Review: Summerset Abbey

Summerset Abbey

By T.J. Brown

Published: January 15, 2013

My review:

Prudence Tate is the daughter of a governess but she grew up as an equal to Rowena and Victoria Buxton. The girls are best friends and treat Prudence like a sister. Everything changes though when their father Sir Philip Buxton dies unexpectedly and Rowena and Victoria must go and live with their uncle, the Earl of Summerset. Unfortunately the only way Prudence can go is as their lady's maid. While it is an adjustment for Victoria and Rowena to live in a more structured and stuffy household, for Prudence it is nothing but misery as she is made to feel unwelcome.

The story is told from the point of view of Prudence, Rowena, and Victoria. Prudence is by far the more sympathetic character with her struggles to fit in and make sense of this very different role in life. Rowena was incredibly annoying and while I liked Victoria, she also got on my nerves occasionally. At least she showed personality and stood up for Prudence though she acted like a child about it sometimes.

The plot centers around a secret involving Prudence and her mother. Really it isn't that big of a surprise though if you've read this kind of book before and I could easily figure it out. I am kind of hoping there is more to the story that we will find out as the series continues. There are also love interests for the girls with Rowena falling for an unsuitable pilot and Prudence receiving attentions from both a handsome footman and a handsome aristocrat. I  was surprised by Prudence's decision but I approve of it and look forward to where that story line will go in the sequel.

While this book has some flaws, I still enjoyed the story and I think it is because of Prudence.  I wanted to see her triumph and hope she will yet rise above her circumstances. I also hope to see Victoria grow as a character. She showed some potential to be an interesting character. I am eager to read the sequel, Summerset Abbey: A Bloom in Winter which will be released later this year. Although this book is marketed to adults, I think it would work well as teen fiction because of the age of the characters and the style of the book. Readers who enjoyed Wentworth Hall, Anna Godbersen's Luxe series, or Cinders and Sapphires might want to give Summerset Abbey a try.

Note: I received an e-ARC for review courtesy of NetGalley

Review: Insurgent

Insurgent

By Veronica Roth

Published: May 1, 2012

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

My review:

Insurgent starts immediately after the events of Divergent with Tris, Four, and their friends dealing with the horrible aftermath. Things seem darker than ever and they don't know who they can trust. This is an action packed sequel that doesn't let up in intensity until the end.

Tris is struggling with PTSD to the point where she can't even handle a gun to defend herself or protect others. She is also keeping secrets from Four which causes difficulties in their relationship on top of everything else. I think her character really has a chance to grow in this book and she has become more introspective. 

While I enjoyed the action and the little bit of romance, I think the best part of this book was Tris's character development. I appreciated the time spent in exploring the effects of violence and its aftermath and overcoming fear. I liked learning about the other factions and their various strengths and weaknesses. I am also glad that we were able to find out about the factionless. I particularly liked the discussions on what it means to be a member of a particular faction and having your own identity instead of going along with the crowd. 

I thought this was an excellent sequel but it is definitely darker in tone which fits considering everything that happened in Divergent. There were some plot twists that I didn't see coming and some characters that showed unexpected depth. The ending wasn't exactly a cliffhanger but I do want to know what is going to happen next! 

Waiting on Wednesday (114)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.   

This week, I'm waiting on:

Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza

Release date: March 12, 2013

Description from Goodreads:

Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past —that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity–style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

I read the prequel novella (available as a free e-book) Mila 2.0 Origins: The Fire and it was really riveting. I think this sounds like it could be a fantastic thriller.

Bout of Books Wrap Up

I had fun participating in Bout of Books again though I didn't spend as much time reading as I'd planned.

Goals completed:

Finished Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Read The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer

Read A Moment Comes by Jennifer Bradbury

Read Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Read three chapters of The Christian World of the Hobbit by Devin Wilkerson

Read two chapters of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

The read-a-thon helped me jump start my reading for 2013 so I feel a bit better about the pace I want to set. Now I just need to keep it up!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (133)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

This past week was the Bout of Books Read-a-Thon so I tried to make more of an effort with my reading. Though I admit I still didn't spend as much time reading as I could have, I finally seem to have shaken off some of the reading slump. 

