Review: The Ruby Circle

Title: The Ruby Circle
Author: Richelle Meade
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: February 10th ,2015
Series: Bloodlines #6
How I Served It:Kindle
How I Got It:Live-brary

Summary:
 "Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world." -- Goodreads

Review:
Normally I'm not a huge fan of everyone in a story getting a picture-perfect happy ending.  Does that make me a bad person? Maybe. It's just that I generally prefer endings that are a little more real.  That's why I liked the ending of the original Vampire Academy series I think, not everyone was happy. That said, I still really liked Ruby Circle.  Yeah, the epilogue was a little sugary for my tastes,  but it still felt genuine. :) 

Review: The Jewel

Title: The Jewel
Author:Amy Ewing
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: September 2nd, 2014
Series: The Lone City Trilogy #1
How I Served It: Audiobook
How I Got It:Live-brary

Summary:
"The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for." -- Goodreads

Review:
Frankly I am so over trilogies.  I know I've been saying that for legitimately years now.  I know that I still buy and read trilogies in excess despite my insistence that I'm over them but... seriously.  I'm over books that don't need to be trilogies being trilogies because Twilight and the Hunger Games were such successes.  This  book could've been a standalone book.  It could've done what ___ did and make a series out of linked standalone books set in the same world.  It did not need to take a girl who is not especially fascinating and turn her into the center of a revolution (because clearly, that's what's going to happen).  That said, I'll still probably read the sequels.

Review: Red Queen

Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Orion
Published: February 10th, 2015
Series: Red Queen Trilogy
How I Served It:Kindle
How I Got It:Live-brary

 Summary:
 "The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?" - Goodreads

Review:
This book was so, so good.  I mean, it wasn't perfect, but I had exceedingly high expectations (it was definitely the most hyped up debut this winter), and it didn't fall short.  I'm going to try to do the five and three style review again, since I liked it so much with Clockwork Prince.  Overall though, I like what Aveyard is setting up here. I think it has promise.
Top 5 Things About the Book:

 1. The World Building - The world Aveyard has created clearly has a deep history.  It's implied that the Silvers were once angels who fell, and that the world that Mare lives in is just a far distance future.  Unlike some, I like how Aveyard doesn't weigh us down with the particulars of how this future came about.  There's just enough implication that I can fill in the gaps with my own assumptions, and in truth the specifics of this world's history don't matter nearly as much as the present, and Aveyard has the present covered.  There's a clear power dynamic here and I think the idea of distinguishing by blood color (while a little reminiscent of Harry Potter) is unique.  

2. The Trick Love Triangle, or Rather, the Fact That Love/Lust Isn't the Focus - Spoilers!  I like how Aveyard does not fall into the stupid love triangle trap that is the basis of basically every other trilogy in the genre right now.  Yes, I know I am ignoring what is obviously set to come in the sequel.  Let me have the moment!  I like how Mare, while she has feelings for both her childhood best friend and Cal, the heir, doesn't spend the whole book crying about that. She has real feelings too for her betrothed, but even that isn't the center of the novel..  It reminds me vaguely of what Collins did in the Hunger Games, in that there is a romantic issue happening, but the girl has other issues to deal with and prioritizes them like a person.  There might be a love-quadrangle going on in the background, but it's written in such a way that you're never confused as to whether or not this book is a romance novel in disguise. I am desperately hopeful that Aveyard maintains this approach throughout the series.

3.  The Powers - I saw on Goodreads one reviewer compared the powers in this book to those in X-Men.  I like it.  I like how the Silvers have these supernatural powers that the Reds do not because it makes it clear why the Silvers are still in power and how they got there.  It also at least kind of explains the difference in blood colors and stuff; Silvers and Reds are probably different species (back to the fallen angels theory!).  I think it's neat how different Silver Families are associated with different types of abilities and how there are names for the different types of ability-users. I am a little worried about how Mare has a 'mutation' that makes her special and able to toss around lightning but I suspect that that's just PTSD from Allegiant.  I also wonder how they'll explain away the rise of this mutation.

