Slump

The truth is, we're in a bit of a slump. Every once in a while we get pulled out by a book only to be tossed back in by something else we try, so reviews are a tad scarcer lately.

What I CAN tell you is that I'm reading a biography that was made into a movie that any girl from my generation has seen at least a dozen times. Hint? Sure. It stars a cute girl on a hot TV show (now in it's 4th season) who kicks some rear and always wants to give bad guys their due.

Speaking of book to movies....any great ideas out there of some I should highlight?

The Unidentified, by Rae Mariz

Unidentified, by Rae Mariz
Young Adult, October, 2010

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Fifteen-year-old Katey (aka Kid) goes to school in the Game - a mall converted into a 'school' run by corporate sponsors. As the students play their way through the levels, they are also creating products and being used for market research by the sponsors, who are watching them 24/7 on video cameras. Kid has a vague sense of unease but doesn't question this existence until one day she witnesses a shocking anticorporate prank. She follows the clues to uncover the identities of the people behind it and discovers an anonymous group that calls itself the Unidentified. Intrigued by their counterculture ideas and enigmatic leader, Kid is drawn into the group. But when the Unidentified's pranks and even Kid's own identity are co-opted by the sponsors, Kid decides to do something bigger - something that could change the Game forever.

Trackgeek:
I was impressed by the vivid description of a future scenario where schooling had been taken over by the business sector where advertising and selling were the two main objectives. I had a bit of a problem with the lack attitude toward learning. It just seemed that the learning "challenges" that the kids would get sent to them (or were sent to Kid in this case) were fairly weak and happened rarely. Of course that might have been part of the point of the social commentary- that in the future the kids wouldn't be challenged as much- simply because money, selling and popularity were more important. As with most futuristic novels (ie Phillip Reeve's Mortal Engines) it is always fun to see the way that the author envisions language developing.

This is definitely a novel for the older teen based on the grittiness of the subject matter, teen's behavior towards authority figures and suggestive language.

Grade: B-

Online Launch Party for The Body at the Tower, by Y. S. Lee

I got an email from the talented author, Y. S. Lee, and she's pumping all of us up for a great big party! To quote from her email:

Walker Books UK and Candlewick Press are co-hosting the parties, and we’re all providing prizes. I’ve got Agency t-shirts and stickers to give away, and my publishers are offering up books (of course!). I’d love to see you there (and of course, you can attend whichever party you like – the times are intended to be convenient).

So where is this great party?!

Date: Tuesday, September 28
Time: 4pm BST (UK/Europe) or 4pm EST (US/Canada)
Place: Twitter
Hashtag: #bodytower

For a refresher, my reviews for A Spy in the House and The Body At The Tower are linked respectively.

Between Two Seas, by Marie-Louise Jensen

After the raving success of The Lady in the Tower, I ordered a used and battered copy of Between Two Seas from Amazon for 79 cents. I hadn't read anything in over a week?! and this was my 'come back' book.

Between Two Seas, by Marie-Louise Jensen
Young Adult, 2008

Publisher's Description:
'Travel to Skagen and find him. Give him my letter. Seek a better life, Marianne! Promise!'
Bound by a vow made to her dying mother, Marianne sells her few belongings and leaves Grimsby. Her destination? Denmark, where she will search for her father, Lars Christensen-the golden-haired fisherman her mother fell in love with many years before.
The journey will be long-and dangerous for a young girl traveling alone. As Marianne boards the fishing boat that will carry her across the North Sea, she wonders: will Denmark be the fairy-tale land she has dreamt of? Will she find happiness there? Will the father she has never met welcome the arrival of his illegitimate child?
And why didn't he return for her mother, as he promised he would?

This one continues to carry the motif of 'escape' and adventure, although it is a completely different story from Lady in the Tower. Marianne travels to Denmark, alone and with surprising confidence and will for someone who has grown up poor and looked down on. Jensen's heroines seem to possess remarkable strength - girls who really stand up for themselves and are comfortable with who they are. Marianne does have some things to settle, like the mystery of her absentee father, but the small town she lands in works for her, and instead of whining and complaining she figures things out bit by bit. The romance is cute, although quick - I'm not a huge fan of love at first sight, but it worked out alright. I think the thing that made me rear back a bit was the climactic scene at the end with...well, I don't want to spoil it for you. I just felt that this kind of character with her strength and growth from the past year would be a more forgiving person - even if it was just being too tired to stay upset anymore.
At any rate, it was an enjoyable read, an excellent addition to my shelves.
Graded a B+.

