"Skyhunter" by Marie Lu

Skyhunter (Sept. 29, 2020) by Marie Lu.

*This is the first book in a duology.*

When Talin Kanami was eight years old, her homeland of Basea was invaded by the Karensa Federation. She and her mother fled north to Mara in terror and in pain. 10 years later, and Talin hasn’t spoken since the night Basea was invaded due to vocal cord scarring and emotional trauma. She uses sign language, knowing the languages of Basea and Mara. Mara is the last free nation (on this side of the sea), and Mara’s legendary Strikers are the only warriors standing between that nation and annihilation by the Karensa Federation, run by the young, sickly, tyrannical Premier, Constantine Tyrus. Talin, against all odds and through all of the bullying, is a Striker (thank you, open-minded Firstblade Aramin Wen Calla). Strikers don’t just battle the enemy soldiers, but, most specifically, they battle Ghosts. Ghosts are formerly human, but become “monstrous war beasts” after dark poison is poured down their throats. They are grotesque. To kill them, “you must bleed a Ghost out, cutting it at its neck, the only place with a vulnerable vein.” If a Ghost bites a human or scratches them with their poisonous fingernails, one must cut that person’s throat before s/he turns. And if it’s one’s own Shield (a.k.a. Striker partner) … uff da. With Redlen (Red) Arabes’ appearance, he may be the miracle weapon Mara so desperately needs. He’s the Skyhunter. Together with her friends and fellow Strikers Adena Min Ghanna and Jeran Min Terra, they plot to destabilize Karensa. They’ve pledged their lives to Mara and to one another. Strikers are “Bringers of Death,” “Assassins of Monsters.” They are Mara’s saviors and they will give their everything.

            Wow. This first novel in a duology from Marie Lu, one of my favorite authors, blew me away. This story isn’t only another science fiction fantasy set in a dystopia (references to the civilization of the “Early Ones” could be construed as Earth as we would know it) with some battle here and there. No. It runs much deeper than that. Not only do characters have varying skin tones, but Lu doesn’t steer away from xenophobia in her story, with Talin taking the brunt of it (the “Basean rat”). The trajectory of the story, from start to finish, is fast-paced and engaging. The world is expansive, darkly exciting, high-action and brutal with a core group featuring a main character and primary supporting characters that aren’t without sympathy. The way Lu writes is as well-balanced as a perfect sword.

"Midnight Sun" by Stephenie Meyer

Does this story deserve its own solo post? No. There are plenty other YA stories that should’ve easily been solo posts in my own personal arsenal alone, but I decided that it’s not always fair that I only choose books I really enjoy and love.

Midnight Sun (Aug. 4, 2020) by Stephenie Meyer.

Although this story likely needs no explanation, I’ll touch ever-briefly on the simplest of basics. There are beautiful, sparkling, immortal vampires. Fortunately, the core group doesn’t drink human blood. Unfortunately for Edward Cullen, who’s usually maintained such control over any human blood, he encounters Bella Swan. She is human and blushes easily, is self-deprecating, but also thoughtfully stubborn and annoyingly obsessed with Edward, not that he can hear her  thoughts. The Twilight tetralogy follow Bella’s point-of-view (POV) in a very long, but iconic, love story. In “Midnight Sun,” it’s Edward’s turn. Welcome back to Forks, Washington.

            Like ripping off a Band-Aid, I’ll state right away that I struggled with this story. I was once one of those women who sailed through the four books of the Twilight series, but my interest has waned since those years. I read the partial draft that Meyer had on her website back in the day (that was 2008 or 2009) multiple times, which she’d posted after it had been leaked by someone I’m assuming she thought she could trust. I was never Team Edward or Team Jacob (I was not an ardent fan, I’ll admit, though I did see all of the movies in the theater), but I expect that Team Edward has sighed (or squealed?) in content over Edward’s POV. I will say that “Midnight Sun” is more complex than the Twilight series, giving readers deeper characterization. Meyer doesn’t shy away from Edward’s often less-than-sympathetic views toward Bella, at least before he lets himself fall for her, and I did appreciate that darkness. It took away some of the innocence. I also actually liked the well of detail surrounding James’ storyline, when he’s made Bella his fixation and the chase is on. That strategizing felt fresh, and even though one knows how it’ll end, it still felt climactic when James’ end came. Edward’s internal struggles are convincing, despite my own struggle to get through the book. This novel is a love letter to fans, and even though I never chose a Team or redecorated an entire room in a Twilight theme, I still wrote my name on the line and gave myself a high five.

