I picked this up after I heard about it on Booktube, and this was a very good listen. The narrator did take a bit to grow on me, however, she absoluteI picked this up after I heard about it on Booktube, and this was a very good listen. The narrator did take a bit to grow on me, however, she absolutely fit the personality of the main character. She sounds very cynical, which turns out to fit Nora pretty well. This is the book for readers who enjoy media about con artists, and the dark side of that way of life, and particularly how it would impact the child of a con artist who has been raised to be a part and pawn in the con. This could have been a lot darker, had it not been targeted to a YA audience, but believe me, it has a very dark edge that grounded the story in the sordid reality that our main character lived in.
Nora happens to be in the bank when it's robbed by two accomplices, and she must use all that she's learned in the trade to get herself, her girlfriend, and their best friend (and her ex) out alive. Told in time jumps between the present in the past, the narrative allows the reader to see things through Nora's eyes as she integrates the parts of her past selves and introduces/reveals herself to the readers. Nora has played different girls through the engineering of her mother, and Nora uses all of those girls to navigate through an increasingly dire hostage situation at the bank.
What I appreciated was how Nora is both vulnerable and warrior-like. She is not just either. Nora has been the victim in multiple situations and has the scars to prove it. Some of the situations that Nora has been put in thanks to her mother made my hair stand up on in, so there are some trigger warnings. In some ways, the story reminded me of the Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt movie Heartbreakers but with none of the levity. Nora's mother is about 1000x times worse than Sigourney Weaver's character, and Nora is more sympathetic and layered. The confrontation at the end between Nora and her mother was award winning.
I also appreciated how the story depicts how love can evolve into different things over time, but the intensity of it doesn't change. It's clear that Nora still loves Wes deeply, even though they are not together anymore. Iris is now her girlfriend, but they are all very close friends. I was still a bit confused as why Nora and Wes were not talking, even though it's emphasized that it's not because Nora is with Iris now (unlike what the blurb implies). Wes always tries to play the hero, but it's Nora who's wearing the cape and has often had to protect Wes from some very ugly things in his own life. Some of those scenes were the best in the book. Although I feel like the flashbacks almost always stole the show from the present. Perhaps it's because the bank robbers felt a little cardboard. I loved Nora's sister and how her sister would burn the world down for her. I definitely feel that way about my own sister.
This is a very good book for readers who like a heroine who has plenty of flaws and has a rough past, which they are able to overcome and to learn from and use to make them emotionally stronger. I think this would be an excellent adaptation to film or television.
I believe this might be one of my all time favorite coming of age stories. It's definitely the favorite book we read in my Readings in the Graphic NovI believe this might be one of my all time favorite coming of age stories. It's definitely the favorite book we read in my Readings in the Graphic Novel class. Persepolis tells the story of Marjane, a girl who grows up during a tumultuous time in Iran, during and after the Islamic Revolution, which changes her culture indelibly. Her family is a free-thinking, intellectual one. Marjane was raised with many freedoms, which she sees being eroded by the authoritarian voices in her government. Marjane is sent away for her own safety to Vienna. Marjane experiences extreme cultural clash and realizes how much Iran is a part of who she is, that she cannot turn her back on her spiritual home, even if she doesn't live there.
I loved how heartfelt and expressive the drawings are. On Wikipedia, it states that Marjane was influenced by German Expressionism and I can definitely see that in the almost woodcut style illustration, stark black and white. Despite the starkness of the coloring, the drawings are so organic and flowing, and there is so much sweet, subtle humor in them, along with the well-written dialogue and narration. While Marjane has had much pain in her young life, there is also joy and that's all on the pages of this combined volume of Persepolis 1 and 2. I laughed and cried as I read this book.
I would highly recommend this book. There was some controversy about the frankness of the sexuality and subject matter, but I think this is a really good book for ages 11-13 to read to gain understanding about how demonized people from different cultures are right now, particularly if they are from the Islamic world. Under the veil is a young girl turned woman with all the same hopes and dreams and fears that a girl who doesn't wear the veil might have. And while her government might repress her based on Islamic fundamentalism, another country may due the same under the veil of Christian fundamentalism. This lesson is very crucial right now....more
Reread for a paper I wrote for my Graphic Novel class comparing this with "Watchmen." I think this is a brilliant book. It holds up to reread and it'sReread for a paper I wrote for my Graphic Novel class comparing this with "Watchmen." I think this is a brilliant book. It holds up to reread and it's equally if not more distressing on reread. Horrifying to think what absolute power and absolute fear can do to a person....more
I've been waiting for this book for a long time, but I was also apprehensive. Viktor's cameo in Fire Bound had me thinking he would be a very strong pI've been waiting for this book for a long time, but I was also apprehensive. Viktor's cameo in Fire Bound had me thinking he would be a very strong personality and I wasn't sure how he would interact with Blythe. Would he be a jerk and treat her badly because she had moved on with her life without him, or would be he the ideal husband she deserved. I was pleasantly surprised.