I am eagerly waiting the opportunity to read Daughter of Fire and Ice - it's plot sounds similar to the only Napoli book I like - Hush, and of course I'm delighted to know Jensen is still publishing and that Sigrun's Secret will be out early this next year.

Lady Grace Mysteries: Assassin, by Grace Cavendish

This is one of those series I've wanted to try for some time and...I'm SO GLAD I did!


The Lady Grace Mysteries: Assassin, by Grace Cavendish
Young Adult, 2004

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
It's the spring of 1569 and 13-year-old Lady Grace, the youngest lady-in-waiting to the Queen, finds herself at a glittering ball choosing amongst three suitors. But the Queen's generosity turns deadly as threats, dark secrets, and even murder descend on the Tudor court. And it is up to Grace to use her intelligence, stealth, and curious nature to solve the mystery that threatens the very lifeblood of England.

I really enjoyed this quick mystery in journal form. Grace is a cute, confident, and believable character. I like her 'side kicks', and the history is right on target. The author (who uses the pseudonym Grace Cavendish) takes plenty of creative license, but that's what makes it fun. I read so many varieties of Elizabeth I's personality, that I never know what to believe, but I liked her version. Don't hesitate to try these works, they're enjoyable from beginning to end!

Graded an A-. I recommend this first book for the pre-teen audience, but I'm hoping that as the series progresses Grace gets older and grows up a bit. Anyone who enjoyed the Enola Holmes mysteries or even as young as the Theodosia Throckmorton mysteries could enjoy these.


There are twelve books so far in the Lady Grace series, and I am looking forward to reading all of them. I believe omnibuses are being published starting next year with the first two with what looks like a much better cover.

Book to Movie: Cirque du Freak

Out of purely morbid curiosity I picked up the movie Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant when a copy appeared at the library. Because of it's dark cover and darker plot I almost didn't watch it. Then, at the last minute, I popped it in and thought I'd give it a few minutes. I was surprised to find I watched it all.


Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)

I believe the movie is based on the first three Cirque du Freak books, told in narration by Darren Shan. He and his best friend Steve sneak into a cirque du freak to see fantastic beings of all kind, including a vampire and his spider assistant, Madam Octa. Determined to have Madam Octa, Darren steals her, only to get the bad karma back when she bites Steve. In exchange for Steve's life, Darren agrees to become the vampire's assistant, giving up his life as he knows it. But things are so simple when Steve finds out much more than he should about Darren's new life.

I was surprised to find a real story line here, and thrown off by a few twists that even I didn't suspect. The vampire is likable but not lovable, and while being a freak is shown as a lonely life, what I appreciated most is that it didn't try to glorify being a vampire. While this wasn't Academy Award material by any stretch, and I won't ever buy it, I thought it was an interesting view. I'm interested to find out if they'll continue making them.

Graded a B-.


Cirque du Freak
Young Adult, 1999

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Darren goes to a banned freak show with his best mate Steve. It's the wonderfully gothic Cirque du Freak where weird, frightening half human/half animals appear who interact terrifyingly with the audience. Darren -- a spider freak -- 'falls in love' with Madam Octa -- an enormous tarantala owned by the circus proprietor. Darren determines to steal the spider so that he can train it to perform amazing deeds. But his daring theft goes horrible wrong. The spider bites his best mate and Darren has to sell his soul to an evil vampire to get the antidote.

After watching the movie I decided the check out the book despite it's ugly and creepy cover. It's not only much thinner than expected, but less scary as well. This is one of those series that has a multitude (12) of books in order to milk readers for extra money - as short as these books are it would have been very easy to combine two or even 3 of them like the movie did. The differences were slight except for a couple things - first, in the book I felt there was no motivation for good guy Darren to all of a sudden steal Madam Octa, whereas the movie showed a few events leading up to that decision. Second, there's a girl in the movie adding a bit of a romantic intrigue. I'm not sure if in later books she shows up, but she's definitely not in the first.

Graded a C+.

