iBoy by Kevin Brooks

1st July 2010, Penguin

pages, Paperback 

Review copy

Children's, 12+ 

Cushions: 4

Daggers: 3

Paperclips: 2

Tears: 3 

Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥.5 

Summary from Puffin

Before the attack, sixteen-year-old Tom Harvey was just an ordinary boy.

But now fragments of a shattered iPhone are embedded in his brain and it's having an extraordinary effect . . .

Because now Tom has powers. The ability to know and see more than he could ever imagine. And with incredible power comes knowledge - and a choice. Seek revenge on the violent gangs that rule his estate and assaulted his friend Lucy, or keep quiet?

Tom has control when everything else is out of control. But it's a dangerous price to pay. And the consequences are terrifying . . .

As you can see from the summary, the book is not about a boy obsessed with iPod. Or an iphone. No, the iphone is in his brain. Not all of it - no ring tones come out of his mouth or ears or anything. But he knows everything. Almost everything. 

I'd like you to take a moment, and think about what we use our phones for. Texting. Tweeting. Calling. Looking information up on the internet. Searching for the nearest restaurant, browsing what's on at the cinema. Checking for direction to go to that cinema. Watching videos. 

Technology has come a long way from when I first got a phone, which only texted, had no animated graphics, and certainly didn't connect to the internet. The vast expense that can be accessed on a phone is in Tom's brain. 

So you think it might be fun to know everything just by thinking about it? It is a  little fun. Even more fun because when Tom connects himself to the phone in his brain, something else pretty cool happens. The front cover is about as much of a clue as I'll give about it. That coolness saves his skin a few times. 

However, it isn't cool. Because Tom sees first hand exactly what happened to Lucy. Lucy's assault wasn't just a few bruises. It was of a more adult nature. I wanted to cry for Lucy. And for those in the world that Lucy's fate happens to. Because what happened to Lucy happens every year, to innocent children around the world. This is the theme of the novel that really stuck out for me. 

Tom's special powers are a large part of the book, with countless dilemmas thrust at him by having the phone in his brain. However, I feel that through using Tom's abilities, this sensitive issue can be approached in a way that will inform readers without overloading them with information. If the intended age group saw Lucy's assault as the main topic of the book, they might not necessarily read it. Having the assault as the catalyst for Tom's actions draws the reader's attention to it without putting them off. 

Other issues explored in the book is the issue of right and wrong. What Tom does enters the grey area of life. Other characters, upon hearing about what he does, even say that what he does isn't quite right. But to him it is the least he can do for Lucy. Although he didn't always like the consequences of his actions, ones he couldn't have foreseen. 

Also explored in some depth are issues related to gangs, bullying, and the personalities people can set up on the internet for themselves. How people can lose themselves to the internet, and feel the persona they set up for themselves should be the one living in the real world. 

I really liked one part in the book, the part where Tom questions himself and switches into a different mode of viewing the world - the style of writing changes here, fitting the tone of the chapters. I think the only part I wasn't so keen on, which prevented me from giving it top rating was the ending. It is more than satisfactory, but somehow I expected something different to happen with Tom and his new powers. I thought they might fizzle out. The way it ended, I'm wondering if there will be a sequel. No way can Tom carry on with life as normal. His life is very different, but also quite normal in some respects. The normality makes it easier to relate to him as a reader. 

Another great book on exploring similar themes of gangs and violence (although not phones in brains) is Keren David's When I Was Joe. 

For a book which involves people having gadgets as part of their body, try Hybrids by David Thorpe

Advance notice of blog down time

For a few months I've mentioned on and off that the look of the blog will change. I can confirm that on Friday 2nd July, as long as Blogger Gremlins cooperate, this exciting change will happen!

It does mean that the blog will be inaccessible for a while. Hopefully this will be less than 24 hours. I can't predict what's going to happen (and I'm not even implementing the changes). The blog changes will occur on Friday during the day, using Australian time zone.

I guess expect the blog to be down possibly from Thursday early evening GMT (5pm onwards). The winners of the competitions will be picked and notified before then.

Please keep checking back on Saturday to see if we're back up and running.

I hope you all like the new look - I saw it yesterday and it looks pretty cool! It has fixed blog pages with tabs at the top too.

