Kai wakes up in a watery tomb when an upstart poseur magician tries to take his magic. He has no idea how he got there, but he plans to find out. And Kai wakes up in a watery tomb when an upstart poseur magician tries to take his magic. He has no idea how he got there, but he plans to find out. And he's pretty mad when he wakes up. That’s just the beginning as his quest to find answers leads him to forming unlikely alliances to fight a tyrannous kingdom who has taken control over everything that Kai once knew.
Witch King feels epic, yet very personal as it’s through the eyes of an unique viewpoint, a demon who has the power to inhabit the bodies of humans. Demons are not like the Christian concept in this novel. Instead, they are beings who live in the Underearth but are able to inhabit the bodies of mortal, although their eyes are fully black, and they possess unique abilities based on their nature. So I think they are a very distinct sort of demon. Keep in mind, I am sure that more well read people in this genre may have read more stories with this kind of demon than me. Kai has magic abilities, and gains more when he takes over the body of an enemy.
I really did enjoy this book. But I won’t be dishonest. It was a bit confusing for me. The types of names and the places were hard to keep straight. It didn’t help that I would pick this up and put it down multiple times, as life has not allowed me to have much reading time (and I have so much going on, that it’s harder to focus on a book). It would take me a few minutes to get reoriented when I picked it up again, but I finally decided I didn’t need to pass an exam on what I was reading. Instead I just decided to embrace the experience. Once I did that, it became a lot lower stakes to read it as I could. I was just along for the ride.
I loved that the cultures are modeled after non-European civilizations and there is plenty of diversity (lots of shades of brown and evidence of different ethnicities), along with non-binary and LGBTQ representation.
I really liked Kai. He’s got a very wry sense of humor that I enjoyed. He’s also a complete badass. But he’s not the type whose a bragger about it. He’s just going to do the thing, and hopefully you are not in his way or the person who’s his opponent. I liked the secondary characters. I did get a little bit confused at first on who was whom, but eventually, I got into a rhythm where I was able to read their names and connect the characters to what part they played in the story. I liked how there are different kinds of magical abilities that seem to complement each other. Kai’s ability is very cool and kind of scary, and it gets magnified through different experiences through the book.
I feel like the story starts one way and ends up in an entirely different place, but there is some closure about the initial plot point. The open ending makes me wonder if this would be a series. If it is, I’ll be reading it.
This is not an easy read, in my opinion. It’s going to take some thinking through and focus to read, but it think it’s worth it. I really appreciate Martha Wells� writing, and I definitely want to continue reading her backlist. I love her sense of humor but also the complexity of her characters.
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of Tordotcom for review....more
I love middle grade/juvenile horror books, and I'm always on the hunt for good and scary ones. This came up on a list, and I was thrilled that my librI love middle grade/juvenile horror books, and I'm always on the hunt for good and scary ones. This came up on a list, and I was thrilled that my library had the audiobooks. Now comes the sad part. While I liked this book, I was disappointed. It wasn't quite scary enough for my tastes. I have read one of Katherine Arden's adult fantasy novels The Bear and the Nightingale, so I know she can write genuinely scary books. This was stopped short of living up to the promise of freaking animated Scarecrows. There's a couple of eerie scenes that had the potential. However, it didn't do it for me. Having said that, the story was interesting. I also liked the theme of a young person working through grieving a deceased parent. My father died when I was about thirty, and I know how hard that hit me. People really don't know what to say or how to act when you lose a loved one. I imagine it's even worse for a child. Ollie's solution is to withdraw from life so as not to deal with how others treat her in the aftermath of her mother's death.
I really loved the bond and moments between Ollie and her dad, and the flashbacks to them as a family. To me, that was the real heart of the story. I also liked the friendship of situation that springs up between Ollie, Brian and Coco. They really helped to support each other, and their different strengths made them stronger together. That kind of friendship has the potential to last forever. I think that I would have rated this much higher if the balance was better between the character interactions and quiet moment within the books, and the horror elements. I do have to say the storyline is interesting and I have been waiting to read a book that integrates scarecrow folklore into a story. The diary entries from the past were atmospheric and did have a spooky feel. So while I was disappointed on the scare factor front, the emotional resonance, character development and interactions definitely impressed me. I'll definitely continue this series.
