****
'Angel' (or 'Angel Burn' as it's titled in the US) was one of my favorite YA books of all time. It was just so beautifully written and believable, the characters were so vivid and their love story so touching - all that while still being a page-turner! The middle books in trilogies are often the weakest link, and I really hoped this wouldn't be true of 'Angel Fire'. But when I realized it was going to involve a love triangle - something I think has been done to death in this genre - I decided not to expect too much.
And I was completely wrong! Yes, this book does contain a love triangle, and it does make up a significant portion of the plot, but the three characters are so endearing, and their conflicting feelings so believable, that it works. In fact, the challenges to the relationships in this book - and I can't really say more without giving too much away - were so compelling that I did something I haven't done in years: skipped to the end to see how it all came out. It was just too heartbreaking to keep reading without some light at the end of the tunnel. And I don't think it gives too much away to say that the ending is worth the painful parts - kind of like true love.
So. the reason I didn't give this five stars, like I gave 'Angel':
There are a lot of new characters in this book, but to me, only Seb was as interesting as Willow and Alex. The others never really became more than words on a page to me, and the parts they play in the story entirely two-dimensional. It almost felt like Weatherly only put them there to give Willow (and in one case, Alex) something to bounce off of. It was just too hard to believe that they'd all treat her exactly the same way, when they were such a varied group in such a volatile situation.
Another thing that bothered me was that the emotional climax was almost a verbatim repeat of the one in 'Angel' - different situation, but still basically Alex's hangups clashing with Willow's moral integrity so that he pushes her away when she needs him most, and only realizes his mistake when she's put in peril. I would have liked him to show a little more maturity this time around; in fact, he shows less. But hey, it makes for a great make-up scene!
There were also some sloppy bits that a less picky reader wouldn't notice, or wouldn't care about, but which drove me crazy - like the candles that are somehow already lit in the abandoned warehouse that Willow and Seb run to, allegedly on a split-second decision.
But overall, another great read. I'm really looking forward to the conclusion!
As usual, it's been a mix of books for me this autumn, beginning with "The Demon Trappers: Forbidden" by Jana Oliver. **** I got the first book of this series as a review copy, and began reading without expecting much - demons aren't my favorite corner of YA paranormal land. I was completely blown away by the quality of the writing, the depth of the characters and the fact that the plot is based on a girl trying to make it in a man's world - and succeeding against the odds. There are far too many passive heroines in this genre, and Riley was a breath of fresh air.
I'm glad to say that none of that falls by the wayside in this second book. The characters develop, as does the overarching storyline - though probably not quickly enough for some readers. Riley's interactions and deepening relationships with Beck and Ori were handled beautifully, and for me, very believably. Her grieving process for her father was well done as well.
There are a few reasons why this wasn't a five-star book for me, as the first one was. The first of these is Simon. While the plot accounts for Simon's about-face in relation to Riley (and the world in general), it's only barely. He only appears a few times, and in each of them he's the cardboard cutout Angry Young Man. I kept trying to decide whether this was because the author tired of him as a plot line and wanted to get him out of the way, or she wanted to open up Riley's romantic playing field, or she actually has some major Simon-related subplot up her sleeve for a further book/s. I suspect the latter, but if so, I'd have liked to know a little more about these mysterious people he's been speaking to. Seems a little odd that Riley would spend hours driving around Atlanta following recycling trucks, but it never occurs to her to investigate what evil influence has got her boyfriend's ear.
The second is Peter. While it's de rigueur in these books for the heroine to have a boy-best-friend who's secretly pining for her while she pines for the supernatural hottie, this story has plenty of interesting potential love interests in Beck, Simon and Ori. Whenever Peter appears in this book, it feels a bit forced - i.e. she's created this character, and can't easily shelve him, though he really serves no purpose.
The third is that the plot takes quite a while to rev up. To be frank, the reason why I read this genre, as a thirty-something mum and professional historical fiction writer, is pure escapism. The best of these books grab you by the throat and twist, and if they don't, equally frankly, they go to the charity shop unread. This book is far from that purgatory, but still, I was more than half way through before I was hiding in the bathtub from the children while I finished another chapter - my personal gold standard.
Regardless, I've pre-ordered the third book with high hopes.
Next was Maggie Stevfater's new book, "The Scorpio Races". *** Having read all of Maggie Steifvater's books - loved the fairy pair, liked the werewolf trilogy - I was looking forward to this one. Partly because I live and breathe horses, but also because, though it's an interesting facet of Celtic mythology, there isn't a whole lot of material on water horses to work with. I was intrigued to see how she would flesh out the mythology.
The idea of a place where people capture and race these monstrous horses is a good one. For me, though, this story never really took off. The pace is slow, up to and including the Big Race. Also, both the menace and the romance are far too obvious to be particularly engaging. The menace is the same one that's been used ad nauseum in horse stories and beyond, while the romance was lacking a freshness that characterizes M.S.'s other novels: the hyper-real Sam & Grace, the wonderfully prickly Isabelle & Cole, the danger of James & Nuala.
