Amanda Monday: The Westing Game

Hello, one and all!  My name is Amanda, and I have the honor and pleasure of doing a guest post on Rachel's Reads.  I am kind of intimidated to be here, but excited.  I hope you like the book I've chosen for today, which is:

When an eccentric millionaire dies mysteriously, sixteen very unlikely people are gathered together for the reading of the will...and what a will it is! - Quoted from Goodreads

I know that Halloween is almost two whole months away, but when the leaves begin to change and the air begins to cool,  I am drawn to the classic "whodunit" mysteries, and this book, I believe, is the quintessential mystery novel.  

Since Goodreads is a little sparse in their description, let me elaborate a bit on the summary.  An eccentric millionaire, Sam Westing, dies unexpectedly in his mansion.  Nearby, a new apartment complex, Sunset Towers, has just filled all it's vacancies.  Coincidentally, (or is it?) nearly all the tenants of the apartment complex, from the bellboy to the restaurant owner, are named as heirs to the Westing fortune. The only catch?  In order to inherit Sam Westing's millions, they have to discover who MURDERED him.

Sounds like a classic mystery-type novel.  Some of you might even call the plot cliche.  But there is nothing cliche about this masterfully written book.  The author does a wonderful job of weaving clues and red herrings throughout the entire novel, making the story tightly woven.  This, in the end, gives you great satisfaction when you finally figure out "whodunit".  I love when an author has the ability to leave clues along the way so subtly that you never pick up on them, and when the big reveal is announced, you think, "how could I have missed those?!"  But you did, even though they are obvious in retrospect.  I am not a person who is taken by surprise.  I hardly ever fail to see plot twists in books and in movies.  But here I most certainly did.  And so, I bet, will you.

The characters are also deliciously unique and imperfect.  Most of them have some rather annoying qualities, but somehow they are made endearing in the telling of this story, and in the end, you are cheering all of them on, even the most grumpy, or short-tempered, or vain, or . . . well, you get the idea.  I think it takes real skill to make such people protagonists, yet I found myself enjoying each and every one of their quirks.  

Lastly, I love this book because it is perfect for nearly all ages. I first read this book when I was in 4th or 5th grade.  I loved it then, I loved it when I re-read it again in Junior high, and loved it even more when I read it in high school and in college.  It is a timeless book for two reasons:  one, because you can read it time and time again, and two, because it appeals to readers of all ages.  That is why I am giving it a 5-star rating.  I probably have maybe ten books in the entire world I would give that rating to, and this book is one of them.  So if you are in the mood for a little thrill and mystery, check it out and enjoy.  And if you do, perchance, guess who killed Sam Westing, I will personally give you $1,000,000;).  (Ha, ha, you never will!)
   

Blog Business

So after the great debate that was Tiger's Destiny and a conversation about Defiance (mostly the melodramatic writing), I have decided I am going to amend the blog, just a little bit. It's not going to be a very big change, but one that a some people may care about.

Here's the thing. First, I want to like every book I read.  If I'm going to invest my time, it better be at least a three star book.  If it's going to be less, half the time I won't even finish it. Second, I rate books based on my reaction. Honestly, I should probably wait a few days to figure out my true rating because sometimes I'm so immersed in the world, prying myself out is a sticky, gooey, emotional mess.   This often results in a better rating then the book deserves.  I ignore mediocre writing in favor of great plot or characters or sometimes even an idea.

The Tiger's Curse series is a great example of this.  The writing isn't up to par with the world Colleen Houck created.  I still loved the series and am a proud owner of all four books, but there were moments that literally made me cringe.  Another example is Tarzan. I love the adventure, but I am also aware that the book is horribly racist and misogynistic.  I'm okay with that because it was written over a  century ago, but I know it bothers a lot of people.

Then there are books that suffer from the opposite problem. The author is a great writer, crafting realistic characters, plot, and setting, yet I don't like the book.  Either it's something I'm not interested in or there is some plot point that bothers me.  Maybe it's just plain boring.  I honestly recognize the craft that went into the book, but I don't like it and will probably never read it again.  I am often glad I read it, but it's not something I'll subject myself to twice.

Unfortunately a lot of classics fall into this category.  Don't get me wrong, I love classics: anything by Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Alexander Dumas, Jack London, most Charles Dickens, William Faulkner, Mark Twain, and the Bronte sisters.  But there are some I don't like.  Henry James, for example, creates beautiful narratives that are perfect for tearing apart and analyzing from every angle to find deeper and deeper meanings.  But I don't like his stories.  They are, not to put too fine a point on it, boring.

