Waiting on Wednesday: Greta and the Goblin King

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: Greta and the Goblin King

Author: Chloe Jacobs

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Date of Release: November 13, 2012 

Goodreads Description: While trying to save her brother from the witch three years ago, Greta was thrown into the fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon. To survive, 17-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter - and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape. But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil being knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the boys she finds stranded in the woods will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back ...

Why am I waiting? First off, the author is a Canadian which I think is reason enough to read it :) Other reasons though include: a) there are ogres, goblins and ghouls, b) the Goblin King sounds hot - I'm shallow, I know! - and c) rather than humans doing the hunting, it seems like we are the hunted. I just hope Greta acts like a bounty hunter and doesn't disappoint me like Celaena from Throne of Glass.

Review: Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

From Goodreads: Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences. Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect ... or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean - but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago. 

My Rating: 4 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: It took a few stories involving mermaids but with Elizabeth Fama’s Monstrous Beauty, I finally found one that delivered on its promise of seductive yet vicious mermaids. Combine the dark plot with ghosts, a curse lasting generations and descriptive imagery, and it’s no wonder that Fama’s book is my favourite mermaid novel to date! Told from the seamlessly alternating perspectives of the mermaid Syrenka and the human Hester born almost a century and a half later, Monstrous Beauty slowly reveals how the lives of these two young women are intertwined.

Although she harbours a crush on her best friend Peter, Hester remains wary of falling in love. After all, Hester reasons that love eventually leads to wanting a family – something she can’t afford to have because every woman in her side of the family dies several days after giving birth. When Hester encounters Ezra and falls for him suddenly, – I didn’t like the instalove even if made sense in the grand scheme of things – he helps her realize that the pattern of deaths may be because of a curse rather than due to genetics.

I liked Hester; but I thought Syrenka’s story was much more captivating – and not just because I found Syrenka to be a more complex character than Hester. First off, Syrenka’s POV allows us to be privy to knowledge that Hester must discover herself in order to piece together what happened many, many years earlier. Additionally, the events leading up to the curse occur during Syrenka’s lifetime and so those events are part of the present for Syrenka but part of the past for Hester. Although I love history, it’s more fun to read about events as they’re occurring.

A must read for those looking for an enthralling mermaid tale, Monstrous Beauty was released on September 4, 2012 by Farrar, Strous and Giroux. 

Comments About the Cover: I like its simplicity but I feel like it’s a bit too plain, you know? 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Random House) for free via NetGalley.

Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

From Goodreads: Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met ... a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head. But all that changes when the Lynburns return. The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown - in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Suffused with wit and humour, Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan isn’t at all like your typical YA novel! Here are three reasons why: 

1. The main character, Kami, is smart, persistent, and has a voice in her head that she often talks to. Adorably quirky, Kami knows she’s a little weird and is okay with it!
2. Kami’s parents not only make frequent appearances throughout the novel, but actually have a personality of their own! Her father, for example, is hilarious! Here’s just one of Mr. Glass’ brilliant quotes: “Why are you putting on lip gloss, my daughter? Dad asked. “Trip to the library? Trip to the nunnery? I hear the nunneries are nice this time of year.” … “Are you going out on a date?” Dad asked tragically. “Wearing that? Wouldn’t you fancy a shapeless cardigan instead? You rock a shapeless cardigan, honey.” (pg. 143)
3. There’s no love triangle … or even much of a romance. Instead, the tension in the relationship between Kami and Jared comes from the fact that they have a beautifully complicated relationship where they know each other intimately (mentally, anyway) but have also succeeded at building psychological walls so that there is some semblance of privacy. Once they discover that the imaginary voice in their head isn’t imaginary at all, neither of them knows what the other person should be to them. Should they ignore each other, continue to be friends or become a couple? 

If it weren’t for the weird pacing of the plot, Unspoken would have definitely garnered a higher rating from me. The book starts off great and ends with a surprising ending; but it was the slow-paced middle that I had problems with since it made me feel detached from the characters. Another problem I also had with Unspoken was that although I really liked that it managed to be consistently entertaining, the seriousness of some events or moments was lost due to Kami cracking a joke or doing something ridiculous. 

