I went into this book prepared to dislike it. I had seen many official reviews saying this was an excellent debut of fantasy. But I had heard from friends that it just wasn’t that good. And there had been many comparisons to Katniss and The Hunger Games, and that’s a difficult comparison to live up to. And in the first few chapters, I wasn’t really into it. I disliked Katsa… she was angry and difficult to sympathize with. She also seemed to be oblivious to the rest of the world, a theme I keep seeing in female characters in many recent YA novels. But I was totally won over as the story and the characters began to develop. Okay, spoilers aheads….

I loved how Katniss changed and grew, but I also appreciated how she stayed very true to herself. As Randa’s tool, she was manipulated and abused. It was difficult to understand how much of a struggle it was for Katsa to get out from under him. Honestly, I felt that was a part of the book that could’ve been developed even more. I had to regularly remind myself that Katsa had committed terrible acts for Randa and that was a major influence on her. So much of her anger, her inability to connect to people, and her fear of relationships I think stemmed from her being treated as a dog on a leash. I was impatient with her as her relationship with Po developed… I mean, here was someone kind, trusting, and obviously infatuated with Katsa. Why couldn’t she commit to him? But she had also just found her independence, and all that Katsa knew of marriage meant being beholden to Po. I’m glad that she chose to be true to herself and that Cashore showed Po and Katsa passionately in love and able to draw on each other’s strengths and trusts. Both were strong characters that learned to trust each other and grew as a result. I thought this was such a healthy relationship, particularly compared to other mainstream YA lit.

The audio was absolutely amazing. Katsa’s explosion, Po’s steady calm, the couple’s warmth and humor were all there. I’ve been surprised to read that people didn’t Leck was all that scary as a villain… but I found him terrifying! The voice work made him sound maliciously cheerful and friendly, and the scene in Po’s castle leaves you with a sinking feeling that reminded me of Robin McKinley’s Deerskin. I wonder if some of the people who were on the fence about this book might change their mind if they listened to it. There were so many moments that just became absolutely engrossing when I was listening (so much so that I needed to keep driving around to get through them): the last part of the trek across the mountains, the appearance of Leck, the moment that Katsa decides on her relationship with Po or when she finds him again towards the end of the book. Full Cast Audio always does a great job and they don’t disappoint here.

So I’ve gone on and on about this and how much I enjoyed it. There are some areas where I thought the book was kind of weak. The pacing felt off… I think that was why it was difficult to empathize with Katsa as the book started, even though she’d had a fairly miserable life (I think it was when I got to see her relationship with Helda that things really clicked for me). It seems strange that I’d have to remind myself to be patient with a main character, though by the end of the book I really got a kick out of Katsa’s impatience to get to Po. I also thought that the ending dragged on a bit… Po’s blindness seemed an afterthought, a difficulty that their relationship had to overcome, but I wasn’t sure that it really served a purpose other than just showing that Katsa could help him as he had helped her.

Okay, so all in all, this was an amazing book and an even better audio recording. I highly recommend it.

Awful. Just awful. I read this for work and hated it. The artwork is dark (as in difficult to see dark) and the transitions are painfully bad. The action I would think would be in the panel isn’t there, often leaving big gaps in the storyline. The artwork that is there leaves me totally confused. The story was gruesome for the sake of being gruesome and felt like a stereotypical horror film, with characters getting picked off one-by-one in a new and disgusting way each time. And though I thought there was little in the way of character development and interaction, there was a moment towards the end that left me beyond confused (does that move me to the realm of flabbergasted? I don’t know). Oh main character,Travis Parham, has slept with a prostitute he just met, when they are dragged outside by the bloodthisty villains. He’s had his arm torn off and the town is being slaughtered. As Travis and Jenny the prostitute are slowing creeping away from this, he’s trying to convince her to take his money and run away to California (which she earlier expressed an interest in). Jenny becomes this noble figure, carrying Travis and refusing to leave his side, to the exchange of “Oh, Jenny—!” and tender embraces. Why do these characters even care about each other? Of course, then sweet Jenny’s head appears to be town off (it was really impossible to tell because of the artwork). But why would the brief exchange of money and sex lead to this sort of a relationship, particularly when the story has stressed how hard and unforgiving the frontier is? I suppose if I liked the Ghost Rider story in any way, maybe this would’ve appealed to me more. Maybe. But instead it just left a bad taste in my mouth. Ugh!

