Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 4

I don’t usually read many companion novels, yet more and more seem to sneak onto my TBR (To Be Read) List. When they are associated with series that I have been following, I’ve found that I devour the slim volumes as I would a full-length novel … only much quicker. Companions aren’t just defined as friends or buddies, but accompanying persons. I think of these stories as the latter. They accompany us on our waiting journey to the next novel from the author and try to tide us over in the meanwhile (keyword: try).

9 From the Nine Worlds (Oct. 2, 2018) by Rick Riordan.

Distracting goats! Forever pants made out of a corpse relative’s skin! Cheesebutt the Magnificent! From the world of Norse mythology comes this really sweet, endearing guide to the Nine Worlds. For this slim volume, nine different characters have taken up the mantle of  giving glimpses into each of the worlds. So, if you’re questioning which “heim” is which, this is the book for you! While Magnus Chase doesn’t visit this volume, many of his friends do, as does the All-Father himself, Odin. Each of the characters finds her or himself in a sticky situation, and Odin isn’t exempt. As his einherjar say, “Some days you are the ax, some days you are the decapitated head.” Friendly stuff, this book.

            Admittedly, this companion novel to the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series isn’t actually sweet, endearing or entirely friendly, but it is full of adventure and high entertainment value. There are even color illustrations of the characters; you can put a face to the name if your imagination hasn’t done so already. Even when not a full-length novel, Riordan nails the writing. There’s fun and humor and supernatural abilities and trouble-raising characters of all shapes, sizes and species!

            Fair warning: Be mindful of gods passing through. Thor is running about, and you don’t want to be traumatized by the sight of him in his “tighty-leatherys” or amble by while he’s squat-farting. After all, Thor is no Chris Hemsworth.

From The Kane Chronicles: Brooklyn House Magician’s Manual (May 1, 2018) by Rick Riordan.

Congratulations! Those reading this have obviously found their way to Brooklyn House without being attacked by Egyptian monsters, evil magicians or quick-tempered gods/goddesses. Granted, by finding this book, you’ve alerted area monsters and enemy magicians to your magical powers, so go through the Rooftop Portal to Brooklyn House when it appears, would you? Please and thank you.

            As the cover states, this book is, “Your Guide to Egyptian Gods & Creatures, Glyphs & Spells, and More.” You can brush up on your knowledge of the Duat and learn more about major gods and goddesses, including the first family of them and those associated with animals (Bast is my favorite). Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane are not the only authors of the manual. They bring in fellow initiates and friends (not all of whom reside at Brooklyn House) to share their own knowledge. There are quizzes, too, so make sure your thinking caps are on (not a literal thinking cap … unless Thoth has one stored in a hidden place?).

            This little novel is a fun treasure for fans of Riordan. I didn’t always think Sadie’s quips were as funny as they were probably meant to be, but they didn’t cause me to like the manual any less. I still laughed aloud multiple times, and I brushed up on my limited Egyptian mythology data. However, if it’s all right with everyone – and even if it’s not – I’m going to avoid Bes’s uglification advice, and keep a watch on Setne, as it appears he’s oozed out of his prison snow globe. Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I need to feed a frozen turkey to Freak, Brooklyn House’s semi-domesticated griffin. I don’t want him accidentally devouring any new initiates.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay" by J.K. Rowling

Warning: SPOILERS included. Unless you’ve already read the screenplay and/or seen the movie, bypass this post if you don’t want to know things before you’re ready.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay (Nov. 16, 2018) by J.K. Rowling.

For reasons not shared until much later, Albus Dumbledore will not go after Gellert Grindelwald, the latter of whom has escaped. He’s amassing followers and is determined to locate the Obscurial, who was presumed dead. On the contrary, Credence Barebone is alive and wants desperately to know who he really is. Albus enlists Newt Scamander in helping to locate Credence, who’s been spotted in France. Newt isn’t supposed to cross international borders, as he’s a wanted wizard, but thanks to those handy portkeys, travel is possible. His no-maj friend, Jacob Kowalski, ends up with him quite by accident. Well, Queenie Goldstein brought him, but as a Legilimens, she can read other people’s thoughts, and Jacob thought something that upset her, so she, essentially, abandoned him. Queenie has set off to look for her sister, Tina Goldstein, an American Auror, who’s been looking for Credence. So is Yusuf Kama, but why he’s looking for him is not the correct story. For that, they’ll want to hear from Leta Lestrange, whom Newt has cared deeply for, but who’s engaged to Newt’s brother, Theseus, who apparently has a tendency to want to kill him. (Theirs is a complicated relationship.) It all comes back around to Grindelwald. Why does he want the Obscurial? For what nefarious plans does Grindelwald have involving Credence? Can Newt and Tina get to him before Grindelwald?

