After about 15 months and two publishing delays, the second book in Melissa Gray’s The Girl at Midnight trilogy is finally here. The expect
After about 15 months and two publishing delays, the second book in Melissa Gray’s The Girl at Midnight trilogy is finally here. The expectations were high for those of us who liked the first book, but Gray justifies the long wait and the hype that follows the series. When the first book came out, many reviewers complained about the similarities between The Girl at Midnight and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. They continue in those elements that Gray borrowed, but otherwise the story takes a different direction entirely.
The pacing is a little bit slower than in the previous book, but the end result is no less thrilling. The Shadow Hour is a tangle of action and emotion, discoveries and desperate moves. The book somehow avoids the middle book syndrome, even though it’s less eventful than its predecessor. There is plenty to keep us occupied and afraid for our characters, and Gray once again demonstrates her ability to keep the narrative voices separate, despite there being many, and in fairly brief chapters.
Plotwise, The Shadow Hour is a fantastic book, rich and exciting, full of unexpected twists and complicated betrayals. Even in its quiet moments it keeps the reader engaged and on the edge. There are so many things going on at once, so much resentment brewing that a single wrong step could turn into outright wars. The truce between the Avicen and Caius is tenuous at best, with only Echo to keep it together. With all of them confined to a single place, the tension is unrelenting and palpable.
What makes this book weaker, in my eyes, is the never-ending number of love triangles. Not only do the old ones keep making us miserable, but there are new ones to ruin what little peace was achieved. At one point, everyone seems to be at least a little bit in love with everyone else, and there is hurt and bitterness whichever way you turn. Jasper and Dorian seem to be the most popular couple in the trilogy, but even they face new challenges and yet another person added to the mix. As if Dorian’s unrequited love for Caius and his hatred for all Avicen weren’t challenging enough.
On the other side, non-romantic relationships give strength to this story, making it a deep and challenging well of emotions. Most, but not all of them, begin with Echo and her complicated past and present. The friendship between Ivy and her felt genuine from the start and the love that exists there is quite obvious. My favorite, though, is Echo’s view of Ala – as a mother, a teacher, a protector, and a tether to the world of Avicen. Aside from that, the conflict between Caius and his treacherous twin sister was done exceedingly well. His emotions towards her, , ranging from love to disappointment to understanding to betrayal, and especially during their confrontations made it almost difficult to breathe. Poor Caius was abandoned by all except Dorian, but nothing was as painful as the knife his sister shoved in his back.
The ending can’t really be called a cliffhanger, but Echo and her friends are in a very difficult place. It will be challenging to wait a whole year or more for some kind of resolution, but at this point, I have no doubt that Melissa Gray will make it worth our while. ...more
Finishing a favorite series never really means saying goodbye, at least not for me. If I’m attached enough to the characters, I often revisit them andFinishing a favorite series never really means saying goodbye, at least not for me. If I’m attached enough to the characters, I often revisit them and read my favorite parts just to feel close to them once again. I must have read every one of the first five Cole McGinnis books at least three or four times and I don’t see why Dirty Heart would be any different.
Rhys Ford has kept her secrets very well for a long time now. We’ve been dancing around the mystery of Cole’s past for years now and although everyone had a theory about it, I think all of them proved to be wrong. Finding out what really happened when Cole’s best friend and police partner Ben shot him and killed his boyfriend Rick was unbelievably painful, but necessary. All things considered, Cole has been handling the traumas from his past extremely well through the first five books. In Dirty Heart, however, everything he’s buried for so long comes back out as the truth of what happened finally comes to light. It’s the most difficult and emotional journey Cole and Jae have had to endure from the beginning of their relationship, but I admire them even more for how they faced their hardships.