With a vivid Gothic setting, a fun mystery, and amusing dialogue; Unspoken was a good introduction to Brennan’s writing for me. This certainly won’t be the only novel of hers that I’m going to read!

Unspoken was released by Random House Books for Young Readers on September 11, 2012. 

Comments About the Cover: This is one of the few times where I actually prefer the US cover compared to the UK cover because it’s so whimsical looking. It’s perfect for this novel!

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Random House) for free via NetGalley.

Review: Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier

From Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured and brought before him. Eager to hide her own canny skill - a uniquely powerful ability to communicate with the fairy-like Good Folk - Neryn sets out for the legendary Shadowfell, a home and training ground for a secret rebel group determined to overthrow the evil King Keldec. During her dangerous journey, she receives aid from the Good Folk, who tell her she must pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential. She also finds help from a handsome young man, Flint, who rescues her from certain death - but whose motives in doing so remain unclear. Neryn struggles to trust her only allies. They both hint that she alone may be the key to Alban’s release from Keldec’s rule. Homeless, unsure of who to trust, and trapped in an empire determined to crush her, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only to save herself, but to save Alban.

My Rating: 3.5 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Since I’ve never read Juliet Marillier’s adult fantasy novels but had heard good things about her work, I was curious to see what her newest YA novel, Shadowfell, would be like. The fantasy lover in me is always thrilled when I can find a new world that I can fully immerse myself in; and in that regard, Marillier delivers. However, Marillier’s mystical world full of magic and danger is unveiled agonizingly slowly as Neryn, the protagonist, journeys through Alban. As such, I’m pretty sure this book won’t appeal to everybody.

If you don’t mind a slow plot involving a lot of walking though, then I would recommend giving Shadowfell a try because not only does it have great worldbuilding, but it also has sensible characters. While I liked seeing Neryn grow and become more determined and self-confident, my favourite character was the mysterious and complex Flint who carries quite a burden. That said, I wish the characters could have been a bit more memorable since it felt like they lacked that little something extra.

A solid fantasy with a hint of romance; Shadowfell was released on September 11, 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers. 

Comments About the Cover: Although I like that you can tell that it’s the cover of a high fantasy novel, I feel like it’s sort of boring looking. I suppose that’s okay because of the way the novel is written – it’s probably better suited for older teens and adults. 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Random House) for free via NetGalley.

Entice Me Day: Griffin

Who’s excited about Entice Me Day (aka September 15^th)? Unfortunately, we still have a few more days to wait for that!

So, in the meantime, why not learn a little more about Griffin Moore, my favourite character from The Violet Eden Chapters?

Here’s what you need to know: He lives in secrecy and has made a career out of surviving. He is in supernaturally good shape, sports an old fashioned style, and is known for his leadership, trustworthiness and goodness. Not quite the one for social graces, Griffin is the steadfast leader of the Grigori in Violet’s city. He has dedicated himself to winning the war against exiles.

Also, Jessica taped herself in Sydney’s historical urban park, Centennial Park, to reveal some family secrets from the famously reticent leader.

And don’t forget to check out Griffin's character bio (which has even more facts about him) as well as this quotes quiz!

Make sure to follow the rest of the Entice Me Day features via the blogosphere, Twitter and Facebook. The full schedule can be found here!

Charming Canucks: Interview and Giveaway with Jessica Martinez

Charming Canucks is a feature I’ve created that will be posted every other month in an effort to spotlight more Canadian YA authors and their books. 

Today, I'd like to welcome Jessica Martinez.

 

A bit about Jessica (as found on her website): Jessica was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. As a child she played the violin, read books and climbed trees incessantly. She went on to study English and music at Brigham Young University, and since then has been a high school English teacher, symphony violinist, elementary school teacher, violin teacher, and mother. She currently live in Orlando, Florida with her husband and two children. 

