Title: Tell the Wind and Fire
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Published: 2016
Source: Netgalley
Summary: In this paranormal retelling of A Tale of Two Cities, New York City is divided between the Dark and the Light magic wielders. The Dark side is shackled and boundaried, and the Light rules.
Lucie is that rarest of rare, a Dark-sider who escaped to the Light. She's famous for it, in fact, the half-Light, half-Dark girl who escaped the Dark and now lives in the Light side of town, dating Ethan, the shining son of the mayor. But as she fights to hold onto her sheltered life on the light and Ethan, the boy she loves, she's drawn to his Dark doppelganger, Carwyn.
First Impressions: I liked Carwyn much more than Ethan. I loved how snarky and mean Lucie became with him. The end made me cry.
Later On: I always like retellings of classics, mostly because it's very fun to see how the themes and characters gets filtered through a modern lens. This is one of my first experiences with reading the retelling without having actually read the original. As such, the ending knocked me for a loop. Can you call it a spoiler when just about everyone knows that Sydney Carton died in the original? But because I wasn't paying attention to the details and callbacks, I was surprised and disappointed when it went there.
When I say I liked how snarky and mean Lucie got with him, this isn't because I like mean girls. More, it was because the self that Lucie was when she was with Carwyn felt more honest. With Ethan, and by extension, with all of the Light side, I had the sense that Lucie was putting on a big show of how very, very Light side she was. With Carwyn, she didn't have to pretend that the Dark side of herself didn't exist. I didn't have a whole lot of faith that Lucie would be able to hold on to this honesty of self without Carwyn around to remind her. Maybe she will, though.
Overall, this was a wonderful book, full of meditations on the nature of fame and public perception and how meaningless labels can be, but the ending works less well for me the farther I get from the actual experience of reading it.
More: Why Did I Do That Thing I Did in Tell the Wind and Fire? by Sarah Rees Brennan (spoilers for other of her books, so read carefully)
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Blog: Confessions of a Bibliovore (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Tell the Wind and Fire, book review, YA lit, Sarah Rees Brennan, Add a tag
By: Maryann Yin,
on 8/12/2015
Blog: Galley Cat (Mediabistro) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Authors, Publishing, Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Add a tag
By: Maryann Yin,
on 2/9/2015
Blog: Galley Cat (Mediabistro) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: young adult books, Publishing, Maureen Johnson, Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Robin Wasserman, novellas, Add a tag
Cassandra Clare will collaborate with three fellow young adult novelists, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman. The four writers will be working on a new novella series called Tales From The Shadowhunter Academy (similar to The Bane Chronicles short story collection).
According to Clare’s blog post, each of the ten novellas will come out on a monthly basis as eBooks. Once all ten novellas have been digitally published, they will be compiled in a print book.
Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, will release the first one, entitled Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy, on February 17th. Clare announced on her Facebook page that Devon Bostick, an actor on The 100 television series, has signed on to narrate the audiobook edition of this book.
Add a CommentBlog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: featured, Sarah Rees Brennan, Megan McCafferty, Tamara Ireland Stone, Jessica Love, Emery Lord, St. Martin's Griffin Books, Melissa Landers, Walker Children's Books, Book Lists, Chapter Books, Disney-Hyperion Books, Ember Books, Teens: Young Adults, Best Kids Stories, Best YA, Chelsie Hill, Young Adult, Add a tag
Co-written with Chelsie Hill from Sundance Channel's reality TV show Push Girls, Jessica Love's debut novel PUSH GIRL published on June 3, 2014 from St. Martin's Griffin/Thomas Dunne Books. IN REAL LIFE, a story about online friendship and love, comes out in 2015.
Add a Comment
By: Jen Robinson,
on 10/4/2013
Blog: Jen Robinson (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sarah rees brennan, unspoken, black magic, lynburn legacy, untold, Reviews, Young Adult, young adult fiction, gothic, Newsletter, england, Add a tag
Book: Untold (The Lynburn Legacy, Book 2)
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan (@SarahReesBrenna)
Pages: 384
Age Range: 12 and up
Untold is Gothic in tone from start to finish, with a heavy, brooding atmosphere cast over most of the book. Untold is a bit darker than Unspoken, reminding me, in terms of bleakness, of Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. But what keeps it from being too dark is the strength of the bonds (and the degree of banter) between heroine Kami Glass and her friends.
Like this (in a news story that Kami writes for her school paper):
""What on earth is happening?" asked a witness to these events (Rusty Montgomery, age 20, who insisted on not remaining anonymous and also wished this paper to record the fact that he is single)."
Kami is an excellent heroine. She's stubborn and determined, tireless in her efforts. She's small and fiery, with a part-Japanese heritage that makes her just the tiniest bit exotic. She glares at her best friend when tricked into discussing feelings. She has a gift for brining people together.
