The Crowfield Curse

The Crowfield Curse (Crowfield Abbey, #1) 
by Pat Walsh 

Oct 11, 13  ·  edit

5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: children, ya-fantasy, magic

Read in October, 2013

I really love this book - lucid writing, fantastic (in all senses of the word) characters, scary suspense, unusual magic and danger. The story unfolds through the eyes of Will, an orphaned abbey servant, who finds unexpected friends through his own good actions, but those actions also cause him to become embroiled in ancient, magical, dark mysteries.

I love that some characters are neither good nor evil, just mysterious and dangerous and run with Will through the story; that characters who should perhaps be looking out for Will are instead focused on other worldly things; that Will (and the reader) can not quite understand what exactly is happening or who to trust and must try to work things out for himself - these reflect many children's own experience.

The crisp, snowy winter landscape generates its own magic through vivid brief descriptions. Abbey life, hardships and questionable characters are painted deftly, and magic peeking through the cracks in daily life is beautifully done. The childhood experience of a spooky place to be avoided at all cost is a central theme.

The magic and magical characters provide the greatest appeal for me - unusual, refreshing, and though startling to Will, woven into the fabric of daily life with the sense of a generally invisible world parallel to this one. The magical characters have their own stories and motivations, and brush up against Will as his story crosses theirs.

Fabulous writing, wonderful plot, terrific sense of wellbeing engendered at the end of the story.
Highly recommend this beautiful book.

also posted on Goodreads

The Daylight War by Peter V. Brett

The Daylight War

The Daylight War (Demon Cycle, #3) 
by Peter V. Brett 

5 of 5 stars

This book has the most exciting demon battles I have ever read!! Demon battles happen every night, but somehow Peter Brett just keeps racheting up the tension, danger, magic and drama. Peter Brett does that amazing thing - keeps your sympathy with a number of characters, each of whom has agendas which preclude the success of the others; that is, one character's achievement of his/ her dreams and wishes must be predicated on the failure of another character's, as they are striving for mutually exclusive goals. At the same time, the goals are about life, death, love and community, as well as the future of humankind, so the stakes are high. Vivid, glorious writing - I'm in the characters' bodies and minds, I'm in their world, I see the demons through their eyes.

Also posted on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/583235157

Assassin's Quest (Farseer Trilogy, #3) 

by Robin Hobb

The first book in this trilogy is easily the best.

This, the third book, really suffers from saggy middle syndrome. The characters have been journeying since the second book, and the pace is just too slow, while over-using the device of a journey to keep the plot moving. It was hard to stay focussed - the book didn't hold my attention for more than about 15 minutes a time. It was just interesting enough for me to keep reading. Themes, ideas and characters were repeated over and over again with little change.

This book scores 3 stars rather than just 2 for the quality of the ending - it is probably worth persisting just for that.

Specifically - Finally, having had Molly called 'spirited' and 'strong' with very little evidence for 3 books, she finally did do something impressive. 

Also, the final dramatic scenes showed the author's fine imaginative and descriptive capacity, more like the first book of the series. Some loose ends were not tied up <spoiler>the white ships were a promisingly scary idea never explored</spoiler>. Some plot elements I will never understand - <spoiler>why could he not tell Burrich and Molly he was still alive? - they were both well over him and probably would have been glad to know he was alive, and to have him as a friend. In thinking he would cause them harm if they knew he was alive, he is still the self-indulgent young man who thinks the world revolves around him, which does not accord with the rest of his character development. </spoiler>.

In general I recommend the series, particularly the first book.

Posted on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45112.Assassin_s_Quest

Thumbnail from Goodreads.

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)  by George R.R. Martin

Well, what can I say? The entire series so far - Misogynist, brutal, gratuitous, and BRILLIANT. Fantastic (in all senses of the word) and wonderful. Riveting, spell binding, realistic - we all know these characters, and part of them are in all of us. Fast paced plot, too many people (keep up!)action, drama and unreliable narrators.

Read it - all of this is true - don't let the too many characters or the brutality or the misogyny put you off - this is brilliant writing.

Review posted on Goodreads as Maryanne Ross

Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1)  by Robin Hobb

In general, very good writing and character depiction. In some ways the overall plot is slow to unfold and rather predictable, but the various sub-plots and intrigues are pacy and dangerous.

Really didn't like (view spoiler) - when there was another hint of more of the same in the second book, I had to ask someone else if it was going to happen again, and if so, I might have to stop reading! Also the main character is a bit too gutless at times.

