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by Becca & Andye (squee!) THE ROSE & THE DAGGERThe Wrath and the Dawn #2by Renee AhdiehAge Range: 12 and up Grade Level: 7 and upSeries: The Wrath and the DawnHardcover: 432 pagesPublisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (April 26, 2016)Audio CDPublisher: Listening Library (Audio); Unabridged edition (May 3, 2016)Goodreads | Amazon | Audible The much anticipated sequel to the

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Review by Krista  STONE FIELDby Christy LenziInspired by Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Hardcover: 320 pagesPublisher: Roaring Brook Press (March 29, 2016)Language: English Goodreads | Amazon A stunning debut novel that offers a new look at a classic love story about soul mates torn apart by the circumstances of their time.Catrina Dickinson is haunted by her past and

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The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. Penguin. 2015. Reviewed from audiobook borrowed from library. Narrated by Ariana Delawari.


The Plot: A retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. Shahrzad is a young woman whose best friend, Shiva, was the latest bride, and victim, of Khalid, Caliph of Khorasan.

Khalid marries a young woman -- and the next day she is killed. And he moves on to marry another. And another dies.

Shahrzad's best friend was one of those brides. Her murder devastated the family. Shahrzad is determined to find out what happened to her friend, and why. So she does the unthinkable: she volunteers as bride.

And begins a desperate plan to survive, telling a story each night, to be continued only if she is allowed to live.

The Good: OK, so you know the general basics of A Thousand and One Nights, both the story of the storyteller and also the stories she tell.

I loved The Wrath and the Dawn, and was also very frustrated with it.

I've been reading a lot of regency romances and many of them are about marriages of convenience. And on one delightful, romantic level, that is what The Wrath and the Dawn is about, a young couple who don't know each other who find themselves falling in love with each other. This part of the story gave me all the feelings. Shahrzad has a childhood sweetheart, Tariq. Khalid has had many, many, wives -- and it turns out that he has also had a pretty terrible childhood with an emotionally abusive father. (More on that later). Yet despite her heart belonging to another, and his emotional walls, they find themselves falling in love with each other.

Before I go further, one of the things I really liked about this romance is that at the start Shahrzad is in love with someone else, a boy she's loved since was a young girl. And he loves her. This is a complex look at emotions, at growing up, at changing, at loving more than one person. It isn't a "love triangle," it's about how love isn't simple.

The Wrath and the Dawn is set in the far past, but it's not exactly clear when. It also is a fantasy, but it's not obvious, not at first. As the book goes on, it seems like some people have some magic; that magic exists; that curses may be real; but even by the end of the book, it's not strong magic, if that makes sense. It's magical potential, still being explored.

It wasn't until I was almost done with The Wrath and the Dawn that I realized it's not a standalone book. There's a sequel coming, next May.

And now to my frustrations -- and it has to do with all those dead wives. So we now entering spoiler town. Stop, now, if you are sensitive about spoilers and prefer to discover a book by yourself.

Those dead wives, all young girls, bothered me a lot. They are the reason Shahrzad has thrown herself into danger, without much of any plan. We see how Shiva's death devastated family and friends; we here of riots because of the endless deaths. But here is the thing: deaths. No, murders. Deliberate killings. The "reason" given is a curse placed about Khalid.

BUT. BUT. As I read, I felt very little sympathy for the dead from Khalid and those around him; I felt as if the soldiers surrounding Khalid who knew about the curse felt that the payment of murdered girls was somehow acceptable. Basically, "kill the girls are something terrible will happen" and the response was "oh, OK, but our biggest worry is how will Khalid bear the burden of those dead girls?"

No, the biggest worry should be those girls, individually and collectively.

About half way through my rage about those girls was such that I wished to know more about them as individuals and thought, oh, if only Khalid and the others saw them as people, as real, then, well. That would change things. And then I found out that Khalid did see them, know them, that way, and yet the killings went on and I didn't feel any better, my disgust wasn't lessened, to know that Khalid mourned them individually and felt really, really, really, really bad about it.

Then, after that, I fantasized about the revenge I wished upon those who supported the killings, who helped the deaths take place. Except then I found out that the curse itself was the revenge for a death, and I saw how revenge killing isn't an answer.

And I liked this about The Wrath and the Dawn, that what I wanted to happen was shown to not be an answer.

But.

