Hello All,
Sirensong is the book that's taking me back into reviewing young adult novels. Jenna Black's Sirensong is the third in her Faeriewalker series, and I was very brave and started with this volume; I prefer to start at the beginning of a series. I'm glad I didn't wait.
Dana Hathaway is a Faeriewalker; she is part human, part Faerie. She lives in Avalon, a sort of no-man's land between those two worlds. Dana's father is a politician of sorts, and when Dana is invited to be presented at the Seelie Court in Faerie, he insists on the trip. The trip is a hazardous one, with lots of warring magic and other troubles. Dana is not supposed to have any magical powers, but she does, and she keeps it hidden until it becomes absolutely necessary.
There is a lot of magic, characters, creatures, species, adventure, danger and heroism in this book. The first two books must be interesting also, to build this world.
Slight problems I had with this book were popular culture references; they jolted me out of the story several times, and weren't necessary to the plot.
Definitely recommended for fantasy readers.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Sirensong by Jenna Black, Griffin Original, 2011, ISBN 9780312575953
This book was sent to me for review by Griffin Original/Macmillan Publishers; no other compensation was offered or accepted for this review.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Long Gone by Alafair Burke
Hello All,
Thanks to HarperCollins, I now have another author to read. They very kindly sent a review copy to me of Alafair Burke's Long Gone. And I'm hooked.
Long Gone is the story of Alice Humphrey, the 30-something unemployed daughter of a famous (and philandering) Hollywood director. At an art gallery one evening, she is offered a dream job of opening a gallery and running it herself. The hitch is that an undisclosed owner has taken an artist under his wing, and Alice must open the gallery with that artist's exhibit. She agrees to these conditions, then discovers that the art could be considered to be pornographic. The opening goes forward, but is picketed by a religious group. Two days after the gallery's opening, Alice is to meet the owner's go-between at the gallery; she shows up, only to find the gallery completely cleaned out, no sign of any occupancy, except for the dead body on the floor.
This is only the beginning of Alice's nightmare. She wants to trust the police, but she's their prime suspect. Eventually the nightmare evolves to encompass her family, her friends, a missing girl and the FBI. What I appreciated about this suspenseful story is that despite all that happens to her, Alice usually takes a split moment to think through her actions, and her safety; this is not always the way in suspense novels.
Highly recommended.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Long Gone by Alafair Burke published in 2011 by Harper ISBN 978006199918
This book was sent to me for review by HarperCollins Publishers; no other compensation was offered or accepted for this review.
Thanks to HarperCollins, I now have another author to read. They very kindly sent a review copy to me of Alafair Burke's Long Gone. And I'm hooked.
Long Gone is the story of Alice Humphrey, the 30-something unemployed daughter of a famous (and philandering) Hollywood director. At an art gallery one evening, she is offered a dream job of opening a gallery and running it herself. The hitch is that an undisclosed owner has taken an artist under his wing, and Alice must open the gallery with that artist's exhibit. She agrees to these conditions, then discovers that the art could be considered to be pornographic. The opening goes forward, but is picketed by a religious group. Two days after the gallery's opening, Alice is to meet the owner's go-between at the gallery; she shows up, only to find the gallery completely cleaned out, no sign of any occupancy, except for the dead body on the floor.
This is only the beginning of Alice's nightmare. She wants to trust the police, but she's their prime suspect. Eventually the nightmare evolves to encompass her family, her friends, a missing girl and the FBI. What I appreciated about this suspenseful story is that despite all that happens to her, Alice usually takes a split moment to think through her actions, and her safety; this is not always the way in suspense novels.
Highly recommended.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Long Gone by Alafair Burke published in 2011 by Harper ISBN 978006199918
This book was sent to me for review by HarperCollins Publishers; no other compensation was offered or accepted for this review.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
Hello All!
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal first attracted me because of its Regency time period setting, then for its fantasy elements. It was an interesting mix.
This first struck me as a novel of manners, and reminded me much of Jane Austen's characters and their interactions. One of the largest fantasy elements of the novel is that of "glamour" which I find a bit hard to describe, but importantly to this novel, it is a skill that young ladies should acquire, in addition to playing music, drawing and embroidery. Our heroine, Jane, is very skilled with glamour, but is just unattractive enough to be close to becoming a spinster. Her sister, Melody, is the pretty, younger sister, who despite her beaus, is actually jealous of her sister's accomplishments.
