Fantastic Fariytales Double Take - Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Published: February 2015

Publisher: Orion

Pages: 320

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: By Goodreads

Summary:

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Review:

It has been ages since Curlypow and I have done a double-take!  So much fun!

So I had only recently heard about Red Queen and what made me intrigued was that I had read some interesting Twitter feeds about Red Queen so I grabbed it from the library and flew through the novel.

Red Queen is based around the idea of a caste system divided by blood type.  Royal blood is always silver but towards the end of the book, we also learn that silver blood has its own hierarchy and even though you are born silver, it does not necessarily mean that you are upper class.

Something that I found fascinating in this society was that conscription occurs across both genders.  In the past, conscription only applied to males.  Here, it applies to both males AND females.  It makes me wonder if we were to experience World War III, and countries installed conscription, if both males and females would be included.  Societal values have changed much since the last World War.  Good point there Christinabean.  

The abilities of Silvers reminded me of X-Men  (Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson)while Mare and her unusual skills reminds me of The Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. Mare may be the one person who will change everything.

Let's talk characters.  There will be spoilers...just saying...for those of you who have not read the book.

Mare.  OK, this girl can be so ridiculous.  Was she friends with America Singer from The Selection in another life? Something tells me they would have gotten along famously. Sorry, I never did get around to reading the Selection so I can't say, but she certainly was determined.

Cal. I like him.  He sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders.  He exhibits emotion and character.  I would have liked to see more interaction between him and Mare.  More talking!- less fighting and assumptions.

Maven...hmmm...well what can I say about Maven.  I was disappointed in him.  Maybe his attitude will change with future titles.  To have all of that hostility and resentment build up through the years.  And at the end, what he and his mother plot to do was hard to read but if he is like his mother, perhaps understandable.  Was she really that wicked?? Yes I think she really was that wicked!

Something that bothered me about this book was the pace in which Maven and Mare connect to assist the rebels is much too quick.  I would have expected the author to develop a relationship and a degree of trust and put this in the second book.  After reading Book #1, I understand the urgency of this event to happen but it was like they were strangers one minute and then plotting together AGAINST the monarchy the next.  Did I miss their connection or was it absent from the beginning?  When did she really start to trust him?  I felt more of a connect with his brother than with Maven. I have to agree there, I much preferred Cal to Maven.  There was something just a little too smooth about Maven for my tastes. 

True, the book was a little bit predictable but still an enjoyable read for me.  It was not as smooth as I would have liked but still a highly recommendable read.  I am eager to see where the story leads and I want to see the author do more world and character building.  Plus, we as readers really need to see what Mare can do with her powers.  I enjoyed this one too. I kept questioning why Mare was doing what she was doing, but the story made sense in the end. I look forward to seeing more of these characters.

Double Take - The Ring and the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz

Published: April 2014

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 384

Copy Provided by: NetGalley

Summary: by Goodreads

Summary:
Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the Lily Throne, and Aelwyn Myrddn, bastard daughter of the Mage of England, grew up together. But who will rule, and who will serve? 

Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second, Supreme Ruler of the Franco-British Empire. With the help of her Head Merlin, Emrys, Eleanor has maintained her stranglehold on the world's only source of magic. She rules the most powerful empire the world has ever seen. 

But even with the aid of Emrys' magic, Eleanor's extended lifespan is nearing its end. The princess must marry and produce an heir or the Empire will be vulnerable to its greatest enemy, Prussia. The two kingdoms must unite to end the war, and the only solution is a match between Marie and Prince Leopold VII, heir to the Prussian throne. But Marie has always loved Gill, her childhood friend and soldier of the Queen's Guard. 

Together, Marie and Aelwyn, a powerful magician in her own right, come up with a plan. Aelwyn will take on Marie's face, allowing the princess to escape with Gill and live the quiet life she's always wanted. And Aelwyn will get what she's always dreamed of--the chance to rule. But the court intrigue and hunger for power in Lenoran England run deeper than anyone could imagine. In the end, there is only rule that matters in Eleanor's court: trust no one.

Review:
The Ring and the Crown sounded so interesting when I first read the summary on NetGalley.  I was hooked on Frozen (#1 of Heart of Dread series) just a few months ago so I thought I'd give this one a read.  If you like fantasy and the idea of Merlin the Magician, you may enjoy this one as it is based loosely on his character. Yep, I'm a huge Merlin fan too, but without giving away too much of a spoiler, Merlin is very much of a side character in this book.

Merlin's real name is Emry's and he had a daughter, Aelwyn who would grow up to be friends with Marie, a future queen.  After being separated for years, the two friends come back together at the castle as Marie is paired with a Prussian prince and prepped for marriage. (Nice bit of alliteration there Christinabean!)  A prince she does not love.  Although he is handsome and brave and desired by the majority of the female population, she just isn't interested.

Aelwyn, taking after her father, yields and controls magic.  Marie seeks her friend's help to escape from a marriage of convenience to pursue her own dreams with the man she desperately wants to be with.  But there are other things happening in the castle which seem to take priority over everyone's happiness.

I loved the story and the characters.  We did not hear much about Emry's, which I was hoping for but I did feel that each and every character had a very distinct voice. You're right C.  With such a huge cast of main characters - Marie, Aelwyn, Isabelle, Ronan, Leo and Wolf - it was nice that each one was very easily identifiable and each was integral to the story if not always in equal ways. I did wonder just exactly why Ronan and Isabelle were included, but as the story progresses you really see why they are part of the whole.

I found myself getting wrapped up in the story.  It was hard to put down. I'm with you there C.  I powered through this one. I had a brief spell at the beginning where I wondered about finishing it, but then I got hooked and didn't stop until the end.  I think I finished it in less than 24 hours.

**Spoiler**
Something that bothered me - Marie giving up her responsibilities in the castle to leave and let her friend take the fall if anything happened.  To ask her friend to live her entire life as a lie is a pretty big thing to ask of someone.

I just enjoyed it...Marie's sense of duty was a little disheartening but it sounds like she's led a pretty unchallenging life, dictated to her and she has a sense of weakness due to her health.  Took a few turns that I wasn't expecting and a big surprise at the end.  That big surprise at the end really changed my feelings about some of the characters, but to say more would be a huge spoiler, sorry.  On hindsight I feel as if I should have known, didn't you?  The hints were there, I just didn't pick up on them at all.  I'm with you all the way though, the book was just very enjoyable, and had the added bonus for me of being a stand-alone.  Not enough of those out there these days.  I do feel like I should have figured it out but I think I was just enjoying the flow of the story for this one.  To be honest, I'm not sure if it is going to remain a stand-alone...although I would certainly like to see more stand-alone novels.

Christinabean and Curlypow

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Published: September 2011

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Pages: 372
Copy Provided by: Borrowed

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:


The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

Review:
I'm surprised I haven't heard more about this title.  I mean, who doesn't like a little slash and kill Rippermnia to break up the dystopian, supernatural, apocalyptic reads?  I have to admit that this was my first book by Maureen Johnson.  I follow her on Twitter and I'm not sure how she fits writing books into the time she puts into her Twitter conversations.  She's like a Twitterholic.  Hilarious gal with lots of spunk.  This seemed to take a bit of a turn from her regular teen literature/contemporary/coming of age titles.

I thoroughly enjoyed this title novel.  Every once in awhile I love reading books that are a little creepy and I must admit that this did have a decent creep factor. On a side note, I kept picturing John from Sanctuary (TV series) every time the Ripper was mentioned.  Did anyone else experience this?  (BTW, Sanctuary is another great series if you're a little sci fi closet geekish like myself).  If you are a bit squeamish, there are a few scenes that are not appropriate for the more graphic imaginations.  Overall though, I found that Ms. Johnson's writing was descriptive, humorous and entirely entertaining.  Two thumbs up for me on this read!

Double Take - Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Published: Sept 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 304

E-Copies Provided by: NetGalley and Publisher

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

Review:

I was so excited when I saw this title offered up on Net Galley.  I jumped at the chance to read it of course and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!  Lucky for me, I was able to use my new Kobo touch reader which made Vanish much more portable.  (Told you it was a good idea to buy one for yourself :), didn't I? )

Firelight was a favourite for me.  (Me too!) I waited so long to read it and I certainly wasn't going to make that mistake again...Ms Jordan does not disappoint with Vanish! I can't believe that I couldn't figure out the cover of the book either...it's Tamra, Jacinda's twin sister.  Duh....on a side note, which sister do you think looks more attractive?  Jacinda (the redhead) or Tamra (the blonde)?  My vote goes to Jacinda.  Tamra's appearance could seem a bit scary to me....

Got to agree with you there Christinabean. I have to be honest, Tamra's character was a bit scary to me too.  She definitely didn't give me the warm and fuzzies!

So, Vanish starts off with a bang and it is all about action but as the novel progresses, you start to see more of Jacinda's relationships with her family and others around her.  She is definitely more vulnerable than she ever has been before.  The one thing I found to be odd (for me) was that I had a disconnect between her and Will. Sure she loves him (yada, yada yada) but I didn't feel her passion for him in this book.  Not just because he played a lesser role in this novel but I was really starting to feel for Cassian.  I'm kinda diggin' tall dark and onyx....sure she keeps saying that she doesn't really have feelings for him but with Ms. Jordan writing those steamy romance scenes, do you really believe it?  I think not.  Vanish is full of action, an intricate plotline, interesting characters and romance.  Can't wait to see what happens in book #3 - umm...think you can speed up that release date Ms. J?

You're right Christinabean, this time around I was all for Cassian - he seems much more sincere and vulnerable in Vanish.  I've always loved the idea that if you really love someone, you'll be willing to let them go, and I get that feeling with Cassian  - he'd be willing to give Jacinda up if that was what she really wants.  But, nobody seems to really know what they want yet. Will seemed a little more selfish this time, not quite as loveable. Corbin really creeped me out this time around - I don't like him at all, he gives me the heebie jeebies.  One thing I realized as I was reading was that I am having a hard time forming a mental picture of what the Draki look like in full manifest.  Ms Jordan talks about gossamer wings and scales, and somehow I just can't see it.  Doesn't stop me from enjoying the story though :).  Lot's of action and angst and an ending that leaves you desperate for #3.

Now, Vanish doesn't actually come out until September 6th but you should definitely pre-order it NOW.... I'll second that, it was a great read.

Guest Double Take - Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Publication date: July 26, 2011

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Copy: Arc courtesy of Simon and Schuster

Summary: Goodreads

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

Our co-worker Kiley very kindly agreed to join us again for another guest post, and this time I thought I'd join her with a Double Take.  Hope you like the two different perspectives on the same book.

Kiley's Take

What to say about Wildefire?

I always enjoy a strong female protagonist – many times the YA books I don’t get into are the ones with weak-willed, boy-crazy, damsel-in-distress types. Ashline Wilde is none of those, although she happens to have a little bit of a weakness for the beautiful-but-totally-not-right-for-her boys. Add in some mythological plotlines, and we should have a winner. Right?

Almost. Karsten Knight has something, although I’m not sure what that something is yet – maybe it’s Ashline, or maybe it’s how he’s approached the gods-and-goddesses thing. But the story is a little disjointed and has some gaping holes, in both the plot and characters. A story like this needs depth of character, strong characters to uphold their superpowers, and create strong motives for action – but none of that is there. Characters do things that could make sense – if we had known that character a little (or a lot) better. There’s a great example in the book, but since it’s an ARC I’m going to avoid quotes and spoilers. There are some great twists, but again, they lose their effect because we just don’t have anything beyond the surface. To me it read a little like a rough draft – I’m sure the story and actions of the characters make complete sense to the author, but he forgot to fill us (his readers) in on the details.

I’ll read any following books (but probably won’t rush out to buy them), hoping that maybe we will get the depth of character and story this book is crying out for – I really do want to like this book. For now, give it a try if you’re fans of Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix or Rick Riordan. Katsa and Katniss fans might also appreciate Ashline, but Knight doesn’t quite reach the caliber of their stories. One thumb up with a squinched-up face for Wildefire.

Curlypow's Take

I will  admit to agreeing with Kiley in the beginning.  I wasn't feeling the characters completely - it felt as if something was missing.  Ashline is definitely a strong character, but sometimes her strength just felt like aggression and I'm not altogether fond of aggressive people.

Then I got past the halfway mark and I felt myself becoming engaged with the characters and I was understanding them a little more.  Perhaps it was when the reader finds out exactly which gods and goddesses these kids are reincarnations of? I'm not sure exactly, but I found myself remembering some of my classical education and facts that I had thought forgotten were resurfacing in my mind. This seemed to make it easier to connect with the character and their various idiosyncracies. Wildfire is quite a violent story, and Ash's sister Eve is a real nasty character. Don't you just love the play on names tho'? Ash - with fire smoldering inside her - very funny.

One thing that I had right at the end was that 'AHA' moment.  What a major twist!  Can't tell you what it is as that would be a spoiler, but it suddenly put the whole story in perspecive for me and I am now truly looking forward to the second book to find out where the story is going to go. I haven't spoken to Kiley yet, but I'll be really interested to see if she picked up on the twist. It's a brilliant set-up for book #2, which I'm assuming we'll see sometime in 2012.

Final response from me - slow to start and hard to get into, but well worth hanging on. Enjoy!

Double Take - Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Published: Feb 2011

Published by: HarperCollins

Pages: 341

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

I'm not your average hero. I actually wasn't your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.


It all started with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn't a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I've ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Everglades.

Don't believe me? I didn't believe it either. But you'll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got cloaked.

Review:
Christinabean = blue
Curlypow = black

I really enjoy fairytale retellings and when I think about the authors who do them best, I think of Alex Flinn.  Cloaked was much different from what I was expecting though.  I have to admit that the "written accents" in the book started to irk me after awhile.  At first I thought it was cute but then it just got on my nerves...
Here's where my experience was quite different from Christinabean's, because I listened to 'Cloaked',  I didn't read it.  For me, the story was absolutely hilarious.  The language, the accents, the characters, all painted a very vivid picture for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was a bit of a wild ride.  You never knew where the story was going to take you - from talking animals, to princesses to shoemaking, Cloaked certainly packed it all in! Definitely a wild ride.  I was never sure what was going to come next, and listening to it made it so much fun.  I loved that Johnny, our main protagonist, was such a nice guy, taking care of his mother and helping out people in need.  Meg was lovely as well - hiding her true self, but such a likeable character and so genuine. 

The storyline and language tended to be geared more towards a younger age but it reminded me of the Shrek movies in some ways where there would be little quips here and there just for adults.  Overall, it was a clean read without profanity and I would recommend it for middle school/pre-teens.  This might even make a great read for parents wanting to read WITH their kids. Ok, so the language was a little younger and nice and clean, but I think there were several nuances that would be missed by younger kids

Something I really loved was the nod given to so many different fairy tales.  I kept thinking to myself - that sounds as if it's could be  ?, or that's a nod to ?  In fact, at the end of the tape/book Ms Flinn lists the seven fairy tales that go into Cloaked.  They are: The Elves and the Shoemaker; The Frog Prince; Six Swans; Golden Bird (Firebird and the Grey Wolf); The Valiant Tailor; The Salad; and The Fisherman and his Wife. The only one I hadn't heard of was The Salad.  I'll have to go and find that one.
At the back of the novel there was also a list of the fairytales used throughout the book.  I think that Curlypow is more of an expert with the fairytales but I did pick out a few. 

Overall it was a fun read for me and I'd recommend it! 
Final verdict - for me it was a definite thumbs up.  Lots of fun and a great laugh.

Double Take - Red Glove by Holly Black

Published: April 2011

Publisher: Margaret K McElderry

Pages: 320

Copy Provided by: Simon and Shuster Galley Grab

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.

That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.

When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?

Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.
 
Review:
Christinabean = blue
Curlpow = black
 
Curlypow and I were lucky enough to read Red Glove through the Simon and Shuster Galley Grab program.  I had a whole bunch of quotes saved but of course once the release date came along,  Adobe locked me out of my bookmarked favourite quotes.  (shaking fist at the screen....) Da** you Adobe!! 
 Double Da** from me.  I had several  quotes as well.  Note to self - start using the notebook again!  I just loved this installment in the series.

I am really enjoying this series.  I'm not sure if I can put my finger on just one thing though.  I have found that especially after meeting Holly in person and listening to how she formulates her ideas, I have a better appreciation for her writing.  I am finding so many novels recently are vampires, zombies, demons or dystopia.  Holly brings an interesting twist to YA by involving the mob and magic.  It's unique and it works.  My favourite part about Holly's writing is that it isn't all serious.  She has a wicked sense of humor (no wonder why Holly and Cassandra are writing partners) and has great one-liners. 
Christinabean, you are so right about this.  The humour in these books is amazing.  I have found myself snorting out loud on several occasions while reading this, which is fine when I'm on my own, but not so great when in public:)
 
OK, let's talk characters.  I really feel for Cassel.  He's alreday assumed to be the bad boy just from his lineage and he tries so desperately to do the right thing...but seldom receives credit for it.  I said it before and I'm going to say it again, Nick from The Demon's Lexicon and Cassel need to go on a man date.  In fact, throw in Jace from The Mortal Instruments and we'd have quite the conversation.  I know that Hollty Black, Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan are all close friends.  Can you imagine if their characters met?
 Can I pre -order a copy of this book if it ever gets made.  Such great characters, all trying so hard not to let people know that they really are good guys at heart.  I love them all.

Anywho, I digress.  Cassel, Cassel, Cassel, he's such a smart cookie but oh so smitten with Lila.  I hope these two lovebirds can get their act together.  Ms. Black she seems to have a gift for keeping Cassel 3 or 4 steps ahead of everyone else.  Even if he is in a panic, he always seems to be in control. 
Ok, here is where I differ in opinion - I'm not so sure about Lila.  Most of the time I like her, but I'm not convinced that she and Cassel are right for each other.  She seems to have some issues to me - of course, if I'd been a cat for as long as she was, maybe I'd have issues too?  Cassel really is a smart cookie, and I love that about him.  Even tho' he is a worker, he seems really grounded to me.  He makes mistakes, doesn't always do the right thing, but has a knack for making things right in the end.
 
Black Heart is book #3 in the Curse Workers series and is coming out in 2012.  Can't wait to read this.  Don't forget that Holly and Cassandra will be in Burnaby, BC Monday April 18th!  If you go, please let us know how much fun you had!
Just loved this book and can't wait to get my hands on number 3.

Double Take - Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Publisher: February 2011
Published: Harper

Pages: 358
Copy from: Library
Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Curlypow - I'm in black
Christinabean - I'm in blue

Desires of the Dead' is the second installment in Kimberly Derting's Body Finder series. This novel sees the growth of Violet and Jay, both as characters and as a couple. Violet is still struggling to understand her gift and reluctant to tell anyone about it. Jay is still so very understanding of her 'gift', but the dynamics of the situation have changed now that they are going out. Their relationship really amps up a notch this time around and I enjoyed that aspect, altho' without giving away any spoilers, it might surprise some people.  I have to be honest here and say that it really bothered me how Violet kept so much from Jay and thought it was OK to do so.  Why would she start keeping secrets now?  I really felt like this drove a wedge between them and yes, it could have stemmed from her own insecurities but he certainly didn't give her many reasons to think that she was anything but his one and only.

The FBI are introduced and with them, 2 new characters, Sara Priest and Rafe - a rather quiet, enigmatic guy with lots of secrets. These 2 added very nicely to the story and the reader is now sure that the series will continue, with Sara and Rafe playing an integral part.  There is much mystery with these two and I'm interested to find out what kind of a role they will play in the future.  I am keen to discover Rafe's gift and if Violet will begin to take notice of him romantically.  (C'mon!  What's a good series without a love triangle??!! - the boy next door vs the hot steamy mystery man)

Mike and Megan - a brother and sister newly arrived at Violet's school - are the links to the mystery this time around. I have to be honest, I didn't find the mystery quite so mysterious in this book, but there were lots of other things going on that held my attention. The interaction between Violet's friend Chelsea and Mike was fun, but I suspect that if Chelsea were for real, she would get tiring pretty quickly.  You know, to tell you the truth, as I was wondering about Mike and I did question whether Mike was interested in Chelsea or more in Jay....how about a bromance twist??  I felt badly for Megan as she seemed a bit lonely and needed a role model or maybe a big sister to look up to.

All in all it was another great entry in the romantic suspense field and I'm looking forward to seeing where Ms. Derting goes with the characters. I'm pretty sure Violet hasn't found her last body - not by a long chalk!  Two thumbs up for me with this one.  I loved The Body Finder and I'm so happy to be able to review Desires of the Dead as well.  On another note, Ms. Derting has a new book coming out in November called The Pledge.  Can't wait to read more from her!

Double Take - Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Published: March 2011

Publisher: Simon and Shuster

Pages: 356

Copy obtained by: ARC from publisher

Summary: Goodreads



Summary:

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.
When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.
But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

Double Take is something new that we're trying out. As most of you know, we review different types of books and often will have two reviews (the original and Same Book, Second Look). Sometimes we are reading the same title at one time though and have very different opinions. Think Roger and Ebert for books....

Review:
Christinabean - I'm in black
Curlypow - I'm blue

We were lucky enough to get and ARC copy of Wither compliments of Simon and Shuster Publishing. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I'd been eyeing this title for awhile...

This book was fantastic and kept me interested the whole way through. The pace was great and I felt that the author provided good character development. I found it hard to understand how Rhine quickly became attracted to Gabriel. Both Gabriel and Linden "rescue" her but does she really have a connection to Gabriel or is it merely because she doesn't feel like she is a captive when he is with her? Towards the end of the story, she starts to have "feelings" towards Linden, they come naturally. I liked Gabriel, although I felt he should have questioned Rhine more about her desire to leave.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and enjoyed the different female characters. I particularly liked the way the 3 sister wives were so different in temperement and character. Rhine - determined to make it back to Manhattan and her twin brother. Jenna - fatalistic, with nothing left to live for but still a fighter. Cecily - annoying little brat, self-centred and greedy. I found it tragic to hear about Jenna's sisters and could understand how bitter she was. It was wonderful to see how the sisters bonded so strongly even though they were very different. They were still dependent on one another emotionally despite having different goals.

This story was such an interesting concept for me and I found myself with so many questions about society in this dystopian novel - are teenage years the same? How about schooling? Does the education system fail because people have such a short time to live? How is knowledge passed on? How is a 13 year old able to cope in the life of someone much older?I have to add here that there was one thing that disturbed me about this world. If the US was the only land mass left in the world and everything else was under water, how could they still go to the beach in Florida? Wouldn't the water have risen to cover the coastal areas? What happened? I think I needed just a little more back story to suspend my disbelief. This is an excellent point.

I felt myself feeling sorry for Linden throughout the story. He did not orchestrate the kidnapping of Jenna, Cecily and Rhine and doesn't even realize that they were tricked and stolen from their past lives. True, they are taken care of but their emotional needs are never really addressed. It's like living in a bubble world without actually learning how everyone else lives. I thought Linden was a really weak person who never questioned anything - too accepting of life. I think he was probably manipulated and sheltered by his father his entire life...like a form of control. I don't remember reading anything about Linden's mother, do you? No I don't remember any mention of his mother at all. Sorry, but I wasn't very fond of Linden. He just seemed like a wimp to me.

One last thing that I'd like to discuss is this beautiful cover. I love it when a book has an attractive but meaningful cover. Something that draws you to the title and then as you read the story, the cover has more of an identity, a purpose. Look closely. Did you notice the caged bird?.. Yep, cool cover and all in all a pretty cool book. Hope you all enjoy it as much as we did.

So, how did this post format work for you readers? Was it confusing, interesting, stupid? Let us know what you think in the comments, we really would like to know.