4. Mare - She will also probably be on the list of things I didn't like, but I like it when a heroine is real.  Mare felt real to me.  She made stupid decisions because she acted like a teenaged girl.  If I was still sixteen I would probably like her even more.  At 20-something, some of her choices made me want to slap her, but that's hindsight for you.  I like how she was aware of what she needed to do to survive and didn't lose herself in the pretty palace life being offered.  I know the Queen was crazy and the threats to Mare's safety were always present, but even so she definitely could have abandoned herself to what the royals wanted.  I liked that she kept who she was.  I also liked  that she started out with no special talent or skill set aside from being a thief. Maybe I've seen Captain America too many times, but I really think that there's something to the idea that those who have nothing appreciate it more when they get something.

5.  Cal - Now, I'm not saying that out of all of Mare's options this is the guy I like best.  To be honest, I'm not really sold on any of them (though I did love Maven up until the reveal), but I like how realistic Cal is.  A prince whose father never treated him cruelly isn't exactly likely to grow up questioning the world around him.  It made sense for Maven to be interested in revolution because he was always in the background, but I like how Cal is both a good guy and someone with a twisted perception.  He was raised to believe a certain way and I like that Aveyard didn't undermine all of his good loyal, kingly qualities.  That said, I also like how it's clear that he can grow to understand the problems in society and become an actually decent human instead of just a decent prince.  


3 Things I Didn't Love:

1. The Super Big Plot Twist - Major Spoiler.  Okay, I'm still not sure how much I buy the plot twist. I am, of course, referring to Maven's huge betrayal at the end.  I liked how Mare repeated the like "anyone can betray anyone" over and over, very cryptic, but I didn't really see this coming.  Or well, that's kind of a lie. I expected someone to turn on someone else.  I sort of thought Maven was going to turn on Mare, but I didn't think it would have been premeditated.  Don't get me wrong, I love a plot twist.  I liked the fact that it surprised me, but I'm not sure that if I re-read the book knowing what I know now that I would be able to pick up signs of what was coming. 

2. Kilorn - I feel like Kilorn is the Gale of this series.  He's the obvious choice for pre-events Mare, but after all that Mare is going to go through she's going to change too much to be able to be with him.  Plus, while I know his intentions are good, he sort of comes off as a jerk.  Not that she has a single love interest who doesn't act like a butt-head at least once in this book, but  Kilorn strikes me as especially... weak?  I'm assuming his character will be further developed in the books to come, but right now he sort of strikes me as a flat representation of a blind revolutionist who doesn't fully understand what's going on.  Not that Mare does understand, just that I think Kilorn's character hasn't been developed enough to make me care what he's doing.  To be honest I fully expected Aveyard to kill him off as sort of an incentive for Mare to join the rebels.

3.  Stupid Decisions - Now I know I said earlier that I liked how Mare acted like a real sixteen year old girl and I do.  That said, I also wanted to shake her at times. She wasn't more naive than would be humanly possible or anything, it's just that she seemed way to easy to trust the two princes even after openly acknowledging that she had suspcions about Maven.  Also she just jumped in to the rebel movement after like, barely any time at all in the palace.  I know she needed to jump in and that it would be a boring book if she didn't do it early but... I feel like I would have waited a few months until the queen thought I was trustworthy. She just seemed a little too free with trust, though I suspect that this might have been the lesson intended for this book.  Either way, I know I'm nitpicking.

The Final Noodle: 
I really, really liked this book.  It's surely not perfect but it's a great start for a series and I think it lives up to its hype.  The true test for the series will probably be the next book since it seems like the days of dresses and princes are over for the heroine at the end of the novel, but I definitely think that it's worth reading.

Review: Clockwork Prince

Title: Clockwork Prince
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: December 6th, 2011
Series: The Infernal Devices #2
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Got It: Own

Summary:
"In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart." 