            If you read this post, you should give yourself a high five and leave a comment below!

Merry Christmas 2020!

No matter what degree of tumultuous your 2020 was, I hope you were able to find something merry this Christmas! (Ideas were gained by typing things such as "chalkboard Christmas trees" into a search engine. Credit goes to all people far more creative than me!) (But yes, I did draw this!)

"The Escape" by Lisa Harris

The Escape (Nov. 3, 2020) by Lisa Harris.*

It’s been some years since U.S. Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn have encountered each other, and now they are partners. Their orders are to transport two high-profile prisoners from Seattle to Denver. Two prisoners. Two U.S. Marshals. Two pilots. En route, the plane experiences trouble and goes down somewhere in the Salmon-Challis National Forest (it’s in Idaho). Both pilots are dead, as is one prisoner. The other prisoner, Damon Barrick, is armed and very dangerous. Together, Madison and Jonas will have to negotiate unfamiliar backcountry while tracking a murderer who is desperate to disappear and always seems to be at least one step ahead of them. This might redirect Madison’s thoughts from focusing on the five-year anniversary of her husband’s murder (the murderer has never been found). And, despite the treacherous situation they’re currently in, Madison and Jonas may find that their hearts are open to each other.

            This romantic suspense, inspirational fiction novel kicks off Book 1 in Harris’ US Marshals series, and it hits the ground running with action, suspense and danger. There’s even an extra element of the threat of danger with the appearance of a black rose. Harris brings us characters that are tireless in their dedication to their craft, but are entirely human in their suffering, romantic and familial relationships and faith. With the way the story ends, readers will find it difficult not to want to read the next installment. I expect this story to be a win with those who enjoy crime fiction and stories with a strong female protagonist.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Price of Valor" by Susan May Warren

The Price of Valor (Oct. 6, 2020) by Susan May Warren.*

A decade ago, Signe Kincaid was abducted by a rebel terrorist. Serving the CIA, she was undercover as a humanitarian aid worker in Chechnya. But things have gone wrong, and she’s already sent her daughter, Aggie, to Hamilton (Ham) Jones. Ham didn’t know he had a daughter until the call came to pick her up. Signe is on the run from the Chechen warlord Pavel Tsarnaev with the NOC (nonofficial covers) list and from those she’s dubbed the CIA bad guys. Trouble is, she can’t always be sure which are the CIA good guys and which are the bad. She wants to trust Ham and let go of some of the fear, but that’s hard to release after spending 10 years with a terrorist. Meanwhile, Ham wants to fix everything. After years thinking Signe was dead, he wants to be a family again. Having Signe alive and with him again, along with their daughter, makes being a family unit seem possible, if not for the guard that Signe never seems to lower. Ham will stay by Signe’s side through volcano eruptions, tsunamis and hostage situations. What will Signe do? Will she run? Is Tsarnaev truly dead? Will Ham be able to forgive Signe her secrets? What is the price of valor for the two of them?

            The third novel in Warren’s Global Search and Rescue series, this inspirational fiction, contemporary romance contains high stakes amid natural disasters and not-so-natural catastrophes. It is a story of renewal in faith, in reunion and in relationships. What is broken will slowly become whole again. Scars will remain, but they are but a roadmap on the long path of healing. The narrative is fairly fast-paced, but unfortunately, it remained lacking for me. While I appreciate Ham’s dedication to Signe, and her doubts are understandable after all she’s been through, their relationship struggles on top of those belonging to Orion Starr and Jenny Calhoun bogged down the story. It slowed down what should otherwise be a fast-paced tale. While likely a hit for Warren’s longstanding fans, for newcomers (I’ve only read this series’ previous novel before this) like myself, it’s shaky at best.