            I hadn’t seen the movie before I read the screenplay. The great thing about reading the screenplay first is that I feel like I’ve gotten all the answers beforehand. Nothing will spring up on me on the movie screen; I’ll know what to expect. But the not-so-great thing is that it’s a screenplay and not a full-length novel. I would happily read scores of stories set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World that are a thousand pages long per book (at least), but instead we get a screenplay. It’s still enjoyable to read so we feel we are involved, but it’s like a tiny sampler appetizer: tasty, but without the benefit of truly tiding you over. Because of its format, it read very quickly. I still adore Newt’s magizoologist quirkiness. I hope we get to see more from Dumbledore in subsequent screenplays/movies. And I’d like to add a zouwu to my list of pets in my imaginary menagerie of Creatures That Don’t Exist. A baby niffler, too, while I’m at it. *Cheshire grin*

"Slayer" by Kiersten White

Slayer (Jan. 8, 2019) by Kiersten White.

Slayers slay and Watchers watch. Traditionally, Watchers are paired with a Slayer, and if a Slayer dies, the Watcher will likely receive a new Slayer. Athena “Nina” Jamison-Smythe is neither. She’s always been the one shunted to the side. Her twin sister, Artemis, is the one who’s received the Watcher training, the one whom their mom goes to when she wants something done. Nina is the castle medic (Healer), and it hurts that her mom comes to her for nothing. But what can she expect? After all, in the fire those years ago, she saved Artemis first, and Nina almost died. Artemis is always first to Helen, their mom.

            But then, Nina kills a hellhound … with her bare hands. It comes to light that Nina has always been a Potential, and she was never aware. A Potential is one who could become a Slayer, but right now, there are too many Slayers when there should only be one. Why? Because Buffy. And because of Buffy, there is no magic in the world. Hellmouths are closed, which keeps demons from entering, but it also means that any demons already on this side of the rip are trapped on this side. With humans.

            It turns out that Nina isn’t just a Potential; she’s a bona fide Slayer. Suddenly she’s faster and stronger than should be possible. It’s clear she needs training, but her physical instincts are razor-sharp. Still, Slayers slay, and she’s gone the route of trying to save, heal and protect all these years. (Her care is not limited to humans.) Unfortunately, her mother seems disinterested in this new revelation. But was it a revelation to her mother? Could Nina be the last Slayer?

            Because I’ve been a fan of Kiersten White’s books is the only reason I pre-ordered this YA paranormal adventure. I am not familiar with the Buffyverse at all. It was never a show I watched. I’m certain that I’m missing plenty of knowledge, but White includes enough that I didn’t feel like I was lost in a big city. While I can’t guess to its accuracy within the Buffyverse, I will say that I liked the book better than anticipated. It’s not as riveting as other stories I’ve read by White and is almost lukewarm compared to, say, the imagination and brutality of the And I Darken trilogy, but the twist at the end is terrific. With that twist alone, I will read the next story. (Plus, I’d read it anyway, because it’s Kiersten White.) And I’m with Nina on this: translating ancient Sumerian into Latin is diabolical. Or, I imagine it is. Can’t say I’ve ever found myself having to suffer through such a translation!

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 3

Welcome to my first inspirational fiction compilation post of 2019. While YA fiction continues to lead my TBR list, this post shows that I continue to read plenty of inspirational fiction as well.

Caught by Surprise (July 31, 2018) by Jen Turano.

*This is the final book in a trilogy.*

In the few years that Temperance Flowerdew has resided in New York City (it’s now 1883), she’s established herself as a quiet, almost meek, member of the Wallflower set. But no more! Since being ousted from the home of her Flowerdew cousins, who despised taking her in in the first place after the untimely death of her parents, she’s been residing and teaching at Miss Snook’s School for the Education of the Feminine Mind. Unfortunately, she’s one day mistaken for her cousin, grabbed off the sidewalk, dumped unceremoniously into a carriage, knocked out with too much sleeping draught and stuffed into a coffin. Although not a damsel in distress, she’s rescued in Chicago by her childhood best friend Gilbert Cavendish. They return to NYC, but not before a member of society observes them talking together un-chaperoned, which prompts talk of engagement. Gilbert is for it; Temperance is adamantly not.

            The drama does not settle upon return to NYC. It’s been heard that someone has a price on Temperance’s head, but why? Pinkerton agents are on-hand to provide protection, and Gilbert and the other men carry at least one weapon on their persons. Amidst the scares, Gilbert accepts swiftly that he would engage himself to Temperance and finds that he cares about her quite a lot, even if he lacks romantic gestures. When Temperance realizes she’d very much miss Gilbert if something happened to him, she turns to denial. He’s always been a friend, even with their years apart, but for him to be something more catches her by surprise.

