Friday, January 20, 2017

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

cover_image
Image courtesy of Titlewave.com
I received an advance reader's copy 
in exchange for an honest review of this book.


Caraval 
by Stephanie Garber

This is how I described this book to my students; "it's about an enchanted island full of magic.  The participants are playing a game, and at the end, they will be granted one wish.  However, Scarlett is not entirely sure if she is playing a game; she can't figure out what is real, and what is fantasy."

I loved this book!  The descriptions are so vivid, I could see everything as I read.  Caraval is a fantasy world where dresses change color with changing emotions, bridges move from one place to another, currency can be secrets or one day of your life and there are trap doors and hidden tunnels that you can get lost in.

Some of the images from the book:

"Someone screamed.  As hot and bright as fire."
"The world tasted like lies and ashes when Scarlett woke."
"...pillows as dark as nightmares..."
"Behind her a cloud drifted over the moon, covering all but two two points of light, which hovered behind her silver hair like devil's horns."

There are more colors in this book than a 24 box of crayons.  But purples, reds and blues dominate.  The food imagery is delectable and made me crave sugary sweets as I was reading.  It was simply exquisite.

This was a book that I couldn't put down.  Not only was it beautifully written, but the story was so twisty that I would have to read on when I should have been turning off the light!  I sped read the last 60 pages because I had no idea how it was all going to end.  It was the kind of book where you are having a conversation with someone, but what you're really thinking about is Caraval!  

I'm looking forward to the next installment of Scarlett's adventure, and I'm sure you will be too!


Sunday, January 15, 2017

The Reader by Traci Chee

cover_image
Image courtesy of Titlewave.com

The Reader
by Traci Chee

The Reader is 437 pages long, yet I can't seem to find the words to describe this novel.  This is a book.  This is a book about words, stories, self, family and love.  This is a book for people of any age who long for words, who live for stories, who find themselves so wrapped up in the pages of books that they can't determine what is real.  Have you ever been talking to a friend and she tells a story and you think "this reminds me of...." and you realize it reminds you of something you read in a book?  If so, this book is for you!

I don't think that I can properly summarize The Reader, especially without ruining some of the surprises that the book contains.  So instead, let me quote some passages.

In respect to choosing one's one destiny; "Maybe he could choose to be all-person: Archer, hunter, protector, artichoke-trimmer, gambler, ship's boy, quartz-holder, friend.  This realization began to simmer inside him, slowly at first, but then faster and fiercer, until he was hot and brimming with it.  Maybe he could choose."

In respect to the power of words: "People are weak.  They can't be trusted.  Can you imagine what Kelanna would be like if everyone could do what you and I can do?  Men would be turned into dogs and never turned back.  Castles would disintegrate with the wave of a hand.  Thieves and murderers, slave traders and warlords, the worst kinds of people would rule Kelanna because they would use the word for evil.  It would be chaos." 

One more quote, this one is harder to find, but you'll discover it if you're paying attention.  "...words are seeds in which meanings are curled pages of oceans and margins of land are civilizations."  

Yes.  I couldn't have said it better myself.  Thank you Traci Chee.


Tuesday, January 10, 2017

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

cover_image
Image courtesy of Titlewave.com
I have received an advance reader's copy of this book
in exchange for a fair review.

The Bone Witch 
by Rin Chupeco

Tea doesn't realize that she is special, until the day she raises her brother from the dead.  That event ignites the beginning of her epic journey to harness her power.  Tea is a "Dark Asha", very rare, and reviled by most.  Her singular job, once properly trained, will be to rid the land of monsters that the people call "Daeva".  But the ability to raise creatures from the dead isn't the only reason others are leery of Tea, her extraordinary gift means that other Asha aren't as powerful as they'd like to be.

I enjoyed getting to know Tea, both from her point of view, and the alternating voice of a young woman (I think) who is interviewing her.  She is a strong, loyal and smart young lady.  However, I had a hard time following the story line.  Chupeco's description of the world in which Tea lives relies too heavily on my imagination.  I didn't have any background knowledge on which to draw and the maps didn't fill in enough blanks for me.

I found myself confused by the characters and which land they came from.  I was also confused by the different abilities various Asha had.  It felt to me as if this book was written to become a movie.  I needed visual cues to help me through the story.  Chupeco writes in detail of the "hua" or dress that all Asha wear.  She describes her characters in detail so that you could practically smell them.  But, I just had a hard time putting it all together.

The ending was also perplexing.  I have no idea why Tea was exiled, why this young girl is interviewing her, what happened to her brother, and why this particular person ends up as her love interest.  I guess I'll have to read the next one to get my questions answered.

In summary, maybe I'm too old to follow the plot lines in this story.  I don't see any reason that it couldn't go in a middle school.  I added it to my book order, we'll have to wait to see if it circulates.  I'm hoping at least one of my regulars will read it so that they can explain it to me!