Dark Mirror by MJ Putney

Dark Mirror
MJ Putney
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Pages: 304

Rating: 4 stars

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted . . . by magic.
When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.
But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.

This was such a fun read! Historical fiction mixed with magic and fantasy make the best sort of reads in my opinion, so I could not wait to read this one. Dark Mirror had a bit of a rocky start, but it was smooth sailing from there on out!

The first 40 pages or so were very slow and the writing seemed almost detached. The story was very disjointed and had no flow. After this, it picked up and I just loved discovering what the characters would do or what would happen next. For a good portion of the book, I did have to really suspend reality as even with the fantastical I had a bit of a hard time believing certain things would happen. Despite this, the story really was a lot of fun. The magic element was a huge part of the story, yet it didn't override the other aspects. It was a perfectly balanced book.

Dark Mirror had a great cast of characters - they were all really well written. There was not a single character I did not like, and I really am excited to see more of the characters in book 2. The characters were definitely my favorite aspect of the book. Tory was a great main character, she had spunk and was quite strong.

Can I just say I love this cover? Historical books have the prettiest of covers. It was a fun, fast read with characters that are so charming. I am so excited to start book 2, Dark Passage, and see what is next for the characters :)

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch
Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Rating: 5 stars

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
 
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

The Near Witch was a phenomenal read. It was an epic tale filled with a marvelous cast of characters. I found The Near Witch to exceed all expectations I had for it, and become an instant favorite.

I was not expecting it to be a historical, fairy tale type read. I was expecting something modern, then I cracked it open and was so pleasantly surprised and it made me love the book 10 times more. The plot was so original. While I found the actions of certain characters to be fairly predictable, I loved seeing how the plot would unfold and figure out the mystery of who was behind everything.

The writing was absolutely beautiful and simply enchanting. This was probably about my favorite thing about the book. I would credit The Near Witch with being one of the more gorgeously written books I have ever read.

I loved the moor. I felt like it almost felt like a character of its own. The beautiful descriptions and the tales about it made me feel like the moor was right outside. The other characters were quite fabulous as well. I really liked Lexi. I loved that she was this kick-ass  awesome, strong girl who wasn't just going to let guys boss her around.  Cole was also quite wonderful and what a hunk! Though, probably one of my sole complaints for the book was that I wish I had learned his real name.

The book was filled with so many little rhymes and songs that were from the town of Near that were part of the book that were very catchy and those were a lot of fun. They kept playing through my head over and over, on a sort of repeat as I read the book.

This book was one of the best debuts I have read in quite a while. I found it enchanting from page one to the last and the characters were just marvelous. After a book like this one, I am highly anticipating future works from Victoria Schwab.

The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison

The Very Thought of You
Rosie Alison
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Pages: 320

Rating: 4 stars

England, 31st August 1939: The world is on the brink of war. As Hitler prepares to invade Poland, thousands of children are evacuated from London to escape the impending Blitz. Torn from her mother, eight-year-old Anna Sands is relocated with other children to a large Yorkshire estate which has been opened up to evacuees by Thomas and Elizabeth Ashton, an enigmatic, childless couple. Soon Anna gets drawn into their unraveling relationship, seeing things that are not meant for her eyes and finding herself part-witness and part-accomplice to a love affair with unforeseen consequences. A story of longing, loss, and complicated loyalties, combining a sweeping narrative with subtle psychological observation, The Very Thought of You is not just a love story but a story about love.

The Very Thought of You is a beautifully woven tale follow the lives of an entire cast of wonderful characters. I love historical fiction, so I was happy to find another marvelous historical fiction that I will be sure to recommend to others. With this book, Alison deliers one heck of a debut.

The Very Thought of You was a very slow read, there just wasn't a lot happening. While it was a slow read, I never found myself bored, it was just a book I found I couldn't absorb huge chunks of the book in one sitting. The book covers the span of several years, and it was a smooth transition through time.

The more I read, the more I fell in love with the writing. The descriptions in The Very Thought of You are downright beautiful. I loved that Alison switches around from what characters point of view the story is being told from. Readers hear generally from Elizabeth, Thomas and Anna, but you also hear from Roberta, Pawel, Ruth and more. It kept me engaged and was never too much to comprehend.