On the other side, the love and hope Cole shares with his Jae made the darkness of this book somewhat easier to stand. The two are still such an odd pair: Cole, always affectionate and demonstrative, and his quiet, reserved Korean man. Both of them have been rejected by their families for loving a man, and I’m glad that Rhys offered no easy fixes for either of them. Instead, she gave them a new family, made of blood relatives and friends they picked up along the way, and their new people (including the most brilliant surrogate mother for our Cole) are far better than anything either of them were born to. The Cole McGinnis series is one of the best M/M fiction has the offer, if not THE best. Keep that in mind, especially if you’re new to the genre. Oh, and if you decide to read these, which you should, the audiobook narrator is simply amazing and his voice has long ago become Cole’s voice in my head. He is so awesome, in fact, that Rhys named a character after him. So thank you to Rhys Ford for giving us all these amazing characters, but also, thank you to Greg Tremblay for making them come truly alive.
It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series, albeit knowing without a doubt that this wonderful
It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series, albeit knowing without a doubt that this wonderful author will give us so much more to enjoy.
It was very easy to fall in love with these characters and their quirks yet again. Each of them is a small work of art, an unforgettable combination of oddities and personality traits. Sophoronia in particular is very easy to love, and so very competent to boot! I loved her in this book more than I ever loved her before. As silly as this series was most times (and really, silliness is what Carriger does best), we’ve still seen Sophoronia grow up to become a skilled, self-assured young woman. No more than a mischievous girl when we first met her, we’re leaving her as someone else entirely, a highly trained, sophisticated girl, but still with that familiar devil-may-care attitude.
Everything is bigger and better in this final installment. It’s funnier, faster, more romantic and more dangerous. There are guns and explosions, secrets and revelations. Carriger did an excellent job of concluding the overall storyline with a bang. I have to reiterate how much I loved Sophorinia in this book, braver and more resourceful than ever before. She makes her own rules and lives by them bravely, which is a quality I admire and hope some younger readers will adopt. But she wasn’t not the only one to show admirable growth in this book – her friends, including Agatha, have all become so much more courageous and quick-witted than ever before.
I was a bit afraid for the romance in this one, to be honest. While I knew how I wanted it to go, I saw no possible way for it to end like that. I suppose I should have trusted Carriger more because she found a very elegant way of giving us all what we craved. I finished this book with a smile on my face, content with leaving my characters right where I wanted them, happy and true to themselves. It’s hard to say goodbye, but what makes it bearable is knowing that there’s more of Carriger’s humor to come.
What on Earth did I just read? I swear my head is still spinning…
The Queen and the Homo Jock King was one of those sequels that I’ve waited a very loWhat on Earth did I just read? I swear my head is still spinning…
The Queen and the Homo Jock King was one of those sequels that I’ve waited a very long time to read, and that I finally picked up with no small amount of trepidation. You see, the first book, Tell Me It’s Real, is one of the funniest, most endearing books I’ve ever read, and writing something that could at least come close was likely very difficult. However, it would appear that TJ Klune was more than up to the task. The Queen is hilariously funny, and as usual, TJ had me laughing myself into stitches mere minutes after I started reading. Seriously, I almost died laughing. He named a drag queen character Sofonda Cox, for heaven’s sake. And that was one tiny detail of many.
However, if you pay attention, The Queen and the Homo Jock King is a pretty serious book underneath – admittedly far, far, far underneath. But TJ manages to slip in loss and grief, deep insecurities and even increase awareness about drag queens. He does it all in his typical way, with much humor and by refusing to pull back punches. Avoidance of issues isn’t in his repertoire. He pushes them right in your face and makes you deal with them… with style.
In terms of plot, QATHJK leaves a lot to be desired, only you don’t desire it in the least. When you think about it with a cool head, you realize that it’s just a flimsy excuse to push our protagonists together, a romance cliché if there ever was one, but while you’re reading, you simply don’t care. Besides, TJ made even the cliché his own and he hid several small surprises within.
