The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (Review)

Title: The Raven Boys
Author(s): Maggie Stiefvater
Edition: Audiobook, 11 hours/10 cds
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Source: Library
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

I want to preface this with the fact that I "read" The Raven Boys on audio.  My first foray into audiobooks in fact, which may have not been completely the best idea as Maggie Stiefvater's books tend to be very detailed and complicated.  I would suggest reading a hard-copy of the book because those details and complexity was sometimes overwhelming at times when listening.  And while I realize there are probably a million reviews out there for this book, I think another one won't hurt.

Blue Sargent comes from a family of female physics, but she is the only one without the gift.  Within the town she live in, Marietta, her family witness the crossing of the dead, and each year Blue goes with, never seeing the souls as her family does.  Except for this year, when one soul walks towards her and whispers his name. And Blue is told by her Aunt Neeve: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said.  “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”  (pg. 16 of the hardcover).  This one sentence pretty much sets the tone of the book, and the action takes off.

Rich in detail and mythology, Stiefvater's Marietta is a character in of itself, and seems like a beacon gathering the 5 main characters together.  As with all Stievater books, the mythos within The Raven Boys is rich, pulling from legends existing within the real world.  Each boy, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah, is multi-layered and complex.  Sometimes you hate them, but more often you love them, much like Blue herself.  With each new turn of the story, you sink deeper and deeper, becoming a part of this quest that Gansey and his fellow Raven Boys are on.  And while this is one quest, you find yourself on a simultaneous journey with Blue, navigating the possible result of her predicted future.

Lyrical, complex, and compelling, The Raven Boys delivers a story steeped in magic, both of the fantastical and the ordinary.  This is sure to pull you in and not let you go!

Final Rating

Book Cover: 5/5 
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 8/10

Overall: 45/50: A

Extras

Book Trailer

Other Books in Series

Photo credit: Maggie Stiefvater

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Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova [Review]

Title: Labyrinth Lost
Author(s): Zoraida Córdova
Edition: ARC, 336 pgs
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: September 6, 2016
Source: Recieved from ALA for review
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation...and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can't trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange marks on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland...

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

If you are wanting an exhilarating, dark, female-driven, family-centric, magical journey, then stop because Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova is the book you've been looking for.

I have been needing a darker type of magic story for a while.  One that explores that earthier side of magic, with rituals and spells powered through parts of the real world, not just a wave of a wand.  Labyrinth Lost delivers that need and adds so much more.

I love the main character, Alex (Alejandra).  Zoraida has crafted a character that is still relatable even when being from a family of witches.  She doesn't want the power that she possesses because it scares her.  I think that we can all relate to that sort of fear in a way; we all have something to be afraid of, whether it is intrinsic or extrinsic.  She is struggling to be a part of this family who's very being is determined by their power when she is constantly fighting her own, and fighting it so drastically that she tries to spell it away.  I feel this can be used as a metaphor for how teen girls feel about themselves for the most part, at least I know that's how my friends and I felt.

But while Alex finds herself at odds with her family, there is nothing but love from all sides.  Her mother and sisters all love Alex, and she them.  But not only is her immediate family important, Alex has such a rich history, which is reflected it in the Latinx culture that plays such an integral part of the book.  Alex's ancestors span back centuries, and they all play a part in her family's history.  And all these people are definitively brujas, casting cantos, not spells.  This is an aspect of the book I absolutely adore; more representation of Latinx culture is needed within YA speculative fiction, and Labyrinth Lost is such an amazing addition to that genre. 

Then of course, not only are we shown the brujas of Brooklyn, but through Alex's banishing canto, she transports her entire family (and her ancestors too) into Los Lagos, a type of purgatory for brujas.  The elaborate layers of Los Lagos again mix many elements from Latinx culture, but also from other myths and stories, creating a rich, terrifying, oil painting of a world that Alex must trek through to save her family.

Luckily she is not alone on this journey, and again the amazing hand of  Zoraida crafts some complex supporting cast that you love to love and love to hate (but never really for long).  The voice of each character is distinct from one another, and each person, or creature, you meet adds something to the overall world of Los Lagos and the bruja culture, making the book one you'll want to explore again.

It's at all times a journey of discovery and family, but with such twists that it keeps you on your toes while reading.  Never a dull moment, Labyrinth Lost is a fantastical ride, leaving you aching on the other side to be a bruja yourself (I for one have been practicing my Resting Witch Face).  One of my top books of 2016, I can't recommend this one enough!  Out on September 6, 2016, you won't want to miss it!

