Giveaway and Review: "Ironskin"

 "Ironskin"

by Tina Connolly

Publisher: Tor
Release Date: Oct 2, 2012
Source: sent by publisher/publicist

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It’s the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain—the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"—a child born during the Great War—Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn’t expect to fall for the girl’s father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio...and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life—and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

 

My Review:

This book has received some lukewarm reviews, but I felt differently. Yes, there are flaws, but overall, I enjoyed this retelling of Jane Eyre. Honestly, I have not read the original, but I do know the basic story. For that reason, I could see similarities, but I can't comment on how closely this tale follows the original.

The author sets up a real fantasy world filled with fey, and people with extraordinary abilities as well. The gloomy, gothic house feels like it's own character, it's just so spooky. There is just a bad energy there it seems. I felt like the slowness of the storytelling fit in with the gothic, gloomy feel, but some readers may have found it slow or boring. I thought this style fit the book well, though.

The storyline of Jane taking care of Dorie seemed to overtake the story at first, and I thought it dragged a bit. But finally, I was able to see it come full circle and see how Dorie was able to teach Jane as well. The mask plot, both Jane's iron mask, as well as Edward making the masks, was interesting and thought provoking.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (love it, definitely looks like Jane in her iron mask and silver dress)
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: A gloomy, spooky retelling of Jane Eyre, with a tiny bit of steampunk, and a lot of fey lore.

Ironskin on Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/Ironskin-Tina-Connolly/dp/0765330598

Tor.com (publisher's website):  http://www.tor.com/

Follow along with the rest of the tour here: http://tlcbooktours.com/2012/08/tina-connolly-author-of-ironskin-on-tour-october-2012/

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"Veiled Rose" Review

"Veiled Rose"
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: July 1, 2011 
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

Rose Red trusts no one with her secret. She hides in the forest, her face veiled in rags, shunning the company of all save her old father and her nanny goat. Her life is bleak and lonely.
Until she meets a privileged young man sent to spend his summer in the mountains. Leo, a lonely lad, befriends Rose Red, and together they begin hunting for the Mountain Monster which, rumor says, stalks these lands.
But the hunt which began as a game holds greater risk than Leo supposes. Rose Red can scarcely guess at the consequences should he insist on continuing his search. Dare she trust him with her secret? Or tell him what dwells at the top of the mountain in the cave only she can find?
Above all, when Leo asks Rose Red to leave the mountain and follow him to the low country, dare she agree and risk the wrath of a Monster that is all too real?

My Review:

I've seen many great reviews of this series, but I have to be honest and say that I just didn't "get it." I think it hindered my reading that I didn't read the first book, but the story was just way too cryptic for my tastes. I felt like I wandered through the book in a fog that made no sense. I wanted at least one straight answer to my many questions.

I liked Leo's character and his growth. I especially liked that the author started to call him by his full name, "Lionheart", when he really became a man instead of a boy. However, I felt off-balance the whole time by his three love interests. The girl that was in the story the least, whom we knew the least about, was the girl that he was in love with. This really confused me and I didn't feel connected to her at all.

I actually liked how complex Daylily's character was, even if she wasn't always likable. At least the reader could understand her feelings and she had some redeeming moments where she did the right thing. I also loved Beana, the goat. She was a great mentor and gave a lot of guidance.

The lack of happily ever after and the confusion I felt even at the end contributed to why I didn't enjoy the book as much as I had hoped.


Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 2/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
Writing: 3/5


Bottom Line: I'm glad this book has so many great reviews, but it wasn't for me. I grew tired of the mixed messages and trying to decipher even the smallest things about the story.

"Lady of the Storm" Review

"The Lady of the Storm"
by Kathryne Kennedy

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: Aug 1, 2011 
Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

Acclaimed for her world-building, in Kathryne Kennedy's new series love miraculously prevails over strife.
Storm lord's daughter Cecily Sutton's powers over sea and sky have put her life at risk. Giles Beaumont is reluctant to protect her, until he falls under her enchanting spell...

My Review:

This was such a unique concept with the mix of historical romance and fantasy. I thought there was an evenly balanced mix of both genres.

Sometimes the fantasy element was a little too involved for my liking, but there was a lot of romance as well. I would just have a lot of romance and a little bit of fantasy.  The romance was very sweet and heartfelt though, so I was happy with what there was of the romantic story.

