One Window, Two Views {2014 Trends in YA}

One Window, Two Views will be a weekly meme where we will discuss a topic from each of our points of view.  Please join the discussion! 

 Arianne: Sci-fi is going to be huge this year. Huge. And it’s not just any old sci-fi, either. There are two big trends to watch out for in young adult science fiction for 2014: aliens, particularly aliens really wanting to inhabit the Earth, and technology, particularly scary technology from the not-too-distant future. Some of the alien adventures, like Alienated by Melissa Landers and Avalon by Mindee Arnett, involve romance. Some of the technology-based titles, like Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam, involve romance, too. Others, like Dissonance by Erica O’Rourke and Starbreak by Phoebe North, involve entirely different worlds. But there’s also an emerging focus on adventure over insta-love, and this is where novels like Scan by Sarah Fine and Vitro by Jessica Khoury come in. Because sci-fi’s always been a place where relationship conflicts and ass-kicking adventure can co-exist, and that’s one thing that I hope doesn’t change this year.

As dystopian and paranormal lose their publishing appeal, contemporary is making a comeback. For a genre that’s always been pretty strong, it’s outdone itself in 2014. First, there are books like #Scandal by Sarah Ockler and #16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler that take the emphasis on social media last seen in books like Adorkable by Sarra Manning and bring it to a whole new level. I for one did not foresee the arrival of hashtags in book titles! Male narrators are coming into their own this year – who said there weren’t enough guy characters in YA?! The Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson, High and Dry by Sarah Skilton, More Than Good Enough by Crissa-Jean Chappell and Road Rash by Mark Parsons set out to prove that contemporary is just as much a guy’s terrain as a girl’s. There’s also been an increase in books that take advantage of teenagers’ desire to get out and see the world. Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae, Royally Lost by Angie Stanton, Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins and The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith are just some of the books in this trend that I can’t wait to get my hands on. In fact, I think contemporary is going to be my favourite genre of all in 2014! What about you, Liza?

Liza: Arianne, I think some of the new trends also include Thriller / Mystery / Horror (I’m grouping them together to make it easier on myself!)  These are genres that I’m usually very selective about, especially with horror, because I’m a wimp when it comes to that.  It seems that publishers are looking for the next “Gone Girl” equivalent in YA. Nevertheless, I’ve spotted some books that fall in these categories and that I would love to read (and I even own some of them already).  Let’s start with Jennifer Armentrout’s Don’t Look Back which sounds like an amazing mystery, the same as The Body in the Woods by April Henry. I’m currently reading a unique combination of horror, mystery and graphic novel, In the Shadows by Kierten White and Jim Di Bartolo.  Other books in this category are The Vanishing Season by Lynn Anderson, The Fall by Bethany Griffin, Say Her Name by James Dawson, and Feral by Holly Schinder.  Now that I think about it, I’ve had more of these as my WOW in the past several weeks!

Also big this year is Fantasy.  After the sound successes of series like the Throne of Glass by Sara Maas, Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson and The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo, publishers are looking for more of the good stuff; after all it’s been proven that the YA reader loves fantasy.  This year brings some pretty amazing reads that aim to transport us to new worlds.  Let’s start with The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski and Death Sworn by Leah Cypess, two of my recent reads and already favorites.  The first about the conquest, conquerors and love against all odds, and the second about a world where the Empire, Magic and Assassins rule the world.  Another awaited title is The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Peason, Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raash, and Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White. You might notice that most of these books might also include some type of paranormal element, such as magic, as well.  Oh, and it seems that it’s a requisite to have a gorgeous cover too.

I don’t believe that we’ve seen the last of dystopian and paranormal, but rather that the market it’s been saturated in the last few years and YA readers are being more selective of what they read.  Another trend seems to be the emergence of the stand-alone books, probably brought by the resounding success of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars.  Books such as Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg (loved it!), This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready and On the Fence by Kasie West seem to be pretty popular.

Let’s talk: What do you think is the next big trend in YA?  Which one of these is your favorite genre? Do you agree with us?  Do you disagree?  Have you read any of these?  Are you eagerly waiting for some of these books?

