like an actual polite human. I devoured this book in two sittings, staying up way too late one Sunday night.

The quick synopsis for this book is Emma marries her high school sweetheart, Jessie. They spend their days traveling and living their lives far away from their hometown. On their first wedding anniversary, Jessie disappears in a helicopter accident over the Pacific. Emma moves home to grieve and try to start over, where she is reacquainted with an old friend named Sam. Sam used to work in her parent's bookshop. They fall in love, get engaged, and then Jessie is found alive. Emma clearly has a choice to make. Does she choose Sam, her new love who offers her the quiet life she's discovered she really loves, or does she choose Jessie, who offers her the crazy, travel-filled life she once had?

I loved both Sam and Jessie for different reasons, however I did lean towards one of them more than the other. I won't say who, because that's who she ultimately picked and I was very happy with the end of this book. They both offered her a completely different lifestyle, and part of her choice was choosing which version of Emma she wanted to be. It wasn't just about choosing the right guy. She had to choose the right Emma. I loved trying to figure out who she was going to pick and see her settle into her future. There was a lot of growth for Emma, and it all felt very genuine.

One of my favourite chapters in this book was the chapter dealing with Emma's grief. It was so raw, and yet so beautifully written. I completely felt Emma's pain and anguish. That chapter didn't follow the format of the rest of the book, but I thought it worked really well. The rest of the book is written in Before and After, so you really get a sense of Emma, Sam, and Jessie.

No one writes about love and loss like Taylor Jenkins Reid. I've now read all of her books, and I've loved every one of them. She has a way with words that leaves you nodding along. I'm married, and many of her books deal with marriage in some sense, so I can always relate to the characters. I think you could definitely enjoy these books even if you aren't married. There is something to take away from each book, no matter your season of life. Her books always leave you wondering what you'd do in the situation she poses, and I find myself incredibly grateful for all I have.

One True Loves is on sale today, so please do yourself a favour and go out and buy it and then buy her entire back list. You won't be sorry.

Dark Territory by Susan Philpott Review

Full disclaimer: I did receive this book from the publisher in exchange for review, but my thoughts are my own, and I was going to read this regardless. 

From the publisher:
Signy Shepherd has spent her career with the Line, a modern underground railroad, shepherding at-risk women out of peril. When Signy takes Lizzy, a young woman desperate to save her infant son, under her protection, the case appears to be like any other. With a severe winter storm on the horizon, Signy drives Lizzy and her son out of the city. Suddenly, she finds the police hot on their tail, and when Lizzy’s erratic behavior propels them into further danger, Signy begins to suspect that her new ward is not the victim she claims to be.

Meanwhile, Signy’s PTSD-stricken mentor, Grace, investigates Lizzy’s husband. But Lizzy’s husband is hiding secrets of his own, and soon Grace finds herself out of her depth. As the treacherous blizzard closes in, the entire operation spirals out of control. Isolated and relying on nothing but her instincts, Signy is confronted with a choice that will force her to risk not only her own life, but those of the people she cares about most.

My thoughts:
Dark Territory is the second book in the Signy Shepherd series by Susan Philpott. The first book, Blown Red, was released last year and it was fantastic! This book was even better, in my opinion.

Signy works for the Line, which is an underground railway of sorts that helps women escape terrible situations, which is as empowering as it sounds. Signy helps transport the women to their new lives, and of course, runs into trouble along the way.

In this book, Signy is tasked with helping Lizzy Stone and her young son, Justin, escape her successful doctor husband, Solomon. Solomon seems like the perfect husband and father with a successful medical career, but he is definitely not the man he appears to be; however, neither is Lizzy. Signy has to decide whether Lizzy is telling her the entire story, and if she's not, how can she help someone who may be more dangerous than Solomon?

What I love about these books is that you don't always know who you can trust. I wavered between trusting and not trusting Lizzy, which made the book more interesting. On the surface, Lizzy seemed like a scared wife/mother, but underneath, she may have been hiding her own demons.

Grace is another character who returns, and I'm glad that we got to see a little bit more about her and her past. I was feeling a little skeptical of her after Blown Red, but she really grew on me throughout this book. I'm excited to see where her character goes next.

Signy is definitely my favourite character. She is tough, resourceful, smart, and not afraid to kick some ass when necessary. She had a rough start in life, but that hasn't stopped her from becoming an absolute necessity for the Line and the women she helps. She's a little more vulnerable in this book, as she needs to ask for help from a person that she doesn't exactly want to. I was pleased to see her more vulnerable, though, as it added more depth to her character. I can't wait to see how else she'll grow as the series continues.

This book is perfectly paced; even when the action stops the story is continuing to move forward. It will leave you flipping the pages as fast as you can, and will never let you stop wondering who to trust. It will make you cheer to see women being portrayed as strong and successful people who can more than handle their own. Philpott is fantastic at crafting characters you'll want to see succeed.