Viktor was and will always be a hard man. His experiences have been so extreme that is to be expected. I appreciated that even though he is a ruthless killer, he's also a caring man and he always loved Blythe and was faithful to her. He's also a family man, in his own way. His brothers were separated from him, but he was willing to take on the most horrible work to keep them safe. He was sent to the worst of the spy schools to save his brothers. While he was there, he became a leader to the other kids, protected them and banded them together to keep them alive. As adults, they form a unique family unit together, and eventually a motorcycle club. He has lived in hell, essentially. He sees himself as a fallen angel who has been tasked with removing the vilest of humans from the earth, focusing on human traffickers.
The first fifty or more pages is Viktor and his crew taking out a cell of human traffickers. I don't even think Blythe shows up for the first three or so chapters. That was unusual but it was okay, because we've seen Blythe a lot in the previous Sisters of the Heart/Prakenskii books. And it was important because Viktor had been a man of lore previously. He didn't even show up until "Fire Bound" and that was briefly. Feehan introduces him very dramatically and he lives up to the hype. Actually I loved him. I can't choose my favorite Prakenskii, to be honest, but he definitely stands out for me.
As far as the romance, it's a lovers reunited angle, in which Viktor has to show that he loves Blythe and that they can have a good life together. That he is worthy of her trust. Blythe was always extremely tight-lipped about her past in the other books, to the degree we didn't even known she was married until the fifth or sixth book in the series. The reveal on that makes sense when we find out how complicated her relationship with Viktor actually was.
Blythe has been the calm center of the Sisters of the Heart, and in this book, I realized how hard that must have been, considering her very tortured past. I always liked her, but my respect and admiration grew even wider after this book. She has a very motherly nature, and that drives her to accept Viktor's club into her world, even with all their damage and the darkness of the life they have lived.
For readers who were unsatisfied with how Hidden Currents ended, will be mollified after reading this. Well, at least I was. In fact, I think this book wraps up the Prakenskii/Sisters of the Heart saga very nicely. I do hope we'll see cameos of the women and men from those series in the Torpedo Ink saga though.
Viktor's Torpedo Ink motorcycle club is a very intriguing group of tortured and messed up individuals. They would have to be, since they are all graduates of the horrible school Viktor was forced into by the Russian government. I'm excited to read the books, although also nervous about their dark edginess (especially sexually speaking) will be.
I really enjoyed this book. I definitely felt the love between Blythe and Viktor, and how far they had come to find their happy ending. The love scenes were very sexy but also emotional and loving. Although they did come close to being voyeuristic a time or two, this being played for laughs. When I finished this book, I almost wanted to start it again from the beginning, which is a very good indicator about how much I love a book. I broke down and bought the audiobook recently, so I'm looking forward to listening to it.
Some content warnings for people:
*Graphic violence *Dark content about sexual abuse/trafficking of women and children *Content about child abuse *Mild voyeur/exhibitionism *Lots of f-bombs
Casting Suggestions:
Clive Standen as Viktor Prakenskii [image]
Katheryn Winnick as Blythe Drake Prakenskii [image]...more
Riveting stuff. Superman's rampage continues. He's decided that he needs to rule over mankind so he can keep it safe. Not everyone is down for it, so Riveting stuff. Superman's rampage continues. He's decided that he needs to rule over mankind so he can keep it safe. Not everyone is down for it, so things come to a head between him and Batman. Heartbreaking, really. Batman will not give up. He's not made that way. Even he will take on a madman with unlimited power. Superman has lost his grip and he's developed a cult of personality around him. Very timely subject matter. Some leaders can do that, and that's when people have to make the truth clear. Even at great cost. Meanwhile, some galactic protectors need to decide if they will get in involved.
Batman is not able to to watch over Gotham (let's leave it at that), so Jim Gordon and his crew take up the mantle, along with the Birds of Prey. They have an asset in their favor to even the odds a little.