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Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Agelini (Starcrossed #1)

Title: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Release date: May 31st 2011 by HarperTeen 

Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback

Age group: Young adult

Genre: Contemporary/Mythology

Reviewer: Arianne

Grade rate: A

How do you defy destiny? Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history. As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Starcrossed is a story that I've loved for a long time. Not only is it the most intriguing and well-executed take on the defining romance of Greek mythology (that of Paris and Helen of Troy, and the Trojan War that followed) I've ever read, but it's also a hugely entertaining read that makes you smile long after you've finished reading.

Helen's always known she's different, but when she sees the scorchingly hot Lucas Delos for the first time and immediately tries to kill him in front of the whole school, she suddenly realizes there's more to it than just feeling like the odd one out: she's destined to restart an aeons-old conflict that will not only tear apart the gods, but her family and the meaning of her life as she knows it, too. The war almost destroyed the gods and their mortal heroes the first time around, but the Furies love patterns; they're the ancient Greek version of catty cheerleaders and they've scented blood.

Thrust into a dangerous world of Scions, demigods, curses and treachery, Helen faces a decision she always thought she'd know the answer to - but choosing between the love of her life and the survival of the human race may not be entirely hers after all. Everything she does seems to bring the threat of war closer, and no matter how hard she tries to resist loving Lucas, there's a part of her that just can't let him go.

This book may be slow to start, but it's definitely worth the wait. The writing style takes getting used to - it's intense, tightly packed and overwhelms the content from time to time - but if you can get through the first quarter, you'll be totally hooked. Starcrossed is all about story and its plot pulls no punches. There are twists and turns everywhere you look!

The importance of family is a theme that plays a huge role in Starcrossed. From the tight-knit but sometimes lonely existence lived by Helen and her father to the chaotic, clamouring warmth of the extended Delos family, there's a sense that although this book focuses on mythology, if you took that element away, there would still be great characters and dynamic relationships to build the story around. Lucas was my favourite character, but Ariadne comes in at a close second - and not just because we share a similar name! She's the feistiest character and stands out from the crowd. There was no shortage of action and danger in Starcrossed, but sometimes I found myself wishing for even more big family scenes. Josephine Angelini really understands what it means to belong, illustrating beautifully the strength and bonds within the Delos tribe. 

If I had to find one fault with the book, it would be that the minor characters are somewhat underdeveloped. Helen's hgih school companions just don't have the depth they need, and they don't hold the readers attention. I really liked Claire, Helen's best friend, but it is true that she probably doesn't have the complexity or realism she deserves.

In short: Starcrossed is a well-written, well-researched story that brilliantly reinvents Greek mythology for a modern young adult audience. It sets a high standard for the contemporary-mythological genre of YA. A book that's been close to my heart since the day I first read it.

Review: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski (The Winner’s Trilogy)

Title: The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Published: March 4^th, 2014 by Farrar Straus Giroux

Source: ARC (thanks Macmillan

Format: Paperback

Genre: Fantasy | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love
As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.
But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Review

The Winner’s Curse is the first book I read by Marie Rutkiski and it will certainly not be the last.  In this book I found a real gem, reminiscent, at least to me, of Maas’ Throne of Glass and Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns.   

World building is really important when writing fantasy and it was expertly done in Winner’s Curse. The differences between the Herrani and the Valorian’s culture are marked, even if at their core they are more similar that they believe possible.  The plot is intricate and scattered with the political unrest that only conquest can bring and also with military strategy.  Rutkoski’s writing is exquisite, it’s full of imaginary, and it’s lyrical and poetic. 

The characterization is remarkable.  The story is told from the third point of view, from Kestrel and Arin’s perspectives. Kestrel is from the Valorian nobility and she lives in the conquered land or Herrani.  All that society expects of her is to make a choice between marriage and the military career.  Either option relinquishes her independence and her music, two of the things that she holds dear, and she wants to rebel against it.  Kestrel tries to be fair to the person behind the titles, to grant love to who deserves it, regardless of where they came from.  She is a brilliant strategist and loyal to her father (her only family) and her country, even when her heart dictates otherwise.

