Review: The Vespertine

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Synopsis (From Goodreads): It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.
When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

A hauntingly beautiful historical fiction set in the 1800s. Amelia van den Broek is sent to Baltimore to attend school and partake in other ladylike events. When she receives glimpses of the future she is suddenly the centre of the town with not only her friends but also strangers calling on her to tell their fortunes. With the start of a forbidden romance with an artist, Nathaniel, Amelia tries to hold onto the life that she is building. But, when her visions turn dark, she finds herself accused of causing the misdeeds herself.

The Vespertine was beautifully written and drew me into the historic setting of the 1800s. I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but the plot and the mixture of the historical setting with the supernatural kept me reading. Amelia is a strong character who, despite the era this is set in, has a very independent voice. All of the characters were believable and enjoyable, but I would have liked to have learned more about Amelia's and Nathaniel's powers a bit more throughout the story.

Saundra Mitchell has created an elegant story, perfect for curling up on a sofa and reading.

Source: NetGalley

2011 YA Reading Challenge: #20 of 50

Recommend:

BEA: Droolworthy books (Best of 2011)

There are some fantastic books available this year, a lot of them are from debut authors, that I just can't find enough time to read everything. But, here are some of the ones that have really caught my attention:

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roeker

I was anxious to get this as soon as I heard about it and I was not let down. Kate is a modern day Nancy Drew complete with pink hair and pearls. Full of intrigue and mystery as Kate gets drawn into the mystery surrounding her best friend's death. She is pulled into this mystery by the person she leasts suspects, her dead friend. A perfect book for anyone who loves mysteries.

Die for Me by Amy Plum

A paranormal that takes place in Paris, what more can anyone want? It's at the top of my reading list and after finding it down at the book store, I just need to find time to read it.

Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

A debut YA from popular adult Australian author. I have taken workshops with this author and she is fantastic, so I really wanted to get this story without knowing what it was about. But now I do, it really makes me want to read it more. Late night parties and night creatures, just check out the tag line "Into a world of wild secrets and deadly pleasures comes a girl whose innocence may be her greatest strength."

Possession by Elana Johnson

This is a book I'm eager to read. I'm loving the range and quality of dystopian novels available at the moment and I've heard really good things about Vi and the controlling society she has been forced to endure. And I did a little happy dance when the Arc I won arrived in the post today. I can't wait to read it.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I love mysteries and a girl surviving a car accident that killed her best friends but has no memories of how she ended up in hospital... now, what can go wrong with that? 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

I'm currently reading Last Sacrifice and love the world that Richelle Mead has created. I really look forward to seeing where this spin off of Vampire Academy leads, especially seeing more of Sydney who is one of my favourite characters.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Ooh, witch stories. I love everything paranormal, especially witches. I remember sitting around with my friends making up stories about witches and haunted houses that belonged around the block from where I was growing up. Just a premise of a story like that being more than a story really captures my interest.

So, what are you looking forward to this year? 

Armchair BEA: Introductions

BEA, also known as Book Expo America, is happening in New York and, alas, I could not make it... this could have something to do with it being in a whole different country on the opposite side of the world thing (although I did get the sudden inspiration to dip into my brother's savings for a couple of plane tickets... he did not like that idea much though). 

Instead I'll be participating in armchair BEA. Why? Because it costs nothing and I can participate at home.

Today's post is all about introductions. I'm an Aussie book blogger who is currently studying to become a high school English teacher. I read way too much and have over 50 books (not including those on my iPad) that are sitting on my bookshelves just waiting for me to read.

So, here's a little big about me for all those wanting to know (even those who really don't):

1. I read everything and all in YA (just call me a big kid at heart).
2. I really want to go to Japan... planning to get there at the end of the year.
3. I love everything Horror (but more of the psychological than the slasher).
4. I write YA and am working on several projects at the moment.
5. I play the guitar and dabble in writing my own songs.
6. I am very impulsive... especially when it comes to buying books (hey, I can't help that the book store was having a closing down sale with 75% off and I walked away with over 10 books).
7. I've already purchased my tickets for the midnight Harry Potter... can't wait to see the concluding movie.

I look forward to meeting up with anyone else doing the armchair BEA. It's going to be just as good as being there (and that's me acting positive).

So, who else is participating in armchair BEA? 