Friday Finds

I apologize for my lack of these lately. When I get swamped I find I skip Friday Finds, but who really notices, right? Well, I look forward to other people's Friday Finds, and when they skip one I feel a little dejected. So here's to no one feeling dejected. :)



The Last Full Measure, by Ann Rinaldi





Salt, Maurice Gee

-no cover available-

The Unwanteds, by Lisa McMann
If I remember correctly, this is a dystopian novel and won't be published until late 2011 early 2012? Some one have more info on this?






Crusade, by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie




House of the Star, by Caitlin Brennan

The World Above, by Cameron Dokey

I really really really really enjoy fractured fairy tales. In fact, of all the stories in my head that I've started to write down, my favorite is....a fractured fairy tale. So, the Once Upon a Time series really hits the spot for me. Now, it's true there's a little hit and miss involved. If you're new to the series or have read one that made you go 'eh', may I suggest Crimson Thread, by Suzanne Weyn - I never reviewed it, I have no idea why, but it's my favorite of them so far.


The World Above, by Cameron Dokey
Young Adult, 2010

Gen and her twin brother, Jack, were raised with their mother's tales of life in the World Above. Gen is skeptical, but adventurous Jack believes the stories--and trades the family cow for magical beans. Their mother rejoices, knowing they can finally return to their royal home.
When Jack plants the beans and climbs the enchanted stalk, he is captured by the tyrant who now rules the land. Gen sets off to rescue her brother, but danger awaits her in the World Above. For finding Jack may mean losing her heart....

I thought this retelling was fascinating - I mean Jack and the Beanstalk is really kind of a boring and a little bit weird (Fee Fie Foe Fum?), but told this way it made whole heck of a lot more sense. There was a little Robin Hood thrown in there too that added to the adventure and intrigue, and of course everyone falls in love. I felt, though, that everything was a bit rushed. The adventure wasn't very exciting since for the most part everything went their way. Even the bad guy turns out to be alright. And since everyone fell in love on sight...there just wasn't much left to tell of those stories.

Graded a C+.

The Year of Secret Assignments, by Jaclyn Moriarty

Today I have the pleasure of crossing off my TBR list something that has been on there forEVER:

The Year of Secret Assignments, by Jaclyn Moriarty (Don't you LOVE her last name?!)
Young Adult, 2004
(1st book in what isn't technically a series, but what follows are other novels that use the same setting/characters...etc.)

A tenth grade English teacher attempts to unite feuding schools by launching a pen-pal project. Best friends Cassie, Emily and Lydia initiate the correspondence, and are answered by Matthew, Charlie and Seb. Emily and Lydia are more than pleased with their matches, but quiet Cassie has a frightening experience with Matthew. When Lydia and Emily discover that Matthew has threatened their fragile friend, the Ashbury girls close ranks, declaring an all-out war on the Brookfield boys. Soon, the couples are caught up in everything from car-jacking and lock-picking, to undercover spying and identity theft.

This was completely a mixed bag for me. On one hand, I loved the banter back and forth between letters, the crazy 'secret assignments' and in some cases the cute falling for each other when they decided to meet. I was a bit put off by some of the language, and while the bantering remained cute, it was used with most characters making some of them seem a bit clone like. I felt like Cassie's situation was almost too serious to discuss in the book....and yet, it wasn't. The Matthew situation was almost too unrealistic....and yet, it wasn't. It's very hard for me to know just how I feel about a book that closed both good and bad for me. I can say I probably won't read any more of this 'series' per se, but then...we all know I'm not much of a series person at any rate, right?

Graded a C+.

Memory Monday: Crown Duel, by Sherwood Smith

I love Memory Monday because of the opportunities it gives me to share favorite books I've read, or reread. I didn't come up with this meme, but I'm grateful for whoever did long long ago.

This time I'm cheating a little - Crown Duel is the name of the first book in a duo, followed by Court Duel (and later with a prequel published titled A Stranger to Command). However, Crown Duel is also the title of the book published with both stories in it - Crown and Court Duel. You see, you MUST read both, it's absolutely imperative, and you will be delighted you did:



Crown Duel, by Sherwood Smith
YA, both books published in 1997

Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill-prepared, which threatens the very people they are trying to protect. But war is simple compared to what follows, in peacetime. Meliara is summoned to live at the royal palace, where friends and enemies look alike, and intrigue fills the dance halls and the drawing rooms. If she is to survive, Meliara must learn a whole new way of fighting-with wits and words and secret alliances.

