Sunday, July 1, 2018

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 5

While it seems like such a small goal, one of my personal goals for 2018 is to be more active with my blog again. So, I’m presenting to you the fifth compilation of the year. It features YA novels, so if you don’t read and/or don’t like YA novels, stop reading right now! But if YA novels interest you, please read on and leave comments below regarding what you’re reading, if you’ve read any of the featured books in this compilation or if you have any recommendations or un-recommendations (you know, those books you read or tried to but don’t think anyone else should suffer through).
Caraval (Jan. 31, 2017) by Stephanie Garber.
*This is the first in a series.*
The governor of the Conquered Isle of Trisda is a cruel man who uses the punishment of others as a way to keep people in line, lest the other person – usually a loved one – be punished again and again. This includes his own daughters, Scarlett and Donatella “Tella” Dragna. Scarlett, the older of the two by just a year, lives in constant fear of his consequences. But she will soon be wed and plans to take Tella with her away from their father. With her impending wedding, she thinks this is her final chance to experience Caraval. It’s a legendary competition that is by invitation-only, and, miraculously, she receives three tickets: one for herself, one for Tella and one for her fiancé. Things go awry early on when it seems that Tella is taken as part of the game, and instead of her fiancé, she is stuck with a handsome sailor named Julian Marrero. Scarlett has oft heard that the game is nothing more than an elaborate performance, but she cannot help but get swept up in it. Those who are swept in too far go mad. But Scarlett must play the game now. She must find Tella before the fifth night of the game is up, lest she lose her sister forever. Or is it forever? After all, it’s just a game, right?
            Magical and spellbinding, “Caraval” is a performance I want to experience. I don’t want to be a player or a spectator; I want to be one of the performers. The mystique which surrounds the setting of Caraval and the enchantment that goes along with it reminds me of “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern, a novel which I also greatly enjoyed. Like that novel, “Caraval” is masterfully written. It isn’t just magic that happens to be in the air all around us. It is magic that tests. It tests one’s mind to differentiate between what is real and what is not. It tests what information you take from others and what you grant that they believe; it tests trust. It even tests the power of one’s love. The design of this story has been glittered in magic, like a fresh and unblemished coating of snow on the ground. But whereas snow may be the color of innocence and purity, what lies underneath could easily be vile and villainous. Are you ready to play?
These Vengeful Souls (Feb. 20, 2018) by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas.
*This is the final book in a trilogy.*
It is London, England, in 1883. Too many continue reeling after the violent and tragic events of the ball days earlier. Evelyn Wyndham and Sebastian Braddock are both wrapped up in terrible guilt, but whereas Sebastian wants to hold it in and avoid others, Evelyn wants to wreak vengeance by murdering the evil mastermind “in thirty-six ways.” Unfortunately, Evelyn’s revenge-seeking often makes things worse by fueling the lies already being spread about Sebastian and their friends. Determined to undermine the one truly responsible for all of the lives lost, many plans are made, but they tend to backfire. Any ounce of good done seems to incite tons of bad from their adversary. What is the use of having powers in which they intend to do good when those that are bad twist and lie and manipulate to continually gain leverage over Evelyn, Sebastian, their friends and all of London?
            This book and the whole trilogy have given me many things I love in books: action, brisk pacing, droll dialogue, strong main and supporting characters – in which there’s a minimum of one strong female lead – at least one antagonist I love to hate, and intrigue. Useless bonus points are given for potential love triangles only when plenty of humor is present, as has been the case with this trilogy. While Evelyn’s rashness grated my nerves on occasion, the magic and the characters in this Victorian romance more than made up for it.
Wintersong (Feb. 7, 2017) by S. Jae-Jones.
*This is the first in a duology.*
What is it like to be a shadow twice-over? Maria Elisabeth Ingeborg “Liesl” Vogler may be the eldest of the Vogler children, but she’s ever in the shadow of beautiful Käthe and musically gifted Josef (a.k.a. Sepperl). She’s got the gift of music as well, though as a composer. Josef sees it, but Papa denies it. In Josef, he has nothing but praise: “… you have the potential to change music as we know it!” until he learns Liesl wrote it, then it becomes, “A decent effort. But you must be less lofty in your ideals, Liesl.” She is resigned to her fate as an “unlovely little girl” who dutifully helps at her parents’ inn and watches out for her siblings until Käthe is taken by Der Erlkönig (the Goblin King). He is exquisitely handsome, but tricky and dangerous. The rules are different outside the world above, and Liesl will have to fight her own mind, the old laws and time itself. Otherwise, the world may be shut to her.
            “Wintersong” abounds with magic, enchantment, trickery and darkness enriched with music that I imagined was haunting and ethereal. Jae-Jones has introduced readers to a main character who has been selfless for so long and sacrifices much in the name of love. Understandably, it makes Liesl very emotional, and that is the only area in which I struggled. I often found Liesl to be very annoying. Yes, she is young, but until that point, she’s appeared to have been dutiful and responsible. If the author wanted to contrast the girl seemingly put together before events swung into motion with one that came across as an immature basket case, then the effect was a success. I wouldn’t mind someday reading the next story in this duology, but for now, I am in no hurry to.

1 comment:

  1. Loved Caraval and just finished the sequel, Legendary!! Great reads, can't wait for Finale��

    ReplyDelete

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