Book Review: A Study of Charlotte

a study in charlotte

The last thing sixteen-year-old Jamie Watson–writer and great-great-grandson of the John Watson–wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter, who’s inherited not just his genius but also his vices, volatile temperament, and expertly hidden vulnerability. Charlotte has been the object of his fascination for as long as he can remember–but from the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else.

Then a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Holmes stories, and Jamie and Charlotte become the prime suspects. Convinced they’re being framed, they must race against the police to conduct their own investigation. As danger mounts, it becomes clear that nowhere is safe and the only people they can trust are each other.

Pros – A good mystery, interesting dynamic between “Watson” and “Holmes”, engaging quick read

Cons – Charlotte is too…well Holmes like, wavers between being a straight up “re-imagining” and “inspired by”, possibly the adults in this book (with ONE exception) are just on drugs the entire time

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Book Review: Nightingale, Sing

 

nightingale

A STREETWISE VIGILANTE
who will do anything to cure her dying sister

A RUTHLESS GANGSTER
on a grisly quest to attain immortality

A DESPERATE FATHER
who crossed oceans to free his enslaved son

A TRAIL OF RIDDLES
and the mythical treasure they all seek:

THE SERENGETI SAPPHIRE

Pros – The Setting ( I dig Boston ok?), Sabra’s family vows, …ok yes also Atlas

Cons – Making me think that certain folk aren’t around anymore, Not Quite Dead villainy

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Book Review: Can You Keep a Secret?

secret

Eddie and Emma are high school sweethearts from the wrong side of the tracks. Looking for an escape their dreary lives, they embark on an overnight camping trip in the Fear Street Woods with four friends. As Eddie is carving a heart into a tree, he and Emma discover a bag hidden in the trunk. A bag filled with hundred-dollar bills. Thousands of them. Should they take it? Should they leave the money there? The six teens agree to leave the bag where it is until it’s safe to use it. But when tragedy strikes Emma’s family, the temptation to skim some money off of the top becomes impossible to fight. There’s only one problem. When Emma returns to the woods, the bag of money is gone, and with it, the trust of six friends with a big secret.

ProsMy status updates reached a new level of snarkiness, Callie, actual death

Cons – the wolf plotline, practically everything about these kids, inconsistency of plot (which is saying a lot)

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Book Review: Flirting with Fame

flirting with fame

Elise Jameson is the secret author behind the bestselling, cult hit Viking Moon series. But when a stranger poses as Elise, the painfully shy, deaf nineteen-year-old starts to see how much she’s missing. Can she really hide in the shadows forever? This clever, coming-of-age debut is for anyone who has ever felt unsure in their own skin.

After a freak childhood accident leaves her deaf and physically scarred, nineteen-year-old Elise Jameson retreats into a world of vibrant characters she creates on her laptop. She is shocked when her coping mechanism turns into a career as a phenomenal bestselling novelist. Fans are obsessed with Elise’s Viking Moon series and its author—a striking girl with zero resemblance to Elise who appears on the back covers. Elise sent the randomly Googled photo to her editor following a minor panic attack. Now, horrified to learn she is expected on set of the television pilot based on her novels, Elise tracks down her anonymous stand-in. To Elise’s surprise, Veronica Wilde has been taking credit for Viking Moon for years. She eagerly agrees to keep up the charade if Elise will pose as her assistant.

It’s hard for Elise to watch a stranger take credit for her work and get all the perks she desires, including admiration from the show’s heartthrob star. Edged onto the sidelines of her own life, Elise reconsiders her choice to stay anonymous. Is she ready to come to terms with her true identity—and with the long-buried secrets that could cost her her career, her fans, and the few precious friendships she’s made?

Pros – Elise, Reggie, Gavin being a geeky fanboy bookworm

Cons – Typical romance “obstacles”, heavy-handed deus ex machina to resolve some internal problems, MISCOMMUNICATION ABOUND

As a sidenote I won’t be talking about Elise’s deafness or how its used in the book–in all honesty I have no experience with that facet of life, so I don’t want to comment on it as part of my opinion on the book.

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Book Review Redux: Stained Glass Monsters

 

stained glass monsters

Creatures from the Eferum are a world-wide problem: creeping through tears in the fabric of space, they feast on every unprotected human they can find.

Tyrland has a solution in the Kellian: faster and stronger than humans, they are Tyrland’s clawed, shadowy monster hunters. But no matter how faithfully they serve, or how true their sworn word, they are too different, too separate, to ever be entirely trusted.

Rennyn Claire is a complication. Secretive and obscenely powerful, she knows entirely too much about a massive new threat to Tyrland’s safety. Worst of all, she is linked to a past that the Kellian would rather forget.

