Tag: Young Adult

book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

What I’m Listening To: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

byjehunterLeave a comment

A Young Adult Audiobook Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Early this week, I mentioned I was going out on a long road trip. Audiobooks always make the time go faster, so for this trip I borrowed a copy of Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Taylor, Laini Unabridged Edition (September 27, 2011) (associate link), as presented by Hachette Audio and performed by Khristine Fran. I’d heard about the book a few times and seen it around. It sounded interesting enough (and was immediately available) so I picked it up. I was pleasantly impressed.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone begins by following the Story of Karou, who lives in Prague, and whom we slowly find out isn’t quite human. I found it a bit slow to start, there is action right away, but not too much knowledge, which means I didn’t immediately understand where the story was going. But the writing is beautifully descriptive, which I love in an audiobook, and the dialogue was snappy and fun. There was a shift three-quarters of the way through the book, which changed the pace a bit, and slowed things down at a moment when I wanted them to pick up, but then I fell into the second story and began enjoying everything again.

fullsizerender-8

The audiobook itself was well done. The narrator overall did a pretty good job voicing the characters. I especially liked her voice for Brimstone and Zuzana. There were a couple points where the voice for Karou got a bit high-pitched for my liking, but they were few and far between.

The whole, side 1 vs side 2 storyline is a bit old hat (I found this a bit like The Girl at Midnight, though both stories are very unique), but this book is well done with strong characters. My only real complaint would be all the discussions about how “beauty doesn’t matter”, yet everyone in the book is “achingly” beautiful I *almost* wanted to puke. But enough about that. Well, not enough. I wrote a short essay about that, which I’ll post tomorrow.

But for now, if you’re looking for a good Young Adult Fantasy Story on Audiobook, this might be the one for you.

4/5 Stars.

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

Blogging · book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

What I’m Reading: The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey

byjehunterLeave a comment

Well, I finally did it. I finally read those last ten pages of The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey.  Yay. It might have taken me forever, but I loved this book. I really wish that life hadn’t been so full of interruptions and that I could have read The Shadow Hour (associate link) in a shorter time frame, since I hate when I begin to forget what’s happening.

FullSizeRender-6

I read Girl At Midnight last summer, and ever since I’d been looking forward to the sequel, and it didn’t disappoint. Echo is a lovely heroine, the right amount of fierceness and vulnerability. The characters are all stars, really, but Jasper was my favourite in this book. Full of action, The Shadow Hour didn’t disappoint. There were a few nit-picky things about it though, like the purposeful use of cliches’ that grated my nerves just a little bit, but for the most part, I could forget about these lines and move through the story. There was a lot happening, and rarely a slow moment, so it was easy to keep moving (when life didn’t interrupt).

Now, the only thing I hate about reading new releases is how long you have to wait for the next book in the series. Summer 2017 can’t come fast enough, I can’t wait to read more of Echo’s adventures.

5/5 Stars

JEH

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

What I’m Reading: Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

byjehunterLeave a comment

YA Book Review: Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Mechanica (associate link) by Betsy Cornwell, is a Cinderella Story. Now, Cinderella is probably my second favorite fairy tale (after the Twelve Dancing Princesses), so I thought I would like this book. And I did like Mechanica, but I didn’t love it. But I did love the cover, which is why I picked up the book.

FullSizeRender (2)

The first bit that slowed me down was the beginning. Right at the start the author gives us a couple of chapters of backstory about the main character Nicolette. Okay, this is a Cinderella story, I don’t need background, I already know how the main character (who is later called Mechanica), got to be in her present situation

And because of all the background, the pace felt really slow.

But there were some things I really did like about the book. I liked the steampunk element, and I loved the description. My favorite was the Night Market, and if you’ve read the book you’ll know why. I could have stayed at the Night Market forever. But while there was a fair bit of tension, there just was not enough action, and there really could have been.

It appears that this book is the first in a series, with the second book due out next year. I’ll be honest. I’m not likely to read book 2, as there are many other series I’ve enjoyed more. However, I still found the book pleasing to read, if not exciting.

3/5 Stars.

