YA steampunk from Gail Carriger: A review of Etiquette & Espionage

May 14th, 2013

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Etiquette and Espionage
# 1

Author: Gail Carriger

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Ali’s Thoughts

From the queen of light and witty steampunk comes a Young Adult offering in the form of “Etiquette Espionage”.

I’m not sure how this will be read by someone new to Ms Carrigers’ writing, as part of the charm for me was being back in her world, and being familiar with her style from reading her adult steampunk series “The Parasol Protectorate” made it easy to fall into her writing rhythm and enjoy the subtle, and not so subtle, humour.

Sophronia is a somewhat wild child, at least if you compare her to her relatives and the young ladies of society. In desperation her mother sends her off, kicking and screaming, to Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

Thankfully for Sophronia, all is not as it seems. Yes she’s forced to take dance lessons, and to dress like a lady… but she’s also learning the time honoured traditions of assassination and espionage. Things are certainly looking up.

I absolutely adored the concept of Etiquette & Espionage, the characters were wonderful, if a little caricature-ish, and the basic plot was fun. My main issue with this was the pacing, the story was a little slow, and the world building not as clear as it could have been.

While trying to develop several characters and create layers of mystery Ms Carriger is also trying to introduce us to Sophronia’s world, which includes supernatural creatures and wonderful mechanical devices. All of this works together to create a story rather lacking in depth.

If you’ve read her adult stories, then you will enjoy the originality and lightness of Etiquette Espionage, and I personally am looking forward to reading the rest of the series, as I am dying to see how the characters and plot develop (which I know they will, in the most interesting manner); If you haven’t read the Parasol Protectorate, I really cannot judge how you will enjoy this, but completely recommend that you give it a go.

Book Description

Set in the world of Gail Carriger’s bestselling Parasol Protectorate series, this is the perfect series for old and new fans alike.

It’s one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It’s quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.
Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners-and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.
But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine’s young ladies learn to finish. . . everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage – in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year’s education.
Format: B-format paperback, 320 pages
ISBN: 9781907411588
Publisher: Atom
Publication Date: February 12, 2013

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A Dunedin Debut, A Necklace of Souls

May 10th, 2013

A Necklace of SoulsA Necklace of Souls

Author: R L Stedman

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Ali’s Thoughts

A Necklace of Souls is the debut novel from RL Stedman, and it’s excellent.

Small confession: I’m always terribly nervous reading books from local authors, or authors I know; there’s that absolute terror of how to say you detested their writing, so my relief at finding even one positive thing to comment on is profound. Thankfully local Dunedin author RL Steadman had me hooked from the first page.

A light young adult fantasy, with layers of plot, A Necklace of Souls follows in the footsteps of favourites like Robin Hobb and David Eddings, with strong characters (strong female characters even), strong world building and a developing storyline.

Dana is the doted on daughter of the ruling king and queen; adventurous, clever, willful and spirited, but not mean or spoilt.

All the characters are well developed, each with their own backstory that is woven seamlessly into the flow of the story, allowing the action to ebb and flow unhampered by long explanations; Will the bakers son with an peculiar skill, Rose, the current Guardian, Jed, the strange travelling campaign, each character is interesting and well thought out.

The only real negative about this story is that it is definitely a series, although the story has a satisfying ending as opposed to a cliffhanger, there is still so much to go, and my personal preference is for the first in a series to be almost standalone, or at least a well finalized arc.

A Necklace of Souls is a wonderfully written fantasy that is a comfortable and enjoyable read. It will be an intense and gripping story for younger readers and a light, easy, read for older readers.

Now I must wait, rather impatiently, for the next in the series.

Book Description

In the Kingdom of the Rose only the power of the Guardian?s necklace can keep the people safe from the forces threatening to destroy it.