Let me preface my review by saying that I first read this series when I was in high school and I loved it. My best friend recommended it and we referenced it all the time… though with some knowledge that this was somewhat cheesy writing. There were lots of jokes about guys with beautiful, steely blue eyes. But I remember thinking that the books were somewhat scary, contained a great mix of fantasy and reality, and Julian had that bad-boy/demon thing going for him, like Jareth in Labyrinth, but without the weird age difference!

So when the series was finally reprinted, I was really excited to read them again and see how my adult-self compared with my teen-self. I’m sorry to say that I don’t think this series aged that well. It’s not just the early 90s references… I felt like there were a lot of problems here. Like the characters feeling like stereotypes for the first half of the series. Or the language that they used sounding like it wouldn’t come out of a teen’s mouth now or 16 years ago. And Jenny… what did she see in Tom? She feels so flat throughout the books, which I suppose is somewhat the point. She does develop somewhat and becomes more independent, less reliant on her friends’ strengths and Tom being her protector. I suppose I just got annoyed with her incredible “goodness” – I mean, who’s really that good?

I should balance this review out by saying that I still did enjoy rereading this series… it just felt more like a guilty read! I think that for those Twilight-readers this is an excellent collection to move on to; even though it’s populated with the troubled, beautiful, immortal bad boy, it revolves less around being obsessed by this boy and more about friendship and inner-strength. Jenny’s not the strongest of heroines, but she still becomes “her own master.” As a librarian, I’ll be recommending this book to those still looking for something after Twilight, but also to those looking for a good haunted house story, something to do with nightmares, or something that doesn’t include vampires!

It’s so hard to know what to say about this book. It’s an amazing ending to the series, and it is worthy of all those cliches… my heart was racing while I read it, it kept me guessing throughout the very last pages for what would happen to my beloved characters, there were more twists and turns then you could shake a stick at, and I was in tears at the very end. I’m going to do my best to keep this spoiler-free.

This book, like the previous two in the series, deals with weighty issues of love, loyalty, trust, communication, and information. But Ness also delves into relationships between parents and their children, leaders and followers, and the responsibilities associated with all of these roles. And then there’s the issue of redemption… can people go beyond the point of redemption?

The story focuses onto Todd and Viola, Mayor Prentiss and Mistress Coyle, and the Sky (leader of the Land – or Spackle as they are called by humans) and the Return (previously known to us as 1017). Outside of these main pairings, we have two settlers, Simone and Bradly, who are friends of Viola’s and control the scout ship we saw landing at the end of The Ask and the Answer. And we have the returning Mistresses, Wilf and Jane, Lee, and Angharrad and Acorn (yes, I included the horses, because I LOVE those horses). As in The Ask and the Answer, we can draw the comparisons between the Mayor and Mistress Coyle, seeing how they each use power and politics to try and seize control. But, while I thought they were far too similar in the last book, we see them strongly diverge here as they both realize that the war has changed from the one that they started.

The reader is constantly shifting in this book, from the perspective of Todd to Viola to 1017. The changes are fast-paced and abrupt, which can take a little getting used to, since it feels like you’re almost always having the rug pulled out from under you. However, it’s worth it to keep with the story and just try to get into Ness’s rhythm.

The ending is… ambiguous. It will make for excellent discussion, as will the way that the characters finish their own stories. Ness puts such a strong emphasis on forgiveness, acceptance, and hope throughout the series that I have a hard time not feeling hopeful at the ending. You really would be doing yourself a favor in reading this series. It has a little over everything… sci-fi, survival, adventure, animals, appeal to guys and girls, romance, super powers, and war. Maybe that makes the book sound overloaded, but it’s also a beautiful story with characters who will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.

On a slightly offbeat note, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to read or hear the word “Todd?” without getting choked up. Just typing it now has me tearing up!

