[Review: Among the Red Stars by Gwen C. Katz]

"Among the Red Stars"
Author: Gwen C. Katz
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, War Stories
Date Published: October 3rd, 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format Read: eARC provided by the publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

World War Two has shattered Valka’s homeland of Russia, and Valka is determined to help the effort. She knows her skills as a pilot rival the best of the men, so when an all-female aviation group forms, Valka is the first to sign up.

Flying has always meant freedom and exhilaration for Valka, but dropping bombs on German soldiers from a fragile canvas biplane is no joyride. The war is taking its toll on everyone, including the boy Valka grew up with, who is fighting for his life on the front lines.

As the war intensifies and those around her fall, Valka must decide how much she is willing to risk to defend the skies she once called home.

Inspired by the true story of the airwomen the Nazis called Night Witches, Gwen C. Katz weaves a tale of strength and sacrifice, learning to fight for yourself, and the perils of a world at war.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

I love when a book takes real events, real people, and then transposes a fictional story over the top. That's how Among the Red Stars is written, and this is why I enjoyed this book so much. Katz tells a tale of the Night Witches, a group of female airwomen that flew the skies during World War II in Soviet Russia. 

We read a lot of World War II stories, but for the most part we're reading stories that take place in Europe, Great Britain, or America. Katz brings us the story from the eyes of a female pilot fighting for Russia, and it makes the narrative new, it shows the war in a new light, and it also gives us a little bit of Russian history as well.

Valka is a wonderful character, and even though she's one of the fictional ones, she feels real. You feel her excitement when she realizes that all of her flight time in a broken down plane is actually going to let her help her country, you see the conflict she has when the war becomes something that she's fighting, and you get to learn history as her story unfolds. Valka has to deal with the realities of war, and the fact that she's the one dropping bombs on people in the dark of night. 

The story is told two ways, we get to see letters written between Valka and her old friend Pasha, and also what is happening to Valka while she waits for his replies. The letters give the story a bit of a romance, but they're also there to tell you what it was like for the men on the ground as well as the women in the sky. Sometimes the romance aspect got a little old (which is why this drops from a 5 to 4 unicorn book), but I enjoyed the letters for that inside look into the other, male driven side of the war.

And let's not forget that this story is also about female friendship. It's a story about girls brought together by a love of flying, as well as a love for their country, that then becomes a love for each other. Valka and her cousin go to sign up for the war together, and become a team that we can't help but root for.

I think what I found most interesting about this book is that so much of it is true. Sure, Katz tells us in the author's notes that she had to fudge a bit of the truth to make her story work, but that was basically just timelines. And even though Valka, her cousin, Pasha, and the characters in Valka's family weren't real, so many of the other women who feel these pages were. Make sure you read the author's note when you're done, it'll put the story in a whole new light.

Rating:

 

 4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: Odd & True by Cat Winters]

"Odd & True"
Author: Cat Winters
Series: None
Pages: 368
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Date Published: September 12th, 2017
Publisher: Amulet Books
Format Read: eARC provided by the publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

Trudchen grew up hearing Odette’s stories of their monster-slaying mother and a magician’s curse. But now that Tru’s older, she’s starting to wonder if her older sister’s tales were just comforting lies, especially because there’s nothing fantastic about her own life—permanently disabled and in constant pain from childhood polio.

In 1909, after a two-year absence, Od reappears with a suitcase supposedly full of weapons and a promise to rescue Tru from the monsters on their way to attack her. But it’s Od who seems haunted by something. And when the sisters’ search for their mother leads them to a face-off with the Leeds Devil, a nightmarish beast that’s wreaking havoc in the Mid-Atlantic states, Tru discovers the peculiar possibility that she and her sister—despite their dark pasts and ordinary appearances—might, indeed, have magic after all.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

Cat Winters has done it again, blending reality and the paranormal, while making you wonder what's real and what's not. If you're familiar with Winters' work, "Odd & True" will feel both familiar and new. While the novel has all the staples of a Winters' novel, it also feels a lot darker, and like more of a fairytale than any of her previous YA novels. 