I read this back in October as an audiobook. For my Advanced Writing Workshop class, we had to choose three books to read, and I had already wanted toI read this back in October as an audiobook. For my Advanced Writing Workshop class, we had to choose three books to read, and I had already wanted to read this.
The narrator has a lovely voice, and hearing the beautiful descriptions that are so intrinsic to this novel was an auditory feast. The Belles has such sumptuous imagery, and I really applaud Clayton for her attention to detail and her care in crafting this world where beauty is prized above everything, but underneath is an ugly truth about the society that allows systemic corruption.
I was interested in this book because its storyline pricked my curiosity. It’s about a society built on the use of magic to maintain beauty. The world-building aspect appealed to me because I strive to create stories with strong world-building as a fantasist. It definitely held up to my expectations on that front. Clayton imparted a fully-fleshed environment to her stories. It reminds me of Rococo France, and there are some clear cut references to it in the names of some characters, and the fashion nods. I can also elements of 19th Century New Orleans society with the gens de couleur and ±Ê±ô²¹Ã§²¹²µ±ð societies. It's not done literally, but feels like a heavy influence in that the lives of the Belles are so strictly regimented and in truth they do not own themselves. Another literary device that Clayton used to make her narrative standout was 1st Person Present Tense narrative. It draws me into the aciton.
On the downside, the characterization is not quite as impressive. I have about four hours left in the book, as I’m listening to the audiobook, and I still feel less connected to the protagonist. The story is a slow burner, and the narrative is built on character interaction and the world as a strong focal point.
Some aspects that have been revealed to me as the story unfolds are is the underlying themes of this novel. Camelia, the main protagonist, has been driven her entire life towards a singular goal of being “The Favorite,� the Belle who is picked to provide the important beauty services in the Royal Palace. She put that above everything. That didn’t mean she didn’t love her sisters, because she did, but when a rivalry unfolds between her and another sister, Amber, her ambitions and her sisters drive a wedge between them. Camelia has an especially powerful talent at using what’s called the Beauty Arcana to provide beauty modifications to her clients. The use of her Arcana actually takes energy out of her own body, which becomes a crucial plot element. The Belles were made by the Goddess of Beauty to reverse the curse of the Goddess� husband The Sky God, who was jealous of her people that she made. As a result of the curse, the people turned into Gris, which were people leached of color with hair like straw. The avoidance of that fate drives the whole culture, and as usual, the privilege of avoiding the fate of becoming a Gris is something that richer and more aristocratic people have in spades over the common people.
The descriptions of the use of the beauty arcana are fascinating and extremely vivid. There is a continual interplay between beauty and ugliness in this novel, both internal and external, and the lengths to which some go to maintain their beauty makes them extremely selfish and cruel.
Camelia ends up in a royal intrigue that will likely put her life in jeopardy. She is under the thumb of someone who is unhinged and very powerful, with nefarious goals. Additionally, there’s a love triangle between Camelia, Auguste, a dashing young naval officer, who is a suitor to the young spoiled Princess Sophie, and Remy, Camelia’s personal guard. I personally hate love triangles, and I could definitely do without it. Can we declare a moratorium on love triangles in YA, pretty please? Having said that, I can see the appeal of both young men. I’m certainly leaning towards Remy. I prefer the strong, silent type over the arrogant playboy type. While Camelia has a bit more of a rapport with Auguste, I think that her relationship with Remy reads more authentic to me.