            As with the other inspirational fiction novels I’ve read by Turano, I found “Caught by Surprise” to be as delightful as a luscious puff pastry. Turano impresses me with the way she creates her lead female characters to be independent and assertive without being annoying. The story never slows down and her plot is multi-layered like a cake, but isn’t mind-numbingly sweet. I very much enjoyed this concluding novel in the Apart from the Crowd trilogy.

            Book One: Behind the Scenes

            Book Two: Out of the Ordinary

The Cost of Betrayal (Sept. 4, 2018) by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey and Lynette Eason.

*This is a novella collection featuring three authors.*

This novel is actually a trio of romantic suspense novellas from three bestselling authors of such fiction. Each novella contains characters who’ve experienced betrayal, but also realize the healing power of faith.

1. Betrayed by Dee Henderson.After almost seven years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, Janelle Roberts has been pardoned. This is thanks, in large part, to Ann Falcon, a retired homicide detective, and her husband, Paul, a current homicide detective. Ann happens upon the murder weapon in a hodgepodge box of items that she bought at an auction. “I found a murder,” she states, but who’s the murderer? With a keen eye, she makes her decision and Paul agrees. Janelle is taken to an island to remain out of the media spotlight, but also to process with the help of Gregory Tate, one of Ann’s contacts. Ann presents her case and how she came to her conclusion, but Janelle cannot accept it.

2. Deadly Isle by Dani Pettrey.A storm is rolling in, effectively trapping residents on an already isolated island. Talbot (fictional) is a small island off the coast of Maryland. Crisfield is the closest town on the mainland, and it’s still an hour’s boat ride away. Tennyson “Teni” Marlena Kent is an officer with the National Resources Police with specialization in underwater investigations, and former flame Callen Frost works as an Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigator. With their work, they have unilateral statewide jurisdiction, which allows them possession of a body until the ME can safely arrive from the mainland. Unfortunately, the body is Teni’s cousin and best friend, Julia, whose death is found to be a murder. But who is the murderer? Talbot is small, and there are only so many places someone can hide, especially during a storm surge. And now, the killer looks to have set murderous sights on Teni. Why?

3. Code of Ethics by Lynette Eason.When a GSW lands Detective Isaac Martinez in the ER, trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John is there to take it cleanly out. Isaac has been a whistleblower to alleged corruption against a coworker. Nobody likes a tattletale, but it’s seen as the worst betrayal to report a colleague. Isaac’s onto something, though, if someone trying to attack him while he’s recovering in the hospital isn’t telling enough. He plans to head off on his own, but Ruthie won’t allow it, for he is her patient, and she doesn’t want him ripping out stitches. At first, Isaac is dismayed to learn Ruthie belongs to those St. Johns. As in, Ruthie’s five other siblings all work in law enforcement, and their mother, Tabitha, is the Chief of Police. He thinks they won’t understand his side of the story, but it’s obvious that he’s greatly underestimated them. The St. John siblings are not all enlisted to help as they show up and help anyway, because that’s what they do as a family. Should Isaac and Ruthie fall in love while seeking evidence they need to end the danger and outrun and capture the killers, well, surely stranger things have happened.
   
   Overall: I am satisfied with my purchase of this novel featuring a trio of romantic suspense novellas. As expected, there is a continuous current of faith running through each story. It’s not usually obvious like if you had a constant surge of static electricity shocks, but more subtle, like the purring of a cat that’s been purring well before you realized it was purring. I couldn’t choose a favorite story between Pettrey’s and Eason’s; I was an equal fan of both. Regrettably, I didn’t care for Henderson’s. I appreciated Ann’s perspective based on years of investigative skills and an objective lens and found plausible Janelle’s perspective, highly subjective though it was. The island was too perfect a place, but what I missed was that there wasn’t a satisfying conclusion to who killed Andrew. Fortunately, I enjoyed the stories of the other two authors enough that I’d pre-order a novella collection from the three of them again without hesitation.

The Lieutenant’s Bargain (Dec. 4, 2018) by Regina Jennings.

*This is the second book in a series.*

When the stagecoach she’s on is attacked, Hattie Walker is left with no food, no money and none of her possessions, not even her oil paints. Hattie runs for her life, spending a cold night outside and praying that the gunman doesn’t find her. Knowing she can’t stay where she is in unfamiliar Indian Territory, she vacates her hiding spot only to encounter a group of Arapaho. Not knowing they’re friendly, she goes the route of difficult houseguest (they do not call her “One Who Spills Stew in Anger” for nothing). She’s rescued by John “Jack” Hennessey, someone she knew in her youth, but does not recognize right away, Jack having gone from nervous nerd to good-looking lieutenant. Jack recognizes Hattie right away, having been smitten with her since they were youngsters. Wanting to be the hero, Jack makes “saving” Hattie a big deal, complete with a ceremony. Unfortunately for him and despite the progress he’s made learning the language, Jack doesn’t realize the ceremony is a wedding ceremony and is binding in the eyes of the Arapaho.