I do have two small gripes. I was a little sad that the book took part mostly in the U.S. I loved that Blown Red took place in Canada, and I hope that Philpott chooses to set the next books back in Canada.

The only other small thing is that at times, there are scenes that are so graphic they had me cringing. This is to be expected in a thriller book, though, so while it didn't bother me a lot, I could see it bothering those who may be a bit more sensitive.

I would recommend reading Blown Red first, because you'll have more background on the characters, but you could probably read this as standalone and still enjoy it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a heart-pounding thriller with kickass women at the core.

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

 

 Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish.

 

Christmas is rapidly approaching and all I've heard from the last month or so is, "what do you want for Christmas?" My answer is usually always books, which earns me 'that look' from my husband. Those with significant others probably know which 'look' I'm referring to.

I started this last year sometime, but I was not in a fantasy mood at that time, so I returned it to the library. I really do want to read it because I was enjoying it, so I'd love to own the box set.

I keep hearing about this series, so I really want to check it out for myself. I'm definitely in a fantasy mood.

 

Me Before You killed me earlier this year, and I need to read this one. ASAP.

I have a love/hate relationship with Hoover's books, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to read them all.

 

I NEED THIS BOOK. I read all the others in eBook or got them from the library, so I'm currently waiting for my library to process this book. I'm first in line and I want it immediately.



This isn't out yet, and I haven't read anything by Bracken, but I really like the sound of this book.

 

This is apparently out in the UK, but not here yet and this is another book that I NEED. I loved The Seven Sisters and I can't wait for this.

 

I've heard mixed reviews about this book/series, so I want to check it out for myself.

I need this in paperback to complete my set. I also need to read Clockwork Princess (which I own) and then I can finally read this one.

 

I own all of these in hardcover, but I absolutely love these covers and have started buying them. I own 5-7, so I'd love for Santa to bring me 1-4.

Those are all the books I'd love for Santa to leave under my tree this year. Some of them aren't even out yet, but we all know that Santa is magical. Are there any on here that you'd like to find underneath your tree on Christmas morning?

 

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Look at how pretty this cover is! It shines in the sun!

This book has been so hyped for the last few months, which automatically makes me nervous. You want it to live up to all the hype, and when it doesn't, it always feels more disappointing. This book definitely lived up to all the hype for me. I loved it, and I need a sequel asap. I'm so glad it's been selling well, because that means the odds of the publisher wanting to buy another book are much greater.

From Goodreads: AN EMBER IN THE ASHES is a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and pulse-pounding read. Set in a rich, high-fantasy world with echoes of ancient Rome, it tells the story of a slave fighting for her family and a young soldier fighting for his freedom.

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Sounds crazy, right? This book is not for the faint of heart. There is lots of violence and rape threats, which can make it a difficult read, but that's the entire premise of the Empire.

The characters are varied and so interesting. Laia isn't the super brave heroine that we've come to see in YA fantasy lately. She is strong in her own ways, and does what she does in order to save her brother. She grows a lot throughout the book, and doesn't let any of her hardships sway her from her mission.

The Commandant is absolutely insane, but also fascinating. I liked that we got to see a bit of her back story, because while it didn't make me sympathetic towards her, it did leave me more intrigued.

Elias is more the hero we're used to, but like everyone in the book, he has secrets. I really liked his character because he seems to be one of the only people in the Empire (the actual military part of it) with any sort of brain. He has compassion, wit, and the guts to do what's right. He stands up to his best friend(s), which is never an easy thing.

I did have a few slight issues with the love triangle, but honestly, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I'm interested to see how that plays out if there's a second book.

I'm probably not doing a great job of reviewing this, but I did really, really like it. The world building was gradual, but sufficient in that there wasn't an overload of information, but you understand the world and its ways. You hate some of the characters and the world, but you also cheer for them. I can't say enough good things about this book. I need a sequel!

Definitely pick this one up if you're in fantasy with a diverse set of characters, and a world that is equally horrible and fascinating.

 

**Photos belong to me, please do not take them without permission

Waiting on Wednesday: Where They Found Her

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming book releases.

I read Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight in December of 2013, and I still think about it from time to time. McCreight's upcoming release, Where They Found Her is due out April 14th, 2015 from HarperCollins.

Love this cover!

From Goodreads, "An idyllic suburban town. A devastating discovery. Shocking revelations that will change three lives forever.

At the end of a long winter in well-to-do Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of a newborn is found in the woods fringing the campus of the town's prestigious university. No one knows the identity of the baby, what ended her very short life, or how she wound up among the fallen leaves. But among the residents of Ridgedale, there is no shortage of opinions.

When freelance journalist, and recent Ridgedale transplant, Molly Anderson is unexpectedly called upon to cover the disturbing news for the Ridgedale Reader—the town's local paper—she has good reason to hesitate. A severe depression followed the loss of her own baby, and this assignment could unearth memories she has tried so hard to bury. But the history Molly uncovers is not her own. Her investigation unravels a decades-old trail of dark secrets hiding behind Ridgedale's white picket fences.