The slow build is not my favorite thing about this book, but the writing is very strong, and I really appreciate the multicultural, diverse cast of characters. It certainly fulfills on the world-building and description angels. I like Camelia, but at times, she comes off as lacking in wisdom, and her overwhelming ambition is a major character flaw due to its consequences. However, she is a kind person who genuinely wants to use her abilities to help others.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book, although I was a little disappointed at the end. It's a little too cliffhangerish for my tastes. I did appreciate the nice twists and turns that demonstrate Clayton's excellent plotting abilities. The dread is so palpable along with all the other emotions, which are highly visceral in good and bad ways. I wanted more action and I did feel the pacing was off, with most of the dramatics occurring late in the book. In spite of that, The Belles is a solid read, and I would recommend it to fantasy lovers who really enjoy a strong historical vibe to their fantasy. And the multiculturalism of this novel is sorely needed in fantasy.
I really hate that I didn't write my review sooner. I have forgotten some parts of the book, but I definitely enjoyed it. The ending wraps up the storI really hate that I didn't write my review sooner. I have forgotten some parts of the book, but I definitely enjoyed it. The ending wraps up the story nicely, but it did feel a little anticlimactic. Maybe I'll relisten to this story so I can write views to give them justice. For me now, Loki is forever Tom Hiddleston and this Loki doesn't sound cute or as mesmerizing. He's got some appeal, but in this book he's definitely chaotic and very villainous in his motivations.
**I will always remember listening to this book when I was driving home from a late class in a snow storm. I had to dig out my driveway to park my car. Isn't it funny how memory can be so tied to events in your mind?
I'm giving it a four stars because I don't remember being blown away by the conclusion. Although overall the series is really excellent. I love the diversity and representation and how the overall message is inclusivity. As with the Percy Jackson series, Riordan does an incredible job of reinterpreting the Norse myths in a way that is accessible, but also preserves the essence of the source material. He is really funny as well....more
As dark as the series is, this was by far the darkest. It's like Libba Bray leads the reader to the cliff, walks beside them and entertains them with As dark as the series is, this was by far the darkest. It's like Libba Bray leads the reader to the cliff, walks beside them and entertains them with a disarming smile, and then goes behind them and pushes them off. I mean....
Yeah, if you got attached to some characters, I feel for you. I feel for me.
This book examines spiritual darkness but human darkness equally. The 20s was a time of frivolity, but beneath lurked many fears and prejudices that spilled over into hatred. She doesn't shy away from showing the truth of the bigotry that has always existed in the great nation of America. While the story focuses on the Diviners and their gift and blessing, it's a metaphor for the Other, be it black, foreign, Jewish, Muslim, Gay, Lesbian, poor, disabled, Communist. You name it. She also examines the way that we can betray our own due to our fears and suspicions and prejudices.
I think this series has gotten increasingly mature in its subject matter, although it was never one for the younger aged readers. This volume, I would hesitate to recommend to anyone under fourteen, or at least without a parent reading it first. But despite that, I think it has something really good to teach about American history. There have always been people who seek to control, and don't hesitate to use our fears against each others. There's always been demagogues who throw around catch phrases about Making American Great Again, but beneath it is a menace that stirs up hatred and violence.
There were aspects in each book that scared me. I feel that in this book, it's the human evil that scared me the most, if I'm honest. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for the remaining characters as I mourn those who have been lost.
This was a really great book, and I hate that I was dealing with a cross-country move at the time and I was unable to write a review to do it justice This was a really great book, and I hate that I was dealing with a cross-country move at the time and I was unable to write a review to do it justice at the time. I finished my spring semester classes and then I was consumed with trying to get our house ready to sell and to pack and get ready to move to Minnesota. I remember reading this while doing yardwork and packing, and it made some unpleasant or hard tasks feel less onerous. I have forgotten some of the detail, but I do remember the quality of the writing, the uniqueness of the storytelling and characterization. I love that Riordan tackled some timely issues, and was very inclusive. I like that characters that would be consider Other by society are central to the story. I really appreciated the direction he went with Loki's child, who identifies as non-binary, Alex Fierro. Many young people identify as non-binary and I know this is very affirming that there is a strong, dynamic, crucial character in this series who has an identity that reflects theirs. Also, there is a Muslim character named Samirah or Sam, who is a Valkyrie, and she's very multi-faceted. She strongly values her faith and culture, and is not viewed as Other. Magnus himself was homeless and dealt with life on the streets as a teenager. There's also an elf named Hearthstone who is deaf/mute and who was rejected by his father because of his inability to talk. One of the young folks that Magnus meets in Valhalla who becomes one of his friends is TJ, a young black man who died during the Civil War. Just so much wonderful content in this book.