24 Hours Paris by Marsha Moore

May 2010 Prospera Publishing
pages, Paperback
Review copy

Non-fiction (Travel)

Ease of reading: 5
Level of information: 5
Paperclips: 3 (infrequent, moderate - some places aren't for under 18's and the brief descriptions aren't suitable for younger readers)
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Summary from Prospera Publishing  (You'll need to click on the book to get the details)

Marsha Moore's 24 Hours series is a new take on travel guides. Full of unique and interesting places to go and things to do, the best part of this innovative new series is that it is the first to list everything by hour. Jetlag at 4 am in Paris? Need food at 2 am in London. Then this is the guide for you.



During my A-levels, I was fortunate enough to take a long weekend to Paris with my sixth form. With all my friends, it was a fun trip. However, I wasn't in love with Paris at all. I'd visited Strasbourg, which I love, also with my sixth form. I preferred it. Paris just didn't appeal to me. I had an enjoyable icecream at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower (I felt dizzy just looking up at it - no way was I going to even the first floor!). That was pretty much it.

I chose 24 Hours Paris because I wanted to be proved wrong. I wanted to find out why people love Paris so much. Marsha has changed my mind rather drastically!

She provides a unique travel book. Most travel books that I've read put their chapters in sections, rather than by hour. In a lot of ways having 24 Hours Paris in hourly sections makes things a lot easier. Sometimes when you're on holiday, you find yourself in an area with a few free hours, but you aren't sure what you can do with the time you have. Marsha solves this. Her hourly chapters mean that whatever time it is, anyone can find something which they can do.

I do mean anyone. After my experience of Paris, I did think it was mostly full of art and not a lot of places sold vegetarian food (or fish). Thanks to Marsha, I now know there is at least one really good vegetarian restaurant in Paris. Yes, Paris is full of places of interest if you enjoy art (I'm not so keen on it), clubbing (definitely not) and food (meat galore). If, like me, you fancy sushi - there are great sushi restaurants. If you're after a quiet time, you can find that in any number of parks, some of which I wouldn't have found on my own. Marsha describes exactly what you can see in the areas - it's so vivid I can picture it without going there. I'm not a night owl, and wrongfully presumed that all there was to do at night was go clubbing. Marsha manages to find some great areas to be quiet in, even in the early hours. That really surprise me - I hadn't thought there were places to relax after 10pm. I'm really eager to hunt down the place selling macaroons, to match it up with some hot chocolate.

Each entry can be found under the relevant category in the index. Within each entry you can find how much something costs, the opening times, Full address and telephone number plus extra details that might be useful. As well as these details, there are facts scattered throughout the book. The most useful thing of all are suggested itinaries if you have a family, or love food, to name a few.

Ever since I was little, I to read travel guides which are in the house for fun. Seriously! Even if I'd been to the place years ago, I would read it from cover to cover, loving all the little details This deceptively small book satisfies my travel reading. Not only that, it will tempt even the most reluctant person to visit Paris (or re-visit, if you're like me).

Marsha can be found on her blog.

Check out 24 Hours London which is also out now! I love London, and I'm sure Marsha will help me find areas of interest to keep me occupied for more than a day.

What are you reading? #24

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.



Books I've finished:
A lot!  :) I had lots of quiet time for relaxing, when all I could do was read.

YA

(Even better on the re-read...my review)

YA

(Book 2 in the Drake Chronicle series...you'll have to wait for the review to find out why I nearly put this book down without reading it AND why I'm glad I didn't do that!)

Children's Fiction

(My least favourite of the series so far, but quite emotional in places...)

YA Historical

(Tissues needed...I figured out the plot at the first chapter! Oops...)

Children's Fiction

(Amelia is like me when I was little...minus a lot of things in the story!)

Children's Fiction

(Hilarious - hippy girl! Enter the competition!)

Children's Fiction

(I, um, prefer this to Princess Diaries...but still love Meg Cabot's books...)

Children's Fiction

(Sweet story...)

Children's

(Very sweet tales involving tissues and laughter...)

YA

(Heart-tugging tale of a girl's life in Ireland...)

 

Books I hope to read this week

Children's Fiction

(Ninja cat!)

Children's Fiction

(Looks like the perfect weather to read it...)

Children's Fiction
(This should be very funny...)

Children's Fiction

(Pirates! Pirate girl :) !!)

Children's Fiction

(Nearing the top of my TBR pile...)