I wish I had written this review sooner, but it's so intense and affecting, and I'm not describing it well. Let's just suffice it to say that you can't read these books and be okay afterwards. It's good to be able to say, it's only fiction, and not all the DC books reflect this reality. Let's take this fiction and learn some lessons so we don't repeat these mistakes in real life, okay?...more
This is the story of hope that never fades. Even in the face of the unimaginable horror a woman faces. The power of her hope keeps her children seekinThis is the story of hope that never fades. Even in the face of the unimaginable horror a woman faces. The power of her hope keeps her children seeking a future that is safe and free from the poison sun that is slowly extinguishing life on the planet.
This book was really depressing. While I liked the message of optimism and never giving up, I don't like the fact that this woman's hope was dragged through deeper and ranker mud each time. It's almost like a slap in the face to the reader. This is what believing and hoping gets you. Nothing but sorrow and anguish.
I don't know if I would call myself an optimist. I believe in the power of good and power of love. I'm a Christian, after all. But I also believe that people will suffer in this life and that sometimes their hopes aren't realized in this life, but in eternity. It says in Proverbs 13:12, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." That's my approach to fiction. I know that bad things happen in life, and the same in books, but I need to have some good with my bad when I read a fiction story. I don't like reading books where I feel worse about life after I finish it than I did when I started. This probably my major problem with this book.
The artwork was well done, and the story itself is suspenseful and exciting. It's just so very depressing. Since this is the first book in the series, I hope that hope does stay alive in this poor woman's heart, despite all that she's suffered. ...more
This is even darker than the first book. Ash's problems grow exponentially. He suffers a terrible personal loss that drives him over the edge and forcThis is even darker than the first book. Ash's problems grow exponentially. He suffers a terrible personal loss that drives him over the edge and forces him to return to the place of origin of his dark powers: India. This time, he is following the trail of Alexander Savage, his nemesis with strange companions, the street thief John and Parvati, a half-demon girl with a very ancient heritage. Ash has to face that the person he was before will never fit again. Too much has happened, and integrating all his past selves into that mundane existence doesn't work.
I know little to nothing about Indian mythology and folklore, but this book fills in a lot of those gaps. Ash has powers endowed by the black goddess, Kali, and that means that he draws from death energies. A horrible thing when it becomes apparent that those closest to him give him even more energy. Ash is learning the cost of his abilities and what powers they give him. He gains the accumulated knowledge of his past lives, but must suffer through the violent memories of those past selves and for them not to take control of him. The people, history, and places of India are vividly illustrated in this book.
Chadda writes excellent action, and there are no opportunities to be bored. Ash is an ideal hero, likable and snarky, and while he's powerful, he has not allowed those powers to give him a sense of overpowering arrogance, knowing how flawed those abilities truly are.
This book isn't for those who balk at seeing young people in danger. Oh, there is plenty of danger for the youngsters in this book. Some blood and guts, but not over the top. Ash and his companions end up in some nasty scrapes, and the bad guys aren't afraid of harming a young boy, or anyone else who gets in the way.
The characterizations are complex and layered. There are no blacks and whites, but instead each person has a little of both inside of them. Ash has to decided what path he will take and what he is willing to sacrifice to defeat Alexander Savage and to gain his greatest hope in this book.
The narrator does an excellent job with the various accents, Indian and British, not stereotyping either. I have enjoyed both books on audiobook and I hope to continue listening to the series in the future.
This series is a distinctive one, touching on a culture that is not often explored in young adult books. While the ending isn't strictly a cliff-hanger, it ends in a way that will make readers eager and ready for the next book, myself included. I'm looking forward to more adventures with Ash Mistry.