The book was divided into several sections. It was the last about 50 page section that left me unsatified. I felt the story could've ended where it did, instead of covering a span of 1957-2006 in 50 pages. While Rosie Alison did a good job with the flow, I felt the story was nicely tied up and it was extra, unneeded pages.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this one. It is a tale that will stick with you for many reasons, ranging for the beautiful prose, the unforgettable characters, or the haunting storyline. I cannot see what is next for Rosie Alison.

Tour: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Haunting Violet
Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Haunting Violet is a great read. Set in Victorian England, this read will sweep you into Violet's world with page one and take you on the rollercoaster of twists and turns her story has to offer.

The plot was a bit predictable, but still tons of fun to read. I loved the murder and the mystery, in addition to how the ghosts were portrayed. The setting added so much, I absolutely adore Victorian England, so I was super excited when I heard Haunting Violet was set there.

I liked the characters a lot. Violet was a lot of fun. Elizabeth just made me laugh every time she was on the page, I loved the rebellious, adventurous quality in her. I also really liked Colin, I thought he was absolutely just a sweetheart.

I would definitely pick up this one should you have the opportunity. It was a a totally awesome mystery that was fun to piece together the pieces.

Cover Rating: B

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Daughter of Xanadu
Dori Jones Yang
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Copy for Review

Rating: 4.5 stars

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

I love historical fiction - I read all of it I can. When read the description, I'm not going to lie, I was not sure if I was going to like it. The time of the Mongol Empire isn't one that had interested me all that much. Daughter of Xanadu bypassed every single expectation I had for it, and it was absolutely amazing! I got addicted to the story, and didn't want to put it down.

I loved the characters. I think that's one of the things I love most about historical fiction is the characters and seeing how they lived and how they react to different events. Emmajin was a really strong character, and I love books where the main character is represented as such. Marco was a really cool character and a much warmer character than I had been expecting him to be.

The places the characters visited were so interesting, and I loved reading about them. Yang made me feel like I was right in the story, next to Emmajin and Marco. Everything was so real, and I really appreciated that. I loved seeing the cultural differences between what Emmajin grew up with and what Marco had.

Daughter of Xanadu is a book you will not want to miss! If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is DEFINITELY a book to check out. Even if you are not a usual fan of historical fiction, I suggest giving it a try. Daughter of Xanadu is a book that will not disappoint, and I'm anxious to read future works from Dori Jones Yang!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief
Markus Zusak
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 14, 2006
Pages: 550
Source: Read For Class

Rating: 4 stars

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

The Book Thief was a book that I had been hearing about for ages. I had heard an enormous amount of praise for it, and had been meaning to get to it. My YA Lit class gave me an excuse to read it and I really did enjoy it. I didn't find it amazing or anything, but certainly a book worth reading.

I loved Death being the narrator. I thought this was so unique and made the story so much better. I loved how the past, future, and present were sort of woven into one. If any other character had narrated, I really don't think the book would have been as powerful and moving.

The story was different than what I was expecting. But I really liked where it went. I loved the color imagery that Marcus Zusak used throughout the book*. The Book Thief was extrodinarily well written - one of the best written books I have ever read.

I think the thing that kept me from loving it was the length. There were so many times where nothing really happened and the story was slower. That's okay on occasion, but I felt these passages were too frequent for me to truely love it.

The Book Thief is a truely powerful book. It demonstrates the power of words and their impact. It will make you think a lot, and even after you finish the last page, the ideas and words will still be turning in your head.

----

*It was super fun - in my YA Lit class we actually got a day where we got to pick one example of color imagery and paint it however we wanted on these huge sheets of posterboard!

Other people who have reviewed The Book Thief
Ticket to Anywhere The Book Thief was acutally Gail's #1 read of 2008!
Bookmarked Reviews
The Boston Bibliophile

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend
Cora Harrison
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Pages: 352

Rating: 5 stars

When shy Jenny Cooper goes to stay with her cousin Jane Austen, she knows nothing of the world of beautiful dresses, dances, secrets, gossip, and romance that Jane inhabits. At fifteen, Jane is already a sharp observer of the customs of courtship. So when Jenny falls utterly in love with Captain Thomas Williams, who better than Jane to help her win the heart of this dashing man?