Both books are fabulous with scenes where you can't turn the page fast enough to romance that makes you want to reread it to intrigue where you're double checking what someone said in that last chapter - are they really on her side?! And you're never really sure until the very end. Meliara can be exasperating and lovable all at the same time, Vidanric is the quick-witted hero that grows on you. (Despite being blond. I must say I always picture him instead with darker hair which is much much better.) An excellent read, one I peruse at least once a year.

Graded an A-.

Interview: Julie Berry

I am so very excited to host an interview with Julie Berry, talented author of Amaranth Enchantment (a young adult fantasy novel), the upcoming Secondhand Charm (another young adult fantasy novel, click the link for my review), and the Splurch Academy series (juvenile graphic novels).

As the youngest of 7 did you ever feel bullied or overshadowed? Did you ever do anything to get them back?

My siblings weren’t the bullying kind, but they were older enough and smarter enough to always have the upper hand. My constant yearning was to belong to the Big Kids’ Club, something the difference in age between us would always deny me. That didn’t stop them from exploiting my pathetic eagerness. They got a big kick out of asking me to get them snacks and drinks, find their keys, or change the television channel, and, golden retriever that I was, I always did it. Once, though, when my older sister wouldn’t stop tickling me, no matter how I screamed, I dumped her orthodontic retainer in the toilet. She fished it out, hollering mightily, and tried to disinfect it by boiling it. The plastic shrunk and warped, and my parents had to buy a new one, which wasn’t cheap. I got in huge trouble. Revenge, I learned, wasn’t as sweet as it’s made out to be.

What stack of books do you have on your bedside table right now?

The book I’m carrying with me everywhere I go is YOU ARE HERE: A PORTABLE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE by Christopher Potter. It’s a fascinating, concise guided tour through the vastness of the cosmos and the even greater vastness of the atom and its nucleus. It’s also a history of science and philosophy, and I find it as riveting as the best novels I’ve ever read. Possibly more. Also on my bedside table (or actually, piled in untidy heaps on the floor next to my bed, and jammed into bureau drawers) are WICKED by Gregory Maguire, THE RESTAURANT AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE by Douglas Adams, and THE CONFESSIONS of Saint Augustine. My scriptures always live there too. There was a much larger pile there, but I recently cleared it away and put things back on the bookshelves, assuming their time had not yet come.

Splurch Academy books - I haven't read any of those, but are they based on the antics of brothers or sons (those clever ones you've got?)?

The Splurch Academy books aren’t based on anything my kids have ever extent, on how I think they think. Or perhaps I should say, how I think they’re wired. My greatest hope for the series is that other disruptive boys – and girls – will take as much dark delight in Cody Mack’s naughty heroics as I do. In my family we have a great weakness for cute, naughty little things, which means we don’t always train our puppies as firmly as we should. It’s hard being a disciplinarian-mother to clever, naughty boys, for the simple fact that it’s hard to keep a straight face. I’ve learned, though, to be an ornery gargoyle to my kids when I need to. So I wrote the Splurch books to celebrate that naughty, hysterically funny side of young-boy-dom.

What was your inspiration for the plot of Amaranth? What about the plot of Secondhand Charm?

I didn’t start out writing Amaranth with a clear sense of the plot in mind. I only knew a few basic things about how I wanted the story to end. What drew me into the story was Beryl’s world, as I imagined it. I wanted to explore the idea of a paradise, a world without ugliness or guilt or death. I wanted it to have a spiritual reality that transcended, if possible, the inevitable wrinkles such utopias often reveal if examined too closely. It’s hard for me to conceive of a perfect world, but I still wanted to try. From there it was clear that if someone was trapped in exile from such a place, it would create a kind of yearning that can fuel a strong character and a strong story. As I developed Beryl and her world, it became clear to me that I would need someone from this world – Lucinda – to encounter Beryl, and free her. And Lucinda would need powerful yearnings of her own.

The charms themselves were what pulled me into Evie Pomeroy’s world as I wrote Secondhand Charm. I liked the idea of humble, homespun trinkets being a clue to some larger magical secret. And I thought there could be a lot of humor and fun in love charms and good luck charms having far more potency than they ought to. From there, the rest of Evie’s story tumbled out.