Told from the perspectives of three Ridgedale women, Kimberly McCreight's taut and profoundly moving novel unwinds the tangled truth behind the tragedy, revealing that these women have far more in common than they could have ever known. That the very worst crimes are committed against those we love. And that—sooner or later—the past catches up to all of us."

Also, check out this awesome book trailer from HarperBooks YouTube channel:

How can you NOT want to read that?! Come on, April!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Historical fiction is a genre that I don't tend to read a lot of, but that I love. It's a genre that's full of rich details, despair, poverty, and ultimately hope. Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale was no exception. If pressed to give an answer on my favourite authors, I always answer with Jodi Picoult and Kristin Hannah. They never disappoint.

From Goodreads:
In love we find out who we want to be.
In war we find out who we are.

FRANCE, 1939

In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.

Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences.

With courage, grace and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah takes her talented pen to the epic panorama of WWII and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France--a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

My thoughts: I read this book fairly slowly (for me) because I wanted to absorb everything about it. I needed time between readings to fully comprehend the sadness and the beauty in both the words and the story.

I fell in love with these characters. Strong, resilient Isabelle and her equally strong sister Vianne. Both women had crosses to bear and their own struggles, but each made the war their own and did what they had to in order to survive. Vianne may seem like the sister who is less strong, but as the story goes on, you see the sacrifices she has to make in order to keep her family safe. It could not have been easy to be a woman (or person) in occupied France during World War II. I feel like any comment I make will not even be close to describing the horrors and sadness of that time, but Kristin Hannah does a good job at it.

This is definitely a tough book to read. It's heartbreaking, dark, and at times can be very difficult to read, but it's important. My history lessons as a child were about the soldiers. The men who fought the war and the men who started the war. I don't remember learning much about the women during the war, but they were fighting, too, and ooh, fight they did. This book, while dark, celebrates women in the war. You won't get battle scenes here, but you will get strong women battling to fight their own demons - inner and outer.

I'm having trouble properly reviewing this book because I don't want to give too much away. I want people to pick this up because it's an important book to read. It will satisfy historical fiction lovers, as well as those just looking for a good read. Have some Kleenex handy, and perhaps some funny animal photos, because you will cry. You'll reach the end with tears running down your face, but also with hope and love for the real people who suffered through the war. After all, Vianne and Isabelle are just characters, but real people are the ones who fought, died, and survived during this awful time. Read it for them.

*photos by me.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Every so often a book comes out that is so important, and beautifully written, and I just want to shove it into everyone's hands. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is that book for me right now. I don't even think I'm going to able to properly put my feelings into words, but I'll try.

From Goodreads: Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

My thoughts: What I loved most about this book was that there wasn't a huge focus on labels. There was a short piece about Finch possibly being bipolar, but that was not the focus. This is important because people need to realize that depression is an illness. It's not a character flaw, it's not someone just being sad because they got a bad grade, it's a sickness. I hate hearing about people dismissing feelings because they assume the person is just sad or looking for attention. Mental illness is much more than that.

This book has the potential to start a discussion. I'm not sure how I feel about it becoming a movie, however, I do feel like (if done correctly), the book could start a discussion about teen mental illness that is so needed and important. Mental illness is often suffered in silence, and it doesn't have to be.

I hope people will read this book. While marketed as a young adult novel, it should be read by everyone. Yes, it's sad and heartbreaking and will knock you down, but it will make you think and reassess your thinking process. Perhaps you'll look at those "sad people" differently, of if you're suffering from a mental illness, I hope you realize that you're not alone.

All the Bright Places is about mental illness and suicide, but ultimately, it's about hope and life, and making the most of the time we're given; even if it's just a short time.

Blog Tour: The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

 

Marian Keyes is one of those authors that I've been hearing about for years, but haven't actually read anything by her. When Penguin Canada offered me the chance to read her newest release, I jumped on it.

From Penguin Canada: 'Name: Stella Sweeney. Height: average. Recent life events: dramatic.'
One day, sitting in traffic, married Dublin mum Stella Sweeney attempts a good deed. The resulting car crash changes her life. For she meets a man who wants her telephone number (for the insurance, it turns out). That's okay. She doesn't really like him much anyway (his Range Rover totally banjaxed her car). But in this meeting is born the seed of something which will take Stella thousands of miles from her old life, turning an ordinary woman into a superstar, and, along the way, wrenching her whole family apart. Is this all because of one ill-advised act of goodwill? Was meeting Mr Range Rover destiny or karma? Should she be grateful or hopping mad? For the first time real, honest-to-goodness happiness is just within her reach. But is Stella Sweeney, Dublin housewife, ready to grasp it? 

