Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and it's a weekly meme mentioning an anticipated upcoming release!

My choice:

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

Release Date: December 6, 2012

Publisher: Dial

Author Information: Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Pre-order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Add to Goodreads!

Be your own hero . . .

An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns—and the heroines who use them all.

Set in Edwardian London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician’s assistant. The three young women’s lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It’s up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder—and the crimes they believe may be connected to it—without calling too much attention to themselves.

Told with Adrienne Kress’s sharp wit and a great deal of irreverence, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike—well, relatively ladylike—heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

After reading the summary and checking out the cover, the first thing I thought was that The Friday Society is going to be like a steampunked version of Charlie’s Angels! Three butt-kicking heroines solving murders while breaking boys’ hearts and toting guns? What’s not to love?! I love the cover and I love the synopsis, but I am going to hate the wait until December rolls around and I can get my hands on this book. What are your thoughts and picks for this week? 

Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles, #1) by Kady Cross

Release Date: May 24, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Author Information: Website / Blog / Twitter

Genre: Paranormal, Steampunk, Historical (Victorian England)

Available Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, and eBook

My Shelf: Want to Buy

Buy the Book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Books-A-Million

In 1897 England, 16-year-old Finley Jayne is convinced she's a freak. No normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch. Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special . . . that she's one of "them."

Review:

I have to say, this is one book in which I am sad the bad guy was not victorious. He had a pretty wicked plan, in my opinion. He was determined to take over England, and how was he going to do that? By creating a cyborg Queen. That’s right. He wanted to create a cyborg/machine Queen Victoria. That’s a brilliant evil master plan, no? Just think, if he had succeeded, this could have been the current face of deception:

That’s right. I know who (or what) you really are. 

Of course, with me being me, I could not help but ponder over mundane things concerning this cyborg Queen. For instance, would she (it?) still be able to have her afternoon English teatime, or would her cyborg parts rust and combust? I think this is a very pressing question, and I am sad to see that it will not be answered. [sigh] Well, here’s to hoping the bad guy is successful in the next book. Anyway, I digress. Let’s get to the actual review and leave cyborg Queens behind, shall we?

Like many, the thing that drew me to this book initially was the cover. (It is a mighty fine cover!) To be honest, I am actually surprised at how much I liked this book. I am not a very big fan of sci-fi and books relating to machinery and/or technology, so I automatically assumed I would not care for the steampunk genre, either. However, between this book and The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, I am quickly becoming a fan.

This book is long (~500 pages), but it is definitely worth finishing. I was intrigued with Finley’s character from the start, and her Jekyll and Hyde type of personality really drew me in. Everyone has a darker nature to them, and I like how Cross actually draws out Finley’s and personifies it. It made for both an interesting storyline and character. Finley is no pushover, either. She can fight to protect herself, and she is also not hesitant to stand up to men, which are things I appreciated since they are unique characteristics in a Victorian woman. Griffin, being the rich noble he is, uses his wealth to advance his technology and way of life. He is devious without fault, and I found myself slowly warming up to him as the story progressed. There is also Jack, who is somewhat of an ambiguous character. Even at the end, I was unsure whether he is one of the ‘good guys’ or not. Both he and Griffin vie for Finley’s attention, and I have to say that I am leaning towards Jack. Nothing against Griffin, though; I just happen to like ambiguous boys. Emily, a friend of Griffin’s, is so ridiculously smart it is almost bizarre. She holds a wealth of knowledge in the field of medicine and technology, and I cannot help but wonder where she learned it all. The one character I did not care for was Tom. He annoyed me consistently. He has a deeply ingrained sense of what is right/wrong and good/evil, but it is very faulty. He came across as judgmental more than anything. His way of thinking was irksome and he does not contribute much to the story, which was probably why I dislike him. Overall, the characters were good, but I wish we could have learned more about them. Hopefully we will in the next book, and I will reserve my opinion until then.

