Ice-Fell in Love with This One

Icefall by Matthew Kirby

Adolescent Fantasy

This is my second book by Matthew Kirby.  I loathed his first one but am so glad I took another chance on this author because I loved this one!  I felt right away as if the main character really existed, as if I were the main character.  She trapped me in her viewpoint, in her story, and wouldn't let me go!

Solveig and her siblings are the children and heirs of a very powerful Viking king.  When the king goes to war, he decides to hide his children in a frozen wasteland so the enemy will never find them.  The conditions are harsh and brutal, but if they aren't rescued before the winter season, the sea will freeze over.  Then, the harsh conditions will turn deadly with starvation and frigid temperatures for months. 

Solveig has other problems, though, as the middle child and second daughter of a king.  Her older sister is beautiful and many vie to claim her hand. Solveig's younger brother will be king one day.  Solveig feels plain and unimportant until the court skald (storyteller) awakens in her a passion for stories.

And, on top of all that, there seems to be a traitor who is sabotaging their effort to survive.

I loved everything about this book-the adventure, the mystery, but, most of all, the haunting bravery of Solveig.  What a beautiful treatment of the empowerment of young women.  I loved Solveig.....and I miss her.  I am hopeful there might be another story about her one day.

Keeps Getting Deader

Sookie Stackhouse #5:  Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Paranormal/Romance

These books just keep getting deader; but, in a series like this, that's a compliment!

Sookie and Jason knew it was coming after Jason was bitten by a werepanther last month.  They hoped it might not be true, but Jason is starting to show the tell-tale (tail?) signs and they're both scared to death.  Sookie turns to the only one who can help,a werepanther named Calvin who has the serious hots for her (who doesn't?).  Sookie hopes this isn't too big of a favor. She doesn't really need one more man-creature in her life. 

The next morning, several creatures are discovered murdered.  Is it a coincidence that this was Jason's first night as a paranormal?  Sookie hopes so.

Alcide Hervaeux is back and need her help, or is he really just interested in Sookie?  Sookie can't really tell and isn't exactly happy about the way he treats her.  Sookie's transgressions (okay, murder) from the last book come back to root in this one and not even her vampire friends can help her.  Or, are they the ones trying to do her in?

Bill is on the far edge of her universe (please leave altogether).  And, Eric is a new problem for Sookie.  I both liked and disliked Eric's return to normalcy.  The last book was so hot but the anticipation to the next one is going to kill me.

I loved this one, but I'll admit it wasn't as captivating as #4. This one was full of political moves in her small town and breaking social mores and had less of that romance and sexual tension that make these so fun to read.  It was not my favorite Sookie by any stretch, but I guess every girl needs a break from a life as dangerous and exciting as Sookie's! 

History and Mystery

Devil in the White City:  Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson

History

The book is really about 70% history of the great Chicago Worlds' Fair and Exposition and 30% crime novel so if you're looking for the straight crime thrill, you'll probably be disappointed.  But, if you love history, this book is for you.  You'll like both parts.

This book marries the amazing Chicago Fair and Exposition of 1893 (dubbed the White City) and the tale of one of the most prolific serial killers in US history (Herman Webster Mudgett/H.H. Holmes). 

While I was completely amazed by the history of this book, I wished there had been more information about Holmes/Mudgett.  I am not a literary rubber-necker but his brief history did not satiate my curiosity about this little-known man.  In all, though, this was a fascinating book and completely captured the magic and hope of the time, a period of time when Chicago came into its own as a city. It's hard to imagine it was ever second-class.  Some other things hard to imagine?

So many momentous things came from the fair--it was the first time moving pictures were shown; Nikolas Tesla displayed his lightning coils; the first zipper was showcased; the first electric kitchen was debuted, with an automatic dishwasher; Aunt Jemima's Pancake mix was introduced as well as Shredded Wheat, Pabst 'Blue Ribbon' beer and the Dewey Decimal System.  What's more, Walt Disney's father helped to build the darn thing; L. Frank Baum visited; Columbus Day was instituted and AC current was used for the first time.  Can you imagine a world without any of those things?

The author is a true master of his work, weaving between the two story lines and showing how this serial killer could not have become the monster he was without the Chicago Exposition, a fair that showcased all of what was brilliant and evil about man.

It Left MeEmpty

Empty by Suzanne Weyn

Dystopian/Futuristic Fiction

I  really like other works by this author, but this was just awful.  Not her usual gripping work at all. 

The 'empty' in the title refers to the nation's coffers of gas storage-they're empty.  Gas is exorbitant and only the wealthy can afford it.  Society is starting to unravel.  The book centers around a group of teenagers trying to make various hook-ups while running out of gas.  So tragic.

