Weekend Recommendations #14

This is a weekly feature, where I get to go all fannish about two randomly-picked favvies (which may not actually be favorites, but got a rating of 3 or higher) that I would recommend to friends! So, here are this week's two picks:

Title: Plain Kate

Author: Erin Bow

Genre: fantasy/supernatural

Part of a Series: No

Rating: 4 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl and guy read, great for fans of fantasy and paranormal/supernatural stories, with strong female protagonists, talking cats, Gypsies, a lot of emotion, and just the right amount of spooky - all with a medieval backdrop.

Why I Like It:

For some reason, Plain Kate really pulled me in emotionally. I was attached to Kate, I adored the talking cat, and I loved the spooky aspect. The bleak ambiance of the world also really appealed to me, and of course I love Gypsies! They always appear in exciting and mysterious stories. There was just nothing about this book that I didn't like. I was hooked the moment I started reading, and it didn't let me go. The end had me in tears, and for all the right reasons.

Title: Kat, Incorrigible

Author: Stephanie Burgis

Genre: historical fantasy/comedy

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 5 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl-read, any age, great of Jane Austen fans! The Author imitates her wit and style excellently, while blending a dash of magic into it.

Why I Like It:

Kat Stephenson is one of the best girl protagonists ever. She's brave, she's clever, she's funny, she's practical, and she has no romantic asperations. And no, she doesn't meet a young man who changes everything she thought about romance. Kat is also a tomboy befitting the Regency Era. I adored the Author's style, her nods to Jane Austen, her blend of magic and history, and her ability to write chaotic scenes that were genuinely funny and not headache-inducing. Her characters are all to die for, and I just overall found this to be one of the best books I've read in a long time.

Weekend Recommendations #13

This is a weekly feature, where I get to go all fannish about two randomly-picked favvies (which may not actually be favorites, but got a rating of 3 or higher) that I would recommend to friends! So, here are this week's two picks:

Title: The Musician's Daughter

Author: Susanne Dunlap

Genre: historical fiction/mystery

Part of a Series: No

Rating: 4 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl-read, fifteen-and-up, fans of historical fiction mysteries, especially ones who are more into the mystery than the romance and like a strong female protagonist who doesn't have Attitude.

Why I Like It:

I happen to be a fan of historical fiction mysteries, not a lot of romance, and strong female protagonists who don't have Attitudes! I can also connect to the protagonist - Theresa - with her love for the violin. The Author's love for music rings true in this book, which also struck a chord with me, being a musician and big fan of classical music (especially Mozart and Handel).

Title: Incarceron

Author: Catherine Fisher

Genre: dystopian/futuristic

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 3 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl-and-guy read, fifteen-and-up, fans of dystopian, futuristic, science fiction, and just plain strange stories - especially ones akin to Neil Gaiman's work.

Why I Like It:

Sometimes I like strange stories, and the world of Incarceron is definitely that. I loved the isolated feel, the bizarre world of the prison and the Outside, and most importantly, the two girl characters in this are awesome. Neither are ridiculous or annoying. Atia especially is practical and tough, while Claudia is strong and decisive. The mystery is sort of obvious, but it has some surprising twists.

Weekend Recommendations #12

This is a weekly feature, where I get to go all fannish about two randomly-picked favvies (which may not actually be favorites, but got a rating of 3 or higher) that I would recommend to friends! So, here are this week's two picks:

Title: Changeling
Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: historical fiction/mystery
Part of a Series: Yes
Rating: 3 out of 5
Who'll Like It: Girl-and-guy read, great for historical mystery fans and Readers who like Philippa Gregory's work. Though this is a YA book, adults will enjoy it just as much as teens. Better for ages sixteen and up.

Why I Like It:

Isolde and Ishraq are two very strong female characters without the Attitude. Ishraq was sarcastic and tough without being macho, and Isolde was strong-willed and practical while maintaining a femininity about her. They both fit the era without being helpless damsels in distress (and quite honestly, I think women back then were stronger than nowadays because people simply couldn't afford to be weak then). While the plot itself sort of meanders through one event after another, without connecting any of them, I did enjoy reading about the mysteries and the logical explanations Luca found behind what at first appears to be supernatural happenings.

Title: The Dead of Winter

Author: Chris Priestley

Genre: supernatural/mystery/historical fiction

Part of a Series: No

Rating: 5 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl-and-guy read, ideal for Edgar Allen Poe fans. This will keep you up at night!

Why I Like It:

I am a big fan of Edgar Allen Poe, and this book reminds me entirely of one of his stories. The writing, the setting, the characters, even the end. Vincent Price could have definitely played Sir Stephen. I loved the isolated feel of this story, and the frustrating end. This book actually made me sleep with the lights on, and I don't scare easily. Poe fans - you'll love this! It's very reminiscent of The Fall of the House of Usher.

Weekend Recommendations #11

This is a weekly feature, where I get to go all fannish about two randomly-picked favvies (which may not actually be favorites, but got a rating of 3 or higher) that I would recommend to friends! So, here are this week's two picks:

Title: Born Wicked
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Genre: historical fantasy/romance
Part of a Series: Yes
Rating: 3 out of 5
Who'll Like It: Girl read, fifteen and up, fans of historical fantasy involving witches - and fans of romance. Those who are extremely picky about gay/lesbian content should be wary, however.

Why I Like It:

This isn't a favorite book, and Cate Cahill isn't my favorite protagonist (at least, in the first book she isn't). But the alternate history feel of the story intrigued me, I liked the character dynamics - especially between the three Cahill sisters, - and I liked Finn. The narration is in present tense, but it actually suits the story very well, to a point that made me rather like it! Sometimes it felt like the Author was trying to make a point with all of her equality preaching about lesbians and gays, and later in the story I was nastily surprised when one of the main characters turned out to be a lesbian. I would have been all right with this if it had furthered the story's plot, but it really didn't. But it's a good, relaxing weekend read, with moderately good characters, a pleasing writing style, and an interesting world. It's sequel - Star Cursed - is even better.

Title: Witchlanders

Author: Lena Coakley

Genre: fantasy

Part of a Series: Possible sequel

Rating: 5 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys alike, fourteen and up just due to attention span and reading level (I would have liked it at any age), great for fantasy fans, and Readers who really like stories with strong camaraderie and brotherhood attachment

Why I Like It:

I love stories that take place in the winter, more specifically the mountains in the winter. I'm not a huge fan of magic, though I certainly read my own fair share of fantasy. But I do actually rather like elemental and "song" magic. This book has both, and the way the Author weaves it in is, to the say the least, enchanting. And then there's the characters. I absolute loved the whole "two young men at odds with each other, and then turning into brothers through shared hardship" story. I like camaraderie stories, and despite the girl in the cover, the two main characters are young men. And they are on opposing sides in a war. The one main girl character that is in the story is also a terrific character. The Author also did an extremely good job in catching the isolated beauty of the high country, and that isn't easy to capture in writing unless one has spent a lot of time in the mountains - and in the winter.