If I have to point out one objection to this book, I’d say it’s a tiny bit too long. You just can’t laugh that much at once so it must be read in smaller doses, which isn’t something I normally do. Every concession is worth it, however. This book is a treasure, just like Tell Me It’s Real before it. Read it and enjoy.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.
As impossible as it may sound, with each new installment, Anne Bishop’s Others series becomes increasingly darker, more violent, and yes, m
As impossible as it may sound, with each new installment, Anne Bishop’s Others series becomes increasingly darker, more violent, and yes, much, much better. I still maintain that it’s not really urban fantasy, but that’s just my OCD talking. Who cares about the genre when the books are this good?
In Thasia, a world so much like our own but filled with creatures that represent nature in its purest form, the Humans First and Last Movement is growing stronger and louder every day. The more followers they attract, the more confident they seem, even when it would be far more prudent to plan in silence. Our friends among the terra indigene have to fight battles at two fronts. On the one side, the HFL movement is making life very hard for the few humans who’ve allied themselves with the Others. On the other side, though, the Elders have sent a warning to Simon that they’re nearby and watching. It’s very easy to guess which side scares Simon more.
As usual, Anne Bishop knows how to make her Others truly other. Even the moderately adapted terra indigene in the courtyards have very little in common with humans. Their logic is unlike ours, and so are their priorities. Seeing human behavior through their eyes sheds a different light on some of our habits and ways of thinking. The underlying social commentary is cleverly and subtly offered and it’s best to read these books with eyes wide open, both literally and metaphorically.
It’s no secret that we’ve all been waiting for some progress between Simon and Meg with bated breath and let me assure you, some progress is made. It’s still on their terms, however, and still somewhat understated, but that’s actually what makes their relationship so memorable.
My favorite thing about this series is that more is yet to come. I could spend thousands of pages in this world and not get tired of it in the least. If you are still unfamiliar with this series, please give it a chance. All four books have been breathtaking five-star reads. At this point, I’m confident the next one will be, too.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.
4.5 stars Chloe Neill is one of the best urban fantasy authors out there. She writes her books with a very sure hand and we as readers never once doubt4.5 stars Chloe Neill is one of the best urban fantasy authors out there. She writes her books with a very sure hand and we as readers never once doubt her ability to use every scene to its maximum potential. Armed with experience and a whole lot of love for her characters, she writes one successful story after another. When you go to a bookstore for your urban fantasy fix, Neill is as safe a bet as they come.
With The Veil, there was some fear that she won’t be able to pull herself away from her long and successful Chicagoland Vampires series, but that proved to be unfounded. Devil’s Isle shares no similarities whatsoever with Chicagoland, except maybe in quality. But even there the new series seems to outshine its predecessor – the plotting is tighter, the writing better, and the characters far more relatable.
In this moment, Claire is one of the best heroines UF has to offer. With human fears and a backbone of steel, she is easy to love and even easier to relate to. We see her at her best and at her worst, but even when she’s down, she’s someone we can admire. Claire has no family left, but she is surrounded by wonderful friends who are a substitute family of sorts and she keeps earning new ones with her loyalty and integrity. It’s wonderful to see her interact with others, weigh her every action and always try to do best by everyone.
We finally see some progress between Liam and Claire, but of course it can’t come without a whole new set of complications. These two have such chemistry between them, a strong magnetism that can be felt in every interaction, and even when they’re not together, they seem to present a united front. Liam has legitimate fears that seem unfair to them both, but Claire gets to look at them from a different angle and finally understand his position. Despite their lack of touching, though, at least for the most part, they behave and function as a couple, and everyone else seems to view them as one.
I hesitate to write much about the plot except to say that it’s even better than what we’ve seen in The Veil. Right now, zealots of all kinds are the biggest danger humanity faces, and I loved seeing that transferred into Claire’s world as well. There will always be crazies and there will always be followers, but we determine how we stand up to them.