Arin is harder to know, at least on the first part of the book. However, he shines on the second part of the book and tries his hardest to make Kastrel happy and secure, regardless of her new circumstances.  He is also brilliant and has a big responsibility over his shoulders at a very young age.  I’m eager to know (given the ending) how this couple will survive what’s to come.  From my end, it looks like a hopeless relationship, but I hope it turns out to be an epic love story.

The ending of The Winner’s Curse was torturous.  It is a subtle cliffhanger, just enough to make me sit at the edge of my seat for the many months that will take to its sequel to be published. An outstanding book, with awesome characters and an even more amazing writing, The Winner’s Curse is a clear winner (pun intended.)

Quotes (from the ARC):

“The pointy-chinned woman snickered. “Looks like someone’s suffering the Winner’s Curse. The Winner’s Curse is when you come out on top of the bid, but only by paying a steep price.”

”His eyes met hers. They were the color of the winter sea-the water far below Kestrel’s feet when she had looked down and imagined what it would be like to drown.”

“Arin smiled. It was a true smile, which let her know that all the others he had given her were not. ”Thank you,” he said. 

Kestrel felt herself blush. She focused on the keys and played something, anything. A simple pattern to distract herself from the fact that she wasn’t someone who easily blushed, particularly for no clear reason.”

About the cover: This is one of the most stunning covers I have ever seen.  The grace of the captured movement, the delicacy of her hand holding the ‘R’, the beautiful font and colors.  Gorgeous. 

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Device #1)

Title: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Published: August 31^st, 2010 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Purchased for Audible

Format: Audiobook narrated by Jennifer Ehle

Genre: Steampunk | Paranormal | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series. The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

Review

Let me start by explaining why I took so long to start this series.  I was mad. There, I said it.  Why was I mad?  Well, I loved Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments, that is until she turned it from a trilogy to a series of six books.  I was happy with the ending of City of Glass and so disappointed when I realized that it was not the ending of the series.  Anyway, I decided to read (listen) to Clockwork Angel, and I Ioved it!

I think in many ways I enjoyed Clockwork Angel even better than the Mortal Instruments.  I love steampunk and this book has plenty of it, from angels to robots and nice doohickeys. 

I think what made the book for me were the characters.  Tessa, is a mystery for sure.  She doesn’t know what she is, but she has a really neat power.  Tessa is very pragmatic and tries to take this new world and her new circumstances in stride.  She is loyal, smart, and not afraid to voice her opinion.  Will and Jem are Shadowhunters, blood brothers and best friends; and yet so different.  Will is very handsome, strong, stubborn, loyal, intelligent, and devious and tries very hard to push everyone away.  Jem is so sweet, calm, composed, resigned, yet strong, loyal and the default peace maker. Can you smell the love triangle coming?  I can from a mile away!

There is no shortage of amazing supporting characters: strong Charlotte, scatter minded Henry, bitter Jessamine, lovely Sophie, the always grand Magnus, and much more.  Our evil figure here (well, the main one at least) is The Magister and we really don’t know too much about his throughout the story.

Cassandra Claire is a genius in many levels.  Her writing is so good, it takes serious talent to invent a world full of new and old beings, of mythology, stories, culture and make you not only understand what it all means, but learn to love it.  The plot of the Clockwork Angel is very intricate, full of mystery and betrayal.  It is one of the things that makes the story so interesting and addictive. 

I already had the chance to listen to Clockwork Prince and it is, if at all possible, even better.  I can’t wait to read the last book in the series, and I will.  Soon.

About the audiobook: I really like the narrator of the book, the pace and voices.

About the cover:  The cover of the Clockwork Angel is beautiful.  We can see Will in all his handsomeness and with light coming out of his runes.  In the background we see clockwork and the city of London.  On the forefront is Tessa’s angel.  As I said, beautiful.

Review: The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson (Rithmatist #1)

Review: The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

Published: Mary 14^th, 2013 by Tor Teen

Source: Finished copy from BEA

Format: Hardcover

Genre: Steampunk

Age group: Young adult

Reviewer: ‘B’

Grade rate: A++

 More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings — merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles. As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing — kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery — one that will change Rithmatics — and their world — forever. Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings his unique brand of epic storytelling to the teen audience with an engrossing tale of danger and suspense—the first of a series. With his trademark skills in world-building, Sanderson has created a magic system that is so inventive and detailed that that readers who appreciate games of strategy and tactics just may want to bring Rithmatics to life in our world.