What is the answer? These girls are dead, and by the end of this book while I saw forgiveness in Shahrzad, while I saw that revenge and feeling really bad weren't answers, I wasn't given any answers. I loved this book so much it's a Favorite Book Read in 2015, and I'll eagerly read the sequel. But I'll be doing so wanting to know not just what happens next for the characters and the plot, but wondering whether it's possible in world created here for these young women to have any type of justice. I fear this world is so patriarchal that the reality of that world is that of no justice. I fear that class matters so much that the importance of the male ruler over non-royal women means that there can be no justice for them.

I wonder if forgiveness means there can be no justice.





Amazon Affiliate. If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

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Review by Natalie MIRROREDby Alex FlinnSeries: Kendra Chronicles (Book 3)Hardcover: 384 pagesPublisher: HarperTeen (September 15, 2015)Language: EnglishAmazon | Goodreads Celine's life is the stuff fairy tales are made of. She's beautiful, talented, and brave. Unfortunately, her tale comes complete with a wicked stepmother! When Violet steps into Celine's life, everything changes and weird

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Review by Paola FIRST & THENby Emma MillsHardcover: 272 pagesPublisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (October 13, 2015)Language: EnglishGoodreads | Amazon Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier

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From Becca... Today we are hosting a stop on the #HeadsWillRoll Blog Tour for Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius! I'll be reviewing the book in texts to the book rather than writing a letter, because I thought since I was reviewing a modernized tale, I should modernize my reviews. Check it out, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!  ANNE & HENRY  by Dawn Ius Publisher: Simon Pulse (September 1,

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From Becs... I'm so incredibly stoked for this post today, ya'll! I absolutely ADORED Of Metal and Wishes last year, which is a Phantom of the Opera retelling that you need in your life ASAP! I'm so honored to be on the OF DREAMS AND RUST tour. I have my review letter for you guys today, AND a super cool giveaway!  ABOUT THE BOOK:    Of Dreams and Rust (Of Metal and Wishes #2) by

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From Becca's Shelves... Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke & The Bookish.  This week's topic is Ten Fairytale Retellings I've Read/Want to Read (or fairytales I want to be retold or fairytales I love). Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer - I actually can't remember if I read this one this year or last (I'm getting old, okay?), but I remember really being blown away by what happens in Belzhar!

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Review by Paola A LITTLE IN LOVEby Susan FletcherAge Range: 12 and up Grade Level: 7 and upHardcover: 288 pagesPublisher: Chicken House (August 25, 2015)Goodreads | Amazon Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic, Les Miserables, A Little in Love beautifully conveys the heartbreaking story of street girl Eponine.Paris, 1832A girl lies alone in the darkness, clutching a letter to her heart.Eponine

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Andye speaks...  I hate retellings.  If there is a retelling written. I basically hate it. Ok, that's going overboard. I don't usually hate them, but they seriously just don't do it for me, and I really have no idea why. I find them boring. Like, name a retelling. Just name one. Nope. Didn't like it. Cinder? Nope. ACOTAR? Nope. Of Metal and Wishes? Cruel Beauty? Dorothy Must Die? The

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From Becca   HOLD ME LIKE A BREATH Once Upon A Crime Family #1 by Tiffany Schmidt Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury (May 19th, 2015) Language: English Goodreads | Amazon Penelope Landlow has grown up with the knowledge that almost anything can be bought or sold—including body parts. She’s the daughter of one of the three crime families that control the black market for organ

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Teen Review by Reagan  THE ISLE OF THE LOST A Descendants Novel by Melissa De La Cruz Age Range: 9 - 12 years Grade Level: 4 - 7 Series: The Descendants Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Disney-Hyperion (May 5, 2015) Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and made to live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The island is surrounded by

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Review by Sara THE WICKED WILL RISEDorthy Must Die #2Series: Dorothy Must Die (Book 2)Hardcover: 304 pagesPublisher: HarperCollins (March 31, 2015)Goodreads | Amazon In this sequel to the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die, who is good—and who is actually Wicked?My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.After a tornado swept through my trailer park, I ended up in Oz.But

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The Fall by Bethany Griffin. Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. 2014.

The Plot: A retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe.

The Good: Did you not see what I said? A retelling! Of The Fall of the House of Usher!

OK, it's true that not every retelling or re-imaging is done well. And it's also true that there are many ways to revisit a story. So you need more from me, to let you know that this one is well worth the read.

The Fall is an emotional, character driven retelling, making the doomed Madeline Usher the main character.