Another example is Melissa Marr.  She is a good writer, her books are best sellers, and she writes the sort of things I should like.  But there are things in Wicked Lovely that drove me absolutely crazy.  I vented about this book with a friend for hours upon hours when I finished it.  The idea behind it was amazingly wonderful but I could hardly stand what she did with it.  Or Maggie Stiefvvater.  Her writing is almost poetic, but I still haven't been able to make myself finish the second and third books in the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy.

On the bright side, sometimes an author delivers the whole package. Case in point, Shannon Hale.  Her writing is beautiful, her stories exciting, and her characters realistic and sympathetic.

So here's the point of this blog. On certain books reviews, I'm going to include a paragraph or two about the writing, plot, etc.  I may also give the book two separate ratings.  One for how much I liked it, and the other for how well it was written and fleshed out. I wish the two were one and the same, and goodness knows the latter helps the former, but alas that is not always the case. I hope this will help everyone find exactly what they are looking for in a book, and it might warn off a few people from reading certain books.

Book Review: Origin

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost. Quoted from Goodreads

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When I first saw this book, I never thought I'd read it.   Maybe it seemed more philosophical than adventure, maybe the cutout cover turned me off. Doesn't matter. Luckily it got great reviews, oh, and it kept cropping up everywhere. So I figured, why not? Thank goodness, because I found it imaginative, thoughtful, tense, and sweet.

First there's the world.  It could be our world exactly. I know there are all sorts of scientists experimenting in the Amazon, looking for everything from the cure for cancer to baldness. This isn't about some secret magic hidden in the shadows, though there are plenty of secrets and shadows. Set in the lush Amazon, Jessica Khoury plays on mankind's hope of immortality, combining science with legend, to create Pia, the first immortal. 

Pia is everything you might expect.  She has never left the compound, known anyone her age, or watched a single movie.  She is everything sheltered and logical, as she strives to be the perfect scientist and discover the secret to making more immortals like her so she will no longer be alone.  When she meets Eio, he opens up an entire new world for her.  I loved the conflict between everything she has ever known and the introduction of this new world with all its ideas, between trusting the people who raised her and the boy she is falling in love with. With everything thrown at her, she comes across as a very real character, one you can't help but care about.

Then there's Eio.  He is absolutely sweet, and as much an outsider in his tribe as Pia is in her compound, and they fit.  Their romance was believable---quick but natural---and as the story progressed, I  liked him more and more. He was, as someone once said, "everything Pia never knew she always needed." 

Now for our delicious villains, and they were delicious.  There were some who were pure, undiluted evil, and others who were ambiguous, bad and good. I loved how everyone started out "good."  In the beginning Pia trusts everyone, loves everyone, which makes it all the more heart-wrenching as she discovers who will betray her and the cost of her immortality. Plus their secrets and motivation . . .  perfect.  What would you do, what would you pay, for immortality? 

So ignore any doubts you might have, that annoying little voice that whispers this book isn't for you, and pick up Origin. Refreshingly, it is a stand-alone, so you don't have to wait a year before the next one comes out, and it really is excellent.  The writing flows beautifully, immersing the reader in Pia's jungle world and shinning with little moments of beauty.  

This book absolutely deserves 4 stars.  It was exciting, tense, and thought provoking, so give it a try.  

Bargain Book Buys!

Extra, extra, read all about it.  Okay, so maybe not, but here are some great books at a great price.  I especially love Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi.  You should all absolutely buy  this one.  And The Declaration by Gemma Malley. After that, well, I haven't read most of them.  Embrace and Remembrance were fun reads, and at that price, it's okay if it isn't the absolute best thing ever. As for the rest of these, I will absolutely have to check them out, read up on reviews, etc.  Anyway, I hope this helps.  Again, this is mostly at Amazon, though some of them are that same price other places.

Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi $2.99 (bn)

The Declaration - Gemma Malley $1.99

Partials - Dan Wells: $2.99 (bn)

Masque of the Red Death - Bethany Griffin: $2.99 (bn)

Eve - Anna Carey $2.99 (bn)

Jekel Loves Hyde - Beth Fantaskey$1.24

Embrace - Jessice Shirvington $2.24

Remembrance - Michelle Madows $2.99

The Predicteds - Christine Siefert $3.87

Touch of Frost - Jennifer Estep $2.99

Well, enjoy.  If you know of any other amazing books at amazing deals, be sure to comment and let me know. Oh, and the ones with a (bn) after them links you to Barnes and Noble, where they have the  nook book for the same price.

Book Review: Tiger's Destiny

With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.  It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestsellingTiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all. A smart  phone tag code on the back cover links readers to the series website. Quoted from Goodreads

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Aaagggggggg!  Yes that is how I choose to start this book review.  I so didn't know what to think.  On one hand I loved, loved, loved it. On the other hand there were some things that irritated me.  I guess the fact that I could feel so much emotion is a good thing, right?  And it made me want to go back and read parts of the first, second, and third books, which is also a plus.

