[Review: Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate]

"Seven Ways We Lie"
Author: Riley Redgate
Series: None
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Date Published: March 8th, 2016
Publisher: Amulet Books
Format Read: ARC provided by publisher for honest review

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Summary:

 Paloma High School is ordinary by anyone’s standards. It’s got the same cliques, the same prejudices, the same suspect cafeteria food. And like every high school, every student has something to hide—whether it’s Kat, the thespian who conceals her trust issues onstage; or Valentine, the neurotic genius who’s planted the seed of a school scandal.

When that scandal bubbles over, and rumors of a teacher-student affair surface, everyone starts hunting for someone to blame. For the unlikely allies at the heart of it all, the collision of their seven ordinary-seeming lives results in extraordinary change.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

There are a few things that I normally don't like reading in YA fiction, mainly stories that take place in the halls of high school, and books with more than two POVs. If you know anything about Seven Ways We Lie, you know that both of these things are written into the story. But in a strange turn of events, this is good news. See, Redgate has managed to write a story that kept me swept up in the tale, even when she used some of my least favorite story components. Her writing is quick, sharp, and makes you take note of the things she's trying to say. All in all, she's an interesting author with a strong, unique voice, and I didn't feel like I was reading a debut from her as I dug into this book.

I think it's the fact that even though Seven Ways We Lie is told through the viewpoint of seven students, the flow of the novel isn't interrupted. Sure we see things from different view points, but I never felt confused, and I always felt like I was getting somewhere in the story. The story was pushing forward, and each character had something to say that I needed to know. And yet, Redgate made sure that I cared about, or at least had strong feelings about, each of the characters in their own rite. 

Sure, there were a few characters that I didn't care for, and there are a few that I connected to a bit too closely, but the fact is, I felt things about each of them. And that's important when you're writing a story with so many main characters. You want to make sure that your reader feels something about each of them, and Redgate does that in spades!

I was also captivated by the fact that each of the seven characters took on the seven deadly sins. It was fun to figure out who was who, and why, and what part they all played in the student/teacher scandal at the school. 

That might actually be my only complaint with this book. I found that the student/teacher scandal was a bit simple. I wish it would have been fleshed out a bit more. But at the same time it was its simplicity that really made the characters shine, so I'm really not sure why it bugged me, but I can say that it did.

If you're looking for a book that takes place in high school that's told in a unique way, this is the book for you. I highly recommend it!

Rating:

4 Unicorns = Close to perfect! 

[Review: The Steep & Thorny Way by Cat Winters]

"The Steep & Thorny Way"
Author: Cat Winters
Series: None
Pages: 352
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Date Published: March 8th, 2016
Publisher: Amulet Books
Format Read: ARC provided by publisher for honest review

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Summary:

A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten.

1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather.

The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

Cat Winters has done it again. She's mixed historical horrors with paranormal horrors, and still managed to make the historical ones chill my blood more than the supernatural ones. As soon as I heard that she was writing a reimagining of Hamlet set in 1920's Oregon, I knew this was going to be one of my most anticipated reads of 2016, and boy oh boy, I wasn't wrong in assuming it would be quick favorite. 

Though Hanalee is Winters' main protagonist, she doesn't shy away from adding a secondary lead in the form of Joe. Not only were both of these characters amazing on their own, but when you put them together, actual magic happens. They're the most unlikely SHIP ever, but even with main plot points being in the way, I still found myself SHIPING them, and then I found myself satisfied with how Winters wrapped those two kids together. They're a dynamic duo, and one that I'm glad I got to "meet".

The historical detail that Winters goes into is something to praise. She doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. She puts her characters through the ringer to make sure that history isn't forgotten. I found myself being shocked by facts about the KKK that I wasn't privy to before I read this novel. The Klan's prejudice wasn't directed at one people group, but a large collection. Jews, homosexuals, and Catholics were also persecuted in the name of their cause, and I applaud Winters for making sure that she added these facts into her story. It's terrifying, but it's a part of our history that shouldn't be forgotten. 

Winters also adds in bootlegging, ghosts, and so many twists and turns that you don't know where to look. This might be Hanalee and Joe's story, but it's also a story about the human soul, and it proves that no matter what gets thrown at us, there is always a way to uncover the truth. There is always a time to find true friendship. And there is always a place to finally call home.

Wanna know more? I interviewed Cat over at Bystander Mag, and she has a lot of interesting things to say!

Rating:

     5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this one NOW!

[Review: Ensnared by A.G. Howard]

"Ensnared"
Author: A.G. Howard
Series: Splintered #3
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retellings
Date Published: January 6th, 2015
Publisher: Amulet Books
Format Read: Purchased hardback

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Summary:

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She's determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world--a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that's gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Ensnared:

Parting is always such sweet sorrow and leaving you behind is kind of like that. I have loved the books that fill your series and even though some of your plot points bugged me. We can't love everything about each other. That's what makes a real friendship and you, book, seem to be a good way to end ours. That is until I decide to read all of you and your companions again. Thanks for doing you and all the creepiness that that implies. 

