LiLa Roecker interviews an Actual Young Adult
Shannon Messenger celebrates SURRENDER – with arc giveaway
Stasia Ward Kehoe unearths “shadowy” YA titles
Jessica Love is all about IN HONOR
Christine Fonseca interviews author Jo Ramsey
LiLa Roecker interviews an Actual Young Adult
Shannon Messenger celebrates SURRENDER – with arc giveaway
Stasia Ward Kehoe unearths “shadowy” YA titles
Jessica Love is all about IN HONOR
Christine Fonseca interviews author Jo Ramsey
SUNSHINE, by Robin McKinley, is not actually a young adult book...but it's one I nonetheless LOVE and think is appropriate for mature YA readers (what puts it in adult territory is the sex, so keep that in mind if recommending to younger readers).
So, yeah. I've read SUNSHINE many times. It's one of my favorites, and my own particular brand of comfort read. I've been reading a lot of awesome new YA lately, but I needed to take a break and go back to something familiar and well-loved this week, as life's been a bit hectic.
We actually had a little disagreement this morning, over who got to cuddle with the book. Mia won.
From Goodreads:
There hadn't been any trouble out at the lake for years, and Sunshine just needed a spot where she could be alone with her thoughts. Vampires never entered her mind. Until they found her.
My Thoughts
Alright, that isn't much of a description. But it's okay. How about we just add that Neil Gaiman called this book "Pretty much perfect"...so yeah. What else is there to say, right?
Well, while I'm certain I can't do this story justice in a review, I CAN extoll its virtues and recommend that you read it, if you haven't already.
Robin McKinley's greatest strength, I believe, is in creating worlds so detailed and extensive that they live and breathe and make sense in the ways only a real world can. You believe in Sunshine's New Arcadia. You believe that most of the world's been weakened, in some places destroyed, by the Voodoo Wars. And, most of all, you believe in Charlie's coffeehouse, because you can almost taste Sunshine's Killer Zebras, Bitter Chocolate Death, and cinnamon rolls as big as your head. (In fact, I was SO craving a cinnamon roll reading this book that I made MAJOR HOTSAUCE pick us up some Cinnabuns!)
That's not to say the characters in SUNSHINE aren't also fully realized. From reading McKinley's blog, I know she's gotten near constant requests from her fans to write a sequel or companion novel to SUNSHINE ever since the novel was published. And it's not JUST because of the awesome world she created. It's because her characters are so INTERESTING...we all want to follow them on more adventures, learn more about them, hang with them a little longer. Sunshine, the titular character, is brave in the truest sense of the word - she plays the hero even while absolutely terrified. Her relationship/connection/affinity with sunlight is one of the most gorgeously rendered elements in the entire book, which is saying something. I love that her relationships with her family and boyfriend feel authentic (she and her mom, in particular, feel very real to me...they fight a lot. ;-)), and that she thinks about stuff. She has hobbies, interests, skills...I don't know if I'd be interesting enough to be her friend, but I'd CERTAINLY eat her baked goods, if I lived in New Arcadia. And that's what I love about her most, I think. She isn't necessarily the kind of character you'd imagine being best friends with - because she's prickly, private, and obviously going through her own life-changing stuff and doesn't have time for you - she is her own person, unapologetically. As a reader, I can't help but love her, not because she's like me, but because she's so HER.
And, in SUNSHINE, vampires are as they should be (apologies to Damon and Stefan - I still love you, hottie vampires!): scary, ugly monsters. I love that Sunshine's "good" vampire, Con, is STILL a vampire and follows the "rules" of the world. He's not attractive, he's not a "vegetarian" (that we know of), he's still scary as shit. But he has his own personality too, his own sense of honor and morality. In some ways, I find him to be an even more complex, intriguing character than Sunshine, because there's so much about him we don't know. He doesn't fully reveal himself or his history, and that makes him especially compelling to me.