The Norse mythology is treated with scholarship, but updated with relevance for its pre-teen, young adult audience. I love folklore and mythology (as you probably know if you follow my reviews), and I really got a kick out of how he took the source material and created a new story with it. There are echoes to his Percy Jackson series, but it also feels very different and it's clear that the story is tailored to an older audience.
This is epic storytelling, with humor, angst, well-developed characters, a compelling, exciting narrative, colorful and descriptive scenes, lots of action; and it's highly recommended to older tween, teens, and adults who enjoy this sort of thing....more
Picked this up from my library, and I was pleasantly surprised. This quartet of special operatives were tasked to go back one day in the past to avertPicked this up from my library, and I was pleasantly surprised. This quartet of special operatives were tasked to go back one day in the past to avert a disaster caused by the activation of an underground Nazi missile carrying deadly biotoxin that could easily end the human race. They end up in 1940s Germany just months prior to the end of the war.
Excellent action, with artwork that gives this a cinematic feel. The characters feel unique, and it's an interesting view to have one of the team members as a black man in Nazi Germany, although they didn't delve into it as much as one would expect. However, this is a really quick time period (24 hours), and it's practically nonstop. It gets very interesting. I didn't really understand the technology, but that's not a deal breaker. I liked the various gadgets that the team took with them, and they were all extremely capable and lethal.
I'm a bit of a WW2 geek, so I'm glad I was able to read this. I'd like to read more about this team. ...more
Overall, this was a good book. I had a few quibbles, but they did majorly affect my rating in a not-so good way. Let's talk about the bad first.
CallumOverall, this was a good book. I had a few quibbles, but they did majorly affect my rating in a not-so good way. Let's talk about the bad first.
Callum's behavior was pretty reprehensible. He stole and damaged property and never had to face the wrongness of most of his actions. I'm not trying to be moralistic here, but those actions made me think less of him. I almost didn't want to finish the book. In light of later revelations, it felt even more manipulative to have him committing not so minor infringements. I feel that books for young readers don't have to be ethics primers, but honestly there are consequences when we do wrong. When books for younger readers overlook that, it makes me feel uneasy inside. And with all honestly, this reader was already rooting for Callum to grow in character over the course of the book. I'm not sure he did in crucial ways. There are some major plot spoilers that I can't go into, but even in light of the story direction, I wasn't okay with that.
The ending was too abrupt and clearly was a sequel bait. I don't like the tendency to create series that aren't terribly self-contained. I feel that it's better to write a story that feels complete even if I don't continue the series. I know that this is probably a minor thing for other readers, but it's increasingly becoming an issue for me.
While I wasn't enamored of the narrator, it didn't affect my rating that much. He wasn't terrible, just a little more flat than I liked.
What I loved;
*I felt that the story did keep me guessing. There were some reversals that I seriously didn't expect and kudos to the authors for that. *The Magisterium is beautifully described and some aspects felt very unique. I loved how the food source is based on things that might grow underground, but they have tastes that you wouldn't attribute to something like dried lichen or mushrooms. The skills tests were fun. *The developing friendship between Callum and his fellow students in his cohort. It reminded me of my time in professional school and how you tend to look to people in your class as a support system. *I loved the ethnic/racial diversity. It's so easy to do it and have it be a normal part of the story. There was no reason for everyone of the students to be white/European, and I was glad that the authors didn't go that way with the story. *The dark aspects of the story appealed. I like that middle grade/juvenile fiction can be done well with serious tension and thrills without assuming younger readers can't handle it. *The pet wolf Havoc. I was so, so in love. I want!