"Odd & True" is the story of two sisters and the stories that they tell themselves. As the narrative unfolds the walls between what is real and what is made up start to break down. This is a historical novel that's deeply rooted in heartache and darkness, and yet there is still a lightness, and a love that fills the pages. 

It's a historical fairytale in a way. Odd tells True about their life and weaves a story of mothers who are monster hunters, and castles on hills, but it's what she's hiding behind these pretty stories that makes this book so interesting. Odd's a haunted character, and the way she deals with confronting her demons is to be commended! She's such a great character.

And then we have True. True who has grown up feeling like her family isn't a mess, thanks to Odd. But she's got her own things to deal with, including a disability she got from having polio as a child. Winters' takes True from a shy character to one that's just as strong and just as interesting as her older sister, and it's great fun to watch her grow as the story unfolds. 

The story comes to a head when the sisters take off to hunt down their mother, and the great Leeds Devil. Do they really come from a family of monster hunters? Is the Leeds Devil real? Will they make it out alive? And what secrets are each of the girls hiding? You're just going to have to read "Odd & True" to find out.

  5 Unicorns = Get Your Hands On This NOW!

[Review: Rebel Angels by Anne Blankman]

"Traitor Angels"
Author: Anne Blankman
Series: None
Pages: 400
Genre: YA, Historical, Romance, Mystery
Date Published: May 3rd, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects.

Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom.

Until one night the reason becomes clear: the king’s man arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart?

When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

This isn't my first time reading something from Anne Blankman. She's actually one of my favorite historical writers. Without a doubt it's because she mixes actual people from history, and made up characters into a story together. She uses her fictional characters to give you an understanding of actual historical figures, and Traitor Angels doesn't disappoint on that front. 

Almost all of us have heard of the poem Paradise Lost, and we know that Milton wrote it. Blankman takes that knowledge and throws us into a world of mystery and excitement, one that clearly didn't happen the way she's written it. But also one that's so wrapped up in historical fact and people from history that it feels like it could have. 

She give us a protagonist in the form of Elizabeth Milton. Elizabeth was not an actual person, but the rest of the Milton family is as historically accurate as Blankman could make them. I liked that John made sure that Elizabeth could take care of herself. While other girls are learning how to keep a home, Elizabeth is taught the art of sword fighting, reading/speaking/writing mutable languages, and the art of his poetry. All of these things come into play in the novel, and nothing that Blankman writes goes to waste. 

The book not only plays with the idea of poetry, but also delves into the impact of religion. These are the two biggest things that drive the plot of the novel. Art, exploration, studying the skies, power, and more are also key elements. 

I enjoyed this one a lot, but as I don't love the time period that it was set in, I found that it read a bit slow, but I know that it was just me. It's also got extremely exciting near the end, as Blankman made sure to throw in a few more historical events. That being said I still enjoyed this novel a lot. It's a mystery novel at its heart, and what's better then that.  

Rating:

 3 Unicorns = I liked it a lot, but it had its issues!  

[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: Revenge And The Wild by Michelle Modesto]

"Revenge and the Wild"
Author: Michelle Modesto
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical, Paranormal
Date Published: February 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

Here it is, my first five unicorn read of the year! This book is so good. It's a standalone, it's kind of historical, it's full of fantasy, and it's got one of those heroines that will not soon be forgotten. This book is something really strange and wonderful. 

Clearly I'm already a Mosesto fan, and this is her first book, so I'd say we're off to a good start. Her world building is spectacular. She gives us this setting that is full of historical detail, but is drenched in a fantasy world. She mixes turn of the century California history with vampires, trolls, magic, and a whole slew of other creatures. It makes the book a little kitchy, but the subject matter is really heavy, so there is a balance that's really nice.

Westie is everything you want from a main character. She's so herself that you never doubt her intentions, or her person. She's in your face, has a foul mouth, and ends up in all sorts of situations, but in the end she's super lovable, and would do anything for her family. Basically, I really liked getting to know her, and would have totally been fine with this being more than one book, and that doesn't happen very often.