Whatever you get to read this week, I hope it's enjoyable!

Author Interview with Franzeska Ewart

Time for another author interview! This time it's the lovely Franzeska Ewart, who wrote (with children's help) Fire Mask. Read on to find out what Franzeska's other hobbies are, and for more details about Fire Mask. 

Where did you get the inspiration to write Fire Mask?

I was asked to write a thriller, and to write it with schoolchildren as co-authors, so that decision was made for me.

I knew I couldn't leave the subject completely open or we'd be there till doomsday, so I decided the subject would be 'masks'.

The main inspiration came when I started discussing the idea with the children though. There was a Mining Museum near my first school, and as soon as I saw it I knew it had to be the setting. And that really set the plot going. With 'masks' and a Mining Museum with a huge mineshaft, the children and I began to see lots of possibilities for a thriller!

Fire Mask touches on several issues - friendship, dealing with a tough family circumstance: did you intend to deal with all these issues when you first started writing Fire Mask or did they evolve while writing the book?
When I asked the children to 'design' a main character, they came up with a boy with enormous problems ... neglected, poor, bullied - a real 'victim'. I decided our    'Josh' shouldn't be SUCH a problem character, and in particular I wanted him to be a bit more assertive - someone who did have problems, but who tackled these problems head-on.

I did run with a lot of the children's ideas though - so that's where the 'tough family circumstances' came in.

As for 'friendship', I think all books for this age group are about friendship to some degree. But the issue of Josh's failed friendship with Sandy really unfolded and deepened as the children and I discussed it, and I was pleased with how 'believable' it became.

Could you tell us a little bit about the process for the cover competition - how you decided who could take part, what you were looking for in the entries?
Everyone took part, and I whittled the entries down to a final 20. Then Barrington Stoke made the final selection. 

Prior to the competition, I'd given each school a little talk about 'cover design', using material drawn from my own books, and I was looking for something dramatic, but fairly simple and eye-catching. There were LOTS that fitted the bill - so choosing was a difficult job.

Barrington Stoke liked the winning entry because the colours were so good and the expression in the eyes was so frightening. They thought it would give a professional illustrator lots to go on, and I think he did a great job in keeping his design true to the spirit of Rebecca's mask.

Josh doesn't think much of his grandmother's knitting - I don't blame him, but this puts knitting in a bad light! I know you're a knitter, so if you were knitting for Josh, what would you knit him to show that knitting is fashionable?
Aaah ... well ... You have to understand I'm not a very GOOD knitter (and when I wrote Fire Mask I wasn't a knitter at all!). So whatever I knitted probably wouldn't fit. If I HAD to knit Josh something I'd play safe - a crazy stripy scarf, probably.

Are you able to tell us what you're working on at the moment?
Right now I'm having a rest! I've recently finished a radio play, and have just done the final edits to my latest book ('There's a Hamster in my Pocket' pub Frances Lincoln, due out Jan 2011) so for the next few weeks I'm hoping to spend time painting my living room and having a bit of a holiday, Painting's a good activity actually - it's so tedious you sometimes get ideas for stories!!!

Thank you Franzeska for revealing more about Fire Mask. I'm looking forward to what delights are in 'There's a Hamster in my Pocket!' next year. 

Author Interview with Eugenia Kim

I'm pleased to present Eugenia Kim, author of the touching story of The Calligrapher's Daughter. Eugenia has happily answered a few questions for this interview.

When were you inspired to write The Calligrapher's Daughter? 

In the late 1990s, I began to write as a way to do something creative without having to lug around paints, giant sheets of paper and canvases. I wrote a story based on a ghost story that's part of my family lore. That story kept growing, and grew to be something larger than I knew how to handle. So I went to school to figure out what I was doing and to explore if I should be writing these stories as nonfiction or fiction. 

Which of the topics examined in the story (The Rebellion, life for priests etc) did you have to research? 

I was born in the U.S., and am more American than Korean. I deeply feared getting the historical part wrong (I would be found out as a Korean imposter!) so I did a ton of research on Korean history, especially about the Colonial Period. It's probably the main reason why this book took more than ten years to write. When I began researching, I was surprised that little was available (in English) about this period, and even less was available about the women of this period. Combined with the Asian tradition of silencing women, this vacuum intrigued me, and further inspired me to tell my mother's story. 