The book opens with Stella back in Dublin after a stint in New York. We learn that she is separated from her husband, Ryan, and that her son, Jeffrey, is a frustrating teenager. The book then steps into Stella's past, where she developed a life threatening disease that left her completely paralyzed for months. In the first half of the book, one chapter is about the present, and the next is about Stella's hospital stay. Enter Mannix, Stella's neurologist who ultimately changes the course of her life.

I really enjoyed the chapters where Stella was in the hospital. I liked reading the thoughts that she couldn't physically voice herself. It's interesting the observations you can make about your own life when you're stuck and mute. Once Stella is out of the hospital, her whole life changes. She and her husband separate, and oh yeah, she has somehow written a book! Becoming a somewhat known author leads to the wrong person taking notice of her new life, which is when her life starts falling apart.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but I did have a few issues with it. I hated Jeffrey, Stella's son. He was rude, disrespectful, and spoiled. I think he was emotionally stunted by Stella's illness, but he was very difficult to like. I also didn't like Ryan, Stella's ex-husband. I feel like his storyline about giving away his things was a bit out of place. Perhaps there was an underlying message in that particular storyline, but I didn't get it.

I found this book quite funny, which is always a plus in my mind. Stella can be hard to like at times, but she's funny and self-deprecating, and at her core, has a big heart. I liked Mannix a lot, too, as well as the secondary characters like Georgia.

I would recommend this to those who are looking for a quick read (it's a chunker, but it reads quickly), or those looking for a story that will leave you feeling content.

This was my first Marian Keyes book, but now I'm interested in checking out her others. Does anyone have any suggestions on which book I should check out next?

The Woman Who Stole My Life is available now, and you should definitely check it out.

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult: a review

I don't even remember when I read my first Jodi Picoult book, but once I did, I was immediately hooked. There is something about the way she writes that leaves you wanting more. If you've read her books, you know that there is usually a twist of some sort that leaves you breathless with anticipation. Leaving Time was no exception.

When I heard that there was a new book coming out, it became my most anticipated read of the year, and I could not wait until October 14th. I think my husband got tired of listening to me prattle on about how a new Jodi Picoult book was coming soon (this started in January)!

Leaving Time tells the story of 13 year old Jenna Metcalf who is looking for her mother, a scientist who has spent her life studying elephants. Jenna was born on her parent's elephant sanctuary, which while a safe place for elephants, was not a safe haven for people after an accident left one worker dead, and Jenna's mom, Alice, missing.

Jenna lives with her grandma because after the accident her father has a mental breakdown and lives in a psychiatric facility. Jenna knows that her mother would never leave her, and sets out to find her. In her quest, she befriends two very unlikely allies. Virgil is a retired police detective who originally worked on the accident at the sanctuary. Serenity is a disgraced psychic who has lost her psychic abilities, but doesn't have the heart to turn Jenna away.

One of the (many) reasons that I love Jodi Picoult's books is because I always learn something. The story is told from Jenna, Alice, Serenity, and Virgil's perspectives with Alice's story detailing her work with elephants. Elephants are absolutely fascinating creatures. Did you know that they grieve like humans, and recognize people they haven't seen in years?

Because this is a Jodi Picoult book, I knew there was a twist coming, and come it did! I realized the twist a page before it was revealed, but even if you figure it out sooner, it won't take away anything from your reading experience. Once it was revealed, I went back and re-read some parts of the book that were now enhanced because of the reveal.

I really can't gush about this book enough. It is intelligent, engrossing, and moving. You will not be able to put this down until you finish. Before you read this, you can read the two companion novellas (Larger than Life focuses on Alice, and Where There's Smoke focuses on Serenity). They will definitely leave you wanting to read Leaving Time even more!

Now that I've read this, I guess I have to go back to waiting for her next book. This book will stay with me for a long while, though, and will make the wait easier.

If you're interested in learning more about elephants and ways to help them, visit www.elephants.com, which is the site for an actual sanctuary in Hohenwald Tennessee. Some of the elephants in Leaving Time are based on elephants at the sanctuary.

You by Caroline Kepnes - Review

It's been forever, again. My husband and I recently moved into a bigger apartment, so much of August/September has been all about moving. I hate moving with a passion, but I love this place so much, so I guess it all balances out.

Before the moving craziness started, this showed up in my inbox from Simon & Schuster Canada:

 

 

I was instantly intrigued. How creepy does that sound?! It's called You and it's Caroline Kepnes' debut release. The book showed up, and I regret not reading it right away because oh my, it was so good!

 

Guinevere Beck (she prefers Beck) is an aspiring writer who happens to catch the glance of Joe, who is one of the creepiest characters I've read. Beck is an attention-seeking, lazy girl who has daddy issues and comes across very naïve. Joe quickly becomes obsessed with Beck and will stop at nothing in order to make her his, including stealing her phone after she leaves it in a cab.