I'm going to give this 3.5 stars. I imagine some would rate it higher, but with the issues versus the kudos, I think it's a very fair rating....more
Hart is a good writer, with an evocative style. It's great that this is full of multicultural characters. But I gave this 3.5/5.0 stars, because it's Hart is a good writer, with an evocative style. It's great that this is full of multicultural characters. But I gave this 3.5/5.0 stars, because it's not really to my personal taste. I find I like straight contemporary romance less and less, and the romances are more HFN than HEA (which is not my personal preference). Overall, I think readers who enjoy the current small town romance series trend would like this very much.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine in the February 2015 issue. ....more
Not the easiest read, with a lot of technological concepts to integrate. However, it was a fulfilling read. And a form of therapy for an artificial inNot the easiest read, with a lot of technological concepts to integrate. However, it was a fulfilling read. And a form of therapy for an artificial intelligence phobic person like myself.
Moon Knight is a new comic book hero for me, but I find I like him quite a bit. I like the concept of his identity, and the fact that he is in fact, sMoon Knight is a new comic book hero for me, but I find I like him quite a bit. I like the concept of his identity, and the fact that he is in fact, suffering from what appears to be schizophrenia, in that he hears voices talking to him. At first, I didn't get it when Wolverine, Spider-man, and Captain America show up to give him a pep talk. I thought they were there in real life! Nope, they are a manifestation of his mental condition.
Also, I liked how this book shows how the Avengers were building up their West Coast hero roster, since some of the crime outfits were fleeing the Eastern seaboard for greener pastures.
And the coolness escalates when Marc (Moon Knight) recruits an ex-Avenger, Echo (real name Maya) who is deaf and Latina. His gadgets man is an ex-SHIELD agent who is black. I appreciate cultural diversity enormously. I'm a black woman, and I can tell you from experience that many comic book and movie geeks are black, and we like to see people who share our culture/background in the genre.
Moon Knight definitely knows how to kick butt. He relies on his physical adeptness, fighting skills and gadgets to do his thing. On Marvel Wikia, he's described as Batman with mental illness. I can see where they are coming from with that.
The art was really well well done. It has rustic feel that I liked, and it uses plenty of shading. This adds to the noir feel of the storyline.
I am happy to keep up with this series. Marc Spector is a distinctive kind of hero, some traits recognizable to other big heroes, but others off the beaten path. I like that he's a big time actor who uses his income to finance his crime fighting activities.
I'm officially in love with this book! It was a great way to break a rather long interracial romance fast. JJ Murray has managed to take an book aboutI'm officially in love with this book! It was a great way to break a rather long interracial romance fast. JJ Murray has managed to take an book about ordinary people and make it an extraordinarily romantic and delectable read. It has a Lad Lit feel that I rather liked, despite the fact I'm not a fan of either Lad Lit or Chick Lit. Highly recommend it.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine for the June 2014 issue. ....more
Fifteen-year-old Veena Solomon lives in Bahrain with her parents and brother, a transplanted Indian in an Arab country, although she attends CSynopsis
Fifteen-year-old Veena Solomon lives in Bahrain with her parents and brother, a transplanted Indian in an Arab country, although she attends Catholic school. Her family moved there to seek a better life than the one available in India. Her mother is Catholic by faith and worrier by profession (although she also works as a teacher in Veena's school). Veena is trying to figure out what she believes herself, especially when her fervent prayers to grow breasts and for gorgeous Rashid to fall in love with her go unanswered. When her teacher selects her to be Juliet in the Romeo and Juliet production, opposite her beloved Rashid, Veena needs an edge to set her above the other girls. Being Indian is very low on the totem pole in status-oriented Bahrain, where European/Whites are first, Arabs second, and brown-skinned Indians, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans are on the bottom. Veena is also small and flat-chested. She's suffering from an identity crisis, wondering what's so great about being Indian when all the Arab boys make fun of her accent and she isn't blond or big-breasted like one of her popular classmates. Veena learns that being herself is the best thing of all, even if playing Juliet will get her close to the boy of her dreams.