            Once Hattie learns she’s now Mrs. Jack Hennessey, she is understandably dumbfounded and resistant. She and Jack come to a truce in which she’ll act the part of doting wife in public, but she needs put no fronts on when they’re homebound. Jack struggles not to show how much he truly cares for and loves her, because he knows he’ll let her go to Denver as she planned, and he’ll have to be re-assigned so as not to disgrace the Arapaho. Hattie remains resistant until she doesn’t. Until she really takes notice of the man he’s become. Jack is her safety net, especially since the stagecoach robber and murderer is still at large.

            Having read the first story in The Fort Reno Series, I was anticipating this one, as Jack was my favorite character thanks to his comic relief, but I was missing his wit in this story (guess he was too nervous in this installment). Still, I found Book Two in the series to be overall likable. I liked Hattie’s culture shock with being introduced to the Arapaho and then finding herself on a military base, far from her usual comforts. Those experiences encourage new growth in any of us who trek from our norms. Hattie’s character comes a long way in this story, which is her saving grace, as, for much of the story, I found her to be a shallow woman who thought of nothing and no one outside of herself. This story is one of growth, both personal and spiritual, in the context of historical fiction, but with an element of danger, and Jennings assembles it as deftly as Major Adams commands the fort.

            Book One: Holding the Fort

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 2

Welcome to my first middle-grade compilation of 2019! All three stories belong to ongoing series. I do my best to avoid spoilers, but I cannot guarantee that they are 100% spoiler-free. You have been forewarned!

The Golden Tower (Sept. 11, 2018) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

*This is the final book in a series.*

What is it like to be both a hero and an outcast, a mage for good and a vessel of evil? Callum Hunt will know. He is beginning his final year at the Magisterium, a magical school where mages are taught, but this year he is shunned by some who called him friend in the past, and one of his best friends is not present like he’d like to be. The villain, the real “Evil Overlord,” is not shy about making himself known and visible, yet there are many who still do not trust Call, even though the Evil Overlord is unlike anything the mage world has ever seen. And in a world in which Devoureds and elementals exist, that is saying something. The Evil Overlord, stuffed full of malevolence and power-hungry greed, has demands, one of which is Call and his friends. They all expect to be killed, but it is possible to defeat this villain, though it will involve some travel and an assist from Call’s dad, Alastair. Support from the Assembly wouldn’t hurt, either. Now, about that voice inside his head …

            Brilliant. Magical. This fifth and concluding novel in the Magisterium series has been brimful of action, adventure, magic, fantasy and humor. However, the authors do not shy away from the darker, tough stuff, making obstacles a different sort of difficult than ours would be since they involve magic. It stuns with a plot complex enough to keep the interest of advanced readers, but is still easygoing enough for fans to read for the pure enjoyment of reading. For me, this series ranks right up there with Harry Potter or any of the mythology-based books by Rick Riordan. And I do not give that praise lightly!

The Legend of Shadow High (Oct. 17, 2017) by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale.

*This is a book within a series, but I don’t know if more will follow.*

Ever After High and Wonderland aren’t the only fantastical places that exist in the World of Stories. Monster High exists, too, with founders Frankie Stein (daughter of Frankenstein, obviously) and Draculaura (clearly the daughter of Dracula) going on an adventure they never dreamed of. They have heard whispers of a place called Shadow High. Unfortunately, the Evil Queen gets wind of this as well. Frankie and Draculaura are accidentally transported to Ever After High around the same time that the Evil Queen is missing from her mirror prison and then Madeline Hatter winds up kidnapped. Overseeing the narration of the tale is a Narrator by the name of Brooke Page. She is young and very new in the role of Narrator. Frankie and Draculaura team up with Raven Queen and Apple White and once they get over the fact that the others actually exist – for real – they work to rescue Madeline and save the World of Stories. Because if they don’t, and those margins crash together, their world will be destroyed. Their stories will no longer be. They’ll be a jumble of words, an effect of the Unmaking.

            As one who has enjoyed the Ever After High series of books, those written by Shannon Hale and Suzanne Selfors, I was happy to come across this one last year while perusing books. Like the others, this story is light-hearted and cute. It’s a bit of mystery within a safety net. In other words, mystery is present, but what leads up to solving it or getting through it isn’t nightmare-inducing. With the addition of Brooke Page and Madeline Hatter’s ability to hear the Narrator, there’s an added element of communicative ability involved in the story process. Brooke isn’t immune to fangirl-ing, adding to her youthful vibe. Puns, figurative sayings and trademark exclamations (like “fangtastic” and “spelltacular”) are always near at hand. If you’re a fan of the Ever After High series, and you haven’t read this already, this volume should meet your approval. It’s also a bit more interactive for you, the Reader, which can be a help or a hindrance if you like that sort of interaction in reading. Or don’t. (I don’t prefer choosing paths and jumping pages.)