 

It's told entirely from Joe's perspective, and much of it is his internal thoughts, which I think made it all the more creepy and disturbing. It was scary because Joe doesn't come off as crazy in his everyday life. He's just that guy you pass on the street and don't give a second thought to. He, on the other hand, is thinking about you. You'd never know that he has a cage in his book store where he sometimes keeps more than just rare books.

 

I loved the parts where Joe was reading Beck's emails because you got a better glimpse of how messed up Beck was. Joe is a crazy stalker, but Beck definitely her issues as well. She's so wrapped up in herself that she doesn't even really notice when people around her begin disappearing for long periods of time.

 

I spent a lot of time reading this book with this expression on my face:

 

It was almost uncomfortable to read, but I could not put this book down. I'm trying not to give anything away because this book is best to go into blind (most books are), but if you like disturbing, uncomfortable reads, then this is a great book for you. This is the perfect fall read, and definitely perfect for Halloween.

 

This may be Kepnes debut release, but you wouldn't know it by her writing style. She has definitely been added to my auto-read list of authors.

 

5 out of 5 stars. This book is available September 30th from Simon & Schuster Canada. Definitely add it to your to-read list!

 

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday: Leaving Time

My Waiting on Wednesday is Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult. Jodi Picoult has been one of my favourite authors for years, and when asked who my favourite authors are, she is always first.. She is an auto-buy, and I push her books on everyone I know. Even if they didn't ask for a recommendation. My first Picoult book was My Sisters Keeper (well before the movie came out), and then I quickly devoured The Pact, Nineteen Minutes, and every other book I could get my hands on. I have even made my mom read a lot of her books, and she has loved them all, too.

Her newest, Leaving Time, comes out October 14th, and you have no idea how excited I am for this book! To keep you excited and wanting more, Picoult has released two short stories involving Leaving Time characters. Where There's Smoke and Larger Than Life are both available now as e-books.

From Goodreads:

For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. Refusing to believe that she would be abandoned as a young child, Jenna searches for her mother regularly online and pores over the pages of Alice’s old journals. A scientist who studied grief among elephants, Alice wrote mostly of her research among the animals she loved, yet Jenna hopes the entries will provide a clue to her mother’s whereabouts.

Desperate to find the truth, Jenna enlists two unlikely allies in her quest. The first is Serenity Jones, a psychic who rose to fame finding missing persons—only to later doubt her gifts. The second is Virgil Stanhope, a jaded private detective who originally investigated Alice’s case along with the strange, possibly linked death of one of her colleagues. As the three work together to uncover what happened to Alice, they realize that in asking hard questions, they’ll have to face even harder answers.

As Jenna’s memories dovetail with the events in her mother’s journals, the story races to a mesmerizing finish. A deeply moving, gripping, and intelligent page-turner, Leaving Time is Jodi Picoult at the height of her powers.

Sounds so intriguing, right?! Are you a Jodi Picoult fan?

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

From Goodreads: Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.

Maybe that was always besides the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

My Thoughts:

This will be more of a discussion than an actual review.

I just got married (just as in July 5th), so Rowell's latest, Landline, really hit home. Georgie is a successful TV comedy writer who is married and has two little girls. Her husband, Neal, is a stay at home dad as Georgie works long hours with her writing partner and best friend, Seth. 

This was a book about what can happen to those of us with the best of intentions. No one gets married, or enters into any relationship, with the intention of being a inattentive partner, but it happens so frequently. We all have things in our lives (jobs, kids, hobbies, etc.) that may lead us to choose our partners second, or third, or even last. We don't mean to do this, but it's life, and we all assume that because they love us, they understand. Perhaps they do, but it doesn't mean it's right. No one can put someone first all the time. That's not reasonable, but it's not unreasonable to ask to be put first sometimes.

For Georgie, she's put her career before Neal countless times, and it's finally bitten her in the butt. Truthfully? I cheered when Neal left for Omaha with the girls. Not because I wanted Georgie to suffer or hurt, but because she needed him to do that for the sake of their marriage. For her own sake as a person. I'm not going to pretend to be a seasoned wife who knows all, as I've only been a wife for a few weeks, however, I've been a human for 27 years. My husband and I may be very co-dependent on each other, but if we have a few busy days where we don't have that much time for each other, we get cranky. We need our time together, and I honestly hope that never, ever changes. We don't have kids yet, so that very well may change, but I hope it doesn't change to the point where we become complacent. In any relationship, it takes two and Neal is definitely part of the problem. He never seemed to ask much of Georgie. I think there was a lack of communication, that is, until the magic yellow phone. 

I love Rowell's characters because they're always so real. They're you, me, and the man next door. I can always find at least one character to relate to, and usually find myself in each character in some way. This book read a bit like a warning to me. I don't want to be Georgie. Yes, I want to be a successful career woman and I always wonder how I'll be when we do have kids and if I'll want to return to work, but I want so much more than that. I want a family. I want a relationship with my husband, and our kids, and those around us. The thought of becoming Georgie and feeling like an outsider in your own family scares me. I can see myself thinking about this book and Georgie years from now. The story, minus the magic phone (though how cool would that be?!?), can happen to anyone, and I refuse to let it happen to me.