Review
Bras, Boys and Blunders: Juliet and Romeo in Bahrain was an incredibly fun, engaging read. I loved the view into the life of a young Indian teen and how being Indian is something she has to learn to embrace. I appreciated this multicultural view in young adult fiction that doesn't seem as prevalent as I would like. I don't know much about growing up in an Arab country, especially as a person of a different nationality like Veena, and this book gave me a view into that life through Veena's eyes.
The great thing about this book is that while Veena's experiences are distinctive from the average American life, they really aren't that different when it comes down to it. Any person who survived teenage-hood knows how Veena feels. The awkwardness of fitting in and feeling like you never measure up. For female readers, we can also identify with the inherent struggles of the mother-daughter relationship, when our mothers have different goals than what we have in life, and they force us into molds that we don't fit. How we feel we can never measure up to their standards, and they don't really seem to understand where we are coming from.
Veena was a sweet girl. She inspires loyalty and a comradeship in this reader, as I read her about struggling through those everyday moments of young life that seem like major crises, however you live to fight another day. While Veena is Indian, she is surrounded by people of various cultures, and this can cause conflicts, as issues of religion and cultural morals dictate the choices that Veena has, even if they don't fit into her own belief system, which she is in the process figuring out. The secondary characters such as Kyle, an American boy who seems determined to be the Baddest White Boy in School, and who seems to have quite a crush on Veena, although she's oblivious, add a lot to this story. They provide insight and show that while we might feel we are lacking, others actually might envy and respect us for who we are.
The humor was fantastic. I was laughing out loud through most of this book, although Samson also gives the reader a lot to think about along with those hilarious moments. Samson's light, but vivacious narrative makes me want to read more young adult books like this, where the story is just about growing up, with no major plot devices necessary to prop up a story. Coming of age is very ripe subject because of so many everyday experiences a young person goes through that are full of inherent pathos and humor.
I am really glad I had the opportunity to read this book, and I hope to read more of Vidya Samson's writing. She is a talented writer who gave me a story I enjoyed, from beginning to end.
Although this took a while to get going for me, Blue Remembered Earth was a very good book with some hard science. I didn't quite get all the physics,Although this took a while to get going for me, Blue Remembered Earth was a very good book with some hard science. I didn't quite get all the physics, but it was still an interesting and enjoyable read.
I first became acquainted with Sarwat Chadda when I read Devil's Kiss, and I knew he was an author I wanted to follow. Chadda has switched gears slighI first became acquainted with Sarwat Chadda when I read Devil's Kiss, and I knew he was an author I wanted to follow. Chadda has switched gears slightly, writing for the MG/Juvenile group with this series, and with a male lead. He has also set his book in India, I believe that he was drawing in some degree from his own heritage. With The Savage Fortress, Mr. Chadda has written an involving read quite full of darkness and danger, and incredible heroism at its center.
General Synopsis
Ash Mistry is an English boy of Indian descent. He gains the opportunity to explore the land of his parents' birth when he goes to stay with his aunt and uncle in India. Ash doesn't care much for India, despite his romantic hopes. It's hot, dirty, and basic in amenities. He'd rather be at home in England, with his videogames and his friends. I could identify with Ash in that I hate being hot and dirty, and the descriptions of India in that sense make me question whether I would enjoy my first experience with it any better than Ash does. However, Ash finds his destiny and comes to life in a way that staying in England never would have provided.
When his uncle gets the opportunity to translate a scroll for the very rich Englishman, Lord Alexander Savage, Ash encounters evils right out of Indian legend and folklore. For Lord Savage is a wicked magician cursed with immortality in a decaying body, and surrounded by blood-thirsty rakshasa creatures (rakshasa is a general term for demons who can have a variety of animal/human forms). Ash begs his uncle to have nothing to do with the man and his dark enterprises, but his uncle doesn't believe him. Ash falls in a deep hole at an archeology site funded by Lord Savage, and pricks his finger on an ancient arrow that connects him to the power of an ancient god, whose power belongs to the wielder of the arrow, which is called an astra.
Things go downhill from here and tragedy results in Ash and his young sister Lucky being on the run for their lives. An ancient holy man and his strange companion intervene, and guide Ash closer to his destiny as the wielder of the astra, and the only person who can stand in the way of Lord Savage's wicked intentions.