Another stumbling block for me was that there were just too many echoes of 'The Hunger Games' in the Scorpio Races: young contestants, mortal danger, desperately needed money to be won. But at the same time the stakes weren't quite high enough, or the danger quite believable enough, or the heroine's reasons for entering quite dire enough, to compare favorably. (Slight spoiler alert.) I thought that the piebald mare could have been used to far greater effect, and also that Puck's choice to ride her own horse diffused a lot of the excitement. I'd have loved to read about her catching and taming one of the water horses, not just hitching a ride on her boyfriend's. The ending is also ambiguous, not in terms of what happens, but in what it means for the characters involved - yetnot in a way that particularly lends itself to a sequel.
Read it if you're a die-hard fan. Otherwise, maybe look elsewhere for your next teen supernatural hit.
Then a non-fiction book - rare for me but really compelling - "Faery Tale" by Signe Pike. **** I almost never read non-fiction. Or rather I do, but usually only as research for my own writing. But I judged this book by its cover - and the fact that my current novel is heavily involved in Scottish fairy mythology, and I thought it might have some useful info - and gave it a go
I'm so glad I did! This is simply a lovely book. So many of these type of books are dry and academic, but this reads like a well-written journal, or a series of letters from a good friend travelling abroad. The premise - young American woman goes to Britain to see if fairies are real - is so simple it could have fallen at the first hurdle. Instead, Signe Pike draws the reader into her search from the very beginning, her scepticism/desire to believe striking a chord in me which I think must be common to many people in this day and age.
So, four stars rather than five... Okay, I know that this isn't and never purported to be a scientific study. In fact the overall sense was that the author's research and subsequent reporting were based heavily on intuition, which is quite fitting given the subject matter. Still, there was an unevenness to the structure that niggled at me throughout the reading. Glastonbury, for instance, got far more air-time than some entire countries, and while this of course is partly a function of how much happened there, I got the distinct sense as the book progressed that the author was rushing through the material faster and faster.
I also couldn't help being annoyed by some of the half-baked observances the author put out as fact, especially in the (very rushed) Scotland section. I know that she was at the end of her journey, and maybe she was out of steam - but then admit it, rtaher than make sweeping statements like Scotland has no live music. Seriously? In the little Borders village where I live, there's a ripping folk music session ever other Thursday, and much more at other venues. Yes, that's a personal gripe, but it points to the generally rushed nature the book takes on near the end.
Still, a fascinating read and a relatively thorough investigation of the topic. Hope she writes more!
I've been using my three weeks in America to do some guilt-free, research-free summer reading. Have got through 'Incubus', 'Haunting Violet' and 'Starcrossed' so far. The middle one was lovely, didn't blow me away or alienate me, and I'd read more in the series (if one follows, which I hope it does.) As for the other two, I'll put in my Amazon Vine reviews:
'Incubus' by Carol Goodman ***
I started reading with high hopes, and indeed this book did start in a promising way. New-girl-in-town-buys-creepy-old-house isn't the most original premise, but then again it's one that works when it's done well. I was intrigued by the house, the dark woods, the Stepford-esque nature of the faculty of the small college setting. I was even willing to buy it when the eponymous incubus showed up on the scene (though the 'love' scenes were somewhat cringeworthy.) Unfortunately, after that everything became depressingly predictable. The ending's big reveal was obvious miles in advance, as was its slightly smaller big reveal. Entertaining enough for a beach book, but not a series I'll be following further.
'Starcrossed' by Josephine Angelini ****
I was somewhat disappointed, given the Greek Gods premise, to find this book very quickly falling into the Twilight formula. Actually, it's more obviously derivative than anything else I've read in this genre. There's the secluded, Gothic setting; the big, mysterious, wealthy family of beautiful people new to the area; the anti-chemistry between the male & female leads which is so clearly begging to be overturned. Even smalle details are annoyingly familiar: there's a creepy prophetic sister, a big tough lug of a brother, a smaller, more wirey brother, a stunning sister all of the schoolboys fall for. If it weren't for the leading lady, in fact, this would be two to three-star territory.
Helen, however, easily hauls the story up another two stars. Anyone who follows my reviews of YA supernatural romances will know that one of my huge grievances with the genre as a whole is that so many of the heroines are so revoltingly passive. Having spent a lot of my own YA years riveted to Buffy, I just can't abide a leading girl who sits around waiting for someone else to save her, to fight for her, to define her secret talents or otherwise control her life. Or, for that matter, a hero who would want to be with a girl like that. (Isn't a big part of the Buffy/Angel frisson the fact that she can kill him as easily as he can kill her?)