Have you been to the places in Najin's life? Did you get to make a special trip to investigate the place where Calvin proposed to her? 

The beach in Wonsan, now in North Korea, is a fictional location, though there is a beach and busy port there. When the book was almost whole, I went to Korea for the first time. The impact of that visit was more about validation than adding information, though I fine-tuned a number of details. The thing that most moved me was to see my mother's hometown in the distance, across the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea through high-powered binoculars. The city is now full of high-rises, bit its valley topography was exactly as I had imagined it. I had chills! I also met family members in Seoul whom I've never met, and with the family history resonating from having written the book, the visits felt deeply meaningful. 

Can you write calligraphy? Is it something you researched while writing the story? 

I'm not a calligrapher, but my uncle was (one of his scrolls hangs in the hallway outside my office), as was my maternal grandfather. In traditional times, to be a scholar was to be a calligrapher, but my grandfather and uncle were also both exceptional artists. 

Najin is a wonderful character to read about. I came to care about her a lot in the book. When you first started writing the book, did you know how badly she was going to be treated by Calvin's family, or was this a plot twist that unfolded while you wrote the book? 

Some have said that for an Asian woman to be mistreated by one's in-laws is cliché, so I'm gratified that you asked this question, and thank you for the kind words about Najin. The story of her life with her in-laws is very much based on my mother's experience, though I changed some characters and characterizations. She did sleep in a linen closet when my father's sister came home to live with a newborn, and there were problems with her father-in-law. But she never told my father the truth about those years, and only told this story to me several years after my father had passed away in 1987. The bitterness in her voice was unmistakable.

The part where Najin and Calvin were separated - I didn't think she'd ever see him again. Did you ever consider leaving him out of Najin's life forever? 

That's one of the wonderful things about fiction—the possibilities are truly as limited as one's imagination is. I actually never considered leaving him out of Najin's life because I was so struck by my father's story about seeing his wife after their separation (reality, it was nine years; in the book, it's eleven). When he first saw her at the door, wearing beat-up men's shoes, hunger lining her face, he was so quietly emotional he could barely retell the story. He said that he swore to himself at that moment that she would never worry about food or money again. And it's true that my mother never learned how to balance a checkbook, though--being a survivor of destitution--she was naturally frugal.

What was your favourite part of the book? 

Even after thinking about this, I'm hard-pressed for an answer. I do think the front part of the book is a slow build, a foundation of culture and restraint, so that when we finally get to the beach and Najin laughs with her friend on vacation and then meets Calvin, it feels like an emotional release. My favourite character is the scholar Han, Najin's father.

Are you able to tell us a bit about what you're working on at the moment? Will there be future work with Najin and Calvin in? 

Um. Yes, I'm working. 

Thanks so much!

Eugenia

I'd like to thank Eugenia for the interview, and for writing an engaging book. I'm looking forward to more by her. 

Rule change for competitions:

I've had one entrant who no matter how many times she emailed me, or what email addressed they used, their entry didn't reach me. So please put your entry to competitions in the comment boxes. The entry I've already received by email will still be counted, so no need to re-enter.

I really don't know what's going on with blogger. I think the Infamous Blogger Gremlins are throwing a party while I'm off ill.

COMPETITION CLOSED Win a copy of iBoy by Kevin Brooks! (UK only)

I've got another competition for you - a chance to win a copy of iBoy! iBoy will be published on 1st July, and it's a thriller that will appeal to readers of all ages. I've just started reading it, and already I'm looking at my phone in a new light.

Here's the summary from Puffin:

Before the attack, sixteen-year-old Tom Harvey was just an ordinary boy.

But now fragments of a shattered iPhone are embedded in his brain and it's having an extraordinary effect . . .

Because now Tom has powers. The ability to know and see more than he could ever imagine. And with incredible power comes knowledge - and a choice. Seek revenge on the violent gangs that rule his estate and assaulted his friend Lucy, or keep quiet?

Tom has control when everything else is out of control. But it's a dangerous price to pay. And the consequences are terrifying . . .

The prize: One copy of iBoy

To enter: Put in the comments an modern day object you would like to have embedded in your brain and why. 

Rules: If you are under 18, you may enter if you get a parent or guardian's permission to enter. This keeps everyone safe. UK entrants only please.

The deadline:  2pm GMT on Thursday 1st July. Winner will be drawn by a random number generator. The winner will be notified by email by me, and announced here. I'll then pass your details directly onto the Puffin publicity team who will send out the book. 

