Category Archives: you should read

Series You should Check Out: The Tiger’s Saga by Colleen Houck

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Featured imageFeatured imageI have finished reading Reawakened but since it doesn’t come out until August I’m going to hold my review of it.  So instead, I’m going to talk about Colleen Houck’s other series The Tiger’s Saga.  The as-of-now four piece series follows Kelsey, your normal American teenage girl who travels to India to try to break a 300 year old Indian Curse.  In the first book, Tiger’s Curse, Kelsey gets a summer job working for a circus, whose main attraction is a white tiger.  She is immediately drawn to the tiger, not realizing that the Tiger is actually a 300+ year old Indian Prince named Ren.  Ren was cursed by the evil Lokesh, who was trying to take over his kingdom and take the mysterious Amulet.  He has been trapped inside a Tiger’s body ever since and is only himself for 24 minutes a day.  Kelsey and Ren set out to solve the prophecy and break the curse under the watchful eye of the Goddess Durga to free Ren from his bondage.  Of course it’s not that simple.  Lokesh is still out there, searching for the amulet to gain the ultimate power.  Ren’s brother, Kishan was also cursed, though he has been living as a tiger in the Indian jungle.  And the tasks to breaking the curse are fraught with danger, magic and myths.  They take them to places all around India and even Nepal and even mythical places like Shangri-La.  With each successful completion of a task the brothers gain more time as themselves until they break the curse and no longer can become a tiger.

Featured imageFeatured imageI fell in love with the series.  It’s kind of a mix of Twilight and Indian Jones.  I know an odd mix.  It has the romance element but also the action and adventure element that keeps it exciting.  Kelsey falls for Ren but is reluctant to express her feelings.  Her parents died a couple of years ago and has since had trouble opening up to new people in fear that they will also leave her.  Ren is an honest, sweet man who wants to do the right thing for his kingdom and others but after centuries as a tiger, you can’t blame him for fighting for what he wants.  Their chemistry is apparent from almost their first meeting, which I’m counting as a Tiger.  Complications of course happen when they meet Kishan.  Ren and Kishan were not on the best of terms when they were cursed.  There are obviously going to be some bad feelings when one brother tries to steal the other brother’s fiance.  Even 300 years as tigers is not enough time to heal those wounds.  Of course it doesn’t help that they both fall in love with Kelsey.  It’s your classic love triangle.  The good girl, who falls in love with the good brother and the bad brother.  Their tiger’s fur even signifies who’s who.  Ren is a white tiger and Ren is a black.  As the series progresses, they become more than just good and bad.  Kishan has lived in the jungle for all those years because he can’t face what he did.  Houck makes a good case for why each brother would be a good match for Kelsey but there is never any doubt who she truly loves and will eventually end up with.  As for the villian, Lokesh, he’s  your typical bent on world domination villian and the lengths he will go to get what he wants are kinda frightening.  Ren and Kishan have been supported by Mr. Kadam.  His parents personal guard, who continued to live thanks to part of the Amulet he was given from the family and Nilima, Mr. Kadam several greats granddaughter. They provide a stability to the story.  Nothing would get done without them.

So I recommend this to anyone who likes both romance and action/adventure.  I don’t know much about Indian mythology so I can’t say to it’s accuracy but it does bring a richness to the story.  Kelsey is likable.  Yes, she at times falls in the annoying habits that all teenage girls do but when she is called upon she is fierce.  Ren is a true prince and Kishan is definitely charming.  There is supposed to be a fifth book but it as yet does not have an release date.  I assume it will focus on the brother that doesn’t end up with Kelsey since, the series was wrapped up pretty nicely for Kelsey in the fourth book but I guess I’ll just have to wait and see on that one.

All The Light we Can Not See by Anthony Doerr won the Pulitzer

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Featured imageI’m pretty sure this is the first time that I have read the Pulitzer Award winning book before it won the Pulitzer.  So, that’s exciting.  Since it’s probably the only book I read this year that was even close to consideration, I whole heartily agree with the choice.  Both Kate and I read it for a book club.  Here’s my review and Kate will post her review soon.  Congrats Mr. Doerr!

Series You Should Check Out: The Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Rees Brennan

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While reading Scarlett Undercover (which I’m enjoying very much) I was reminded of another great series, The Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Rees Brennan. These books are similar to Scarlett Undercover in that they have a Nancy Drew feel with a Person of Color heroine.  That’s where the similarities end though.  The heroine Kami Glass wants to be a journalist, so she sets up a school newspaper to cover all the hard hitting news in her small village Sorry-in-the-Vale.