I would recommend this book to those, like me, who are newly married, but especially to those who have been married for years and who are in the throes of busy. Heck, you don't even have to be married to relate to Landline and that is what makes Rowell such a great writer and one I will always return to. 

4 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system. 

A Single Breath by Lucy Clarke

Last week, I raved hard about Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke, and today I'm here to rave about Lucy Clarke's newest novel A Single Breath. I loved Swimming at Night so much that I reached out to Simon and Schuster Canada and they graciously provided me with a copy of A Single Breath, so thank you Simon and Schuster Canada!

From Goodreads: Eva has only been married for eight months when her husband, Jackson, is swept to his death while fishing. Weighed down by confusion and sorrow, Eva decides to take leave of her midwifery practice in London and visit Jackson’s estranged family in Tasmania with the hope of grieving together.

Instead, she discovers that the man she loved so deeply is not the man she thought she knew. Jackson’s father and brother reveal a dark past, exposing the lies her marriage was built upon. As Eva struggles to come to terms with the depth of Jackson’s deception, she must also confront her growing attraction to Jackson’s brother, Saul, who offers her intimacy, passion, and answers to her most troubling questions.

Will Eva be able to move forward in life, or will she be caught up in a romance with Saul, haunted by her husband’s past? Threading together beautiful, wild settings and suspenseful twists, A Single Breath is a gripping tale of secrets, betrayal, and new beginnings.

My Thoughts: This book has rocketed Lucy Clarke right onto my auto-read list of authors. I loved this book so much, and think it will appeal to many different people. It explores the depths that people will go to to feel connected to those we love, even after their gone. You will become emotional invested in Eva.

My heart broke a few times for Eva throughout this story. After falling deeply in love and marrying the man of her dreams, she has to deal with his tragic death after less than a year of marriage. I'm getting married on July 5th, so this really made me emotional. I don't even want to imagine losing my almost husband before we're both old and gray! Considering what happened, I think Eva handled herself much better than I ever would.

Needing to know more about the man torn from her far too soon, Eva decides to go to Tasmania to visit Jackson's family; a family he has lost touch with. Her reception in Tasmania is not nearly what she imagined it would be, and she finds herself living in a shack down the beach from Jackson's seemingly moody, brother, Saul, unwilling to give up. Eva is thrown for another loop when she finds out that she's pregnant with Jackson's baby.

Part of the reason I loved this book so much was because of the characters. Not only Eva, but Saul and Callie, Eva's best friend. Saul was everything that Eva needed him to be, and more. He was her link to Jackson, even after he delivered the unexpected news about the man she thought she knew. I won't share Jackson's secrets because I don't want to spoil the book, but he definitely had his secrets. It made me wonder if we can ever really know someone entirely. Two people can be married for 50 years and still not know absolutely everything about each other. I think that's what makes relationships so great, but with the wrong kind of unknowns, can also be disastrous and lead to heartbreak.

Lucy Clarke knows how to help the reader paint a picture. The descriptions in this book made me want to a.) jump into a plane and head for Tasmania, and b.) learn to free dive. This is amazing because open bodies of water kind of freak me out, but Clarke describes scenery so beautifully. You will find yourself lost in this book.

If I haven't convinced you to read this book, then I clearly haven't done my job well, but trust me, you'll want to pick this up. It has romance, suspense, twists, and beautiful descriptions. The ending is unexpected and a twist may even make you gasp out loud. It's been a few days since I finished this book, but I still find myself thinking about it. I was happy with the ending, but I selfishly want more. I already can't wait for Lucy Clarke's next book.

5 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.

Book Review: Dorothy Must Die

 

I'm going to start by saying something that may not make me the most popular person: I am not a fan of The Wizard of Oz. I'm just not and never have been. Sure, I've seen the movie a few times, but was never really into it. I haven't read the books, and have no desire to. When I first started hearing about Dorothy Must Die, I was 'meh' about it. The premise sounded interesting, but not interesting enough for me to add it to my TBR pile. But then I saw a tweet with a link to the first few chapters and decided to read it. Awesome decision, self! I loved it! Then I eagerly awaited the rest of the chapter releases and found myself needing more, so I pre-ordered it. I haven't pre-ordered a book since Harry Potter, so you know this was a huge book in my mind.

If you haven't read a synopsis yet, here's one from Goodreads:
I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Intriguing, right? Definitely not the Oz we all know from the movie/books. I loved this version of Oz. It's not sparkly or colourful. It's dark, and gritty, and full of dark magic. Magic that is literally being sucked from the ground for Dorothy's own personal use. People have moving tattoos, the flying monkey's talk, and some have cut off their own wings so they can't be controlled by Dorothy.