Rise of the Isle of the Lost (May 23, 2017) by Melissa de la Cruz.

*This is the third book in a series.*

Are they rotten to the core no more? That might be pushing it, but the quartet from the Isle of the Lost, consisting of Mal (daughter of Maleficent), Evie (daughter of Evil Queen), Jay (son of Jafar) and Carlos (son of Cruella de Vil), have certainly come a long way from where they started. They’re each both in their elements and still finding their ways. Mal works to balance Auradon’s agreement to not use magic (except under highly regulated, exceptional circumstances) while being the girlfriend of the young king. Evie loves being in Auradon and shines as a fashionista and unofficial seamstress at Auradon Prep. Jay continues to understand teamwork instead of looking out only for himself and is accepting help to prepare for R.O.A.R. (Royal Order of Auradon Regiment) tryouts. R.O.A.R. is a combination of parkour and fencing (“It’s not linear. … Think of it as 3-D fencing.” – Li’l Shang, son of Li Shang and Mulan). Carlos also enjoys life in Auradon, especially now that he likes dogs, and he is excelling in school with technology his specialty. King Ben gets called away to moderate a dispute between Northern Wei and Agrabah at the same time that the Isle group decides to help Evie’s friend Arabella, niece to Ariel and granddaughter of King Triton. They need to find something before someone notices it’s lost and before Uma (daughter of Ursula), Harry (son of Hook) and other hooligans find it first.

            This middle-grade novel packs a rollicking adventure on land and at sea into a relatively slim volume. “Rise of the Isle of the Lost” features a perilous race that remains G-rated. I enjoyed the storyline, which included Uma and getting a backstory of her character and also the story behind the tension between her and Mal. As those two have mothers who are epic villains, it doesn’t take much for an ocean-size wedge to come between these past friends. King Ben gets to travel to two different areas of the kingdom, and I enjoyed the glimpse into different places outside of Auradon Prep and the Isle of the Lost. Although not wrought with intense complexity, this story is fun-filled and humorous with cleverness and heart.

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 1

While I was slightly better in 2018 in keeping up with my blog, it remains apparent that I haven’t focused enough on YA novels, which is the age category that I read the most. I aim to do better this year.

            While I did do a post late last month showcasing a YA duology, this is my first YA compilation of 2019 featuring titles that are parts of sequential series in which I’m already a fan. No new-to-me authors in this batch.

Assassin of Truths (Feb. 6, 2018) by Brenda Drake.

*This is the final book in a trilogy.*

Somewhere along the way, Gia Kearns became Gianna Bianchi McCabe, Sentinel. Her childhood friend has been abducted, and she’s seen loved ones die. She needs to protect the one who can defeat the Tetrad, but before that can happen, she needs to retrieve seven Chiavi (Chiave, singular) hidden in the great libraries of the world. To a reader, gateway access to all of the world’s libraries sounds like a dream, but the gateways harbor astonishing dangers. And danger always seems to find Gia. Furthermore, there is a disease spreading. Nana Kearns is developing a cure. The corrupted Wizard Council doesn’t want the cure given to those in the Mystik world, but many wizards and Sentinels in the havens have banded together to save the Mystiks. This includes Gia and her wizard-betrothed Bastien Renard, but does not include former love interest Arik Baine. They traverse many places through tunnels and realms, gateways and libraries, including Tír na nÓg (the faery realm), before facing off against an evil Master Wizard.

            I have really enjoyed this entire trilogy. This urban fantasy has been chock full of magic, wizards and Sentinels with mystical abilities (I want a battle globe). It contains good and bad, light times and sadness, fights for life and fights to the death. Drake strengthened the plot with heroic characters, probably all of them good-looking (even the non-human ones), but with characteristics we related to or rooted for. Also, libraries! And traveling to libraries through gateway books!

            Now, where is my Sentinel gear?

                        Book One: Thief of Lies

                        Book Two: Guardian of Secrets

Just Dreaming (May 2, 2017) by Kerstin Gier.