My only critique for this book is I wish we could have gotten more of a feel for the times. The technology, medicine, and machinery were advanced and abundant in the novel, which detracted from really getting immersed in the Victorian era. Things such as the use of electricity and other modern conveniences were used frequently throughout the book and are not synonymous with that time. I often forgot that the setting was late 1800s in England and not the twenty first century. To be fair, I have not read many steampunk novels, so I am no expert, but I expected there to be a few more Victorian England details present.

I thought this was a very entertaining read and would definitely recommend it! The book was well written and detailed, there was an awesome villain (who should be victorious in the sequel!), and the plot was well crafted and piqued my interest. I cannot wait to see what happens next in The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, due out May 22, 2012. (*crosses fingers* Please let there be a cyborg Queen, please let there be a cyborg Queen!)

A Great Escape!

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and it is a weekly event showcasing an  upcoming release we're excited for!

My pick:

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent

Release Date: August 14, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers

Summary (taken from Goodreads):

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.

I am super excited for this book! I have been into steampunk lately, so this book quickly caught my eye. The premise sounds really interesting, I love the character names, and it seems like a love triangle is blissfully absent. I am also enamored with the cover, with both steampunk and historical references apparent (like a steaming Big Ben). I will be praying an ARC comes my way, but in the meantime, let’s start the wait to August! J

Further actions:

• Pre-order the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Books-A-Million
• Add this book to your to-be read list on Goodreads!
• Check out Tiffany Trent’s website, blog, and Goodreads pages! 
• Follow Tiffany Trent on Twitter!

Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe

Destiny’s Fire by Trisha Wolfe (Debut)

Release Date: January 10, 2012

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Age Group: Older Young Adult (16+)

Available Formats: Paperback and eBook
My Shelf: Own (eBook)

Buy the Book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. Her home and her secret are threatened when the Council lowers the barrier, allowing the enemy race to enter the Shythe haven.

As the Narcolym airships approach, Dez and her friends rebel against their Council and secretly train for battle. Not only is Dez wary of war and her growing affection for her best friend Jace, but she fears the change her birthday will bring. When Dez’s newfound power rockets out of control, it’s a Narcolym who could change her fate… if she can trust him.

Dez’s guarded world crumbles when she discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, and she's forced to choose between the race who raised her and the enemy she's feared her whole life.

Review:

Destiny’s Fire might just be the best debut of 2012 thus far. Trisha Wolfe has definitely crafted an amazing steampunk world filled with supernatural beings and events. I was enthralled with the story from page one, and it is brimming with action, romance, and mystery.

The world Wolfe creates is extensive and creative. The reader is immediately thrust into Dez’s world. There is no slow explanation of who is who and what is what. Instead, the reader has to piece it together bit by bit. I think this was a great move by Wolfe. Trying to explain the dynamics of politics, economy, and people would have made everything seem more complicated than it actually is and would have detracted from the story. The plot is rather simple to understand, and the plot twists had me enthralled, especially towards the end. There were times I was squirming in seat, eager to find out what happened next! And something I cannot mention or gush about enough is Wolfe’s writing. Her descriptions and details are exquisite, making the world she created really easy to visualize and get drawn into. She is able to convey the characters thoughts and feelings really well, making them very easy to relate to and understand.

Wolfe’s characters are all unique in their own way, and I liked all of them. Dez is a great female lead. She is strong, courageous, and hates being told what to do. She is also an excellent fighter, and she is not afraid to put a boy in his place. She holds a secret that makes her wanted by some and dead by others. I really liked how she was willing to always be in the action. She did not let people fight to protect her; she jumped into the fray herself. I really like female characters who standup for themselves and doesn’t let others fight their battles. Jace, coincidentally enough, is a lot like the Jace from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. They are both hotheaded and always gearing up for a fight (but Jace from TMI is way more egotistical). He is always there for Dez, and he will do anything to protect her and his brother and sister. Then there is the new guy, the ridiculously hot Reese. Excuse me for the swoon fest that is about to ensue. I have no idea what it is about Reese, but the minute he was introduced in the book, I was a lost cause. Like Jace, he is stubborn and willful, but there is something about his character that I found super intriguing. I seriously loved his character, and he is definitely on my list of favorites. Even the side characters, like Jace’s brother and sister, Nick and Lana, were great. Lana is quirky and fun, and I think she is a great friend for Dez. Nick is a lot like his brother, and he fights for what he believes in. The character dynamics were great, and I loved how they all meshed together, especially the main three.

