Friends, I received this ARC from a fellow publishing colleague on Tuesday. I started reading it on the train Thursday morning and finished it last night (which would be Friday for those trying to figure that out). This is the first book that I have fully read in a while and I gulped it down like a refreshing glass of water. So yes, thanks for the trouble, Tommy Wallach, for quenching my thirst for a good read.
Friends, say hello to the the best fantasy novel I’ve read all year. Yes, I loved Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows even more than I loved Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes. . . and If you’ve been keeping up, I LOVED An Ember in the Ashes. This novel has been floating around the intersphere all week (and longer), but there is certainly a reason it has received so much hype. Not only is it gripping, but it is diverse and the narrative is GAH, freaking fantastic. Let’s do a rewind shall we?
Synopsis.
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first
The Good.
The characters. Bardugo and her editor deserve a bonus check for balancing six characters and leaving none to be claimed as my “least favorite”. Honestly, I don’t even have a favorite because they are all equally amusing in their own right. You have Kaz the leader of the Dregs, who is someone I would never want to meet. Honestly, I’m shocked the kid hasn’t gone completely mad given his history. You have Inej, the stealthiest woman of all the land. Her regard for her religion in the midst of her situation makes her all the more likeable. Nina and Matthias are like a romantic comedy ready to explode in your face. Even Wylan and Jesper have a comical romanticism that leaves you wanting more. (Seriously Bardugo . . . I. Need. More.)
This book is HUGE. Not Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix huge, but pretty close. However, you still. want. more. (Fall 2016 can not come soon enough.)
The Not-So-Good.
That it ended. (I’m serious.)
Overall.
Can I make it any clearer? If you like An Ember in the Ashes or like fantasy/sci-fi in general. . . start heading to your local Bookstore or grab your tablet and start reading Six of Crows.
Purchase: Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Henry Holt and Co.
480 pages
$18.99
All opinions are my own and are not endorsed or sponsored by any company or organization.
As one friend recently mentioned — William Ritter writes like that guy who always has a good story up his sleeve. Jackaby is one of those great stories. It is an adventure to be had and a mystery worth investigating. Whimsical and alluring, Ritter takes you on a journey through the unexplained with investigator, R.F. Jackaby, and his newly arrived assistant detective, Abigail Rook. When a gruesome string of murders happen in New Fiddleham, Jackaby is second on the case, right behind the New Fiddleham police department, who refuse to believe in the strange and paranormal happenings surrounding the town. With help from good-looking detective, Charlie Cane, can Jackaby and Abigail stop the paranormal creature wreaking havoc on New Fiddleham?
The Good
If you’ve seen Jackaby floating around the inter-sphere you have most likely seen it compared to Doctor Who or Sherlock
Holmes. Those comparisons are not far off. The characters that Ritter creates are phenomenal. No stone is left un-turned with his character development. Jackaby is an adventure of his own. He is a delightfully intriguing character whose style choices are questionable and he never shies away from the unusual. The paranormal is his forte and he takes pride in his keen observations. Abigail isn’t your typical YA heroine. She’s bold and adventurous, yet she is shy and subtle. She strives for a life of equality, but doesn’t throw away her girlish charms. Some days she prefers pants and other days she prefers skirts — she’s three-dimensional that way. (Bravo, Ritter!)
The subtle jokes that are mentioned throughout, make this book. Ogden the frog and Douglas the duck are highlight characters that add a comedic air. Jackaby is downright hilarious and I adore Abby’s slight wit.
The Not-So-Good
Honestly, it’s hard for me to write the not-so-good, because I love this book! I would say it is a bit juvenile at times, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone under the age of 12. The murder scenes can be a bit gruesome, which would make 11 year old me have nightmares.
Overview
This book is a 5 and with good reason. It’s quirky, yet serious when it needs to be. It’s a book that will keep you reading, and by the end you will be anxiously awaiting book number two of the series, Beastly Bones. If you are a fan of Doctor Who, mysteries, humor, or gassy frogs, Jackaby is a book for you.
Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository
Jackaby by William Ritter
Algonquin Young Readers
304 Pages
September 16, 2014
$16.95
Hold on to your pants with this one. (I’m not exactly sure what that phrase means, but you should probably do that when reading this book anyway because it’s 100% CRAY-ZAY.)