 

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rutabaga's Free Book Contest: #Unmasked@Home Edition

Photo by Karolina Grabowska via Pexels

Rutabaga’s Free Book Contest: #Unmasked@Home Edition

How do you feel about a free book?

   2020 continues to be a year of turmoil. Since reading is my kind of happy (and escape and sanity-grounder), I am hosting my third Free Book Contest and second contest for this year.

1.)    Between now and up to 11:59 p.m. CST on December 31, 2020, be the person to accumulate the most points by leaving comments on my blog. The comment must relate to the blog post. You can leave more than one comment on the same post as long as it’s related, whether it’s an original comment or a reply.

2.)    WATCH THOSE POINTS! Again, I’m using a points system for this contest. Participants will receive:

A.)  5 points for any question or comment on THIS post;

B.)  4 points for any question or comment on any 2020 post;

C.)  3 points for any question or comment on any post prior to the year 2020;

D.)  6 points for any question or comment left on ANY Trondhjem-related poems posts (Hint: The “Rutabagian Search” bar may prove helpful.);

E.)   BONUS points for questions that may pop up on this post. The first correct answer will receive 5 points, then 4 and so on down to 1 point if five or more correctly answer. Answers must be submitted within a week after the question is published on THIS post. So check back at least once a week!

   Friendly reminders:

1.)    Be civil. Freedom of speech and opinion is important, but rude language and mean words are not. Always be better than that.

2.)    Use the same name every time you comment. If you post as “Mulan” the first time, post as “Mulan” each subsequent time.

   For the winner:

1.)    The book you choose can be any book that has been featured in a single book post or a compilation post or seen in a Positive Page-turner’s Challenge picture. Exception: If the book you’re most interested in is not the first in a series, and you’d like to start at the beginning, I would get you the first book instead.

2.)    If the book has both a hardcover and paperback version, I will choose the less costly of the two. This is really only important if the winner is particular about book formats.

3.)    I apologize for any inconvenience, but books will be sent to U.S. addresses only. (Exception: My youngest brother, though I’d be very surprised if he would comment to win!)

HAPPY COMMENTING AND MAINTAIN THAT POSITIVITY!!

Rutabaga's Reads 2020: Part 9

The amount of inspirational fiction on my TBR list continues to stay well-stocked. Here is the second of such posts for 2020.

The Crushing Depths (June 30, 2020)  by Dani Pettrey.

*This is the second novel in a series.*

Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) team members Rissi Dawson and Mason Rogers have been called to duty aboard Textra Oil’s Dauntless after an oil-rig worker is killed in an accident. Tensions aboard the rig are high. The rig’s already working with a skeleton crew, for some haven’t shown up to work because they think the waters around it are cursed. Then there’s the Freedom, a marine research vessel carrying scientists who are mostly environmental activists hassling the crew aboard Dauntless. The mounting evidence suggests that Greg Barnes’ death was not an accident, and it’s up to Rissi and Mason to discover who was involved. There’s more than one suspect and another death aboard Dauntless only adds to the mayhem and strengthens the rumor of a curse. How will Rissi and Mason sift through all the willful and/or fearful personalities to gain helpful information? Are the two deaths related? Why is Caleb Eason’s nephew, Lucas, working on Dauntless when he thought Lucas was attending college thanks to the tuition Caleb paid for? Who is Gwyneth Lansing and what is her connection to the Freedom Group? Amidst all that is going on, will Rissi and Mason overcome their intertwined, haunted pasts and admit their attraction to each other?

            Someone is stalking Brooke Kesler. Brooke is a Coast Guard Medic. Her home has been broken into, and her life has been threatened. The primary suspect is her ex, Brodie O’Connell, who has historically harassed her for breaking up with him. But is he the perpetrator? CGIS team lead Noah Rowley plans to find out, and he also finds that he cares very much for Brooke, despite the fact that he’d decided awhile back to close his heart on love. Has he, really?