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In this story of Gothic tale meets Nancy Drew, Kami already stands out in her small English village because she is half Japanese. But, to make matters worse she also has a peculiar habit of talking to the voice in her head.  This voice belongs to Jared who is a real person.  They are each other’s best friends and confidantes. Both of them have no doubt the other exists but no one believes her about Jared so the other kids just think she is crazy.  But, that was in the past and thank goodness Kami has someone who knows she’s not crazy. Angela, Her friend who moved from London, just wants to nap.  Anyway, back to the school newspaper.  The biggest story in Sorry-in-the-Vale is the return of the Lynburns.  The family that ruled over the village for years.  Over a decade ago, the family mysteriously left their mansion without a word but they are now back.  The village is on edge and Kami is determined to figure out the reason for the Lynburn’s return.  Not to mention there are a lot of weird things going on.  Things get a little complicated when Kami meets Ash Lynburn and even more complicated when she meets Jared Lynburn.  You know, Jared.  The voice in her head in the flesh.  Kami always knew that Jared was real but meeting him is so unexpected.  Of course, things heat up and get crazy in town. Soon Kami, Angela, Angela’s brother Rusty, their friend Holly, Ash and Jared begin to investigate a murder of a schoolmate and the history of the Lynburn family and the town.

Kami is beyond likable.  She’s amazing.  She’s smart, funny, clever, loyal and stubborn. She will stop at nothing to find the truth and help her family and friends.  Her friends are loyal and there for her all the way.  They bring all of their skills together to solve the mysterious happenings of their village.  Kami and Angela’s friendship is really beautiful.  They are truly different people but they love and respect each other and are always there for each other.  Friendships like this between two girls isn’t often depicted in YA Novel.  In so many stories and like so many movies, girls are seen more as rivals than friends.  So it’s always refreshing to see girls being just girls.

There is so much more to say love about this series.  There was so much to love.  I didn’t even talk about the Sorcerers and Kami’s family.  She may have the best father in a YA novel ever. All  I’ll say is that you have to read them.  You won’t regret it.

GOOD NEWS!!!! LAIR OF DREAMS IS COMING!!

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Good News! Well good news for me.  Lair of Dreams, book two of the Diviner’s series by Libba Bray is actually going to happen!  Last November, I wrote about how the publishing date kept getting pushed back but Miss Bray confirmed on her blog that, Lair of Dreams has indeed been finished and will indeed be released this year!  WOOHOO! I’ll forgive that the release date is even later then the last time I checked. Now the date is August 25 instead of July but hey what’s another month when I’ve already waited 3 years?

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Bask in it’s Glory!!

So why am I so excited about this book?  Well, the first book, The Diviner’s was amazing! Evie O’Neill has been shipped off to New York City to live with her uncle in the middle of the Swinging Twenties.  It’s supposed to be a punishment but how could living in the greatest city in the world among the speakeasies, jazz clubs and Ziegfeld follies be anything but a reward.  Evie gets caught up in a strange murder, when police consult with her uncle who is an expert in the occult.  Soon she is using her strange power to help solve the murder and meeting other exceptional young people with powers of their own.  It kinda has a little X-men type vibe.  Like any moment, they are going to ban together and use their powers to fight evil!

The setting is great.  All the optimism of the twenties.  The characters are all likable and real.  Miss Bray doesn’t shy away from the race and social divide of the characters and make it part of the story.  There is so much going on but it doesn’t feel cluttered.  It also has so much to build on that I really can’t wait to see where Miss Bray takes it.  So finally! Finally!  I’ll get to find out!  In the meant time people, Go read The Diviners before the Lair of Dreams comes out.

Series You Should Check Out: Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon

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Next Week Kate and I will be going to New Orleans for the first time ever!  To say we are excited would be an understatement.  To celebrate our upcoming trip we are going to share some of our favorite books that place in The Big Easy.  I’ll go first with the series, Chronicles of Nick.  It currently has five books Infinity, Invincible, Infamous, Inferno and Illustion, with the sixth book, Instinct coming out on March 31. Featured imageFeatured image

The Chronicles of Nick is actually a spin-off series from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series.  I haven’t read them yet but there are many characters cross over between the two series.  Nick Gautier (that’s Go-Shay, it’s the Cajun pronunciation and don’t forget it)is a streetwise kid from New Orleans.  He’s the only child of Cherise Gautier, who had Nick when she was 14, the age Nick is now.  Nick thinks he knows what’s what.  He’s starting high school as a scholarship kid at a fancy private school.  He is constantly bullied for his lack of finances and his forced wearing of ugly Hawaiian shirts but Nick makes do.  Then everything changes when one day, he’s hanging out with his friends and well they try to kill him.  He is saved by a mysterious warrior, Kyrian and is dragged into the world of the Dark-Hunters.  Nick’s world will never be the same.