Overall, with Devil’s Isle to look forward to, saying goodbye to Ethan and Merit will be much easier. I will say that I’m desperate to get my hands on the next book and that I trust Neill to make it nothing short of amazing
It’s not Christmas just yet, I know, but doesn’t it feel like it every time Ilona and Gordon publish something new? Yes, yes it does. Magic
It’s not Christmas just yet, I know, but doesn’t it feel like it every time Ilona and Gordon publish something new? Yes, yes it does. Magic Stars came somewhat unexpectedly, having been kept secret until about a month ago, and the second we learned the protagonist, we were collectively consumed by an overwhelming feeling of pure joy. After all, Derek Gaunt deserves no less, and neither does our Julie.
Finally, we get a glimpse of Boy Wonder from up close. We’ve been waiting a long time for it, and it’s easy to understand why. Derek’s head is a dark place and his voice must have been very difficult to achieve. Even now, we only get 3rd person narrative, albeit a very insightful, intimate one. Looking back on his life and how he came to be a member of the Pack, it’s a wonder than he stayed not only relatively sane, but loyal and kind-hearted above all.
Magic Stars is relatively short, but it packs a strong punch. What starts as a vicious murder and a hunt for revenge ends up being a much more dangerous plot against Atlanta. Derek and Julie are the only ones standing between the city and total destruction and as usual, they do so fiercely and with heaps of sarcastic remarks.
Aside from being filled with action, Magic Stars brings new on the romance front, just a tiny hint of something I’ve been hoping for for a very long time. With these two, a mere hint is enough, a subtle promise of more to follow somewhere down the line. I’m sure it won’t be simple or easy, but that’s half the fun. Whichever way the tide turns, Ilona and Gordon will make it endlessly entertaining.
There are just two words one can say after a novella like Magic Stars. You all know them, you all say them often enough. MORE, PLEASE.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.
*sigh* The magic of the wonderful Rhys Ford is still very much alive. Fish Stick Fridays is another one of her unique, heartfelt romances that feel ve*sigh* The magic of the wonderful Rhys Ford is still very much alive. Fish Stick Fridays is another one of her unique, heartfelt romances that feel very much like warm blankets in cold, winter nights. As always, Rhys gave everything she had in her latest book and she somehow breathed life into several amazing characters as well as their small community.
Emotionally, Fish Stick Fridays is a challenge and a trial that ends up paying off. None of Rhys’s characters ever have it easy, and Deacon and his eight-year-old niece Zig had it tougher than most. Both have gone through the system and both have been damaged by it, only unlike Zig, Deacon didn’t have anyone to save him from the worst of it. The two are an odd pair: a tough motorcycle dude with a criminal past, and a tiny wild-haired girl wearing a pink tutu and combat boots. They stand out just about anywhere, but they fit together really well and they seem to just instinctively know how to help each other.
When they move to Half Moon Bay, they might just be too much for the small town to handle, but they are quickly embraced by other colorful inhabitants, each of them with a past of their own. While they don’t fit in with most people, Deacon and Zig fit in really well with two gay mechanics, a crazy beautician, and most of all a rich, highly educated bookstore owner named Lang Harris.
For all his polished upbringing, Lang Harris isn’t without demons of his own. His life has been on standby of sorts for years, and with good reason. He knows he shouldn’t get involved with someone as alluring as Deke, especially someone with a vulnerable eight-year-old, but he just can’t help it, not when he’s finally feeling alive after all that time.
The mystery part is as compelling as usual. Rhys doesn’t pull back punches, it just isn’t her style, which leaves the reader genuinely afraid for everyone, including the main characters. Everyone seems to be fair game in Rhys’ books, it’s just one of the many things I appreciate about her, and the danger surrounding Deacon and Lang is almost palpable.
I’m hoping for many more books set in Half Moon Bay. I don’t think that I could ever grow tired of this small community. What’s more, I trust Rhys Ford to follow her characters wherever they might take her, no matter how far, dark or dangerous their path might be.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.
