Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee

 

Blurb from Goodreads:
In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.
 
4 stars
So lots of my friends didn't like this one, but I felt it was a good, solid read and a great start to a series. I still am not certain if it is a fantasy or a dystopian or a little of both. I understand there is magic, but there were so many references to a previous society and a collapse that I was wondering if we were supposed to assume that it was a dystopian. The supernatural elements in the form of immortals was done well. I really felt that the world that was created was well thought out and incorporated these elements seamlessly. I wanted more to do with the gargoyles although they reminded me of mockingjays - man messes with animal genes and gets a hybrid which is left loose in the wild. I am hoping that there will be more world building in the next installment so we can get a chance to explore the wilderness a little more.

I really enjoyed a story that didn't focus on the romance. Too many times the characters are in a life and death situation when the protagonist notices how hot the other person is. Big turn-off for me! I need my heroines to be level-headed and smart. Kai's focus (and rightfully so) was on her mission to get her brother back. She didn't allow an attraction to distract her from that. Now, that is not to say that there wasn't a romance - there was. It just didn't take precedence over rescuing her brother.

I really liked this one, and I am looking forward to the next one. I am having a hard time lately of remembering what has happened in the previous books when I read a sequel. Fortunately someone pointed me in the direction of Recaptains at http://recaptains.blogspot.com/. These guys are awesome!

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

 

Blurb from Goodreads

YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE IS BAD WHEN YOU MISS YOUR DAYS AS A POISON TASTER...

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better....

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies...

** spoiler alert ** 4.5 stars
I enjoyed this one so much more than Poison Study. Snyder has a definite gift for writing great characters, and I really enjoyed all of the relationship dynamics in this book. I also appreciated the PG version of the sexual relationships. I shy away from so many adult books because I am such a prude. I liked Valek a lot more in this book. I really didn't like him in Poison Study. And I am so glad that there was no love triangle. There was the opportunity, but thankfully Snyder didn't take it.

The action was non-stop although I think I screamed at Yelena more than once for being so reckless and foolish. It seemed that she never learned her lesson and would go off as a rogue agent more than once. Then again, things worked out for her so is there really a lesson that can be learned?

I am excited that the library has an e-copy of Fire Study so I can start right in on the next book. I typically don't like to go right into the next one, but this one was so good that I am going to take the plunge.

Recently aquired books....

I have been in a reading slump lately.  Don't know why, but I am hoping that seeing all of the pretty book covers that I have gotten recently will snap me out of it.  What do you think looks good?

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

 

Blurb from Goodreads
Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.

Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.

But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself 

3.5 stars
I hesitated to read this book. I read all the reviews and know how much it is loved by most everyone. So I am sure that I will be drawn and quartered when I say that this was just a good read for me. It meandered in places, and the info dumping in the beginning made me want to pull my hair out. I would have loved for there to be a map so I would know where all the different countries were rather than relying on my faulty memory. I see that there is a map in the next book, and I really wish I would have known before reading this one.

I felt the first part of the book was confusing (I'm still not clear about all of the differing countries.)  The second part was much better. I felt like I knew the characters and who was important and what I could ignore.
When I read, I want to feel part of the world. I want to experiences things with the protagonist, and I just didn't feel it with this book.

I will continue with the series even though I really didn't like Froi. And since he seems to be subject of the next book, I will have to deal with his almost raping Evanjalin. Hmmm... I don't feel that he redeemed himself quite yet for that.

This had several suggestive dialogues and use of language.  There is an attempted rape without any discussion of the implications.

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

 

Blurb from Goodreads
What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

3.5 stars
8 days. That's how long it took me to read this book. I am officially in the biggest reading slump of my life. So I don't think it was the book because it was a fascinating look into the mind of serial killer. I am so glad that Barry Lyga is a good guy because he would make a gruesome serial killer. Jazz is one of the most layered characters I have ever read. My mother's heart broke for him as he struggled with his own frailty. Is he evil like his father or can he break the mold and be his own person? I also loved Connie and wished we would have seen more of her in the book. She was strong and sensitive.