Thank you to Kevin Brooks for writing what is a thrilling read, and to the lovely team at Puffin.

COMPETITION CLOSED Win a set of Maggi Gibson's Sassy series! (UK only)

 

Behind these funky covers, lies a  trying-to-save-the-world girl.

Seriously Sassy: Crazy Days is the 3rd book in Maggi Gibson's series about the lovable Sassy. (Blogger didn't want to let me put these in order. I tried. They won. Stupid gremlins.) Sassy is on a journey to become a rock star. That's her passion, along with trying to save the world at the same time. I haven't read the other two Seriously Sassy and Seriously Sassy:Pinch Me, I'm Dreaming. However, that didn't affect my enjoyment of Crazy Days. I can say it'll make you laugh an awful lot. My review is to follow shortly, but until then here's what the book involves:

* Sassy trying to do good things. But it doesn't always end up that.
* An all or nothing outlook on life. I shared this when I was older than Sassy - moderation is the key.
* Pink paper (it has great significance)
* The deep bonds of friendship.
* A happily chaotic family life for Sassy.
* A way of entering a house that I hadn't considered, but one that's pretty cool.

The lovely people at Puffin are giving one of you the chance to win all three Sassy books!

Prize: one set of all three Seriously Sassy books
How to enter: Put in the comments below what you did when you were 12-13 to save the world.

Rules: If you are under 18, you may enter if you get a parent or guardian's permission to enter. This keeps everyone safe. UK entrants only please.

The deadline:  2pm GMT on Thursday 1st July. Winner will be drawn by a random number generator. The winner will be notified by email by me, and announced here. I'll then pass your details directly onto the Puffin publicity team who will send out the books.

Thank you to Maggi Gibson for writing such a great series, and also to the wonderful Puffin team.

What are you reading? #23

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.



Books I've finished:
I underestimated the amount of free time I had this week. Revision took up most of that time. 3 Exams today (Mon from 10am - I'll know the results straight away). Here's what I did manage to read...

Children's Fiction

(Nicole makes her debut at the school...)

Young Adult

(Re-read...my review)

Children's Thriller

(Hands off, this one is MINE and I'm not sharing! {Yes, it looks that good!})

(Nayu: um...I'd planned to read this last night (Sun) but brain had worked too hard! Watched drama instead (shhh...I'm here to encourage reading, not TV!)

Books I hope to read:

So long as I pass the exams, I'll be able to read all of these! For the observant, yes this is the same as last week's list.

Children's Fiction

(The third adventure in the fabulous series!)

Children's Fiction

(I studied the original for my Ancient Greek exam at uni...)

Fantasy

(The cover alone has me hooked!)

Young Adult Historical

(Don't think this is a light read...)

Young Adult

(Think this might be a little light-hearted...maybe...)

 

Young Adult

(First a re-read...my favorite vampire series!  Second book is an ARC!  New!  In my hands!  {Well, in my book box..})

Young Adult

(You know the one - it has Bertie in it!  And the gorgeous covers...)

TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow

February 2010, Puffin
432 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's,

Cushions: 4
Daggers: 1
Smiles: 2
Tissues: 3
Nayuleska's recommending rating: ♥♥♥♥♥


Summary from Puffin

Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912.

Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.

Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2029.

Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, 'Take my hand . . .'

But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren't rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose - to fix broken history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and change the past.

That's why the TimeRiders exist: to protect us. To stop time travel from destroying the world . . 

Not dying is a plus, right? Getting the chance to live a bit more, visit areas throughout the past, save the world, it's all good, right? Well, yes and no.

Obviously it's nice for Liam, Maddy and Sal not to die in the horrific accidents. Their new life isn't as peachy as it sounds. Naturally they are scared and unsure about what's going on. Liam and Sal find themselves in a world that is nothing like their own. Maddy might have the 'better' option of being in a time nearest to when she was taken, but she ends up bearing the greatest burden of them all.

Foster, the man who saves them, teaches them some skills they will need to know. Liam is the one who travels back and forth in time - he has to conquer his fear to do so. Sal observes the world outside their base, checking for signs that Liam's been successful in his mission. Keen eyesight is needed. It isn't just about watching. For when someone meddles with time, the current time the team live in changes too. The world becomes a darker place when this happens. Maddy gets put in great danger, more than the others since she is the one to investigate the changes first.