Some of the female characters in particular are strong and unusual, although Molly is a little too good for me, hopefully she might be killed off in the second or third book (view spoiler)

The superpowers/ magic in this book are one of the best elements - risky, unpredictable and poorly understood - they create unlikely friendships; mysteries in the characters and keep the plot moving.

Really like the bonding with animals descriptions - makes me understand my dog a little better!

Also posted on Goodreads

The Foretelling

The Foretelling 
by Alice Hoffman 

I loved this book, loved the writing, the characters and the imagery.

A bit different to my usual fare: although this is a story about Amazon women - and they certainly are immensely strong in physical prowess, will power and determination - it is a story about seeking peace, redemption, love and balance.

This book does have implied and recollected scenes of significant horror - gang rapes and sexual slavery - which were just bearable for this wussy reviewer, but more importantly, may be themes too strong for younger readers.

The writing, the world, the characters and images are so unusual and so beautiful, this book plunges us into an indelible experience. The sense of space, of landscape and long ago, of the importance and intimacy of a few other people, and the struggle to investigate and embrace newness and change, are rendered with truth and insight.

Beautiful.

The Assassin's Curse

The Assassin's Curse
by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Publisher: Angry Robot, Imprint: Strange Chemistry

Publication Date: October 02, 2012

Thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC.


This is a sparkling, magical book singing with fresh ideas in a saturated paranormal YA universe. A strong young female voice, a belting plot, exotic imagery and strange magic immediately capture the reader and keep the pages flipping.

The story explodes into being when a determined and wilful pirate girl runs away from an arranged piratey wedding into an unknown future. Her problems increase when the scorned clan seek revenge through an unbreakable assassin sent to kill her. In a night-time desert fight, Ananna desperately uses magic given her by an enigmatic woman whom Ananna believes she cannot trust. The unexpected consequences bind the handsome young assassin to Ananna, in an adventure which crosses seas in search of a forbidden island.

Striking features of the book include the sensual and exotic imagery and the unusual, sparkling magic, which is also creepy and scary magic. The binding of the assassin and victim is a terrific device for plot development and the building of romantic tension. The immediacy of the writing style is very effective. Like Ananna, we do not know what kind of magic is happening to us, and who to trust.

Ananna, as the female protagonist, is satisfyingly determined and courageous (most of the time). Ananna is handy with a knife or a lie, and has quick hands for essential thieving. She has great character: as Ananna explains to her prospective husband, ‘Oh just stop!...Why would I want to marry someone who won’t even listen to me?..I want a ship of my own, not yours.’

This wonderful, magical story unfolds in a desert setting. We feel the cold harsh bite of the sand in the wind; the rich smells and colours in the night markets, and the uneasiness inherent in the slipping, sliding shadows which could so easily become something both corporeal and menacing. With Ananna, we feel alone, desperate but determined to find our own way.

This story is filled with vivid, individual characters, immediacy of action and great backstory. Cyberpunk elements add a strange contrast in the desert scenes: ‘The creatures stood there for a long time, creaking and heaving and letting off smoke.’

I particularly love the unusual magic: ‘The thing crawled across the sky, long thin strands like a ghoul’s fingers’, and ‘..he spat out a word in a language like dead flowers, beautiful and terrible all at once.’ This is Ananna discovering a type of magic: ‘As I worked, I sang in a language I didn’t know; the words sounded like the babble of water over stones, like rainfall pattering across the surface of a pond, like rapids rushing through a canyon.’

In the beginning, this story could have been the one I’d wished I’d written; however, the narrative is unable to sustain the fire, pace, imagery and ideas of the first third. Our heroes’ journey, while interesting, could perhaps have been more dramatic – I’m sure the author considered whether to have them cross her pirate father’s path and experience her mother’s magic– perhaps in sequels we will see this, but in some ways the reader is set up for a drama which does not then take place. Ananna is a pirate; the reader wants more pirate action, battles and lore.

Swearing and curses are always difficult to get right in an imagined world. In this case, the author chooses to use conventional swearing, ‘bullshit’, which jars in the exotic setting. The invented prayers and invocations are far more appealing: ‘…still there, thank Kaol and her sacred starfish.’

The last section re-engages with and echoes the earlier creepiness, although again does not quite hit the gripping suspense and sheer wonder of the new magic of the first sections. Our heroes are possibly saved too early in the final settings, which defuses what could have been an explosive climax, given this author’s superlative powers of strong voice, evocative imagery and strange magic.

Overall, this book is highly recommended for anyone who loves YA paranormals – it really shines above the general. Sequels will be anxiously awaited, promising unusual and dramatic adventures with a most engaging protagonist.