-The White Unicorn

I've had this weird, uncontrollable love for A.G. Howard's Splintered series from the beginning. The imagery is some of the best that I've read in a long time, and you get pulled into the dark, twisted world that she builds, without even realizing it. That being said I've also had issues with the whole series, namely a dude named Jeb, but I have to admit that I might have felt something like love for him in the last installment of this series. All in all I have to say that this has been a fun ride and I'm pretty bummed that it's over. I'm totally okay if Howard wants to write a few more novellas to go along with this series, that's all I'm saying. 

Ensnared is full up of all the adventure of the last two novels in the series. This time Al has to sneak through the cracks in a mirror to see if she can save the people most important to her, with the help of her father. Howard uses this chance to examine a different realm of Wonderland. This time we are in AnyElsewhere. It's where all the broken creatures of Wonderland come to play, so the creatures held within will make your skin crawl. The world building is once again top notch, and I love that Howard gives us a different view of her Wonderland. It really does play out well. 

I also adored the fact that we get to see more of Al and her father interacting. The family aspect of these books has always been something that I admire and Ensnared delivered on that front. It was also awesome to see what the whole story behind Al's father's family was. Howard even introduced us to a few new characters this way. And of course, getting Al's mother back was all a part of the plot. I do wish that we would have gotten to know Al's mom better in the scheme of things, but this is a small complaint. 

Of course there were also many of the original characters in play. Chessie has a rather large role and I love this version of him, so it's always delightful to see him out and about. We had a new fairy bouncing around by the name of Nikki and Rabid shows his face a few times as well. Throw in the evil Queens that we've come to know so well and the whole cast (plus some) were there. 

The reason why this book isn't getting 5 unicorns comes from the conclusion of the love triangle that Al has been in the middle of all this time. As a story teller I think that Howard was really clever with the conclusion. From a story telling POV, I can't really fault her with her choices and I think they fit well with the story that she has established. That being said, I selfishly wanted a different conclusion. I wanted something more definitive to happen. Al has always seemed a bit weak in her relationships to me and the end game didn't make her feel any stronger. I wish I felt differently, but I do not. 

I'm so glad that I delved into this world that Howard created and that I got to meet Morpheus, who still wins, out of all the characters she pinned, in my book anyway. He was perfect in this final chapter and I couldn't have asked for more. I mean except the one thing I wish would have happened for him in a nicer way. But what am I saying. I'm just showing favoritism, which I think he would approve of.

If you have ever been a fan of Alice in Wonderland, you need to read this series. The books are beautiful even if they are a bit flawed. But isn't that how all the best things in life are?

Rating: 

4 Unicorns = Close to Perfect!

[Review: The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters]

"The Cure for Dreaming"
Author: Cat Winters
Series: None
Pages: 368
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Date Published: October 14th, 2014
Publisher: Amulet Books
Format Read: Hardcover provided by publisher for honest review

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Summary:

Olivia Mead is a headstrong, independent girl—a suffragist—in an age that prefers its girls to be docile. It’s 1900 in Oregon, and Olivia’s father, concerned that she’s headed for trouble, convinces a stage mesmerist to try to hypnotize the rebellion out of her. But the hypnotist, an intriguing young man named Henri Reverie, gives her a terrible gift instead: she’s able to see people’s true natures, manifesting as visions of darkness and goodness, while also unable to speak her true thoughts out loud. These supernatural challenges only make Olivia more determined to speak her mind, and so she’s drawn into a dangerous relationship with the hypnotist and his mysterious motives, all while secretly fighting for the rights of women. Winters breathes new life into history once again with an atmospheric, vividly real story, including archival photos and art from the period throughout.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Cure For Dreaming,

I'm just going to say, I love you. You're the best kind of Historical Fiction. The kind that blends reality and fiction together in a way that seems seamless. You terrified me with some brutal metal pictures, of both the paranormal kind and the reality of what women used to and still can go through. You tell a story of woman's rights in a way that makes me really pay attention. I also love that your drenched in Dracula lore, it gives the story an extra punch. You're the best.

-The White Unicorn

Do you love Historical Fiction? Do you love vampire lore? Do you dig woman's rights? Do you like magic? If you answered yes to all or any of these questions, then The Cure for Dreaming is the book for you. Seriously, go read it right now.

It's no secret that I fell in love with Cat Winter's first book, In the Shadow of Blackbirds and that I was awaiting her Sophomore novel while twiddling my thumbs in anticipation. The wait was worth it and Winter's has provided us with yet another atmospheric, haunting and surprising novel. She has a way with words that makes you feel everything that her characters feel. Instead of feeling like a bystander, you fell like you're a fly on the wall, living in the world that's been printed in words on the page. There was a dream that Olivia has that almost made me gag and not many books make me feel the emotions of the characters in such a tangible way.