            The second in Pettrey’s Coastal Guardians series, this romantic suspense, inspirational fiction novel presents us with a harrowing adventure with multiple viewpoints. The story is buoyed by more than one engaging plot, interesting characters and sufficient detail without making the story too lengthy. Pettrey is a dynamic writer and her writing shows this. Although the main characters appear to adhere to a white default, I find that I’d still want these characters to be my friends and my neighbors. The one item that sank for me was calling the stingrays “slimy.” I’ve always found them to feel velvety. But, to be fair, I’ve not encountered them in the middle of the ocean. I’m sure that would change a perspective real quick.

            Book One: The Killing Tide

Diamond in the Rough (Sept. 3, 2019) by Jen Turano.

*This is the second novel in a series.*

The delightful Miss Poppy Garrison is a sight to behold. She cannot dance, which doesn’t bother Poppy so much, but probably has her imposing, high-society grandmother, Mrs. George Van Rensselaer (Viola) about to suffer an apoplectic fit (so what if that is a bit melodramatic). Poppy has come to live with Viola for a New York social Season, for those were the terms set by her grandmother in exchange for financially helping her family. 22-year-old Poppy is not equipped to deal with society; she is far better with horses. She falls into one fiasco after another and also into the arms of the brooding Mr. Reginald Blackburn. Posing as Charles Wynn’s traveling companion, Charles being the Ninth Earl of Lonsdale, Charles and Reginald are actually cousins. And Reginald isn’t just a humble citizen; he, too, is of the British aristocracy and is, in fact, the second son of a duke (the Duke of Sutherland). Charles needs an American heiress who can save his family’s estate. Reginald does not, and with his proper British manners, he’s both astounded and enamored by Poppy. Not that he wants to admit it, and he seems horrified at the challenge of teaching Poppy proper etiquette. Meanwhile, Poppy assumes that Reginald is something of a pauper. What will her reaction be if she discovers Reginald’s true identity? Is Reginald at risk of being recognized by any knickerbockers of the New York Four Hundred? Is Mr. Nigel Flaherty truly interested in Poppy? (After all, he is twice her age, and he’s usually known as a bit of a scoundrel.)

            Set in 1885, this peppy second installment in Turano’s American Heiresses series is a delightful whimsy. Her characters are snappy, and the leading ladies are fabulously outspoken, independent and feisty. Poppy is no exception. As an inspirational, historical fiction novel, faith is present, but it is not heavy-laden. It’s like a light breeze caressing your face now and again. The environments that Turano creates are always rich, and her prose never wavers in its ease of reading. Her stories make me laugh, and I suddenly want to learn the Dresden China Quadrille (honestly, I have zero idea if that is a real dance or not).

            Quote: “Once past the lips, a lady will certainly find it on her hips.” --Adele Tooker, unkindly to another young lady after Adele purposely orders gowns that are too small for everyone but herself (p. 299). Does any other woman out there feel at least the occasional truth to this statement?

            Book One: Flights of Fancy

The Number of Love (June 4, 2019) by Roseanna M. White

*This is the first novel in a series.*

Three years into the Great War (World War I), Margot De Wilde thrives in the secretive Room 40, where she spends her work days deciphering intercepted messages, breaking the codes. She is part of a team of England’s greatest assets, those codebreakers who can crack the German codes for hints of the enemy’s plans. Their information is vital to the agents in the field who risk their lives based on the decoded information and the information they are tasked to gather. Margot loves what she does, and she loves numbers. Numbers make sense to her; they speak to her. Numbers, according to Margot, are how the Lord brings things to her attention. They lead her to Dorothea “Dot” Elton, someone who needs a friend, and she keeps thinking of the number 18. Agent 18. She’s even thinking it when an unexpected loss sidelines the numbers in her mind.

            Dot’s brother, Drake Elton, has returned wounded. He’s got secrets of his own to share with his sister (and likely Margot). He may enjoy the refinement of his abuelo’s Spanish estate, but Drake hasn’t admitted to Francisco Mendoza de Haro what he’s really doing, either. He isn’t a student at a university; he’s a field agent, and that is why he is wounded. The enemy (is there more than one in pursuit of him?) won’t give up. He’s smitten right away by witty and brainy Margot (whom he wrongly assumes is one of the many secretaries) when she answers that she’s Antarctican after he correctly guesses Belgian. His potential pursuit of her will have to wait, as the danger draws closer. It isn’t only a game of Go. It could be life or death.

