Tokyo Heist Review

Title: Tokyo Heist
Author: Diana Renn

Why I Read It: I was drawn by the word "heist" I'm in need of more mysteries and heists.

A Quick Intro: Violet is spending time with her father, who is working on an art commission in Japan. The comissioner a wealthy Japanese couple and their nephew who have recently had several van Gogh sketches stolen. Soon enough Violet is knee-deep in mystery, in danger and a hunt for the missing sketches with no idea who she can trust half way around the world from home.

What I Thought: It was hard to keep track of what was going on in the story, I sort of lost track of the mystery. This was another one where I didn't feel much attachment to the characters. It wasn't so much that the plot was predictable as that it didn't really draw me in, though I did guess the twist, and the culprit fairly early on in the story. It almost was like there were too many characters in the story, or too many focuses. Personally, I wasn't fond of Violet's random use of Japanese terms- it's something that kind of bothers me when people I know do it, and it annoyed me in the book as well. I did want to know how it ended, but it wasn't a book I would say that I couldn't put down.

Fun Fact: Kimonos are worn crossed left over right. Right over left crossings are typically only used for the dead.

Let It Snow Review

Title: Let It Snow
Author(s): (in order of appearance) Maureen Johnson, John Green, Lauren Myracle

Why I Read It: It was mentioned in a review at The Broke and the Bookish (here). Also because I've come to the conclusion one should read Christmas books when it is not Christmas.

Summary: This is three stories in one. Three stories about one town, one train, fourteen cheerleaders, miscommunication, Starbucks and a teacup pig name Gabriel.

What I Thought: Fluffy. I very rarely do fluffy, so it seemed really out of place for me. Besides that, it's a light, quirky read, and there are some humourous moments. I wasn't particularly attached to any of the characters or the plots, but they weren't something I felt needed emotional investment. I don't have a lot of opinion on this one, to be honest.

Breathe Review

Title: Breathe

Author: Sarah Crossan
Series: Breathe
Volume: 1
Genre: YA Dystopia

Why I Read It: This was a book that I wanted to read because I liked the cover. The concept is neat too.

A Quick Intro: Breathe takes place in a future where oxygen is a controlled resource  After "The Switch", Earth's atmosphere is depleted of oxygen and what remains of humanity must survive in protected domes. Without government produced oxygen, the people wouldn't survive, the government controls the only living plants. Outside is a barren No-man's land. Quinn is a Premium, one of societies wealthy class. Bea is his best friend, though she is a "Sub", or a lower class citizen whose family can barely afford enough oxygen to live on. And then there's Alina. She's part of the Resistance, stealing plants to try and return organic oxygen to the people. When she is caught, her only choice is to flee the dome with enough oxygen for a couple of days- and Quinn and Bea in tow. The outside is different from what they expect, and the truth is out there.

What I Thought: I do enjoy dystopia, and the premise of the book is interesting. Control over air  gives the government almost complete control, since no one can live without it.  We never really find out what caused The Switch, only that it is probably linked to human abuse of the planet, and that the result is oxygen depletion. I found myself wondering how far in the future this is- it seems to be less than 100 years after The Switch, but everything else about the world seems to be basically the same. Besides the market on oxygen, tablets containing trackers and biweekly vaccinations, there don't really seem to be any futuristic technologies.

The story is told from the points of view of Quinn, Alina and Bea. There's a little bit of romance, but it was never the main focus of the story. Quinn's crush (it really was just a crush) on Alina it what first inclines them to help her, and Bea's love for Quinn means she sticks with him, but, given their personalities, they might have made these decisions anyway. And there is no love triangle, really (thank goodness!). I wasn't completely drawn into the story, but it did make me think, though the plot line was a bit predictable, I still found myself rooting for our main characters. The action was decent, and I enjoyed seeing how the rebels lived. Overall, Breathe was an enjoyable read, and I will probably read the sequel when it is released later this year.

Fun Fact: Oxygen used to be toxic to many living things. In fact, it still is. And yet we can't live without it. This isn't mentioned in Breathe, but you can read more about it online.