This series reads like a very realistic nightmare. You know how people you know (including yourself) are doing things that are horribly wrong and therThis series reads like a very realistic nightmare. You know how people you know (including yourself) are doing things that are horribly wrong and there's nothing you can do to stop it? And the only hope you have is that you'll wake up soon? Yeah, that's Superman and those who subscribe to this skewed belief in justice after his terrible loss. It's weird to say you hate Superman, but I kind of do in this book. Batman is seen as the threat and the enemy, but he's like a sane voice in a nightmare of brainwashed insanity. It's not that Superman is all wrong, but he's so wrong it's enough to make your hair stand on end, considering who he and the power he has. Batman is staying very true to character in this book. He won't stop even if it costs him everything. Unfortunately, the cost of those who ally with him is very high. It's interesting to see who sides with Superman and who sides with Batman. You can probably guess without me telling you, except for maybe a couple of people. My heart hurts for what happens in this book. I can't say I regret reading it, but this is really like a Justice League nightmare in technicolor. FYI, this is a prequel to the video game. You don't have to be into video games to get into this....more
**Disclaimer: This book does involve past adultery between the lead characters. I pretty much hate adultery in romance novels. I avoid those storyline**Disclaimer: This book does involve past adultery between the lead characters. I pretty much hate adultery in romance novels. I avoid those storylines when I can. But this sounded very interesting, and the adultery does seem to fall into the accidental category, if that can be said about marital cheating. One of the reasons I rated this four stars is because Donald takes this novel to deep waters. What you think you know about the characters gets turned on its ear before everything is over. And initially, while one might tend to think of the wife as the victim, you will find out soon that it's not the case at all. Perdita is a strong woman, and I loved seeing that she went from vulnerable teenager to independent, self-actualized mature woman with her own life and her own finances. She goes back to confront Luke and to get acquainted on her own terms, willing to tangle with Luke in order to have the chance to know her children.
I liked this book quite a bit. I think the strength of it was that the author really allowed the reader to walk in Perdita's shoes. That was hugely crucial, considering that she's effectively an adulteress. And while I hate adultery, I couldn't judge her or even Luke for that matter. I'm not saying that I'm sanguine about the situation. But by the end of the book, I had to come to terms with everything. I won't spoil, but the deceased wife definitely doesn't come out of this looking like a martyr or smelling like roses. Luke did annoy me quite a bit, but he grew on me by the end of the book. He was as much as a victim as Perdita was, and he did really care about his children, loved his wife, and much to his chagrin, loved Perdita. There were a lot of ugly words thrown at Perdita, considering that she was underage (at least according to my standards--16-17) when it happened, but she held her own, and Luke wasn't really as much of a b*stard as he could have been (especially by old school Robyn Donald standards).
The dynamic with the twins was interesting, as Perdita got to know them, and they got to know her. The ending was a bit weird with what happens, but that's just me.
I give this four stars because it meets my criteria for a very good Harlequin Presents: well written, angsty, dramatic, likable heroine, intense storyline. I wanted to keep reading and I wasn't in a hurry to finish it. It's a plus that the hero has to admit his love for Perdita fairly sooner than usual in these books.
This is on Kindle (and that's the format I read). It's worth checking out as long as adultery of any kind isn't completely a no-no for a reader. Normally I pass it by, but this was a good book and the adultery wasn't rationalized or dismissed as immaterial....more
Wow. I really liked this book. The intensity and character development was fantastic. I like how the layers pull back and you can see more and more abWow. I really liked this book. The intensity and character development was fantastic. I like how the layers pull back and you can see more and more about both characters. Daniel was definitely a deep guy. He was like the Beast to Holly (even though she didn't consider herself beautiful)'s Beauty. He was super-grumpy and angry and initially, it gave me a way different impression of him, but as Holly's perception changes, so did mine. That was very clever storytelling.
As I get older, I get jaded about the power and the allure of romance. I really crave a true blue romance with deep, powerful emotions and a strong bond between the couple. I always go back to Harlequin Presents because they are short novels, but they have the desired intensity in the short format, when done right. This one was done right. On the surface, Daniel doesn't seem as accessible a hero to the one in Pulse of the Heartland, but he's ten times the man that Nick was. I love characters who feel things deeply, especially when still waters run deep, or when they are just intense by nature. Daniel was a little of both. I liked how he challenged Holly to come out of her safe zone and to see the world deeper and differently.
I like heroes who are very strongly attracted to the heroine, but I want it from a "Can't Live Without Her" perspective as opposed to just scratching an itch. At first you can't tell which is driving Daniel. But the reveal gave me goosebumps. The end was so touching and it really ends this book on a high note. I'm not afraid to admit I did cry a little.
So, this is my review of the latest Ward book. I love this time of year, and the traditions that come alone with it as a long-time JR Ward fan. It's aSo, this is my review of the latest Ward book. I love this time of year, and the traditions that come alone with it as a long-time JR Ward fan. It's a big part of why I enjoy this series so much.
Sorry, but this is a really long review. I had a lot to say!