Vengeance Road, Erin Bowman's unique foray into young adult western genre can only be described as a success. As the author’s note clearly
Vengeance Road, Erin Bowman's unique foray into young adult western genre can only be described as a success. As the author’s note clearly explains, the highly anticipated project was something Bowman had brewing for years and that much forethought was evident from every page. Vengeance Road is dark, violent, gritty and honest, all the things I’ve come to appreciate in YA fiction above all else.
After the violent death of her father, Kate is a girl set on revenge, going against a much stronger enemy with very little chance of survival. She isn’t afraid to kill or be killed and there’s little else on her mind as she chases a group of dreaded outlaws across the country. Along the way, she meets up with the family of her father’s old friend and she learns the extent of her parents’ deception. Brothers Jesse and Will join her on her journey and complicate her life further with their dreams of gold. Still, Kate is determined to rid the world of her father’s killers no matter the cost.
Bowman didn’t pull any punches in the violence department, nor did she try to leave Kate’s hands clean through her adventure. She kills a person in the very first chapter and just keeps on killing from there. She also makes some mistakes along the way, and some of them cost people their lives. There are times when her actions are not just morally questionable but clearly very wrong, and yet we can’t help being on her side.
I have to confess that romance didn’t really work for me because it appeared to be born out of convenience and proximity, and not genuine affection and understanding, but luckily it doesn’t take up much of the book at all and I was able to live with it. Both Kate and Jesse stomped all over each other and had very little consideration for one another, and yet they were both so very forgiving when I wouldn’t have been.
Another thing I would have done differently was to put the author’s note at the beginning of the book. I would have enjoyed it even more had I known beforehand that some of the characters were actual historical figures. Learning it after reading had me scrambling to remember and separate fiction from fact. Other than that minor detail, which isn’t Bowman’s fault at all, Vengeance Road is a very worthy foray into this little explored genre and it stands as proof that Bowman is a splendid author with so much more to give.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review. ...more
If there's one thing Darynda Jones knows better than pretty much everyone else, it's how to keep a series fresh and exciting through more p
If there's one thing Darynda Jones knows better than pretty much everyone else, it's how to keep a series fresh and exciting through more pages than one can count. Charley Davidson never gets old (no, really, she's more or less immortal), she never gets tired (supernatural beinh, duh), and she never gets bored… or boring, for that matter. There are very few series I love more at this point and I don't see that changing any time soon.
We’ve reached a long awaited culmination in Eighth Grave after Dark and for only a second or two it was very difficult to see where things might go or how they could go on at all. As always, though, Darynda found the perfect solution by making a simple yet startlingly clever move and handling things elegantly while staying true to the series and herself. I’ve had more than a little faith in the woman ever since First Grave fell into my hands, but even I was surprised by how skillfully she handled things in this book.
At this point, it’s very difficult to say anything without revealing major spoilers, so I won’t even try. Suffice it to say that the series is just as good, just as exciting as it’s been at the very beginning. Ninth Grave itself, though, stands out due to the overwhelming sense of community and family, the strong connections we get to see between Charley and her friends in the most trying times they’ve ever faced.
Two more books are certainly ahead of us (and hopefully even more), and I’m very curious to see how things will turn out for Charley and the gang. We’ve had some hints along the way and some very ominous signs, but I have no doubt that Darynda will find a way to give Charley her much deserved happily ever after, and even more importantly, a way for Reyes to finally have some peace.
Among the many authors in the M/M genre, both seasoned and new, Heidi Cullinan stands out for the sheer quality of her prose, the deep unde
Among the many authors in the M/M genre, both seasoned and new, Heidi Cullinan stands out for the sheer quality of her prose, the deep understanding of her characters and the subtle sense of humor that permeates her every page. All these defining characteristics were present in Cullinan’s earliest work, but as she matures, they become more pronounced and each of her books brings forth a new surprise.
