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a nook and a book

16 Jul

On my birthday (last month), I was the happy recipient of a brand new Nook color. Yesterday, I finished my first Nook book :) , Deanna Raybourn’s The Dead Travel Fast. This post will be a review of both…

I just about gobbled up Raybourn’s Lady Julia Grey series last month (why, oh, why must it be so long for the next installment!?), so of course I wanted to try something else by her. The Dead Travel Fast is pure Gothic, Victorian mystery with traces of Jane Eyre and Northanger Abbey. There was very little to compare to the Julia Grey series (other than a strong-minded heroine and dark hero), so it was a fresh experience from an author I already enjoyed.

In the novel, spinster authoress Theodora Lestrange is invited to travel to Transylvania to visit her old school friend, Cosmina, the ward of the Countess Dragulescu. Cosmina is to wed her cousin, Count Andre, heir to the Dragulescu fortune, ruined castle and all, and Theodora is to help her make the necessary arrangements. Little does Theodora expect to be dragged into a local mystery when she arrives to find the villagers going “wolf” and the castle’s servants guarding themselves against strigoi. Too soon, Theodora’s pleasant visit becomes a prime opportunity to feed her imagination and produce her best novel yet. The Dead Travel Fast is an atmospheric mystery that draws on vampire and werewolf legends, while also providing a touch of romance.

The Nook experience, on the other hand, took some getting used to… I’m not one to argue on behalf of the smell of paper in support of print over e-books. I care about the story not the medium. That said, it did feel a little weird to be holding a small tablet. The weight of it was somewhat heavy, and I had to lean it against the table or atop my lap in order to give my wrists a rest, but the image itself was clear at any distance. The print looks really nice and it really is much more pleasant than reading a document on my laptop (I tested it with Ebsco’s databases at work to download full text articles). The apps are a neat feature, as is the web browser, although I do find myself using it mostly to update my online food/exercise diary more often than not. Overall, I’m glad the b-chan gave me the Nook color over the other readers/tablets on the market and I’m enjoying its many uses. The only major con… it is way too easy to get caught up in the allure of the Nook book store.

penny dreadful

9 Jun

I love a good Victorian-esque mystery and the Lady Julia Grey novels do not disappoint. This was one of those cases when Amazon actually got a recommendation right and provided me with a perfect, new addiction. As an early birthday present, I ordered myself the rest of the series and will anxiously await their arrival. I’m sure nothing I read will feel as compelling until I have devoured them.

In Silent in the Grave, the series opens with the death of Lady Julia’s husband , a death that may have been produced by less than natural means… The novel is rife with mystery, mayhem, and adventure as Lady Julia comes to terms with the aftermath of her husband’s death and meets her match in Nicholas Brisbane, inquiry agent and enigmatic object of desire. I could not stop reading.

Lady Julia’s adventures continue in Silent in the Sanctuary as she becomes enmeshed in another case of murder, one that is too close to home. Returning to her role as amateur sleuth, Julia begins her own investigation as Brisbane tries to solve the mystery. Together, they  learn more than they ever expected and break a few hearts in the process.

I am loving this series and can’t wait to read on!

Summer Reads

3 Jun

Summer has always been a time to catch up on my reading. Last summer, I reviewed every book I read (or nearly). Unfortunately, this is my last term in school and summer has little meaning for me as far as lazy days with a book go. That said, I’ve managed to finish two great reads in the last week, and am sorry that I cannot share much more than a quick post…

Fab Summer Read #1: Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Mystery, romance, Victorian-era drama and rich description. This novel gripped me from the very first line and kept me reading late into the night.

Fab Summer Read #2: The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8. Lee

Part historical research, part foodie journey, Lee’s account provides fascinating insight into the world of American-Chinese food, it’s history, and it’s effect on the immigrant experience in America, as well as people’s perception of “Americanness” around the world. I don’t usually read nonfiction for fun, but Lee’s narrative style was so engaging, I was hooked. This is the kind of book that makes me want to share it with friends.

Black Unicorn/Gold Unicorn

15 Mar

I started reading Tanith Lee’s Black Unicorn a few weeks before I graduated from high school, so I was forced to return the book before I was done reading it. The title and author of the book slipped my mind, but Lee’s description of the crystalized unicorn skeleton hanging from a red-headed princess’s bedroom did not. I searched and searched for this book, but it wasn’t until a couple of months ago that I decided to try an image search for the book’s cover and… Voila!

There it was! The marbled cover that caught my eye so many years ago. I snagged a used copy around January, but decided to include it as part of my YA review project. It was well worth the wait, and so much better now than the first time I read it.

The image of the crystal unicorn skeleton was as strong as ever, but I found it easier to let myself be drawn into Lee’s sparse style now that I’ve become such a fan of feminist fantasy. I really loved that; the experience of reading something that I didn’t quite get when I was a teen, but made so much sense now.

