The Girl of Fire and Thorns

The Girl of Fire and Thorns, by Rae Carson, was not something I expected to like. I picked it up on a whim, but as soon as I finished I requested the second book from my library. I loved this book.

Carson starts out with the younger-princess-with-special-powers-saves-the-nation scheme, but completely makes it her own. For one, Elisa, our heroine, is fat. Huge. The book opens with her arranged marriage, and the dress is far too tight and makes her feel like a sausage. When she hugs her father, she knows he cannot feel her ribs. When she looks down, she cannot see her bellybutton. So internally I went Ooooooo.... and curled up to keep reading.

Elisa, the younger of two princesses, feels she is completely unremarkable, except for the Godstone (see: special powers) in her navel that appeared at her christening. Her older sister is charming and wise, a suitable heir to their kingdom. Yet, Elisa is the one who is married off in the first twelve pages. Later, she figures that she is the counter offer, and was only accepted because her husband Alejandro needed her father's military aid.

Elisa, however, has courage that unfolds throughout the book, from saving her husband's life, to eventually saving the nation. She does not enjoy a loving, or otherwise, relationship (read: no relation at all) with her handsome but indecisive husband. But that's okay, because Carson takes a swing at us in the latter half of the first part that veers the story from ugly-girl-gets-loved-for-herself, to I-didn't-see-that-coming.

On pain of spilling too much, I'm keeping it, I'd read it again, even though one of my favorite characters doesn't quite make it (it's refreshing to see villains who don't dither and just kill), and I'm looking forward to more from this author.


Blue

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly wasn't a bad book. Though the subject matter didn't naturally fall to my taste, hey, it's a Newberry Honor book, so I'd figure I would give it a shot.

Calpurnia is an 11/12 year old (she has a birthday in the book) in 1899 (and a tad bit of 1900). As the only girl in the middle of six boys, she's well outnumbered, yet she is still expected to behave as a normal girl would of the time. Yet, she is not interested in how to embroider or bake; she bonds with her naturalist Grandfather and yearns to spend her time studying nature.

I enjoyed the characterization, for the most part. Kelly was able to impart a unique character to everyone, whether or not you were meant to sympathize with them or even like them. And as for liking, Kelly let you have your own opinion.

There were two things I did not like about this book:

1) My copy, purchased from a Scholastic warehouse sale, is missing pages 313 and 314. The page wasn't torn out; it's just missing.

2) Calpurnia. (And here be spoilers, maybe) I thought she was a brat. She belongs to one of the most privileged families in her county, and she takes advantage of that, perhaps as all children take advantage of their circumstances to some extent. She needs to learn to sew and cook (her mother's dictum, not mine) and since she dislikes those activities, she avoids them, even after her grandfather tells her that during the Civil War, he and his men had to do those activities to survive. Now, Kelly emphasizes that Callie Vee, as she is called, is made to learn these things because she is a girl, not because they are useful to know; perhaps she might find these activities more useful if her brothers were made to learn them as well. But! One of her reasons for not needing to learn them is because her family employs a cook and a maid. Well. What if her mother died? What if Viola left or died? What if their family lost their fortune and could not afford the help? Callie doesn't want to be made to marry in the future either; she'd like to be a scientist. Unless her family gives her substantial monetary help, for at least the first few years, who else but her would cook and clean? Granted, she'd twelve. But part of me would like to strangle her, and the other part would like to see her spanked. And then made to cook dinner for the entire family for a month all by herself because she doesn't seem to appreciate any work that she doesn't enjoy (and then her brothers could each take a turn so that their mother wouldn't have to do it all, either).

[3) Because I realized that I loathe this character as well, not that he's poorly written, just that I don't like him. Grandfather. Old, rude, and can't be bothered to learn the names of his grandchildren. Gives an 11 year old alcohol (alcohol that he's trying to make out of distilled pecans, an experiment). At the end, praises his only "grandchild", Calpurnia. After taking a drink, he amends that with "granddaughter", but I think he truly meant it. Of his seven grandchildren, Calpurnia is the only one who shares his interests, not because he shared his interest with her, but because she found the interest all on her own and sought information with him. He's rude. He's a jerk. I was really hoping for him to die. Gruesomely.]

Conclusion: Well-written book with excellent characterization. Did I like it? Oh, go read it. But check to see that you have all the pages first.

Blue

Sword of Orion

I love well written science fiction. Sharon Lee and Steven Miller created a believable world in Sword of Orion. The teenage characters of Jerel and Kay were a great combination. The aliens were extraordinary. Only Uncle Orned fell a little flat, but it could be just because he's such a reserved character. I definitely don't want to lose him from this group.

This book grabs you attention the moment you start to read it and doesn't let go until you read the last page. And then you begin searching for the next book. (Which is where, great authors???)  The flow of this book feels like the flow to a movie, and all that is missing is music to confirm the rhythm.

Brown

The Saturdays

This was a cute middle grade book about what one would like to do on a Saturday if they could. The four Melendy children decide to pool their money each week so one of them can have a special adventure. Oh, what adventures they do have, are surprising and not so surprising at the same time.

Brown

Lords of the Fading Lands

Goodreads claims this is a Paranormal Fantasy. My library says it's a Romance. Well, whatever it is I liked it and am looking forward to reading the next in the series, especially after the cliffhanger I was left with.

Meet Ellie and Rain, two people with enormous power who are destined for each other. One is still new in the world and one has a long dark history (And I'm not telling you who is who). Sounds like the same fantasy story, right? Perhaps. But the characters drew me in. Ellie is not some fainting woman. Rain is not some dick. And as one quote suggests, the reader knows the book is a keeper if they fall in love with it... I feel in love. Quite hard. And it made the book impossible for me to put down.

Brown

A Perfect Royal Mistress

A historical fiction about one of the most famous of Charles II mistresses, Nell Gwynne. This was a beautifully written account, putting the reader into the real political situation of the time. At the same time it is a romance between two unlikely individuals and how they can relate to each other. Diane Haeger paints a picture of a woman who ventures forth giving her body to three different men after swearing to never be a whore. The last one, the king, she falls in love with, yet she needs to be realistic about knowing that she won't be the only woman in his life, though she has his love.

Brown

Skip Beat series

This is an ongoing manga series by Yoshiki Nakamura. I like manga because it's easy to read in a short amount of time. It also suits by visual needs (I'm a film major). Who wouldn't love the best of two worlds, story plus pictures?

I've seen this story on the manga sites before, but the plot summary never interested me. However, when Goodreads suggested this to me, I decided to finally try it.

The characters are engaging. They have depth that make us feel for them. They react like many people would. And then you have Kyoko, the main characters vengeful spirits. Awesome! I think I also might like Ren a little too.

Brown