My Thoughts
Mr. Chadda is definitely in touch with the child part of himself. He understands that kids want adventure and wonder, but don't always have awareness of what comes along with that fun parts. Ash is like a stand-in for the thirteen-year-old self of older readers, or the young readers who read this book. It's a case of "Be careful what you wish for." We can't even know how dark our world is until we face it head on. Ash encounters things that made my hair stand on end. And the author is almost gleeful in describing the gore and violence. Not too much for a MG book, although I think the age restriction should be 13 or older, honestly. I could see this book causing nightmares to a younger reader. I was hesitant to read it late at night, just in case.
There is no lack of adventure and danger, and Ash's character undergoes desired and necessary growth in character. At the end of his harrowing experience, he is not unchanged. He realizes that we are accountable for our actions and we do have responsibilities in our lives to do what's right even if it's hard. While some readers might not be as accepting of the polytheistic elements of this story, I think this content can still be enjoyed as a fiction work, and I would recommend that parents investigate this book before letting their younger children read it. Even though I don't subscribe to the Hindu beliefs, I do think there are some good lessons to be learned about accountability and personal ethics. As a lover of folklore and mythology, I thought the world-building was fascinating, and Chadda describes India vividly. I felt as though I was there. He shows a lot of textures in the different peoples in this book, and I think it's good for readers to be exposed to multicultural characters and the diversity of our big, wide world.
Bruce Mann is an excellent narrator. He utilizes a variety of tones and accents that fit this book very well. I especially liked how he speaks Ash's part. Ash has a very distinctive way of speaking and he comes to life for me. I liked the kid a lot. I'm glad my library had this in audio, even if took me ages to finish listening to it (not out of boredom, just time issues).
I'd recommend The Savage Fortress to 13 or older children (with parental approval) and older readers who enjoy MG/Juvenile fiction with folklore. I'm looking forward to more of Ash's adventures....more
This is a book I would have loved as a girl growing up. I have this feeling I would have eagerly read every book by this author I could have gotten myThis is a book I would have loved as a girl growing up. I have this feeling I would have eagerly read every book by this author I could have gotten my hands on. As an adult, my feelings aren't that different. She understands the magic and awe inherent in fantasy. I'll definitely be reading more by Tamora Pierce.
I wanted to like this more than I did for a few reasons. I loved the author's Chronus Chronicles series, and I am absolutely crazy about the fairy talI wanted to like this more than I did for a few reasons. I loved the author's Chronus Chronicles series, and I am absolutely crazy about the fairy tale, "The Snow Queen." Another wonderful aspect of this novel is that the main character, Hazel, is a young girl who is Indian in ethnicity (from the country), although adopted by a white, American couple. I think that Ursu has something powerful to say about being 'other' in a society that is primarily of a certain race/culture. How that can impact a young person, and the wounds it causes that person as they walk through a world where they feel alien.
I also enjoyed the deep friendship that Hazel has with Jack. However, I felt that this aspect of the novel, which is probably the crucial element, fell short. Hazel is almost obsessed with Jack. He's like an anchor to her in a stormy sea that her world has become since her parents' divorce. While I don't mind that she is bonded to Jack, I never felt that Jack was as bonded to Hazel as she was to him, which bothered me. Understanding the fairy tale source helps to appreciate the rift that forms between them, but as it was written, it's not enough. We are given breadcrumbs (if you'll forgive the unintentional pun) to suggest that Jack's issues are also about his mother's bout with depression, but while I can see that Hazel and Jack spend so much time together, I could have used more of his viewpoint on how important his relationship to Hazel was to him. Clearly she was the right person to save him, but more depth on his point of view would have been great.