Final Rating

Book Cover: 4/5 
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 9/10

Overall: 48/50: A+

Extras

Other Books by Zoraida

The Vicious Deep Trilogy

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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Review)

Title: Throne of Glass
Author(s): Sarah J. Maas
Edition: Hardcover (original cover released)
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Source: Bought
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

The Summary

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for four years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

I was definitely late to the bandwagon with this one!  I had bought it when it first came out.  I met Sarah and had Throne of Glass, along with, the then newly released, Crown of Midnight signed.  Then I just popped them both on my shelf to be forgotten until...three years later (ohhh my bad).  But I couldn't ignore the siren call anymore, especially when ToG is blowing up my Twitter feed on the daily.  So I gingerly removed it from my shelf and fell head first into being complete ToG trash.

What is there not to love about this book?!  It has so much!  Great plot, great characters, great dialogue, great world building, it's all great!  The way this world comes together blows me away, and Maas just builds upon this fantastic foundation that culminates in such an engrossing story you hate for it to end (luckily it's a series)!

Celaena Sardothien is the badass girl of my dreams.  One of the best assassins in Adarlan, Celaena doesn't mind getting dirty when it's called for, murdering whoever the job determines.  But then she is also into fashion, clothes, books, sweets; she loves a good indulgence, which is a dichotomy I adore.  She kicks ass, kills men "stronger" than her, but still swoons over a good piece of chocolate.  This is the type of female protagonist I want to see more of; girls don't have to be all "I'm super serious and can't like frivolous things".  Uh, yes you can!  I hate when female leads are purposefully made more masculine just so they are believable as being tough.  Girls and women can be tough and still like to wear dresses.

Besides her obvious badassery, Celaena is a complex character.  There are multiple facets to her, and Maas does a masterful job of layering them, then peeling back a hint of the layers when the plot calls for it.  A great way she shows the reader the different sides to Celaena is by other characters' views of her.  Chaol and Dorian, the two main male protagonists, see Celaena two very different ways.  Through them you get to see different facets of her personality and realize there are deeper depths yet.  Also, one's the Crown Prince of Adarlan and the other is the Captain of the Royal Guard....so they're pretty hunky.  Hunky, but complex with a development shown throughout the story that mirrors Celaena's journey.  I can't pick which to love because I can see the best qualities in both of them.

The overall mythos of the book is super interesting too.  Just when you think you have something figured out, BAM Maas throws you a curve ball!  And none of these twists seem forced or unecessary; they all work together to enrich the story and make it way more engaging.  I feel a part of this world when I'm reading the book, and that's so important to a fantasy story.

This book, and this series (there are four more currently published with the fifth book coming out this year!!!!!!), is beyond epic.  It is funny, sexy, and intense; just the kind of fantasy I want to dig my teeth into.  Celaena is the female protagonist I've been looking for, and I love her with all her faults and merits.  If you have yet to pick this book up, THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  Take it from someone who did wait, once you finish the first chapter you will be utterly in love, so go read Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas and be ToG trash with me!!!!

Extras

Book Trailer

Other Books in Series

Final Rating

Book Cover: 3/5 (for this cover; love the new one)
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Endings: 9/10

Overall: 47/50: A

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Slasher Girls & Monster Boys edited by April Genevieve Tucholke (Review)

Title: Slasher Girls & Monster Boys
Editor(s): April Genevieve Tucholke
Edition: Hardcover, 385 pages
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (imprint of Penguin)
Publication Date: August 18, 2015
Source: Self Purchased
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

The Summary

For fans of Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Lois Duncan, and Daphne Du Maurier comes a powerhouse anthology featuring some of the best writers of YA thrillers and horror 

A host of the smartest young adult authors come together in this collection of scary stories and psychological thrillers curated by Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’s April Genevieve Tucholke.

Each story draws from a classic tale or two—sometimes of the horror genre, sometimes not—to inspire something new and fresh and terrifying. There are no superficial scares here; these are stories that will make you think even as they keep you on the edge of your seat. From bloody horror to supernatural creatures to unsettling, all-too-possible realism, this collection has something for any reader looking for a thrill.

Fans of TV’s The Walking Dead, True Blood, and American Horror Story will tear through tales by these talented authors:

Stefan Bachmann
Leigh Bardugo
Kendare Blake
A. G. Howard
Jay Kristoff
Marie Lu
Jonathan Maberry
Danielle Paige
Carrie Ryan
Megan Shepherd
Nova Ren Suma
McCormick Templeman
April Genevieve Tucholke
Cat Winters

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

This collection of stories was so very deliciously eerie.  Some were more frightening; some were more sinister.  But no matter what, they were all unsettling.  This is the hallmark of a fantastic horror story, and this anthology is jam-packed.

