ARC Review: Winterspell Claire Legrand

Title: Winterspell 
Author: Claire Legrand
Genre: Historical Fiction, Retelling
Source: Edelweiss
Format: eARC
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 30, 2014 
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Summary: 

The clock chimes midnight, a curse breaks, and a girl meets a prince . . . but what follows is not all sweetness and sugarplums. 

New York City, 1899. Clara Stole, the mayor's ever-proper daughter, leads a double life. Since her mother's murder, she has secretly trained in self-defense with the mysterious Drosselmeyer.
Then, on Christmas Eve, disaster strikes. 

Her home is destroyed, her father abducted--by beings distinctly nothuman. To find him, Clara journeys to the war-ravaged land of Cane. Her only companion is the dethroned prince Nicholas, bound by a wicked curse. If they're to survive, Clara has no choice but to trust him, but his haunted eyes burn with secrets--and a need she can't define. With the dangerous, seductive faery queen Anise hunting them, Clara soon realizes she won't leave Cane unscathed--if she leaves at all. 

Inspired by The Nutcracker, Winterspell is a dark, timeless fairy tale about love and war, longing and loneliness, and a girl who must learn to live without fear

~~~ 

I had high hopes for Winterspell and they just weren't met. To begin with I am not a fan of historical fiction, but reading the summary of Winterspell I figured I would try it. I really tried to get into this book, and I did at one point. The beginning was interesting but as it went the more and more I was getting confused. 

Clara was extremely hard to relate with. She lacked so many characteristics, determination was a big one. Also, she was weak in a sense. Her Godfather trained her with weapons to protect herself, and in all honesty she did an okay job with protecting herself, but when it came to her father being abducted she just watched them take him! She wasn't a very good protagonist. Then she has this attraction to a statue. A sexual attraction that is...

The stole a lingering glance at the statue’s arm, muscled and savage, covered with spikes and foreign etchings. Her heart beat practically off its hinges. She had touched the statue many times, but never had there been such...heat to it.

Then she compares the statue to Dr Victor is who just gross and makes his lustful desires for Clara clear to the girl....

The truly great thing was that no matter how shocking her fancies grew, the statue never did a thing. He stood there, unmoving, and he did not lick his lips or pin her with hot, uneasy stares.

I am not one to get uncomfortable easily with books. This though, I took me five days to read up to 25%. Mainly because this damn statue.  But then the statue comes to life, and Clara stares at him in his full naked glory! Yup, stare at the naked man/statue while your Godfather stands there. Good idea Clara... 

She could not stop herself from looking lower than that, eyes sliding down the man’s lean white belly—too hungry, too sharp—and down, a bit more...Her eyes flew shut, her cheeks flaming.

Alright I am done with that statue thing now. Oh, his name is Nicholas by the way! 

The plot confused me. The prologue made me think that the story was going to be set in Cane. Not, New York City in 1898. At first it made sense, then you involve Godfather, the statue, Dr. Victor, and Plum and you get one big mess that you can't decipher. I ended up putting the book down at 32% into it. I knew I wasn't going to like it and my review wasn't going to be a positive one. Which sucks because I wanted to like this one a lot. I wish I did. I really do. Plus it is a stand alone so I'm not going to be curious about how the second book would be and ect.

RATING: ★★ 

(I am actually giving it 1.5 stars. Considering that I did like it in the beginning.)

***All quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof and may change***

ARC Review: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

Title: In a Handful of Dust (Not a Drop to Drink #2)
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Genre: Dystopian
Source: Edelweiss 
Format: eBook
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publish Date: September 23, 2014

Summary: 

The only thing bigger than the world is fear.

Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.

When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.  

~~~ 

*This review may contain spoilers from Not a Drop to Drink*

My heart hurts. I loved this series so much that I am sad to see it is over. Mindy McGinnis created a realistic, dystopian world that sucks readers in. That is what I loved most about this book, its realness. This companion novel to Not a Drop to Drink. 

In a Handful of Dust takes place ten years after the events of Not a Drop to Drink. Lynn has adopted Lucy and raised her has her own. A small community has built itself near the pond. But soon it is no longer paradise as Lynn and Lucy is forced from the community and a source of water, suspected of being the source of a polio outbreak.