            While this historical, inspirational fiction novel has a touch of potential romance, the romance is not cloying. In fact, Margot doesn’t initially find even the thought of romance worthwhile, because she figures that any potential suitor would be thinking toward homemaking and babies, while Margot wants to attend university and obtain more knowledge. She is refreshingly forward-thinking and independent, but still believably vulnerable when one she so loves is unexpectedly taken away. Her take on the world is unique, which means this story is unique. It doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff, yet I found myself chuckling at times. I appreciate how smartly written this story is, and I love that a familiar character from “The Lost Duchess” has a supporting role. I am a sucker for familiar characters (that I like) showing up in other novels (being ones I also like). This novel is a fantastic start to The Codebreakers series!

Rutabaga's Reads 2020: Part 8

The amount of young-adult (YA) books I’ve been reading so far this year remains a strong percentage, so here I am with the second YA compilation of the year!

Chain of Gold (Mar. 3, 2020) by Cassandra Clare.

*This is the first novel in a trilogy.*

Teenage progeny from familiar characters in The Infernal Devices trilogy (and Ghost Jessamine) alight in this tale. The mother of Cordelia Carstairs wants to marry her off and save her from the potential ruin of the Carstairs family with her father, Elias, on trial for a terrible crime he does not recall. But Cordelia doesn’t want to be a bride; she wants to be a Shadowhunter and a merciful hero. She alone currently wields a blade of Wayland the Smith, and like the wand chooses the wizard, so will one of Wayland’s swords choose its bearer. The sword Cortana is a great gift, but is likewise a great responsibility. Cortana can cut through anything, and it’s definitely put to use when Cordelia, her brother (Alastair) and their mother (Sona) go to London. She gets to be with her best friend and future parabatai, Lucie Herondale, and her brother, James, whom she’s unequivocally in love with (and he’s peculiarly infatuated with Grace Blackthorn), along with the Merry Thieves: Thomas Lightwood, Christopher Lightwood and Matthew Fairchild (James’ parabatai). It’s been relatively quiet in London, but there’s a new sort of demon, one that can attack in daylight. The demons’ poison is devastating in the smallest of amounts and is incurable. As the young Shadowhunters work to discover the source of the demon, while others within their close-knit group race to find a cure, family and friends will fall, a dark legacy will be revealed, and they will all see the cruel price of being heroes.

            With the setting placing this story in London in 1903, Clare assembles a large cast of diverse characters. They appreciatively vary in ethnicity, sexual orientation and species (vampire, warlock, Nephilim/Shadowhunter, etc.). And it isn’t YA without tortured love (or a love triangle or a triangle that doesn’t always include love), but the story also explores the importance of friendship. Though lengthy, Clare’s opening to The Last Hours trilogy is a fantasy deeply-imagined, filled with the expected combat of Shadowhunters, bustling intrigue and furtive glances. In this story, one inherits shadows, another gains ghosts her own family cannot see, and love is tangled. Avoid the demon-ichor and ready yourself to ask Magnus Bane about waistcoats. It’s a wild ride with a cliffhanger readying to set up the next installment.

Girls of Storm and Shadow (Nov. 5, 2019) by Natasha Ngan.

*This is the middle novel in a trilogy.*

Although Lei has escaped the horrors of the Hidden Palace, her freedom isn’t free. The cost comes with a hefty bounty on her head for what she did to the Demon King. Lei, now dubbed the Moonchosen, is with Wren, and she meets Wren’s father, Clan Lord Ketai Hanno. He parts ways with them when they all exit the mountains they’re hiding in, but Lei and Wren have company: Merrin (owl-form demon), siblings Nitta and Bo (leopard-form demons), Hiro (a teenaged shaman) and Shifu Caen (Ketai’s closest advisor and resident trainer). They must venture across many miles to try to gain support from clans that haven’t already pledged themselves to the Demon King. These are the White Wing (bird clan), Czo (lizard clan) and Amala (cat clan). The travel isn’t easy, and not everyone is receptive to them. Along the way, secrets are revealed, whether by accusation or one’s own admission, and it rips the fabric of who Lei thought she was fighting for. From what she’s learning, is Lei trading a ruthless Demon King for an equally ruthless Paper ruler? How can the rebel uprising best a vast army fueled by dark magic and terror?