The rest of the characters are also amazing, and really well crafted. None of them go to waste, and it's fun to see such evenly matched villains and heroes in one novel. Everyone had their part to play, and they all played it well. Even the characters who had bit parts were vital to the novel, and that's saying something.

I also loved that Modesto wasn't afraid to write such a gory story. When you add cannibals to a story it sometimes falls flat, and I can say that that isn't the case for Revenge and the Wild. Modesto makes sure that these flesh eating people are to be feared, and so they are. 

I must admit that while some of the novel was a tad predictable, most of it was really surprising and fantastic plotted. You might think you have things figured out, but then Modesto hits you with something you didn't even know you should be looking for. 

Everyone, read this book! It's like a toned down episode of Penny Dreadful, and what's not to love about that.

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW! 

[Review: Da Vinci's Tiger by L.M. Elliott]

"Da Vinci's Tiger"
Author: L.M. Elliott
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance
Date Published: November 10th, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Young, beautiful, and witty, Ginevra de’ Benci longs to take part in the artistic ferment of Renaissance Florence. But as the daughter of a wealthy family in a society dictated by men, she is trapped in an arranged marriage, expected to limit her creativity to domestic duties. Her poetry reveals her deepest feelings, and she aches to share her work, to meet painters and sculptors mentored by the famed Lorenzo de Medici, and to find love.

When the charismatic Venetian ambassador, Bernardo Bembo, arrives in Florence, he introduces Ginevra to a dazzling circle of patrons, artists, and philosophers—a world of thought and conversation she has yearned for. She is instantly attracted to the handsome newcomer, who admires her mind as well as her beauty. Yet Ginevra remains conflicted about his attentions. Choosing her as his Platonic muse, Bembo commissions a portrait by a young Leonardo da Vinci. Posing for the brilliant painter inspires an intimate connection between them—one Ginevra can only begin to understand. In a rich and enthralling world of exquisite art, elaborate feasts, and exhilarating jousts, she faces many temptations to discover her voice, artistic companionship, and a love that defies categorization. In the end, she and Leonardo are caught up in a dangerous and deadly battle between powerful families.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Da Vinci's Tiger,

Man, I wanted to like you more than I did. Your historical detail was great, you used awesome historical figures, you were so detailed that you could have been fantastic. But then... nothing really happened, and some of the things that happened made me kind of uncomfortable. So while you had so many good things about you, I just can't be a fan, since the story was a whole lot of feelings and not a whole lot of plot. 

-The White Unicorn

I have to start out by saying that I have mad respect for the historical detail that Elliott put into her novel. It's obvious that she made sure that every moment of this book was dripping in rich, historical, moments. I was blown away by the amounts of research that she layered into her work. It's something to be applauded. And if you're a history buff you're going to love the way Elliott wrote this book. 

On the other hand, this book fell really flat for me. I understand that Elliott was trying to write a book about a female liberating herself in world where females were limited, and I applaud her for that, but more needed to happen. Ginevra could have been a wonderful character, and in some ways she was, but she falls flat because the story ends up being about her relationships with all the men in her life. This book is a victim of too much historical detail, and a secondary plot. 

I would have liked to have seen more scenes between Ginevra and Leonardo. But I felt like so much time was spent in Ginevra's head, and I wish more interaction would have happened between the two, because that's were the magic was in this story. 

I also liked that Elliott decided to feature Italy's platonic love history. Though I must say that Bembo was a creep. There is a scene that happens in the book were he tries to take advantage of Ginevra, and I have to say that the way the scene was handled made me squirm. Though Ginevra tells him off, something about it still felt really uncomfortable to me. 

So in the end this book is full of lush historical detail that stands out to me, while also falling really flat from a story line perspective.    

Rating:

 3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!

[Review: Wolf By Wolf by Ryan Graudin]

"Wolf by Wolf"
Author: Ryan Graudin
Series: Wolf by Wolf #1
Pages: 400
Genre: YA, Alternate History, Magical Realism
Date Published: October 20th, 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

Code Name Verity meets Inglourious Basterds in this fast-paced novel from the author of The Walled City.

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor's ball.

Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin's brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Wolf By Wolf,

I've never read anything like you before, but now I know that I'd like every book to be as awesome as you are. I can't even put into words what you made me feel, but I'm going to have to move past that, because this is a review after all. You gave me a new look at World War II. I didn't ever want to imagine what it would have been like if Hitler won the war, but you made me see it. You also gave me one of the most amazing Jewish protagonists that I've read in years. All I want to say is thank you, and also thank you for just being the beginning. I'm beyond excited that I'll get to have more time with your story in the future!

-The White Unicorn

I really enjoyed Graudin's The Walled City, so when I heard that she was taking on an alternate version of World War II, I knew I had to read this novel. Though I knew I needed to read it, I never would have guessed that this novel would be what it was. It's flat out genius. Graudin's writing is perfect for telling the story. It's raw, it's heartbreaking, but it's also full of hope, and an extreme lust for life. She has this way of blending real facts, and the parts of the story that she made up, perfectly. I have to say that even though I know this book isn't historically accurate, I bought into it without a hitch. 

The past that Graudin created is horrifying. Seeing what could have happened had Hitler won World War II isn't something I've ever really thought about, but it clearly would have been terrible. I'm glad that this story is fiction. There's just no other way to put it. 

Yael is one of the best Jewish protagonists that I've read in a really long time. The fact that she has the ability to skinshift only adds to her appeal, but to be honest it's who she is inside that makes me like her so much. Sure, she's not always likable and she carries the world around on her shoulders, but she's a Jewish girl who's still alive, and everyone she's ever loved is long dead. It makes her mission, and her story all that much more touching. It's so strange to be touched so deeply by a character who is so harsh, but it's what makes this book what it is. The characters are brilliant.

Honestly, it's so refreshing to see a cast of characters like this. It's because Yael is pretending to be Adele, and because she is, it blurs the lines between who she is to the other characters. You start believing that she's Adele just because Adele's brother Felix, and her old flame Luka believe it. In fact sometimes Yael even believes it. It adds an extra layer into the story that's glorious. 

Felix and Luka bring a lot to the surface of Yael/Adele's character. I enjoyed both of their parts in the plot. I also have to give Graudin a shout out for the rest of the secondary cast. No one is left behind, even the dead, and I couldn't have been more pleased by the fact.

Add in the fact that Graudin's world building is perfection, and the fact that she weaves wolves into the story as often as she can, and you have a book that I think everyone should read. It's about the human condition, wrapped in delightful storytelling. We'll never forget the horrifying facts of actual history, and this book will make sure that you don't forget those events, or ones that we can only imagine. 

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hand on this NOW!

[Review: Newt's Emerarld by Garth Nix]

"Newt's Emerald"
Author: Garth Nix
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Romance
Date Published: October 13th, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Lady Truthful will inherit her family’s most valued heirloom on her eighteenth birthday. Until the Newington Emerald is stolen.

Lady Truthful, nicknamed “Newt” by her boy cousins, discovers that to her horror, the people closest to her have been framed for the theft. But Newt won’t let their reputations be damaged by rumors from a false accusation. Her plan is simple: go to London to recover the missing jewel. Despite her best intentions, a young lady travelling alone is frankly unacceptable behavior. So Newt and her aunt devise another plan…one that entails men’s clothing and a mustache.

While in disguise, Truthful encounters the handsome but shrewd major Harnett, who to her amazement volunteers to help find the missing emerald under the assumption that she is a man, Henri de Vienne. But once she and her unsuspecting ally are caught up in a dangerous adventure, Truthful realizes something else is afoot: the beating of her heart.

Truthful has far more than romantic complications to worry about. The stolen emerald is no ordinary heirloom-it is the source of the family’s luck and has the power to yield vast magic. It would be completely disastrous if it fell into the wrong hands. The fate of England depends on Truthful securing the emerald.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Newt's Emerald, 

You're adorable, and so much fun. I did find you to be really simple, but I enjoyed you a lot. Really I can't complain about much of anything. Also, you have gender bending, and God knows how much I love a good gender bending story!