Review

The Rithmatist was sheer bad-assery because it’s everything an artist would love, their art coming to life.

The story is told from a third person POV, which I like because it allowed me to learn how diverse the characters were.  The main characters are Joel, Melody and Professor Fitch.  Joel is very studious and has very few friends.  He wanted to be a Rithmatist, but couldn’t because he missed his inception ceremony. He is very caring towards the people he loves.  Melody had a tragic life (which by the way is her favorite word.)  She doesn’t want to be a Rithmatist since there are four in her family already.  She very open and strong headed and she doesn’t care what others think about her. Professor Fitch is very closed and cautions and worries about keeping everyone safe.

The story is very interesting and it’s a major page turner.  The plot is fantastic and full of mystery.  World building is very well done, this is my first steampunk and it will not be the last. The writing is very descriptive and it explains everything really well.  I love all the clockwork things, especially the horse.

Overall, I loved the Rithmatist and I can’t wait for the next book, even if I still have to wait a whole year. (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

Some quotes for you:

“... everyone knows that ice cream is worth the trouble of being cold. Like all things virtuous, you have to suffer to gain the reward.”

“Well, that’s because they’re wrong and I’m right. No more reading for you. Let’s go get some ice cream.”

“I don’t know if the kitchen has any,” Joel said. “It’s hard to get in the summers, and—”

“Not from the kitchen, stupid,” Melody said, rolling her eyes. “From the parlor out on Knight Street.”

“Oh. I’ve … never been there.”

“What! That’s a tragedy.”

“Melody, everything is a tragedy to you.”

“Not having ice cream,” she proclaimed, “is the culmination of all disasters! That’s it. No more discussion. We’re going. Follow.”

'B' is my almost 14 y/o son

Leave B some comment love!

Waiting on Wednesday: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis (Not a Drop to Drink #2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for.

Title: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Release date: September 23rd, 2014

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.In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

Why I want to read it: I loved Not a Drop to Drink (see my review here)!  Color me surprised, I didn't know it was the first of a series though.  I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the cover for it's sequel.  I can't wait to see what happens to Lucy and Lynn next :)

What are you waiting for this week?

Review: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott (Fire & Flood #1)

Title: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Publisher: Scholastic

Release date: February 25^th, 2014

Source: ARC

Format: Paperback

Genre: ?

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: A

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

My Review

Wow, that was a wild ride! It is not secret that I love Scott’s Collector’s series (*waves at Dante*) and this new series is just as amazing, but in a very different way.  I loved Fire & Flood!

Let me first start by telling you that this book can be best described as a mix between “The Hunger Games” (the ‘game’ part) and Pokemon.  You’re probably shaking your head in confusion right about now, but have no fear, ‘cause I would never lead you astray.  Let me explain a little bit more:  There is a game being played with the ultimate prize, The Cure, and the Contenders can only be helped by their engineered animal companions.  The plot, as you can see, it’s incredibly good.  It is full of action, mystery, trilling adventure, and even romance.  That’s why I couldn’t figure out what genre did it fall under (you might have noticed the question mark above.)

On to the characters.  Tella is awesome!  She’s completely ignorant (as most of the Contenders are) about what the heck is going on.  Even though she is uncertain and afraid, she has compassion, loyalty, empathy and not only a desire to live, but to see his brother well.  Her family tried to keep this from happening, but it seems there’s like a pact of silence going on. Being on Tella’s mind is a trip!  She is snarky, cynical, and very girly; even if she can be that way during the Bleed.

Guy (appropriate name, right?), is good at survival and many other things, except talking that is. Gosh! It felt like talking to Guy was like talking to my oldest son, like forcing the words out with a spoon. BUT, when he does talk, you better listen.  He became the default leader of an unlikely group of allies. Guy knows a lot more than anyone else, and thankfully he is sharing that knowledge with Tella. I can’t wait to see how Tella and Guy’s relationship develops next.