The story is simple enough… Tanaquil is the somewhat neglected daughter of a sorceress who lives in a fortress. The sorceress’ magic has leaked into the desert that surrounds the fortress, enchanting the area and the peeves (dog-like desert-dwelling creatures) that live there with the power to talk. When one of the peeves shows Tanaquil a crystal bone that it dug up, Tanaquil decides to go after the peeve and help it dig up the rest. Putting the pieces together, Tanaquil soon finds herself drawn to the skeletal thing, unaware of the power that she is about to unleash and the adventure this will set in motion.

The sequel, Gold Unicorn, recounts Tanaquil’s further adventures with her sidekick the peeve as she travels the world and meets the power-hungry Empress Veriam, who wants Tanaquil to use her ability to mend things to assist her in her plan to conquer the world.

Like many fantasy novels, this series features magic, other worlds, quests, and battles between good and evil. The narrative is descriptive and filled with dry humor reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones and Robin McKinley. Both books were a treat to read after wrapping up my course reading project.

There is a third book in the series, Red Unicorn, that I have yet to read.

Heart’s Blood

6 Jan

Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier

Set during the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland, Heart’s Blood is an intricate blend of historical fantasy and ghost story. Trained as a scribe, Caitrin is a skilled and learned woman, but all this changes when she is subjected to the cruelty of her distant relatives after her father’s death. On the brink of losing all sense of self, Caitrin realizes that she must escape or forever become a victim. Running as far as she can, Caitrin is ill-prepared for the demands of traveling across Ireland on her own, but is spurred by her desire to find herself once again overrules any fear she might feel in doing so.

Reaching the fortified settlement of Whistling Tor, Caitrin is stunned to find herself an object of curiosity–no one ever goes to the Tor; it’s cursed. Uncertain what to believe when told tales of uncanny folk in the forest surrounding the chieftain’s keep, Caitrin is nevertheless drawn to the Tor and seeks a position translating and transcribing Latin for the chieftain of the Tor, Anluan, who never leaves his keep and is said to be monstrously disfigured.

When Caitrin reaches the keep, she finds that all is not quite as it seems, but neither is the Tor the place of horrors that she was warned against. Suddenly, Caitrin finds herself enmeshed in battle to save the heart of Whistling Tor and restore it to the holding it once was, if only she can get its chieftain to see things in a different light…

—

I will start by saying that I LOVED this book. I’ve read a few books that I’ve enjoyed recently, but I have not been truly engrossed by any of them (a few I went so far as to give up on after a few chapters). This is part of the reason my posts have been so short…

Heart’s Blood grabbed me from the very first. Not only was I intrigued by the mystery, I was drawn in by Marillier’s prose and ability to give me a bit of the chills when describing the circumstances surrounding the inhabitants of Whistling Tor. Caitrin is a real and believable heroine and Anluan a troubled but worthy hero. I don’t want too much away about the curse, but the ghostly, uncanny folk that live at Whistling Tor are just as intriguing as the heroes. This novel is rich with characterization and that is one of the elements that I most crave when I read fiction, something that I haven’t quite gotten recently. Reading this book felt like becoming part of something strange but wonderful.

Last post of 2010

31 Dec

Goddess of the Rose by PC Cast

Mikado “Mikki” Empousai has always had a special affinity with roses, as did her mother and grandmother. When she starts to have tantalizing dreams about a mystery lover, she starts to wonder if it’s the result of loneliness and an overactive imagination, or something more.  It doesn’t help that her dream man bears a striking resemblance to the mythical beast statue that guards the local rose garden. Little does Mikki realize that it’s a sign of a change to come, an awakening that brings her close to her true destiny and challenges her concept of dreams and reality.

—

I picked this book up on a whim at the used paperback store by my old job. The cover was a bit more sensual than the kind of covers that usually pique my interest, but I was intrigued when I read the blurb and realized that it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

I have mixed feeling about the novel itself… I found the concept original. The plot draws on Greek mythology and casts the Beast as the misunderstood Minotaur who guards Hecate’s Realm of the Rose, the place where the mundane world’s dreams are made. Mikki is portrayed as a strong, determined woman willing to chase her dreams, while the Beast is presented as a creature who is well aware of his position as a man-beast. The magickal elements also seemed a natural part of the world created by Cast. However, I had some trouble with the prose. I’m very particular about my idea of romance, dialog, and description when it comes to sex in literature, and the language just fell short in my opinion.

Green Rider

26 Dec

Green Rider by Kristen Britain

Expelled from school after getting into a fight with a noble lord’s son, Karigan G’ladheon decides it’s time to leave the famed Selium academy and return home. Too bad fate has something else in store for her… Making her way home on foot, Karigan encounters a wounded Green Rider, a member of the King’s messenger service, sworn to deliver messages of import no matter the challenge. Finding that the Greenie is mortally wounded, Karigan agrees to complete the messenger’s final task, to deliver a message that others would kill to intercept. Facing dangerous creatures, magical foes, and countless dangers, Karigan fights her way to King Zachary’s castle, accepting the call of the Rider.