-The White Unicorn

So, this was my first Garth Nix book ever. I've heard that this one is nothing like his other books, which makes me curious about the rest of the books that he's put out into the universe. I liked this one a lot. Though I did feel like it was written for younger YA audience. Truth be told, it could be because of the other books I've been reading lately, but I liked how light the writing felt. 

This book is regency romance, that also happens to be a fantasy, that also happens to be a gender bending adventure story. It's most of the things I love, thrown into one story, and it all happily works together. This book is just plain cute. 

Truthful is a spunky lead. I mean her name is Truthful. Though everyone calls her Tru and Newt instead. She's full of pluck and doesn't like sitting on side lines. I enjoyed the fact that she grew up with three brother-like-cousins, so she's not some girly girl. Sure she knows how to play with the girls, but she's interesting because she also has the ability to wear a charmed mustache and become a fellow. I enjoy this twist on the normal regency novel. It added something really enjoyable to the mix. 

Nix also adds a huge fantasy element to the story. Magic fills the pages in a way that is unexpected and refreshing. I liked that Nix decided to make this story more than just a typical regency romance. 

Also Nix makes sure that no one is what they seem as the story unfolds, which causes some issues for Tru and Charles. That being said I really liked their little romance, even if it didn't feel like it was developed enough for my taste. I did find Charles to be a great male lead. I just wish we would have gotten to know him better. 

All in all this book is simple, fun, and full of adventure. Readers of a younger age will eat it up, and those of us who are older are guaranteed to find reasons to fall in love with it as well.  

Rating:

 3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had its issues!

[Review: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis]

"A Madness So Discreet"
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: None
Pages: 384
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Date Published: October 6th, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To A Madness So Discreet, 

I needed a book like you in my life, and I'm glad that I found you. You're creepy, dark, wonderful, and just the right amount of unsettling. You blur the lines between madness and sanity in a really smart and interesting way. You're one of those books that I'll be thinking about for a good long while. And honestly you're one of my favorite books of the year, so there's that!

-The White Unicorn

Mindy McGinnis is a genius. Her books are so well written that I can never find anything to complain about. It takes a lot to be able to write a book that not only has a smart plot, but also is smart in what it has to say, and A Madness So Discreet is one of those types of books. It also helps that McGinnis isn't afraid to push the envelope when it comes to her story lines and characters. Happy go lucky novels aren't her thing, and I love that.

This is one of those books that has something for everyone. Do you like historical fiction? Do you like crime thrillers? Do you like books that take place in asylums? Do you like books full of demented secrets? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, get this book in your hands now, because all of those elements writhe inside these pages. 

McGinnis gives us a story with a lead that seems to be mute, but here, nothing is as it seems. I adored Grace. It was nice to see McGinnis giving us a softer, yet still extremely strong, female lead. Grace has been through the ringer. She was thrown into an asylum for a pregnancy, brought on by some horrific circumstances. There were so many times where she could have thrown in the towel, but instead she fights against what life has handed her and finds a purpose solving crimes alongside a handsome doctor. She's strong enough to leave everything behind and take on a new identity. Grace should have had it all, and instead she finds a family within the walls of a mad house. It's rather genius, isn't it?

It's refreshing, the way that McGinnis doesn't pull any punches with this book. The story deals with a lot of really tough issues. Madness turns out to be the least of her character's worries. All these people have dark secrets, and the lines of true madness are blurred in the smartest of ways. 

Though Grace clearly carries the story, McGinnis doesn't shy away from giving us a brilliant cast of secondary characters. Grace quickly become friends with Elizabeth (a girl who observes things through an imaginary String), Nell (who doesn't have issues with expressing her sexual needs), and Janey (the head nurse of the Woman's ward).

There is also Thornhollow (the handsome doctor I mentioned before). He's uncovering new ways to solve crimes, and decides that Grace would be the perfect partner. There actually isn't any love story between them to speak of, and it works. Though, if I'm honest I'd like there to be another book where maybe they end up together. Can you get on that McGinnis? 

Everyone should read this book, because it's brilliant. The thoughts, the words, the plot, the characters. Nothing is out of place. Everything is perfect. Read it!

Rating:

5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!

