The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Michelle Hodkin
Simon & Schuster, 2011
464 pages

Mara can't remember what happened. Last thing she knew, she was competing for her best friend's attention, now three people are dead and she is the sole survivor. When the pain becomes too much to bear, Mara's family moves south for a fresh start - but Mara is still haunted. What happened at the asylum? Why do people around her keep dying? Is she going crazy? And why is the most unattainable guy at school suddenly interested in everything about her?

Good lord, this book knocked my socks off! I honestly can't remember why I picked it up, but I thought I was settling in for an angsty teen novel with a little bit of psychological thriller thrown in for good measure. I was wrong. It's amazing! While the book does indeed resemble a psychological mystery at first, by the end of the book I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and my thriller turned into a paranormal series opener that promises to garner a lot of attention from teen and adult readers alike! Enough said. I won't spoil it for you. Just read it.

Book Count: 35

Dark Descendant

Dark Descendant
Jenna Black
Pocket Books, 2011
336 pages

Private Eye Nikki Glass has always had a knack for finding things - people or wallets, her hunches often turn out to be right on the money. Not surprising, as she's a descendant of Artemis, Greek goddess of the hunt. Now exposed to the mystical side of the world where descendants of the old gods from every culture (Norse, India, you name it), Nikki finds that the the bad guys are really, really bad, and the good guys aren't so fabulous either. Both sides are vying for Nikki's allegiance, but her talents are more coveted than her life, and solving the puzzle of why the two groups hate each other will expose Nikki to danger far greater than she has ever known. Even if she is immortal, sort of.

I picked up this novel simply because I enjoyed Black's teen fantasy Faeriewalker series, and found that Dark Descendant dealt with an only slightly more complicated premise and slightly older characters. While I found the concept of decendants from all of the various mythological gods and goddesses interesting, it seemed that this book was simply trying to be an adult version of the Percy Jackson kids books. Not that it was bad, it was just a bit on the simple side for an adult Urban Fantasy novel. 'bin there, done that, as it were. It's a shame though, as Black is a good writer and her teen novels are well imagined and suited for the target audience. Let's hope that the inevitable sequels to Dark Descendants show a little more of Black's creative storytelling talent.

Book Count: 34

I am Half-Sick of Shadows

I am Half-Sick of Shadows
Alan Bradley
Doubleday, 2011
288 pages

Oh the deliciousness of a new Flavia de Luce mystery! In this four installment of Bradley's series, it is Christmas time and our 11 year old chemist and detective in training is brewing a concoction to prove once and for all the St. Nicholas does indeed exist, no matter how often her sisters claim the contrary. Flavia's experiment is soon interrupted as a film crew arrives at Buckshaw  - her father has rented their home to attempt to find an income for the family. Flavia is immediately drawn to the leading lady in this production - much to the chagrin of her older sisters - and is thrilled at the prospect of Buckshaw hosting a small production on Christmas Eve for the townsfolk. But murder is afoot after the curtain comes down, and the killer is snowed-in with the rest of the villagers! Can Flavia help the detectives solve the murder before she herself becomes the next victim?

Set in 1950s England, Bradley's books are absolutely magnificent - the portrayal of post-WWII England through the eyes of an 11 year old child is mesmerizing and the mysteries as Holmesian as one could wish for. While each book contains one complete mystery, Bradley continues to give us pieces of insight into Flavia's family - how her Father and Dogger are reliant upon each other because of the war, the mystery behind Flavia's mother's death, and why her older sisters seem to hate her with such intensity. New readers to this series should start with book one The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie as Flavia's adventures are too wonderful to miss!

Book Count: 33

Death by Killer Mop Doll

Death By Killer Mop Doll

Lois Winston

Llewellyn Worldwide, 2012

312 pages

Anastasia Pollack is having a rough, well, life. Raising two teenage sons alone would be enough without the constant pressure of having both her mother and her mother-in-law live with her - plus a Shakespeare-spouting parrot, and a militant dog. The mothers hate each other, Anastasia's dead husband has left them massively in debt, and her poor-paying job has now piled on a tv show spot with no extra pay. Not to mention the dead body on set - impaled by one on Anastasia's Mop Dolls! No stranger to murders (see her first mystery in Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun), Anastasia's snooping soon lands her into even more trouble, and in the crosshairs of the killer!