 

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

byjehunterLeave a comment

It’s been a slow week for my blog. I apologize. But there was the little teeny-tiny book that was release on Sunday called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two (Special Rehearsal Edition Script): The Official Script Book of the Original West End Production(associate link). You may have heard of it. Well, possibly not that full titled, but the shorter one: Harry Potter 8. Well, after a crazy start to my week, I cracked open the golden tome of goodness, and just couldn’t stop reading. I finished the book very quickly, as it’s a play, it’s much quicker than any of J.K Rowling’s previous novels (with the exception of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Tales of Beedle the Bard, and Quiddich Through The Ages). Anyway, it’s quick. Like lightning. Which meant that after spending a few short hours with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, I went into heavy withdrawal.

Again.

IMG_3856.JPG

It’s been a long time since I first got over Harry Potter. And now here I am, feeling like I have to get over him all over again. Only it isn’t so much Harry this time, as Albus, and wasn’t Ron great, too? He’s always great. If you’ve read it, I’m sure you can commiserate with my misery. It was great, but too brief. I want more. I need more. When can I get more?

And these questions don’t seem to go away.

For Rowling, and HP, as always, 5/5 stars.

 

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

book review · Young Adult · Young Adult Books

YA Book Review: The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

byjehunterLeave a comment

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong, is the third book of the Darkest Powers Trilogy. Like the other two books in this series, I read this back in 2012. This is what I wrote in my book journal:

Finally Chloe smartens up and makes some obvious decisions. Sometimes I think there’s nothing that irritates me as much as a novel that allows the reader to know something      L-O-N-G before the main character does. The entire way through the Darkest Powers Trilogy, I was amazed by the lacking of locations. This was definitely more of a character driven young-adult paranormal book, than a world driven book. I’m not sure it was my type. It was well written throughout, but not as heart-thumping as it could have been.

IMG_1322

I gave the book 3/5 stars.

 

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

School

Best Back to School YA Books

byjehunterLeave a comment

It’s  that time of year again, you go out to the shops and the aisles are crammed with school supplies. No matter who you are, you can’t help but thing of the years you spent—or have yet to spend—at school. It definitely gets me thinking, and feeling a bit nostalgic for the pre-school wonder of “just what is going to happen this year”. Which led me to making this post about the 10 Best Back to School YA Books.

Maybe you’re a student wanting to get ready for the upcoming year. Maybe you’re dreading it. Maybe you’re a parent hoping to give something to their kid to prove that school doesn’t have to be so bad. Or maybe you’re just like me, and looking for something to remind you of a past that was wayyyyy too long ago (but aren’t you thankful you don’t have to live through it again? At least in a form other than paperback.

So, enough with all the ado, here’s my countdown of the 10 Best Back to School themed YA Books.

10. Twilight

 

Yeah, I know, a lot of people are haters of the Twilight series (or pretend they are anyway), but there’s just something about Forks High School that makes me want to go there. Maybe it’s the dreary weather: the grey skies and rain. Maybe it’s the lush subtemperate rainforest. Or maybe it’s walking into a school and meeting vampires there. Or just making new friends. One things for sure, ‘s Twilight books definitely have the high school vibe.

9. Vampire Academy

Yes, yes, another series with vampires in it. Well maybe it’s because teenagers like to be up all night and sleep all day. It’s a natural rhythm according to some doctors (so I’ve heard). Also, I was one of those teenagers who preferred the dark hours. Which is why Vampire Academy makes this list: because they go to school at night. Classes in the dark. How cool would that be?

8. The Secret Circle

This is a classic, and if you’re a reader of my blog you know I’ve brought it up before. In The Secret Circle, Cassie shows up at a new school and is brought into the clique. She finds a world of mystery and love and friendship and adventure, and hey, if that’s not high school, then what is?

7. Ender’s Game

For those futuristic folks, here’s another classic. Not only does Ender get to go to an awesome, futuristic school, he’s… wait, spoilers for those who haven’t read it. I had to read this book when I was in High School, and I have to say, it was the favourite novel any one forced on me. Hardly homework. I loved it.

6. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch

Another new school, another discovery of magical powers. But this isn’t just any school, it’s got pirates, sea-witches, mermaids, selkies, orcies, sea nymphs, you name it. There’s a rainy, dreary atmosphere, and dorms filled with friends. If I could go to a school on a small island in a remote location, this would definitely be the one I’d choose.

5. Switched

Getting in trouble at school over and over again? Who can’t relate to that. Feeling like an outside? A misfit? Then maybe this is the book for you. The Trylle world might be just what you need to survive another year at “Not-so-great High”.