[Review: Walk On Earth A Stranger by Rae Carson]

"Walk on Earth a Stranger"
Author: Rae Carson
Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy #1
Pages: 432
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Date Published: September 22nd, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Leee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might muder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift. 

-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Walk On Earth A Stranger,

Hmmmmmmm? You and I didn't connect, which is a real bummer. You're good, don't get me wrong, but there was a divide between us that I just couldn't cross. Your story was awesome. I liked your characters. The flow was good. But still I couldn't get into you until the last 20% or so. I'm going to have to finish the rest of your series, cause now I'm hooked, so hopefully I'll gel with those stories a bit better. 

-The White Unicorn 

I can't believe that I'm not singing the praises of this book. I should be, as I'm a HUGE fan of Carson's Fire and Thorns series, so it would only seem natural. But for some reason I didn't gel with this book, and that makes me sad. 

Carson is a fantastic world builder, but I felt like that was lacking in Walk on Earth a Stranger. There were moments when I was sucked into Lee's story, and other times where I felt like I was an outsider looking in. The world felt sparse. Maybe it was because this book is based on actual events, and things that really happened when people made their way out to California during the gold rush? Maybe it was just my connection to the story? It could have also been the fact that I thought the book's pacing felt rushed, and slow all at once. There was a lot of hurry up and wait happening. 

That being said, I adored the characters that Carson used in her story. Lee (Leah) is wonderful. She's conflicted, strong, brave, intelligent, and cursed. I liked that she hid out as a boy, and in doing so learned so much about herself. I also dug the fact that she can witch for gold the way some people can witch for water. It adds a magical element to the story that was a fun addition. 

Carson also didn't avoid addressing a lot of social issues in this book. It was refreshing to see so many strong women and men come together. The book addresses things like human rites, the woman's place in the home, prejudice, and a slew of other things. It makes for some character driven reading, I just wish that the rest of the plot went as smooth as the characters.

That being said the plot was actually quite genius. I liked it a lot, even though I didn't connect with the execution of it. Carson knows how to throw curve balls at her readers, and that was still evident in this book.

So, in the end, this book is good, even if I'm not as excited about it as I'd like it be. If you dig the gold rush, magical powers, slow burn romances, and a lot of social issues being tackled in one book, read this!

Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it, but it had it's issues!  

[Review: Lair Of Dreams by Libba Bray]

"Lair of Dreams"
Author: Libba Bray
Series: The Diviners #2
Pages: 624
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Date Published: August 25th, 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for honest review

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Summary:

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O'Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. Now that the world knows of her ability to "read" objects, and therefore, read the past, she has become a media darling, earning the title, "America's Sweetheart Seer." But not everyone is so accepting of the Diviners' abilities...

Meanwhile, mysterious deaths have been turning up in the city, victims of an unknown sleeping sickness. Can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld and catch a killer?

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Lair Of Dreams,

You started out pretty slow for me, but once you picked up speed I couldn't put you down. You're an interesting one, because you didn't suffer from middle book syndrome. Good for you. I'm glad. You're a complete and creepy story, that can almost be read as a standalone, even though you're also definitely part of a series. Plus, you're freaky, and I like that about you.

-The White Unicorn

I know that I have said on more than one occasion that I can't stand books with more than two POVs throughout, but there is something about the way that Libba Bray uses a ton of POVs that I actually like. Lair of Dreams, just like The Diviners is told from multiple POVs. Bray even added a few new voices into the mix, and I couldn't be happier with her decisions. 

The setting of this novel is just as well established as it was in The Diviners. Bray really did her research where the 1920s in New York are concerned and it makes you feel like you are a part of the world which she has created. I will say that some of the 20s lingo that she uses can be a bit distracting, but I also adore the fact that it is so authentic. You can't really knock it, even if it isn't your own cup of tea. 

This book wanted to be a 5 unicorn book for me, but I felt like the pacing was really slow in the beginning, and I also didn't think that the scary mystery in the pages was half as creepy as the one that was presented in The Diviners. It had it's moments, but the sleeping sickness just didn't freak me out as badly as Naughty John did. Though I can't wait to find out who The Crow Man is. That dude seems freaky as hell. 

