In Pursuit of My Own Library

Wow, I think I need to go to some kind of Dystopian Anonymous meeting. I have really been reading a bunch in the genre lately. My head is starting to get some strange ideas about itself. I might even be developing prepper paranoia. At least I have some excellent entertainment. Champion by Marie Lu The conclusion to the Legends trilogy was strong. The action kept moving, the plot didn't get stale, and the heroes kept a few twists up their sleeves to surprise the reader. Overall, I give the third book from Marie Lu 4 stars. I was pleased with a lot of aspects about this story. I will try to keep this review spoiler free, but it is not going to be easy. All the events in this book are so intricately linked to the great build up work laid down in Legend and Prodigy . Props for the excellent development through all parts of the trilogy. They clearly rely on each other without being dependent. I will reveal we get to see yet more cultures from around the world in this installmen

There is a flood on the market for YA dystopian novels right now. They are being made into movies and super flashy trends for today. The female leaders are all about empowerment and kicking butt. I'm honestly a little tired when it all goes so overboard. Then, I got Branded . Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki Whooof! Was that an emotionally charged rollercoaster. There are your key formulaic concepts of isolating a group of people for some utilitarian purpose of control. There is a power-hungry lunatic ruling the country in militaristic fashion. There are hints that this all is our  very near future if we don't open our eyes and fix our disturbing ways. But (and I really stress that), Abi and Missy managed to add a new layer to the formula that makes Branded have an impact. They make their book disgusting, disturbing, and eye-watering. It is all very real and painful. Refreshing in a pile of happy-go-lucky-ever-after dystopias. (Doesn't that seem like some kind

Spring cleaning, vacation planning, and reading. What have I been reading? An excellent new novel that comes out in July. I have not read something in the general fiction category that sparked my interest since college. The story was poignant and rich in real life heartaches. I typically veer away from general fiction because authors play with the formatting in ways I don't really appreciate. The treatment of time and narrative in this novel proves that manipulation, but it really works with the emotions behind this novel. The Last Kings of Sark by Rosa Rankin-Gee "My name is Jude. And because of Law, Hey and the Obscure, they thought I was a boy." Jude is twenty-one when she flies in a private plane to Sark, a tiny carless Channel Island and the last place in Europe to abolish feudalism. She’s been hired for the summer to tutor a rich local boy named Pip. But when Jude arrives, the family is unsettling. Pip is awkward, overly literal, and adamant he doesn't ne

This time I am heading over to the opposite side of the globe for a dose of myth from Vietnamese culture. There is not much I know about this Asia country other than we had struggles 40 years ago, and my father was there and you don't ask him questions. I was very eager to read this collection of short stories from a largely oral tradition of ghost stories and body snatchers. (And ended up a tad bit creeped out . ) Violet Kuppersmith injects new life in these ancient myths with modern settings. She even, spectacularly , brings the modern struggle of Asian-American lineage to her short stories. It is important for the younger generations to know the culture their family came from while accepting a modern culture of the land that they were born. It is a fascinating anthropological study of diaspora and the making of new heritages.  The Frangipani Hotel by Violet Kuppersmith This collection fulfilled my hopes for a look into yet another culture I was not raised to know. I find

We have some excellent new material from Anna Kashina today. An excellent post on her blog and the cover for The Guild of Assassins ! Plus the announcement of our giveaway winner! Congratulations to T. Pecoraro! Anna has updated her blog with an excellent post on characters' points-of-view and her feelings about the cover reveal for The Guild of Assassins . Check out the new articles on her blog:  http://annakashinablog.wordpress.com/ Now to take a look at the cover for the second book in the Majat Code series. The book is being released this August! The sequel to Blades of the Old Empire. Kara has achieved something that no Majat has ever managed – freedom from the Guild! But the Black Diamond assassin Mai has been called back to face his punishment for sparing her life. Determined to join his fight or share his punishment, Kara finds herself falling for Mai. But is their relationship – and the force that makes their union all-powerful – a tool to defeat the overpowering forc

The next book in the Majat Guild series is coming out this August. To get prepared for all the excitement, I have a copy of Blades of the Old Empire to give away to one very lucky winner. Entrants can be from anywhere in the globe, so make sure you get ALL your friends involved. The contest will end on Saturday with the announcement of not only the winner, but the cover reveal for The Guild of Assassins ! I am excited that we are getting closer to the release. Don't miss out on getting involved with this amazing martial arts series. You can catch my spoiler free review here  for more on the Majat Guild. Enter to win your copy of Blades of the Old Empire  and get ready for August. Contest Over -- Congratulations T. Pecoraro