This leads me to my next point. I know a bunch of other people mentioned a love triangle. In the beginning, there might have been a bit of one, yes. However, at the end of the book, the love triangle has all but disappeared. In fact, I really do not consider the relationship between Dez, Reese, and Jace to be a love triangle. Why? Dez cares for both of them, but there is only one she is interested in romantically. In my opinion, a love triangle is where the main character cannot choose between two people. She (or he) loves them both and is unable to decide who she/he wants to be with.  According to Wikipedia, the keeper of All Knowledge, there are two types of love triangles: there is the rivalrous triangle, where the lover is competing with a rival for the love of the beloved, and the split-object triangle, where a lover has split their attention between two love objects. (Thank you, Wiki.) The relationship dynamics featured in Destiny’s Fire does not match either definition. There were one or two moments where Reese and Jace ‘competed,’ but most of this rivalry perpetuated from the deep running hatred between the Narcolyms and Shythe. *SPOILER*(There was also this one part where Dez leads on one of the boys, which was a bad move on her part, but she did it to avoid hurting the guy’s feelings and also because she thought the other guy would never talk to her again. She did not do it because she was romantically interested in the guy.)*END SPOILER* Even when Dez is with one of the boys, who I will call Boy A, she is constantly thinking about Boy B. When she is with Boy A, she mentions how something is ‘missing,’ but when she is with Boy B, she feels like she is finally ‘home.’ In fact, she admits to never being able to be with another person besides Boy B, and she always wants them to be together forever. The only thing she is afraid of is hurting Boy A emotionally for being unable to reciprocate his feelings. (And at the end of the book, Boy A bows out and accepts the fact that he will never have Dez the way he wants.) Even though there was some relationship drama, I do not think that this constitutes a love triangle.

I am not sure if Wolfe intentionally tried to write a love triangle, but as I have already mentioned rather extensively, I personally do not think there was one (which is a good thing since I hate them!) If you like love triangles, this book might have enough drama to make you happy, but if you are like me and hate everything about them, then have no fear! There may be some moments when you get frustrated, but there is a very clearly defined romantic relationship between two of the characters, so you should have no worries.

Overall, Destiny’s Fire was an exceptional read, one everyone should check out. Wolfe is an amazing storyteller, and this book was an AWESOME debut. I cannot wait for more! There is no information about a sequel just yet, but I am sure there will be one, right, Ms. Wolfe?? (Please say yes!) Wolfe also has a novelette out, entitled Unveiled, and I am eager to get my hands on it. The premise of the story sounds interesting, so be sure to check that out as well! 

The Greatest Escape!

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: Steampunk, Historical (Victorian England)
Pages: 502
Available Formats: Hardcover and eBook
My Shelf:  Own (Hardcover)
Buy the Book: Amazon

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends. 

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Review:

I just have to start out by saying that I am completely enamored with Cassandra Clare. The Shadowhunters and the world she created around them just draw me in and leave me wanting more. She is a gifted storyteller and I devour every word. I honestly do not think she could ever disappoint me! (As long as no male characters are killed off, that is. I might be a little enraged then.)

In Clockwork Prince, we are transported back to Victorian England, a time when carriages were the main form of transportation and candles (or witchlights) were the only ways to see in the dark. I love Clare’s use of history and her knowledge of Victorian England. Her descriptions make the reader feel like they are in London themselves, getting a personal tour of Westminster Abbey’s Poets’ Corner with Jem himself. It is so real! Victorian England is not just captured in Clare’s descriptions of London and facets of life, but also in the characters themselves. Tessa’s actions and ways of thinking are those of a true Victorian era woman. There are instances where she speaks out and others when she is too forward, and she is always dwelling on the improperness of it. It is even in the minor details of the story, such as how is it scandalous for a woman to ride in the carriage with a man when they are not married or how Shadowhunter gear is too inappropriate for a woman since it shows feminine curves. The details are breathtaking and spot-on, and coupled with Clare’s amazing prose and dialogue, the story itself becomes so much more beautiful.