All three of these things – monsters, Kellian, and an entirely overpowered mage – are about to land in Kendall Stockton’s lap. The last thing Kendall wants is to try to play conscience to someone who can swat her like a bug. But innocent lives are at stake, and no-one else seems willing to ask if what is necessary is the right thing to do.

And who, exactly, is the monster?

Pros – Ren, folk actually discussing the best way to do something, Helecho the Bastard

Cons -Sometimes very long discussions about magic, Kendall for much of it

(please note: a version of this review appeared originally on Poisoned Rationality. I’ve since updated and tweaked it after a recent re-read.  Additions are noted in italics)

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Blog Tour: Greta and the Lost Army

greta and the lost army chloe jacobs

All right folks so you ventured with Greta as she battled her way across Mylena in GRETA AND THE GOBLIN KING, fought against the darkness in her and Issac’s lives in GRETA AND THE GLASS KINGDOM to read as she finally made it home.  So what’s next for our battle born beauty and her kingly love?

Well Agramon really doesn’t like to let go, Greta’s parents are very surprised by the changes in their daughter and oh yeah that wedding…

Tody is the first day of the blog tour (see schedule here) hosted by YA Reads Blog Tours and I have the distinct pleasure of reviewing the book!  Stay tuned for the giveaway at the end as well 😉

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Discussion: 5 Books to Movies

I have a bit of a confession to make–in the last few years, what with the plethora of movies based on books coming out, I’ve begun to get a bit burned out. This isn’t limited to the Young Adult novels being turned into movies (it seems a dozen a year are coming out…), but just all things.

Here’s another confession…I sometimes like the movie better than the book.

Eric-Matthews-Shock-Stands-Up-Boy-Meets-World.gif

Yes…its true. It does happen.  I realized this as I was going through my Goodreads tags actually.  So I thought I’d share my top 5 books to movies in which I enjoyed the movie better.

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Book Review: Indexing Reflections

indexing

The struggle against not-so-charming storybook narratives isn’t the only complicating factor in Henrietta “Henry” Marchen’s life. As part of the ATI Management Bureau team protecting the world from fairy tales gone awry, she’s juggling her unwanted new status as a Snow White, dealing with a potentially dangerous Pied Piper, and wrangling a most troublesome wicked stepsister—along with a budding relationship with Jeff, her teammate.

But when a twisted, vicious Cinderella breaks out of prison and wreaks havoc, things go from disenchanted to deadly. And once Henry realizes someone is trying to use her to destroy the world, her story becomes far from over—and this one might not have a happily ever after.

Pros – We learn about Sloane’s history, Henry’s Team, Ciara

Cons – less episodic, Adrianna (you’ll see), not long enough

Before you begin this review please note there are spoilers for the first book (which I reviewed here at Poisoned Rationality). I’ll touch on this later, but unlike in INDEXING, you can’t read these as individual episodes easily.

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My Life as Books: 2015 Edition

I’ve been doing these since 2009, so let’s keep this tradition alive on this new blog as well eh?

Using only books you have read this year (2015), cleverly answer these questions.   Try not to repeat a book title. (links lead to GoodReads)

Describe Yourself:  Girl of Myth and Legend by Giselle Simlett

How do you feel:  Wrecked by Meljean Brook

Describe where you currently live:  Beyond the Waterfall Door by Brenda Cooper

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Eternal City by Paula Morris

Your favorite form of transport: On a Red Horse by Monica Corwin

Your best friend is: The Astronomer Who Met the North Wind by Kate Hall

What’s the weather like: Frozen by Meljean Brook

Favourite time of day: The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

What is life to you: The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs

Your fear: The Unquiet by Mikaela Everett

What is the best advice you have to give: The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

Thought for the Day: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron

How I would like to die: Murder at Almack’s (anthology)

My soul’s present condition: A Thousand Words for Stranger by Julie E. Czerneda

lexie


Lexie Words

Series Shorts: Magic Stars

Magic Stars

Scarred, solitary Derek Gaunt has separated from his Pack, and is truly a lone wolf. With no family he answers to no one; but is fiercely loyal to a chosen few. So, when several of those close to him are murdered, he’ll stop at nothing to hunt their killer through the magic-drenched streets of Atlanta.

Never one to be left on the sidelines, equally determined—some might say stubborn—Julie Lennart-Olsen soon joins in his pursuit; and what began as revenge turns into a race to save the city. Their search pits them against powers they never imagined and magic so old, it predates history. It may cost Derek his life, but there are things for which even he would risk everything.

Pros – More Julie and Derek is never a bad thing, tantalizing hints about future plot points, Julie kicks ass

Cons – …really the only con is that this is the first time we’ve been in Derek’s head and I would like more of it

As a warning, this is set after book 8 (Magic Shifts) the most recent Kate Daniels book. So as such there’s some spoilers for some rather large events of the recent books. You’ve been warned.

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