*This is the final book in a trilogy.*

Nobody is safe, not even in dreams, but who would go into someone’s dream to manipulate that person? And how would someone obtain such a disturbing ability, much less put it in motion three times? Is it Anabel Scott, in whom there’s no secret that she has psychological issues? Or is it Arthur Hamilton, ex-friend of Henry Harper and Grayson Spencer, who probably also has psychological issues? It looks like it’ll be up to Liv Silver to uncover clues, solve the mysteries and battle bad guys. Henry and Grayson will help, though Grayson takes some convincing, and Jasper Grant has apparently done away with all of the dream nonsense. Romance is stressing Liv out, a gossipmonger-of-a-blogger continues to spread tittle-tattle while remaining unidentified, her mother’s planning a wedding and at least one wicked classmate is set on revenge. It’s too bad that Liv can’t escape in slumber, because malicious intent may lurk there as well …

            Overall, I enjoyed this story. The ending was conclusive and satisfying; before the very end, Secrecy is identified. I wish I could go off and explore dream corridors as several of these characters have done through The Silver Trilogy, but without the threat of imagined demons or deluges of strange feathers or crossing paths with a nemesis or people I simply don’t care for. The one grievance I have with the story regards Liv Silver’s possible “first time.” It doesn’t add anything to the overall plot, nor does it help carry the story. I actually thought those scenes in which she’s worrying about her first time slowed the story down. The story is otherwise fast-moving and imaginative. I like the rapport between sisters, and I want someone like Lottie to be my neighbor, for I’d go over to her house every day to eat whatever delicious baked goods she’d whipped up that day!

One Dark Throne (Sept. 19, 2017) by Kendare Blake.

*This is the second book in a series.*

The Quickening showed the queens and the populace that the future Queen Crowned is not as certain as it once seemed. As powerful as Mirabella has always been, even she quakes at Arsinoe’s supposed familiar. She also thinks that Arsinoe has betrayed her and is preparing to fight her. Arsinoe has discovered a secret, but no one outside of her best friends Juillenne “Jules” Milone and Joseph Sandrin know. She must decide if she can use this to her advantage. Katharine, once viewed as the weakest of the triplet queens, is curiously stronger than ever before, now ingesting poison at every meal. The suitors have arrived to be hosted by the queens. They know that only the Queen Crowned will choose a king-consort. William “Billy” Chatworth Jr. has been summoned to Rolanth as Mirabella’s royal taster “on pain of disinheritance,” but it’s no secret that he favors Arsinoe. The queens must watch from all sides. To let one’s guard down for an instant could mean poison in one’s tea, a poisoned bolt in the back, a perfect lightning strike or a mauling by a bear. Whether the pictured threats are real or imagined doesn’t matter, for anything is possible in an Ascension year.

            Part of the Three Dark Crowns series, “One Dark Throne” is a rich, inventive fantasy that is intensive and brutal, yet I’m rather addicted to the series and Blake’s YA novels in general. Despite the darkness expected of them, the triplet sister-queens are each noteworthy. The humanity which lies within – obvious in one or two, less so in the third – is easily overshadowed by the violence. But the violence within the story is wrought by a plot that is complex and twisted. The world-building is exceptional and the details are as radiant as they are deadly. The cliffhanger ending has me practically foaming at the mouth in anticipation of the next installment, and Blake has a wondrous twist in the story – a Beltane Begot – and it’ll be so intriguing to see where that story leads. Don’t let the lurking darkness of the novel steer you toward only dark thoughts. Because even with Blake’s dark writing, her story is luminous. This isn’t a sisterhood I’d want to be born into, but it’s a sisterhood all the same. Except this one has ties that bind … to kill.

                        Book One: Three Dark Crowns

                        Companion Novel (physical form): Queens of Fennbirn

Duology: "Warcross"

Originally, I was going to include the first book in a compilation post. Then it was a standalone post, but it took me awhile to read it, so I waited for the second book to release in this YA duology in order to create a post showcasing them. I’ve been an established fan of this author’s work since the first story of hers that I read.

Warcross (Sept. 12, 2017) by Marie Lu.

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade, but what do you do if life hasn’t bothered to hand you the lemons? Tattooed teenage hacker Emika Chen (she’s 18) is a bright-haired bounty hunter who’s gone to the physical trouble of taking someone down for the NYPD, only to have the bounty claimed by another. She’s three months behind on rent and is about to be evicted, has a low-paying job and can barely afford mac ‘n cheese when she hacks into Warcross. That game is a global phenomenon, and it was started 10 years ago by Hideo Tanaka. He’s now a billionaire and is all of 21 years old. Emika hacks into the game thinking to make some quick cash, but she doesn’t expect her hack to cause the world to see her when she glitches in. Instead of someone slapping cuffs on her and sending her to jail (again), she finds herself in Tokyo with a business proposition. Only one other person has been able to hack one’s way into Warcross, and they refer to that player as Zero. Emika is one of the players, now professionally playing Warcross, in an effort to find out who Zero is and take her/him down. She’ll come in as a Wardraft Wild Card. She’s gone from impoverished girl with a juvenile record to overnight sensation surrounded by fame, fortune and the best technology available. Also, let’s not forget Hideo Tanaka of Henka Games. He’s a young, attractive, wealthy, elegant genius. By accident, Emika has gotten herself on Hideo’s radar. Good luck turning back now.