Samantha Kingston has it all – she’s one of the most popular girls in school, she has the best group of friends, the boyfriend she’s always wanted, and the ability to get away with just about anything. Sam knows that life isn’t always fair. After all, she used to be on the lowest rung of the social order until the day Lindsay Edgecomb became her best friend and pulled her to the top. Sam accepts that this is the way high school works, the way her life will be, even if it means that other people get hurt in the process. And then, on Friday, February 12th, Sam is killed in a car crash, on her way home from a party.

Sam wakes up in her own bed, alive, and the day rewound. She gets a chance to do it all over again. And again. And again. Sam doesn’t know if she’s stuck reliving February 12th for all eternity, if there’s a way out, or if the changes she makes, to her life and the lives of her friends and family, will make any difference.

Before I Fall [book:Before I Fall|7770746] is the sort of book you hate to even put down. Sam isn’t someone that you start off liking… she’s cruel, manipulative, and has changed herself into a person that she hardly even knows. However, you also feel for Sam because, as she points out, is her day-to-day behavior really a reason for her to die? To miss out on all the things in life that happen after you turn 18? As Sam’s days pass, she discovers things about life she had forgotten or never even knew were there, like the joys of eating roast beef sandwiches (not done in her social circle), staying at home with her little sister and watching movies all day, wearing comfortable shoes, or eating The Country’s Best Yogurt with her best friend. This is a book that shows high school at its best and its worst, including the bullying and cruelty that goes on and how people justify it until it seems like what they’re doing isn’t really so bad.

We get to see how Sam approaches each Friday differently and how she herself changes and takes on the social mores of high school and other teens. The writing is amazing, capturing Sam’s life perfectly. You want so badly for her to succeed, even though you know that Sam’s the girl who would’ve made you an outcast in school. You root for her to change and to understand why her decisions, even with the best of intentions, have the impact that they do.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. If I had anything negative to say, it’s that I didn’t really like the ending. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good ending, but that I thought something different would happen. This is going to be one that I recommend a lot.

Time to further broaden my steampunk horizons! I’m finally reading Girl Genius. I read Phil & Dixie when I was in high school and in the ever-popular Alternate Reality club… a group for gamers. It took me awhile to make the connection between the gaming comic and Girl Genius, but I was thrilled when I finally figured it out.

Girl Genius is the story of Agatha Clay, a long lost member of the Heterodyne family, folklore heroes and amazingly talented Sparks (think mad science geniuses, but not necessarily evil). Agatha has no idea of her heritage, as she is a klutz and can’t build a working clank to save her life. When her brooch is stolen, her favorite professor killed, and Baron Wulfenbach takes control of her town and university, Agatha experiences a major breakthrough in her abilities… but only while she’s asleep. Soon she is whisked away to Castle Wulfenbach, part of a floating armada of dirigibles. She must contend with monsters, the baron’s son, a crazed guardian construct, and a hero intent on having her as his sidekick.

Yes, this comic is just about as crazy as it sounds. But it’s also lots of fun, with plenty of humor and Agatha running around in her underwear. You can read the entire comic online, or start with individual books. I think it’s a great comic for people looking for a strong heroine, some sci-fi/fantasy, or, like me, want to expand their steampunk horizons!

Zoe loves Henry. They’ve been dating for six months, a time when she has counted his kisses and devoted herself entirely to supporting Henry and his band. Which makes it all the more devastating when Henry breaks up with her. Zoe pretends to be fine with it, but only because she is sure she can win Henry back. Despite warnings from her friends and family, Zoe dives headlong into obsession; she writes Henry poems and creates photo-collages; she sneaks them into his bedroom and his school locker while stealing pens and smelling his clothing. Her two best friends do what they can to stop Zoe and then finally give in, helping her try to win him back by making him jealous. Over the course of a month, we see Zoe’s life after D-Day, Dumping Day, and how she overreacts, obsesses, and embarrasses herself, finally realizing that giving herself up to be with Henry was a mistake.

