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).
*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?
*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.
*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.