As the novel begins, the neighbors have hired a famous glamourist, Mr. Vincent (apparently, men can be skilled with this art too), to enchant their dining room while they entertain a young Army Captain. Other neighbors are active with guests as the novel progresses; Mr. Dunkirk also brings his sister Beth to visit for the summer. The book brings together society's hierarchy, romance, art, lies, jealousy and betrayal. I thought I knew where Shades of Milk and Honey was going, but I was happily deceived with a few twists in toward the end.
Recommended and I look forward to Ms. Kowal's next book.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal published in 2010 by Tor Books ISBN 9781429963367
This book was sent to me for review Macmillan Publishers; no other compensation was offered or accepted for this review.
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal first attracted me because of its Regency time period setting, then for its fantasy elements. It was an interesting mix.
This first struck me as a novel of manners, and reminded me much of Jane Austen's characters and their interactions. One of the largest fantasy elements of the novel is that of "glamour" which I find a bit hard to describe, but importantly to this novel, it is a skill that young ladies should acquire, in addition to playing music, drawing and embroidery. Our heroine, Jane, is very skilled with glamour, but is just unattractive enough to be close to becoming a spinster. Her sister, Melody, is the pretty, younger sister, who despite her beaus, is actually jealous of her sister's accomplishments.
As the novel begins, the neighbors have hired a famous glamourist, Mr. Vincent (apparently, men can be skilled with this art too), to enchant their dining room while they entertain a young Army Captain. Other neighbors are active with guests as the novel progresses; Mr. Dunkirk also brings his sister Beth to visit for the summer. The book brings together society's hierarchy, romance, art, lies, jealousy and betrayal. I thought I knew where Shades of Milk and Honey was going, but I was happily deceived with a few twists in toward the end.
Recommended and I look forward to Ms. Kowal's next book.
Happy Reading!
Patti
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal published in 2010 by Tor Books ISBN 9781429963367
This book was sent to me for review Macmillan Publishers; no other compensation was offered or accepted for this review.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Grace Interrupted by Julie Hyzy
Hello All,
Grace Interrupted is an excellent title for the second Manor House Mystery by Julie Hyzy. Poor Grace is constantly interrupted as she goes about her job as Marshfield Manor's curator.
Marshfield Manor's grounds are serving as an encampment for a group of Civil War re-enactors. One of the group's members, about to be promoted to general, is killed after fighting with the Manor's gardener, Jack, and his brother, Zachary. As the police work the case from the outside, Grace sends the nosiest person she knows, her secretary Frances, undercover into the encampment. A lot of information is discovered, but Jack remains the main suspect.
Ms. Hyzy takes the reader into the beautiful Marshfield Manor and what it takes to run an tourist estate; additionally she takes the reader to a Civil War encampment and all the details involved with re-enacting. Grace and all the characters are fleshed-out, interesting, intelligent and humorous. They are an enjoyable group to spend time with, and I look forward to Grace's next adventure.
I think the titles are very appropriate for this book, Grace Interrupted, and the first in the series, Grace Under Pressure. Hmmm, maybe based on these titles Grace needs a vacation. Just until the next book comes out!
Happy Reading!
Patti
Grace Interrupted by Julie Hyzy published in June 2011 by Berkley Prime Crime ISBN9780425241905
This book was sent to me for review by Dana Kaye Litoff of Kaye Publicity; no other compensation was offered or accepted for this review.
Grace Interrupted is an excellent title for the second Manor House Mystery by Julie Hyzy. Poor Grace is constantly interrupted as she goes about her job as Marshfield Manor's curator.
Marshfield Manor's grounds are serving as an encampment for a group of Civil War re-enactors. One of the group's members, about to be promoted to general, is killed after fighting with the Manor's gardener, Jack, and his brother, Zachary. As the police work the case from the outside, Grace sends the nosiest person she knows, her secretary Frances, undercover into the encampment. A lot of information is discovered, but Jack remains the main suspect.
Ms. Hyzy takes the reader into the beautiful Marshfield Manor and what it takes to run an tourist estate; additionally she takes the reader to a Civil War encampment and all the details involved with re-enacting. Grace and all the characters are fleshed-out, interesting, intelligent and humorous. They are an enjoyable group to spend time with, and I look forward to Grace's next adventure.
I think the titles are very appropriate for this book, Grace Interrupted, and the first in the series, Grace Under Pressure. Hmmm, maybe based on these titles Grace needs a vacation. Just until the next book comes out!
Happy Reading!
Patti
Grace Interrupted by Julie Hyzy published in June 2011 by Berkley Prime Crime ISBN9780425241905
This book was sent to me for review by Dana Kaye Litoff of Kaye Publicity; no other compensation was offered or accepted for this review.
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