The Space Between Us, your second novel, will be released on October 16 by Simon Pulse. Give three reasons why everyone should read it.

a) It takes place in Florida and Banff – two vacations, no airfare.

b) Neither of these sisters is annoyingly perfect, and neither calls their dad “daddy.” You’re welcome. 

c) You just might find yourself falling in love alongside Amelia. I definitely did.

Both Virtuosity and The Space Between Us are contemporaries. Is there another genre you’d love to try your hand at someday? Is there a genre you could never see yourself writing?

The novel I’m working on a now (my fourth) is suspense/crime drama. I’ve never written this kind of book before, which makes it exciting, but scary too. After I finished my third novel (also contemp) I felt the need to force myself to do something totally different and this certainly fits that description.

I have a hard time imagining myself writing paranormal or sci-fi.  I don’t dislike either genre, but my mind just doesn’t work that way.  When I do read it (usually because someone has recommended a book) I find myself tuning out the paranormal and sci-fi elements to focus on the relationships and character development, so I might be missing the point …

What is your writing process like? Are you a pantser or a planner?

I’m both, but mostly a pantser. I start by pantsing it, then at about 10,000 words I freak out and realize I have no clue where I’m going. At that point I make an outline, but I almost never stick to it. Every 10 or 20 thousand words I have to stop and change my outline. My plots are so character driven that it’s really hard to know exactly what my people are going to do until I live through certain things with them. I sometimes think it would be easier if I could just be a planner, but I don’t want to change. I love how my characters evolve and take the plot with them, even if it’s a huge headache and sometimes requires massive rewrites.

Describe your writing space.

My writing space is constantly changing. On any given day I’m writing in bed, in the car, at the kitchen table, at gymnastics, at soccer practice, etc. I used to have a writing room, but now that I’m expecting my third child my official workspace is the corner between the hamper and the rocking chair. Nice, eh?  Given that option, wouldn’t you write in the car too? I envy people who have clean desks and writing playlists and physical space to think, but there’s something to be said for making the magic happen whenever, wherever. It’s the only way I can fit writing into my life.

Do you have any writing projects currently planned? If so, can you give a hint of what to expect.

As I mentioned, I’m drafting my fourth novel. My third comes out next October. It’s about best friends, a guy and a girl, who get married so one can stay in the US. It’s dual point of view, alternating chapters, and it’s the first time I’ve written from a male perspective. I loved doing it.

Quick Questions:

What’s the best thing about growing up in Calgary?

When I was eight years old I got to go to several Olympic figure skating events in my hometown.

You go on a cross-country trip across Canada. What is the one place you have to visit?

As a child I read every book L.M. Montgomery wrote, so I have to do the whole Anne of Green Gables tour on P.E.I.

What's your favourite book by a Canadian author and why?

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje because while I was reading it I met and fell in love with my husband. 

A huge thank you to Jessica for taking the time to answer my questions!

Jessica can be found on: [her blog] [her website] [Twitter] [Facebook] [Goodreads]

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Click here to find out more about Jessica's books!

For this giveaway, one person will get the chance to win a copy of either Virtuosity or The Space Between Us. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

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Mini Reviews: Emily For Real by Sylvia Gunnery and Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Emily’s world crumbles when her boy friend dumps her, and when she thinks her life can’t possibly get any worse, a series of secrets are revealed that threaten to tear her beloved family apart. Emily’s heart has been broken into a hundred pieces and she feels like there is no one to turn to, until an unexpected friendship blossoms with a troubled classmate named Leo. Sometimes moody but always supportive, Leo is Emily’s rock in an ocean of confusion and disbelief. But Leo doesn’t have an easy life either. He struggles to be both mother and father to his little sister while his mom battles her alcohol addiction. His deadbeat dad darts in and out of the picture, and Leo would rather he stay away, permanently. The two friends lean on each other, and in the end discover the inner strength to face whatever life throws at them.