At any rate, I could go on and on, but you probably should just pick up a copy of SUNSHINE for yourself. :-) Though, if you're a writer, this is one of those books, like DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE, that shouldn't be read in a vulnerable state...it's intimidatingly awesome!! But I also think it's inspiring. LOOK what someone has created with nothing but words - see the world, the characters, shimmering into life before you. THIS is what a writer can do. SUNSHINE is the kind of book I read when I want to remind myself of what I'm striving for....and how far I have to go. It's both a comfort and a challenge.
Aaaanyway....here are some more cute Mia pics!
Look how shiny and pretty!
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And now, check out what the other Bookanistas are up to!
Christine Fonseca adores IN HONOR
Debra Driza is celebrating HEMLOCK with giveaway
Stasia Ward Kehoe unwraps UNGIFTED
Tracy Banghart basks in SUNSHINE
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This week I want to talk about THE DISENCHANTMENTS, by Nina LaCour. I actually heard about this book through another Bookanista, Katy, when she reviewed it a while back (check out her review here). It sounded very intriguing so when it came out in stores, I headed on out and grabbed myself a copy. And YAY! I'm so glad I did!!
(So is kitteh Mia...)
(Mine can't be the only cat that likes to sit on books?)
From Goodreads:
Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall.
But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next?
Morris Award–finalist Nina LaCour draws together the beauty and influences of music and art to brilliantly capture a group of friends on the brink of the rest of their lives.
My Thoughts
First, a note...the cover is GORGEOUS, and the picture above (though cute) doesn't do it full justice. Click on the photo to go to Amazon, where you can see the full cover in all its glory (and buy a copy for yourself! ;-))
This book is so, so beautifully written. As I was reading, I felt like I was in the hands of someone who knew exactly what she was doing...building emotional resonance, creating well-rounded, interesting characters, presenting a world both beautiful and meaningful...all through her inspired, lyrical writing.
From a writer's perspective, this book did SO MANY things right and made it look easy!
I loved Colby, the main character. He had such a thoughtful, engaging voice, but what really drew me in was how much I related to his situation and emotions...he's just graduated high school and is about to embark on a year abroad in Europe with his best friend. He feels the walls of his home and hometown closing in around him - he's anxious to see new things, explore the world. By the time complications threaten to thwart his plan, I was so solidly in his head and on his side, I couldn't help but read on to discover how or if he regained the peace and excitement of the first pages.
I was intrigued by Bev because Colby was...and loved watching them circle each other and not understand each other and butt heads. Watching them try to come to some kind of understanding, try to regain something of the friendship that was breaking apart under the weight of growing up, was both engaging and heart-breaking. And, above all, real.
Who doesn't remember what it felt like at the end of high school, when you and your friends - your best friends - were about to go your separate ways and you knew, deep down, that things would never be the same again? How hard did you hold onto all the old jokes, all the old haunts, the old memories? I remember feeling very nostalgic senior year of high school - acknowledging each "last" moment with my friends, reliving inside jokes and funny memories, thinking and talking a lot about the past and how perfect everything was. I was excited for the future, desperate for it even, and yet still looking back, knowing on some level that this moment would be when everything, everything changed.
Nina LaCour does a fabulous job of capturing those emotions throughout the road trip Colby takes with The Disenchantments. Each moment felt authentic, emotional, satisfying and agonizing. I loved the details that made this story specific to Colby and his friends, not only a universal coming-of-age story, like how each of them had their own individual artistic lens through which they viewed the world. How the girls are in a band that isn't good but has energy and life. How tattoos play a role in their journey...each specific quirk and lovely detail reinforced the overarching themes of the book.
Honestly, I'm not sure I can do this book justice in a review. Just rereading the end to remind myself where we left Colby had me tearing up and feeling his journey - and my own at his age - all over again. This novel is beautiful, emotional, and I really have nothing more to say except that you won't regret picking it up and living in Colby's world for a while. I highly recommend it!
BONUS PETS-WITH-BOOK PICTURES!!
Scrabble enjoys a good book now and then.
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Check out what the rest of the Bookanistas are raving about this week!