But is that even possible? After all, Jenny’s been harboring a most desperate secret. Should it become known, it would bring scandal not only to her, but also to the wonderful Austen family. What’s a poor orphan girl to do?

In this delicious dance between truth and fiction, Cora Harrison has crafted Jenny’s secret diary by reading everything Jane Austen wrote as a child and an adult, and by researching biographies, critical studies, and family letters. Jenny’s diary makes the past spring vividly to life and provides insight into the entire Austen family—especially the beloved Jane.

Being a huge Jane Austen fan, I was really excited to read this book since I had heard about it. Cora Harrison has managed to perfectly capture the essence of a great story, and I have found a new favorite.

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend has a slower pace about it. The beginning was slow, but still just as good. Towards the middle, the story begins to pick up and I had issues putting it down. I was completely captivated by the magic of all the balls and just society itself. The writing was wonderful. I felt transported back in time!

My one complaint about this book would be how many characters there were. I love books with a lot of characters, but in this instance I found myself confusing identities of characters of some of the smaller characters. I felt some of the characters weren't as well developed, so that was why I was confusing them. That aside, I felt the majority of characters were done very well. I loved Cousin Eliza – at first I wasn’t too crazy about her, but as the book progressed she really came into herself. Jane and Jenny were a complete laugh, and were really well done characters.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a new favorite, and one I will be sure to pull out and reread from time to time.

Blog Tour: Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl

Prisoners in the Palace
Michaela MacColl
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release Date: September 1, 2010
Pages: 304

Rating: 4 stars

Prisoners in the Palace -- London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza's dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady's maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant's world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?

I love historical fiction. Nearly every one I pick up, I simply lose myself in. I love history and find it fascinating and love see the twists and periods that authors choose to put their characters in. Prisoners in the Palace was a fascinating read, set in my favorite time period of them all.

I loved the story. It was absolutely fascinating. I was glued to the book. It was really interesting, how Michaela MacColl chose to set it up. There was the actually story, but also letters, journal entries from both Princess Victoria and Liza's journal, and more to break it up. I found these wonderful, and a nice break from just the story.

Liza annoyed me a bit. I just didn't like her true self. She was so blatant in her desire to be rewarded for helping Victoria. Nothing she did seemed genuine, and while it did lessen as the course of the story went by, it just drove me insane. Will on the other hand was a character I really liked. I loved his character. I fell for him right away. I simply hated Sir John - Michaela MacColl made this simple with her way with words.

This was a really great story. I did have a few issues with it, but everything else definitely outwayed any negatives. I am very excited to see what Michaela MacColl will whip up next, and whatever it is, I know I will be one of the first in line to buy it.

BBAW: Forgotten Treasures

Book Blogger Appreciation Week is upon us, and it's a week full of festivities and book talk! Today we're discussing books that are forgotten treasures, books that kind of get swept under the rador so to say. I'd like to bring three very awesome books to your attention.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Brightly Woven is the perfect fantasy in every way. The best fantasy I have read
in 5 years to be exact! It has an epic world and a character by the name of
North. Who is the most swoonworthy guy, EVER. You all should get it, and then
hopefuollly there will be a SEQUEL, which is necessary.

Sea by Heidi R Kling

Sea is just a perfect book in every way, and it so heartwarming and sweet. I can
scarely come up with the words to describe it. I loved every page of it! It really just brings to life another culture and filled with a sweet story after disaster.

The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson

This is a book I read ages and ages ago, but absolutely love. It is an amazing
historical fiction and I am very excited for the sequel that comes out this
fall, Invisible Things. For some odd reason, basically no one I know has read
it?

What are your guys' "forgotten treasures"?

The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

The Twin's Daughter

Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Release Date: September 1, 2010

Pages: 304

Rating: 4.5 stars

Lucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day... a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known. And the transformation in Aunt Helen is indeed remarkable. But when Helen begins to imitate her sister in every way, even Lucy isn't sure at times which twin is which. Can Helen really be trusted, or does her sweet face mask a chilling agenda?