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Nick is one of my favorite male YA characters.  He’s so sarcastic that who could give Percy Jackson a run for his money.  He always has a comeback and really it’s hard to get him to shut up.  It’s really surprising that he doesn’t get slapped more often.  With the meeting of Kyrian, who is a Dark-Hunter, a warrior fights a race that fights the dark forces.  He soon finds the world is filled with demons, werewolves, vampires and worse and by worse, Nick himself.  You see, Nick is the son of the Malachai.  The most powerful demon that can singularly take down the world.  There is only supposed to be one Malachai at once but his father has done all he can to stay away, even get arrested and jailed.  Throughout the series, Nick is fighting his destiny to become the Malachai and destroy the world.  The dark forces that created his kind will do anything to turn him and his friends will do anything to keep him, him.

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In first five books, Nick has had to battle of Zombies of his classmates, vampires,and demons.  He’s been kidnapped and taking to the demon realm.  He’s also been taking to an alternate universe where he isn’t constantly trying to run for his life.  With the help of his friends Caleb, Koda, Ash, Bubba and Mark he has battled the worst and kept his sarcastic sense of humor in tact. Now that he has accepted who he is he has to fight even harder to fight his own destiny.  It hasn’t been easy since many of his friends have once been his enemy. For instance, Koda his girlfriend was originally sent to kill him and honestly may still if he turns towards the destruction of the world.  Caleb is a demon that was tasked to protecting, Nick and sorta hated him for it.  So yeah, it’s been rough.  Despite all the darkness, Kenyon keeps things rather light and fun.  I laugh so hard when I read them and I can’t wait for the next one.

New Orleans is the perfect backdrop for the series.  NOLA, is known for it’s ghosts and haunting, voodoo queens that it’s no stretch of the imagination that there might be a bar run by werewolves or witches run classes in the french quarters.  Or that it’s a doorway to other realms and there is a goblin market.  I’m pretty excited to see where Nick hangs out. Have beignets at Cafe du Monde and walk around St. Louis Cemetery. I’m really excited to go to New Orleans and looking forward to what Nick and company do next.

Series You Should Check Out: Shades of London by Maureen Johnson

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Maureen Johnson is very active on social media.  If you don’t follow her on twitter, I recommend you do because she’s kinda hilarious.  Anyway, because of her internet celebrity, her books are not exactly unknown but for whatever reason, she’s not a big seller as some of her author friends like Cassandra Clare and John Green.  I’ll admit that I haven’t read her other books.  Yes, they are in my stacks and I will get to them but I do adore this series.  The Name of the Star, and the Madness Underneath are the first two books.  The Shadow Cabinet is being released in the US today.  The fourth book doesn’t have a title yet.  I haven’t had a chance to read The Shadow Cabinet yet because I thought I would wait until the actually release date.  Also I couldn’t get a hold of an ARC.  That’s ok, it has given my time to reread the first two.

The Shades of London is about Rory, a girl from Louisiana who’s parents have decided to do a work sabbatical in England so she decides to go to school at Wexford College in London.  She arrives in just as London is swept under Ripper Fever.  A copycat killer has taken to recreating the Jack the Rippers murders in the East End, which just happens to be the same place that Wexford is located.  Through a series of events, Rory gets swept into the Jack the Ripper investigation.  She soon discovers that the world is far more complicated than she ever thought.  That ghosts exist and only a few can see them and she is one of them.

What I love about this series is the humor in it.  I find Rory to be hilarious.  It’s a sort of a dry sense of humor that I appreciate.  Despite the fact that they are in a middle of a pretty gruesome murder investigation, Miss Johnson keeps things light.  The supporting characters are great.  Jazza, Rory’s roommate, is sweet but I think also keeps the story in reality.  Boo, Callum and Stephen, the other Shades of London may hunt down Ghosts but keep the good sense of humor about it.  I also like the mystery side of the story.  Who is the Jack the Ripper wannabe?  Is he alive or dead?  Rory may not be a detective and may be new to this whole seeing ghosts thing but she’s smart and pretty quick on the uptake.  She may need rescue from time to time but she’s also not weak either.

So far the series has tackled what is death, person-hood and dealing with PTSD.  The last one is important issue to tackle.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is not new to YA literature.  Katniss Everdeen and Tris Prior have both suffered PTSD but they never really dealt with it.  In the Madness Underneath, Rory has troubles dealing with the events of the Name of the Stars.  Without going into what, I will say that Rory does seek therapy.  First her parents have her in counseling and then she seeks other counseling.  To say more will spoil the book so I will leave it at that but at least Rory is getting treatment for PTSD which is more then Katniss or Tris ever did.

So go read the Shades of London and fall in love with Rory and Stephen and Jazza and Boo.  I think you all will like it.