Of all the characters you've written, who is your favorite?

Someone asked me, not long after Amaranth came out, who my favorite character was, and I answered “Lucinda,” without hesitation. When I write someone’s story, particularly in first person, they are the one I feel closest to. Their concerns become my own, and in some sense their defeats do as well. So they become the unquestioned favorite. But as the writing recedes in my memory, sometimes the quirky, idiosyncratic supporting characters remain more memorable. Lucinda’s friend Peter ranks high on my list, as does her goat, Dog. In Secondhand Charm, the feisty Widow Moreau is a particular favorite.

If you could take any 3 books with you on a deserted island, which 3 would they be?

Oh, this is a tough one. I have so many favorites that it effectively amounts to no favorites. I suppose I would want to bring books that are long, and dense, and complicated, to give me much pondering pleasure as I sizzle under my coconut tree. (I wouldn’t last long. I’m deathly pale.) In particular, I’d want to take books I haven’t read yet. So, I think I’d vote for something I haven’t yet read by Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and/or Dickens. I could take Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell, since I really liked it but never found time to finish it. Or maybe Middlemarch by George Eliot. I’d also be very interested in finding works of philosophy, science, history, or the classics. There’s so much to learn in life, and so little time. This is my great and constant frustration. But all this pre-desert island book shopping begs the question – if I was able to put this much planning into my shipwreck, couldn’t I just avoid getting on the boat in the first place?

Any advice for those budding authors out there?

The advice you always hear is still the best. Read all you can. Write regularly. These are the main things, so if they’re all you can do, do them. If possible, find writer friends who are committed to developing their craft, and work with them. Beyond those three things, I’ll add this. Writers, like most artists, can be riddled with self-questioning and self-doubt. It’s natural, and to the extent that it keeps you humble and working hard, it’s a fine thing. But on some level, you have to decide to believe in your potential if you’re going to give this writing thing a serious crack. You have to believe in the stories you want to tell. Balance that belief with self-critique and hard work and late nights reading and all the study of craft you can cram into your head, and you’ll have done all that anybody can honestly do to give the world a new story. I’m not aware of any author, famous or otherwise, whose process is fundamentally different from that one.

So, hurry and head on over to your library/bookstore, etc. to find a copy of her books and read them! Secondhand Charm is slated for October, 2010, but her other books are all already published. Splurch Academy graphic novels are also illustrated by her sister, Sally Faye Gardner, who sadly doesn't have a website.

Thanks Julie for stopping by! Feel free to leave questions or comments for Julie here and I'll make sure she gets them.

Secondhand Charm, by Julie Berry

I am delighted to share with you Julie Berry's latest young adult book. I enjoyed Amaranth Enchantment (which received a B), and 'wahooed' when I got this in the mail!

Secondhand Charm, by Julie Berry
Young Adult, October 12, 2010

Publisher's description:

In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. And a gypsy's charms - no more than trinkets when worn by others - are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents and charms have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's son. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy-next-door. When the prince's entourage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all....But this young girl's destiny is no mere romantic fairytale. Her fate, and the journey she is about to embark upon, will take her far from her tiny village, uncovering serpentine powers and a legacy she never dreamed possible.

From page one I was captured by Evie's sweet personality. So many heroines can seem to overtake a book, but Evie told her story allowing others around her to have theirs too. Part of me was a bit thrown away by Clair, her snake 'familiar' of sorts. I think in retrospect, though, that that must have been how Evie felt - a bit taken aback by a serpent so willingly attaching himself to her. The love story was sweet - you knew what would happen, and yet you worried it wouldn't! I loved some of the cute banter, and I have to share a bit of it with you: (A few parts in between are cut out - I can't type up the whole book!)