Possible Spoiler Disclaimer: I will warn readers that while I really tried not to use overt spoilers, you will see that there is an emotional shock that comes in this book, but I don’t reveal exactly what it was. Readers beware!
The Shadows is the telling of the story of the two s’Hisbe brothers who have become unofficial members of the Brotherhood’s growing family. Trez is running away from his destiny, written in the stars, as the future mate of the Princess of the s’Hisbe. He’s done everything he could to disqualify himself, but the time is growing short and he can run no longer. iAm has stood in the gap for his brother for many years, trying to keep his brother from going over the edge of oblivion to the exclusion of having his own life. But the time is coming when he won’t be able to save his brother. Trez is stone cold in love with the Chosen, Selena, but for many reasons, a happy ending doesn’t seem to be written in their destinies. Will iAm ever get the chance to build his own life, and to make decisions that aren’t dictated by his sacrificial love for his brother?
With a storyline that like, you know there’s going to be major drama.
Drama is JR Ward’s calling card. When I read one of her books, I automatically expect it. It’s hard, at the same time, waiting for the other shoe to drop, and it often does, very hard. I deliberately took my time reading this, preparing myself for the emotional blows sure to come. Not at all sure that there would be a happy end by the last page. I know a lot of people weren’t happy with this book, and I was prepared that I might not be, or that I might like it and find myself an outlier in saying why I liked it. So, it was emotionally stressful for me to read it. Another reason to take my time.
Some have argued that Ward has moved away from her initial writing of romance. I’m not sure I agree. Even in her earlier book, there was always a sense that not everything was settled, and while there were committed and happily mated couples, troubles could be lurking around the corner. Yes, the books were shorter and they focused more on the romance, but there was always something more, and plenty of drama. As the series has progress, the books have expanded, and with them, the storylines. And yes, the drama quotient. At times, it’s wearying how the storylines get dragged out and she introduces yet another set of new characters instead of giving more resolution on current storylines. This book was not different in that regard. And there were parts of this book that ripped my guts out and gave me a headache that was just a shade below a migraine. I wanted to slap one particular character super-duper silly. And I wanted to shake another one. I wanted to rail at the capriciousness of life, and ask the whys. But at the same time, I was satisfied at the end of the story. Hence my rating.
My opinion won’t be popular on this book amongst many of my friends. Largely, I really enjoyed this book. While there were some parts that were terribly sad and that made me sob like a big old baby, I felt that JR Ward delivered the quality of storytelling I appreciate about her writing. I’m not the one to tell you if she messed up specific details. I love this books a lot, but I don’t always remember which hand of Vishous glows or which eye of Qhuinn’s is blue versus green. To me, I don’t find that terribly important. I do care about the stories and the emotional journey. I don’t care if she rewrites some aspects of the storyline, because that’s to be expected in a long-running series. As an artist, one’s creation will evolve, and Ward views these people as real, probably as real as they seem to me, but probably even more real. And real people do change.
I will say this as well, I believe in eternal life. I believe that life doesn’t end on this plane. I believe that death is an enemy in that it steals love ones away from their beloveds, hopefully not forever, but sometimes it is forever. Our mortal bodies fail us and we leave this life and go to another place. I’m a Christian, so I believe that Heaven and Hell are real. For the Brothers, it’s the Fade. But I think the pain is the same, knowing that you won’t see a beloved again in this life. And when one is dying, it’s facing one’s mortality, and the question of whether what you’ve believed that whole time was real or not.
My two cats (that I had for pretty much their whole, long lives) died this past fall, and it broke my heart to pieces. They were older and I should have been prepared. I work in animal medicine, and I lost my dad about ten years ago, so death is not new to me. But it still wrenched my soul to lose them. It’s funny what people say and don’t say to you when you lose someone. I had people say some things that were quite ugly even though they didn’t mean it that way, and that didn’t help my emotional healing. I also had people who ministered to me in my grief, and understood exactly how I felt. They can’t know how much they helped me, but I say a prayer of thanks that God put them in my path at the right time.
I think this book touched me because I saw one of the characters go on that journey. The stages of grief were so tangible to me because of my recent loss (and quite honestly, I also lost a church friend recently, so I was dealing with that as well). I could feel what it was like for this character and the pain of losing a person, but also the fact that they could not ever have regrets about having loved that person, for however short that time was. It’s real for me. I don’t know, but I’m thinking that Ward went through a loss recently, and she wrote this from her heart. I connected with that, and I can see why she didn’t change the ending to a “happy, joy, joy” one that would be expected.