Maddy. She's the geek of the small team. She's the one who will activate the equipment. Out of all of them, she's the most mature. That's why Foster entrusts her with secrets that the other two are, and must (for now) be ignorant of.

There is a tiny bit of humour in Time Riders, but mostly it is full of suspense and action. Getting to know the characters, knowing the secrets about themselves which are kept hidden from them heightened the suspense of the book. There is a pretty equal distribution of how often each character's point of view is used.

The mysteries surrounding Foster, the whole concept of the time team and the new team member who joins the trio is a story line which I think will span the series. For this particular book, the point in history which changed was during the second world war. In the changed instance, the Nazi's won and began to take over the world. The result of that in the modern day that Maddy, Sal and Liam live in is horrific. I was scared in the book. I could all too easily imagine the events happening. So much so, I had a nightmare about it all. It wasn't pleasant, but it shows how much Maddy, Liam and Sal's story have made an impression on me.

The only downside is that the second book isn't out yet! The good news - there are going to be a total of 9 books! Whoohoo!

If you like suspense, a little bit of horror and alternate history, this is definitely a book for you. Be sure to check out the Time Rider's website, which includes a link to Alex's blog.

Suggested other read: Meteorite Strike by A G Taylor

The Keepers of Sulbreth by Susan Gourley

Since it's the third Thursday of the month, please check out my review of The Keepers of Sulbreth by Susan Gourley over at Enduring Romance! 

Fade Out by Rachel Caine

January 2010, Allison and Busby
352 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Fantasy (Vampires)

Cushions: 5
Daggers: 2
Paperclips: 1
Smiles: 5
Tissues: 2
Nayuleska's recommended rating:♥♥♥♥♥+

Small spoilers quite possibly included

Summary from Allison and Busby

Life has changed dramatically in Morganville. The resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population and with their newfound freedoms, Claire Danveers and her friends are starting to feel comfortable again - almost. 


Claire can actually concentrate on her studies again, and Eve joins the local theatre company. Yet when one of Eve's castmates goes missing during work on a documentary, Eve suspects the worst. But Claire and Eve soon realise that this film project is a whole lot bigger - and way more dangerous - than anyone suspected. 

Somehow this book hid from me on the shelf, even though I looked on it several times. Ordinarily I'd say I wasn't looking properly. That I was looking at the right time of day. However, it  could have been Ada. The maniacal ghost in a computer. She has a few wires crossed in the wrong way in Fade Out. It's the seventh book of the Morganville Vampires Series, a series I have managed to be almost oblivious about. I'd heard about it - but only in name only.

Claire's voice (first person) has my kind of humour in it. As a human living among vampires, naturally her life gets put in danger. Her life include killer bracelets (as in the jewellery), an emo vampire (a character describes the vampire as emo. I think it fits her quite well), people who want to kill her, a vampire rock star, and her family.

Oops - nearly forgot to mention the bunny slippers. Correction, the vampire bunny slippers. Whenever I had to put the book down, I'd spend the day randomly thinking about the slippers. They made me laugh. The wearer is someone I wouldn't attach to such slippers. Whenever I think of Morganville, I think of bunny slippers. Personally I feel they should be on the front cover in future books.

Bunny slippers aside (notice they are bunny not rabbit. Bunny is way cooler), this installment in the Morganville saga, which I've never read before, has everything that I could want in a book. Claire is put in a fair amount of danger - and she puts herself into it as well. There's action scenes (one involving a limo), drama (both involving Claire's storyline, and also including day-to-day drama with her friends), mystery (what's really going on behind the scenes of the vampire hierarchy), love (Claire's boyfriend isn't one her family instantly love) and lots of humour.

I think the heart of this book isn't things with fangs, but relationships between people. The relationship between Claire and her friend Eve gets tested with a new girl on the scene. I feel that most readers can relate to this, being pushed to one side when someone new appears. It's hard hearing a friend gush about someone you aren't keen on. It's important to remember that at the end of the day, you are always there for them, especially if things go wrong.

There's the employer-employee relationship Claire has with her boss, who not so helpfully booby-traps his on lab. There's the relationship Claire has with her boyfriend, one that her family don't approve of. And her relationship (if it can be called that) with those who wish to see her harmed. There is danger and drama, but at the root of it all lies interactions between people (people including vampires, humans and others).