Christine Fonseca revels in TO RIDE A PUCA
Stasia Ward Kehoe gushes over GILT
Katy Upperman adores UNDER THE NEVER SKY
Tracy Banghart delights in THE DISENCHANTMENTS
Gennifer Albin celebrates SHADOW AND BONE
Jessica Love is wowed by YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT
Shelli Johannes-Wells is crazy for CLOCKWISER
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Not that it's a bad thing to realize we're one day closer to Friday than I thought. :-)
This week I want to sing the praises of A MILLION SUNS by fellow Bookanista Beth Revis. This is the sequel to her NYT Bestselling ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, which I mentioned a while back, here.
From Goodreads:
Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It’s been three months. In that time, Amy has learned to hide who she is. Elder is trying to be the leader he’s always wanted to be. But as the ship gets more and more out of control, only one thing is certain: They have to get off the ship.
My Thoughts
I've seen a lot of reviews of this book state that the reviewer loved it even more than Across the Universe. I'm not sure I agree with that, just because I absolutely loved Book 1 in this series. I'm still haunted by that incredible first chapter and the sense of claustrophobia that permeates the book. But A MILLION SUNS certainly wasn't a disappointment! Rather, I think it upheld the promise and quality of the first book. Characterizations were deepened, stakes were raised, and while I had a hint in the first book of who the "baddy" was pretty early on, I had no idea in book 2, even though when I found out, I felt like I should have guessed (to me, this is a sign of a GREAT mystery. Hiding a bad guy in plain sight, without making the pay-off feel cheap or unearned takes serious skill!)
The events of this follow-up felt organic to where we left the characters at the end of the first book, and the building tension from the very first page kept me turning pages long into the night. Beth's world building and treatment of the ship is great - I love that the Godspeed is itself practically a character, and not just a landscape.
I have to say, I was NOT expecting A MILLION SUNS to end where it did, and now I cannot WAIT to get my hands on the conclusion to the trilogy, SHADES OF EARTH. Like, REALLY can't wait. ::schemes on ways to finagle an ARC::
A Last Observation
One of the most powerful, yet subtle, elements of this book, for me, was how Beth approaches her "absent" characters. Amy's parents, frozen in time, Elder's friends who'd died before the story began. Even though we never meet these characters (at least not most of them), there's a ton of emotional resonance surrounding them. Because they mean/meant so much to Amy and Elder, we feel that. Beth does a great job giving these characters presence and importance, and finds ways to help her readers connect to their stories, even though we never "meet" them in real time. I thought that element of the story was really well done.
In Conclusion
If you haven't read ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, get on it! And then prepare to savor the next chapter of the story, with a fabulous and compelling A MILLION SUNS. And brace yourself for an agonizing wait for SHADES OF EARTH! These books are fantastic and I highly recommend them!
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Check out what the other Bookanistas are reading this week!
Elana Johnson more than “likes” BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS
Nikki Katz is crazy about CREWEL
Stasia Ward Kehoe adores BREAKING BEAUTIFUL
Katy Upperman wonders at WANDERLOVE
Tracy Banghart takes a shine to A MILLION SUNS
Jessica Love is wowed by WELCOME CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE
Debra Driza marvels at MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH – with giveaway
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This week's selection is THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson. First, a little info from Goodreads:
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.
And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.
Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
Most of the chosen do.
My Thoughts
Go buy this book. Now.
Honestly, that really sums up my love for THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS, but I guess, since this is supposed to be a review, I should give you a few more details.
Elisa's story begins where most fantasies end...with a princess marrying a handsome king. For me, this meant that as I was reading, I had NO idea where the story would go or what to expect. And that was a wonderful, delicious feeling. The world Rae created for Elisa is so detailed, with politics, religion, even topography all combining to create a living, breathing backdrop for the events of the story. I loved how the culture of the world so informed both the characters and the movement of the plot - everything fit together so seamlessly I never felt information was being dumped on me or saw the big flashing sign saying THIS IS IMPORTANT, REMEMBER THIS LATER. Each element of this story - character development, world building, plot - all flowed so well together I was truly carried away into Elisa's world.