It is a completely forgettable book, meaning I read it a couple of weeks ago and I could truly not remember one detail until I re-read the summary.  The author seems to very much dislike all of her characters and who can blame her?  They are vapid, petty and stupid. Actually, they are more like caricatures of vapid, petty and stupid teenagers.

I especially hated the preachy tone of the book. An author's opinion doesn't have to hit the reader over the head like a 2' by 4'.  Try subtlety.  I also really, really hated the 'news' articles that interrupted the flow of the book.  The articles are very slanted and poorly written.  They insulted my intelligence as a reader.  Teaching about a subject is far different than lecturing.  The story, also, was lame and ridiculous and the characters unlikeable.  Very thin writing so, in all, a good title.  The book is empty. Sigh.  I expected more from Weyn.

Blew Me Away

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Dystopian/Zombie Fiction

Wow!  The book blew me away!  It gripped me on the first page and just didn't let go.  This was one of those books I just wanted to go on and on.  I wasn't ready for it to end.  My only consolation with the book ending is that there are two more but, honestly, I almost cried when I knew the main character wasn't in them.

The story takes place in a futuristic world where a zombie-plague has decimated society.  The infected live behind enclosures and fences, constantly alert for a breach that might destroy them all.  Mary respects the fence but questions the overwhelming fear, until her own mother wanders too close.  Now, Mary is on her own in a world that has no place for an unclaimed female and orphan.  When zombies overrun the fence, Mary's village and entire way of life is destroyed in minutes and she is forced to flee into the Forest of Hands and Teeth (was there ever a scarier name for a forest?).  As she flees, Mary has to make some agonizing decision for survival, the most profound and heartbreaking that of choosing to be truly loved or choosing to love truly.

Ryan's writing style is haunting and beautiful.  It is so difficult to convey true horror to a reader but this was perfectly done.  Ryan has a writing style lush and rich enough to marinate in.  So addicting!

Unremarkable

The Alyx Rayer Chronicles #1:  Marked for Vengeance by S.J. Pierce

Fantasy

There are some things I like about this book.  I really liked the character of Alyx.  I found her to be approachable and realistic, even though she is some sort of paranormal creature.  She is a character I could follow and relate to.  I also really liked her fixation on the person she is supposed to be guarding.  She is completely captivated and obsessed with Isaac.  I loved this part of the book--the excitement building until they meet.

I also really liked the premise of the story.  The idea of a guardian angel having to work for salvation and then falling in love with their 'mark', those they are destined to shield and protect.

However, I pretty much hated everything else about this book.  The ending was one of the worst I've ever read.  The whole thing just stopped right in the middle of the action.  It felt more like part of a story, not just the first book in a series.

The plot also lost me about half-way through.  It turned very unbelievable and coincidental.  Alyx's 'human' best friend turns out to be another guardian angel assigned to watch Isaac's son and neither of them knew it.  What are the chances (even in fantasy)?  It was too much of a stretch for this reader. 

And, while I liked Alyx as a faker human, she only felt fake when it was time for her to show her true identity as a guardian angel.  She seemed shocked by the whole thing even though she's supposedly done it before.

In all, I won't be continuing the story.

Dark and Delightful

Mercy Thompson #4:  Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

Paranormal/Paranormal Romance

I just love this series!  It gets better and better with each book and each book contains everything necessary for a great read.

When Mercy's mentor Zee is arrested and framed for murder, Mercy is called in to sniff out some clues, literally.  Being a shape-shifting coyote does have certain advantages.  Mercy's stubbornness and meddling finally get her into trouble she can't get out off, with tragic results.  (Adventure, excitement, thrills.)

Mercy's love triangle with Sam and Adam is really heating up.  Sam is currently her roommate and there is clearly an attraction there, but Adam is under her skin and she just can't resist him anymore.  (Romance, unrequited love.)

This is one of the darkest books I think I've read.  I can't give away too much due to plot spoilers but I can say I was stunned and shocked and had to walk away from the book for awhile.  It bothered me deeply--the violence and horror and tragedy and aftermath.  And, this is the very thing that made this book the best one yet.  It's as if this event must happen to Mercy.  I truly can't see any other alternative to the story. Brilliant. (Emotional upheaval.)

The ending of this book makes me want to rush to the next one.  It has romance, sure, and adventure, sure, but for pure thrilling danger, this is one of the best I've read.  (Plot addiction)

Mercy is so stubborn and this new development leaves her vulnerable.  She is off-balance so I know the next book will be very interesting! (A cliff-hanger.)