Sometimes, that’s not the way life works. Sometimes, you lose people and you have to get out of bed the next day. You have to attend to the ceremonies that come along with the loss and keep one foot in front of the other until you can walk without falling. Sometimes you have to be strong so you can be strong for another person who needs that strength, and put your own needs aside. That was all so real to me, and very well-written.
Others may not like how that was done. I respect that. While it sucked that this person died, it was also valuable in the terms of the story. I can’t fault Ward for that decision. I’ve seen her make others in her stories that I was more angry about. I think she handled the situation with grace, even in the most ugly and emotionally wrenching parts. I think she knows that people are going to be angry with her, and she owns it. I respect her for that.
Speaking of things that made me angry, Xcor was a real tool in this book. I had started seeing more potential for him as a future hero in the past few books, but now I’m just annoyed at him and I question his value as a future love interest for a certain person. I really disliked what he did, for numerous reasons. Those who know my tastes can probably pinpoint why, and can understand why I wanted to bitchslap him. It’s not that I don’t understand his character or the whys but it was a jerk move. At some point you have to stop being a whiny baby and say no to the past and declare a better future. I hold out hope that he’ll get a clue, but he’ll need to get a cleansing deep inside and outside before everything will be okay with me.
I continue to like Layla’s character. She’s really growing as a three-dimensional character in her own right. I wasn’t happy about that storyline with Qhuinn at first, but now I’m okay with it. I think it’s an interesting dynamic, and I want to see where things lead with her and her ancillary relationship with Qhuinn and Blay. I just want her to have a Hellren who is worthy of her. She deserves it! I hope the male she’s in love with gets his head out of his rear end sometime soon.
One of the things I absolutely loved about this book was the relationship between iAm and Trez, and how things turned around, and the one who always made sacrifices got to be the one who was put first in a crucial way. iAm is a really classy guy, a worthy male, and while Trez did have some jerk moments in the past few books, I really liked him in this book and felt for him. He proves to be a very worthy male (although I don’t agree with his view of prostitution being okay as long as the women get the lion’s share of their earnings). Yes, they don’t consider themselves black or African American, but I liked that they do represent people of color in this book so well. I also found the s’Hisbe culture fascinating. In some ways, it’s not super well-defined, but it’s intriguing to me. An interesting compare and contrast to the Vampire and Sympath cultures. ‘s’Ex is some kind of dude. On the real! He has swagger like my beloved Rehvenge, and that is a very nice comparision from a reader who is stone cold in love with Rehv! I hope we see more of him. I like one of the new characters introduced very much, which I cannot reveal as a spoiler. Thumbs up for her. That was super-sweet too what happens with her and another character.
A few things I was indifferent about as well. I am indifferent about the Lesser storyline. It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. We’ll see what happens in the next book. I can’t make up my mind how I feel about Assail. I hate drug abuse/activity, so he’s got a major strike against him. At the same time, I do appreciate the pragmatism of his character. I think he truly is amoral, and he sticks true to that. I’m not sure if he’ll turn out to be an antihero or a full on villain. I have this sick appreciation for a good antihero, I freely admit.
I feel like the Band of Brothers storyline was underrepresented in this book, but I think Ward is saving it for the next book and chose to focus on other aspects. It will be interesting to see what happens between Xcor and Throe (and I’m glad that Wrath ain’t nobody’s fool when it comes to that situation). I wish she’d spent more time on the BoB instead of developing the new storyline with Paradise. I don’t hate her, but I can’t say I really care that much about her right now. Having said that, I’ll definitely be reading the spinoff series, even though I think it’s Ward’s bid for the New Adult niche (and I’m not interested in that genre).
So, yes, I think I could go on about this book, but I’ve already written such a long review. It won’t change anything. I’m pretty set on how I rated the book. I own it. I liked this book a whole lot. I enjoy Ward’s writing. I love the elegance of the old races she writes about, juxtaposed to the gritty modern world. I even like the thug slang and urban ways of the Brothers (as odd as some find it). I know a lot of folks hate that, but I feel that it’s characteristic of her writing, and I smile every year when I get to hang out with the Brothers and their ever-growing circle of acquaintances. I think that Ward really loves writing about these characters and that joy is infectious to me as a reader. I wish that some of my favorites were more front and center, but most of them had their day in the sun and it’s time to let someone else take the center focus. I will say it was nice to see more of Rhage and Mary in this book.