Kami doesn't know what to make of her relationship with Jared Lynburn, with whom she had a constant mental connection for most of her life, a connection now severed. I found the relationship dynamics between Kami and Jared to be realistic (as much as possible, given the unusual nature of their bond), and I was pulling for them.
I also quite like Kami's relationship with her contentious best friend, Angela, who Kami has only recently learned is gay. I found the scenes between Kami and Angela regarding Angela's coming out realistic, too, and not overdone.
Well done as all of the relationship aspects of Untold are, it's the Gothic tone that really stands out. You know what you're in for when the very first chapter features a scene in which scarecrows come to life, and not in a good way. Like this:
"Kami looked and saw that every garden on Shadowchurch Lane was stirring into life. The undertaker scarecrow in the Thompsons' garden was already off it's wooden frame and climbing the fence, its round pale face shining like a small horrible moon, coming through the darkness at them." (Page 11)
Untold is a worth sequel to Unspoken. It has three-dimensional characterization (with continuing character development from the first book), a strong sense of place, lyrical writing, and an intriguing plot. I can't wait for the final (I think) book in the trilogy. I do highly recommend Untold, but be sure to read Unspoken first.
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (@RandomHouseKids)
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
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© 2013 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.
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By: Ella Press,
on 7/5/2012
Blog: The Clock Monkey (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Justine Larbalestier, scott westerfeld, Sarah Rees Brennan, Add a tag
Authors Justine Larbalestier (Liar) and Sarah Rees Brennan (The Demon's Lexicon) recently joined forces to write Team Human. Through emails and iChats, the two writers worked together to write this very funny novel about Mel Duan, a whip-smart high-schooler trying desperately to keep her best friend from falling in love with the wrong guy--a guy who just happens to be a vampire.On July 8 at 8:00 pm, the authors are coming to Figment to discuss the tricky task of collaboration. How do two people create one cohesive voice? How do you find the right writing partner? And who gets credit for the best lines?Joining them as host of this rousing live web chat is none other than Add a CommentBy: Cate Gardner, on 8/31/2009
Blog: The Poisoned Apple (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Meme, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jack Gantos, Arkham Tales, Sarah Rees Brennan, Carrie Ryan, Stuart Neville, Nathan Shumate, Philip K Dick, Add a tagThe wonderful Nathan Shumate, editor of Arkham Tales has tagged me in a most wonderful meme that proves I do have a lot of books on my shelf and leaves me thankful I don't have a really weird, long name. Here be the rules....
From the biggest bookcase you have, pick out one book whose author’s last name starts with each letter of your last name. If you have no books by an author whose last name starts with a particular letter, go to the next letter. If you have two of the same letter in your last name, get two separate authors, not two books by the same author. Bonus: If you can, pick the first book you haven’t read off your shelf, unless you’re one of those people who’s read all the books you own.
- Post the first sentence of each book, along with the author and title. Feel free to skip prefaces and such, especially if they’re by a different writer.***
I expect you might think the story I am about to tell you is untrue or perversely Gothic in some unhealthy way. (Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos - read and most truly a brilliant book).
So she tells me, the words dribbling out with the cranberry muffin crumbs, commas dunked in her coffee. (Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - read and loved).
My mother used to tell me about the ocean. (The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan - excellent, sequel now please).
Peter Trilling watched quietly as the other children played in the dust by the side of the porch. (The Cosmic Puppets by Philip K. Dick - memorable).
Maybe if he had one more drink they'd leave him alone. (The Twelve by Stuart Neville - to be read).
And out of the Darkwood Mr Toppit comes, and he comes not for you, or for me, but for all of us. (Mr Toppit by Charles Elton - to be read).
The pipe under the sink was leaking again. (The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan - can't wait for the sequel).***
And I tag: Aaron Polson, Carrie Harris (who can make hers up if she wants and do a super twist on it), Jamie Eyberg, and if he has the time, Barry Napier (to wake him up).10 Comments on Da Surname Meme, last added: 8/31/2009Display Comments Add a Comment
Thank god my name isn't any longer.
Very fun! I loved reading the first lines. Thanks for this post.
Fun meme! It would be hard for people with last names like Kuchenbrugger or whatever. :)
I really want to read The Demon's Lexicon. I read the first chapter online and liked it a lot. Maybe I'll pick up a copy this weekend.
Jamie, Your Y would bother me...
Kim, KC, I wish now I'd added you to the tag list as your surnames are delightfully short.
Fun! Once again, I'm thankful for a short name.
Of course, now that you said I CAN make it up, you realize that means I NEED to make it up. :)
That's a genius line from wintergirls.
The Forest of Hands and Teeth is so on my to-buy list. Man.
Fun meme!
I like tag. I like this meme.
Great Meme. I've read The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs, it was most interesting and I enjoyed.