Enter Amy Gumm, the other girl from Kansas who arrives the exact same way as Dorothy, but who finds herself in not quite the same predicament. Amy was a bit annoying at first, but she eventually grew on me. She started off very whiney and kind of bratty, but I found myself liking her as the story went on.

There are a lot of characters in this book. The ones we all know are there, but there are lots of new ones, some of whom make up the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. Gert is a seemingly crazy old witch, Glamora is Glinda's twin sister (Glinda is part of Dorothy's entourage), Mombi is another witch who seems to be hiding things, and Nox is a mysterious orphan and one of the only male members of the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and therefore, Amy's love interest.

I don't even really know how to review this book without giving anything away. The Order is badass, Dorothy is super evil and creepy, walking around in tight dresses and forcing her minions to wear PermaSmile (aka Oz's botox?) and changing night and day to suit her needs. She is the worst kind of crazy because I think she genuinely thinks what she does is normal. She sees herself as a princess after all.

The Order has given Amy one mission - to kill Dorothy, so Amy enters Dorothy's palace as an undercover maid and of course, all sorts of things happen. Not limited to a moving picture that can show you whatever you want to see, the Scarecrow's terrifying lab where he literally reconfigures people, and the weird maze in the garden. Oh, and Pete who Amy meets when she first gets to Oz who seems to show up in not-so random situations and has more to him than what we find out in this book.

I'm so glad that there's at least two more books planned because I need more. More action, more answers, and more Oz. This book will appeal to those hardcore Wizard of Oz fans and those like me who aren't really fans. Just don't go expecting the Oz we all know. Though, with a title like Dorothy Must Die, I don't know how you can expect to find the Oz from The Wizard of Oz.

If you're not convinced, go here to read the first twelve chapters. I bet you'll be hooked after.

5 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.

Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

From Goodreads: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.
My thoughts: This was such a fast read and one I really enjoyed. This book shows what happens when a rumour rapidly flies through a high school - what it does to those involved directly, and even those who are not directly involved. Everyone knows that there's usually only a smattering of truth in rumours, but when you're in high school and your popularity is on the line, truth doesn't seem to matter. Even when someone gets hurt.

Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective (something I really love), and each chapter reveals more about that fateful night. It also reveals more about the different types of people in high school, from the popular people, to the not so popular people. I really liked Kurt, the quiet genius who doesn't have a lot of friends, but who knows what happened that night. Kurt befriends Alice while the whole school turns away, and while his intentions may not be as pure as you'd think, it all works out for him.

I liked the way the story unfolded. It was a short read, but that worked well in this story because too many more details or more characters might have made the story too jumbled. Instead, it read at the perfect pace with details being released at the right times.

The ending was what made the story for me. I was hoping that Mathieu would throw in an Alice chapter, and was happy when I finally got there. Having the story told from everyone but Alice's perspective made it a unique way to read the story because you have to form your opinion about Alice without actually hearing from her until the very end. I liked Alice before I read her chapter, but I really liked her afterwards.

I rated this four out of five stars based on Goodreads rating system, and I think that teens and people who enjoy YA will really like it.

Review: Tempting Fate by Jane Green

From Goodreads: When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .

Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.

Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?

My thoughts: I've read a few Jane Green books over the last few years, and I've found that they're either really great, or just average. Unfortunately, this one falls into the average category for me. I felt like it was one big cliché. Average older woman getting older while feeling unfulfilled, falls for a younger man who makes her feel beautiful. Happy, doting husband who clearly loves her goes out of town, and voila, her life changes forever.

Part of my issue with the book wasn't the book itself. I think that having an affair is one of the absolute most cruel things you can do to someone you reportedly love. It takes someone really special and great to be able to move on after an affair. I would not be that someone. I knew an affair happens in this book, so to be fair to the book, I went into reading it with a bit of a negative attitude, which shouldn't reflect on the book itself at all.

I ended up giving this three out of five stars because while predictable, Green is still a good writer, and I did enjoy reading this. I will say, though, that she kind of overuses the phrase "for ....". The characters were all obviously flawed, and though Gabby does have an affair, I found it hard to completely hate her. I hated her actions, but I didn't hate her character. She wasn't my favourite, but Green wrote her in a way that I almost (almost) felt sorry for her. I can see how women (even men) could relate to her situation and feelings.

While this may not have been my favourite Jane Green novel, I'm not sorry that I read it.

Me Since You by Laura Wiess: Book Review

Are there any answers when someone you love makes a tragic choice?

Before and After. That’s how Rowan Areno sees her life now. Before: she was a normal sixteen-year-old—a little too sheltered by her police officer father and her mother. After: everything she once believed has been destroyed in the wake of a shattering tragedy, and every day is there to be survived.

If she had known, on that Friday in March when she cut school, that a random stranger’s shocking crime would have traumatic consequences, she never would have left campus. If the crime video never went viral, maybe she could have saved her mother, grandmother — and herself — from the endless replay of heartache and grief.