My Rating: 2 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: My biggest problem with Sylvia Gunnery’s Emily For Real was that it squished a variety of topics like a breakup, family secrets, alcoholism, etc. into a short book. As a result, none of these subjects were covered in depth. However, there were other problems as well: namely, that Emily was kind of immature, that what was supposed to be a meaningful friendship between Emily and Leo felt superficial at best, and that because I felt emotionally disconnected from Emily, I just didn’t find her family drama that engaging. 

Emily For Real was released by Pajama Press in April 2012.

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Pajama Press) for free. 

original image from thegate.ca

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From Goodreads: Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some confessions to make: 1) I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you? 2) I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who might be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine. 3) High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry - get it?) Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable. (Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.) (Sorry. That was rude.)

 

My Rating: 2.5 hearts 

 

Thoughts on the Novel: Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett is about one girl trying to get through her first year of high school. While the writing was okay, I wasn’t pleased that the book ended so abruptly, particularly since I thought the plot and the characters – none of whom I really liked – weren’t memorable enough. I also didn’t care about the romance because I couldn’t see what Rose saw in Jamie or figure out why he, a senior, would fall for a lowly freshman. Moreover, I thought it was very hypocritical of Rose for judging her best friend for staying with a cheating boyfriend when she herself makes out with Jamie, a guy who has a girlfriend. 

Confessions of an Angry Girl was released by Harlequin Teen in August 2012.

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) for free via NetGalley.

Belated Blogoversary Giveaway

Wow, time sure flies! Without even realizing it, my blog turned two slightly over a week ago! And I managed to reach 1000 followers last month – a number my newbie self could have only dreamed about reaching!

There’s no way I would have been blogging this long though without the support of all the generous authors and publishers I’ve been lucky to work with. And of course, you guys (especially those of you in my blog roll)! Thank you for keeping me motivated when I go through reading/blogging slumps, for recommending me books to read (or avoid), for checking out my posts, for leaving comments or sending emails and Tweets that brighten up my day; and most of all, for loving books as much as I do.

Of course as a way to thank you (and to celebrate my blogoversary), I’m having a giveaway. There’s one catch though: You have to guess at least one of the covers below.

But, before you start, here are the prizes:

• The first person to guess all the covers correctly gets a book of their choice worth up to $10 CDN. See, it pays to be a cover whore :) 
• Everyone who can guess all the covers will be entered into a random draw. The winner will get a book of their choice worth up to $10 CDN and any one of the books below. 
• All entries are considered eligible to be entered in a random draw to win any one of the books below.

Oh, and if you need a hint, all of the following books are either upcoming 2012 releases or will be released in 2013.

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Review: Entice by Jessica Shirvington

From Goodreads: Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengeance of exiled angels. Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever. The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed. 

My Rating: 4 hearts 

Thoughts on the Novel: Generally, I find that sequels tend to not be as strong as their predecessors. So after finishing Jessica Shirvington’s Embrace with mixed feelings a few months ago, I was a little hesitant about continuing on with Entice. I’m happy I did decide to give it a try because Entice was much better than Embrace.

One of my main issues with Embrace was that I didn’t really like Violet. I’m still by no means in love with her as a character, but she’s a lot more tolerable – and even likeable on occasion. Violet may be prone to bouts of crying – I understand she’s under quite a bit of stress but I’d like less of this in future sequels – and sneaking around, but at least she comes clear about it later on and shares the information she learns. She’s definitely growing as a character, and I look forward to her maturing even more in Emblaze.

Another thing that Shirvington handled better in Entice was the romance. With the removal of Phoenix from Violet’s love life, – no worries Phoenix lovers, he’s still very much present otherwise – the romance became more subtle and didn’t feel like it was overwhelming the plot. As well, I liked that there was finally an explanation – and you get to see the consequences! – for why Grigori partners can’t shouldn’t get romantically involved.

For me, the best aspect about Entice, however, was the overall plot. The disappointing continuation of absent or dead parents aside, Entice delved deeper into the angel mythology (which seemed less muddled in this book) and had some very surprising twists. I also found the new cast of secondary characters a welcome addition, and liked the brief change in location to Jordan. I just wish the Jordanian culture and setting had been more fleshed out.