It is Madeline telling the story, and it is fragmented. Madeline at eighteen, trapped, buried alive; Madeline at nine, when her family is strange but still together and alive. The story jumps back and forth in time, ending, as it began, with Madeline at eighteen. Along the way, the reader, along with Madeline, learns of the curse of the Ushers -- a curse on both the physical house and the bloodline. A curse that allows the family to continue, yes, but attacks each generation, physically and mentally attacking family members. They remain rich and well off and with a grand house -- but they are doomed and the house is decaying, as the family decays. As Madeline decays.

And let me say how much I loved that the telling is non-linear, because it makes the reader as unsure as Madeline is, as unaware of what is really going on. Doubting and believing, uncertain and sure.

And what is really going on? Madeline and her family are cursed, of course. Along with Madeline, the reader learn about the origins of the curse, and how it touches each generation, with hints of abuse and madness and incest, and how it twists and turns the people living in the house.

Or, maybe not.

One thing I liked about The Fall, and I hope I'm not alone in this, is that it may all be in Madeline's head. That she may be mad, yes, but not because of a curse. That Madeline sees things and interprets things because of both her own madness, but also because those around her are convinced there is a curse so she chooses to see the world, and herself, as victims of that curse. That some things may be things she made up, or she believes because her parents believed and she's been isolated with no one to balance anything.

Or, maybe yes, and there's a curse and even when Madeline seems mad it's the proper reaction to the situation she is in.

Another thing I liked was that The Fall doesn't veer far from Poe's story. OK, I admit, I haven't read the story in years and years. So I'm going more on memory of the story and the Vincent Price movie. But The Fall kept the focus tight: Madeline, her twin brother Roderick, his friend from school. There are also doctors treating Madeline and that may be new but if it is, it makes sense and it kept the story and plot tight.

And, finally, The Fall stays within the confines and setting of the original story, which was written in 1839. A year is never given, but there are coaches and servants and the time period is clearly "long ago" and "not now." What I love is how this setting is shown and created without much detail. Ask each reader of The Fall to sketch the house and its gardens and rooms, and each drawing will be different from each other. Madeline is telling the story and she is showing us her emotional truth. I love that Griffin trusts us, the reader, to not need those extra bits and doesn't give into the temptation of unneeded details.

And yes . . .  I do plan on rereading The Fall of the House of Usher! So I'll revisit this review once I've done so.

Assorted links: Guest Post by Bethany Griffin at Uncorked Thoughts, talking Gender; review at The Book Smugglers; review at Wondrous Reads; review at Bookish.




 Amazon Affiliate. If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

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Review by Andye OF METAL AND WISHES by Sarah Fine Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (August 5, 2014) Language: English Goodreads | Amazon This love story for the ages, set in a reimagined industrial Asia, is a little dark, a bit breathless, and completely compelling. Sixteen-year-old Wen assists her father in his medical clinic, housed in a slaughterhouse staffed by

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The Mayor of Casterbridge was the most difficult of the Hardy novels to retell - it’s so rich in plot, so much happens, that I felt I had to butcher some of the story to get it into the word count. But I learned so much about editing, about looking at a book from a long way back, and from very close up, from the work I did on Hardy’s books. I still love the originals. But I’m quite proud of what I’ve done with them.

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Category: Young Adult Fantasy
Keywords: Myths, Retellings, Series, Gods and Goddesses
Format: ebook, Hardcover
Source: NetGalley



Kimberly's Review: 

Last year, I finally got around to reading The Goddess Test, book one. Which I LOVED, and immediately grabbed for book two. Then I had wait, like forever, to get my hands on book three, the final book. And I'm still not sure what I think about it.

This review will contain some spoilers from the first two books so if you haven't read books one and two, maybe you should stop reading now and grab a cup of tea.

Spoilers below

Without giving too much away, Kate has been captured by Calliope and held for nine months, waiting to give birth. Henry doesn't know anything is wrong and no one is searching for her. That is, until all hell breaks loose. Cronos is ready to blast through, starting a war he intends no one to survive. Not his children, not humanity. Calliope at his side has one goal, to make Kate miserable, and she plans on doing that by stealing Kate and Henry's baby.

There are some really wonderful things about The Goddess Inheritance. This book is a fast paced thrill ride. So much happens, I can't even begin to go into everything. Action packed. Calliope morphs into an even more sinister version of herself, and she is pretty terrifying and gross. We see Cronos a little differently in this book and get a closer look at his motivations. Together, these two are bent on destroying the world, and for most of the book, I really thought they would do it. No one is safe and it's hard to see who is on whose side and why.

