Weekend Recommendations #20

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: Nobody's Secret
Author: Michaela MacColl
Genre: historical fiction/mystery
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 3 out of 5
Who'll Like It: Girl-read, fourteen and up due to interest level. Fans of Emily Dickinson and anti-fans alike will enjoy this, as it is mainly a mystery story. It focuses some on her poetry, but not tons.

Why I Like It:

I love mysteries, I love this era, and while I'm not a fan of Emily Dickinson's poetry, I have nothing against her personally. Nobody's Secret is a fun quick read, with some surprising twists, and a spunky protagonist. Perfect for a quiet weekend read.

Title: The False Prince

Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Genre: adventure

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 5 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl and guy read, intended for middle graders, but teens and adults alike will enjoy this story's quick-witted and amusing protagonist.

Why I Like It:

It's so hard to write sarcastic male characters without making them obnoxious. But as soon as I met Sage, I loved him. I loved the world, I loved the storyline, and I loved the twists. There isn't a boring moment in this story, and the Author isn't afraid to be cruel to her characters. My expectations with this book were not high, and I was extremely pleasantly surprised when I picked it up.

Weekend Recommendations #18

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 Darkest Minds

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Genre: science fiction

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 3 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Mostly a girl read, though some guys might enjoy it, appropriate for seventeen-and-up, Readers who like dystopian-esque worlds, futuristic, and stories about teens with "super powers" caused by a weird virus.

Why I Like It:

This sort of book has been done so much that I rarely get entertainment out of them anymore. But The Darkest Minds manages to take this overused idea and make it fresh. I liked the characters pretty well, and more importantly I liked how realistic the internment camps were. Realism, when it comes to such things, is key for me. I also really liked how the Author kept referencing Watership Down. It added a bleak and downright dark element to the whole thing, which it needed in order to be totally successful.

Title: Seraphina

Author: Rachel Hartman

Genre: fantasy/mystery

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 4 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys alike with enjoy this original dragon story, fifteen-and-up, great for fans of fantasy, dragon stories with original twists, and a hint of mystery.

Why I Like It:

I love dragons, I love mysteries, and I love originality. And it is very hard to find an original dragon story these days. But Rachel Hartman manages to pull some unique and original ideas with her dragons, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved her Elizabethan-inspired world, the characters, and the writing. The only real complaint I have is that the mystery aspect of the plot is not as big a part of it as you would initially think. And some people find the story itself a little slow, but I enjoyed the Author's careful world building.

Weekend Recommendations #17

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 Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Genre: post-apocalyptic

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 4 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Guys and girls who like grittier, guy books and just strange stories. Dystopian fans will enjoy this as much as post-apocalyptic, and though it's not a zombie book, some zombie fans might like the series as it progresses. Seventeen-and-up.

Why I Like It:

I enjoy weird reads, provided it's a weird that sort of makes sense or fits the world. I also enjoy stories that begin with a character who has forgotten who they are, where they are, and why. I loved the ominous feel of the story, I loved the giant maze idea, and the Greavers were actually spooky. The Maze Runner left me disturbed, but in a good way. I was never bored, and I stayed up all night finishing it. Each chapter produced a new and chilling fact about the world of the Glade. While all of the character are definite guys, I liked a surprising number of them. And those I didn't like, I appreciated what they brought to the story.

Title: Cross My Heart

Author: Sasha Gould

Genre: historical fiction/mystery

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 3 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl-read, fans of historical fiction mysteries and Venice!

Why I Like It:

The protagonist, Laura, is wonderfully unannoying, and I happen to love Venice! Especially in this era. I love the plot, too, and though the book had its flaws, I enjoyed a lot of its aspects. And the sequel - Heart of Glass - only improves.



Weekend Recommendations #16

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: Dragonswood

Author: Janet Lee Carey
Genre: fantasy
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 5 out of 5
Who'll Like It: Girl-and-guy read, fourteen-and-up, great for fans of fantasy, dragon stories, strong female protagonists, and subtle romance.

Why I Like It:

I get tired of stories where girls swear off marriage because they don't need a man to take care of them, and then meet their match. Thankfully, that isn't the direction Dragonswood takes. Tess swears of marriage alright, but it's because she has only ever known abuse at the hands of a man, and not because she has something to prove. And of course, once Garth walked into the story, I was totally in support of a romantic relationship between them, because Garth is just awesome. The writing style, the world, and the story itself all enthralled me, and I really have nothing to complain about.