Anastasia is a typical North American mom – just trying to hang in there like the rest of us. With a little bit of romance, a dose of who-done-it and a giant pile of hilarity, Winston’s mystery novels are fun and entertaining – perfect for a girl’s night off or lying on a beach! Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will be sure to enjoy the exploits of Anastasia Pollack!

Book Count:  32

The House on Durrow Street

The House on Durrow Street

Galen Beckett

Random House, 2010

704 pages

Ivy’s world is getting more complicated. Her father has been admitted to an insane asylum, her husband is away much of the time in his work for the king, and the red planet is drawing closer. The slew of other characters introduced in The Magicians and Mrs. Quent also find themselves in awkward positions – thrust into powerful positions they do not need, tempted by magic they do not understand, and deeply involved in political intrigue that is becoming more and more about the darkness descending on Altania, while less and less about the persons running the country. Ivy and her compatriots must discover the secrets of the red planet and how they are tied to the house on Durrow street that Ivy was born in. For the trees are awakening throughout the country. And they are angry.

I have heard a number of readers say that they gave up on this book after a hundred pages or so– the magic seemed missing. Alas, dear reader! Hold on for a few more pages (there are 704 of them, after all)! Once this book gets going, the pace is relentless to the end and most assuredly filled with magic, intrigue and galactic consequences. Nothing Beckett writes is without purpose – it all comes crashing down on his characters whether they are ready for their places in the battle for their world or not. Part Victorian society, part political thriller, all sadly reflective of some of this planet’s greatest tragedies, The House on Durrow Street is not to be set aside if you enjoyed the first novel in this fantastical series.

Book Count: 31

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

The Magicians and Mrs. Quent

Galen Beckett

Random House, 2009

512 pages

What would happen to the characters in Jane Austen's novels if they had the use of magic? What if the use of magic was a determiner of the social structure of the world? Galen Beckett's novel The Magicians and Mrs. Quent explores these ideas and adds a healthy dose of killer trees, political intrigue and end-of-the-world consequences. First in a series, this book is a page turner filled with characters whose choices often break your heart. If you enjoy Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights as well as magical fantasy, you are sure to enjoy this story.

In truth, I read this book for the first time shortly after it was published. Since then, Beckett has published two more novels in the series and I simply did not remember enough of the first book to continue on without re-reading this novel!  Beckett is a very skilled author, and I have become fond of the world he has created – thankfully there are two more books to go! A note to readers: Beckett is actually a pseudonym for the author Mark Anthony, whose Last Rune fantasy series I also greatly enjoyed reading.

Book Count: 30

Floors

Floors

Patrick Carman

Scholastic, 2011

272 pages

Leo Fillmore and his father live and work at the incredible Whippet Hotel. While his father fixes all of the remarkable gadgets, gizmos and plumbing in the hotel, Leo spends his time looking after the ducks (who live on the roof) and avoiding the terrible manager of the hotel who seems bent on getting rid of Leo and his father. But things are not going well in the hotel, for its founder and builder, Merganzer D. Whippet, has gone missing, and the hotel is starting to fall apart. And then a mysterious box appears addressed to Leo from the missing Mr. Whippet, a box that will send Leo on the adventure of his life through the mysteries of the hotel, find him new friends, and possibly give him a chance to save the hotel from a terrible fate.

Patrick Carman is one of my favourite authors currently writing for children. His books explore all sorts of fantastical situations and his characters are believable, good hearted, and great, strong role models for younger readers. Carman also doesn’t shy away from the sad realities of life – Leo’s mother has died, and the reader can see how that has affected both he and his father. These sad situations, however, are treated with grace, allowing younger readers to understand and sympathize with the characters. Part Charlie and the Chocolate Factory yet entirely original, Floors would make for a great read-aloud book for parents and children to share.

Book Count:  29

Touch of Power

Touch of Power
Maria V. Snyder
Mira, 2011
400 pages

Once renowned for their abilities to cure the sick and wounded, the healers of the Fifteen Realms now stand accused of spreading, and perhaps even causing, the plague that has decimated the population. The governments have fallen and the Realms stand on the brink of anarchy. Avry of Kazan has been in hiding for three years, always staying ahead of those who would kill her, for she is a healer - perhaps the last one in all of the realms. Caught, and ready to be executed, Avry finds herself rescued by an unlikely crew whose singular focus is to have Avry heal their leader of the plague - something Avry knows will cost her her life. 