The main character, Elisa, is another huge reason to love this book. Her emotional journey is a thing of beauty - from a fat girl who doesn't believe she has anything to offer the world to a strong, vibrant leader and friend. She pulls you into her world from the very first page, and I found myself so emotionally invested in her story that I cried, groaned, even laughed out loud right along with her. I felt Elisa's emotions and struggled myself with the challenges she faced. To me, this story was so visceral and engaging, I literally couldn't put it down.
I cannot WAIT for CROWN OF EMBERS, the next in the series, and I really can't say enough good things about this book. Read it! :-)
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Here's what the other Bookanistas are up to this week!
Corrine Jackson falls for THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Stasia Ward Kehoe is over the moon for MEDUSA THE MEAN
Nikki Katz flips for FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK & FROI OF THE EXILES
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This week I want to talk about CLARITY and PERCEPTION by Kim Harrington.
FROM GOODREADS (CLARITY):
Clarity “Clare” Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It’s a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case—but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare’s brother—who has supernatural gifts of his own—becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?
My Thoughts
CLARITY the book has a great concept and it's executed really well. Clarity the character is brave and strong and confused and a wonderful steward for her story. I immediately related to her, despite my lack of psychic abilities. :-) The cast of characters in these books is fabulous - from Clarity's telephathic, sometimes overbearing Mom (how mortifying to have one's mother be able to read your thoughts?!), to her player brother, to the sexy newcomer Gabriel. Harrington does a really fantastic job establishing the personalities in Clarity's seaside town, the dynamics at her high school, and the relationships between Clarity and the other members of her family. The characters felt genuine to me, and because I liked Clarity so much, I felt totally invested in watching those relationships develop over the course of both books.
The mysteries in both books are well plotted and suspenseful. Particularly in the first, Clarity helping the police find a murderer was both creepy and fascinating, and I didn't see the murderer's identity coming. In the second book, the culprit was a little more obvious (to me, at least) but all of the characters were interacting in such interesting ways that I had plenty of reasons to keep turning the pages to see if I was right. And the way it all shook out was unexpected and super intense.
I really loved that the second book, unlike in some mystery series, actually dealt with the repercussions of the events in the first book. We see how the murder and resulting investigation affects Clarity and those around her, in what feels authentic and gives the second book a heftier emotional weight than the first. I also loved that the second book didn't fall into the formula/pattern I was expecting after the first. These are murder mysteries but even more than that they are stories about Clarity and her family, and I loved them all the more for having the focus squarely on the characters and their emotional journeys, rather than it being ALL about the mystery plot.
These are quick, fun reads, romantic but not ALL about the romance, creepy but not too creepy to read before bed, filled with wonderful characters, a beautiful setting, and a heroine you'll enjoy rooting for. I don't know if there's a third book in the works, but I for one am hoping for more Clarity and her friends!
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Check out what the rest of the Bookanistas are up to!
Christine Fonseca gives a shout out for REGRET
Carrie Harris swoons for STRUCK
Corrine Jackson cries heaps over STORY OF A GIRL
Stasia Ward Kehoe loves up THE LIBERATION OF MAX MCTRUE
Katy Upperman delights in GRACELING
Jessica Love delights in THE SCORPIO RACES
Hilary Wagner hosts a Guest Post by Author Aaron Kato on YA Voice
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I have been on a TEAR lately with the reading, and it has been so SO fun. Reminds me of my teenage years, when I didn't go anywhere without a book and frequently stayed up all night with a flashlight reading under the covers (my specialty was pretending I'd fallen asleep reading if my parents came to check on me. I changed my breathing and everything!)
So, in preparation for the release of SPELL BOUND, the third book in Rachel Hawkins' HEX HALL trilogy, I decided to reread HEX HALL and DEMONGLASS.
From Goodreads (HEX HALL):
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.