By raising the stakes, Entice managed to make me fully invested in The Violet Eden Chapters. Be warned though that you may need a copy of Embrace nearby for referral since Entice doesn’t recap what happened in Embrace.

Entice will be released by Sourcebooks on September 4, 2012. 

Comments About the Cover: It sure looks much darker than Embrace’s! I like that Sourcebooks is still sticking with the wispy smoke around the cover title, translucent angel wings and falling black feathers though so that Entice’s cover also bears some similarities with Embrace’s. 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Sourcebooks) for free.   

Waiting on Wednesday: What's Left of Me

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: What's Left of Me

Author: Kat Zhang

Publisher: HarperTeen

Date of Release: September 18, 2012 

Goodreads Description: Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else - two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t ... For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable - hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet ... for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

Why am I waiting? It's got an awesomely original premise! Sharing your body with someone else sounds like it would be both cool and kind of creepy. 

Review: Scary School by Derek the Ghost

From Goodreads: You think your school's scary? Get a load of these teachers: "Ms. Fang," an 850-year-old vampire; "Dr. Dragonbreath," who just might eat you before recess; "Mr. Snakeskin" - science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombie; and "Mrs. T" - break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry "Tyrannosaurus rex." Plus gargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the loose, the world's most frighteningly delicious school lunch and the narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost. Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky. 

My Rating: 4 hearts

Thoughts on the Novel: Scary School by Derek the Ghost is a fun, entertaining MG novel that will appeal especially to boys. Although I didn’t learn much about the narrator, Derek the Ghost, since he doesn’t really talk about himself; I found his voice to still be very distinct. 

I also really liked the way Scary School was narrated because rather than providing a concise plot, Derek the Ghost tends to go off on tangents. As a result, each chapter of the book focuses on a different teacher or student at Scary School, with the central plot being interwoven in. My favourite character ended up being Dr. Dragonbreath, a dragon who expects his students to follow five simple rules (that most students eventually disobey). 

Some of the subtler humour in Scary School though may go over a child’s head. For example, there’s a joke about minotaurs being aMAZEd and talk about survival of the fittest.

Scary School was released by HarperCollins in June 2011. 

Comments About the Cover: I think the cover does a good job of appearing frightening (at least to a child) while simultaneously appearing not so creepy that a child would be daunted from reading the book.  

This ebook was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Author Interview: Sylvia Gunnery

Today on my blog, I'd like to welcome Sylvia Gunnery, the (Canadian) author of Emily for Real, a novel which will be hitting U.S. shelves soon.

A bit about Sylvia (as found on the publisher's website): Sylvia Gunnery is the author of many books for teens and younger readers. Throughout her teaching career, she has been inspired by her students to create authentic and engaging stories. Out of Bounds, the first in her series of sports novels, is a Best Books for Kids and Teens/Our Choice Selection and was nominated for the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award. Sylvia gives writing workshops in her home province of Nova Scotia and across Canada, encouraging young writers to find their own voices and tell their own stories.

You've written books for both kids and teenagers. How do you find writing for kids similar to and different from writing YA?

Writing for teens is a lot different from writing for younger readers because, for teens, everything’s more complex: themes, story structure, characters, language, and more. Teens have had more life experiences, generally, and they’re able to take on more in the fiction they read. This is not to say that writing for children is simple, though many people mistakenly think it is. Less complex does not mean less work. 

Writing for both age groups is a bit like time travel – I have to put my head into a whole different time of life than the one I’m currently living.  It’s fun “being” in those younger worlds. I observe and eavesdrop and daydream about how things are for kids and teens these days, and I remember how it was for me when I was a kid and a teen.  

What was the inspiration behind Emily For Real?