Cecily was a great character, she had a nice inner strength, not to mention her supernatural powers. Giles was a  little bit cliched as the protector who couldn't get close to the woman he was protecting. I felt like I had seen that idea many times before. But, the romance was still nice and I did like Giles because he was such a sweet guy.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 3/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: I really recommend this book to fans of fantasy who also like romance because I think they will really appreciate this genre-defying book.

"The Near Witch" Review

"The Near Witch"
by Victoria Schwab

Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: Aug 2, 2011 
Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

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.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

My Review:

This is a truly unique book, and I enjoyed reading something so different, even though I didn't really love it.

I appreciate the author's writing style and her ability to create a world that seems to exist outside of any traditional time period or geographical region. She never tells you when or where the story is set, it's simply a mystical small village. There are really no references to structures, clothing, etc, or anything that would give the reader clues as to time and place. This almost dreamlike aspect of the story was probably my favorite part.

I also liked the small, fable-like lessons and observations sprinkled throughout the book. They added to old fashioned and folk tale like nature of the story.

I liked the romance between Lexi and Cole. They genuinely cared for each other, and they helped and protected each other even in the face of great danger. It was never one sided where Cole would swoop in and save the damsel in distress, they shared their battles.

Still, something about the actual plot didn't really grab me or pull me in. I never felt truly scared of the Near Witch.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 3/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 3/5 (almost too light, doesn't grab me)
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: The writing style and dreamy setting are truly fascinating, even when the plot itself becomes slow.

"The Autumn Palace" Review

"The Autumn Palace" (Ondine #2)
by Ebony McKenna
 

Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
Release Date: Feb 7, 2011

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
 

Summary from goodreads.com:

One boy, one girl, one plot to be foiled! Hamish the gorgeous man (and part time ferret) has a new job with the Duke as a spy in his Autumn Palace. So Ondine goes with him. She imagines a hugely romantic escapade together that involves lots of kissing. What she hadn't imagined was having to do endless laundry, go to school and keep Hamish the man a secret. All the while trying to find out who is plotting to kill the Duke. And if that weren't bad enough, it seems that Hamish is more interested in getting the Duke's attention than hers. Plus he's always in ferret form. Things can't go on like this! Can Ondine foil the would-be assassin, save the Duke and get her man back in gorgeous human form? It's going to take a little bit of magic, a lot of stolen kisses and some ferreting around...

My Review:

I absolutely loved the first book in this series - "Ondine: The Summer of Shambles." The mix of fantasy, sweet romance, and an adorable talking ferret had me head over heels in love. "The Autumn Palace" did not disappoint, and I was left with that warm fuzzy feeling all over again.

This time around, Shambles the ferret and his super cute human self, Hamish, along with Ondine and her Aunt Col, travel to the Duke's Autumn Palace. The Duke has enlisted Col and Shambles to utilize his ferret form to spy on his household. Ondine doesn't find it quite as glamorous as she thought when the only job available to her is in the laundry, and then she becomes the Duke's persnickety sister's butler. All the while, Hamish seems to be having a great time, how frustrating!

I must say I did miss Ondine's family in this one, but the prickly Infanta did start to grow on me as Ondine's employer. Hamish was such a cute and nice boyfriend, even if his work kept him from spending a lot of time with Ondine. Shambles wasn't quite up to as many antics as in the first book and I missed that a lot. But there was an unfortunate incident with a tube of toothpaste that was just like his old self.

Ondine and Hamish's romance was just as sweet as ever and their relationship grew in this installment. I can't say enough how much I love that their relationship is healthy! Sure they have disagreements, but they deal with it in a positive manner. In today's YA world of stalkers and abusive relationships being glorified as romantic, I LOVE seeing a healthy romance that is so swoonworthy!



Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line: I really love this series and I'm hoping to see more Ondine and Hamish soon. Hopefully Shambles can stay out of trouble long enough for another book!

"Secondhand Charm" Review

"Secondhand Charm"
by Julie Berry

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release Date: Oct 12, 2010

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. A gypsy's charms—no more than trinkets when worn by others—are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents, and charms, have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's apprentice. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy next-door. When the young king's carriage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all . . .
Berry's debut novel garnered glowing reviews and strong sales—and now she's done it again with a beautifully woven tale to keep all readers, young and old, absolutely charmed.

My review:

"The Amaranth Enchantment," Julie Berry's first book, is one of my favorite books of the year, so I couldn't wait to read "Secondhand Charm." This book is filled with all of the things I loved about the first book, magic, adventure, a strong heroin, and a sweet, swoon-worthy romance. 