I won’t go over all the characters because it will take a while and you will know them soon enough, because I assume that this glorious recommendation will have you running to the store to buy the book.  I will, however, tell you that there are a lot of them, good, and bad; crazy and sane; amazing and horrible.  The bullies are atrocious, cruel and I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of them.

The animals (called Pandoras), are so different. They intend to protect, defend and help their Contenders.  The trick is that the Contenders don’t know what they can do or what they are capable off. You would think that would be it more fun, but indeed, it’s quite frustrating.  Madox, I’m a big fan of yours!  We have quite a diversity of animals and things they can do.  Scott has a BIG imagination.

The writing, like always is easy to read, intense, funny and snarky. In summary: Fire & Flood is a trilling book full of awesomeness. I cannot wait for the second book and conclusion to this duology!

Some quotes for you:

“I lean my head back and reinspect my reflection, try to see things in a new light. With curls trimmed close to my head and a roguish green-and-blue feather dangling over my right shoulder, I decide I just might seem like someone who would enter a daring race – and win.”

“…It gets cooler at night, and for some reason, my skin is doing something funky that worsens in the evening…It freaks me out to no end, but I can’t tell what the issue is.  I think maybe I’m allergic to walking this much.”

“Okay, I’m going to ask it”, Ransom says. “How much friggin’ farther do you think base camp is from here?”

“Forever,” Levi answers, one hand on his ram’s curled horn. “It’s forever from here. That’s what it feels like anyway.”

About the cover: I guess the title, Fire & Flood, mean the first two environments (desert and rain forest) in the race.  The feather might be the one Tella wears on her hair, but is not the right color. The cover though, does little for me. 

Review: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Title: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Release date: October 9th 2012 by Hyperion

Source: Purchased

Format: Paperback

Age group: Young adult

Genre: Contemporary

Reviewer: Arianne

Grade rate: A-

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility. As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

I absolutely adored the premise of Time Between Us the second I heard it. Okay, so it is a little bit The Time Traveller’s Girlfriend, but it’s a confident and assured debut that promises more great things from its author in the future.

The year is 1995 and sixteen-year-old Anna just wants to see what lies beyond the confines of snowy Chicago. She wants to get out and see the world, but foreign travel is expensive, and unlike most of her private school friends, she doesn’t have that kind of money.

While Anna dreams of exploring new frontiers, Bennett is struggling just to stay in one place. He’s a time traveller and he should never even have crossed paths with Anna in the first place – but he’s stuck on the wrong timeline, searching desperately for something he’s lost.

Time Between Us is fabulously people-centric. The characters bring the story to life as if they’re the trunk of a tree, with the plot and setting merely notches in the bark and leaves on the branches around them. These are characters who are here to stay. They’re built from the ground up, most evidently in the case of our time-travelling hero Bennett. He instantly brought to mind Graham Larkin from This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith – whole-hearted, noble and just a little bit angry. 

Anna’s long-time friend Justin is cut from similar cloth, but his distinct personality and love for music ensure we remember him far beyond the few scenes in which he gets a starring role. Anna’s dad is a surprisingly memorable and welcome addition to the cast, adding the kind of funny, comfortable, realistic parental presence some YA stories lack.

It’s unfortunate that the female leads of Time Between Us take longer to warm to. It’s rare to see a clear difference in the quality of characters running along the gender divide, but this is one occasion where the guys are definitely written better than the girls. Anna has all the makings of a great narrator – a desire to be independent, a lifelong dream, a passion that takes hard work and dedication, a strong sense of identity. I loved all those things about her, but she lacked the resonance that should have helped her cross the narrator-reader barrier. She felt very real to me, but she never inhabits the reader’s consciousness in the way that all the best young adult protagonists do. She changes her mind a lot, reacts to plot events in odd ways and at some points becomes very demanding, manipulating those around her, especially Bennett - for example, forcing him to time-travel and change past events with her, even though taking such a risk would come at great personal cost to the boy she’s supposed to be in love with. 