I must confess that I adored the previous two books in this series. For me, they’re a sure sign that Christmas is coming in its full romantic shine. I love romance as much as the next person, but there’s something so special about holiday stories, and especially those that take place around Christmas. After all, we all dream about our very own Christmas miracles and we love to witness them happening to others, fictional or otherwise.
Paul Jansen and Kyle Parks make a very odd pair, but that’s usually true for Heidi’s boys. We remember Paul from the previous two books and we remember that he was not our favorite. But as we learn more about him, some of his past actions become more understandable, if not entirely justified. Paul may seem like a bear on the outside, but he is a delicate, vulnerable, soft-hearted man on the inside. In fact, both of these men crush stereotypes left and right, which is precisely the sort of thing I appreciate. Being Christmas-themed, these books are a bit lighter than Heidi’s usual work, but the overall tone, the characters and everything else can only be described as perfect for the holidays.
Winter Wonderland is a fairly quick read, but that only makes it all the more appealing. It’s easy to reread in winter months and it basically guarantees the same level of delight each time you decide to pick it up. All three books have made it to my ‘comfort reread’ list were they’re sure to stay for many years to come. ...more
Magic Binds, the ninth (and apparently second-to-last) installment of Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series is quite possibly this author’s best work to Magic Binds, the ninth (and apparently second-to-last) installment of Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series is quite possibly this author’s best work to date. At this point, it’s very difficult to separate, compare or evaluate each individual book, but Magic Binds challenges our beloved characters in all new ways and adds a lot to the already spectacular characterization. The sheer quality of these books sets them apart from anything even remotely similar.
Kate is pushed to her limits in Magic Binds, not just by her father, but by her magic as well. More than any other book in the series, this one centers on characterization and shades of gray within Kate’s family. With her father so close, a constant threat on the borders of Atlanta, Kate’s power is developing rapidly. Each day she discovers some new ability and it’s affecting her in ways none of us could have predicted. As Curran at one point says, Kate is the least power-hungry person he knows, but power corrupts even if you never wanted it in the first place.
For those of you who were wondering about Christopher and his origins, answers are finally here! We get to learn his history, how his mind came to be broken and why he attached himself to Kate and her people. Aside from discovering his past, we finally scratch the surface of his relationship with Barabas, which seems to be very complex. This was something I’ve been wondering about for quite a while and although there’s still some room for speculation, we now have a much clearer picture.
As the end approaches, the pressure on Kate is growing, the need to fight her own blood inside and out is becoming ever stronger. Everything she does reveals more truths about her father and the more she knows, the more she’s determined to stop him. Kate’s family is always behind her though, even though there are friends who aren’t. It’s gorgeous to see how much understanding there is between her and Curran and how they support each other even through bold and risky moves.
With just one more book left, every word in Magic Binds is extremely important. Each event leads to something bigger and more dangerous. Due to their trademark sense of humor, fantastic plotting and unparalleled action scenes, Ilona and Gordon will leave behind a horde of disappointed fans when they bring this series to a close.
Those of us who’ve been waiting for Ungodly with bated breath knew right from the start that this would not be a lighthearted conclusion. G
Those of us who’ve been waiting for Ungodly with bated breath knew right from the start that this would not be a lighthearted conclusion. Greek gods come and do as they please and they tend to leave nothing but blood in their wake. So when you put those gods in the hands of someone like Kendare Blake, an author known for her talent in writing blood and gore, a bloody battle is pretty much what you’re going to get.
Our heroes, separated in battle, find themselves in three different places, fighting different fights. Hermes, Andy and Henry don’t know whether Athena and Cassandra survived. Athena herself is in Underworld, half crazed by Odysseus’s death. And Cassandra is just a ball of murderous rage, ready to kill all the gods, friends and foes alike. They each have their own adventures and trials, and it’s not until the second half that they collide.