I guess I’m always going to enjoy Ward’s book for what they are. I don’t expect her to be a perfect writer. She has her quirks like any other artist, but I think she’s a darn good writer, and I love this world she’s created, even more with each book. I added The Shadows to my BDB hardcover shelf with a feeling of proprietary pride. Enough Said! ...more
One of my all time favorite fairy tales is The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and this is set in the 20s, so I could not resist it! It's not magical, but One of my all time favorite fairy tales is The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and this is set in the 20s, so I could not resist it! It's not magical, but that doesn't make it less enjoyable. Instead this is a story about sisterhood and women who are subjected to a father who does not know the meaning of love, much less doing the right thing by his family.
Josephine, who goes by Jo, and who is called General by her eleven younger sisters, has taken on the care of them. They are afraid and at times disdainful of her, using her as a punching bag for their resentment for their situation--virtual slaves in their father's house. Their father is a rich man who married into society. He kept his wife pregnant in the desire for a son, until she died. Now he's ashamed of having a quiver full of daughters and no son. He's ready to start marrying them off.
He is unaware that the daughters have started sneaking off at night to go dancing in the speakeasies and nightclubs that have sprung up as a result of Prohibition. The girls are carefully guarded and directed by The General, and she takes this responsibility seriously. It's not at all convenient when she falls in love, especially with eleven sisters to watch over.
The audiobook narration was absolutely the way to go with this book. The narrator was spot on. She imbues each character with life. I loved her cadence and intonation for each character. From the no-nonsense Jo, to the sarcastic Lou (2nd oldest), and even the male characters. I hated their father. What a horrible man. I felt for the sisters, especially Jo. The girls didn't realize how much she had suffered being the oldest. And how much she gave up for them.
Valentine nails the 1920s to a T. She gives the description that is needed to firmly cement the setting, and draws this reader into that atmosphere of the speakeasies and dance clubs, and the flapper culture.
I didn't think this would have a happy ending. At the risk of possibly spoiling, I will say I was happily surprised at the ending.
I have no great criticism of this novel. It just doesn't feel like a five star book. That doesn't mean it's not an awesome book. Recommended. ...more
I am sad that this series is over, but it ends in such a satisfying way. I do think that this series is required reading for those who like fairy taleI am sad that this series is over, but it ends in such a satisfying way. I do think that this series is required reading for those who like fairy tales and especially clever retellings. Each volume ups the ante on the grim aspect of fairy tales. Each book seems less appropriate for a younger audience. I'm torn on that. Mr. Gidwitz is obviously a teacher, and he understands the young minds he writes for. I mean, he has to in order to teach them. I'm going to trust that he knows what they can handle, but my personal limit would be 12 or older for these books. There is way too much dark violence and subject matter for kiddos younger than twelve, to my thinking. Also, the cruelty of adults against children in this book is highly disturbing.
I also think this is the saddest out of the series. Wow, the things that our young protagonists are faced with really tore at my heart. And how the cruelty and neglect they experienced warped something inside of them. Gidwitz deals with the psychology of abused/neglected children in a poignant way without getting too soapboxy.
There are some great life lessons here. Family, loyalty, honor, integrity, kindness, and making moral decisions. These kids have to raise themselves and that leads to some issues when they are faced with adult moral decisions. Along the way they make mistakes and have to learn from them and 'face the music.'
This book breaks the 4th wall in a way that the other ones in the series did not. At first, I really didn't like that about the book, but then I saw how integral it was to the story. It was also good because Gidwitz doesn't follow the predictable pattern I expected.
Johnny Heller truly is an awesome narrator. If he didn't win an award for narrating this series, then he was cheated. He deserves it. He was all in, and you would have to wonder how he didn't get emotionally affected by this book as he read. Not just in horror or sadness, but in hilarity, because this book involves all those emotions.
I am biased. I love fairy tales a lot. Yet, I think that increases my standards for fairy tale retellings. Gidwitz is a writer who clearly loves fairy tales just as much as I do, if not more. He respects the genre, and it clearly is a huge creative influence on him in crafting these marvelous books that add very much to the cultural relevance of fairy tales.