There's also a lot of open questions at the end of the book and this makes me... happy! (See, you thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?) I hope this opens the road for spin off books.

Now some not so great things. I liked Kate in books one and two, but that didn't hold true for me in book three. Kate whines a lot, complains, feels helpless and whines some more. A lot of the conversations between her and Henry are about sacrifice, who is willing to give up what. I love Kate's compassion and love, but halfway through the middle of the book, she becomes this wet mop. Where is the Kate from the beginning? Who passed the tests? Who fought for Henry's love? She's in there somewhere, but it takes a while for her to get back to herself so most of the book I kinda wanted to slap her across the face.

Another thing I loved in the series was Henry and Kate together. Their trials and victories as a couple, as a unit, facing real relationship problems and lack of communication. Their fights and struggles nearly killed me in the first two books. Killed. Me. That wasn't really evident in this book. Their problems were more circumstantial and the heat and love I felt between them earlier wasn't as strong. Don't get me wrong, I love Henry and Kate. But I was expecting more from them as a couple, and was disappointed by the course of their relationship.

Here's a non-spoiler for those who have read it already:

Yeah, that whole thing that happens on the island? and then there's little-to_no discussion about it afterwards? None? NONE? What?! One line? We get one line about not talking about it? (slaps forehead) I call foul!

Overall though, The Goddess Inheritance is a solid end to a captivating trilogy. I'm sad it's over, I still want more and while I'm disappointed by some of the events that happened in book three, I still think it's one of my favorite series out there and would totally read it again.

---

For more about the author, visit aimeecarter.com and tweet @aimee_carter.

You can find more reviews by Kimberly at The Windy Pages and tweet her @thewindypages.

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Category: Young Adult Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling
Keywords: Robin Hood, Fairy Tales, Myths
Formats: Hardcover
Source: NetGalley

This is the third book in the series, the last one, the story to tie up all loose ends. Seeing as I haven't read any of the other ones before, I was afraid I might get lost. Thankfully, the history and mythology is carefully explained and it's a twisted history indeed!

Petunia, the youngest of the twelve dancing sisters, is abducted by a "wolf" in the forest, a young man with the mask of a wolf. She finds him to be Oliver, an earl who has lost his land, and has been reduced to robbing passing coaches. Oliver swears to get her to her destination, but when he drops her off at the gates, he realizes that something is wrong and Petunia is in more danger than she realizes. Fairy tales and myths combine for a very cute story.

I really liked the mythology and the history. I think it would have been better to follow the journey from book one, but I didn't have any problems following the thread. It was interesting and imaginative, these interwoven fairy tales. I like Petunia, but she is sixteen so a couple times I rolled my eyes at her. A lot of the book is spent with her eleven sisters, all named after flowers. I'm sure it is hard to write a story about the twelve dancing princesses, but honestly, most of the time I was confused by them. None of them really stood out with a distinct personality. They all blended together.

This goes the same way for Oliver, his band of thieves, and the sisters' husbands. I didn't feel a real connection to any of them. I may have had a different experience if I had read the series from book one.

Overall, The Princess of the Silver Woods is fun and a clever twist on the stories of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Robin Hood and Little Red Riding Hood. Fans of fairy tale retellings will enjoy this romp through the forest.

---

Find out more about the author at www.jessicadaygeorge.com and follow her @JessDayGeorge

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Keywords: Fairy Tale Retelling, Family, Sisters
Category: Young Adult/Middle Grade
Format: ebook, Hardcover
Source: Netgalley


Kimberly's review:

I love retellings of my favorite fairy tales, so I've been wanting to read Cinder and Ella for a while. Cinder and Ella are so close and dependent on each other, that their own family can't tell them apart. When Cinder begins working in the castle, Ella becomes unrecognizable to her family without her other half. Heartbroken, Ella wanders away, searching for a new home and people who will appreciate her. But the castle has dark forces at work and the sisters become the unfortunate target of the handsome, but not so nice prince.

I really like Ella. She's clever, smart and thoughtful. Even in dangerous situations, the girl is a fighter, and I love how strong she is. On the other hand, Cinder is wholesome, good and trusting. Which, honestly, annoyed me to no end. I know, I know. Maybe I'm just cynical. But Cinder is so sweet and pure, she can't even see the evil Prince is, well, evil. I mean really, Cinder? This is me virtually slapping some sense into you. There.