            I’ve been a reading fan of Lu’s through her Legend and The Young Elites trilogies. But when it came to this duology, I was uncertain, even though she’s an author whose books I’ve already consistently enjoyed. I still pre-ordered the book, but I know nothing of the gaming world and hacking and all of those tech-genius terms and therefore wondered if I’d find a reading rapport with this book. I put this book off for a long while and now cannot believe I ever doubted it, because I LOVED the book. As soon as I began reading it, I was addicted to the high octane plot, the inventive virtual reality (VR) world and the fascinating characters. Lu plaits everything together like a seamless code. Romance brews in this clever, all-consuming tale. If all VR, science fiction worlds are as kinetic and energetic as this one, then I want a shelf full of these types of YA novels!

Wildcard (Sept. 18, 2018) by Marie Lu.

Welcome to Warcross! The Warcross Championships are fast-approaching, but so much has happened, and more is to come. Firstly, with the presence of illegal power-ups in gameplay, a rematch between the Phoenix Riders and Andromeda has been scheduled, making it the first rematch in Warcross history. Secondly, Emika Chen has been replaced as a member of the Phoenix Riders. Thirdly, Zero has been identified, and the ­­­­Blackcoats resistance he's a part of looks to have morally gray areas, rather like Hideo Tanaka’s plan, though it’s easy to be convinced of the rightness of what the resistance is fighting for. And what the resistance is supposedly fighting to stop is set to launch in mere days when the Warcross Championships are about to commence. A majority of it has already launched, but the beta lenses weren’t in that massive batch. Which means their actions are still their own … for now.

            Emika finds herself at odds with Hideo around the same time she’s avoided being assassinated (life is a little complicated right now). She’s gone to the other side, essentially, by teaming up with Zero, Dr. Dana Taylor, Jax and others associated with the resistance. But Zero wants her to find her way back into Hideo’s good graces so she can gain access to something only he has the key for. And then she needs to corrupt it. But when someone she knows is seriously hurt, what does that say about the resistance? What’s really going on and who’s behind it?

            What a fantastic duology! If Marie Lu were to create a spinoff of this duology or keep up with the current main characters in a new, twisty, exhilarating, gamer-centric plotline, I’d be click-happy in pre-ordering it. I never expected to enjoy stories set in an ultra tech-smart world, and I’ve not only enjoyed it, but loved it. It’s been brilliantly fast-paced, as luminous as the Lamborghinis, Bugattis, Porsches and Luminatii Xs (“the fastest electric car currently on the market”) transformed into the impossible using the NeuroLink. The technology is amazingly immersive, and emotions hold power. What we do out of love can be morally questionable. The stakes are high, and Emika will do what she must.

The Positive Page-turner's Challenge: Take 6

Now closer to the end of the first month of 2019 than the beginning, I hope that the new year is starting off on the right note, right foot, right side of the bed, etc. For my first Page-turner’s Challenge of the year, I’m challenging myself to a year-round challenge. It is simple: Donate a package of bar soap (8-count or greater) for EVERY BOOK I read this year! The soap will all go to Haiti through GoServ Global.

            Books that count are chapter books on up. I’m unsure of how I’m going to handle picture books. If I feature a picture book and/or board book compilation, do I donate packages equivalent to the number of books featured? Or do I donate one package per compilation? Or donate one individual bar soap per book? Does anyone have any suggestions?

            What sorts of challenges or goals have you set for yourself in 2019?

Happy 2019!

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Happy 2019!

Whether last year was terribly tumultuous, amazingly awesome or a riotous mix of both that lands you somewhere in the middle with the many who had an average sort of year, I hope this year is a robust concoction of all those things that will make this year your own. Although I know life cannot be full of happiness 100% of the time or without challenges 100% of your days, look toward the bright side so those happy moments can be even brighter, and in times of darkness, I pray that you have wonderful people and pets around you, for all of us need pillars of support.

2019 is a new year. Looking out at a new year full of possibilities is to look at a blank page in a bare book. Fill it up with adventures large and small, good stuff, tough stuff (because it often can’t be avoided), personal challenges (goals, in this case) and the neutral, routine stuff in our days that keep us grounded. Go write your story and do awesome things!

Peace, love, joy and happy reading,

Lisa

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 11

It’s true. I do read a healthy amount of inspirational fiction, though I still read more YA (young-adult) novels. I don’t just read inspirational fiction titles direct from publishers. I do purchase them as well (including every Amish fiction title that Beverly Lewis writes, as part evidenced in this post). This compilation is a second round of such that I have purchased.

Dead Drift (July 3, 2018) by Dani Pettrey.

