Tagged: masq1
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
(Cover picture courtesy of Violet Crush.)
A SACRED OATH
A FALLEN ANGEL
A FORBIDDEN LOVERomance was not part of Nora Grey’s plan. She’s never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora’s not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can’t decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.
Like The Demon King I’ve had my eye on this book for years. I just never really considered picking it up until I saw it was on for $4.99 as a promotion for the final book in the series. Why not give it a try for that price? It could be good.
I won’t say that I’m disappointed, but I wasn’t especially impressed either. There were decent enough characters, some humour, good world-building and so-so villains but that was about it. Hush, Hush never really made that transition from ‘decent enough’ to ‘good’ or ‘great.’ It’s one of those books that’s just mediocre, forgettable and generally undistinguished.
Nora is a decent enough heroine but she’s nothing special. She gets assigned to have the mysterious Patch as a lab partner and they insult each other back and forth for a bit and then denies her attraction to him for most of the book. Patch alternatively insults her and encourages her feelings before Nora finally asks him what he is and they begin to admit their feelings for each other. No huge surprises there but it’s not a bad storyline. It’s just predictable, much like the characters who are generally forgettable and occasionally act too stupid to live. Nora just loves going into danger.
The plot isn’t really fast-paced. It’s predictable with the whole Slap-Slap-Kiss sort of sexual tension that’s pretty much always present in YA these days. The problem with the plot is that there are huge bursts of energy and then it grinds to a halt for what seems like days. There are so many stop and starts that I really couldn’t buy into much suspense by the end. Sure, there was suspense, but there wasn’t all that much. Not enough for me to keep reading late into the night but it didn’t lack suspense so much that I wanted to give up on the book.
I liked the fallen angel part of this book. It has the potential for Becca Fitzpatrick to do a lot more with it in the next few books. I liked the glimpses we saw of Patch’s world and his downfall but it’s really not enough to judge whether or not the world-building is truly amazing or just good. Really, this whole book felt like sort of a set up for the rest of the series. First books should sort of be like that, but there should be a little more action going on and more information being given to the reader.
So overall? Meh. If I see the next book in the used section of a bookstore I might pick it up but I’m not going out of my way to finish the series.
I give this book 3/5 stars.
Penelope’s Daughter by Laurel Corona
(Cover picture courtesy of Excuse Me, I’m Writing.)
The award-winning author of The Four Seasons retells The Odyssey from the point of view of Odysseus and Penelope’s daughter.
With her father Odysseus gone for twenty years, Xanthe barricades herself in her royal chambers to escape the rapacious suitors who would abduct her to gain the throne. Xanthe turns to her loom to weave the adventures of her life, from her upbringing among servants and slaves, to the years spent in hiding with her mother’s cousin, Helen of Troy, to the passion of her sexual awakening in the arms of the man she loves.
And when a stranger dressed as a beggar appears at the palace, Xanthe wonders who will be the one to decide her future-a suitor she loathes, a brother she cannot respect, or a father who doesn’t know she exists…
For me, this book was a solid ‘meh’. There were some elements that were awesome and some that weren’t but the main reason for my indifferent reaction is the lack of emotional quality in Laurel Corona’s writing. I know Xanthe falls in love at one point. Do I really feel it? Not so much.
My favourite part of the whole novel is probably the level of detail that was put into it. Laurel Corona seamlessly wove Xanthe’s story into the greater story of the Trojan War, bringing life into a character Homer never considered important. I loved all the little details about weaving but also the details of daily life in Ithaca and Sparta. The author has this way of describing things that makes you feel like you’re actually there. It’s a truly magical experience.
One of the so-so aspects of the novel was the characters. Helen was fascinating and I can honestly say I would’ve preferred hearing her point of view than Xanthe’s. Xanthe is a rather bland character overall and as I said earlier I felt no emotional attachment to her. She got mad at times, was in love, felt true happiness, etc. Yet I, the reader, felt pretty much none of it. I was being told she experienced these things rather than experiencing them right along with her. The odd part was that I really felt for Helen so it could be a matter of personal preference. Who knows?