If you have not checked these out and you like fairy tales, what are you waiting for?...more
I had to put a lot of thought into this review. Anne Ursu has done that to me with her last two books. I enjoyed her Cronus Chronicles series and it wI had to put a lot of thought into this review. Anne Ursu has done that to me with her last two books. I enjoyed her Cronus Chronicles series and it was novel in that it presents a family with people of mixed racial heritage in a very normal, everyday fashion, and I loved that about the books. Plus, it was just plain fun Greek Mythology fantasy with a spunky heroine and her good natured cousin along for the ride.
With Breadcrumbs, she gave us a young girl who touched me deeply. Her internal life and her attachment to a friend as an effort to deal with loneliness and rejection was a visceral ache. I think with The Real Boy, she has strummed that emotional chord again.
Oscar is an orphan who was 'bought' by a charmer to watch over his shop, do the cleaning, and to prepare his herbs for the potions he sells. It is never explicitly stated, but I believe that Oscar has autism. He has sense-related issues (will only eat bread because he doesn't like the feel of other foods), he has trouble looking people in the eye, and blurts out things and doesn't understand social cues, he's got a genius level intellect but others may perceive him as not all there. Oscar starts to believe he's not a real boy because he is viewed as so different.
This touched me deeply, that this boy would feel so isolated and feel so unworthy. This is real, how cruel people are to those who are different. It breaks my heart in fact to see him suffer this way. I think this aspect of the book resonated deeply with me. I also appreciated Oscar's developing friendship with Callie, an apprentice to a healer who has no magic.
The world-building was less impactful. I felt like there was more to be discovered and understood. Although I appreciated how the story builds slowly and the reader's understanding expands with continued reading, too much was assumed in this book, and too little spelled out. The concept of how magic was so crucial to the small island that Oscar lives on, with the folktale of the wizards who became large trees so they could watch over the island, that was pretty cool. Although I feel it sort of becomes less clear and tangible as the story goes along. I would say the reveal towards the end was quite interesting, but to talk about that too much would be a spoiler.
Fundamentally, I feel that Ursu excelled with the emotional landscape of this story, but the fantastical foundation suffers in contrast. Oscar is an unforgettable little boy. His emotional journey speaks to my heart. For that alone, I gave this four stars. I was conflicted because I don't think this book measures up as well as far as a fantasy novel. As with Breadcrumbs, I wonder how much of the emotional depths will register with the young audience it's aimed at. It would be a great thing if kids who feel isolated because of their oddness would feel touched by Oscar's story and would understand that they aren't alone after all....more
This was nearly a four star read for me on the strength of the story with Roy Harper and the Justice League and the truly despicable villain PrometheuThis was nearly a four star read for me on the strength of the story with Roy Harper and the Justice League and the truly despicable villain Prometheus. He is not only a formidable supervillain but he is also maliciously psychopathic but in a very methodical way. The Justice League underestimated him to their detriment, and he wreaks serious havoc as a result. I read Justice League: Rise and Fall first, so I'm glad I ended up finding this and getting some background on the events in "Rise and Fall." I'm really surprised that Prometheus doesn't get more buzz in the comic book world. He's like a dark Batman and he's super, duper evil. Yet I hadn't even heard of the guy until I read about him on DC Wikia a few months ago.
The reason why I couldn't give this four stars right out is because some parts are a bit hokey and confusing. I didn't like how each person who experiences personal loss due to Prometheus ( and some that are having some misgivings about how non-lethal the Justice League's approach to villains is) issue a 'cry for justice', well it just seemed a bit cheesy to me. Also, Congorilla? What a strange superhero. I was thinking, are you for real? Your mileage may vary.
I have a huge crush on Green Arrow (definitely top five favorite comic book characters), and he's in this a lot, so yay. He shows a lot of loyalty to his friend and co-Leaguer Hal Jordan (Green Lantern), based on their very strong friendship. In the end, he also becomes even more pivotal to this story because of what happens with Prometheus and Roy Harper (his sidekick Red Arrow aka Arsenal aka Speedy).
I also admit to having some confusion about some aspects of the story. I went to my trusty DC Wikia to get some clarification, and that definitely helps.
One of the things I really liked about this book was the artwork. I felt the characters were excellently rendered, and the colors were beautiful. Graphic Novels are inherently visual, and that is such a crucial component that I definitely grade hard on the art. The art in this one stands up very well overall.
Ultimately, this is one of those books that ends up with a half star review, due to the positives and negatives. 3.5/5.0 stars is my rating for "Cry for Justice."...more
Danielle The Book Huntress
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