Also posted on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13533650-the-assassin-s-curse

Goldrush (Vanguard Prime, #1)

Goldrush (Vanguard Prime, #1) 
by Steven Lochran 

 

Recommended to Maryanne by: NetGalley

Recommended for: Everyone who enjoys comics and superheroes. Perfect for reluctant readers and middle grade boys.

This review is made possible through NetGalley ARC from Penguin Books Australia, (Imprint: Puffin). Thanks NetGalley!

Publication Date: July 25, 2012


Vanguard Prime is Steven Lochran’s comic book imagination brought to life in novel form. A feast of superheroes with superpowers, powered up villains and high stakes burst from the action-packed pages.

An ordinary teenager turned reluctant superhero is a device which works well in Rick Riordan’s bestselling Percy Jackson series, and is used to good effect again here. In Vanguard Prime, we may be slower to engage with the protagonist. The book starts a little slowly, but it is worth persisting. The explosive action and strongly drawn characters of the final quarter are well worth the purchase price.

This reviewer, at first uncertain, was thoroughly captured by this description on page 16: ‘She looks less like a military officer and more like the person who just took out the military officer with a single punch’.

The few weaknesses occur in the beginning of the novel. The first chapter is filled with American phraseology, a little off-putting for Australian readers: ‘pops the boot’ ‘stooge with a two-dollar haircut’ and a father using phrases such as ‘well, okay, son.’ The present tense voice and short sentences seem intrusive in the initial chapters, as though they are not the author’s natural style, but have been edited to convey immediacy and to suit the perceived market – which of course is a terrific approach when done well. Something is missing in character portrayal, too: the reluctant hero is just a loser with no particular attributes to engage our interest.

However, keep reading! Both the story and the characters dramatically improve after we relive the incident where Sam becomes aware of his superpowers. The action explodes, we are committed to Sam and his journey, and suspense heightens through poor decisions of the ‘good’ team, which compound our hero’s problems.

The story is alive with terrific superheroes: Agent Alpha, Gaia, Knight of Wands and Machina – the tough, sassy, straight talking girl colleague, a staple of YA fiction. The villains are larger than life with their own superpowers: Metatron is a wonderfully extreme bad guy, as is Overman. We are hoping to hear more of the villainous Major Arcana in subsequent books.

The final solution is youth-led, an important idea in YA. Another delight is Lochran’s comic book landscape: ‘The sky is a vivid blue, a superhero comic book blue, with clouds looking like thought bubbles.’

With lines like that, and the author’s flashes of humour: (when fitting Sam’s new suit) - ‘that’s how all the superheroes are wearing them this season’, the series promises to be a winner.

Recommended for everyone who enjoys comics, superheroes and action, and is clearly destined to be a perfect present for reluctant readers and middle grade boys. 

This review is also published on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/377768454

NOTE: Steven Lochran will be a panelist at the Ballarat Writers and Illustrators Festival, September 1, 2012. Please see http://www.ballaratwriters.com/?page_id=2256 for details.

Skulduggery Pleasant (Skulduggery Pleasant, #1)

by Derek Landy, Tom Percival (Illustrations) 

Read in July, 2012 — I own a copy

I read this book as it was recommended by my Goodreads friend Sam. I put off reading it for a while, as I wasn't sure the cover looked like my kind of book. I read it because Sam said it was very funny - and yes, it is!! The one-liners and asides are delightful.

The characters are terrific, the action is satisfying and magic-enhanced, the baddies are pretty bad. It would normally be about 3 stars for plot, ideas and content, but it gets an extra star for lovely writing style, genuinely engaging, appealing, clever and competent young female lead characters, and for the tailor, a unique creation. I hope we see more of him, and I wish he could make me a work suit.

Looking forward to reading the next books.

Also posted on Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/377750526

Matched

by Ally Condie

I read Matched primarily because a Goodreads reviewer suggested Glitch referenced it heavily, and I enjoyed Glitch (see review - ARC from NetGalley).

There is lots to like about Matched, in particular, for me, more literary writing dropped into the prose than is common with much YA - some phrases and images are simply beautiful. The book hooked me with this image in the first few pages: 'Compact means small. I am small. I also like the way it sounds when you say it: com-pact...like the one the artifact itself makes when it snaps shut.'
I enjoyed the Dylan Thomas references and explorations of meaning in his words. The very controlled society is portrayed with flair and conveys an enjoyably creeping unease.

In common with its modern literary fiction cousins, though, Matched suffers from a lack of drive and action in the plot. Me, I like action and frights, danger and gutsiness, and you won't find an over abundance in Matched.