What is best about this particular horror anthology, is that it is strictly young adult, which I haven't seen before.  Also, each story is inspired by classic films, books, or songs.  Some of the films/books/songs are already horror-based, but others are not.  This makes the interpretations to horror that much better in my opinion.  I think this also adds an interesting look into the way something can be interpreted, and had me researching some of the originals that inspired these stories.

For instance, my absolute, hands-down favorite story, "In the Forest Dark and Deep" by Carrie Ryan, is based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.  This story follows a young girl who is a victim and a witness to a horrible crime that is conducted by a mysterious figure: the March Hare.  The events of the story flash back and forth between when Cassidy is a child and when she is a teenager on the brink of adulthood.  It is very creepy and beautiful all at once.  The use of the mad tea party is expertly done, and I just loved it so much.  I would encourage you to either read this one first, or save it for last.

Of course, while this was my favorite, it is far from alone.  A couple other real stand-out stories include "Verse Chorus Verse" by Leigh Bardugo, "Stitches" by A.G. Howard, "Sleepless" by Jay Kristoff and "On the I-5" by Kendare Blake.  Each of these are just so chilling and do the best job of making shivers go down my spine.  But, all of the stories are worth reading for sure.

I will say that I couldn't read this book at night.  After I read the first two stories I tried to go to bed.  Unfortunately, I have an over-active imagination and scared the living daylights out of myself, jumping at each creek and groan of my house.  I had to sleep with my bathroom light on!  So if you're braver than I am, definitely enjoy this anytime, but if you're a scaredy-cat like me, then I suggest full sunlight when enjoying.  If you're a horror lover, you will not be disappointed with the stories collected in Slasher Girls & Monster Boys.

Extras

Final Rating

Book Cover: 5/5
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Endings: 10/10

Overall: 50/50: A+ (perfection!)

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Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (Review + Giveaway)

Title: Dumplin'
Author(s): Julie Murphy
Edition: Hardcover, 375 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Imprint of HarperCollins)
Publication Date: September 15, 2015
Source: Bought from Amazon
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

The Summary

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

Where was Dumplin' when I was in high school, both the book and the girl?  Julie Murphy pens an empowering story for every girl who has ever felt out of place within her own body, but is definitely a major empowerment for fat girls everywhere.

Willowdean (Wil to her friends) is fantastic.  She is the heart of the book.  Wil is tough, but loving, and her obsession with Dolly Parton is the best thing ever; Wil is definitely a Texan through and through.  She also makes mistakes, and owns up to them.  Her characterization shows all facets of what a girl her size feels and expresses, because let's be real, while this book can be relatable to all girls in one way or another, this books sings to the big girls out there.

Wil is comfortable with herself, but sometimes when faced with situations on which society has placed certain "standards of beauty", Wil faces doubt and a tiny bit of hate within herself.  This is so relatable for girls, especially in modern society.  How many beauty ads/weight loss ads/you're not good enough ads do teen girls get exposed to nowadays?  It can be a struggle to be comfortable within your own skin instead of all seeing the "flaws".  This was definitely something I struggled with, and still struggle with even though I'm 27!  I think the way that Murphy executed this within the book, not just from Wil's perspective, but showing little glimpses of other women/girls within the story dealing with issues that conflict or embrace society's expectations of beauty is skillful.

All the supporting characters were also full of personality.  Ellen, the best friend; Bo, the maybe-not-really-what's-going-on "boyfriend"; Millie/Amanda/Hannah, the trio of "misfits"; Mitch, the other maybe-not-really-what's-going-on "boyfriend" all of layers to them.  Some you get to see a little more than others, but I didn't think any of them were a cookie cutter character.  I really loved each one for different reasons, and felt like these were all people I could find in a small town in Texas.  Mille, Amanda, and Hannah were probably my second favorites out of all of the characters behind Wil.  The strength and conviction of character all three have, especially Millie, was so great.  True friends are hard to find, so when you find them, you really need to keep them.

Exploring loss, body confidence, and relationships, both familiar and romantic, Murphy is able to create a story that feels real, and is not about the "fat" girl sliming down to get the guy, which, let's be honest, a lot of YA books with a larger protagonist often do.  Wil faces new and sometimes uncomfortable situations, but she finds her way through on no one's terms but her own.  I loved this book so much, and I think it is one which every person needs on their shelf!  Remember, in the words of Dumplin' herself, if you got it, flaunt it!  Go pick up a copy of Dumplin' by Julie Murphy TODAY!!