—
Green Rider was an interesting read with just the right amount of fantasy and adventure to keep me engaged and up into the night despite a head cold. It was a completely serendipitous find, just a cover that attracted my attention on PaperBackSwap. It has the feel of a Tamora Pierce novel, as if Karigan belonged among the sheroes of Tortall. I find this is quite a good thing :) . Unfortunately, I did not realize that it is part of a series, so now I’ve sucked myself into another series… I keep telling myself to stop doing that.

No Greater Sacrifice

5 Dec

No Greater Sacrifice by John C. Stipa

When Renee d’ Arcadia, archaeologist learns that she is terminally ill, she decides it’s time to take any chances she can get. Grasping at straws, she starts a quest to learn the secrets of the legendary Eleusinian Mysteries, a purification rite that might just provide her with the lifeline she needs. Never did she think that a trip to Greece would place her at the center of a dangerous plot, or bring her closer to sexy David Arturo.

Part adventure, part rollicking romance, and part ancient history lesson, Stipa’s novel is a sort of Da Vinci Code meets Indiana Jones with a dash of mysticism.

I don’t read much in the adventure/thriller genre, but when I do, I like to be absorbed by the story. This was a quick-paced and engaging read. I especially appreciated that Renee was not the sort of damsel-in-distress female sidekick that is so often introduced in such novels, but a strong, determined woman capable to getting herself in and out of scrapes.

I received my review copy of No Greater Sacrifice from John C. Stipa.

You can find a copy of the novel on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles

Shades of Milk and Honey

22 Oct

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Jane Ellsworth has settled into the quiet life of a soon-to-be spinster. She busies herself with the feminine arts–music and glamour–knowing that these are the only things that recommend her as she lacks the conventional beauty sought by gentlemen. Her sister, Melody, is beautiful and passionate, sparkling at every ball, but has no talent for the arts that her plain sister wields. When Melody’s passionate nature gets the better of her, the two sisters become antagonists and Jane gets caught in the middle of a tangled affair involving several parties, her own passions coming to the fore when she acknowledges the jealousy and negative energies that mar her feelings towards her sister. As Jane learns to harness her feelings for art, she learns more about herself and the talents she possesses.

Shades of Milk and Honey is the sort of book that needs to settle a bit before I can truly say whether I enjoyed it or not. This is such a gentle, well-mannered sort of book, I liken it to a soft, pink-hued vapor, something ephemeral and bright that passes you by. That’s a frilly way of putting it, but it’s the kind of book that leaves me feeling as if I didn’t quite get it, but that it’s not the sort of book that you can get with one reading. In many ways, it reminds me of Robin McKinley’s Chalice; there’s a quiet magic to it that I don’t quite understand. But that’s alright, I enjoyed the parts that I did understand.

There is magic in this book, but it’s more akin to Jane Austen than any fantasy novel I’ve ever read. That is one thing that Kowal does really well–this book feels like a Regency novel. She really captures the nuances of language that mark a true novel from the era. I started the novel expecting it to be similar to the Sorcery & Cecilia series, but it was more like reading Sense and Sensibility.

I can’t say whether I am satisfied with the story; it felt too brief, for one thing. At times, it seemed too similar to Austen, as if I could spot the Austen characters that served as a references/influences for Kowal’s characters. It’s an unexpected sort of book.

Ruthless and the three volume novel

17 Oct

Ruthless by Anne Stuart

I was in the mood for some literary meringue… a tasty treat without much substance. Ruthless had a bit more substance than I expected, but it definitely fit the bill. I haven’t read much romance, as I’ve noted in the past, but I’ve been moving beyond my usual genres in an effort to defuse some of my literary snobbishness. There’s not much I can say about Ruthless, other than that it was a quick, enjoyable read. It is what it is–a romance novel with a fast plot, a dash of mystery, a bit of banter, a dark hero with an inscrutable past, and an unlikely heroine who redeems him against his will (and her better judgment). There was sex, but nothing so graphic that it would put off readers who don’t enjoy such scenes. The novel is part of a trilogy, but it seems that the volumes can be read individually.

Speaking of three-volume novels, I am suddenly reminded of one of my favorite scenes from “The Importance of Being Earnest”… so I leave you with some Wilde.

Miss Prism: Do not speak slightingly of the three-volume novel, Cecily. I wrote one myself in earlier days.

Cecily: Did you really, Miss Prism? How wonderfully clever you are! I hope it did not end happily? I don’t like novels that end happily. They depress me so much.

Miss Prism: The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.

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