 I have thoroughly enjoyed Snyder's previous Study and Glass series, and was not at all disappointed with this  first book in her new Healer series.The characters are human, fragile, and real, and the world's are richly imagined and thoroughly original. Fans of traditional fantasy novels will enjoy reading in Snyder's unique worlds, as well as her detailed yet fast-paced writing. An absolutely engrossing read.

Book Count: 28

Eona

Eona

Allison Goodman

Penguin, 2011

544 pages

Eona is the first Mirror Dragoneye in centuries – powerful, yet untrained. Caught in the middle of a civil war, her powers are coveted by both sides, and her past is the key to victory or total destruction. To save her country she will have to work with her greatest enemy and perhaps forfeit both the power of her dragon, and the life of the man she loves.

While not set in Ancient China, the book feels like a missing chapter in Chinese history. The ancient cities and customs are mirror of Imperial China, as are the gender roles and many of the cultural beliefs. Eona is an absolute page turner from beginning to end – a mystery wrapped in a puzzle and surrounded by magic and a war of succession. The struggles and emotions seem real, the battle scenes are mesmerizing in their execution, and the whole novel is richly detailed – truly this is a teen novel that adults will also enjoy. Readers new to Eona’s story must start with the first novel in the duology, Eon, as the author wastes no time recapping events from the previous story.

Book Count: 27

Voices of Dragons

Voices of Dragons

Carrie Vaughan

Harper Collins, 2010

320 pages

In an alternate version of earth, a fragile peace has been kept between the humans and the dragons for over fifty years. The dragons have claim to the northern and mountainous regions of the planet, and their territory is banned to all humans. Kay knows all of this – her father enforces the border near her home, but she still insists on climbing the mountains close to the border of Dragon.  During one of these climbs, Kay slips and is rescued by a young dragon, Artegal. Forging a forbidden friendship, Kay and Artegal soon realize that what they share may be their two species only hope, for the human military is testing a new weapon – a weapon designed to kill dragons.

I picked up this YA novel as I enjoyed some of Vaughan’s other novels, notably Steel for Young Adults, and Discord’s Apple, one of her adult novels. I have to admit, however, that I enjoyed Voices of Dragons much more than Steel. While both teen novels have pretty predictable plot lines, the character development in Dragons was more flushed out. Plus I have a stronger belief in Dragons than time travel – go figure! Both novels are aimed at the younger teen generation, and have strong female protagonists that still suffer all of the angst that today’s teenagers suffer. Dragons may leave some readers unsatisfied, as it is unclear as to whether the book was intended to be a stand-alone novel, or the beginning of a series. My hope is that Vaughan plans to continue this series and the friendship and mystery of Kay and Artegal’s world.

Book Count: 26 read... oh heck, I'm giving up on this 200 books thing - let's just see how far I get by the end of the year!

Magic on the Hunt

Magic on the Hunt
Devon Monk
Penguin, 2011
368 pages
 
Allie Beckstrom and her lover and Soul Compliment, Zayvion Jones, have returned from Death - wearied and beaten, but alive. Though perhaps not for long - an ally in the Authority, the group who determines how magic is used, tries to kill them; the head of the Authority is kidnapped; and three magical prisoners have escaped from the most secure prison in the world. When allies become enemies, and enemies are not who you think they are, it's no wonder that even the leaders of the Authority are under scrutiny by their superiors.

Based in an alternate version of Portland, Oregon, the Allie Beckstrom novels are fast-paced, high-action reads from beginning to end. For readers new to the series, I would recommend starting at the beginning with Magic to the Bone, as each novel continues the story from its predecessors.

Book Count: 25 read, 175 to go!

Storm Front

Storm Front: Book One of the Dresden Files
Jim Butcher
Penguin, 2000
384 pages

Meet Harry Dresden - Private Detective and the only Wizard in Chicago. Wizarding is hard business when almost no one believes in it, but Harry's relationship with Lieutenant Murphy in the Chicago PD at least helps keep bread on the table. Most of the time.

But Harry's in for a rough time - he's been hired to find a missing person that might not actually be missing, and trying to help the police with a grizzly double homicide. Problem is, the couple was killed with strong, dark magic, and Harry is the only Wizard in town with that kind of power - something his superiors are only too aware of. Harry has mere days to find the real killer and prove his innocence before he is killed - either by his superiors, or the killer who has also set his sights on Harry's life.