Seriously. Charlie, Presumed Dead is a definite thriller. I’m not exactly sure what this book is labeled under. I’m assuming that it is a YA title because the main characters are both teens, but it could definitely be a crossover.
Anyway, you should probably read the synopsis (which you can find here) to better know what I’m rambling about.
The Good.
Okay, first things first. This cover is gorgeous. It’s what first attracted me to the book (yes, I judge a book by its cover) and it didn’t let me down.
The writing is a bit juvenile, but the twists and deception is so great you really won’t care. I was looking at a few reviews that stated the book was “slow”…”uneventful”…”boring”…don’t listen to them because I’m pretty sure they read the wrong book. I flew through this because the mystery and the “CRAY-ZAY-NESS” was so intense that I had to know more. The overall plot is fantastic and unexpectedly dark. There were a few times I blurted “WHAT IS THIS BOOK?!” during the craziest of parts (My mother can testify). It’s definitely one of those reads you want to talk about with another person when you finish the last page–so make sure you read it with a friend so you can freak out together.
The Bad.
The reviews have been a bit negative for this one, and when I say a bit, I mean really. Which I believe stem from the poor structure of the book. The characters do have depth, but they are a bit stereotypical. You have Aubrey, the good and clean Midwest gal, and then you have Lena, who is the mega rich, slightly snobby, city-slicker. Also, the realism of this book is so far off, which I could see being a huge turn off when you have an overall realistic setting but then the details are out in left field. Also, (slight spoiler alert, but not really) for anyone who has read this—did you not think that Lena and Aubrey were going to fall in love with one another? I’m pretty sure the only thing they thought about during their “trip” (besides Charlie) was how great the other one was. Did anyone else find this to be really odd?
Overall, it’s definitely a book to pick up if you are looking for a thrill ride. I hate to make major comparisons, but if you liked Gone Girl, Charlie, Presumed Dead is for you.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository
All opinions are my own and are not sponsored or affiliated with any company or organization.
CONFESSION: I’ve never read Anne of Green Gables. *GASP* THE HORROR! I know. It’s been that book that I’ve wanted to read, but I have never had a copy or I forgot to pick one up at the library because I was too busy praying that the newest John Green book was available.(Someone out there is shooting me angry daggers for mentioning John Green and Anne of Green Gables in one sentence.)
I only confess this to you because Ana of California is a modern retelling of Anne of Green Gables, So if you are looking for comparisons, sorry charlie, you’re just not gonna get ’em. But I will share my thoughts on the book with you and hopefully that will suffice.
First, a big thank you to Penguin Group for allowing me to read this wonderful novel in exchange for an honest review. This book comes out on the 30th (Yes, of this month!) and is definitely worth the time.
For a synopsis of Ana of California click here.
The Good.
The characters are wonderful. Ana is a girl after my own heart. You empathize with her and her past and cheer her on throughout the novel. Abbie is a dear. I would want her to be my best friend. She’s loving, ambitious, and her meals make you salivate every time she talks of them. You have Emmett, who is a grumpus, but you know that there is so much love underneath all of those layers. I have an enormous crush on Will. Then you have Rye and Cole who each add a unique element to the story-line.
I loved the diversity this book held. I especially love when retellings change the background of the character. The pace is perfect. I read this pretty much in a day (minus a few hours of sleep here and there). I was actually surprised when I reached the end…which leads to…
The Not So Good.
The only “not so good” about this novel is that it leaves me hanging like a leaf. I mean, COME ON. There is an epilogue (thank goodness), but I needed just a bit more. You have a glimpse of what happens later down the road, but I personally just wanted the assurance. After everything Ana goes through (I promise, no spoilers!) you just want some satisfaction that everything will be okay from here on out (even if that thinking is completely unrealistic). Also, I would love to know more about Abbie. I know the story’s center points to Ana, but there is so much worth mentioning about the characters that surrounds her. Although we are given glimpses into Abbie’s background story, I would have loved to read more about her time away from the city.
Overall, I loved this book. Ana of California is a wonderful, heart-warming read that will inspire you to open your eyes to the good in your life.
On Sale Date: June 30th from Penguin Group
Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | iBooks
All opinions are my own and are not sponsored or endorsed.
The Book Trove 