I loved Evie's bond with her leviathan and how the story touched on how this had caused jealousy in past generations of her family. Her leviathan had many qualities of a loyal puppy, if your puppy could instantly morph from cute and cuddly to a huge sea monster.


Aiden was incredibly sweet. He's the hard-working boy next door who suddenly seems like more than a friend. Aiden is so so supportive of Evie and wants to know more about her secrets but never judges or dismisses her because of them.


The author puts an awesome twist on the typical fairy tale at the beginning of the story. The King comes to the small village of Pylander and singles out Evie and her best friend. But in this story, it's not because they are the prettiest girls in town, it's because they're the smartest. The King gives them both scholarships to the university based on their high grades. It's empowering to see girls moving forward in life based on their merit, not their appearance.



Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line:Another fantastic, magical adventure from Julie Berry!

"StarCrossed" Review

"StarCrossed"
by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Release Date: Oct 1, 2010

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Digger is an accomplished thief, with no real ties to anyone or anything but her beloved Tegan. When Tegan is killed trying to save her magical ability from being discovered, Digger flees. She accepts a ride with a group of young nobles, fully expecting to steal a few coins and jewels and ditch them. But soon she discovers they are much more than a group of wastrel nobs and she gets pulled into a life of intrigue and further deception.

Wow! I loved this book! It was definitely not your typical YA book. There was so much going on in this story! The author invented a whole different world for the reader where religious and political turmoil ruled and magic was possible but oppressed.

I loved how the author explored so many different types of relationships, not just the romantic ones. All of the characters were so much more than what they seemed on the surface.

My favorite character was Weirolf, a special "guest" in the castle. He was an amazing character full of humility and also confidence. He knew his place in the world and wasn't afraid to step up to his destiny. I loved Digger's special relationship with him and I'm really hoping to see more of him the sequel.

Digger was a fantastic lead, she was such a strong and independent girl. She was true to herself and even though she sometimes had a mixed up view of right and wrong, she was always able to admit her mistakes.

I have so many questions about the ending, mostly about who I will and won't see in the sequel. I can't wait to read "Liar's Moon."

I was a little confused at the beginning of the book about the political and religious groups. Too bad I didn't find the glossary at the back of the book sooner because it was very helpful in sorting everything out.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line: This story was fantastic, the intrigue and adventure were full-force and the characters were amazing!

"Ondine: The Summer of Shambles"

"Ondine: The Summer of Shambles"
by Ebony McKenna

Source: from Jenny at Egmont UK

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Ondine feels like a failure at psychic summer camp, so she packs up and runs away to home. In Ondine's world, the small country of Brugel, magic is accepted as a part of everyday life, so her parents are only a little surprised that she has brought home a talking ferret named Shambles. Actually, Ondine is one of the few who can actually hear Shambles talking- in an old-fashioned Scottish brogue no less! It turns out he used to be a man, but was cursed to live as a ferret. When he's not sneaking food away from the kitchen, Shambles overhears a murder plot against the duke. All sorts of chaos follow Ondine and Shambles as they try to warn and save the duke, all the while trying to lift the curse so that Shambles can be a man again.

This fantasy story was so sweet and so much fun! Ondine was spunky and Shambles was such a handful! I have to admit, I really want a talking ferret that I can wear as a stole and take everywhere with me! Shambles is so lovable as a foul mouthed ragamuffin! McKenna describes him so well that I can just see all of his shenanigans so clearly, and it's totally believable.

But you know how in "Beauty and the Beast", you were just a teensy bit disappointed when the lovable beast turned into a boring prince? (or am I the only one?) This book isn't like that at all! When Shambles is in his human form, Hamish, he's just as wonderful but in a different way. He's sweet and polite and jaw-droppingly handsome!

The author uses footnotes a lot in this story to tell about Brugel and give other insights. The footnotes were always really funny and I appreciated that McKenna was trying something unique. Sometimes, they were a little distracting, though, and I would have liked the information better if it had been in the body of the work instead.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5 (there was a lot of drama in Ondine's family :)
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5 (captures the story perfectly! love the silhouettes and all the fun glittery shapes)
Writing: 5/5

Extras: I love that Egmont UK is devoted to ethical publishing! From the use of sustainable papers to making sure that workers are treated fairly. Way to go!


Bottom Line:I loved this book, especially Shambles. The story was really fun with lots of madcap action. And there was a good message underneath it all, too. Now, where can I find a talking ferret?