I took a deep breath, gathering all my courage. "Aidan," I said, and he turned to look at me. "Will you take me with you?"
He stopped walking. So did I.
"D'you mean, just the two of us, walking?"
I nodded. "I don't see any other way."
He took off his cap and shook dust off the brim, but his eyes never left me. "Well...how's that going to look?"
My words poured out. "Aidan, if I don't get to University on time, I'll never get to..."
"What will we say, when people ask us to give account of ourselves, as we travel?"
I found myself staring at his boots. "We could...we could say that we're married?"
Aidan's eyes opened wide.
"I could say I was your sister,"I stammered, " but isn't that, somehow, less safe? For me? If people thought I was your wife, they would be more inclined to leave me alone."
"Men don't seem to leave you alone, do they." It wasn't a question.
I felt my cheeks grow warm. "Honestly, I don't know what's happened , all of a sudden, it's never been like that before."
Aidna was watching me with an amused look, and I realized in an instant what a vain, coquettish thing that was to say.
"I don't mean...." Oh be quiet, Evie! But I had to go on. "What I mean is that, never in the past..." Oh, help. "It's probably got something to do with the gypsies."
"The gypsies?"
I forced out a laugh. "Their magic trinkets. I bought a few ornaments at the feast day," here I gestured to my charms. "One of them, she said, was a love charm. Ever since then..."
My voice trailed off. Immediately I bit my lip.
"So, you bought a love charm from the gypsies, did you?"
"The point is, will you take me with you, or no?"
"I'll take you, Wife," he said, "as far as Chalcedon, but then I'm seeking an annulment.

Is that the cutest?!

I also noticed a familiar flavor as I read it, and by Chapter 2 I realized what it was - Secondhand Charm feels a lot like a Gail Carson Levine book. I was delighted to discover that it remained so, and fans of Levine should feel free to gobble up this tale as well.

Graded a B.

I'd like to note that I read an ARC, so changes aren't final.
And remember, stay tuned for an interview with Julie!

Star Crossed, by Linda Collison

Star Crossed, by Linda Collison
Young Adult, 2008

from the author's website:

Patricia Kelley has been raised a proper British lady--but she's become a stowaway. Her father is dead, and her future in peril. To claim the estate that is rightfully hers, she must travel across the seas to Barbados, hidden in the belly of merchant ship.

It is a daring escapade, and the plan works--for a time. But before she knows it, Patricia's secret is revealed, and she is torn between two worlds. During the day, she wears petticoats, inhabits the dignified realm of ship's officers, and trains as a surgeon's mate with the gentle Aeneas MacPherson; at night she dons pants and climbs the rigging in the rough company of sailors. And it is there, alongside boson's mate Brian Dalton, that she feels stunningly alive.

I checked out this book because it sounded intriguing, and truthfully, fit the bill for 'my kind of book'. An adventurous runaway who comes into her own and of course finds romance in unexpected ways? Sign me up!

Patricia is such an interesting character. On one hand you just hate her - she's shallow, immature, selfish, and I almost put the book down on multiple occasions. However, this is one of those rare books where you can actually see the heroine grow up. Did it take awhile? Oh yes, in fact I'd say it took too long - it was nearly the end before you decided maybe you liked her. But it was an interesting journey; one where she learned so very much. The other characters were a bit underplayed, and I would have liked to have gotten to know them better. The ending was so very open, driving me a bit nuts - I mean, sure, things ended the way you wanted them to, but...you leave wondering if maybe they just didn't.

There are a few adult situations, so I would recommend this only for older teens on up.

Graded a B-.

The Demon King, by Cinda Williams Chima

A long time ago I read the Warrior Heir by Chima and enjoyed it. Because of my prejudice against series, I had a hard time picking up the rest, but recommended them to Trackgeek who devoured them faster than they could be published. When The Demon King came out, I was begged and begged to put it on hold at the library. I should have taken it as a hint and just bought it for him, but I was a little slow on the uptake.


The Demon King, by Cinda Williams Chima
Young Adult, 2009

from fantasticfiction.co.uk:
Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can't sell. For as long as Han can remember, he's worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes. They're clearly magicked-as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off.

While out hunting one day, Han and his Clan friend, Dancer catch three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. After a confrontation, Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won't use it against them. Han soon learns that the amulet has an evil history-it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Helena, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of relative freedom with her father's family at Demonai camp - riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Although Raisa will become eligible for marriage after her sixteenth name-day, she isn't looking forward to trading in her common sense and new skills for etiquette tutors and stuffy parties.

Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea-the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems like her mother has other plans for her--plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

Trackgeek: I enjoy Cinda Chima's books quite a bit and was excited to see what she could do outside of her original series. As for the Demon King- I found the basic plot construction to be well done and I enjoyed the world in which she placed her characters- it was interesting and involved and fun to read about. The only draw back was how long it took to go not far in the plot and then the book ends and you are left sitting there waiting until the end of September when the next book comes out. Raspberry and I constantly have this conversation about how authors seem to be bent on creating humongous plots that never seem to have any closure- or take 600 pages to get to the point where you think something is going to happen and then take 2 more 600 page books to actually finish the story. What happened to being able to get a good plot down and developed in 300 pages? Anyway, I definitely recommend the book for the teen audience and anyone who enjoys teen fantasy.
Graded a B+.

A Summer Giveaway - Results and "A" Books!

On the giveaway form I said you could get an extra point for recommending a book that you think is an "A" or an "A-", but you only get the point if we haven't read it (or if it's already 'in the works').
I compiled a list of the books, and while there were many duplicates, I thought it was a decent enough list to peruse for more TBRs:
(Just to clarify - these are not MY "A"s or "A-"s, these are from the entries for the giveaway.)

Purge, by Sofi Oksanen
The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County, by Tiffany Baker
The Language of Secrets, by Dianne Dixon
Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver (already on my TBR list)
Raven Stole The Moon, by Garth Stein
The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery
Inside Out, by Maria V. Snyder (already on my TBR list)
If I Stay, by Gayle Forman (I've read this, but I must not have reviewed it on our blog.)
Tell Me A Secret, by Holly Cupala
Lockdown, by Alexander Gordon Smith (I tried, and I don't mean to be a pansy, but it was too intense for me.)
The Piper's Son, by Melina Marchetta (only out in Australia so far)
The Hollow Kingdom, by Clare Dunkle (I love this book. I did an author review here.)
Crown Duel, by Sherwood Smith (Another favorite.)
East, by Edith Pattou (And ANOTHER favorite.)
The Lantern Bearers, by Rosemary Sutcliff
Daughter of the Forest, by Juliet Marillier (I enjoyed this fractured fairy-tale of the Seven Swans story.)
Wolfskin, by Juliet Marillier
Cotillion, Georgette Heyer
Fire, Kristin Cashore (See my review here.)
The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (See my review here.)
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis (May I beg you to read them in the order they were published. NOT the way they've reprinted them chronologically.)
The Visitation, by Frank Peretti
Son of Hamas, by Mosab Hassan Yousef
The Bone Garden, by Tess Gerritsen
Bloody Jack, by L. A. Meyer (tried 3 times...)
Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater (See my review here.)
The Singer of All Songs, by Kate Constable (See my review here.)
Dream Spinner, by Bonnie Dobkin
Graceling, by Kristin Cashore (I read this before we got our blog, but it got an A-.)
The Year of Secret Assignments, by Jaclyn Moriarty (on my shelf to read right now!)
The Cry of the Icemark, by Stuart Hill (for some reason I think we own this but haven't tried it out yet...)
Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow
Epic, by Conor Kostick (Trackgeek read this.)
Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder (I've read this and debated over the grade since.)
Birthmarked, by Caragh O'Brien (See my review here.)
A Small Free Kiss in the Dark, by Glenda Millard
Thirteen Days to Midnight, by Patrick Carman (Already on my TBR list.)
The Parasol Protectorate, by Gail Carriger (tried it..)
Embers, by Laura Bickle (On my TBR list.)
Sparks, by Laura Bickle
Master of None, by Sonya Bateman
Promise, by Kristie Cook
The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, by Leanna Renee Hieber (Read it.)
Mind Games, by Carolyn Crane
Born In Trilogy, by Nora Roberts
Monica McCarty
Strange Angels, Lili St. Crow (tried it...I want to like it, I do, so perhaps I'll have to give it another shot some time.)
The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak (We own it and it's just sitting there waiting to be read.)
Insatiable, by Meg Cabot
Runaway, by Meg Cabot
Blue Bloods, by Melissa de la Cruz
In Her Shoes, by Jennifer Weiner
Keeping Faith, by Jodi Picoult
The Sky is Everywhere, by Jandy Nelson
Deception, by Lee Nichols
Shade, by Jeri Smith-Ready
Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen
Along For the Ride, by Sarah Dessen


Also, I couldn't find a great image to go with this, but it's Banned Book Week. And while there are books that I won't read, for the most part they're not ever even found on those lists! For banned book week challenges, go here - and let me know what you're doing! Since I've read most on those lists anyways, I'm not doing anything special, but just thought I'd do a quick shout out.