I started thinking about family secrecy a long time ago when a friend revealed to me a secret she was keeping from her children, waiting until they were older and perhaps could more easily understand. For me, the compelling idea was how children would respond and how they’d view their own lives once they were told the secret. So I started Emily’s story, knowing from the start all the details of the secret the Sinclair family was keeping from her. At first I thought they wouldn’t make it through this secrecy, but then their love for each other showed itself to be way deeper than any secret. I was relieved.

How similar is Emily to your teenage self, and what parts of her personality do you see in yourself today?

Now you’re asking me to look in the mirror and be objective at the same time. Not easy. As a teen, I had a few guys who were my friends with no romantic strings attached, just as Emily had her friendship with Leo. Having not had a brother, I really liked those connections. They gave a kind of balance to my life.  Maybe Emily’s also like me in that she notices small details that others might not take time to think about: the little feet of the chickadee being like pencil drawings; recognizing the exact moment Leo fell in love; the significance of the small jade bird in the washroom at Leo’s; Meredith’s hands, cool and pale, with veins like tiny purple rivers. I also find it interesting to take myself apart from everyone and spend time alone, maybe driving my car or travelling by train or plane.  I often walk on the beach or in the park woods by myself, though I haven’t done those middle-of-the-night walks that Emily did.

Over the course of the novel, the reader finds out that Emily's family had some pretty big secrets. What's a secret that your family (or a family member) kept from you that you found out only later in life?

If our family had secrets, they’re still hidden J We were an extended family that sat around our dinner table, long after our meals were eaten, telling stories of what had happened that day and years ago. I don’t remember awkward silences after any questions we asked each other. But when I was in my thirties, I actually did ask Mom and Dad if we had family secrets. They dredged up a few stories that my sister and I had already figured out anyway – nothing that would stir up a scene at a family reunion, for sure. 

Leo knows how to play the guitar and Emily can sing decently. Are you musically talented? If not, what do you consider your special talent (besides writing of course)?

I’m surrounded by musicians – my partner Jim and many, many other musical friends. I do like to sing at our informal gatherings we call “music nights” (especially into a microphone as Emily did in the garage scene). It is through the kindness of my friends that the microphone isn’t yanked out of my hands. 

“Talent” seems a formal word, but I know I work well with student writers – encouraging them to write what they want to write, listening for their voices, and seeming to find the right things to say without interfering in their processes. It’s a big deal for me that every year I meet lots of young writers through writers-in-the-schools visits here in Nova Scotia and across Canada. I learn so much from our conversations.  

A big thanks to Sylvia for taking the time to answer my questions!

For more information about Sylvia or Emily for Real, you can visit the Pajama Press website. Emily for Real can be purchased at Chapters/Indigo, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

And keep an eye on the  following blogs participating in the Emily for Real Blog Tour running during August: Open Book Toronto, YA Booklover Blog, Pub(lishing) Crawl, Midnight Bloom Reads and Books in the Spotlight

Waiting on Wednesday: The Space Between Us

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme held by Jill at Breaking the Spine to feature upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on. 

Title: The Space Between Us

Author: Jessica Martinez

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Date of Release: October 16, 2012 

Goodreads Description: Amelia is used to being upstaged by her charismatic younger sister, Charly. She doesn’t mind, mostly, that it always falls to her to cover for Charly’s crazy, impulsive antics. But one night, Charly’s thoughtlessness goes way too far, and she lands both sisters in serious trouble. Amelia’s not sure she can forgive Charly this time, and not sure she wants to ... but forgiveness is beside the point. Because Charly is also hiding a terrible secret, and the truth just might tear them apart forever.

Why am I waiting? Not only am I looking forward to reading The Space Between Us because I really liked Martinez' debut novel, Virtuosity, but I also love novels revolving around secrets. Bonus: Martinez is a Canadian author :)

Review: Dark Companion by Marta Acosta

From Goodreads: When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove. Something's not quite right about the school - or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother. The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member. Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school ... and be bound to Birch Grove forever?