The plot does drag in some places, particularly during Xanthe’s childhood in Ithaca. I love all of the little details to be sure, but some of them really just didn’t need to be there to understand the story. Sometimes Xanthe’s chronicle dragged when she was with Helen in Sparta and that was rather disappointing considering how amazing Helen is in this interpretation. Overall the plot was fairly good but I did feel let down at the end of the novel when Odysseus returns. It just felt like Laurel Corona was rehashing the myth without adding a new variation on it.
Basically, meh. Penelope’s Daughter has some good and some bad in it. It’s worth a try if you think it sounds interesting but I wouldn’t go out of my way to convince you to read it.
I give this book 3.5/5 stars.
Kiya: Mother of a King by Katie Hamstead
(Cover picture courtesy of The Writerly Exploits of Mara Valderran.)
Nefertiti has forced Naomi to flee Amarna with Malachi and the three children. But even under the protection of Naomi’s family in Thebes, Nefertiti still hunts her and Tut. Nefertiti sends assassins to kill them, and while Naomi fights to protect the children, Malachi fights to keep her safe.
With three children in tow, one of which isn’t her own, she is labeled the harlot outcast wife of the pharaoh and is shunned. She isn’t safe among her own people, and flees from being stoned to death. Although her family protects her, she must find a way to survive.
While Naomi struggles to keep herself and Tut alive, old adversaries return as Smenkhkare takes advantage of Akhenaten’s ailing health. Naomi must rely on Horemheb’s promise to protect Tut’s birthright, but her feelings for Malachi could cause more problems with Horemheb than she expects.
[Full disclosure: I requested and received a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
Somewhere around a third of the way into the book I told myself, “Just finish the chapter, then you should go to bed. You’re working tomorrow.”
Then at around 50% I told myself, “You should really go to bed now. It’s one in the morning.”
By 75% I told myself, “Ah, screw it. You’ll be tired tomorrow anyway so you might as well just finish the book!”
And so, at 2:30am I finished Kiya: Mother of a King and didn’t regret a thing. I was very tired the next day and still had no regrets. That’s how good this book is.
The thing is, Mother of a King is very different from Hope of the Pharaoh, the first book. Away from the scheming of the royal court, we get to see Kiya’s nurturing side as she finally gets to marry the man she loves. She’s back in her hometown with her family and working on starting a new life for herself, away from Akhenaten and the schemes of Nefertiti. Finally, Kiya is gone and Naomi is back in her familiar Hebrew neighbourhood. Not everything is perfect as she’s accused of being a harlot but she faces the adversity well.
There is so much character development in this story. Naomi/Kiya is allowed to flourish for once and be herself. In addition to that, I love seeing Katie Hamstead’s take on Tut, especially his transition from royal life as the only heir to the throne to humble boy in a poor section of town. Just like with Hope of the Pharaoh I was really impressed with Horemheb’s character. He certainly has his faults (his ruthlessness) but in the end you can tell he still loves Naomi, totally and utterly. Even if she’s married to Malachi. I’m a sucker for the tragic unrequited love angle, I know.
I can’t in all honesty call the plot fast-paced, but that isn’t a bad thing. The truth is that I love that the plot slows down. It gives so much more time for character development. It’s never boring (thus the staying up until two in the morning) and it really did pick up at the end. You can really tell the third book is going to be exciting but I did love this little change of pace for the series.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
The Serpent and the Pearl by Kate Quinn
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
Rome, 1492. The Holy City is drenched with blood and teeming with secrets. A pope lies dying and the throne of God is left vacant, a prize awarded only to the most virtuous–or the most ruthless. The Borgia family begins its legendary rise, chronicled by an innocent girl who finds herself drawn into their dangerous web…
Vivacious Giulia Farnese has floor-length golden hair and the world at her feet: beauty, wealth, and a handsome young husband. But she is stunned to discover that her glittering marriage is a sham, and she is to be given as a concubine to the ruthless, charismatic Cardinal Borgia: Spaniard, sensualist, candidate for Pope–and passionately in love with her.
