Bogormen

Title: Melting Stones
Author: Tamora Pierce
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 7/10
# pages: 241
Date read: March, 2009

Summary: Four years have passed since Evvy left the streets of Chammur to begin her training as a stone mage. At fourteen, she's unhappy to be on a new journey with her mentor, prickly green mage Rosethorn, who has been called to the Battle Islands to determine why the plants and animals there are dying. Evvy's job is to listen and learn, but she can't keep quiet and do nothing. With the help of Luvo, the living stone heart of a mountain, Evvy uncovers an important clue. Now, with the island on the brink of disaster, it's up to Evvy to avert the destruction that looms ahead.

Review: This came in the mail yesterday, and though I was technically in the middle of another book at the time, Tamora Pierce is one of my favourite authors, so I couldn't resist the temptation to pick it up instead.

With the exception of The Will of the Empress, the books in the Circle series seem to be targeted towards a younger audience than her Tortall books, and this was no exception - actually I felt it was even more so, as Tamora Pierce here used a first person narrative rather than a third person narrative, and as the main character is quite young (she sounds much younger than her fourteen years of age. I'd have guessed 12'ish), it made it a bit more difficult for me to relate to Evvy.

I did miss Briar, Trisana, Daja and Sandrine though. It seemed wrong not to have any of them around, and I would much have preferred to hear about Briar's and Evvy's experiences in Gyonxe, seeing as those were referred to both here and in TWotE.

So a bit of a disappointment, but not enough that I won't still pick up the sequels, once they become available.

Book List

Title: Enchantment
Author: Orson Scott Card
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
# pages: Audiobook ~18 hours, 422 pages
Date read: March 2009, February 2018

What if Sleeping Beauty wasn't just a fairy tale, but was part of Russian/Ukrainian history, so far back in time that the events weren't written down, but passed from mouth to mouth only to end up as part folklore? In a French or English retelling of the tale, the prince and princess would live happily ever after. But, "only a fool would want to live through the Russian version of any fairy tale."

"Prince" Ivan and Princess Katerina must deal with cross-cultural mores, ancient gods, treacherous kinsmen (and fianceés), and ultimately the diabolical witch - Baba Yaga herself.


I had no idea what to expect when I first started listening to this audiobook, and actually almost gave it up within the first hour, because I had other things I'd rather listen to. But thankfully it quickly caught my fancy, and wasn't too keen on giving it up again! Enchantment is a delightful fantasy - mixing a well-known fairytale with time-travel and descriptions of what comes after "happily ever after". Definitely one of the best books I've 'read' all year.

The readers were excellent (one for the male and one for the female POV), and the book made for very pleasant listening in all regards.

Reread in 2018: Reread as a physical book and it was every bit as good as on my first readthrough. I'd forgotten most of the plot other than the very broad strokes and loved visiting the story again.

Title: The Girl She Used to Be
Author: David Cristofano
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 7/10
# pages: 284
Date read: March, 2009

Review: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Melody knows exactly what's in a name - an identity. The problem is that her name has been taken from her. Since the age of six she's been a Sandra, a May, a Karen, an Anne, a Michelle and countless others. She's frustrated and tired and just wants her identity back! Melody has been in the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC) practically her entire life, but as even that didn't save the lives of her parents, she doesn't even feel particularly safe, and it therefore seems like such a waste.

So it comes almost as a relief to her when one day the Bovaro family finds her. Taken from right underneath the nose of the marshal who was supposed to protect her, she is kidnapped by the son of the man her parents testified against. She knows very well that her life is now in the hands of the enemy, and that she may die whenever he chooses... but at least she's no longer running. At least she can now be Melody again.

But Jonathan Bovaro is nothing like she'd expected him to be and her future may still turn out to be very different than anybody would have guessed.

While a good plot and an interesting story, I felt The Girl I Used to Be would have benefitted from a more thorough editing. It seemed rushed in some places and inconsistent in others. It wasn't enough to ruin the book, but it did prevent it from rating as high in my opinion as it otherwise would have.