4. The Outsiders

Again, they made me read this in High School. But I’ve read it multiple times since. They’re plenty of hot headed teenagers in this book, and characters that you can really relate to. Are your friends always fighting? Do you have a love on the wrong side of the tracks? Then maybe this book is what you need. The best part? The author wrote the book when she was a teen herself.

3. This Place Has No Atmosphere

I loved this book in High School, and I still love it today. It will forever be a classic in my heart. No matter if it becomes outdated. Just think of it like an alternate reality. But really, going to the first school on the moon, leaving behind all of your friends to venture out into the great unknown? Now that’s a senior year I could get behind.

2. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Running away usually gets you nowhere, but in Percy’s case, it got him to a school full of demi-Gods. Archery lessons? Sure, why not. Magic? That sounds pretty cool too. And great friends that may or may not be entirely human? Why wasn’t my school more like that?

1. Anything Harry Potter

 

Yeah, when I started writing this list, I knew exactly how it would end. There’s just something so wondrous about a school with moving staircases, talking pictures, and tables  that become magically laden with food at meal times. Not to mention the cozy Gryffindor dorms—who doesn’t want to live in a castle turret? And then there’s the whole castle, the haunted forest, and a lake with mermaids in it. This is my dream school. I would go back to school again if I could only go to Hogwarts. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’d never leave. I’d have to become a teacher. That would probably be the best job ever.

Got anything to add? What’s your favourite back to school book?

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

book review · Paranormal · Young Adult

YA Book Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

byjehunterLeave a comment

YA Book Review: The Summoning (Darkest Powers Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong

I read this book in 2011, so it’s been a while. But as part of my project to put as many book reviews up on my site as I can, I’m going back in time to review this one. Good thing I’ve kept a book journal for over six years now.

The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1)(associate link), by Kelley Armstrong, is the first book in a YA Paranormal Series about a girl named Chloe. Right from the start we know that Chloe is different, and she’s about to go through a whole world of hardship.

In my journal from a few years ago, this is what I wrote:

I’ve seen these books on the shelves for quite some time now, so I finally decided to buy them for my ereader since I’d be travelling, and I just got around to reading the first one. I was pleasantly surprised. A couple times the text seemed to jump from here to there, and I wondered if my ereader was skipping pages (it wasn’t). The story was rather engaging, but not quite as descriptive as I would have liked, but I definitely want to continue reading to discover what happens to Chloe.

As you can see in the picture from my journal, I gave The Summoning 4/5 stars. I’ll post my review of book 2 and 3 later this week.

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

Fairy Tales · Young Adult

My Life as a Fairy Tale

byjehunterLeave a comment

I’ve been reading a fair amount of stuff lately that’s been inspired by the classic fairy tales. I love fairy tales. I often love retellings. But there are some fairy tales I love more than others.

When I was a kid, my favorite tale was Cinderella. This may have had something to do with the fact that we owned two Disney fairy tale books, Snow White, and the aforementioned Cinderella. Well, my older sister declared early on that Snow White was her favourite, and since sharing never really works with kids, I decided that Cinderella was my favourite. It was a default choice, and whether or not Snow White ever stood a chance, I’ll never know. I used to daydream about secret worlds, fairy godmothers, and magical castles. I used to wish I could step into a fairy ring and disappear into a magical world. I tried. Nothing ever happened.

IMG_0908

When I was was slightly older, I was exposed to more fairy tales. The real, dark, Grimm fairy tales. My favourite book was the old one of my mother’s, in which I found the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Maybe it was the picture inside. Maybe it was all the trees made of diamonds or the thought of dancing all night. But I loved this story. And it has been my favourite fairy tale ever since.

Alas, my life is nothing like a fairy tale. Just to give you an example, here is the story of my life in fairy tale format:

J. E. Hunter grew up among the glittering, golden prairies with two loving parents and an older sister who was occassionally mean to her, but nothing like the step-sisters in Cinderella. At the precious age of 16, Hunter was forced to get a job to pay for the nice clothing she wanted to wear, and the books she had a desperate desire to read. Hunter was offered a job in a hamburger joint, and began making burgers for the masses, though she was often put on french fry duty instead. Occassionally, the Overlord would yell at Hunter, but she was strong, and she never cried. One day, she burnt her arm. One day, she was suspended for missing a shift to attend a familiy holiday. Hunter had had enough. Hunter decided that she must change her destiny. Hunter ventured down the short path to the local University. Hunter never met a prince, never fell down a rabbit hole, and never saw a glass slipper, fairy godmother, or a pumpkin that could turn into a coach. What Hunter did see was a bunch of books, plenty of paper, and a few mean professors. Hunter found a good job, got married, and is now attempting to live happily ever after by writing books.