I can’t think of a clever title so Award Winners it is!

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The American Library Association announced the winners of the Newbery, Caldecott  and Printz awards today.  These honor the best on Children’s literature.  Past winners, like Johnny Tremain, The Graveyard Book, and The Westing Game are now consider classics so it’s a big deal to win.  Not to mention a boost in sales. No doubt tomorrow hundreds of parents went into bookstores all over the country asking for them.

Featured imageThere are a few stand outs.  Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson has already won the National Book Award for Young Adult, was honored with the Coretta Scott King Award and was also a Newbery Honoree.  It’s Ms. Woodson’s memoir of growing up in the south and in New York, told mostly in verse.  On a personal note, Ms. Woodson lives in the neighborhood that I work in and is a very nice woman.  So I couldn’t be happier for her.  I haven’t read it yet but it’s definitely on the to-read list.

Featured imageGrasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith was named a Printz Award honoree.  I have read this and let me tell you, it’s kinda of messed up.  I became interested in it since it takes place in Iowa, my home state.  It’s a story of Austin, a horny teenager who struggling with his feelings for both his girlfriend Shann and his best friend Robby.  If that wasn’t enough problems for a teenage boy, he and Robby accidentally unleashed six foot praying mantis’ that will destroy the world.  Yeah, I know.  Weird. In one way, it was refreshing to have a novel take on bisexuality in such a head on way but on the other hand, the female lead Shann, is pretty one dimensional. So it’s progressive in one way and a step back in another way.  It’s still worth a read though.

Have you read any of the other winners or honorees?  If so, sound off in the comments below.

Series You Should Check Out: The Curse Workers by Holly Black

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In honor of the release of Holly Black’s latest book, The Darkest Part of the Forest (which I finished, review coming) I thought I would highlight my favorite series of hers: The Curse Workers.

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White Cat, Red Glove and Black Heart follow Cassel, who is a bit of an outsider.  He comes from a long line of magical con artists and grifters but he himself has no powers.  So he doesn’t really fit in with his family, who are all curse workers.  His brothers work for the mafia and his mother is in jail because curse work is illegal.  He doesn’t fit in at school because of his family.  His classmates all know who they are and what they are.  Cassel is also pretty guilt ridden because he killed his best friend, Lila.

Cassel may not have the ability to make people forget like his brother or manipulate people’s thoughts like his mother but he’s not completely without his talents.  Growing up in a household of con artists, he’s picked up a few things here and there.  He’s the resident bookie at his swanky boarding school.  He knows how to get what he wants.  If only he could get over the guilt.

Cassel starts to have dreams about a mysterious white cat and things are starting to fall apart around him and not making sense.  He’s starting to wonder what really happened the night Lila was killed.  Maybe she isn’t dead after all.  In looking for answers, he discovers a plot for more power, he attracts the attention of both the FBI and his brother’s mafia boss (who also happens to be Lila’s dad).  Congress is planning on new legislature on curse workers, making things even more tense in his family.  Oh, and Cassel may not be without magic after all.

I really enjoyed this series for one reason, Cassel is Mr. Sassy pants (Kate can attest to that)(speaking of Kate, did you read all three?) The characters and the settings are believable. It is a mixture of crime story, who-dun-it mystery and magic. Cassel is a good guy, who wants to do the right thing but that’s not always easy when your family members are criminals and everyone else is willing think the worst of you because of them.  Cassel uses all of his guile and con artist tricks to solve problems and get him, his family and his friends out of trouble.  You can’t help but root for him.

And speaking of Ms. Black, you should also read her vampire book, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.

Featured imageThis is one of the best vampire stories I have read.  It’s very modern and with the times.  Vampires were content to staying under the radar until one went rogue and started spreading the disease of vampirism rampant.  The government, in response has quarantined cities where it was the most widespead.  No one was allowed to go in or leave without permission, even if they weren’t infected. Vampires however, discovered the internet and live feeds and made the forced quarantine into reality shows and full of stars.

Tana lives not to far from a Coldtown, what the quarantined cities are called.  One morning she wakes up after passing out in the bathtub after a night of partying.  She finds everyone else dead from a vampire attack, her ex-boyfriend tied to a bed and a very hungry looking vampire also tied up.  With the help of the imprisoned vampire she tries to rescue her ex but gets bit by another vampire in the process.  She can’t go home and risk her family so she, Gavriel, the mysterious vampire, and the Ex go to Coldtown.  Tana is strong in that she is determined to help those she cares about, even if that means leaving them behind.  The Ex is kinda of annoying but that is why he is the ex but Gavriel is real book boyfriend material.  I definitely recommend it to anyone whether you like vampires or not.