It was nice to get to know some of the seemingly secondary characters in book one a bit better this time around. Henry is featured as a main character, and I really liked his story. It's sad, and it's real, and it makes him make a lot more sense. We also meet Ling, who is another dream walker. It's fitting since this book is all about some really bad dreams. I really loved Ling. She's a really dry character, where most of the others are really flashy. It's a delightful contrast. 

There are so many mysteries wrapped up in this book that have nothing to do with the main plot. Which makes things really interesting. I find myself intrigued by the things that I don't know. And there are a lot of things that we don't know as the book trucks along. 

And can we take a moment to draw attention to the fact that Bray went ahead and snuck Gemma Doyle into this book. It's a moment that comes and goes rather quickly, but I'm so glad that it's in Lair of Dreams. Gemma Doyle is in Lair of Dreams! How cool is that?

If you haven't picked up this series by Libba Bray, you're missing out on some of the creepiest, historical fiction that I've read in awhile. So go pick them up, and hopefully we won't have to wait too long for book three!

Rating:

   4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Review: The Uninvited by Cat Winters]

"The Uninvited"
Author: Cat Winters
Series: None
Pages: 368
Genre: Adult, Historical, Paranormal, Romance
Date Published: August 11th, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

From the award-winning author of In the Shadow of Blackbirds comes a stunning new novel—a masterfully crafted story of love, loss, and second chances. Set during the fear and panic of the Great Influenza of 1918, The Uninvited is part gothic ghost-story, part psychological thriller, perfect for those who loved The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield or The Vanishing by Wendy Webb.

Twenty-five year old Ivy Rowan rises from her bed after being struck by the flu, only to discover the world has been torn apart in just a few short days.

But Ivy’s life-long gift—or curse—remains. For she sees the uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her mother’s chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivy’s older brother Billy in the Great War.

Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her ‘uninvited guests’ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To The Uninvited, 

You are a book that is made out of my favorite kinds of nightmares, all mashed together. You're dark, haunting, and beautifully written. The imagery in you is equal to the wonderful characters that also fill your pages. No one is perfect, and nothing is as it seems in your pages, and that is just how I like things to be. I honestly couldn't have asked for more from you, so thanks for delivering on such a delightfully high level.

-The White Unicorn

It's well known that I am a Cat Winters fan girl. If she writes it, I'll read it. No questions asked. So when I heard that she was releasing her first Adult Novel, I got really excited. And let me tell you, The Uninvited did not disappoint. It has all the elements that I have come to love in her YA books, and then had the added fact that her protagonist was actually closer to my age. It made the reading experience really exciting for me. 

Winters is a master of mixing the paranormal, spiritualism, a history together. It's a mixture that works wonderfully for her, as her writing is beautiful and gothic. She has a way of making things feel as though everything she writes is real, and it pulls you right into the story, and makes you question everything!

The Uninvited is a tad on the slow side, but it did nothing but make the novel feel more authentic to me. Plus there is a lot of action, and plenty of time to get to know Winters' well formed characters. The plot is a tad more on the adult side, but I felt like a younger audience would enjoy it as well. 

I really adored Ivy. I thought that it was an interesting choice to make the main character a recluse, who decides to grab at her freedom after her family commits such an awful crime. It was also interesting to see how German immigrates were treated during the war. It was something that I had never thought about, but Winters makes it one of her main plot points, and the pay off was that it made me think.

I wish I could say more about the book in detail, but it truly is one of those novels that you just have to read for yourself. Too much talk of everything would ruin the experience of reading it, and so I will keep my mouth shut. Trust me, you'll thank me later. All I will say is that you need to read this one. You won't be sorry. And when you're done, we can talk about it. 

Rating:

  5 Unicorns = Get your hands on this NOW!  

[Review: Conspiracy Of Blood And Smoke by Anne Blankman]

"Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke"
Author: Anne Blankman
Series: Prisoner of Night and Fog #2
Pages: 416
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Date Published: April 21st, 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format Read: eARC provided by publisher (via Edelweiss) for honest review

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Summary:

The girl known as Gretchen Whitestone has a secret: She used to be part of Adolf Hitler’s inner circle. More than a year after she made an enemy of her old family friend and fled Munich, she lives with a kindly English family, posing as an ordinary German immigrant, and is preparing to graduate from high school. Her love, Daniel Cohen, is a reporter in town. For the first time in her life, Gretchen is content.