My Rating: 1.5 hearts

Thoughts on the Novel: If you had asked me how I felt about Marta Acosta’s Dark Companion when I first started it, I would have said that it was pretty decent. Yes, it was kind of slow and didn’t have the most interesting protagonist; but, I liked the Gothic atmosphere. The story also seemed to suggest that it was only going to get better, and I couldn’t wait to figure out what mysterious and thrilling secrets Birch Grove Academy held.

Midway through the book though, the story took a turn for the worse. Since I don’t want to ruin the plot, let’s just say that the latter part of the book involves bloodplay – which I might have been okay with if Acosta had decided to take her story into the paranormal realm. Instead, the characters stressed repeatedly that rather than being paranormal creatures, they were only suffering from an ‘autosomal recessive genetic disorder.’ When combined with the super descriptive scenes, it just felt so, so weird!

Since I didn’t love any of the characters either, I seriously debated whether I wanted to finish Dark Companion or not. I did; but much to my dismay, the story didn’t get better! Not only did I slog through the awkwardness to get an extremely neat ending, but characters magically changed their minds or feelings to achieve that ending! (Oh, and it’s hinted that maybe there’s just a bit of paranormal to this story after all. I’m still not sure what to make of that part.)

Anyways, let’s move on to the characterization. In general, I thought the characters were one-dimensional and had incredibly unrealistic dialogue. Also, their tendency to have nicknames – two completely lame ones being Lucky and Ornery – and/or give it to what felt like every single person or thing just grated on my nerves! In spite of this, Mary Violet somehow managed to grow on me.

Jane, however, did the total opposite by becoming the epitome of a TSTL character! I get that she desperately wants to be loved, but it boggles my mind how amazingly dim she became after falling – instant love alert! – for Lucky, an abusive jerk who was so obviously using her (and even says so!).  

Before reading Dark Companion, I’d seen reviews for it claiming how different it was. I’d have to agree … except it wasn’t different in a good way for me!

Dark Companion was released in July 2012 by Tor.

Comments About the Cover: I’m really going to have to stop judging books by their pretty covers! 

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Tor) for free via NetGalley.

Review: Wake by Amanda Hocking

From Back Cover: Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention - but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group. Gemma seems to have it all - she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different. Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves - or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

My Rating: 3.5 hearts

Thoughts on the Novel: After seeing all the positive reviews for Amanda Hocking’s Trylle trilogy, I really wanted to give her writing a try. Thankfully, Wake came out at the right time because rather than trying to catch up on another series, I could start fresh with a brand new one.

Although the synopsis of Wake makes it seem like there’s only one protagonist, it actually has two – Gemma and her older sister Harper. The sibling relationship was probably my favourite aspect of the book because even though the girls argue with each other, it’s obvious that they love one another too. In terms of them as individuals, I found Harper the easier one to relate to because she was a lot more like me in personality whereas Gemma was the more impulsive one. I also thought Gemma was stubborn and selfish for going swimming in the bay at night in spite of Harper’s and their dad’s concerns about it being dangerous.

Another thing that I liked was that both girls got their own romances that were free of instant love. However, I also thought that the love interests were sort of unremarkable – despite feeling like that there’s still more to Daniel than meets the eye – and that the romances were kind of bland.  

Overall, while I wasn’t blown by Wake, I did like it enough that I will be reading the sequel, Lullaby. I felt like the story had just started to pick up steam when it abruptly ended!

Wake was released on August 7, 2012 by St. Martin’s Press.

Comments About the Cover: Compared to all the gorgeous covers out there, I feel like Wake’s is rather ordinary. 

In exchange for an honest review, this book was received from the publisher (Raincoast Books) for free.

Teaser Trailer: Entice by Jessica Shirvington

Dangerously exciting, darkly romantic – the teaser trailer for the next book in Jessica Shirvington’s Embrace series is here! In Entice, the war between Exiles and Angels is on - and Violet Eden is wanted by both sides. Living a secret life as a warrior protecting innocent human lives isn’t easy. Knowing who to trust is key, but when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even her partner, Lincoln. And with Phoenix more dangerous than ever, Violet is truly on her own.