Two trusted companions will follow her into the Pope’s shadowy harem: Leonello, a cynical bodyguard bent on bloody revenge against a mysterious killer, and Carmelina, a fiery cook with a past full of secrets. But as corruption thickens in the Vatican and the enemies begin to circle, Giulia and her friends will need all their wits to survive in the world of the Borgias.
This could have quite easily strayed into cliché territory the whole time. At times, it was a little cliché but nothing on the level I expected it to be. I’ll explain a little bit.
Leonello is sort of Kate Quinn’s answer to George R. R. Martin’s Tyrion. He’s quick-thinking, uses his wits to keep alive and gets quite a few women (considering the views of the time). He always seems to find himself in the centre of intrigue. For those of you that have read the series A Song of Ice and Fire you know full well this could be applied to Tyrion just the same as it could be applied to Leonello. There are a few differences between the characters but I was sort of disappointed in how similar the two were, even if they are both awesome in their own right.
The thing that I liked most about The Serpent and the Pearl is the characters. Carmelina has a fascinating backstory and makes her way into a world traditionally inhabited by men only—being the master chef to powerful men. She’s not your typical Feisty Female that seems to be the requirement in fiction these days so I actually quite enjoyed her point of view. The character that I liked most was, surprisingly, Giulia Farnese. She can be quite a vain, indolent sort of creature but there’s no denying that as the story goes on and she grows up a bit she becomes a force to be reckoned with in Rome. Unlike a lot of heroines she is capable of acting and lying but never really loses her temper with anyone. Considering how she grew up, this is far more believable than the ridiculous obvious Girl Power characters that historical fiction writers try to transform every woman into. Some women are not obviously girl power figures, but Giulia sort of becomes one in a quiet, unique kind of way that fits with her personality.
The plot dragged a little bit in a couple of places, but there weren’t any major slow downs. I did enjoy all of the little historical details Kate Quinn put into her novel, including all the recipes Carmelina used. Some historical figures were portrayed very differently than I was used to (Sancha of Aragon most notably) but others were pleasantly surprising, like Giulia and the Borgia Pope himself. I can’t speak to how historically accurate this novel is, but I definitely felt immersed in the world of Renaissance Italy and the intrigues of Rome.
If you like historical fiction that has a little bit of a different take on traditionally maligned characters, I’d have to recommend The Serpent and the Pearl. It certainly isn’t for everyone but I personally enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading The Lion and the Rose. Especially since Kate Quinn ended the book on such a horrible cliffhanger.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
Short Story: Lost in the Seven Worlds by Petronela Ungureanu
(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)
Lost in the Seven Worlds is the debut work of Petronela Ungureanu, an avante-garde Romanian writer.
When a young woman finds herself captive in another world, she makes the mistake of falling for one of the disgraced beings. In the name of love, she is confronted with a most disturbing demand and faces a crucial decision. Will she remain lost in the Seven Worlds, or will she accept the challenge of a love beyond mortality?
[Full disclosure: I was given a free ebook copy of this short story by the author in exchange for an honest review.]
Petronela Ungureanu has one of the more beautiful, unique writing styles that I’ve encountered of late. It’s wonderfully descriptive in an old-fashioned sort of way and you really feel like you’re immersed in her fantasy world. In a longer piece than Lost in the Seven Worlds it would drag down the plot, but in a short story it just enhances the world she’s created.
From what little I could gather the world-building in this story is much more complex than could be contained in a short story. I would love to learn more about the Daevas and their customs but short stories are, well, just too short. The details that were included were all relevant to the story and were interesting but there just weren’t enough to make a fully realized world.
This is a great short story, it truly is. The only problem is the story itself is far too complex for the medium. In all honesty, this would be a great novel. However, I have to judge it based on its format. And the truth is, Lost in the Seven Worlds was more than a little confusing, especially at the end. There was a huge twist at the end and although I read the story through a couple of times I still don’t understand it. It’s nice to end on a bit of a cliffhanger but readers have to also understand what’s going on.
Overall, I think this short story was decent. It’s just that the ending was a little too rushed.
I give this short story 3.5/5 stars.
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