Finding a soul mate in Eli, a witness to the crime who is haunted by losses of his own, Rowan begins to see there is no simple, straightforward path to healing wounded hearts. Can she learn to trust, hope, and believe in happiness again?

My thoughts: This book will rip you apart and tear your heart into pieces. There is so much grief and sadness in this book, but there are tiny glimpses of hope throughout.  If you're looking for a feel good book this is not the book you want to read; however, it is a great book and worth a read.

Rowan skips school not realizing what is about to happen after a stranger makes a decision that changes his life, but also the life of Rowan's entire family. The tragic event that occurs is not at all what I was expecting, and I'm glad the book synopsis doesn't give it away. It's not something that you think would have consequences for strangers, but it definitely does.

While I liked this book, it seemed to take a while for the other big event to occur. I had already figured out what was going to happen, so I kind of feel like I spent half of the book waiting for it to happen. That may be fine if you don't see it coming, but if you've figured it out, you just want it to happen so you can read the after.

Eli is such a great character. He's a teenager still reeling from the death of his soldier father, and he is so good for Rowan in the before and after. He's one of those guys that if he were a real person, he probably wouldn't have a lot of friends because teenagers wouldn't be able to appreciate him.

Rowan, at times, is a bit hard to like, but I guess that's what extreme grief does to a person. She is frustrating, but at the same time, I just want to hug her and tell her that life won't always be hard. It seems silly, but sometimes reading her was exhausting. There was so much sadness in this book. I kept waiting for something really good to happen to break up all the sadness, but it never really happened.

I would recommend this to those who are looking for a good book to make them cry, but I would definitely recommend having something happy to read afterwards because you'll need it. And tissues. Lots of tissues.

4 out of 5 stars based on Goodreads rating system.

Traitor's Blade by Sebastien De Castell: You'll want to read this one!

 

The King is dead, the Greatcoats have been disbanded, and Falcio Val Mond and his fellow magistrates Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as bodyguards for a nobleman who refuses to pay them. Things could be worse, of course. Their employer could be lying dead on the floor while they are forced to watch the killer plant evidence framing them for the murder. Oh wait, that’s exactly what’s happening…

Now a royal conspiracy is about to unfold in the most corrupt city in the world. A carefully orchestrated series of murders that began with the overthrow of an idealistic young king will end with the death of an orphaned girl and the ruin of everything that Falcio, Kest, and Brasti have fought for. But if the trio want to foil the conspiracy, save the girl, and reunite the Greatcoats, they’ll have to do it with nothing but the tattered coats on their backs and the swords in their hands, because these days every noble is a tyrant, every knight is a thug, and the only thing you can really trust is a traitor’s blade.

I will be the first to admit that I don't read a lot of fantasy books, so when Penguin Canada offered me the chance to be part of the blog tour, I jumped right on it. To say I'm happy that I did would be an understatement. This book is one of those books that will make non-fantasy readers become fantasy readers.

The description tells all you need to know about the plot, so I'll give you three reasons why you should be adding this to your to-read pile immediately.

1.) The characters - the characters are fantastic! Falcio, while a major swordsman, also has a big heart that leads his decisions, which may not always be the best thing. Kest seems to have secrets that guide him, and Brasti is a bit of a charmer/ladies man. The way the three of them interact is often hilarious and just plain good writing. I do wish there'd been more of Kest and Brasti, but luckily, this is going to be a series of books.

If you're like me, you're tired of female characters who are portrayed as weaker than their male counterparts. Well, the women in Traitor's Blade are awesome! Yeah, some of them are perhaps a little evil, but the others are badass, strong women who can definitely hold their own.

2.) The fight scenes - there are a lot of battle/fight scenes, but they're not overdone, and you don't get tired of them. They're well done, and necessary for plot development. Plus, who doesn't like swords, rapiers, and bows and arrows? There's humour in the battle scenes, too, and perhaps a little bit of magic.

3.) The background - since this is the first book in a series, there has to be some background in it to get the most out of the present story. The background scenes in this novel are done in my favourite way, which is to have the character reflect on what happened. You don't get the back story all in one go; instead, it's spread out throughout the novel and is in the perfect spots. It's not information overload, and enhances the story. Some of the background scenes were actually my favourite parts of the book.

Not being a typical fantasy reader did not deter me from reading this, and if you don't read fantasy, you shouldn't stay away from this book. I read this on my Kobo, and will definitely be purchasing a copy on March 4th when it comes out because it's one of those books that I feel like I need to own a physical copy of, partially so I can shove it in the hands of my friends and make them read it.

This book is going to be a hit, I can feel it! I finished this book more than a week ago, and I'm still thinking about it. To me, that means it was a fantastic book. 5 out of 5 stars for sure.

For more info go to:

Penguin Canada

Sebastien de Castell's website

Goodreads