Worth reading for its gradual character and relationship development, its dystopian world and its occasional beautiful imagery.
Also posted on http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11310465-matched

Black Ice (Young Sherlock Holmes, #3)

Black Ice (Young Sherlock Holmes, #3) 
by Andy Lane 

Maryanne Ross's review 

Jun 26, 12  ·  edit

Weirdly addictive. Wasn't sure at first - other characters generally save the day rather than Sherlock - he is often saved rather than thinking through a solution himself, which is not a great approach in YA. However, the characters are both appealing and odd, the mystery was not bad and the idea itself is terrific. Will look forward to reading more in the series.

Also published on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9918384-black-ice

 
Glitch by Heather Anastasiu St. Martin's Griffin


4 Stars 

NetGalley Book Review

If you love dystopian YA, with a strong female lead, gorgeous love interests and a roller-coaster plot that keeps you glued to the page, then don’t miss Glitch. A kind of Bourne Identity meets Divergent, the book is scary, sensuous, emotional and thought-provoking, and yet the action –packed plot keeps twisting and turning, with enough shocks and surprises to keep the reader wide-eyed and breathless.

The Community is mind-controlling, freeing humankind from pain and war, but also from love, joy and the appreciation of beauty. When Zoe begins to ‘Glitch’ and see things as they really are, her secrets and lies begin to pile up. She cannot reveal her feelings and reactions – to do so would reveal her as ‘anomalous’ and schedule her for deactivation. She must control her emotions, stay blank, walk at a uniform pace, all the while experiencing real terror in case she, or her strange new power, is discovered.

Zoe meets Adrien, and extraordinary love scenes ensue (nothing M or X rated). Adrien slowly teaches Zoe about her own emotions and how to read human reactions, long denied to her before she Glitched and broke free of The Link – the Community’s mind control program. With Zoe, we experience afresh every touch, every hesitant unfurling of feeling, the raw exhilaration of love. But can she trust Adrien? Is he who he says he is, or a Monitor for the Community? If Zoe makes a mistake, it could mean death and deactivation for her, and doom for those she cares about. Is she better with Max, or should she trust her instinctive wariness around him?

Zoe cannot even rely on her memory, as memories can be wiped or altered: she can only rely on her wits and emotions of the moment, although she is only learning what emotions mean. The stakes mount higher as more Glitchers are drawn into desperate escape plans, but almost everyone could be different from what they seem, including the terrifying Chancellor who interrogates Zoe weekly.

Key aspects of Anastasiu’s writing are refreshing and convincing. Science elements such as knowledge of brain structure and emotional pathways, pathogens and allergens, lift the novel above comparable YA romance/adventures for Science fans like this reviewer.  The Worldbuilding is excellent – ‘only officials had real last names instead of just work designations’. The concept that citizens can only Glitch while their brain is developing - until 18  - then they have the permanent ‘V-chip’ installed and are lost to the Community forever adds tension, and places the story squarely with teenagers. 

The novel explores the nature of memory and emotion, and what it means to be human, and the consequences of our choices.  The novel also has a delightful Paranormal edge with The Glitchers’ surprising and extreme anomalous powers, which emerge when they begin to Glitch.

Minor weaknesses include the contrived slang, which is so hard to get right and could annoy some readers. The protagonists fell in love a bit quickly – the dreaded instant-love of many YA novels - but later developments add an interesting spin. A memory wipe, and they are starting again. Would she remember? Will she make the same choice? There are some bumps in the writing: In the beginning, did Adrien save Zoe too quickly, taking over the action lead, before we see her fighting for herself?

Overall, the trilogy promises a gripping, fast-paced read, with wonderful, strong characters that we really care about, and a terrifying dystopian world.

This review is made possible due to NetGalley – Thanks NetGalley, I loved reading and reviewing this exciting debut novel.

This review is also published on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10535458-glitch and will be published in a shortened form in The Ballarat Courier. http://www.thecourier.com.au/

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #4)  by Rick Riordan My rating: 5 stars. Rick Riordan penned another winner with this one. The labryrinth is a fantastic character in itself - a feat of imaginative genius to have it constantly morphing and challenging its entrants. The labyrinth becomes a metaphor for life and the choices we make - the characters must 'see clearly', and 'hold fast' to their chosen path, or be very flexible and prepared for anything, dealing with surprises, monsters, threats and upheavals along the way. Like life, it is always difficult to go back or retrace steps back to a turning point or crossroads - everything has changed again. The characters lose and find friends along the way, other characters are more fully revealed, and some lose their way, their family and friends, and even their sanity. Love the names, as always - Mrs O'Leary is a delight.  Also posted on Goodreadshttp://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2120932.The_Battle_of_the_Labyrinth