It’s hardly romantic. But hey, it’s not the end of my journey, so maybe there’s a fairy godmother out there yet. On thing I’m pretty sure of, is that no matter how old I get, I’ll never stop wishing for someone to be looking out for me. Especially if they can grant wishes. Because wouldn’t it be awesome to have even one wish granted? No, to decide on that wish…

Need some new fairy tale books to relieve the magic? What’s your favorite story?

                                                                                 

 

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Broken Tide, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016, after Dead Water and Doomed Seas, two Novellas featuring Caesar.

Young Adult

What I’m Reading: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass

byjehunterLeave a comment

YA Book Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

I was pretty excited to read this second series by Throne of Glass author Sara J. Maas. And I have to say that my feelings about A Court of Thorns and Roses are pretty mixed. You can find my review of Throne of Glass here.

Loosely based on the fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, A Court of Thorns and Roses(associate link) takes place in a fantastical land of High Fae and Fairies, into which a human girl, Feyre, is thrown. While this book can be found alongside the Throne of Glass books in the young adult section of the book store, let’s get one thing straight – this is not a young adult fairy tale, this is clearly New Adult. There are some fairly explicit sexual scenes in this book, not to mention some pretty gory violence. This might surprise some people who are looking for more of the typical innocent cut-scene type stuff seen in young adult fiction. The problem, it seems, is that “New Adult” is mostly a theoretical category of fiction, and not yet a reality. Also, while the book had these “gritty” sex scenes, I didn’t feel like it needed it. They could have been toned way down and the story might actually have been better.

IMG_3644

Now, because of that, my review of this novel is fairly mixed. I liked the story, but what I loved was the unique world of Fairies Maas has created. But A Court of Thorns and Roses is primarily a romance, and I felt that Feyre was constantly being rescued by very handsome, very powerful men. This was pretty unlike the Throne of Glass universe (though, arguably, Caeleana is still rescued by many men in those books, too). And I’m not a big fan of books like this. I like adventure, I like boldness, and I like heroines that don’t have to be rescued. I also don’t like drop-dead gorgeous men…much (give me men with substance).

All of that said, I still enjoyed ACOTAR, but not as much as TOG. And then there is still that pesky issue of this being classified as teen fiction… Yeah, I’m a bit torn. It was good, but could have been better. I’ll give it a 3/5. I’ll probably read the next book in the series, but it’s not something I feel I need to pick up immediately.

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Black Depths, the first two books of the series can be found on  Amazon,  Kobo,  iBooks,  Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016.

book review · Young Adult

What I’m Reading: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

byjehunterLeave a comment

YA Book Review: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

If you haven’t read my review of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, then start there before reading my review of the amazing sequel.


While Hollow City had sat on my To-Read Bookshelf for a couple of years, ever since I finished reading Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children shortly after returning from Iceland, it took me no time at all to read Hollow City once I started. Follow this link to get yourself a copy of Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children. 

Riggs is great at pacing, and right from the start the children are running from the wights, and the reader runs right along. The pace is kept up through the entire novel, making it a fun and quick-moving read. The characters are all lovely and believable, the relationships grow, though maybe I could have gotten to know a few of the children better—but it’s a fairly large cast, so I can see where the trouble lies.

Like the first book, the pictures throughout Hollow City really bring the story to life. Each photograph is carefully chosen and inserted into just the right place. I love the time travel, I love the black and white, and really, I just loved this book.

With the moving for Miss Peregrine’s coming out in September, now is the time to begin reading this series if you haven’t started yet. I certainly know I look forward to reading Library of Souls sooner rather than later.

5/5 Stars.

 

J. E. Hunter is the author of the Black Depths Series. Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, and Black Depths, the first two books of the series can be found on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. The third book, Dark Shores, was released April 1, 2016. The fourth and last book of the Black Depths series, Twisted Currents, will be released in the fall of 2016.