(Psst there's a giveaway below!)

Extras

Final Rating

Book Cover: 5/5
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Overall: 49/50: A+

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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What We Left Behind by Robin Talley (Review)

Title: What We Left Behind
Author(s): Robin Talley
Edition: ARC, 416 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Source: For review from publicist
Buy: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Book Depository

The Summary

What happens when love isn't enough to conquer all?

Toni and Gretchen are the couple everyone envied in high school. They've been together forever. They never fight. They're deeply, hopelessly in love. When they separate for their first year at college—Toni to Harvard and Gretchen to NYU—they're sure they'll be fine. Where other long-distance relationships have fallen apart, their relationship will surely thrive.

The reality of being apart, however, is a lot different than they expected. As Toni, who identifies as genderqueer, falls in with a group of transgender upperclassmen and immediately finds a sense of belonging that has always been missing, Gretchen struggles to remember who she is outside their relationship.

While Toni worries that Gretchen, who is not trans, just won't understand what is going on, Gretchen begins to wonder where she fits in Toni's life. As distance and Toni's shifting gender identity begins to wear on their relationship, the couple must decide—have they grown apart for good, or is love enough to keep them together?

(Goodreads)

My Opinion

Toni and Gretchen were the "It" couple in high school; everyone wanted a relationship like they had.  They had the future all figured out too, well at least college.  But, unfortunately, it isn't all sunshine and daisies when reality actually hits and they are both thrown into completely new experiences away from each other for the first time in a year and a half.

I know that sounds like a typical romance, and in some ways it is very typical.  Both Toni, who I am going to refer to as T from now on, and Gretchen are experiencing a brand new place and brand new people for the first time.  Neither of them have a group of friends that they are going to college with, and the one person that they could both always count on isn't right there for support.

But it is also atypical in the way that Robin Talley portrays T's and Gretchen's lives and the frank realizations about identity, gender, and sexuality.  The reason I refer to T as T is because T is trying to understand T's identity and how T presents.  So for parts of the book T does not use gendered pronouns to talk about anyone, in other parts T uses "they", and in other parts T tries out "ze" and "hir".  T also thinks through multiple different gender options: for much of the book, T identifies as genderqueer, but then that doesn't quite fit.  Maybe nonbinary or genderfluid works better. Or maybe it’s one of the multitude of other "labels" T tries out.  All T knows is that not one is a perfect fit.

If you feel a little confused just reading that sentence, then you get a sense of what not just T, but Gretchen, is going through.  While T is struggling to identify T's gender, and what that means, Gretchen is struggling to find her own place within T's journey.  I found the journey that T goes on to be very authentic in voice. Identity, any sort of identity, let alone an identity that is typically considered out of the heteronormative identity that general society conducts itself in, can be confusing to figure out.  And trying to fight certain stereotypes, which are even perpetuated within the LGBTQ+ community, can be difficult to overcome.

But that is where Robin Talley's beautiful writing comes into play.  She really crafts this journey well, so much so that I think even a straight cisgender identifying reader can relate.  It is ultimately about finding out who you are, and while T's struggle is based in gender, Gretchen acts as a counterpoint to that with a broader struggle of just who she really is as a person.  I find myself feeling as a part of the story, rooting for T and Gretchen; commiserating with them through the hard times and celebrating with them through the joyful times.  I would definitely be friends with both and I just really feel for the struggle that their relationship and they themselves are going through.

Not only is Robin Talley's characterization great, her prose is beautiful in it's simplicity and authenticity .  One of my favorite lines is found near the beginning of the book, "I never imagined that being one half of a whole could make you feel more whole all by yourself" (page 24).  I just love how simple that idea is, but it has such a profound effect.  There are other great lines, some heartbreaking, others uplifting, all throughout the book.  Intriguing characterization and solid writing are the two things I devour in books; luckily What We Left Behind has both in abundance.

I think this is an important book within the young adult book world.  Robin Talley opens the avenue for conversation about gender identity, LGBTQ+ rights, navigating college, first romances and first heartbreaks all within the confines of 416 pages.  I really encourage you to go out and read What We Left Behind for yourself; I think you'll really enjoy it.

Extras

If you liked the sound of that book, check out Robin's critically acclaimed (and hopefully, soon to be award winning) debut novel:
Lies We Tell Ourselves

Final Rating

Book Cover: 4/5
Book Title: 5/5
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Overall: 46/50: A-

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