Filled with shocking twists and turns, The Twin's Daughter is an engrossing gothic novel of betrayal, jealousy, and treacherous secrets that will keep you guessing to the very end.

The Twin's Daughter is my second Lauren Baratz-Logsted book, and will by no means be the last. I have a love for the settings she writes in and the voice she brings to the story. The pages of The Twin's Daughter are filled with an absolutely enthralling story, that will keep you hooked.

Lauren Baratz-Logsted weaves a marvelous story that you can't quite figure out. I kept switching my opinion of what I thought I was happening, and at every turn of the way, I was wrong. The characters and their actions take you on a roller coaster that you want to ride over and over.

The plot is just so clever. It takes the whole twins separated at birth to a whole new level! You have a long lost twin show up, and shortly after that the lies and betrayal start. You are instantly questioning who to trust and who knows what. I absolutely loved it.

The characters in The Twin's Daughter are absolutely lovely, they felt so real. I adored Kit, from the first page he walked on the page. Lucy was a very fun character. I love independent, smart women in literature. Aunt Helen and Lucy's mother were both fun characters to read about when they were in the same scene. It was fun to see their different personalities clash at times.

I love the cover and the "double-image". Do you all see it? I think that is really clever. I really liked this book, and I would highly recommend it. It's filled to the rim with great characters, a plot to keep you guessing, and so much more.

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

The Education of Bet
Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Release Date: July 12, 2010
Pages: 192

Rating: 5 stars

Bet is sixteen, very intelligent, but only knows as much as her limited education will allow. In Victorian England, girls aren't allowed to go to school.

Will is also 16, and though not related by blood, he and Bet act like brother and sister. In fact, they even look like brother and sister. And though they're both raised under the same roof, by the same kind uncle, Will has one big advantage over Bet: He's a boy, and being a boy means he isn't stuck in the grand house they call home. He gets to go out into the world--to school.

But that's not what Will wishes. He wants to join the military and learn about real life, not what's written in books.

So one night, Bet comes up with a plan. She'll go to school as Will. Will can join the military. And though it seems impossible, they actually manage to pull it off.
But once Bet gets to the school, she begins to realize the education she's going to get isn't exactly the one she was expecting.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved everything about it: the characters, the story, the writing, the list goes on and on. This book was so cute and I loved Bet's voice.

I loved reading about all of Bet's adventures at schools while she was pretending to be a boy. This was so much fun to read. I also kept waiting for her to get caught. Bet falls for her roommate, who thinks she is a boy, and that is absolutely priceless watching them. I absolutely loved her roommate, James. He was definately swoonworthy. At first, you don't really know what to think of him, but as the book goes on he really grows as a character and you see him and "Will" really start to become good friends. Mrs. Smithers was another character I really liked. At first, I figured she'd be a stern lady with not much character to her, but I was very wrong. She was one of my favorite characters of the book!

I do wish we had gotten to hear a bit more of the story. The Education of Bet was only 192 pages, so there was no length issue of going longer. Don't delay, go get this book and read it as soon as you can!

Everlasting by Angie Frazier

Everlasting
Angie Frazier
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Pages: 336

Rating: 4.5 stars

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

Everlasting was a book I really had a hard time getting in to. I had picked it up, read a few pages and it just wasn't keeping my interest. So I set it down for a bit, read a few more page on and off. Then all at once, everything clicked about 50 or 60 pages in and I couldn't put it down.

The plot was very intriguing, especially with the time period it was set in. That was one of the things that made me so excited about Everlasting. A good portion of the book took place on various ships, and I thought that was so interesting. You don't read about life of ships very much. I also loved the the whole mysterious aspect of the adventure. It made Everlasting that much greater of a read.

I absolutely loved the characters. I loved Camille. She was spunky and fun. I loved Oscar right off the bat. Angie Frazier has a way with words, and even the minor characters stood out to you, with none of them fading into the wallpaper. Right away, I was intrigued by the romance, waiting to see how it would spin out.

I would definately read this one. It's got a gorgeous cover (which for some reason reminds me of The Little Mermaid...), wonderful characters and an awesome plot! It's action packed and will be one you'll be sorry to miss.