Tonight I will be watching Downton Abbey and keeping an eye on the Golden Globes online to see how my favorite movies and actors do (Congrats to Maggie Smith for winning Best Supporting Actress for Downton Abbey!). I am hoping that Les Miserables will do well as I know it won't have a chance at the Oscars (except for Anne Hathaway). So many of this year's nominated movies are based on books which makes me really happy. Do you watch the awards shows or Downton Abbey?

Books read:

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder (reread)

I thought this book was just as good the second time around. I had planned to read Scent of Magic immediately after but decided I needed a break and picked up other books instead.

The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer

This is a little novella from the Lunar Chronicles series and features the story of a young Lunar teen who becomes a genetically modified member of the evil queen's army. I hope we will see him as a character in the regular series.

A Moment Comes by Jennifer Bradbury

I thought this was an excellent YA historical novel about Partition and the dividing of India and Pakistan in 1947. I love that the author tells the story through three different teens-a Muslim boy, a Sikh girl, and a British girl. If you like historical fiction put this on your TBR list!

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It had much more depth to it than I expected it would and I liked that it was about more than a romance. I will definitely be reading the next book.

Books reviewed:

Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

Currently reading:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

I made some progress this week though it doesn't feel like it. Still reading about the Bishop of Digne. You'd think he was the main character rather than Jean Valjean...

Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown

I just started this book today and I like it so far. I love reading books set during this time period though they just make me want to watch Downton Abbey!

What I might read next:

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

I am not sure if I will get to this book yet because I want a break from reading about the super creepy Tohon. Still I like this series so hopefully soon...

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

I plan to pick up this book again soon since it will be published in early February. I read some positive reviews and look forward to reading about the spy school and Sophronia's adventures. 

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (reread)

I read this book as required reading years ago in college and this month it is the book for one of my book discussion groups. I am eager to rediscover it after all these years.

Review: Cinders and Sapphires

Cinders and Sapphires

By Leila Rasheed

Published: January 22, 2013

My review:

Lady Ada Averley's life changes when she returns to England after living abroad in India. Her father, Lord Westlake, left India under a cloud of scandal and he is about to marry for the second time. Lady Ada has ambitions to attend Oxford, a dream that she shares with Ravi, the handsome young Indian man she meets aboard ship. She knows however that this is a dream unlikely to come true just like her secret romance with Ravi. Her new stepfamily also has its secrets and so do the servants at Somerton. 

Cinders and Sapphires capitalizes on the Downton Abbey craze but unlike other similar books, it tackles some serious issues along side the "scandal". Racism, Imperialism, women's rights, homosexuality, and social class are just a few of the themes that are explored. While these are serious topics, the book also manages to hold onto a lighter tone so it is never preachy or overbearing.

The main characters are Lady Ada and her maid Rose though we also get to read from the perspective of the valet Oliver and Lady Ada's new stepbrother Sebastian. There are many other side characters, perhaps too many. It might have worked better to save some of the story lines for the next book such as Sebastian's troubles. I think it would have allowed us to get to know the characters better without so many different stories to juggle.

Something that I really appreciated was the inclusion of an Indian as a main character. While we don't really get to read from Ravi's perspective (hopefully that will happen in the sequel) it was good to see an Indian character and to hear his thoughts on the politics of the day and how his perspective differed from Ada who thought she knew the real India. It would have been nice if this was covered in more detail but this type of book usually just touches the surface of historical topics, focusing on the scandals and romance instead.

The romance between Ada and Ravi didn't completely work for me. She fell in love with him pretty much instantly when she met him on the ship. Of course part of the appeal was that he was going to Oxford and she had dreams to go there too. He also didn't talk to her in the same way that young men of her acquaintance normally did. I just wish that the relationship was given more time to develop at a natural pace. I still liked both characters and look forward to seeing what the future holds for them as the series progresses.