By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.
My Thoughts
I knew I was going to love Sophie Mercer from the first pages of HEX HALL, specifically when she compared the humid weather of Georgia to living inside someone's mouth. She has a hilarious voice and a unique perspective that totally drew me in. Rachel Hawkins did a fantastic job of drawing Sophie's voice throughout the series. In fact, I think there might be even more zingy one-liners in SPELL BOUND. All I know is that for a series that deals with some very serious life-or-death situations, these books are incredibly funny. And that contrast, funny with dramatic, is truly awesome.
While the humor is what really sets this series apart for me, there are many other things to love in these books as well. The tight plotting, fast pacing, wonderful characters, to start, and of course, some hot boys and steamy romance! I also loved how all of the characters grew and changed in organic, realistic ways, not just Sophie. I'd be more specific, but I don't want to give anything away. ;-) Suffice to say, all of the characters in these books are well-rounded, unique, and just as engaging as Sophie herself.
The supernatural boarding school setting has been done before, but Hecate Hall breathes its own life into the story, and Rachel doesn't get bogged down by one specific setting, allowing Sophie - and the plot - to move and change locations as needed. Also, boarding schools are generally used as a device to get kids away from their parents, but in this series Sophie's parents still figure prominently, which I appreciated.
I highly recommend this series, and if you haven't read these books yet, at least you won't have to wait to see what happens!
SPELL BOUND is out in stores now, and is a VERY satisfying, emotional (and yet still funny!) conclusion to this wonderful trilogy!
And seriously, how gorgeous are these covers?
Check out HEX HALL and Sophie Mercer....and enjoy!! :-)
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See what the other Bookanistas are raving about this week!
Christine Fonseca is wow'd by WANDERLOVE
Stasia Ward Kehoe reads for National Poetry Month
Katy Upperman delights in SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY
Tracy Banghart honors THE HEX HALL trilogy
Corrine Jackson is thrilled over A TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER
Hilary Wagner deems the DANNY DRAGONBREATH Series Fantastic!
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This week's book, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, was written by our very own Bookanista, Veronica Rossi. I had the pleasure of meeting Veronica last year and she is as intelligent and interesting as you'd expect for the author of such a fabulous novel!
From Goodreads:
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.
A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.
My Thoughts
First off, how freaking awesome is the title of this book. LOVE IT. And the way it ties into the story and the characters is really cool.
So, it took me a while to pick up this book, not because I didn't think it would be awesome, but because I'm not really into the dystopian/post-apocalyptic thing. I wasn't sure if it would be to my taste. BUT when I read all the awesome reviews for it, and saw people talking more about the characters than the dystopian elements, I thought, Hmmmm.... So I grabbed a copy and settled in.
And boy am I glad I did!! The first couple of chapters didn't *quite* pull me in, but when I got to Perry's first chapter, I was absolutely, 100% HOOKED. Peregrine just might be my favorite male YA character right now. He's strong, smart, and emotionally wounded...desperately loyal to those he loves and capable of making difficult choices. I loved the choices Veronica made in developing his world, from the political structure of the tribes to the abilities of the "savages".
If it was Perry who hooked me, it was Aria who ultimately kept me reading, to watch her incredible transformation from a "Dweller" to someone comfortable in the outside world. I LOVED that the characters didn't stay static in this book - they grew and changed, influenced by both their surroundings and each other.
And that's why this book worked for me, ultimately. Beyond the gorgeous writing and fully realized world. It was the characters and their interactions, the slow build of Aria's relationship with Perry. I LOVED that this was not a story with "insta-love" or characters who fell in love for the author's convenience. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how organic the relationship and character building is. So awesome! But don't get me wrong, the writing IS beautiful and the world building IS fantastic. All around, UTNS surprised and impressed me...and I can't WAIT for book 2!
If you haven't picked up your copy, time to head to the store and grab one! :-)
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Here's what the other Bookanistas are up to this week!