Plus, join me for a fun meet-up with other Entice fans during the Entice Me Day 8-day celebration in September!  Meet the book characters, bring your friends and come back for the big party on Sept. 15^th where you’ll see the full book trailer, get sneak peeks and win prizes!

Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

From Goodreads: Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered - in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life. 

My Rating: 4.5 hearts

Thoughts on the Novel: I seem to be having difficulty writing reviews lately – watching the Olympics nonstop may have something to do with it – so I’ve decided to instead state five reasons why you should read Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina. Here we go:

1. The worldbuilding: Besides the appeal of dragons, the world that Hartman created was incredible in and of itself. It literally felt like Hartman thought of everything down to the minutest detail – characters were even discussing the works of her made-up philosophers!
2. The coming-of-age aspect: Although Seraphina is marketed as a fantasy, I think it can be enjoyed by anybody because it’s very much also a book about a young girl growing up, trying to figure out her place in the world, and learning to accept herself.
3. The main character: Seraphina was just so fantastically complex. At times, she comes off as fragile and you just want to give her a hug; and then at other times, you realize that she’s actually pretty brave and tough. All in all, Seraphina was a protagonist I could easily relate to and root for.
4. The secondary characters: I felt like all the secondary characters had something important to contribute to the story. Best of all, nobody seemed like a stereotyped character since even the minor characters were really well-developed.
5. A romance that doesn’t overpower the plot: Although Seraphina’s realization that she loves Kiggs seemingly came out of nowhere (or maybe I was just oblivious to the signs), the romance never felt like an instant love situation (possibly because the two had interacted with each other a few times before Seraphina’s sudden insight into her feelings). I also liked that the love triangle that develops in the end isn’t like your typical love triangle because a) there are two girls and one guy and b) it wasn’t created to add more drama for the sequel or because a character is irresistibly attractive, but because there ends up being a conflict between duty and love. I was so thrilled to see Hartman stay true to her characters’ natures and acknowledge (through her characters) that it’s not an easy choice.

If you can get past the slow beginning and stick with Seraphina, I assure you that you’ll find a beautifully written story with multiple fully-rounded characters!

Seraphina was released by Random House Children’s Books in July 2012.

Comments About the Cover: I love the monochromatic look because it gives the cover this olden day feel, which I think is perfect since the world of Seraphina is very much medieval.  

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Random House) for free via NetGalley.  

original image from thegate.ca

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

From Goodreads: No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

 

My Rating: 3.5 hearts (although it's a little tempting to add half a heart for the ending) 

Thoughts on the Novel: Since the synopsis of Katie McGarry’s Pushing the Limits made the novel sound kind of cheesy to me, I had no interest in reading the book. After seeing a lot of praise for Pushing the Limits however, I figured I’d at least give it a try. 

Although the story contained a bit too much drama for me, I liked the tremendous growth displayed by the main characters. At first, Echo initially lacks a backbone; but over time, she stops avoiding confrontations and learns to stand up for herself. As much as I enjoyed seeing Echo gain more confidence though, I liked Noah’s alternative POV – excluding his lame nicknames for Echo (e.g. siren, nymph, etc.) and the parts where he keeps talking about her incredible smell (à la Perry from Veronica Rossi’s Under the Never Sky) – better. If McGarry hadn’t written from Noah’s perspective, I don’t think I’d appreciate his complexity as a character as much or realize just how strongly he cares about his younger brothers' well-being.

Despite preferring Echo and Noah as individuals over them as a couple, I can’t deny that they had chemistry. However, for two individuals battling their own inner demons, they considered themselves to be in love a little too quickly for my liking; and the romance felt more like a case of serious lust early on.  

Pushing the Limits was released by Harlequin Teen in July 2012.

Comments About the Cover: It’s sexy; and I like that the characters resemble McGarry’s description. But, there’s no way I’d be reading a book with a cover like that in a public place. Thankfully, this is what e-readers are for :)

In exchange for an honest review, this ARC was received from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) for free via NetGalley.