Rachel Caine proves, along with other authors, that although vampire stories are popular, they are not fading in the ideas department. If anything I think they are benefiting from having so many on the marker. The amount of events that happen to Claire, the twists in the story and suggestion of plots underlying the series as a whole (rather than just one book) are all new. I wasn't bored by the book. I'm eager to read more about Claire's life in the previous books, and I wonder what lies in store in the future.

Find out more about the Morganville Vampires, and Rachel Caine's other series (The Warden) on her website. It includes where you can buy the vampire bunny slippers!

Another great vampire series is Alyxandra Harvey's My Heart Lies Bleeding

The Deed of Paksenarrion (omnibus) by Elizabeth Moon

January 2010, Orbit
1205 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Fantasy

Cushions: 5
Daggers: 5
Paperclips: 2
Smiles: 5
Tears: 3
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ +

Summary from Little and Brown


Paksenarrion wasn’t planning to submit to an unwelcome marriage and a lifetime of poverty, so she left her village with a plan and her grandfather’s sword. And a few weeks later, she was installed as Duke Phelan’s newest recruit in a company of soldiers for hire, her arms training about to begin. But when Paks sees combat, she’s stabbed with an ensorcelled knife and barely survives. Then the near-misses start mounting up, raising questions about this young fighter. Is she attracting evil because she is a danger to them all? Or is there another reason malignant forces seek her life?


Paks will face the spider-minions of the Webmistress Achrya, orcs and the corrupted men who serve blood mage Liart, Master of Torments. She will also earn the gratitude of elves and of her Duke. And through conflict she will learn she has powers of her own and a destiny. To become a gods-chosen Paladin of Gird, and a target for the ultimate torture.

Please don't do what I initially did and think 'oh my' at the seeing the size of the book. Yes, it is rather large. It wasn't something I could slip in my medium-sized handbag. (I could fit it in, but there wasn't room for anything else) However, it is full with all 3 stories involving Paks. I will be talking about the book as a whole rather than the individual stories.

All three stories talk about Paks' amazing life. I say amazing, just because what she goes through is traumatic from the very start. I'm amazed at the strength of character she had to get through that incident, and its consequences. Easy and comfortable are two words that are missing from Paks' life for most of the book. Trouble is attracted to her - at some point in the story this must be taken in the literal sense.

This was what I view as sword and sorcery (although more sword than sorcery most of the time). It centres around Paks (I think you might have gathered that much by now). It tells of how she leaves her home to become a soldier. Not just any soldier. A recruit who lands up in dire straits sooner than anyone else. A recruit who goes on to become a legend.

The story behind the legend is not glamorous. Paks endures a lot of injury, both to her body and her mind. I didn't see how she could be healed - but Elizabeth Moon finds a way out for Paks eventually. Paks fights countless battles, both with a sword, her hands, and her mind. She travels over a mountain, meets elves and orcs. Don't go thinking of a certain famous book involving orcs. I happen to really dislike that particular book. The Deeds of Paksenarrion is in the top ranks of fantasy books for me. It is that good. I feel every swing of Paks' sword. I mentally yell at her for being so thick in some points, and at others I peeked at the pages through my fingers. Her tale isn't a pretty one, but it's incredible. There's magic and fighting. It contains story elements that I've found in Mercede Lackey's Valdemar series, and Tamora Pierce's work too - strength of character, determination, weakness at times, but in the end the protagonist is triumphant, with sacrifice along the way.

I am now hooked by Elizabeth Moon, whose work is lodged in the 'wow' section of authors. I want to re-read Paks' sorrows (there are so many) and her few, but tear producing joys. She isn't perfect, and I love her for being imperfect. She gains believable friends, and unfortunately equally believable enemies. Watching the full story unfold had me going 'Oh!' at several points. The level of detail is high, but all of it is engaging. Barely once (only when it was time for bed and I was tired) did I think 'this is dull'. The battles weren't full of endless gore. Yes, there was some injury - what else do you expect in a war? Also there was strategy, compassion for friends, heart-stopping moments when the enemy did something unexpected, among other instances.