The story is told in third person perspective from Lucy's point of view, now seventeen she had lived a very different life as her adoptive mother. I loved getting to read from Lucy's point of view on things. There are so many differences between her and Lynn. Were Lynn doesn't trust people easily, Lucy does. Lucy likes to stay in one spot, Lynn likes to move. I understand that the ten year time difference was because Lucy was so young during the first book, but I felt like I knew nothing about her (Except the things that happened during Not a Drop To Drink) and made it hard to relate. I missed Lynn's perspective, she was still a large part of the book though. But I found that Eli's death made her harder and colder. 

The story line was a bit slow, and I wished that when they reached California it would be longer, instead it skipped a couple of weeks, and then a season. I wanted to see more of how they had now lived (it was talked about briefly, but it left me wanting to know more.) But I was still content with the pace. We were able to see Lynn begin to trust someone and Lucy learning there were a lot of things to be afraid that could swallow you whole. 

The ending had me raising my eyebrows. Something unexpected happens and I am not sure where I stand on that. It is a real eye opener though, and made me question quite a few things that I read. But as I thought about it more I see why that decision was made. Though I wish there would be another book in the series, mainly about their life's after the decision was made. 

RATING: ★★★★

ARC Review: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Title: Snow Like Ashes (Snow Like Ashes #1)
Author: Sara Raasch
Genre: High Fantasy, Romance, Magic
Source: Edelweiss 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: October 24th, 2014

Summary:

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making. 

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again. 

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

~~~

 I was overwhelmed at first, a lot of information was given to you You have eight kingdoms, eight capital cities, and eight rulers! It was like a tumbling washing machine, I couldn't get a grip of it all. Eventually I did though. But all you really needed to focus on was Spring, Winter, Cordell and a bit of Autumn. After you reach a certain point though it was easy to keep track of who was who. 

I loved the characters in the book. Meira was my favorite though, she was strong, stubborn, kick ass and knew what she wanted. She grew a lot from the beginning of the book, and she has two other books to grow into. Especially after what she learned about herself, I can't wait to see that come into play a bit more. She had me cheering for her though! 

Magic is where I got lost the most, I didn't catch the full gist of it but it was still pretty interesting. There were a few questions I still had at the end of the book involving magic and conduits. But it was a cool concept and I liked that how the conduits were created was touched upon. I am real excited though to learn more about magic in the next books. 

I have mixed feelings about the romance part. Not that it was bad, I loved it! I rooted for one side through most of the book and then half way through the book Theron appears, and then I am like a child then with a shiny new toy because Theron is hot, and sweet and understand Meira. I do hope to see at least one Meira and Mather kiss, I know that is horrible to say considering she and Theron or together, but it has happened before. I am just mixed because both boys are someone the Meira needs, they both give her new strengths that she is going to need. 

Considering the second half of the book, I thought the beginning was a bit slower, even if it did have fight scenes. This book was just packed with action from the start! Miera was chopping people's legs and heads off and it was so kick ass that I was up until 3 in the morning because I just had to know what was going to happen next! I am really excited for the next two books now. 

Raasch created a world that sucked readers in, leaving them on the edges of their seats wanting to know what was going to happen next! 

RATING: ★★★★★

ARC Review: Dissonance by Erica O'Rouke

Title: Dissonance (Dissonance #1)
Author: Erica O'Rouke
Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss 
Format: eBook
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 22, 2014

Summary:

Delancy Sullivan has always known there’s more to reality than what people see. Every time someone makes a choice, a new, parallel world branches off from the existing one. Eating breakfast or skipping it, turning left instead of right, sneaking out instead of staying in bed ~ all of these choices create an alternate universe in which an echo self takes the road not travelled and makes the opposite decision. As a Walker, someone who can navigate between these worlds, Del’s job is to keep all of the dimensions in harmony. 

Normally, Del can hear the dissonant frequency that each world emits as clear as a bell. But when a training session in an off-key world goes horribly wrong, she is forbidden from Walking by the Council. But Del’s not big on following the rules and she secretly starts to investigate these other worlds. Something strange is connecting them and it’s not just her random encounters with echo versions of the guy she likes, Simon Lane. 

But Del’s decisions have unimaginable consequences and, as she begins to fall for the Echo Simons in each world, she draws closer to a truth that the Council of Walkers is trying to hide ~ a secret that threatens the fate of the entire multiverse.

~~~

The concept behind the book was interesting, which attracted me to the book to begin with. But as soon as they would talk about Echoes, Cleaving, Inversions, Pivot Points, and what ever else I missed I became terribly confused and frustrated. Every time you finally understood something new was added, which kind of annoyed me. In addition the book was to long and repetitive, I wanted to see more then just walks. 