Emma is even worse. I love best friend characters in books, but Emma’s so entirely false I just couldn’t bring myself to like her. She’s brash and catty, often hateful as well as hurtful, and I just didn’t see what she brought to the book, besides a shiny car to ferry Anna to and from their high school in. Among some of the other school-based characters, too, there was a lack of true friendship – I found myself wishing Anna and Justin could hang out more to his full, true best friend potential.

Once you move past the stereotypical high school environment, however, the other locations are fantastic. From rock-climbing in a nearby state to the beaches of La Paz and the remote villages of Italy, Time Between Us is an incredibly visual story, easily lending itself to scenes of adventure as well as romance.  

And with a romance like this, of course, comes the ever-present issue of insta-love. It’s more forgivable here as it comes hand in hand with the rather exclusive problem of one or both parties of the relationship knowing each other from a different time, place or life path, giving the author double the plot fiends to deal with. I would have liked to have seen a more  incisive style of romance between Anna and Bennett. I wanted them to have more in common, more fun, more passion, more wisecracking – just more, really. What they had was great, and I loved seeing them together, but they didn’t have that edge, that fire of compatibility that makes a YA couple totally unforgettable.

The plot of Time Between Us is very solid – there’s only one piece of backstory that lets it down. Bennett’s description of his time-travel experience was, well, not very believable. Trying to will himself somewhere like a pint-sized superhero and it spontaneously, ridiculously, actually working?! It’s a sketchy story at best and at worst, throws up a whole host of unhappy questions (including "So if he’d never thought to shut his eyes and magically teleport himself somewhere else, would he never have discovered his affinity for time travel?!") This lack of plausibility – never thought I’d use that word in a review of a book about time travel, but if the shoe fits – particularly when it came to the perplexingly abrupt end of the Brooke storyline, disappointed me a little. 

Thankfully, Anna’s decisive and inspirational choices in the late stages of the book redeemed the negatives of the novel for me. It’s a rare occurrence, but an appropriate reminder that sometimes, sticking with a book even if you have your doubts can be wonderfully worthwhile. It’s such a warm and heartfelt story; it’s comforting and friendly, perfect for a stress-free evening of reading. 

In short: Time Between Us was one of the first books I read in 2014, and I couldn’t have picked a better YA read to start the new year with. From the second I turned the first page, it felt warm and familiar, reassuring and solid – like an old friend I never knew I had. It’s downsides are still worth noticing, but the book as a whole is still worth reading, too.

Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray (The Diviners #1)

Title: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Release date: September 18th 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 

Source: Library

Format: Paperback

Age group: Young adult

Genre: Historical fiction

Reviewer: Arianne

Grade rate: D-

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

Review 

I've tried to like Libba Bray's writing. I really have. I've re ad a couple of her books now, but after The Diviners, I can't say I'd be willing to give any of them another try. 

I love complex books as much as the next person, and I've never shied away from reading long books (and this book is LONG, at over six hundred pages and weighing a literal ton). Reading The Diviners, however, it's apparent that Bray set out and sat down to write a Great American Novel. Her ambition is admirable but unfortunately in her drive to write something that will be remembered as a whole, she forgets about the little things. Like having a good plot. And good characters.

Maybe I'm the only one, but when I was about a quarter of the way through this book, I could see how well Bray had showcased her writing and knowledge, but I suddenly realized how stereotypical her characters were. She squeezes every female character into the image of a Roaring Twenties flapper even though elementary school kids know that it represents about 1% of the population at the time (and don't even get me started on the boys in this book!). Evie is shallow and narrow-minded. She cares about image too much and people's feelings too little. It's funny, you can almost see her fitting the modern stereotype of teenage girls, too - instead of obsessing over Instagram filters or wondering how she's going to watch the next episode of Jersey Shore and get a facial at the same time, however, all she can think about is impressing her friends and drinking dizzy water and, well, getting dizzy from it. She's nothing but a socialite, and while that may be indicative of the social class Bray has put her in, I just wished there was something more in that empty head of hers -something that would have helped me like her. Even her 'emotional' backstory fails to elicit a response from the reader, and I was disappointed by that.