In a hidden kingdom a mysterious Guardian protects her people with the help of a magical necklace. But evil forces are also seeking the power of the necklace, and as the Guardian grows weaker these forces threaten to destroy the kingdom. With the help of her best friend, Will, and the enigmatic N?tombe, Dana, the rightful heir, must claim the power of the necklace and save her people. But the necklace takes a terrible toll on whoever wears it – a toll that Dana may not be prepared to face.

A Necklace of Souls is the winner of the Storylines Tessa Duder Award for Young Adult Fiction.

Format: B-format paperback, 368 Pages
ISBN: 9781775540069
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: April 01, 2013

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Brief thoughts on the Wicked Wedding Of Miss Ellie Vyne

May 8th, 2013

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Wicked Wedding Of Miss Ellie Vyne

Author: Jayne Fresina

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Ali’s Thoughts

Although the Wicked Wedding Of Miss Ellie Vyne started off a little wooden, it didn’t take long for the characters to liven up and suck me into the story completely.

Ellie Vyne masquerades at the dashing Count de Bonneville to steal from the rich, and well, support her rather selfish family who have no idea how to live within their means. Unfortunately the rather stunning diamond necklace she’s just seduced off a rather hapless woman is actually the property of James Hartley; the same handsome, rogue of a man who made his feelings towards her perfectly clear in a most unfavourable manner, many years ago.

Now James wants his diamonds back. He’s on the hunt, and prepared to do anything necessary, even seduce Ellie, if that’s what it takes to get close to the Count.

I love this genre for its lightness, but I particularly love it when an author is able to fill the pages with clever, witty dialogue, and Ms Fresina does this so well. I also have a special place in my heart for the gung-ho women defeating men at their own game, so Wicked Wedding of Miss Ellie Vyne is a tick in every box for my reading.

Book Description

WHEN A SCANDALOUS LADY…

By night Ellie Vyne fleeces unsuspecting aristocrats as the dashing Count de Bonneville. By day she avoids her sisters’ matchmaking schemes and dreams up torments for her childhood nemesis’ the arrogant, far-too-handsome-for-his-own-good James Hartley. Her latest prank: “winning” the Hardey diamonds in a card game from James’s mistress.

STEALS FROM A NOTORIOUS RAKE…

James finally has a lead on the thieving Count de Bonneville, tracking him to a disreputable inn. He bursts in on none other than the brazen, irritating, nearly naked Ellie Vyne. Convinced she is the count’s mistress, James decides it’s best to keep his enemies close. Very close. He must get those diamonds back, and seducing Ellie will be the perfect bait.

IT CAN ONLY END IN A WICKED WEDDING

Format: Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN: 9781402266003
Publisher: Casablanca
Publication Date: April 01, 2013

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Kaylee’s Thoughts on: Thorn Abbey by Nancy Ohlin

May 2nd, 2013

Thorn Abbey

Author: Nancy Ohlin

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Kaylee’s Thoughts

Thorn Abbey is a reasonably good and interesting book, it has a capturing plot that makes you want to read what’s coming next and it also had an unexpected and jaw dropping ending that I loved. Sadly there are a few negatives that are hard to overlook.

I didn’t like that this book was so repetitive with it’s scenes. For example, Max would reassure Tess that he wanted her and was over his deceased girlfriend Becca, she’d be happy, then something would happen and it would repeat itself over. You know how a book has to have conflict to be a good one? Yeah, well, there was pretty much only one conflict in this book and it was Tess’ reoccuring insecurities and Max’s repetitive reassurances that he likes her.

Also, I found the characters to be quite drab and un-appealing. This is mainly focused on the main character Tess who I found to be insanely creepy! She developed this kind of obsession with Becca and whenever you thought she would give up on her obsession she’d go snooping and find something new about Becca to obsess and be insecure over. She also resorted to cyber stalking Max, which yet again, I found to be creepy when she had only just met him and suddenly he was all she thought about. The other characters were okay, but boring.

The story itself is a good story, but those flaws really drowned it out. It had a good amount of potential to be a good book and I’m really disappointed with how it turned out.