Of course, the main focal point of the story is the dynamic relationship between Will, Jem, and Tessa. The three of them are just pure…magic. I do not know how Clare created these brilliant characters, but I am so glad she did. Jem really shines in this book. He is finally able to step out from Will’s shadow, and as I understood more about him, it is impossible not to fall in love him. He is sweet and charming, and it is obvious he cares deeply for both Tessa and Will. In Clockwork Angel, he was always Will’s support and the nice guy that Tessa could always run to for advice or help. But in Clockwork Prince, we get to see more of who Jem really is. He gets angry with Will, embarrassed with Tessa, and there are moments when he says what he really feels. We get to know him in a much deeper way, and my heart went out to him. Tessa, in my opinion, is the perfect female heroine. She is brave, intelligent, and all in all, a strong soul. I love how much she loves books and her frequent use of literary quotes. She is a true kindred spirit, and it is so easy to relate to her. The turbulent emotions and conflicting love she holds for Jem and Will breaks my heart, just as it does hers. And I cannot forget Will! Will’s past and his curse are finally revealed and I got to understand what makes Will….well, Will. The façade he puts on for others finally begins to crack, and the real Will can be seen. His emotions are so raw and intense, and I could not help but feel for him. And of course, Will is not without his sharp tongue and repertoire of retorts!

Now about Tessa and choosing Will or Jem… I am so conflicted! I seriously love them both. Will is a troubled soul who really deserves happiness after all the sadness and pain he has been forced to endure. And Jem is a great guy who also deserves love with the limited time he has left. They are both amazing, and I love them both for different reasons! I can never choose between the two of them! I SERIOUSLY HATE LOVE TRAINGLES. This booked just helped reinforce my hatred. How can I decide, much less Tessa? However, this love triangle is well written and developed, which I think makes it a little more bearable. So many triangles today have the two men facing off in a battle of physical prowess, immediately hating and constantly insulting one another, and any other possible way of claiming the girl as their own. This is blissfully absent in Clockwork Prince, so while I hate the love triangle itself, I love how the relationship between Jem and Will remains intact and just as strong as ever. I, personally, think Tessa should just become Mormon and take them both, but I am not too sure how keen she would be to the idea. But I honestly see no downside to it! She would have two wonderful, gorgeous, funny, caring, [insert any other adjective here] men at her side! Better yet, she should find a way to just give them to me. I will keep a close eye on them. Yes, I will watch them very closely, so have no fear. I have always wanted an English man (but I guess in this case, I get two!).

Why, ‘ello, govna.

But in all seriousness, I am so conflicted. I want to pull for them both and they both deserve to be happy with Tessa, but only one will be the ‘winner.’ I hate the idea that one of them will be hurt and brokenhearted. ><

Something else I really appreciated about this book was how the relationships between characters besides Tessa, Will, and Jem developed. These developments may be a little overshadowed by the main love triangle, but they were amazing all the same. I have a new respect and liking for Henry and I think the blossoming relationship between him and Charlotte is adorable! One of the new characters, Sophie, is a great addition to the story, and her relationship with Gideon is super sweet. The growing affection they have for one another really warms the heart and I will be rooting for them! J And do not even get me started with Magnus. I really thought it was impossible for me to like him more than I already do, but I have been proven wrong. I am glad he ditched Camille and was able to find Alec!!

The story itself has plot twists galore, and with a little action thrown in now and then, it is a rollercoaster ride that makes this book physically impossible to put down. The dialogue is ridiculously witty and I cannot help but laugh out loud sometimes. Clare also is a master at writing dirty, sexy scenes, as is evident with the dirty sexy balcony scene (which was hot)! Clare really is in a league of her own. I cannot even put into words how excited I am to read the conclusion of the series, Clockwork Princess, due out September 2012. Cassandra Clare, with her flare for writing, has created an amazing series and I will eagerly be awaiting the end of it! Go Team Will and Team Jem!!

The Greatest Escape!