Overall even with the flaws, I found this novel entertaining and even learned a little from reading it. It is somewhat similar to the Luxe series though it lacks the emotional pull. I think Cinders and Sapphires would appeal to readers who prefer their historical fiction on the lighter side and to those who just can't get enough of Downton Abbey. 

Note: I received an e-ARC for review courtesy of NetGalley

Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. There is a new subject each week and this week's topic is "Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2013"

Kitty (my cat niece) is peeved that I've neglected so many of my Kindle books

1. Read more books from my TBR pile, especially on my Kindle (100s I haven't read!)
2. Finish reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
3. Reread The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Start reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
5. Finish the reading challenges I sign up for
6. Get caught up on series like the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis
7. Read more nonfiction
8. Read books for fun and not just for review
9. Be okay with rereading
10. Read at least 100 books (I am secretly hoping to read 130 or more but will be happy with 100)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (132)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

I don't know if it my usual post-Christmas slump but I just haven't been able to concentrate on reading and haven't spent much time reading lately. It took me days to finish a book that should have only taken two at most. Thankfully I did finish a book this week and I signed up to participate in a read-a-thon as well.

This past week, I also posted my responses to the End of Year Book Survey. What were your favorites of 2012?

Books read:

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The scenes between the hero and heroine are fantastic. It does have its flaws but I thought the love story was delightfully satisfying so I gave it 5 stars.

Books reviewed:

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Currently reading:

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder (reread)

I really liked this book when I first read it last year but I never got around to reviewing it and with the sequel now released I thought I should reread Touch of Power first.

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

I saw the movie this past weekend and thought it was amazing. I haven't read anything by Victor Hugo and I have to admit the length of this book is kind of intimidating for me but I am going to read it a little at a time.

What I might read next:

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

I am looking forward to reading Scent of Magic though I've heard it isn't as good as Touch of Power.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

I've heard good things about this book so I hope I'll like it. The cover reminds me of Perfect Chemistry and similar books.

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

I hope this YA series will be as fun as the Parasol Protectorate books were. I want to know what she is going to do with those scissors! I had planned to start the year by reading this book but changed my mind and picked up other books instead. It won't be published till next month so I have a little time to read and review it still.

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon Goals

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 6.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books 6.0 team

I decided to participate in this read-a-thon because I've participated in the past and I can't resist read-a-thons but also because I haven't spent much time reading lately and when I have, I have felt pressure to complete books for review or reading challenges, etc. I am hoping that this read-a-thon will encourage me to spend less time surfing the Internet and more time reading and enjoying the experience.

My goals for the read-a-thon:

Finish reading my current book Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Read one or two books from start to finish

Read at least two chapters of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Read 1-2 chapters of The Christian World of the Hobbit by Devin Wilkerson

2012 End of Year Book Survey

The End of Year Book Survey is hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual-Page Turner

Best Book(s) You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

Adult

Contemporary: Home Front by Kristin Hannah

Historical: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

Fantasy: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Romance: The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley

Science Fiction: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn

Nonfiction: Little Princes by Conor Grennan

Young Adult

Contemporary: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Historical: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Fantasy: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Romance: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Science Fiction: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Dystopian: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Middle Grade/Juvenile 

The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens

Book You Were Excited About And Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Reached by Ally Condie, Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame, Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook

Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012? 

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien-I'd read it before and didn't care for it but when I reread it 10 years later, I was surprised by how much I loved it! 

Other books that surprised me in a good way: Little Princes by Conor Grennan (I don't read nonfiction very much so I wasn't sure I'd get into it but I was wrong), Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (hated it at first but kept going and liked it), and Cinder by Marissa Meyer (a case of don't judge a book by its cover!)

Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

Little Princes by Conor Grennan, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, The Diviners by Libba Bray, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Best series you discovered in 2012?

The Maggie Hope mysteries by Susan Elia MacNeal, A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, the Healer series by Maria V. Snyder

Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Marissa Meyer, Sara Zarr, Adriana Trigiani, Rachel Hartman

Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

The Little Princes by Conor Grennan, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

Insurgent by Veronica Roth, The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead, The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Most memorable character in 2012? 

Eddard Stark and Tyrion Lannister (A Game of Thrones)

Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

Little Princes by Conor Grennan and Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read?