The background characters, too, are vacant and vapid. There are so many of them, in fact, that they all just start to blur together. I couldn't tell any of Evie's friends apart. I wanted to like the lead characters of the subplots featured in the book - Memphis and Theta in particular - but by the time you've finally shaken off Evie's boundless talent for irritating all who read her, this isn't the kind of book that puts you in the mood for forgiveness. 

I can't deny that Bray has fabulous command of American history - she captures the era of The Diviners as though she witnessed it herself. I may not have enjoyed the rest of the book, but this I could understand; history seems so real through the lens of this book. (Though if I hear another sentence including the word 'pos-i-tute-ly!' I think I might throw this book at the wall and leave it there.)

There are the beginnings of a good plot, too, with a strong, creepy tone and mysteriously spooky undercurrents - I have to admit that Naughty John is a hideously horrifying villain - but it too is swallowed up by the all-consuming presence that is the book's mammoth narrative, making it hard to follow and even harder to enjoy. Worse still, this book is the start of a series, so as a reader you know that any detail could be of vital importance - and Libba Bray certainly spends enough time jumping around from scene to scene and random character to random character to confirm this suspicion. I just didn't have the energy or the patience for the stop-start flow of the narrative. 

In short: stronger readers than I have quailed under the almighty failings of The Diviners, and now I know why. There are parts of the book that glimmer with brilliance, but others that seem pointless and irritating. It's not a series I'm personally keen to finish, but if you like Libba Bray, it's definitely for you.

Review: Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Title: Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Published by: Point

Release date: February 25, 2014

Source: ARC from ALA-MW

Format: Paperback

Genre: Contemporary romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rating: A+

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way. Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated? From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

My Review

How good was this book?  It was so good that I read it in one sitting.  You might think that that’s nothing extraordinary, but when you have three kids, this is quite a feat!  I couldn’t put it down, Better off Friends was AMAZING!

The layout of the book is different.  Each chapter starts with a conversation between Macallan and Levi, then the story is told in the first POV from each of our main characters.  We know who is talking because each of their “voices” have a different font associated with them. 

Macallan is recovering from her mom’s death and starting a new school year when she meets Levi, who just moved from California.  They find that they are both fans of a British TV show called Buggy and Floyd, and that’s all it takes to make these fast friends. They grow up together, so to speak, and each family adopts each other as well.  Macallan is so strong.  She stands up to bullies to defend those that she loves and all the injustice in the world.  She is really smart, loyal, and has a strong belief of what’s right and wrong.  Oh, and she’s a great cook, which can’t hurt any relationship, right?

Levi is funny, handsome, and eager to be accepted and to be popular.  In Macallan he finds a loyal friend that he just ‘gets’.  The banter between these two is SO good and comical.  It’s like they think like one person and finish each other sentences.  Their moments and dialogue together are like little treasures.  Everyone thinks they are a couple because the chemistry between the two is incredible. When their feelings from each other start changing, their relationship and friendship is put to the test.  It must be excruciating to have to see someone you love with someone else. It takes a lot of hurt and heart ache to bring these to together and figure out if they are really better off friends.

It is nice to see that both Macallan and Levi’s family were very involved in their lives.  This is not a tale of drugs, underage drinking, abandonment or abuse.  To me, it is more realistic because these teenagers have supervision, and people in their lives that care.  Macallan’s dad and uncle and Levi’s mom are really family to them all.  Other characters are well defined and had an individual voice.

The writing is funny, descriptive, and easy to read.  Ms. Eulgerg really has a gift for storytelling. The plot is simple, but unpredictable.  I just love Macallan and Levi, I felt invested in them as characters and I couldn’t wait to see if they ended of together (thus the reason I couldn’t stop reading!)

Finally, to quote the words of the master: Blimey, that was brilliant!

Here are some quotes for you:

“I’d never seen Macallan so mad.  I knew she had very little tolerance for crap, but I’d had no idea how much it would set her off.  You’re right,” I told her “And I’m proud of you. I also know to never make you angry. That was something else.”

A smile started to warm her face. “Sorry. I can’t help myself.”

No, I’m serious. That was awesome. I never saw you as the confronting type. Lesson learned.”