Christine Fonseca interviews author Eisley Jacobs
Stasia Ward Kehoe gets psyched for the release of TORN
Debra Driza swoons for SLIDE
Tracy Banghart takes a shine to UNDER THE NEVER SKY
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This week I'd like to talk about another recommendation from my crit buddy Shari, SCARLET by A. C. Gaughen.
I've always enjoyed Robin McKinley's THE OUTLAWS OF SHERWOOD, so I was excited to read another Robin Hood retelling, especially one that came so highly recommended. And this one has such a wonderful twist! (Though I will always be a little bit in love with Christian Slater's Will Scarlet. Just sayin')
From the book jacket:
Will Scarlet is good at two things: stealing from the rich and keeping secrets - skills that are in high demand in Robin Hood's band of thieves, who protect the people of Nottingham from the evil sheriff. Scarlet's biggest secret of all is one only Robin and his men know...that SHE is posing as a thief; that the slip of a boy who is fast with sharp knives is really a girl.
The terrible events in her past that led Scarlet to hide her real identity are in danger of being exposed when the thief taker Lord Gisbourne arrives in town to rid Nottingham of the Hood and his men once and for all. As Gisbourne closes in and puts innocent lives at risk, Scarlet must decide how much the people of Nottingham mean to her, especially John Little, a flirtatious fellow outlaw, and Robin, whose quick smiles have the rare power to unsettle her. There is real honor among these thieves and so much more - making this a fight worth dying for.
My Thoughts
First of all, I love the idea of Will Scarlet as a woman, and A. C. Gaughen does a marvelous job developing both her character and her reasons for choosing the lifestyle and companions she does. One of the most engaging and successful elements of the book for me was Scarlet's voice; the story is told in first person and very clearly from the perspective of Scarlet. From turns of phrase, to inner thoughts, to vocal cadence, Scarlet comes alive as her own unique, compelling person. I've written in first person myself, and it's NOT easy, but Gaughen makes it look effortless. So much of this story hinges on Scarlet and the different layers of her circumstance and personality, and I loved seeing this world through her eyes.
I found, in many ways, this story to be less romanticized than other versions of Robin Hood I've read and seen, which I actually appreciated. King Richard isn't the noble hero in this version, and Gisbourne is not an amusing caricature of a villian. He's a scary, scary man, and this sense of grittiness made the stakes feel higher and more real. Robin Hood is also very authentic feeling in this version, not so much the perfect hero man. Of course, it's inevitable, this comparison to other Robin Hoods...so the more real/less real, more gritty/less gritty comparisons will depend on which versions of the story each of us is familiar with.
At any rate, I LOVED this book. I loved John and Robin and Much...I loved the setting and the writing and the romance...but most of all I loved Scarlet, whose voice and combination of strength and vulnerability carried the story for me. I just couldn't read fast enough to find out if she would be alright. If she would put her demons to rest. If she would find true love. She's the kind of character you want to spend time with, you root for, you see yourself in (even if you're NOT thieving and throwing knives and whatnot).
And let me just say, in conclusion, that I really, really hope A. C. Gaughen writes a sequel!! :-)
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Check out what the other Bookanistas are raving about this week!
Christine Fonseca is awed by A TEMPTATION OF ANGELS
Stasia Ward Kehoe shares some scoop on DEAR TEEN ME
Katy Upperman praises PANDEMONIUM
Tracy Banghart thinks SCARLET is spectacular
Gennifer Albin brings you her Bologna trendwatch
Jessica Love sings for NEVERSINK – with giveaway!
Shelli Johannes-Wells interviews LACRIMOSA author Christine Fonseca
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BUT, lots of other Bookanistas have you covered!
Christine Fonseca interviews author Heather McCorkle
Megan Miranda and Debra Driza give stars to STARTERS
Stasia Ward Kehoe is giddy about GEEKTASTIC – with giveaway!
Nikki Katz praises PANDEMONIUM
Hilary Wagner swoons for PINK SMOG – with giveaway
Also, GO WILDCATS!!
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