But then, Daniel gets a telegram that sends him back to Germany, and Gretchen’s world turns upside-down. And when she receives word that Daniel is wanted for murder, she has to face the danger she thought she’d escaped-and return to her homeland.

Gretchen must do everything she can to avoid capture and recognition, even though saving Daniel will mean consorting with her former friends, the Nazi elite. And as they work to clear Daniel’s name, Gretchen and Daniel discover a deadly conspiracy stretching from the slums of Berlin to the Reichstag itself. Can they dig up the explosive truth and get out in time-or will Hitler discover them first?

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

An Open Letter To Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke,

I have to admit something to you. I loved the first book in your series, and I was so excited to read you. That being said, I don't think that you lived up to Prisoner of Night and Fog. You were still wonderful, but until the last quarter of the book, I have to say that I was a bit bored with you. The history was still legit, even if I felt like you focused too much on the love story this time around. So, even though you weren't perfect, I still like you.

-The White Unicorn

I just have to say it. I feel like Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke suffered from some major middle book syndrome, and that makes me really sad. It's not that it wasn't well written, because Anne Blankman is a great writer, but I felt like the story wasn't as exciting at the first book in the series. The story picked up closer to the end, but the beginning dragged... a lot. 

These characters that seemed so dynamic in the first novel ended up being a little one dimensional this time around, which was a bit confusing for me. I think this fact stems from the book focusing on Gretchen and Daniel's love story so much. I'm a sucker for a good love story, but I feel like this book made that the main subject this time around, and I wanted as much action as I got in the first book. Maybe it's just me, but those are the thoughts I was having as I read along. 

The story did pick up for me once Gretchen and Daniel were back in Germany. Their time in England bored me, but once they were surrounded by Nazis again, the story kept me on my toes. It also helps that Blankman has no issues with putting her characters through some really intense events.

Gretchen and Daniel end up hanging out with the likes of some good-hearted-crime-lords in Germany, and that, for me, was when things started to pick up. The characters that we meet in those moments are ones that really made a difference in the feel of the book. I found myself rooting for these fellows who ran crime and had this firm code of honorable conduct. I love that Blankman added them into the story.

The actual mystery of the novel was interesting as well, since it's stemmed in real events. As a girl who's always been fascinated with WWII, that part of the book was also really cool. The fire and the history behind it was so simple, and yet so complicated. 

Even though I was personally a bit disappointed in this book, I still highly suggest that you read it. 

Rating:

3 Unicorns = I liked it a lot, but it had it's issues!

[Waiting On Wednesday: Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein]

Waiting On Wednesday happens every week on Wednesdays (hence the name) and is hosted by Breaking The Spine.  It's were people talk about the books they want to read about that aren't out yet.

My pick this week is...

"Black Dove, White Raven"
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Release Date: March 31st, 2015

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Summary:

A new historical thriller masterpiece from New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth Wein

Emilia and Teo's lives changed in a fiery, terrifying instant when a bird strike brought down the plane their stunt pilot mothers were flying. Teo's mother died immediately, but Em's survived, determined to raise Teo according to his late mother's wishes-in a place where he won't be discriminated against because of the color of his skin. But in 1930s America, a white woman raising a black adoptive son alongside a white daughter is too often seen as a threat.

Seeking a home where her children won't be held back by ethnicity or gender, Rhoda brings Em and Teo to Ethiopia, and all three fall in love with the beautiful, peaceful country. But that peace is shattered by the threat of war with Italy, and teenage Em and Teo are drawn into the conflict. Will their devotion to their country, its culture and people, and each other be their downfall or their salvation?

In the tradition of her award-winning and bestselling Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein brings us another thrilling and deeply affecting novel that explores the bonds of friendship, the resilience of young pilots, and the strength of the human spirit.

-Goodreads

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What are you waiting on this week?  I wanna know!