I've been meaning to read these novels for quite some time as they blend my two favourite genres together - fantasy and mystery. I loved the short-lived TV show version of these novels, although I have now realized how much they differ from the novels. The books, of course, are better! I enjoy the quirky, slightly geeky Dresden, his ability to get himself into, and out of, ridiculously dangerous situations, and the wide array of supporting characters that make up his reality. Mystery lovers will enjoy the inter-woven cases in this novel, and fantasy lovers will enjoy learning how a lone wizard can survive in modern Chicago.

Books Count: 24 down, 176 to go...

Change Anything

Change Anything
Kerry Patterson et. al.
Grand Central Publishing, 2011
288 pages (digital edition reviewed)

How many of us have set out to lose weight, conquer an addiction, or improve a relationship and failed. How many of us have blamed that failure on the lack of willpower? Yup. Me too. More than once!

Patterson and his cohorts, however, argue that willpower is just one, rather small aspect of what keeps us from changing things in our lives, and it is not genetically given. So willpower is not our answer, it's a trap. What does affect our ability to make changes in our lives? Both our motivation and skill level in three areas: personal, social and structural. If we can understand these aspects of our situations, we can change them!

Quite honestly, I do not read non-fiction very often. My life is non-fiction, I would like to escape occasionally, thank you very much! I picked up (downloaded, actually!) this book for a session at a conference I attended this month and was pleasantly surprised by its contents. Based on years of research in the United States, I found the book to be both informative and inspiring. If you are looking to change something in your life, this book is worth reading - if only to get another perspective on what you are intending to accomplish.

Book Count: 23 down, 177 to go.

Legend

Legend
Marie Lu
Penguin, 2011
336 pages

June and Day both live in the Republic, but that is where their similarities end. June is the daughter of a highly regarded family and has entered into the military to serve the republic that she so strongly believes in. Day's family lives in the slums and has already survived an attempt on his life by the Republic even though he is but 15. Thrown together after June's brother is murdered - seemingly by Day - the two opposites find out how truly similar they are, and how the Republic is far from what either of them imagined.

While this is a decent dystopian teen novel, Legend pales in comparison to the works of Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, and Scott Westerfeld. This first novel in the series certainly sets up an interesting model of our future, but one that seems to be made piecemeal of the futures we've been shown by other authors. A fun read, but not as engaging as it was hyped up to be.

Book Count: 22 down, 178 to go!

Courting Darkness

Courting Darkness
Yasmine Galenorn
Penguin, 2011
336 pages

Camille D'Artigo has a problem - several, actually. Demons are trying to break the seal between worlds so they can take over Earth, and only she and her sisters have a chance of stopping them. Her fae father has disowned her for joining forces with the Earthside fae Queens. And her father-in-law intends to kill her. After he breaks her - body and spirit.

While darker than the previous novels in this urban fantasy series, no character is stronger than the half-human, half-fae Camille. With the support of her sisters and husbands (yes, she has three - common for fae), even these horrific trials can be overcome. I love these novels for the ease in which you can relate to the three sisters. For although they are half fae, it seems that their hearts are just as strong and as fragile as a human's. If you enjoy a little darker fantasy, give this series a try with its first novel, Witchling.

Book Count: 21 read, 179 to go...

Cat's Claw

Cat's Claw
Amber Benson
Ace, New York, 2010
320 pages

Calliope Reapers Jones has another problem. After facing the betrayal of her older sister in the series first book, Calliope finds herself in a race against time to find the lost soul of an ancient Egyptian man. At stake: her freedom and soul - not to mention the lives of her younger sister and her father's assistant! But Callie is Death's daughter, and with that comes some responsibility, even if all she wants is a new pair of shoes...

While I really enjoy Benson's novels (they are quirky and fun), by the end of the second book I was hoping for a little bit more character development by way of Calliope. The girl just needs to suck it up and get on with accepting the fact that she is stronger than she thinks, and needs to do something proactive with that strength rather than reacting to hurdles thrown her way every day or two. I get that life (and death) is difficult - for some more than others - but the character needs to do  some serious growing up! I do intend to read the next book in the series, however I'm hoping for a vast improvement from this second book. 'C'mon, Benson - I know you can do it.

Book Count: 20 read, 180 to go.