Erasing Time Review

Title: Erasing Time
Author: C.J. Hill
Series: Erasing Time
Volume: 1
Genre: YA science fiction, dystopia

Why I Read It: It was new and shiny at the library (that's the thing, there's not much in the YA section I haven't seen before), and sounded interesting.

A Quick Intro: Identical twin sisters Sheridan and Taylor Bradford are suddenly dragged forward in time, four hundred years in the future, and as far as their aware, they have no way home (theoretically, things can only move forward in time, not back in the story). The world is a very different place. Everyone lives in protected domes, warring with other domes. Everyone has dyed their hair and painted their skin- fashions have changed, society has changed. Everyone's rank is displayed on their chest. The language is so different that they need a translator. There are only two people who understand their language in the future. Echo and his father, Jeth are historians. And not all is well in the pods. The Dakien, which are an organized crime group seem to run the city from the shadows and the "Doctor Worshipers" have a religious (religion is forbidden) resistance of their own. And now the twins are the target by the corrupt government and the Dakien, four hundred years from home with no one to turn to but Echo, who was a twin himself, and secrets of his own.

What I Thought: The concept of time travel is always risky. The concept of how they move through time was relatively sound-I could see the explanation working (the time freezer), and the DNA composition seems pretty sound, the only part that doesn't sit with me is the looking for DNA in the time streams. But that's the "what if" part of science fiction. I really like the changes in language. That was neat because languages can change very fast.

The romance didn't really work for me (I mean, it was okay toward the end... but... instalove and spontaneous snogging (though the second may just be a normal future thing)...). The plot twist was something that I kind of called. It was a bit predictable on some points, but it was still a neat read.

Fun Fact: The city pods are somewhat similar to the ancient Greek city-states, which were often at war with each other. They were also the birthplace of democracy, in Athens (though it didn't last long, and disappeared for a very long time after that).

Best Books in 2012

Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

I think I might have broken the rules here...

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I don't know if I was super-excited about anything. But I grabbed a lot of books of the shelf and didn't enjoy them though. I didn't finish Daughter of Smoke and Bone, for example. I expected the last Maximum Ride to be dreadful (at least I can say I called it). This is the year I give up on James Patterson for good (New Years resolution #1: No more James Patterson.).

 3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 

Legend by Marie Lu... I pulled it off the shelf because I liked the cover, and ended up reading in twice and then buying it.

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. I'm on the third re-read. I really should just buy the book.

 4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange trilogy. I had to lend them out to people and worry over whether or not they would get eaten... I do that sometimes (do I have control issues? maybe...)

 5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

Can it be a trilogy? If so, then Legend by Marie Lu and the Razorland trilogy by Ann Agguire.
If not: the Agency by Y.S. Lee

 6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Y.S. Lee (author of the Agency). Marie Lu (I've already mentioned her debut, Legend). 

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (I think it was this year, though I have a feeling it might have been last year). I don'r typically read realistic fiction, but I really loved it. I managed to get the old cover when I bought it too (I really don't like the new printing cover).

 8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

I'm going to have to say Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian. I threw my self into reading this one with a desperate, desperate need to finish. I was in Belize with almost no Internet (I had a long battle getting the book to download), and while everyone else was sightseeing I was locked in a hotel room frantically trying to reach the end. I'm just a little in love with the series. That, and Enclave by Ann Agguire.

 9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

A lot of them. I often almost obsessively re-read.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Go figure. It's a kid's book. 

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

I don't know. There were a lot this year... a lot. Right now the ones that come to mind most are most of the Artemis Fowl cast (like I said, I love the series), Kelley Winslow from Wondrous Strange (I don't even know why, I just find her fun to read, though I can only visit her in re-reads now), and for some bizarre reason, William Herondale from Infernal Devices (probably because I just finished Clockwork Prince, though, and the boy got rather brutal treatment in the last fifty pages-or more like 150 pages... even if he kind of got on my nerves a lot).