This book tends to hit you over the message to stay true to yourself. Zoe moves into stalker territory fairly quickly and you’ll find yourself cringing at her poems and her addiction to Henry. However, teens may find a lot to relate to in Zoe’s story. Hoffmann captures the pain of having to see an ex at school every day and listen to the rumors fly, adding in humor to lighten the mood. Some of the characters are stereotypes – there’s the boy that Zoe obviously should be dating, the inattentive parents, and the well-meaning-but-goofy teacher. The ending also wraps up too quickly, with Zoe’s big embarrassing moment passing in a blur and her sudden realization that she needs to let Henry go. This is a meh book, not bad, but not one you must have.

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown and, in one month, he will be a man. But Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. First, there are no women in Prentisstown – they all died years ago, when the aliens called Spackle released a germ that created Noise. And that’s the second thing… the Noise. Every one can hear everyone else’s thoughts, from the tiniest squirrel to the loudest man. It’s an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise that cannot be ignored. There is no quiet, no privacy, and no room for secrets.

Or is there? When Todd and his dog, Manchee, are exploring the swamp one day, they discover a pocket of silence, where there is no Noise. And the source of the quiet is a girl, something that Todd never expected to see. Todd does his best to keep the girl a secret from the rest of Prentisstown. But Todd isn’t the only one keeping secrets – the men of the town have been hiding something from him, something about their past and the legacy that belongs to each boy that becomes a man there. Soon Todd finds himself running for his life, trying to escape a past he didn’t know existed. But how can you run when those chasing you can hear your every thought?

The Knife of Never Letting Go is the first in the Chaos Walking series. I thought it was a little slow to start with – this is a world that feels recognizable when you see the settler life that Prentisstown is leading, and you think you know where things are going when the rug gets pulled out from under you. Todd knows almost nothing about his town’s dark history or the surrounding world, so you are constantly having to revise the way you understand Todd’s world. This got to be a little bit overwhelming, which is how it should be for Todd, but wore on me as I was reading.

The concept of Noise, of trying to keep your thoughts private or calm or layering them so that you can keep something to yourself, as really intriguing, and I liked the connection the author made between the way we’re bombarded with all kinds of information today. The way Noise is expressed in the book is very powerful, and I would’ve liked to have seen that appear a bit more throughout. You also got a strong sense of the desperation that Todd and Viola must feel and the hopelessness of their journey, which can be a bit crushing to the reader… particularly when it comes to Chapter 31. I had a good cry at the end of that chapter.

This book does have one of my all-time favorite openings: “The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing much to say. About anything.” With such a great opening, it can feel like a bit of a slog to continue those first few chapters. However, this book is worth it!

David Small draws you into his childhood, evoking the 50s and 60s and a household that represses and internalizes all feelings. “Stitches” is the story of his childhood, of his mother, and of the growth on his neck that turns out to be cancer, resulting in the removal of one of his vocal chords and a horrific scar. This book is brief – maybe an hour to read, but it sinks into you. The art swirls and moves as if it were a film, and the awkwardness, tension, and sadness of Small’s family is conveyed through the black, white, and gray-washed illustrations. Certain themes crop up through the book – Small’s fascination with Alice in Wonderland, a haunting discover in the pathology department of the hospital where his father worked, his escape into art throughout his childhood and into his teens, and the words that we say even when we are silent. Small closes the book with further details of his family’s history, particularly his mother’s medical background. This is a powerful story, made more so by the format used to tell it. For those looking for a complicated book on family relationships and finding your own voice, I would highly recommend this book.

Friends, enemies, and acquaintances gather to remember Batman at his funeral, as the Caped Crusader’s spirit watches and wonders what’s going on. No two stories are alike, but this is a way of reconciling the Batman stories and legends, and as each person steps up to tell about Batman’s demise, the artwork and language take on new life. If you’ve been following Batman for ages, you’ll recognize the storylines and inspirations for these stories.

I thought this was a great “ending” to the Batman story, though if there’s anything that this book goes out of its way to say, it’s that the Batman legend doesn’t end. However, the funeral seems a bit short – I mean, with this cast of characters, Gaiman could’ve gone on and on, but a few more stories wouldn’t have hurt! The three stories included afterward are great, and I particularly enjoyed “A Black and White World,” probably because I’m a fan of stories and TV shows that break the fourth wall.