Okay, let's break this down.  Pacing.  Yes, I know that's not really what everyone wants to read about, but I really liked it in this book.  There is more action and less food.  It sounds silly, but I could tell you what Kelsey ate for every single meal every single day in the first book.  This book starts with a bang and rarely lets you catch your breath.  Things are always happening, and Kelsey begins to mature into the kick-butt warrior girl we've all been hoping she'd become.  And don't worry, Ren and Kishan also have their shining moments of awesomeness. 

I love how Colleen Houck brought everything full circle.  You can tell she knew where she was going from the beginning, and the first book led into the last.  I love that kind of structure across a multiple book series.  I love the mythology and magic used in this book.  I know very little about Indian mythology, so everything was fresh and unsullied by past association.

Now on to the stuff everyone really wants to know: the love triangle stuff. No worries, I won't spoil anything for anyone. Let's just say that things happened pretty much like I expected, and I was really satisfied with that.   Certain characters make unexpected sacrifices while others are unexpectedly selfish.  I hope that doesn't give too much away, but I felt like some characters finally clued in. Kelsie still, unfortunately, spends a little too much time in angst-ville, but I'm not sure I know who she would be if she didn't, so I'm okay with it.

Here's the thing about this series.  I feel like Colleen Houck is an amazingly imaginative person.  I love the stories she comes up with and the adventures she gives her characters.  While her writing got better in each book, I don't feel like the words on the page match the shimmering images in her head, and I so wish they did, because the core of her story, the adventures and creatures and quests she gives her characters are stupendous.

I battled back and forth about what to rate this book.  I honestly think I've changed it on Goodreads about 5 times already.  Part of me really did love this story despite all it's flaws, so emotionally I should probably give it a luminous 5 star rating.  But then there's the other  part of me, the more cynical, analytical, and a little embarrassed by my above gushing  part, insists that there are things that should probably push it down to a 4. 

Here I will give it the stunningly original final rating of 4.5 stars, though who knows where it will end up on Goodreads. I do absolutely recommend that you read this, just be aware that this series has enough cheesy moments to host a fondue party and you may want to throw this book across the room a few times. But despite this, there is the love and the action and the original plot/setting, which is really rare in books these days.  

P.S. Oh, and there supposedly is a book 5?  I have no idea where that is supposed to fit in with all this.  The series ended. Period.  Any other addition can only be a nice side story because this one is done, which kind of makes me sad.  I thought there would be one more book before the end.  It's like going to a birthday party and not getting any ice cream with your cake. It doesn't mean the cake isn't scrumptous, but you're left feeling slightly cheated.

Book Review: The Dark Light

Mia is torn between two guys—and two worlds—in this epic, romantic fantasy.Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.

That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.

Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she. Quoted from Goodreads

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Yeah, so the cover looks like a steamy adult romance that I would probably never pick up.  Come on, half naked man wrapped around a girl?  Plus the "epic, romantic fantasy" description in the first line?  I was lucky I picked the book up and have a kindle, because there is no way I was waving that puppy around in public.  But we have been told not to judge a book by its cover, and I'm so glad I didn't.

Okay, so I'm going to warn you right now, I can't do this review without a few spoilers leaking out.  I won't ruin anything big, but there are one or two things I don't know how to review without spoiling. I figure it's kind of like the synopsis above where you find out her brother goes missing.  It happens early enough in the book that it isn't going to spoil the story for you.

First off, it's not aliens.  That's what I thought when I started reading the book. Mysterious lights in the cornfield?  Boys disappearing out of their backyards? You do the math. But it absolutely wasn't.

I really liked the main characters.  There was no insta-love, which is a big plus.  Yes, Sol is hot.  Who doesn't want a hot potential love interest, but that isn't the reason Mia is drawn to him.  She actually first talks to him because of her little brother, and I liked that.  Plus that hint of a love triangle . . . yeah, not so much.  Maybe if there's a sequel, but I doubt it.

So now you know, no aliens, no insta-love, and no love triangle.

But what is there, you ask.