What really fascinated me was reading the thoughts Melody had about her life as a "non-entity". Not only did she have to get used to a new identity, but she could never make anything of her life, as she couldn't run the risk of becoming famous and thus easy to find. I'd never stopped to think that a person in the WITSEC may be there for life, and that it affects all parts of that person's life.

Really makes me value my own life, and my own opportunities.

Book List

Title: Odalisque
Author: Fiona McIntosh
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 8/10
# pages: 496
Date read: March, 2009

Summary: Once a captive of merciless desert slave traders, Lazar fought his way to freedom - and to an exalted role as Spur of Percheron, guardian of his adopted city, and confidant and protector of the Zar, Joreb. But now the Zar is dead and his fifteen-year-old heir, Boaz, must assume the mantle of leadership - guided by trusted advisor Lazar, the "mad" dwarf jester Pez... and Boaz's cruel, ambitious mother, who truly holds the reins of power.

In the midst of roiling court intrigue, a young girl arrives to fill a space in Boaz's harem - and inflames unexpectedly strong feelings in both Boaz and Lazar. But the odalisque, Ana, will not be satisfied by the closeted, stifling world of the harem. And, unbeknownst to all, the gods themselves are rising up in cyclical battle - as the struggle begins within and beyond the palace walls for the imperiled soul of Percheron.

Review: "Odalisque" isn't too different from many other YA fantasy novels, but what I really enjoyed about it is all the intrigues and alliances created and broken at the Zar's palace. It's very interesting to see the balance of power waver back and forth as you see who's using use, who's too naive and trusting, and who's learned sensible caution.

The plot is occasionally rather predictable and the characters straight-forward, so there aren't that many hidden nuances in the book, but if you know not to look for them, it's an enjoyable read. The ending is very open and obviously leaves way for a sequel.

Book List

Title: Marked
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Genre: Paranormal, YA
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 268
Date read: March, 2009

Summary: The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampires have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire - that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampire Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny - with a little help from her new vampire friends.

Review: Harry Potter meets Twilight... probably enough to scare off most people, but for me, it worked. I really enjoyed the book and finished it in hardly any time at all. I've always found descriptions of life at a boarding school fascinating, and this was no exception, just because the students were also vampires-to-be.

Vampires in this universe worship a pagan-like goddess, which gives an interesting new angle to a by-now-oft-used vampire story (even though the Casts - like Meyer - steps away from the traditional vampire-legend).

I won't deny that Zoey could perhaps be seen rather Mary-Sue'ish (marked as a Daughter of the Night, immediately more powerful than the others, sought after by handsome guys etc.), but I've yet to come across a YA-novel where that isn't the case with the main character, and while I've now gotten to the point where I can see and recognise it, it still doesn't bother me when the rest of the book is as captivatingly written as is the case here.

Book List

Title: The Blue Castle
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery
Genre: Classics, Romance
Rating: 5/5
# pages: 224
Date read: February 2007, March 2009, August 2013

At twenty-nine Valancy had never been in love, and it seemed romance had passed her by. Living with her overbearing mother and meddlesome aunt, she found her only consolations in the "forbidden" books of John Foster and her daydreams of the Blue Castle. Then a letter arrived from Dr. Trent telling her she only has one year left to live -- and Valancy decided to throw caution to the winds. For the first time in her life Valancy did and said exactly what she wanted. Soon she discovered a surprising new world, full of love and adventures far beyond her most secret dreams.

With the exception of certain Anne-books I think this is probably my favourite book by LMM. The way the marriage between Valancy and Barney is depicted is probably the main reason for this. Sure, the beginning is cliché and the ending utterly unrealistic and contrived, but the middle is just delightful. Unlike most of LMM's other books, we're actually allowed a glimpse into the life of a married couple, seeing how they live together, how they interact, how they learn that silence together with somebody you're comfortable with never gets awkward. With Anne and Gilbert running a close second, I think this is the most realistic portrayal of a marriage in LMM's books.

And of course there is the eternal "did they/didn't they" debate ;-) For the record, I'm firmly on the "they did!" side here.