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012?

"...a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." ~A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Shortest and Longest Book You Read In 2012?

Darth Vader and Son by Jeffrey Brown (shortest not counting e-novellas) and A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (longest)

Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Taken By Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins

Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

The friendship between Maddie and "Verity" in Code Name Verity, the sibling relationship between Michael and Emma Wibberly in The Fire Chronicle, the romance between Josef and Lenka in The Lost Wife, and the budding relationship between Sydney and Adrian in The Golden Lily

Favorite Book(s) You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan, Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Little Princes by Conor Grennan

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I finished all 12 of the reading challenges that I participated in and I reached my goal of reading 127 books.

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Books You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson, The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead, Book 3 in the Divergent Series by Veronica Roth, Requiem by Lauren Oliver, and The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

I hope to reread The Lord of the Rings which I haven't read in a few years. I also want to read more classics and maybe read more books on my TBR pile. As for my blog, I need to find a way to revitalize it and make book blogging fun again.

Review: Falling Kingdoms

Falling Kingdoms

By Morgan Rhodes

Published: December 11, 2012

My review:

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power--brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past--and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

I wanted to read Falling Kingdoms because it was being promoted as "A Game of Thrones for teens". I knew going in that there was no way that it would match the level of George R.R. Martin's work so I was not disappointed.  There are some characters that would have fit right in at King's Landing, some of the story lines reminded me of A Game of Thrones and the chapters are told from the viewpoint of four main characters. The book also focuses on political themes and the power struggle between kingdoms which is similar but that is where the similarities end. 

The characters are not very likable though they did grow on me (some of them anyway). Cleo starts out as a spoiled princess though she isn't cruel and vindictive. She just lets things happen and allows someone too much control over her life. By the end she has realized her mistakes but it is too little too late. Lucia is kind of bland. I felt sorry for her though as she is a pawn. Jonas is a hothead and I hope he will become a better person in the next book. Magnus was just creepy in a spawn-of-Tywin-Lannister way.

In spite of the flaws, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Falling Kingdoms. It is something of a page turner and I think for those who would be intimidated by longer works of fantasy, it is only 400 pages long. I liked the political intrigue and trying to figure out what was going to happen. I would have enjoyed it more if there was more room for character development and if the characters were more likable but it was entertaining and I do plan to read the sequel. Falling Kingdoms is a darker political fantasy and while the writing and characterization are not on the same level as A Game of Thrones it is more similar in tone to that work than other YA fantasy making it perhaps best suited for more mature teens.


Note: I received an e-arc for review courtesy of Edelweiss

2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

The purpose of the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge is to read books from a list of over 100 favorite titles nominated by book bloggers. I've always liked participating in this challenge because you get to read all kinds of great books. This year, I even contributed some of my favorites to the list. 

Last year, I signed up for Level 1 (5 books) and I am hoping to reach the same goal this year. Some of the books I might read for the challenge:

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks

The Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge is hosted by Reading with Tequila. 

2013 Eclectic Reader Challenge

I am once again participating in the Eclectic Reader Challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to read from a variety of genres. This year, the genres are:

1. Translated fiction
2. Historical mystery
3. Romantic suspense
4. Made into a movie
5. New Adult
6. Urban fantasy
7. Dystopian
8. Memoir
9. LGBT
10. Action Adventure
11. Humor
12. Published in 2013

I haven't read any "New Adult" books yet and I know they are really popular. I think for New Adult, I will read either Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry or Easy by Tammara Webber. 

If you'd like to participate, you can sign up at Book'd Out

2013 Off the Shelf Challenge

After finally completing the Off the Shelf Challenge in 2012, I've decided to sign up again this year to whittle down more of my TBR pile!

My goal is to reach the Tempted level (5 books). 

Some of the books I might read:

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

The American Heiress by Daisy Godwin 

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Gone by Michael Grant

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Tamar by Mal Peet

StarCrossed by Elizabeth Bunce

The Off the Shelf challenge runs from January 1-December 31, 2013 and is hosted by Bookish Ardour