Let's talk about Olivia. She's a firecracker and a fighter and a girl who refuses to accept the world as it is. She believes that women are smart and independent and that they should have a voice. Her mother ran off on her and her father years ago and Olivia sees that she's an independent woman. Her father, on the other hand thinks that women should be silent and do only what they are told by the men of the household. Winter's writes about the suffragette movement and the treatment of women in such a way that you feel for Olivia and every girl in this book. Once Olivia is able to see what the world is really like, her world becomes even more terrifying that it first was. I loved that no matter how scary things got for her that she never gave up and she never backed down. Girls like her, even though she's fictional, are the reason that we as women get to live life the way we do and I love that Winter's chose to write about this topic and that she chose Olivia to helm her book.

The added story arc of hypnotism and magic is a wonderful one. It keeps things interesting, while still driving the point home. This book is about woman's rights, but it's also about relationships and learning who you are and who you can be. Henri is a huge part of Olivia's journey. He's alluring, but he's not always the hero. I liked this about him. His reasons are good ones, but when he hypnotizes Olivia, you can't help but feel a little off put by him. I couldn't get a clear read on him in the first half of the book and I found myself doubting him as the book went along, but  I couldn't help being a fan as well. 

The romance between the two is there, but it's light. I'm glad that it exists, but I also love what direction Winter's takes it in. She never let's Olivia fall into depending souly on a male, which makes the main point of this novel hit home even more. Sure you'll swoon, but I think we can all agree that everything works out how it's supposed to. (If you haven't read this book, I'm sorry that I'm not sorry that I'm being vague. Guess you'll just have to read it for yourself to know what I'm talking about)

Winter's also heavily weaves literature into her story. Which fits her Oregon setting. Olivia is obsessed with Dracula and writing and all of this comes into play. It all has it's place in the story, because nothing that Olivia's father does to her to keep her docile works out the way he has planned.

Seriously, just stop whatever you're doing and read this book. It's important and on top of that it's brilliant and what more could you want from a novel?

Rating:

     5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: Unhinged by A.G. Howard]

"Unhinged"
Author: A.G. Howard
Series: Splintered #2
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Retellings, Fairytales, Fantasy
Date Published: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Amulet
Format Read: ARC provided by publisher for honest review

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Summary:

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

Let me tell you one thing, I was so excited to dive back into Howard's colorful and freaky re-imagining of Wonderland.  There is something so beautiful and strange about the way she brings this world that is so familiar to life.  She does it in a way that you've never seen before, a way that just pulls you right into the world that she's created.  I missed this Wonderland and the characters that inhabit it and it was awesome to be able to go back and see what all these twisted characters were up to.

Unhinged starts off a year after the happenings of Splintered.  I thought this was great call, as it gives us a glimpse into Alyssa's life when she's a little more mature and a little less in the dark about everything.  It also brings all of the weirdness of Wonderland into the real world.  Sure there are times where you get moments in Wonderland, but most of the action and story takes place in Al's hometown.  It makes things both more and less strange, but overall, I thought it was a good call to pull us back into a normal setting with flashes of Wonderland's oddities.  

The story itself is a twisted one.  Howard weaves the tangled threads of her story masterfully.  She connects all of the loose ends of the mysteries that she presents, even if she doesn't tie them off.  Where Splintered had some surprises hidden in it's pages, the mysteries are what really propel the story in Unhinged.  Nothing is ever as it seems and everything is connected in ways that you can't even imagine.  Sure, I guessed a few of the things, but mostly I was just along for the ride.  I also liked how Alyssa's parents were a huge part of the plot this time around.  It gave us this sense of family that added a new flavor in the tale.

Once again, I'm not a huge fan of the love triangle that Alyssa is in the middle of.  The whole "have this now, cause you get to have this later" thing is not one of my favorite love story tropes.  Of course this is just my personal opinion, which is probably brought on by the fact that I just want Al and Morpheus together already!

Oh Morpheus!  Now I get to talk about one of my favorite anti-heroes!  I've always been a fan of the anti-hero and Morpheus takes the cake for me.  Yes, I appreciate the rest of Howard's cast, but it's all about the conflicted moth for me.  There were so many amazing moments, where he really got to shine and you got to know him better in the pages of Unhinged.  He became even more layered and confusing, while also being more open, if that is even possible.  Plus, there are some heart warming and heart wrenching moments that are wrapped around him and Al's blooming love story.  

Shockingly, I wasn't driven as nut's by Jeb this time around, but I'll let you know that he's still not my favorite character ever.  Chessie got some more screen time and it was fun to see him in a different element then I'm used to.  Also Rabid White popped up in all of his creepy glory.  Don't worry lots more Wonderlanders showed up too and it was awesome to see them.

All in all, I have to say that I was really impressed with Unhinged.  I feel like it was even better then the first novel.  And with that cliff hanger of an ending, I can't wait to see what Howard has up her sleeve for the third book.  I see things getting even more messy then they already are and that excites me!  

If you were a fan of the first book, have a love for all things weird and love a retelling of Alice in Wonderland then these books are for you.  I'll see you on the other end of the rabbit hole!

Rating:

  4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!