The level of thought that went into making Jazz a believable character was amazing. It was full of little revelations that made you believe you were indeed reading about a kid trained by a serial killer. I'm not sure what kind of research Lyga did, but the detail was in-depth and intricate (and kinda scary).

I look forward to reading the next two in the series. This was such an intense, dark book, I think I need a light, fluffy read next though and hopefully I will beat the slump.

Storm Siren by Mary Weber

Blurb from Goodreads
“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

5 stars
I have to admit something - I am terribly prejudiced. Well not when it comes to important things. My experience with Christian publishers makes me want to automatically reject anything from the Christian sector. Don't get me wrong, I am a Christ follower - I just think that the quality of writing, plotting and characterization is lacking in the Christian publishing world. I was extremely excited for this book, and then I found out it was published by Thomas Nelson. I began the book prepared to DNF it. But what I found was truly one of the best books of the year. I was surprised, delighted, and I think I giggled a little bit over how good this book was. It had everything that makes a great book. I loved all of the characters - well except for the bad guys. Mary Weber sets up the ending beautifully, weaving an intricate web that culminates in the last few chapters. There is not a scene wasted. I was caught by surprise on a few of the twists, but the ending oh that ending. Ms. Weber, that really wasn't nice. How do you expect us to wait another year?

I loved how Nym struggled with her gift/curse. She is vulnerable and has an active conscious which makes for a lot of internal conflict. Watching her wrestle with the killings made her relatable. And even though she is a slave, she still has a backbone. She is not helpless, nor is she so tough that she thinks she can do it on her own. She was the right balance.

There are several key characters that were well done. Colin, Breck and Eogan complete the ensemble and make the world richer and more fleshed out. Sometimes the minor characters are sacrificed for the main character, but that is not the case here. Each character is drawn as if from a real life person.

The world building was phenomenal, and it was doled out bit by bit as you needed to know things. I hate when a book dumps all of the information about a fantasy world at once. This book slowly revealed the information and made you want more.

I loved this book, in case you haven't been able to tell from my review. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy with great characters.

Completely clean as far as language and sex. There are some violent moments.

Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine

 

Blurb from Goodreads
There are whispers of a ghost in the slaughterhouse where sixteen-year-old Wen assists her father in his medical clinic—a ghost who grants wishes to those who need them most. When one of the Noor, men hired as cheap factory labor, humiliates Wen, she makes an impulsive wish of her own, and the Ghost grants it. Brutally.

Guilt-ridden, Wen befriends the Noor, including their outspoken leader, a young man named Melik. At the same time, she is lured by the mystery of the Ghost and learns he has been watching her … for a very long time.

As deadly accidents fuel tensions within the factory, Wen must confront her growing feelings for Melik, who is enraged at the sadistic factory bosses and the prejudice faced by his people at the hand of Wen’s, and her need to appease the Ghost, who is determined to protect her against any threat—real or imagined. She must decide whom she can trust, because as her heart is torn, the factory is exploding around her … and she might go down with it.

4.5 stars
So, so good! It was the perfect blend of plot, characterization and beautiful writing. Oh, and did I mention that it was based loosely on The Phantom of the Opera? Anything to do with Phantom is a must read in my book, and I am so glad that this one lived up to my expectations. I cannot wait to read the sequel to this one! I want to see more of this world. Sarah Fine did a great job of creating a world within a world with the Slaughterhouse. I want Wen to explore more of her world though. I want more history of the two races - why they hate one another so much, how the Noor were conquered and why.

I read some reviews that criticized the book for using the threat of rape. My only problem is that it seemed that all of the men (with the exception of Melik and Sinan) were just looking for any excuse to rape. This is not a fair representation of men. I would have liked to see some more men step up and say that Mugo's treatment of women was despicable. I understand why the workers could not, but at least have some characters object in a conversation. Even the women seem to accept that this is their lot.

I feel that Wen was a strong character. She had the courage to reach out to the Noor and accept them. I felt her remorse at what she feels was her fault was a great display of character, and her forgiveness showed strength.

I wish I had the second book because I would absolutely read it right now - publication date notwithstanding. This is a great read for fans of fantasy and classical story re-tellings.

There was no language.  There is the threat of rape, but no actual sex scenes.