Ursu made the choice of ending this novel with some questions left in the air. I can't fault her on that, but it did leave me dissatisfied about some situations that weren't addressed, both in the winter woodland and in the lives of both Hazel and Jack. Despite that, I do have the conviction that things will work out for Hazel and Jack. Even though the problems in their families might not be resolved, we know they have each other to get through those times. Also, knowing that Hazel has found more connections in her life other than her mother (and absentee father) and Jack. She needs those. She also needs to know she is fine as she is. She needed that validation, especially with they way her father failed her. One scene I was so glad that Ursu included, her mother telling her that she was perfect and didn't need to change was very important. Kids need to hear from their parents that they are approved of and loved despite any perceived short-comings.
As far as "The Snow Queen" retelling, it was well-done, and I liked the manner in which Ursu personalized it to Hazel and Jack's story. I felt that the White Queen's menace and authority was slightly undermined by the resolution. I would have loved more descriptive imagery of her Ice Palace. I liked how Ursu creates a world of magic that intersects with the 'real world' in that children travel to this other place to escape from their disappointing lives on the real side of the woods. I hurt for the children who suffer from the cruel effects of selfish magic that the woods bring out in adults and the creatures who live in the woods.
Ursu's writing is good. She drew me into Hazel's story and I felt for this wonderful little girl. It broke my heart to see her feeling so disconnected and flawed. No child should feel that way. I am all for color-blind adoptions, but I feel that her parents should have worked harder to make sure Hazel wasn't alienated by the fact that her ethnicity was distinctive from her parents and many of her peers. I loved the fact that Ursu does address this so poignantly, but she doesn't offer a lot of solutions for the issues Hazel felt.
Overall, I think my biggest issues with this novel were the lack of resolution on those crucial issues and the fact that I think some really important aspects of the story (outside of Hazel and Jack's bond) weren't dealt with in the depth I wanted. I know this is a book for younger readers, but the maturity of the writing makes me want more from the author as far as an emotional resonance and completion about the familial issues faced by Hazel and Jack.
I would be curious to see what a younger reader thinks of this book. If they grasp the deeper, melancholy aspects of this novel. I feel that its melancholy and darker elements hit the right note for a mature reader, but might be lost on a younger reader. Although the ending is hopeful, I can't help feeling a lingering sadness now that I have finished it.
Definitely get out the Kleenex when you read this book, because it will make you cry. If you don't, then I think you're a more stoic person that I am!Definitely get out the Kleenex when you read this book, because it will make you cry. If you don't, then I think you're a more stoic person that I am!
I loved this story. It was a great pleasure to listen to it on audio, narrated by the author himself. He seems like a very interesting person to know and to talk with. All the heart of him, his soul, pain, laughter, confusion, and fire that he had in him when he wrote this story emanates from him as he narrates this novel, and I was along for the ride. I actually didn't want to get out of my car when I got home this afternoon, because I wanted to finish this novel. Fortunately, it was near the end when I got home. Even though I was happy to finish it, I wanted it to go on forever. I could easily listen to further adventures of Arnold Spirit.
On an intellectual level, I was aware of the disheartening conditions that Native Americans (or Indians as Arnold calls his people) face on many reservations in the United States, but hearing it first-hand, it struck home to me how hard that life is. It was hurtful to see that Arnold was raised not to reach for any goals, to believe that as an Indian, his future was a big, black void. That he was less than anything. I screamed, "No. No. No!" But I could understand why Arnold had to change his whole mindset and learn to hope and to believe. I think it brings home how blessed many of us Americans are. Sadly, we forget that not all Americans have even the simplest of things we take for granted, such as food to eat every day, more than one pair of clothes, a decent education (Arnold's Geometry textbook at the reservation school is thirty years old) and the ability to get to school without having to walk twenty miles. Not to mention the very short average life-span of a Spokane Indian due to the ravages of alcohol. I know what it's like to be a 'minority' in this country, and everything that comes with it, but I didn't know what it was like to be an Indian, and that was an excellent learning opportunity for me.
This book is very angsty, and it's also very funny. I felt like I was there with Arnold when he goes through his milestones and horrible tragedies. I cheered him on at his successes, and cried with him when he cried. I loved him. I still do. Arnold's a part of me now. He'll stay in my mind forever, even though I will move onto reading other books, and I'm glad for that....more
Danielle The Book Huntress
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