March is coming in like a lion but it is definitely not going out like a lamb. We have some fierce reads coming this month and I am uber pumped about it. Not only does Cassandra Clare give us a brand new Shadow Hunter series but a gal pal of some of the most “badass” women of YA writing are teaming up and releasing 15 stories that I’m sure are going to rock our world. Here’s what I have on my list this month . . .
Katniss Everdeen meets The Scarlet Letter in this series opener by P.S. I Love You author, Cecelia Ahern. Quite the statement, right? But trust me it’s 100% accurate.
The Synopsis.
Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.
But then Celestine encounters a situation where she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule. And now faces life-changing repercussions.
She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.
In her breathtaking young adult debut, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society where obedience is paramount and rebellion is punished. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her-everything.
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
The Book Trove 