I have never disliked a book character as much as I disliked Del's sister Addie, talk about a giant bitch? I disliked the parts of the books that had her in it, I just wanted to skip and get back to the weird romance of Del and Simon. 

She was involved or dating 3 versions of the same guy, especially when she knew that touching and echo from another world was dangerous (there were so many rules, so someone please correct me if I am wrong) Seriously Del?You are already on thin ice and not being an official Walker, because you accidentally cleaved a world, but you are going to run around with different versions of Simon. Ugh. 

Since I feel like I am only being negative there were plenty of good things that I enjoyed about this book. Characters, I loved Monty. I think I loved him the most out of everyone else in the book. I thought Simon was alright, but he wasn't the full sundae that I usually prefer. Doesn't mean that I didn't like him though. (Yes, I called Simon a sundae. You know how a good sundae has ice cream, syrup, nuts, caramel, all those yummy things? Well I just felt Simon was was lacking some caramel.) 

I liked the secrets and the conspiracy. "The what the hell is the council hiding...?" is what kept me interested. I like books with secrets and conspiracy in them. 

All in all I think Dissonance had a lot of potential, and I am excited to see the story grow and continue though. Everything has room for improvement and I didn't think this book was horrible it just wasn't something I like at the moment. For all I know I can reread this in a few weeks and like it better then I did now. 

RATING: 2 1/2 ★

ARC Review: Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Afterworlds
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Supernatural
Source: Edelweiss 
Format: eBook
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: September 23, 2012

Summary: 

Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings…  

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most

~~~ 

The story follows Darcy Patel, an eighteen year old high school graduate who just signed a three hundred thousand dollar book deal for Afterworlds and an untitled sequel. She wrote Afterworlds in the month of November, two thousand words a day. Now, most bloggers and writers know what that means. Though NaNoWriMo wasn't specifically mentioned in the novel it isn't hard to put two and two together. She moves too New York, leases a beautiful apartment and meets many famous YA authors. Eventually there is a bit of romance involved with one of the authors, Imogen Gray. 

Though I wasn't a huge fan of how fast Darcy dove into a relationship with Imogen I wasn't unhappy about it. I liked that Westerfeld used a female love interested rather than a male. I find that it isn't used much in YA writing.

One thing I didn't like was at times the character would be really mature, and other times really naive or immature. Like there was no in between, they didn't sound eighteen or twenty five. Though some of the dialogue was entertaining and bought up good points.

I also enjoyed seeing how the publishing aspect worked, the rewrites, edits, the having to change something. My favorite part is when Darcy is signing ARC copies of Afterworlds at BEA. It shows that she made it, her novel was going to be published.

Of course though, Darcy's experiences and Afterworlds was written by Westerfeld, she isn't a real person, but a fictional character. I don't think enough reviews mentioned that. We all referred (I will admit it, I have too) to Darcy as a real person. 

The story is told in alternate chapters, so another story is told. Afterworlds is about seventeen year old Lizzie who is planning to fly home to Dan Diego when terrorist attack the airport in which she is departing from. In the mist of the attack she is told to "play dead" and accidentally slips into the Afterworld where she meets Yamaraj, who is a guide of the dead. When she returns home from the hospital, after the attack she learns that her house in inhabited by the ghost of eleven year old Mindy, her mother's best friend as a child, who was abducted while on a trip, murdered, then buried in her own backyard. Lizzie takes is upon herself to seek revenge for the young girl. 

I liked Afterworlds, I can't say I loved it though. There were a lot of things I was confused about. One being Lizzie after the attack. She was a bit shaken up, but most people after something at traumatic as that would be a bit jumpy at things. I just felt like she didn't have much of a reaction. 

Lizzie acted extremely stupid sometimes, she would jump into situations with out thinking it through. Then when she tells her mother that she just needs space, her mother just goes a long with it like "Hey my daughter isn't traveling to the underworld and trying to solve a murder." Or how her mother lets her off extremely easy about taking a break before going to college. My parents would skin me alive.It just annoyed me. 

I liked the idea though, the whole Afterworld, the river, and the idea that ghosts are memories that would fade overtime. It was interesting and kept my attention. I mean, I did finish a six hundred page book in under twenty four hours. 

My biggest questions though: What is the title of Untitled Patel going to be called? What is it going to be about? That isn't answered when the story switches back to Darcy, so it leaves me questioning, is Westerfeld going to writing a sequel to Afterworlds? 

RATING: ★★★★