Helen isn't a Buffy - she's warmer, softer, shyer - but she's equally likeable. [Minor spoiler alert.] I love the fact that her first encounter with Lucas involves her trying to throttle him, and nearly succeeding. I also love the fact that even when it comes down to him explaining things and helping her learn about her powers, she can still kick his ass - and everyone else's. And all of this sporting the face of the most beautiful woman ever to have lived.
But it's not just her fighting prowess that impressed me. I also love her humility, her humanity, the way that she cares about her family and friends and never questions putting herself on the line for them. And that even when she inevitably falls in love, she keeps her head screwed on, doesn't forget about everyone else in her life, doesn't waft away into sugary fantasies. I think it's actually very difficult to write a heroine in this genre who remains sympathetic despite being beautiful, having the perfect boyfriend, and superpowers to boot. Angelini succeeds. I'd read book two...
I've got fever. Okay, Mud Fever. Not that exciting in the grand scheme of things - however, since it's traditionally a horse disease, I'm a little freaked out. My two ponies, whom I love beyond reason, have both succumbed to the ailment this (very wet) summer. I've been treating it dutifully, with hibiscrub and some sudocream...and when that didn't work some very expensive powder from the local feed shop...and when that didn't work something gooey, pink and equallly expensive from the vet. And washing my hands till they bleed, I should add. (BTW I would add a grisly image to flesh this out for you, but we haven't yet figured out how to put images on here.)
ANYway: the ponies' Mud Fever started to abate, and suddenly I got a thing in my ear that looks a lot like Mud Fever - at least from what I can make out in the mirror. So I went to the doctor and said, "I've got this thing in my ear, I think it might be Mud Fever. Or a fatal skin-eating bacterium. But probably Mud Fever."
"Right," he said, and proceded to Google it. (Have any of you noticed, of late, your GP's alarming propensity to Google during your consultation? I mean, like I couldn't have fed him URLs!)
His verdict: "The specific bacterium doesn't come up on a Google search. But it does say it can be passed to humans."
So I asked, "Okay - what should I do?"
"Well...you should probably speak to a vet."
Yes, my NHS GP really did tell me to consult a vet! To be fair, he also gave me a prescription for an antibiotic cream. But A VET! Hello? ConDem, are you listening??
The title says it all. I'm more or less twice the age of the intended demographic, but I have fallen in love with the YA dark-urban-fantasy-paranormal-romance (pick one or several) genre. True, after 'Twilight' it's a crowded field, and a lot of the offerings are less than brilliant. But the ones that are brilliant really are. Like the 'Fallen' series. Or two thirds of it. I just finished 'Passion' and my thoughts go like this:
After loving 'Fallen' and finding 'Torment' distinctly mediocre, I had my doubts about Lauren Kate's third installment in the series. **** Still, I have to admit I dropped everything when the amazon box shot through the mail slot, and spent the next few days swatting off pets and children so I could read it.
There's a lot I could say about this book, but a lot of it's been said already. Yes, it's slow to start. Yes, it's a very different kind of story from what came before, and that's bound to alienate some readers. But personally, I think it's the best of the series so far.
I mean this partly on an emotional level. In 'Fallen', though I loved the characters and the setting, I could never quite reconcile Luce's pathetic stalking of a boy who's deliberately cruel to her. Even when he got nicer, there didn't seem much point to her infatuation. In 'Torment' it was Daniel who annoyed me, with his patriarchal attitude and refusal to give Luce any reasons for his constant demands. 'Passion' may throttle back on the action, and there are no boarding school antics to keep things ticking over, but Kate wisely uses the breathing space to finally make a case for this doomed love that's spanned milennia. It's here that I finally find Daniel and Luce believable. In fact they also manage to be moving, in places even profound.
'Passion' is also better than the others on a technical level. Okay, not something most teen readers care about or will even notice, but as a historical novelist myself, I was quite impressed by Kate's ability to create so many believable past worlds for her characters to experience. And while twentieth century Russia and Italy aren't too hard to manage, she also bravely delves into some pretty obscure settings: pre-Columbian Mexico, ancient Tibet, and eighteenth century Tahiti, to name a few. It says a lot about her as a writer that all of these disparate settings were equally well-realized.
So why not five stars? First [slight spoiler alert] the Bill 'twist' was obvious to me from the moment he appeared on the scene. I just couldn't buy it that Luce would be so gullible, after all she's been through. Second, Luce ended the previous book on fairly dubious terms with Daniel. Then she's right back in love with him at the beginning of 'Passion'. I would have liked to see her start out still angry and conflicted, and have to work through these emotional obstacles to realize how she really feels about Daniel, and why. The third bummer was heaven. After all of these fabulous, imaginitive historical settings, heaven was straight out of a children's Bible illustration - definitely a letdown.
All in all though, a great novel. I'm looking forward to the last installment, even though I know I'll miss these characters when they're finished.