The first book is more about her life as a soldier, how she works her way through the ranks, and the battles she must face. The second book focuses more on the fun part of being a soldier -well, from my view. It involves time outside of a campaign, resting up and training. I love stories like that. Then she moves to the mountains...where an awful lot happens. And as for the third story - there's more magic there, and Paks gets broken. It takes a lot of time and compassion to heal her. She's a stubborn so-and-so and doesn't always realise how much she touches people's hearts, including mine. Her goal of being a paladin seems so far away when she's in the depth of her misery. I'm not spoiling that particular story line, which ends in an unexpected manner.

Paks is the protagonist, but the characterisation of her friends (and enemies) are also strong. I liked how the war focused on the people behind the armour, rather just grand epic battles. There were battles, which were grand, but definitely not dull. Elizabeth explores human nature in all its aspects, the good, the bad, and the inbetween parts. I think every reader can relate to Paks at some point in her adventure. All of us, at one stage or another, had hit low points, and needed a hand or two getting out of them. I had tears in my eyes when Paks found those hands - it was so nice for something to go right in her life.

If you like fantasy, heaps of character development and fun - check out Paks' legend!

Elizabeth Moon can be found on her website here. Yes, I will be hunting down her other work at some point.

If you liked this, do check out Mercedes Lackey's Valedemar series, and all books by Tamora Pierce.

Now by Morris Gleitzman

May 2010, Puffin
176 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 8+

Cushions: 5
Smiles: 4
Tears: 4
Nayuleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Summary from Puffin

Morris Gleitzman's acclaimed story of friends Felix and Zelda in Nazi-occupied Poland has captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide. In Now he delivers the final chapter, bringing this most moving of stories into the present day.

I haven't read the previous books Once and Then. I will do, now I've read Now, but you really don't have to read the others to be pulled into this emotional packed book.

Flex is now and old man, with a grand daughter named after his war time friend who died at such a young age. Zelda knows all about what happened to her name sake. She loves her grandfather dearly. Together she helps him celebrate his birthday, and get recognised for the work he's done. What is so refreshing is that Zelda means well in what she does, but somehow it ends up in disaster. We're talking minor disaster her, but with the circumstances of the book, Zelda is convinced they are huge disasters affecting the whole community.

Felix understands Zelda better than she understands herself. How he acts towards her shows his love of her - disasters and all. For, with all that Felix has faced, a few little incidents aren't really anything in the grand scheme of things. Not that Zelda knows this, but it's something she learns throughout the novel.

Through Zelda's experience at school, she learns more about her grandfather and in turn about life itself. The emotions attached to Felix's memories had me in tears. I could figure out things that Zelda's young mind couldn't.

The best part of the book - in terms of hitting me emotionally - was the forest fire. I've heard about forest/bush fires. I've seen the pictures on the news from last year. But reading about Zelda (modern day Zelda) and her grandfather's experience of the fire was humbling. I was scared for their lives. It made me literally stop and think while reading the book about how people are affected by such devastation. Throughout it was Zelda's innocence, which took the edge off the book a little (it reduced the intensity for the intended age group).

Morris Gleitzman has lots of information about his books and himself on his website.

Check out the previous two books, Once and Then.

What are you reading? #22

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.



Books I've finished:

Children's Fiction

(Hilarious!  I want Harriet!)

Children's Dystopian

(Huge family secrets here, sensitive issues approached well.)

Mystery

(A zoo at a spa is an interesting concept...shame about the murders!)

Children's Fiction

(Sometimes there are reasons behind a person's behaviour...)

Young Adult Paranormal

(It rivals Torment by Lauren Kate {which is in the top spot}!)

Children's Fiction

(A hard-hitting emotional tale, tissues required!)

Children's Fiction

Books I hope to read this week:

Young Adult

(Re-read...my review)

Children's Fiction

(The third adventure in the fabulous series!)

Children's Fiction

(I studied the original for my Ancient Greek exam at uni...)

Fantasy

(The cover alone has me hooked!)

Young Adult Historical

(Don't think this is a light read...)

Young Adult

(Think this might be a little light-hearted...maybe...)

Children's Thriller

(Hands off, this one is MINE and I'm not sharing!  {Yes, it looks that good!})

 

Young Adult

(First a re-read...my favorite vampire series!  Second book is an ARC!  New!  In my hands!  {Well, in my book box..})

Young Adult

(You know the one - it has Bertie in it!  And the gorgeous covers...)

It's really nice to be ploughing through my TBR pile. Lots of reviews coming soon!