I also enjoyed the ending, which I shan’t spoil, but it’s something you think might happen at the back of your mind, but it’s very different to how you expect it to happen, it’s an interesting twist for sure.

I recommend this book to anyone who’s not too fussy about what they read and don’t mind repetitive story-lines. I also think this book would appeal more to younger teens as their appreciation for good literature isn’t as high as adult’s.

Description

Nothing is as it seems in this darkly romantic novel inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca.
Becca was the perfect girlfriend: smart, gorgeous and loved by everyone at New England’s premier boarding school, Thorn Abbey. But Becca’s dead. And her boyfriend, Max, can’t get over his loss.

Then Tess transfers to Thorn Abbey.

She’s shy and insecure – everything that Becca wasn’t. And despite her roommate’s warnings, she falls for brooding Max. Now Max finally has a reason to move on. Except, it won’t be easy. Becca may be gone, but she’s not quite ready to let him go…

Format: B-format paperback
ISBN: 9781471117794
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: May 01, 2013

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Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep

March 26th, 2013

The Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep is now up to book eight, and still as fabulous as ever. Jennifer Estep, author of the Elemental Assassin series

“…strong, smart, kick-butt heroines, cool magical powers, awesome action scenes, and steamy romance.”  Jennifer Estep on her Elemental Assassin series

Being slightly arachnophobia I must admit I had put off reading this series because with the main character known as the Spider I was just a little wary about  what was in store for me.  But fear not, Gin Blanco is an Elemental, able to control ice and stone, and her nickname comes from her ability to be both patient and deadly.  No real spiders anywhere (thank God – and author Jennifer Estep!)

One of the reasons why this series manages to still so goodis that the first five books formed a very strong story arc so the mysteries relevant to Gin’s childhood have been solved, and we’re now into the second story arc with a new set of questions, and heaps of villains, facing Gin. With Jennifer Estep contracted for ten books (so far) , we only have another two books for this story arc to resolve it’s problems.

When she was asked about this series (see her website http://www.jenniferestep.com/books-series/elemental-assassin-series/) she said that she wanted to make the Elemental Assassin books

‘a dark, gritty urban fantasy full of magic, power, and danger. My city, Ashland, is a violent, corrupt, southern metropolis where anything can happen, so I wanted to make my heroine, Gin Blanco, as strong, capable, and deadly as she could be. Also, Gin is an assassin – she kills people for money, which necessitated the darker tone of the books.’

 If you like your Urban Fantasy dark and dangerous, the action to be non-stop and the characters a fascinating mix of magic and mundane, then you really need to try these books out.

Deadly Sting, book 8 of the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer EstepDeadly Sting

Author: Jennifer Estep

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When life gets complicated for The Spider, you know it’s going to be REALLY complicated!

There is a power vacuum in Ashland and all the powerbrokers and underworld bosses are jockeying for position. All that is needed is a large society dinner for someone to make their move. And first on the agenda is killing Gin Blanco, The Spider.

When Westley said, “Sleep well and dream of large women” to Fezzick in the Princess Bride, I doubt he meant the giants that populate Gin’s world. These are tough creatures, but I admit that for all her brutality I rather liked Clementine, the biggest baddie of them all.

Over the space of the dinner and the following hours we are treated to a Die Hard-like adventure, with Gin the only free agent trying to save her friends and prevent the biggest power play in the city’s history.

The story is largely narrative, dealing with Gin’s solo attacks on the villains, but the human touch is well maintained through dialogue between the various groups around whom Gin is weaving her web.

As in all other books in this outstanding Urban Fantasy series, the  characters are artfully drawn and a fine balance is maintained between relationships and the adrenaline-packed action sequences.

I love this series. We’re at book 8 and the action and relationships seem as fresh as ever. Bring on more Gin!

Format: Paperback, 400 pages
ISBN: 9781451688993
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: March 26, 2013

Check out The Elemental Assassin Series Here

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