            In the first story, with the talk of the different regions, I’d been wishing for a map of Ikhara. In this story, I got the map (yay!), which brings a picture of where Xienzo is in relation to Han, etc. This installment remains intensive with the strength of Lei’s traumatic memories, her seesawing relationship with Wren that stems from ongoing secrets and the sense of betrayal that occurs when the side she thought was fighting for good is perhaps as brutal as the Demon King. It’s a sturdy fantasy with solid LGBTQ+ representation and diversity (no white default here), though I keep wishing that Lei had some sort of magical ability. Even with all of that going on, I did struggle with this book. Despite the story’s intense moments, the pacing felt slower to me. Was it the days spent on a boat whiling away those days with training and more training? Was it the increase in time spent on Lei and Wren’s relationship that I thought slowed the storyline? Was it Lei’s dramatics, which seemed more frequent than in the first story (not sure if that’s on purpose or not, as if they’re a byproduct of PTSD)? Most likely, it’s a combination of all of them. I did like the rare chapters when readers saw other points-of-view from Aiko, Kenzo and even Mistress Azami. That break-up from Lei’s point-of-view helped immensely, and I wouldn’t have minded more of those chapters and fewer of Lei’s. Fortunately, with the book’s ending, I am intrigued by what’s in store for the final installment in the trilogy.

Stepsister (May 14, 2019) by Jennifer Donnelly.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Everyone knows the story of Cinderella, but oft overlooked are her ugly stepsisters. Isabelle de la Paumé is one of those stepsisters (Octavia, a.k.a. Tavi, is the other), and this is Isabelle’s story. What has been written by the Fates, Chance is determined to undo and steals Isabelle’s map. Isabelle must find the three missing pieces of her heart (the boy, the horse and the stepsister) if there’s any chance that she can change her fate, which currently ends in a bloody, violent death in the not-too-distant future. Fate (masquerading in the French village of Saint-Michel as Madame Sèvérine) believes the map of Isabelle’s life should remain as is, while Chance (introducing himself as the Marquis de la Chance) disagrees. Isabelle is possessed of a strong will and can endure great pain, but does she have the courage to find the missing pieces? She didn’t win the handsome prince by trying to be pretty and sweet like Ella. She only made herself bitter, mean and jealous. There will be no fairy godmother for Isabelle, though don’t rule out Tanaquill, the fairy queen. There is nothing grandmotherly about her. Tanaquill is wild, majestic and beautiful, but also sly, fierce and dangerous. Tanaquill chooses no side but her own, but that doesn’t mean she won’t try to give Isabelle tools to overcome Volkmar von Bruch, the evil warlord that has burned towns and killed thousands of innocent men, women and children. Isabelle can bring a new definition to the word beautiful if she’ll but listen to her heart. She can bring out the magic of the human heart.

            For lovers of the original Brothers Grimm tale, Isabelle does cut off her toes in her failed attempt to win the prince. While that is dark and horrifying, Donnelly’s take to use Isabelle’s point-of-view is brilliant, her prose engaging and the action-packed, forward-motion of the storyline is empowering. So impressive is the author’s reimagining that it advocates the story’s autonomy. She didn’t re-imagine “Cinderella,” but instead focused on a character historically viewed as ugly and without any true definition of her own. Donnelly takes Isabelle from zero to hero(ine), showcasing determination and female strength. It shouts to the world that we should all be valued for who we are and not what we look like on the outside. She overcomes hatred and cruelty with wit and wisdom. Donnelly shows us how the same character is capable of both unspeakable cruelty and immense kindness and how the latter can help to be redeeming and transformative. She shows us the magic of being human.