*This is the final novel in a series.*

Years have passed since Luke Gallagher was with his closest friends in Baltimore. He has been working as a CIA black ops operator. He reminds himself that he’s been working to help save his country from a major terroristic threat, especially when his actions, under orders, involve morally gray areas. Following the threat takes him back to Baltimore where reside his family and friends. He essentially went off the grid, but he’s kept track of those he cares most about, including Kate Maxwell. He’s never stopped loving her, but the years have changed him, and he can’t be sure she’ll accept the man he’s become, for it’s not always been good.

            Though she won’t admit it right away, Kate hasn’t stopped loving Luke, and she never gave up on her search for him. He’s suddenly back and now the threat he’s trying to stop is a threat to her, too. They will have to work together to unravel the tangles of a terrorist and his twisted mind before a grand biological disaster is released and innocent lives are taken. Working with Luke stirs deep feelings and former hurts and reminds Kate why she closed her heart off after he left. Will she let him back in? Is he here to stay?

            It’s okay for others to disagree, but to me, Dani Pettrey is a powerhouse when it comes to inspirational romantic suspense. The last in her Chesapeake Valor series has showcased this with protagonists and antagonists that are both distinct and dynamic on a timeline like ours but with a plot that could shatter a city’s population if the threat is not stopped. There are no downtimes in this book, as the action is continuous and tension rises as the danger intensifies. This has been a satisfying literary thrill ride, and I look forward to her next series.

            Book One: Cold Shot (did not review)

            Book Two: Still Life

            Book Three: Blind Spot

The First Love (Sept. 4, 2018) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a standalone novel.*

In 1951, Maggie Esh is going on 18 years old. While still technically in Rumschpringe, she is attending baptismal classes. She occasionally participates in Singings, but is tempted to quit despite her younger sister, Grace, encouraging her to attend. Everyday life is not as easy for Maggie as it once was. She has a cane handy when she needs it and is sometimes in such excruciating pain that it’s hard just to walk across a room due to what she’s been told is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Because she does not live as easily as other youth in her district and therefore sees herself as undesirable, she is convinced that no man would want her as his wife.

            Her cousin, Lila Witmer, asks her to attend a revival tent meeting, and her excitement is so genuine that her curiosity is piqued and she goes. Attending opens up in her a closer relationship to the Lord, and she also hears stories of healing. She cannot understand why He would heal some and not others (such as herself), but her faith is strengthened. She does worry some of her father’s quiet disapproval of the revival meetings, but she reassures him she will be baptized this year. Maggie has also noticed that handsome Jimmy Beiler has been seeking her out. Presupposing that he only feels sorry for her, she tries to keep him at arm’s length, but that’s hard to do when she’s liked him for awhile.

            The “First Love” referred to in this story is not, perhaps, the first love you might be expecting. Lewis has portrayed Maggie as a wonderful character of faith with conviction. She isn’t faithful only because she’s been brought up that way, but because she truly believes in it, and her faith is only strengthened after the revival meetings. It is in our nature to question, and Maggie does, but she also accepts that her life may be filled with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis where no treatment – prescription or homeopathic – will help long-term. Maggie shows us that we can persevere despite the struggles in our lives, large or small or somewhere in between, and create an even stronger bond with God through it. This inspirational, contemporary fiction novel is uplifting and full of promise and hope.

The Road Home (Apr. 3, 2018) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a standalone novel.*

When a jarring tragedy befalls the Schwartz family, Lena Rose and all of her siblings find themselves displaced, Lena most of all, as she is the only sibling to move outside of Leacock Township, Michigan. And she’s not just in another county, but another state. She moves in with Harley and Mimi Stoltzfus; Harley is a cousin to her father. Lena, an able seamstress, assists Mimi with her seamstress work. Though homesick, Lena is moved by the care of Harley and Mimi and the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, community. She befriends Rebekah Petersheim, who’s got a history to talk about, though Lena Rose doesn’t push it, Lydia Smucker, sweetheart-gal to Eli, Harley’s and Mimi’s youngest, and Arden Mast, a handsome fella with a good soul. Lena has made it known that she has a beau back home. But talking with and spending time with Arden is far more effortless than spending time with her Hans. Unfortunately, it would not do to be involved with a fella in Pennsylvania when she plans to return to Michigan as soon as a family there can take her in.

            “The Road Home” is another sweet story of Amish fiction from Lewis. I continue to be impressed by the storylines she comes up with time and time again. Like her other inspirational fiction novels, Lewis’ books are heartfelt and inviting. They invite us to a warm hearth to get to know new characters and want to know them, though, like any hearth, it can get cold when the embers have burned too low and those characters you’re now rooting for are dealing with tough stuff and obstacles in their paths. Dedicated fans of the author have long since added this novel to their bookshelves, but for anyone looking for Amish fiction literature, this standalone novel may suit you.