Title: Shelter

Author: Harlan Coben

Genre: mystery/suspense

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 4 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl-and-guy read, fourteen-and-up, great for fans of contemporary mysteries with interesting twists.

Why I Like It:



It's hard to find good suspense books without them feeling like a Lifetime original movie. Shelter is one of those rare good suspense novels. There's tons of twists, realistic characters, and an end that had me pleasantly surprised. Mickey was also a great adolescent narrator; I didn't expect to like him nearly as well as I did.

Weekend Recommendations #15

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 Last Dragonslayer

Author: Jasper Fforde

Genre: fantasy/comedy/alternate reality

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 3 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys of any age will enjoy this quirky and fun weekend read, especially those who enjoy comic fantasy and funny female protagonists. It's a great summer read!

Why I Like It:

I didn't have especially high expectations with this book, and while it didn't reach the 4/5 mark, it was still a really, really fun book. Filled with amusing events, unique characters, chaotic mistakes, and a girl protagonist who just has the world's greatest sense of humor - as well as an adorable Quarkbeast! - this is one of those books that you don't have to think. You just sit back and enjoy it. It's relaxing and entertaining and just the right kind of book to wind down with after a long week.

Title: Tuesdays at the Castle

Author: Jessica Day George

Genre: children's fantasy/comedy

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 4 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girl-read, though some boys might enjoy it as well, since there is no romance, best for eight to thirteen-year-olds, though adults to love a good kids' book will like it as well. Ideal for fans of comic fantasy and Jessica Day George's books.

Why I Like It:

I love a good comic fantasy, and I love Jessica Day George's books. Not a single one has ever disappointed, especially when it comes to the humor category. Tuesdays at the Castle not only made me feel like a kid again, it was just loads of fun. A living, breathing castle that grows a new room every Tuesday? A witty princess who has a special connection to it? Royal parents kidnapped and the castle under attack? What's not to love?!

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.   

Weekend Recommendations #10

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 Scorpio Races

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: fiction

Part of a Series: No

Rating: 5 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys, fourteen and up, great for fans of stories with the isolated, ancient British Isle feel - and horses!

Why I Like It:

I love stories that take place on obscure, isolated British Isles, and I love stories that incorporate creatures from Celtic legend - in this case, kelpies. And I also happen to really like horses. Add to that some super awesome characters, and you have the sort of book that I positively drool over. Sean Kendrick is an "old soul" - he embodies the heart of the spirit of the little island of Thisby, and he understands the water horses in a way that few do. He's quiet and reserved, but he has tremendous passion. While Puck Connolly at times grated a tiny bit on my nerves due to her temper, I never disliked her. She's tough, confident, and without Attitude. And the romance in this is very slight - double win! The "villains" of the piece are also super-fun to hate, so there really wasn't anything about this book that I disliked.

 Title: The Raven Boys

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: fantasy/supernatural/adventure

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 3 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys, seventeen and up (due to lots of strong language), fans of The Scorpio Races.

Why I Like It:

The only reason this book didn't get a five-star rating is because it had a ton of strong language, and I couldn't ignore that when it came to its final rating. But aside from that, I adored this book. Filled with lots of great characters, all with distinct personalities, and with a very intriguing storyline, I was hooked the moment I opened this book. Gansey, Adam, Noah, and Blue all struck a chord with me. And though Ronan wasn't my favorite out of the four boys, I still appreciated what he brought to the story itself, and in the end I really did end up liking him in my own way. Blue was a great girl character; she managed to be "one of the boys" without having an Attitude. And the plot . . . the plot was just amazing. 

Weekend Recommendations #9

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: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer

Genre: science fiction/fairytale retelling/futuristic

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 3 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys alike, fourteen and up, fairytale retelling fans looking for a new and original twist on the Cinderella story, as well as science fiction fans - and cyborg fans!