Review: Cryer's Cross

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Synopsis (From Goodreads): The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

The small town of Cryer's Cross isn't supposed to have anything bad happen, that was until a freshman girl disappears without a trace. But life goes on and for 16-year-old Kendall she pushes forward even though with her OCD she is freaked at seeing Tiffany's desk empty each day. Everyone thinks it's just a sad occurrence that would only happen once in the small town, that is until Kendall's boyfriend, Nico goes missing. The town is put into crisis mode, but still no one is able to find any trace of Nico. Kendall does know something is wrong with this situation and when she starts receiving graffiti messages on the desk where Nico used to sit she knows deep down that it could only be from Nico, meaning that Nico could still be alive. As Kendall jumps into the mystery of the disappearances with the help of the new, and irritating, Jacian, she comes to learn that the small town of Cryer's Cross has some dark secrets and a dark past that doesn't want to stay hidden.

Cryer's Cross was an intriguing story full of quirky characters. Kendall, even though she had OCD, was a strong character who was not afraid of who she was or of letting her OCD define her, in fact it was the one part of her that helped her throughout the story and in pushing her further into the mystery. 

Even though I did not find the story scary, the mystery kept the plot moving forward and some of the scenes created were chilling with the twists and turns that Kendall had to face. This was definitely a story that had me on the edge of the seat as I waited for the mystery to unfold.

McMann does a good job of creating the characters and their relationships as they struggle to uncover the truth of the small town and what really happened to the missing students.

Source: Audible

2011 YA Reading Challenge: #18 of 50

Recommend:

Too tired to post...

Okay, I was meaning to do up a review before going to work and schedule it to come out later... but, silly me forgot about it. Now, I've just gotten home from work, finishing my jr burger and coke from McDonalds (where would we be without 24 hour drive thru's?) and thinking to myself, 'why am I sitting in front of the computer at 2:30 AM trying to think of something to write?'

So, instead enjoy a clip from Family Guy (you've just got to love Stewie)...

Is it just me???

I can't "just" watch a movie anymore. I have a tendency to analyse everything in the movie (and combine being a writer to all the film/music/drama classes I've studied... I really pay attention to everything).

I have become increasingly interested in playing the "what if" game when it comes to stories and the characters choices, especially when I feel the plot should have gone a totally different way. I like to imagine what would happen if the characters make a different choice, or if something within the plot was different.

This does create some interesting ideas, and also gets the creative juices flowing. But, am I crazy (okay, don't answer that) or do other people do this sometimes?

So, does anyone else do this? If you're not liking how a story is going, do you like to imagine something else happening to change that ending?

Review: The Royal Treatment (Princess for Hire #2)

The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt

Synopsis (From Goodreads): Desi Bascomb's job as a princess substitute has gotten a whole lot more glamorous now that she's advanced to Level 2 within the Facade Agency. Magical make-up, roller-skating celebrities, and the chance to see Prince Karl again are just some of the major perks. Not to mention, she's landed the role of Fairy Queen in her school's production of Midsummer's Night Dream (opposite her best friend's crush. Which is a little weird, but at least he wears a donkey head during their kissing scene). Life should be perfect, but Desi can't seem to shake the feeling that there is more going on with the agency's magic than she's told. Like why is this mind-bending power exclusive to royals? Is it possible that there could be a bigger way to make an impact in both parts of her life?

After progressing to a Level 2 in the Facade Agency, Desi thought life couldn't get more glamorous. But, life has just got a little bit more complicated. She's landed a role as the fairy queen in a Midsummer's Night Dream where she has to kiss her best friend's crush, she's crushing on a prince she knows she'll never be able to have and she has a strange feeling that the Facade Agency is hiding a big secret about the magic it uses. Desi doesn't have much time to ponder about the Agency when she's got a list of talents she needs to perfect for her princess subbing duties, a play to prepare for and also trying to figure out her own magical gifts. So much to do, but that's only the life of a princess sub.

Once again, Desi's life is a rollercoaster as she gains a promotion within Facade and now has other responsibilities put on her as a Level 2 sub, making this an exciting and fun read. All of the characters are  larger than life with unique personalities that makes you want to laugh, cry or scream. The Royal Treatment fits in perfectly with Princess for Hire.

This story finds Desi trying to work out the secrets of the Facade Agency and also her own magic potential, all while struggling against her conflicting feelings over her prince charming and her best friend's crush. Put all this with the adventures Desi finds herself in as she subs for princesses and you have a funny and charming story. I would suggest the Royal Treatment to anyone who is looking for a light-hearted read or can imagine themselves subbing for royalty.


Source: Netgalley
Release Date: May 3rd 2011
2011 YA Reading Challenge: #18 of 50
Recommend: