Saturday Shorts: The Staff of Serapis

In this adventure, Annabeth encounters more oddities in the subway than usual, including a two-headed monster and a younger blond girl who reminds her a little of herself. This is the story fans have asked for, in which Annabeth Chase teams up with Sadie Kane. The demigod daughter of Athena and the young magician from Brooklyn House take on a larger-than-life foe from the ancient world. Perhaps even more disturbing than the power-hungry god they encounter is the revelation that he is being controlled by someone—someone all too familiar to Sadie.    Quoted from Goodreads

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I'm so thoroughly enjoying this crossover series.  I mean, what isn't there to love.  We get our favorite characters from two Rick Riordan series thrown together.  We get the clash of mythology and magic, new threats, and another fun adventure.

Let's be honest, these novellas are for the fans. While they are a fun adventure in and of themselves, they're designed to be read by people who have read both the Percy Jackson books (at least the first series) and the Kane Chronicles.  If you haven't, this is still a fun adventure, but you're missing about half of what makes it so great.  

I loved seeing Percy and Carter work together in The Son of Sobek, so I was thrilled when I saw we get our own Annabeth and Sadie adventure.  The Staff of Serapis didn't disappoint.  I enjoyed seeing the two mythologies combined and the way Annabeth and Sadie relate to each other. It highlights how different the two characters are and their magic/mythology systems.

The adventure is, as always, quirky and fun, hinting at one more crossover book, at least. This series also helps tie up one small loose end from the Kane Chronicles, so you can tell the author's been planning this for a while.  All in all, I'm giving this book a strong 4 stars.  It's fun, full of adventure, and an excellent chance to see some of your favorite characters in new and different situations.  So, if you've read at least one of Rick Riordan's series, you really need to pick this up.  

Saturday Shorts: Tiger's Promise

Before the curse, there was a promise. A prequel to the bestselling Tiger’s Curse series, this much anticipated novella recalls the beginning of Ren and Kishan’s story. Before Kelsey there was a girl, raised by a villain, whose love for a hero changed the course of history.
Trapped under the thumb of her abusive and powerful father Lokesh, Yesubai struggles to keep her own magical abilities secret while evading his dark powers. When Lokesh promises Yesubai to the prince of a neighboring kingdom, she becomes the central pawn in his plot to destroy the ruling family and take power for himself. Yesubai is trapped by her father’s threats and desperate to protect the man she comes to love, but she knows that any decision she makes will have dire consequences. As dark forces gather around her, Yesubai must decide if she’s willing to reveal that somewhere deep within her she has the power to change everything.  Quoted from Goodreads

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This was actually a bit of a surprise for me how much I liked it. Warning, I will be referencing a few things from the Tiger's Curse series, though I'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum. If you've read the Tiger's Curse series, you know how this ends, so it was a bit like going into Titanic.  The ship sinks.  However, I found I really enjoyed learning more about Yesubai's character; plus, we get a few twists I didn't expect that helped keep the story fresh.

To be honest,  Yesubai isn't really a character I was all that interested in. She's sort of this tragic figure who betrays the two brothers, and while you know she's a victim of Lokesh, she still betrays the brothers.  You never know how much she really loves Kishan and how much she was playing him. This book does a lot for her character.  Sure, it doesn't excuse her faults, but it does explain why she did what she did and how she felt.  It also gives you a chance to fall in love with Kishan again, while not secretly cheering on team Ren.  It doesn't excuse what they do or what happens, but it's nice seeing it from a different POV.

It's also interesting to see early Lokesh before everything with the curse happens. He's the same evil person, but at this point he's still on his rise to power.  His evil is also more personal since it's his only daughter.  Plus there are a few extras at the end of the novella, and if you think he's bad to Yesubai, wait till you read her mom's story.

So, yeah, the extras.  Possibly my favorite part of the book. They were a wonderful little surprise. I loved seeing Ren's first thoughts upon meeting Yesubai and the extend of their relationship.  Like I said before, we also get a very sad story from her mom's POV.  Finally, my favorite, we get a teaser chapter from Kishan's POV thats a sneak peek into Tiger's Dream!  I'd kind of given up on that book, so it's fun to see concrete evidence that Coleen Houck still working on it.

This is an excellent novella for fans of the series, and if you haven't read any of the Tiger's Curse books yet, this serves as a decent introduction (though I would probably read at least the first book before reading this).  I'm going to give it a strong 3.5 stars.  It probably would be more, but since I already sort of knew the plot (though, again, a few twists I didn't see coming) and I'm opposed to sad endings and my favorite parts were actually the extras in the end, I'm not going to give it the stronger 4 stars.  Still, it's an excellent addition to the series, and I'm delighted we have it.  

Saturday Shorts: Bridge of Snow

Ignore the stirrings of war. Let the carriage to a royal ball wait. There is a story to be told: of a starless night, a mother and her sick son, and a mortal who falls in love with the snow god, and will do anything to have her . . .   Quoted from Goodreads

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This is a sweet, heartbreaking book.  The story itself isn't actually that sad, though the story in the story is rather tragic. I read this after The Winner's Curse, and having that glimpse into the future of these characters is what makes the story so haunting.  At the same time, it really is a sweet glimpse into Arin's life before everything happened.

The book is only 32 pages, so I don't want to say too much, but it is a great addition to the series.  Do you have to read it to understand the book at all? No.  Does it rehash things you've already learned? No, again---thank goodness, since that happens far too often in these novellas.  The story is entirely separate, so you could easily read it before or after The Winner's Curse, but part of me would recommend reading it after.  Maybe because that's what I did, but I felt like I appreciated it more knowing a bit more about the world.

So do I recommend this? Absolutely.  But, again, it is short.  If I were to compare it to an object, it would be a snow globe, and not only because of the whole snow connection. It's a private, tiny little glimpse into a perfect moment and character, so while it's not earth shattering or a huge adventure in and of itself, it's still an utterly delightful 4 stars.

Saturday Shorts: Mitosis

From "New York Times" bestselling author Brandon Sanderson's action-packed novel "Steelheart" comes "Mitosis," a short story set in the world of The Reckoners series, exclusively available in the digital format.

Steelheart may be dead, but Epics still plague Newcago and David and the Reckoners have vowed to fight back. Quoted from Goodreads

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Such a great novella!  Honestly, one of the best parts of December this year are these great short stories that are coming out, and Mitosis doesn't disappoint.  

Warning, there will be a few spoilers from Steelheart included in this review, so be careful, but if you haven't read Steelheart yet, what are you waiting for? Seriously, I love that book, and this one just keeps that action moving.  

So, quick summary since the one above doesn't really tell you anything.  Steelheart is dead, but the city isn't safe.  While lots of normal people are flocking to Newcago and the promise of safety from epics, a lot of epics are as well, ready to fill the power vacuum left by Steelheart's demise. One of these, Mitosis, has the ability duplicate himself over and over, and whose every clone has to be killed for him to truly die.  Scary, right?

One of the best parts of this series is the crazy different powers Brandon Sanderson gives his epics.  It's not your derivative super strength and speed or lightning or anything else that's been done over and over again.  His main bad guys come with a skill-set that's different from your average, run of the mill newly created "superhero." 

I also love David.  He's strong, inventive, and horrible at similes.  His role in this story shows exactly how heroic and clever he is, while still leaving him completely human and vulnerable.

Plus, this is a complete short story in and of itself.  Sure, you do need to read Steelheart or things won't really make sense to you, but as far as this story goes, it's a true Reckoners 1.5. We get a villain that threatens the city, and David personally, all building up to a climax that was touching and kind of perfect.  It furthered the plot of the story and expanded the world.  I'm sure you probably don't have to read this for the next book to make sense, but the world Brandon Sanderson created is richer if you do.

All in all, I'm giving it a strong 4 stars.  It's the perfect novella to an amazing series.  Now all I have to do is wait for next fall to read Firefight.  It's going to be a long wait.

Saturday Shorts: The Transfer

More Four! Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by "The Transfer," the first of four new short stories told from Four’s perspective. Each brief story explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, backstory, and relationships.  Quoted from Goodreads

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I've thoroughly enjoyed the Divergent trilogy so far, so of course I have to pick this up.  Here's the thing.  I like Four.  I love Four.  He's a great character and the perfect compliment to Tris, so of course I'm thrilled to hear more about his story.  Plus, with Allegiant coming out and being told from Tris and Four's POV, it's nice for the novellas to balance things out.

Since, the summary doesn't really give us a lot of details, this is basically Four's choosing ceremony and first day in his new life.  It shows where his name comes from (yeah, if you've read the other books in the series, this really isn't a spoiler), and him figuring out the person he wants to be.

I did really like the material covered in this book.  Honestly, we don't really learn anything new, but we do see scenes we haven't seen before, we get a lot more details on things that were previously glossed over (Four's relationship with Marcus---Ugg---and some interesting things about his mother.)

My one complaint is it's length.  I realize it's a series of 4 novellas, which will make for a great "book," but when I compare it with Rae Carson's The King's Guard or Jodi Meadow's Phoenix Overture, it seems short and incomplete by itself.  And, well, you're paying the same price for a lot less book. It's a bit like my complaint with Free Four.  That was so short I felt sort of cheated.  Still, this is much, much better than Free Four, so don't let that discourage you.  The material is good, it's just (at least by itself) not as good as a lot of the other novellas out there.

Still, like I said again, I love seeing the early version of Four---pre-Tris---when he's still figuring out who he wants to be and where he fits in the world. This novella's a fun read.  I can't wait to see what the other three will be about (besides Four, of course).  All in all, this is a great 3.5 stars for me. Maybe once I've read all four (ha, ha, you see what Veronica Roth did there?) I'll bump them up to 4 stars. Still, it's a great little something to tide everyone over until Allegiant comes out.  Then after, we'll have more to hold us over until the movie!

Saturday Shorts: Phoenix Overture

This breathtaking and lyrical novella captures a thrilling and momentous decision for a young man and the people he loves. Told from the perspective of Sam, the sensitive musician from Jodi Meadows’s Incarnate series, lifetimes before he meets Ana, Phoenix Overture is a story of love and loss, strength and courage, and facing the consequences of the hardest of decisions.

Phoenix Overture offers existing fans a deeper insight into a favorite character and the intriguing history of Heart, while new readers will find a stunning introduction to this rich world and the romantic, captivating fantasy of the Incarnate series.

In the wilds around the Community where Sam and his family have taken shelter, life is dangerous. Dragons, trolls, centaurs, and other monsters fill the world. The word comes from the council that everyone must leave and journey to rescue their leader, Janan, who has been abducted by a mysterious new enemy in the north. Faced with overwhelming threats that bring death and destruction, Sam and the others reach the northern Range and, reunited with Janan, are given an unimaginable opportunity. Although it would give them the privilege to live and learn and love without fear, the choice is not without its own dire consequences. And lives—though not theirs—are sure to be lost. Just how much are they willing to give up to save themselves?  Quoted from Goodreads

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Excellent.  Perfect. Exactly what it should be.

I could just quit there.  Really.  Much like Rae Carson's  The King's Guard, this is everything I look for in a novella.  First off, it's 138 pages, so you honestly do get a decent story with this one.  There's enough time to really explore Sam's character and origins. Second, we see a lot of things that we don't get in Incarnate and Asunder.  There is very little retelling of stuff we've already learned.  Sure, we know where the book is headed.  We know who Janan is and what he will become.  We know Sam and Stef.  But the rest of it.  It's all new---so knew, in fact, that even Sam doesn't remember what happened in this book. 

As for the actual plot of the book, it's it's own, heartbreaking adventure. I love seeing where Sam comes from.  Sure he has thousands of lives, but the core his personality and the things that shape him are the same.  We also get some of those perfect moments: the first time Sam plays the piano, the first time he shares his flute music with others, his first meeting with Stef. They're all here for us to enjoy. We also get to learn about Sam's original family. Yes, I know that's a weird sentence, but I found it fascinating.  

Of course there are still unanswered questions I'm guessing Infinite will address, but the story is a perfect prequel.

So, should you read this book?  Absolutely. This is an amazing series, so anything that leads you to it is worth it.  Plus, if you've read the other books, it's an excellent addition to the world-building and background of the story.  I'd actually read it after reading Asunder because it does  have some spoilers for that book, though, because it's a prequel, I can see why you might want to read it first.  And you probably could.  You'd just know a few things before Ana figures them out.

This gets a strong 4 stars from me. Like I said above, Jodi Meadows writes the perfect novella. Now I have to suffer until January for Infinite to come out.  At least September is an excellent month for books . . .

Saturday Shorts: The King's Guard

At fifteen years old, Hector is the youngest squire in the most elite military force in the country. And his first day is disastrous. Everyone assumes the only reason he was recruited is his close personal association with King Alejandro, not because he's really earned it.

But Alejandro needs Hector for a secret mission, one that gives him the chance to prove to everyone—including himself—that he is worthy to be a Royal Guard. Hector must break into the ancient Fortress of Wind to retrieve something so important that the kingdom's future depends on it. What Hector finds in the fortress will stretch his bond of friendship with his king near to breaking. And it will prepare him to become the fearsome warrior and lord commander Elisa will never let go.
A riveting prequel to Rae Carson's epic and acclaimed Fire and Thorns series.  Quoted from Goodreads

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Perfect.  Absolutely perfect.

It's always hard to write reviews about novellas.  For the most part, I think I tend to gush a bit too much.  Any extra tidbits the author gives us makes me happy if it's a story I love, and if it's a story I'm  not thrilled and elated by, I generally don't read the extra parts. I'm simply not invested enough in that world.  I know I've gushed about both of Rae Carson's previous novellas, told from Elisa's sister and friend's POV, but this is the one I enjoyed the most. I won't lie and say it's strictly the quality of the story.  Both of her previous two were amazing, but this one has Hector!

The best part of it is, the story is so Hector.  We finally get something from his viewpoint, and I loved that, especially after that horrible/perfect ending in Crown of Embers.  Not that this has anything to do with that.  This takes place a something like 7 years before the first book, but still . . .

Now, besides Hector, this is an absolutely amazing short story for so many reasons.  I won't give them away, but first, we get learn a little something about his fellow guards.  Hector's two companions both appear in the books, but I had never really noticed them much before.  They were simply faceless guards and not really that important.  Now, looking back (okay, so I spend half an hour reading bits and pieces of Crown of Embers after I finished this because I wasn't quite ready to let the world go),  I realized how prominent their position in the castle was and their relationship with Hector.

Then there's the new information.  This is something all novellas really should have.  While you could totally read the series without ever reading this short story, it does provide some interesting information. One of my biggest pet peeves is when we get short story that just rehashes stuff we already knew from another character's POV.  New information should always be present because no other character will see the same events the same way or have the same background.  This story had an excellent plot twist that I want to gush more about but I won't.

 Plus we get adventure.  Lots of adventure, and a chance to see Hector at 15.

This is a solid 4.5 stars for me.  It's probably one of my top short stories ever.  And it is a complete story in and of itself.  If you had never read the series, you could pick this up and enjoy it for what it is.  It can serve as a gateway drug, if you like, to the rest of the series.  Basically, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it will now be setting the bar for other novellas.

Saturday Shorts: The First Star to Fall

Discover how it all began . . .

New Pacifica was designed to be a tropical paradise, a refuge for humanity filled with natural wonders and technological marvels. A place of perfect peace, where “war” was only a war out of ancient history–or so the privileged teenage aristocrat Persis Blake had always been taught.

But then comes the revolution and the death of a queen, and suddenly it’s no longer enough for Persis to trust the words of her parents, the lessons of her teachers, and the decrees of the men in power.One terrible night, Persis witnesses the truth: there are those who will stop at nothing to destroy her world… but is there anyone who could save it?    Quoted from Goodreads

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!!!!! I am so excited for Across the Star-Swept Sea. Diana Peterfreund keeps picking books I absolutely adore. First we got For Darkness Shows the Stars, a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, and now she's doing a retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel!  I absolutely can't wait for this book.  Of course too much anticipation and expectation can be a bad thing, but that's a whole different blog post.

This is an excellent novella/prequel.  It does everything a prequel should do.  It gets you excited for the book .  Introduces some of the main characters/conflicts, gives you a taste of what the full book will be, etc.  Plus, it's an entire story in itself.  If you're familiar with the book The Scarlet Pimpernel, you know where this story is going.  What this particular story gives us is one, life-altering day, where Persis's whole world is changed.  Again, if you've read TSP, you know where this is heading.  

I love the choice of subjects.  It's not something that you absolutely have to read before starting the next book, but it does matter to the next book.  Honestly, what this novella does more than anything is guarantee that I will absolutely pick up Across the Star-Swept Sea the day it comes out.  I can't wait to read more about Persis and her adventures, so I'm giving this story a strong 4 stars and counting down the days to October 15th.

Saturday Shorts: Son of Sobek

In this e-book short story by Rick Riordan, Carter Kane is investigating rumored sightings of a monster on Long Island when he runs into something else: a mysterious boy named Percy Jackson. And their meeting isn't exactly friendly. . . . Includes a sneak peek chapter from HOUSE OF HADES, Book Four in the Heroes of Olympus series.  Quoted from Goodreads

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Such a fun short story.  There were all sorts of hints that Carter and Percy lived in the same world, albeit with different magical systems, but it's wonderful to see them interacting. I love seeing Percy from Carter's POV, and the different abilities they both bring to the battle. 

I also really enjoy how finding out about Greek mythology and demigods changes Carter's world.  It's one of those stories where it really doesn't change the outcome of either series, but it's a wonderful idea to play with.

While the story was short, there's plenty of action.  It's fun seeing Percy and Carter's different strengths   I also liked the way he involved the regular kids in the fight . . . well sort of. The battle they have to fight isn't earth-shattering like it is when you get a whole novel (more like one of the bumps along the way), but it's still an important fight, even if it's not on a global scale.  Plus there are hints of a greater issue going on that just makes the entire thing exciting. Honestly, I'd love to read another one, maybe even a series of novellas where Percy and Carter, or maybe Sadie and Annabeth work together.

My only complaint with the story is we only get it from Carter's POV. I would have liked to see what Percy thought of the whole situation and of Carter in particular.  I don't know if they ever will actually make a series when all of these different characters come together, but it would be fun.

 All in all, this is exactly what I'm looking for in a novella.  It's fun, action packed, and absolutely unputdownable.  If you want a quick fun read to hold you over until the House of Hades comes out in October, you need to check this out.  It's an amazing 4 stars for me and a must read for all Rick Riordan fans.  I'm just hoping there are more in the future.

Sunday Shorts: The Emperor's Soul

Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead. 

Probing deeply into his life, she discovers Emperor Ashravan’s truest nature—and the opportunity to exploit it. Her only possible ally is one who is truly loyal to the emperor, but councilor Gaotona must overcome his prejudices to understand that Shai’s forgery is as much artistry as it is deception. 
Brimming with magic and political intrigue, this deftly woven fantasy delves into the essence of a living spirit. Quoted from Goodreads

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Wow. Just wow.  What can I say, Brandon Sanderson has done it again, better than ever.  The story has a great message to it, but I'll leave that for you find out. 

Seriously, I really did enjoy this book. It's one of those that are thought provoking, but at the same time has enough action and political intrigue that it isn't just about exploring an idea.  The magic system, once again, is amazing.  It's creative and complex, while being utterly believable.  

The same goes for the world building. Despite the short length  it's rich and detailed. 90% of it takes place in one room, and still you can't stop reading.  It's set in the same world as Elantris, and while I've read that book, it's been a  few years, so I honestly didn't make that connection until the author stated that in the end.  I see the similarities, now, but you absolutely dont' have to have read Elantris to enjoy this book.  Even the magic system, while similar to Elantris, comes at it from a completely different angle.  Plus it takes place in a different kingdom, far from the events of that book.

As for the characters, I loved them. Shai is more than just a forger, she's an artist.  It's interesting watching the way she handles different situations. She's brilliant, complicated, and extremely competent with everything she does.  I love cleaver main characters, and she is pretty much exactly the kind I love reading about best. Gaotona is also great. He's well drawn and complex and balances Shai and the story perfectly.  Shai and Gaotona both grow throughout the story as they come to understand each other.  As for the emperor . . . well, the story is about his soul, and I really love how that whole element was handled.  

In the end, this is just a  great book.  It's not the world or the magic system that sells it, though they are both wonderful, but the story itself  and the ideas it explores that keeps you reading. It's an excellent 4.5 stars for me.  It's short, and part of me wanted it to be longer, but at the same time, it was the exact length it needed to be.

Saturday Shorts: The Queen's Army

It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen's army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen—and to himself—that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack. Quoted from Goodreads

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Yes, I know I've raved a lot about the Lunar Chronicles (Cinder and Scarlet) lately, but this was anther wonderful surprise.  It's labeled The Lunar Chronicles 1.5, which makes sense, but I discovered it after I read Scarlet, and I enjoyed it just as much because it was a bout a character I cared about from that book. 

It's a short novella, but there are so many reasons to like it.  First, we get to see the queen from her people's POV. We experience how far she is willing to go to create her army, and what she does to those selected.  

Then we get Z's coming of age story.  It's rather dark and bleak watching him fight for his humanity when they're literally turning him into something else, but it's also fascinating.  You can't help but like and sympathize with him, especially when he seems like one of the only ones who is bothered by what the queen did to them.  

Anyway, you need to read this book. It's an excellent compliment to Cinder and Scarlet, and we get to see the origin of "the big, bad wolf." It's absolutely4 stars for me. If you love the Lunar Chronicles, you have to pick this up, and if you're just thinking about reading this series, this is a great introduction (though it's more a lead in for Scarlet than Cinder).

Saturday Shorts: Among the Nameless Stars

Before Kai joined the Cloud Fleet, he wandered… AMONG THE NAMELESS STARS

Four years before the events of FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS, the servant Kai left the North Estate, the only home he’d ever known, and Elliot North, the only girl he ever loved, in search of a better life. But the journey was not an easy one.
Featuring narrow escapes, thrilling boat races and at least one deadly volcanic wasteland. Quoted from Goodreads

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Last Tuesday was a wonderful day for book releases, so last Monday I was a little bit at a loss as to what I should read.  I didn't really want to start something big because I wanted to be ready on Tuesday to read some of these new releases.  I was thinking of picking up and rereading pieces of books I love, when I discovered this prequel novella. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. I loved For Darkness Shows the Stars, and finding out there was a prequel and that it was free on Amazon was just icing on the cake.  

Plus, this book is well done.  It shows Kai's struggles after he left the North Estate, the hopelessness of what he face, and why he made the choices he did.  We also get to see his and Elliot's relationship from his perspective, sort of.  None of this takes place with her, so we just get his thoughts and feelings, but still it's a nice insight.  

The story is, in itself, a story.  It's not just glimpses or scenes from Kai's POV that we already saw from Elliot's. It expands the world beyond the North estate that we only hear about in FDStS.  Of course, it also made me spend most of the next day re-reading bits and and pieces of FDStS, since I wanted to see Kai and Elliot together.

Probably my favorite part of the story are the letters Kai composes to Elliot in his head.  It shows not only what he's thinking and feeling, but how much he and Elliot were connected to each other even when they were separated with no reunion (or even the want for one) in sight.

All in all, this is one of the better novellas out there.  If you liked For Darkness Shows the Stars, you absolutely have to read this.  If you're thinking about reading For Darkness Shows the Stars, this is a great introduction (again, it's free).  It was a lovely 4 star novella for me, and I can't wait to read Diana Peterfreund's sequel, Across the Star-Swept Sea.

Saturday Shorts: Die for Her

Set in the romantic and death-defying world of the international bestselling Die for Me trilogy, this digital original novella follows Jules, a brooding, immortal French artist who has fallen in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.Jules Marchenoir is a revenant-an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save human lives. He’s spent the better part of the last century flirting his way through Paris, but when he met Kate Mercier, the heroine from Amy Plum’s Die for Me trilogy, he knew his afterlife had changed forever and he had found the love of his life. Until Kate fell for his best friend, Vincent. Now Jules is faced with an impossible decision: choosing between his loyal friend and a love truly worth dying for. Quoted from Goodreads

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Okay, I hate to be the one bad note among all the love and goodness, but I didn't actually love this novella.  It wasn't that it was badly written or that I don't love Jules as a character.  I do.  I think he's a great, swoon-worthy character, and I understand why so many people have literary crushes on him.  But.  Yes, here it comes.  This novella didn't have anything really new in it, and that's what really bugs me.  

Okay, yes, we learn that Jules is truly, madly in love with Kate.  We may have suspected it before, but here we have 60-some-odd pages of proof.  That's all fine and good.  But that's the only new thing we learn in this novel.  It's basically the first two books from his POV with very few extra details.  Sure, maybe we get a random kissing scene with a  girl who means absolutely nothing.  Maybe we get a few more paintings in his gallery and a lot of cool art references, but that's about it.  I don't really feel like I know Jules any better than I did before reading this.

To be honest, I was hoping for more.  Maybe we'd get a scene or two that didn't appear in the first two books in the series. After all, the books were from Kate's POV, and her main love focus was on Vincent.  Books skip over weeks at a time.  Why couldn't Kate and Jules have a moment that would be very significant to him but nothing special to her?  Why couldn't he have a bit of a side adventure we know nothing about?  There are so many possibilities, and I feel this book just wasted the chance.  Unfortunately it reminded me of one of those bad Pride and Prejudice retellings from Mr. Darcy's POV where you discover nothing important you didn't already know.

My other problem with this book is that we don't really get why Jules is in love with Kate.  Yes, she's pretty, she lights up/shakes up their slightly monotonous existence, but we never really get that moment of connection.  They don't bond over art or dancing or books or anything else.  Granted, Kate and Vincent also have a bit of an insta-love thing, so I shouldn't have expected Jules to have more concrete reasons or moments for his feelings.

Okay, enough on what I wished it would be.  It was fun to see things from Jules POV.  I liked seeing what he thought of Kate especially, because we only get Kate from the inside in the other books.  I enjoyed seeing how other people saw her.  I also enjoyed his relationship with Vincent, how absolutely loyal his is to his best friend. It's also a great way to prepare for book three.

All in all, this was only a 2.5 star book for me. If you're a rabid fan of the series, you should absolutely pick this up.  It's a fun, different take on the first two books.  If you simply like the first two books and haven't read them five times each, you could skip this.  It's a nice recap of what happened, so I'll be prepared for book three, but no much more.

Saturday Shorts: The Shattered Mountain

On the outskirts of Joya d'Arena, small villages fight for survival against the onslaught of sorcerers and raiders. Mara's village has been safe--so far--but Mara decides to escape anyway. Escape from her harsh, abusive father. Escape with her first love. But when their plans fall on the same day that the animagi burn the village to the ground, Mara faces losses that could destroy her. She's a survivor, though. She is going to make it through the mountains, and she is going to protect the refugees following her. Because there's a rumored safe haven . . . and some say they have found the Chosen One. Told from Mara's point-of-view, The Shattered Mountain is an alternate perspective of the beginning of the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns. Quoted from Goodreads

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Well, the novella is absolutely here to stay, and I, for one, am glad about it.  It's fun to see different key sequences from another character's POV.  Generally, I like expanding the book's universe and telling stories that previously lived only in author's heads.  That being said, these are really hard to review.  They depend on their trilogy, quadrilogy, whatever.  For example, Crown of Embers was one of my favorite books last year, so I was understandably excited.  Personally, I loved The Shattered Mountain.  It was well written, full of action and heartbreak, coming of age and first loves.    But, it's only a novella.  It needs the other books.  I guess Mara's story could stand alone, but it would be a little unfulfilling.  What makes it great is seeing her in these other books, learning where she comes from, and learning to admire and love her even more because of this.

That being said, I really did love this short story. It does so much in so little time, confirming how great an author Rae Carson really is.  I love the insights into Mara's character.  Yes, I did sort of know the end from the beginning, but it still broke my heart seeing the hardship Mara and the rest of the children faced before they make their appearance in Girl of Fire and Thorn.  It also made me admire Mara that much more, actually experiencing what she went through.  

This book really is basically all heartbreak and action.  It's basically a group of children's struggle to survive after all their parents and their village has been wiped out by their enemies.  Besides just Mara, we get to see all the children grown up, even a little four year old.  I've said heartbreak a lot in this review, and there is a lot of it in this book, but there are wonderful moments of bravery and strength, compassion and struggle that makes this novella a wonderful read.

It's also fun to see Elisa from another character's POV.  We get a glimpse of her in Shadow Cats, another novella from her sister Alodia's POV, but Alodia and Mara have very different relationships with Elisa and they see her at different points in her life.  

So, if you like The Girl of Fire and Thorn, you need to read this.  No, it's not essential to the story, but it's worth it just to expand the universe and get to know some of the side characters better. Plus, it's a great story in it's own right.  For me, it's a lovely 4 stars.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and now can't wait for The Bitter Kingdom to come out.

Book Review: Undone (Novella)

Before the accident. Before their universes collided. Before they fell in love.

Riveting and romantic, Undone: An Unraveling Novella contains three short stories set in the world of Unraveling, the first book in the gripping sci-fi duology by Elizabeth Norris.

Before Ben Michaels saved Janelle Tenner’s life, Janelle saved Ben when he stumbled through an interuniverse portal into a completely new world. That day, he fell in love with the girl of his dreams. And he never forgot her.
Through three stories told from Ben’s point of view, learn how Ben and his friends discovered their ability to travel between worlds, how Ben first met Janelle, and how he pined for her for years before he actually got the chance to meet her, save her life, and capture her heart. And find out what happens to Ben between the cliff-hanger conclusion to Unraveling and the beginning of its heart-stopping sequel, Unbreakable. Quoted from Goodreads

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This is what a novella should be.

Really it's about perfect.  First it's three short stories from Ben's POV: "Before She Knew Me," "When I Saved Her," and "After I Left Her."  The first two kind of what you'd expect. It just fleshes out a few points a bit more fully, shows how Ben's been crushing on Janelle, etc.  They were sweet and I liked them, but they weren't really groundbreaking.  I'll warn you now, they weren't as romantic as I thought they'd be. I sort of thought we might get a scene from Unraveling from his POV, their first kiss, or maybe where he saved her life and knew she saw him and tracked him down.  It's nothing like that.  Sure, he crushes on her, but they take place before he appears on her radar.

Then we have the third and longest story.  This story I loved. It left on such a ridiculous cliff hanger, I can't wait for book two to come out.  Plus, it gave me an idea of where book two is headed.  Basically we get what happens to Ben after he steps through the portal.  I really loved seeing his world, what was the same and what was different from Janelle's.  Plus, we get to see what happened because he and his two friends disappeared to another world. Honestly, it's sort of what I expected, but at the same time, not at all. I imagined certain consequences, but they went a lot further than I ever dreamed.

I also loved how we get to know Ben better.  We get to meet his family, see his world, and get a little more insight into his crush on Janelle.  Plus, you better understand why his friends hate her so much, or at least hate his relationship with her.  

All in all, if you like Unraveling, this is a must read.  Plus, it's actually decently long.  Too many novellas are really short, like 20 pages, and it's less than satisfying, even if you are only paying a dollar or two.  I'm giving it a short 4 stars.  Now I'm just counting down the days (literally. I mean, you've see my widget, right?) until Unbreakable comes out.

Book Review: Double Crossed

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists. Quoted from Goodreads

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This novel is pure fan-girl fun.  If, like me, you're a fan of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls and Heist Society books, then you have to check out this novel, where those two worlds collide.  

Now you could actually read this novella cold, with no background in either series, but you would miss out on what makes it so much fun.  Sure, there is tension, twists, spy and thief stuff, etc. all of which make a fun story in itself, but that's not what I loved about this book.  What I most enjoyed is seeing the characters I've come to know from each series meet each other.  It's fun to see how they both recognize the different skill set the other possesses and how they work together.  You also pick up a few fun insights into the other's world.  It's not particularly new information, but when you see it through new eyes, you get a fresh take on familiar characters.

Plus, this book is free!  Yes, as of right now you can get this book from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all other major e-book publishers for free, sort of an early birthday present to you from Ally Carter.  Now, just a warning so all of you won't be taken by surprise.  The book ends around the 55% mark.  After that, you get the first two chapters of the first book in both series, which is nice if you haven't read them before, but a little disappointing if you were expecting a longer story like I was. 

For me, this is an excellent 4 star book.  As far as colliding worlds go, it deserves 5 stars, but the plot was a little bit predictable.  Maybe I've read/watched too many mysteries (a particular episode of White Collar  and Psyche comes to mind), so I wasn't stunned by the final twist.  Still, there were a few other ones that were delightful.  So pick it up.  If you haven't read any of the other books, it will draw you in, and if you have, well, enjoy watching two excellent series come together.  

Book Review: Radiant

Clara is desperate to get away—from the memories that haunt her in Wyoming and the visions of a future she isn't ready to face—and spending the summer in Italy with her best friend, Angela, should be the perfect escape. . . .

For as long as she can remember, Angela has been told that love is dangerous, that she must always guard her heart. But when she met a mysterious guy in Italy two years ago she was determined to be with him, no matter the costs. Now she must decide whether she can trust Clara with her secret, or if telling her the truth will risk everything she cares about.

Alternating between Angela and Clara's perspectives, Radiant chronicles the unforgettable summer that will test the bounds of their friendship and change their lives forever. Quoted from Goodreads

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I've never actually reviewed a novella before.  Don't get me wrong, I've read plenty, but I never really counted them as actual books. It always felt a little like I was cheating when I added them to my Read shelf on Goodreads.  Still, when I heard that Harper Teen Impulse was releasing a series of novellas, I was excited.  I love learning more about characters I've grown to love and getting different points of view you would normally never see in the actual book.

Radiant absolutely delivered.  It mostly reveals Angela's back story, with a few moments that foreshadow how amazing Boundless is going to be. I learned a lot, and I loved getting in Angela's head. From the beginning she's been one of those fun, ambiguous characters whose story arc could go so many ways. This novella doesn't change that at all, but I do feel like I understand her a lot better than I did before.

  At the same time, we still see enough of Clara to keep tie the story into Unearthly, Hallowed, and Boundless. Clara's still struggling after the ending in Hallowed, but she's also dealing with  hints and visions of a new problem. It's interesting to see Clara from someone else's POV.  Angela has her own issues, so you take what she thinks with a grain of salt, but I enjoyed seeing Clara and her problems through Angela's eyes.

Then there is the lovely Phen, Angela's mystery boy. I loved this introduction.  You know he's been lurking in the background since the first book, but you never actually get to meet him.  Still, I'm pretty sure he's going to have a key part in Boundless, so I'm really excited. Yes, I missed Tucker and Christian (they, unfortunately, only appeared in Clara's and Angela's memories), but it is kind of fun to have Angela be the romantic focus for a minute.  Plus, Phen is a great foil for Clara's two love interests.

I give this this novella 4 stars.  It's everything a novella should be.  Is it as complicated as a book?  Of course not, but it's still absolutely worth reading.  I don't know how essential this is to reading the next book, but it's a great glimpse into Clara's world. The ending left me counting down the days to Boundless.