Why I Like It:

When Cinder first came out, I thought it was going to be one of the weirdest - and probably the silliest - book I had read that year. I mean, Cinderella as a cyborg? Forget that - a fairytale retelling coupled with science fiction? (can you see my eyebrows raising yet?) So it took a while before I finally decided to give it a try. When I did, I was completely astounded. Quite possibly, no other Author could have gotten such a concept to work as well as it does in Cinder, but Marissa Meyer can. Thus, we Readers are presented with the most original - and exciting - Cinderella retelling ever. Cinder is an awesome protagonist, the world is intriguing, the classic Cinderella elements are cleverly blended in, and we are given not only a classic commoner-falls-in-love-with-prince story, but also a plot steeped in politics, mystery, invading armies, and even humor. Never has a book surprised me as much as this one did. (It's sequel is even better!)

Title: Code Name Verity

Author: Elizabeth Wein

Genre: historical fiction

Part of a Series: No

Rating: 4 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys alike, sixteen and up, great for fans of WWII fiction, and very strong female protagonists without The Attitude.

Why I Like It:

I love WWII novels, especially ones about the S. O. E. - British spies. I'm also a big fan of strong female protagonists who don't have The Attitude. The girls of this novel have spunk and sarcasm, but they don't have an Attitude, and they are very classic WWII-era British girls. While some of the circumstances are not entirely believable (like the rather lenient Gestapo agent), and I wasn't a big fan of narration style (I did get used to it, though), the story itself is a great one, with lots of historical detail, great characters, and a bittersweet ending that left me both pleased and crying my eyes out. You can't write about the S. O. E. without something tragic happening to someone.



Weekend Recommendations #8

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 Academie
Author: Susanne Dunlap
Genre: historical fiction/romance
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 3 out of 5
Who'll Like It: Girl-read, fourteen-and-up, great for fans of historical fiction set in boarding schools.

Why I Like It:

I happen to be a fan of boarding school stories, especially historical ones. The Academie has a wealthy of different characters, many of whom I started out hating, but then grew to like as the story progressed and they grew with it. The present tense narration isn't my favorite, but it isn't horrible, and I love how each chapter switches perspectives between the four main girls.

Title: Babylonne

Author: Catherine Jinks

Genre: historical fiction

Part of a Series: Yes, but it's also a stand-alone

Rating: 4 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys alike, fourteen-and-up, great for fans of historical fiction, the Crusades, and Catherine Jinks' Pagan Chronicles.

Why I Like It:

Babylonne is a spunky, no-nonsense protagonist who has quite a sharp wit without having The Attitude. She's constantly getting into trouble, but it's not her fault - trouble just seems to find her. I am a huge fan of the Pagan Chronicles, so it was awesome to read a story about Pagan's daughter (Babylonne), who has definitely inherited her father's disposition. And amazingly, it works for her. She's also a character with deep emotional trauma, but she doesn't dissolve into a puddle every time someone looks at her wrong. She grows a lot in the story, and it's a journey that as the Reader took quite an emotional toll on me - but in the best way possible.

Weekend Recommendations #7

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: Ripper

Author: Stefan Petrucha

Genre: historical fiction/mystery/steampunk

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 5 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Guy-read (and girls who like guy books), best enjoyed by ages thirteen and up, great for Victorian mystery fans who like a dash of steampunk!

Why I Like It:

Quite honestly, I don't think there's anything not to like about this book. It's got terrific pacing, it's exciting, it's mysterious, Carver is a great protagonist, the steampunk gadgets are awesome, Hawking is a really fun "older mentor" character (he likes Detective Dupin!), and this book has some of the best twists ever. One of the twists is extremely obvious by page 5, but the bigger, more dramatic twist, is so amazing. This is definitely one of my top five favorites.

Title: Leviathan

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Genre: alternate history/steampunk

Part of a Series: Yes

Rating: 3 out of 5

Who'll Like It: Girls and guys, fourteen-and-up, great for fans of steampunk and alternate history (more specifically, WWI)

Why I Like It:

Deryn is a spunky female protagonist who can actually pretend of be a convincing boy. More importantly, Deryn can do all of this without having The Attitude, and even when she develops a crush on Alek, she keeps her mind on what's important and doesn't let her emotions get the better of her. The alternate history is very interesting, and I love the steampunk gadgets, though I am not a huge fan of the half-animal/half-machine creatures - the "beasties" - that the British use for warfare. It's just disturbing. Despite that, this is a great adventure with great characters.