Great characters and a great world. Honestly, I really liked the main characters, especially Mia. She is an average girl who has gone through a lot of crap in her life, but she still maintains a positive outlook on everything.  She doesn't whine, much.  She doesn't wait for things to work themselves out. She pushes, takes risks, and still occasionally realizes that there are some things she shouldn't do.  I especially like when she gives back a sword after trying to use it a couple of times because she realizes that she has no clue what she is doing and carrying it made her more of a liability. She even made friends with other attractive, straight, funny boys, who didn't immediately fall in love with her!  Wait, can this happen in Young Adult? I don't know. Between Bella, Katniss, Rose, Helen, Kelsey, Cassia, Evie, Laurel, Kate, and Sophie, I'm not sure. (Oh, and major bonus points if you can tell me the books each of those characters comes from)

This book starts out as a mystery/paranormal but swiftly transforms into a fantasy.  My only complaint with it was there was little that was beautiful, fun, or quirky about this world.  It was dark, full of monsters and villains, which is great for the story but made it hard to fall in love with.  Part of it is that Mia is only seeing the bad parts.  She is either being almost captured or trying to rescue her brother the entire time, so I'm sure she isn't getting the tourist viewpoint.  Still, the only delightful thing this world really has going for it is magic and the amazing people that defend it.

Still, it was a fun story that totally took me by surprise.  It was absolutely not what I expected (though after this review, maybe I've spoiled that aspect for you).  I give it the far too used recently, though that really isn't typical (maybe I just like to blog about really good books) award of 4 stars.  Don't be put off by the cover.  Boy or girl, young or old, you could absolutely read this book and have a great time.

Book Review: Defiance

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. Quoted from Goodreads

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Okay, honestly with this one I hardly know where to start.  It was one of those books I literally couldn't put down, but it didn't really linger.  The more I thought about it, the more certain things bothered me.  Still it was a gripping read with an interesting world. Plus the author has superior taste in names.

So let's start with the world.  No, scratch that.  Let's start with the Commander, the mighty villain of the story, and he was absolutely evil.  He was cruel, sadistic, and one step ahead of he heroes at every turn. I loved that.  It made me hate him all the more, and I love absolutely despising a character.  

Now for the world. It was harsh, depressing, and absolutely dystopian but with a fantasy feel.  And here's why the Commander must be mentioned first.  He basically created the majority of the world in this book. 

So, backstory. Once upon a time people drilled too deep into the earth and unleashed a sort of dragon-like creature, that then proceeded to destroy almost everyone. More people = more destruction. There was nothing anyone could do until a group of nine people descended into the tunnel intent on killing the monster.  While they failed, they did emerge with a mysterious guarantee that the creature wouldn't attack them.  Each formed his or her own city-state, since proximity to them was the only hope of safety.  One of them was the Commander.

To sum up, Rachel and Logan live in an oppressive, misogynistic city where women are whipped to death if they even leave their home without their male protector, and men don't fare much better, because this is the Commander's city.  The Commander's every whim is law, and no one dares go against him for fear he will withhold his protection. This is why there can be no real rebellion, why even his guards put up with his Darth Vader like tendency to kill even them off systematically. (I should warn you, it's all quite melodramatic.)

What I didn't understand was why he toyed with the main characters as much as he did.  He had no problem killing everyone else off with minimal fanfare, and while Rachel did have something he wanted, I have no idea why he didn't kill Logan the moment her back was turned.  And what was the point of Rachel's Claiming?  I honestly didn't get why he went through the whole process. It's not like he needed the law on his side for what he wanted to do.  He is the law. 

Anyway, it is a horribly depressing world, but that always works in the main character's favor.  As I have said before and will absolutely say again, the hero can only be as good as the villain is evil. While I don't think Rachel and Logan reached a comparable level of heroism, they did a fine job trying.  They were both strong characters, while flawed, and they learned from their mistakes and grew throughout the story.

I liked the alternate point of view, though I still think of Rachel as the main character, maybe because of the name, maybe because of the cover, maybe because it's her father that is missing.  Rachel is impulsive and headstrong.  Logan is methodical with plans upon plans. The romance between the two is sweet without being consuming, and I thought they complemented each other well. 

I also really loved Oliver, though I must have missed something in the beginning.  At first I thought he was like thirty, then forty, and then realized he was old, as in grandfather figure.   Sylph, well I guess her only purpose was to show how non-girly Rachel is.  She is supposedly Rachel's best friend, but I sort of wondered why.  They didn't have anything in common. At all. And yet, she is mentioned in the very last paragraph of the book, practically given equal importance as Logan. Hmmm.

The ending left me wanting more.  Isn't that what all endings are supposed to do?  I don't really know where the next book is going exactly (what are they going to do with all those people?), but I look forward to learning more about the other city-states.  I also really want to know what the Commander had against Logan's family.  And then there's that other thing . . .

Someday I'm going to wait until all three books are out before starting a trilogy.  Honestly, it's like a disease I have, this inability to wait until things are nicely finished, but with Defiance's cover and synopsis, you can't really blame me for snatching this up as soon as it came out.  This was a solid 3.5 star book, maybe with a  few issues, but it is tons of fun, keep you on the edge of your seat, make the characters suffer before triumphing kind of read.