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

Hmm... I loved Michael Scott's story telling in the Enchantress.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

None that come to mind. I didn't read anything that was really profound this year. Though I did re-read Fat Cat by Robin Brande, which always makes me think. And go off of chocolate. And make my own pasta.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

Fine. I'll say it. Infernal Devices. There, I said it (I hope you're happy K.B.). In spite of how much I complained and ranted and bashed the books (and disliked the covers), I actually kind of liked them a lot. 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 

Are you sure you want to ask me this? I have a habit of quoting that makes some people want to kill me...

 16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Heart of Darkness was both the longest and shortest book I read. It was painful to read (says the girl who read Lord of the Rings before she turned 16), but was an incredibly small book. If you're talking length, Heart of Darkness was the shortest. And Inheritance was the longest.

 17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

The end of The Mark of Athena. I think the entire fandom has decided that Rick Riordan is trolling us.

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

...*is stuck*...

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

You've got to be getting tired of this by now, but Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian, and Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Enchantress. Also, the Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Dash and Lily's book of Dares. It's the only book I read solely on somebody else's recombination, without even reading the blurb (does Goodread's book club count?).

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

Just one? I'm going to have to cheat here. For non-fiction: Your Inner Fish. For fiction I'd love to try Jane Eyre (good luck, self), since I feel like I need to give classics another chance. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

Prodigy by Marie Lu, Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, and book 4 of the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

Consistency! And the whole reviewing thing. I need to work on that, don't I?

Top Ten Books I Keep Saying I'll Read

...but may secretly be lying. Alternately: In Which Kelly Needs To Toughen Up and Read These Books

Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth. I know people love them. I know they have excellent reviews. They're recommended for people who've read what I have. And I have no idea why I'm having such a hard time thinking about reading them. It's very strange. I think it may have something to do with the concept.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
A friend of mine sings praise for this book (so I keep saying that I will read it at some point), and again, it has excellent reviews. But I read the blurb and think "great, another love triangle in which I am not liable to care in the slightest about the participants". Also, I'm not crazy about assassins.

The Maze Runner Trilogy and the Scorch Trials by James Dashner. 

These I really do believe I'll read at some point. I don't know why I haven't yet, I just keep putting it off for some mysterious reason.

The Cite of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
A friend really wants me to read this. I keep saying I will, once I finish the pile of books I'm reading now. The issue is that I keep adding to that pile, so it never gets read. It also happens to be part of a series, though she doesn't know that (I've done my research).










Reached by Ally Condie
I've made the executive decision that this counts. Because I keep saying I'll finish it, but am still trying (and failing) to do so. I think it might be because I realized I don't much care for any of the characters.







Looking for Alaska by John Green
 This is another I truly believe I will one day soon get around to reading. I'm just a procrastinater.

Micro-reviews

Because I'm too lazy to do actual reviews... though maybe I'll do full length for a couple at some point... maybe...

Crewel by Gennifer Aldin
This book was read while I was kind of overwrought- I was stealing moments in order to read anything at all, and, while this was a book I had decided I would read immediately, I kept drifting away to others. I just wasn't captivated. I actually forgot the heroine's name one time- I couldn't connect with her, and I don't really know why. The concept is interesting: there are girls who can weave the fabric of the world, and control destiny (crewel is actually a kind of wool thread). But my mind just wandered.There were moments I felt I should be sympathetic to the female lead, but I just wasn't (and I can get very into my characters- the last Artemis Fowl pretty much put me through a condensed version of all of the stages of grief... and then brought me back), but I was unflinching at this one, even when she was forced to mutilate her own fingers weaving razor-sharp thread. I just couldn't attach myself to any of the characters.


Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
I don't know how I feel about this book. I think I wouldn't like it, but I kind of do anyway (does that make sense? no, I don't think it does). It's a lot of things I don't like in a book- steampunk just to be steampunk, a budding love triangle, French vampires named Camille (seriously, what is with people naming French vampires Camille, is there no other available name?) but now I'm nitpicking. But I don't hate it- actually, I kind of liked it. This isn't my first foray into Cassandra Clare's work, I gave Mortal Instruments a go but didn't get into it (please don't kill me with pitchforks). I get the sense that the characters will grow on me in spite of myself, and as soon as I finished Angel I rushed out to get Prince. The banter I found highly amusing (I do so enjoy banter), and I am curious about the plotline. No opinion on the love triangle except this: if Tessa is a warlock, she's immortal right? and both of the boys aren't (and Jem is kind of dying), so how would a relationship work anyway (unless she's not a warlock... or not a normal one... or something... I'm just confusing myself more here... (she talks to Magnus Bane at some point in City of Glass, and apparently Church the cat is in Mortal Instruments too)... I really should just read Mortal Instruments... and my habit of the overuse of  the ellipsis rears it's ugly head ). Anywho, I'm partway through Clockwork Prince now, and forseeing much angst in the future. And I know I'm totally going to get attached.



Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
I read this one a while ago... while babysitting (not out loud). It was hard to put down... though it had do get put down a lot, weing as there were children to be babysat (whose idea was the term "babysitting" anyway?) I remember that I was really glad when I finally got the kids to sleep so I could read in peace for a couple minutes. And even a while after (it has been a while... I read it in February... though there was a re-read), I still remember the most of the characters and some random things (Aria smells like violets, and Perry is short of Peregrine), which I don't always do. Through the Ever Night comes out in January if I'm not mistaken (I do that sometimes).


And that's all for now. I'm off to go read more of Clockwork Prince.

Top Ten Books I Read In 2012

In no particular order...and I've kind of lost track of when I read some of these, so we'll say late 2011 to 2012.

Legend by Marie Lu
I pulled this one off the library shelf when it was brand-new and shiny. I was on a bit of a dystopian kick at the time, so it fit the bill. Its one of those books I was surprised I liked as much as I did- so much that I bought a copy, and am counting down to the rest of the trilogy. Prodigy (book 2) comes out in January.








Artemis Fowl: The Last Gaurdian by Eoin Colfer
I'm completely smitten with this series (I don't usually do smitten, believe me). There's just something about it that I adore.This is the last one in the series, and it came out on July 10th. I remember the release because I was travelling (in Belize), and had to buy the e-book (though I now own the hardcover as well). I was a bit of a homesick mess when I read it, but I think it helped to keep me sane (while causing me a lot of stress, simultaneously). Thank you, Eoin Colfer, for an awesome series. I will love it forever.
My Review is here.





The Enchantress by Michael Scott
One of my top fantasy books of the year, hands down. This is another series that I love, and it's a really wonderful world he creates. A bit on the confusing side (in one of the plot lines), but it really is a great story.
Full review here.








 The Time Travelers by Linda Buckley-Archer
Even though I'm technically close to exceeding the age-range for teenage literature, I'm still a little in love with childrens' fiction. Seriously. There's just so much imagination in them, which I wish I found more in teen literature more often (it can be kind of formulaic sometimes). This was a birthday present, and I ended up buying the other two books in the trilogy on faith (and because I'm OCD about having a full series). I know some people didn't like it-it almost seems as if you loved it or you hated it. I liked it.
P.S. Look at the cover in full size. I adore the cover so much it's probably a little strange (all the covers in the trilogy are lovely, actually).

 Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
I'm going to be straight with you- before this series, I didn't really like Scott Westerfeld's writing. I read Uglies, Pretties and Specials, and I couldn't make it through Extras. There was just something I couldn't get through. But the Leviathan trilogy blew me away (not literally). It's such a wonderful steampunk trilogy. It isn't steampunk for the sake of being steampunk, the gears and the beasties (only makes sense if you've read the books) are truly an important part of the story. The story wouldn't exist without them.


Traitor in the Tunnel by L.S. Lee
It was going to be the end of the trilogy, but apparently the author is working on a fourth- she says that she's not quite done with Mary and James quite yet. I would love to get my hands on an ARC of book four whenever it gets released. It's a great book... Its one of the best portrayals of Victorian London that I've ever come across- very raw. And I loved it. It's actually on my Christmas list.







Enclave and Outpost by Ann Aguirre
Like I said, I'm on a dystopia kick. It's a wonderfully fast paced (in Enclave), and more character driven in Outpost. I'm looking forward to Horde, which is set for release in 2013. It's a good contrast for Legend, much grittier and more dangerous- there's not much politics here. It isn't a zombie book (I haven't found any that appeal to me), but there are carnivorous creatures rather like monsters.