“Silence fell between us.  This was a common occurrence whenever we’re alone. When you’re comfortable with someone, you don’t need to always fill the void with noise. I like it when we would just be.”

“… Listen, nothing will change with us.  I promise you rith here, right now, that I’ll be there for you through good times, bad times, friend issues, boy issues, teacher issues, whatever issues.  And you’ll always have a date to any social event that requires a male companion. I hear I clean up nicely.”

About the cover:  The cover has Levi and Macallan in their favorite hangout, Riverside Park, sitting on the swings. Lovely.

Review: All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Title: All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Published by: HarperTeen

Release date: February 11^th, 2014

Source: ARC

Format: eBook

Genre: Paranormal | Fairies | Romance

Age group: Young adult

Grade rate: C+

Emrys—a fiery, red-headed Fae—always embraced her life in the Highlands, far from the city’s draining technology, until she’s sent to London to rejoin the Faery Guard. But this isn’t any normal assignment—she’s sent to guard Prince Richard: Britain’s notorious, partying bad boy and soon-to-be King. The prince’s careless ways and royal blood make him the irresistible for the dark spirits that feed on mortals. Sweet, disheveled, and alive with adventure—Richard is one charge who will put Emrys’s magic and heart to the test.When an ancient force begins preying on the monarchy, Emrys must hunt through the London’s magical underworld, facing down Banshees, Black Dogs and Green Women to find the one who threatens Richard’s life. In this chaos of dark magic, palace murders and paparazzi, Emrys finds herself facing an impossible choice. For despite all her powers, Emrys has discovered a force that burns brighter than magic: love.

My Review

What enticed me to read All That Glows is its beautiful cover and that it is a book about fairies.  I’m a sucker for both pretty covers and fairy books. 

This is a story about fairies and other things that go bump in the night that takes place in contemporary England.  It explores how modern technology has made the fairies weaker and older fairies cannot come near the city of London.  How these magical beings manage the sickness that drains them.  The guard is tasked with protecting the monarchs since the time of Arthur Pendragon; an invisible safeguard to maintain the blood magic alive.

We get to understand Emrys a lot more than Richard probably because she is our narrator.  Emrys (beautiful name, right?) is brave, loving, loyal, strong, powerful, and of course, gorgeous.  She is really old (although she looks 17, of course), and has seen a lot, she’s jaded about a lot of things, until she sees Richard.  There is a special and inexplicable connection between the two.

Richard is the prince of England, handsome, spoiled and full of vices and irresponsibility.  Emrys brings out the best of him and gives him strength to face a world that he didn’t know anything about.  Sometimes the relationship between Emrys and Richard felt too dependent on each other. I know if sound very romantic, but to me it sounds unhealthy. 

The world building was not extensive and the background information given was necessary and adequate.  The writing is easy to read and lovely, but it was full of metaphors and similes, which I found sometimes unnecessary.  The plot is simple, but I have to say that I did NOT guessed who was the “Old One” that was causing all the havoc.  I always love stories where the couple is sort of pre-destined to be together, when they have a deeper connection or prior forgotten past and I love that aspect of the story.  However, I felt like at the ending all the loose ends where tied too neatly; there seemed to be an explanation (and solution) for everything.  Is not that I was expecting an unhappy ending precisely, but that the ending felt rushed and it was disappointing and poorly executed. 

At the end All That Glows is a romantic, light read that was quite enjoyable. 

Some quotes for you:

“I blink, allowing the word to simmer for a moment. Love. A word for Fae never even think to utter.  There was duty, magic, power, honor – but never love. That was for humans, to fill the gaps in their lives. To make the shortness of their years bearable.”

“You’d be dashing no matter what you wore.”

“You think so?”

“Stop fishing for compliments. You know you’re sickeningly handsome.” I mean for these words to be teasing, but they betray me. Come out earnest.

“So you’re saying I make you sick?”

“Yes, Embers. You are my yes. You’re the one I’ll love until the day I die.”

About the cover: As you can tell from the first sentence of my review, the cover is gorgeous! Its airy, whimsical and the font is so pretty. 

Have you read this one?  Do you like books about fairies? Do you like couples that are pre-destined to be together?  Do you like the cover?