--Goodreads

Review:
I liked this book so much better than the last one, which admittedly is saying something because I loved the first book in the series too!  It just, had all all of the elements of a good novel and God knows seconds books in trilogies are so often disappointing.  This one was awesome.  So awesome in fact, that I don't even know how to tackle reviewing it... So I'm just going to do what I do best.  That is, make lists!  Spoilers abound.

Review: Clockwork Angel

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: August 31st, 2010
Series: The Infernal Devices
How I Served It: Hardcover
How I Got It: Own

Summary:
"In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...." --- Goodreads


Review:
So this is kind of a re-read.  I say kind of because honestly, I didn't remember any of the things that happened despite the fact that I'm fairly positive that I read this when it was released back in 2010.  Pretty sure this either means that I'm getting old or going crazy, but that's an issue for my roommate and a bottle of wine to handle. Anyway, I read/loved the original Mortal Instruments series.  I'm actually pretty sure that I read Clare's work back when it was a fan-fiction, but I can't swear to that (like I said, I'm getting old).  I read the fourth book Clare popped out but haven't been able to get myself to read the fifth; is it worth it?

Clockwork Angel reminded me why I really liked the first three books.  It had that same spark and levity to it, a love triangle that I didn't hate on contact and characters who all have some serious issues.  It's a lot like Degrassi, but with supernatural stuff, and set in Steampunk London.  Now, my feelings on steampunk vary vastly.  I loved the Gail Carriger books, but for the most part don't love the other steampunk stuff.  I know Angel had/has a huge following from non-steampunk people, so maybe that's why I liked it?  It doesn't focus on the cogs and gears but rather just allows them to be in the background.  That makes sense to me.

TTT - Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish.

I'm actually signed on for that Artsy Reader Girl's 2015 Debut Author challenge (12 debut YA authors in 2015), so this TTT may end up being an incredibly useful reference for me in coming months!  I tried to pick a couple of obscure ones so that my list isn't a mirror of everyone's, but... we'll see.  Right now the only debut books that are really being promoted are the ones being published in the first half of the year, so I'm sure as time passes there will be even more books to be excited about!

Top Ten Most Anticipated 2015 Debut Novels (in my opinion)

(in order of release dates)

1. City of Savages - Lee Kelly

     February 3rd, 2015

     As someone who works in midtown Manhattan and lives in Brooklyn, the idea of cannibals in the subway tunnels really doesn't sound that absurd or futuristic ;P.  I feel like this book could be to Manhattan what Neverwhere was to London.  Or well no, not at all, but I like the idea of setting a futuristic story in a familiar place.  I'm sure it's been done before, but I can't think of any that I've read that turned the island of Manhattan into a POW camp (and didn't include zombies).

Review: Branded

Title: Branded
Author: Abi Ketner & 
Publisher: Month9Books
Published: June 25th, 2014
Series: Sinners
How I Served It: e-book
How I Got It: Purchased, amazon

Summary:
"Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. 

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home. 

Constant darkness. 

Brutal and savage violence. 

Excruciating pain. 

Every day is a fight for survival. 

But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole. 

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story." ---Goodreads

Review:
Once again I find myself saying that I really, really wanted to like this book.  The premise just sounded... different?  I mean, dystopian is so in right now that it's hard to find anything truly original, but the idea of people being branded with their sins and condemned to live as inferiors... it just sounded like something vaguely fresh.  And the whole 'falling for the one person you're not allowed to love' thing is the basis of nearly all of my favorite books. So, when I used that stupid '1-Click Buy' button on amazon to purchase Branded, I had pretty high hopes.  I so wanted to fall in love with this story.  I didn't expect it to be a Pulitzer Prize worthy work of life-changing fiction.  I didn't want it to be, I just wanted an escapist story filled with angst and romance and all of the ya tropes we all hate to love!