Like in the two previous installments, I found Athena to be the most interesting character by far. This time she faces tremendous loss, more than she can bear, and she approaches it like she approaches everything, with no regard for her own safety. Her adventure in the Underworld is my favorite part of this book and her romance with a certain not-quite-mortal the thing that warmed my heart the most. A few more complex characters were added in this final installment, and several unlikely allies showed us a different side.
Characterization isn’t the only thing that Kendare Blake does extraordinarily well. Her descriptions are beautiful and precise and she doesn’t shy away from anything, no matter how bloody or painful it may be. With one goddess coughing up feathers, another’s skin stretched out for miles in the desert, and an emaciated god who keeps eating enormous amounts of food to no avail, there’s plenty of imagery to keep us occupied and grossed out.
The most important part of this trilogy and especially its final installment is the deep emotional impact it has on the reader. Kendare doesn’t always make it easy to sympathize with the gods, but she gives us just enough to become invested in their fates. The conflicting emotions we feel for them, our struggle between love and hate, is reflected perfectly in the characters of those few humans around them.
Now that it’s over, I’m going to miss the Antigoddess trilogy very much, but I am even now excited for Kendare Blake’s next project. She has the most amazing ideas and she truly knows how to carry them out. You really can’t go wrong by choosing one of her books.
For those of us who are great fans of Rae Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, Walk on Earth a Stranger couldn’t come soon enough. But
For those of us who are great fans of Rae Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, Walk on Earth a Stranger couldn’t come soon enough. But for a lot of us who’ve been expecting something similar to her debut, Carson’s sophomore project came as a complete surprise. Following the new Western trend in YA fiction, Carson takes us to a very real place in the middle of actual historical events, and adds just a touch of magic to spice it up a bit.
Carson’s writing is so compelling that it takes no effort at all to sink into one of her stories. Walk on Earth a Stranger is no different: a single chapter is more than enough to get caught in that page-turning frenzy. It helps that she keeps a steady, rather fast pacing the entire time, with peril for Lee and her friends at every turn.
Lee is on the run from her uncle ever since she realized that he killed her parents in a plot to control her and her ability to sense gold. Her goal is to reach California, where gold is said to be lying on the ground, just waiting to be picked up. Her best friend Jefferson is already on his way. All Leah has to do is disguise herself as a boy and catch up to him as soon as she can.
For all the importance they are given, Leah’s powers don’t really get a major part in this book. It’s just another secret she has to hide on her way to California, along with being a girl and a runaway to boot. I really wanted to understand more about her ability to sense gold, and I wish it was used a bit more, but there is still plenty of time to develop that aspect.
It’s silly to talk about worldbuilding when the world wasn’t actually built. It was, however, researched, explored and described so beautifully. Carson has the ability to take us precisely where she wants us to be without going into endless wordy descriptions. All it takes is a few sentences and the setting becomes so vivid that we can almost see, hear and taste everything around Leah and her friends. The road from Georgia to California is merciless and harsh, hard on any living creature, and especially on a young girl pretending to be a boy. I love that we were given insight into the best and the worst of it and that not a single thing was hidden from our eyes.
The romance in this book is weak to the point of being non-existent. We’ve learned from our previous experiences with Carson not to count on anything when it comes to romance, which holds true in this case as well. I saw a lifelong friendship with some potential, but there was very little chemistry between Lee and Jefferson and virtually no passion to speak of. Perhaps that’s what Carson is aiming for. Not every love has to be of the sudden and desperate variety. There is beauty in comfort and absolute trust, and a friendship like theirs can be a far better foundation for something solid and lasting.
It’s quite obvious that what we have in our hands is only a part of Leah’s journey and that more is yet to come. The story doesn’t have a solid conclusion, nothing substantial to hold onto, just a single goal achieved and a lot of uncertainty ahead. ...more
Maja (The Nocturnal Library)
>
Books:
favorites
(583)
Loading...