The writing is sweet, and the style is light and I breezed through this book. I kept wanting to know what happened. The story read like a fairy tale. It is so easy to get swept up in the adventure. Coming in below 300 pages, this super sweet and short tale is perfect for a light read. I especially love the mythology about the trees and how each person has a tree, and it's tied to them. When Cinder and Ella's father runs away, they have a feeling he is still alive because his tree is still alive. Looking worse every year, but alive. And this gives them hope.

But why only three stars you ask? I have a couple of problems with the plot and conclusion of the book. While the ending is tied up rather nicely, Cinder and Ella's family is so selfish and mean, the ending doesn't bring any closure for me. Also, and I won't give it away, the motivations behind some of the characters, especially in the royal family, feel hollow and flimsy.

Overall, Cinder and Ella is a fast, clever retelling of the classic Cinderella story. I think a lot of readers will enjoy Ella and Cinder's adventures.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book. 

---

Find the author online at www.authormelissalemon.com and on Facebook.

You can find more reviews by Kimberly at www.thewindypages.com and tweet her @TheWindyPages.

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Classroom Connections is a series meant to introduce teachers to new books.
A BREATH OF EYRE -- Eve Marie Mont

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New Girl by Paige Harbison

Thanks to HarlequinTeen and NetGalley!

Coming January 31, 2012!

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl
I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy.
And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend…but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

Life Is But a Dream by Brian James

Thanks to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley!

Coming March 27, 2012!

Alec and Sabrina are crazy in love. Problem is: Sabrina’s really crazy.

Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's

8 Comments on In My Mailbox: November 21 - 27, 2011, last added: 11/27/2011

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Amanda @Stuck In YA Books said, on 11/27/2011 10:07:00 AM

Great IMM this week, New Girl looks really good!

http://lovesbooksreviews.blogspot.com/2011/11/in-my-mailbox-21.html

Angie @ Beneath the Jacket said, on 11/27/2011 10:14:00 AM

I've seen New Girl on a few IMMs this week and am intrigued. I had never heard of it before! Sounds awesome!

My IMM

Claire @ YA Bookie Monster said, on 11/27/2011 10:35:00 AM

Awesome books this week! New Girl and Life is But a Dream look awesome! I haven't read XVI yet, but I hope that you enjoy Truth!

You can check out my IMM HERE!

Claire :)

Unabridged Bookshelf said, on 11/27/2011 11:35:00 AM

New Girl looks like it is going to be a great read! I hope you enjoy it! I have not read XVI bu5 I have heard great things about it. Thanks for sharing!

My Mailbox

Sarah (The Book Life) said, on 11/27/2011 4:11:00 PM

Truth was really good! I liked it even more than XVI! I got New Girl recently, too, and Life is But a Dream is definitely on my wishlist! Great books :0)

My IMM

Amelia said, on 11/27/2011 4:18:00 PM

Cool books this week! I'm kinda iffy about picking up the XVI sequel, but I look forward to your review on that. :)

Happy reading!

-Amelia
The Authoress

~Sara @ Just Another Story said, on 11/27/2011 6:48:00 PM

The New Girl does look good. I hadn't heard of it before now, I enjoyed Harbison's debut Here Likes Bridget. I hope you enjoy!

Kara_Malinczak said, on 11/27/2011 7:58:00 PM

I got New Girl too! I can't wait to read it. It sounds amazing. Happy reading!!

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New Girl by Paige Harbison

Release Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen

WHY DID A SPOT OPEN UP AT MANDERLEY ACADEMY?

I hadn't wanted to go, but my parents were so excited…. So here I am, the new girl at Manderley, a true fish out of water. But mine's not the name on everyone's lips. Oh, no.

It's Becca Normandy they can't stop talking about. Perfect, beautiful Becca. She went missing at the end of last year, leaving a spot open at Manderley-the spot that I got. And everyone acts like it's my fault that infallible, beloved Becca is gone and has been replaced by not perfect, completely fallible, unknown Me.

Then, there's the name on my lips-Max Holloway. Becca's ex. The one boy I should avoid, but can't. Thing is, it seems like he wants me, too. But the memory of Becca is always between us. And as much I'm starting to like it at Manderley, I can't help but think she's out there, somewhere, wat

11 Comments on Waiting on Wednesday: New Girl by Paige Harbison, last added: 11/3/2011

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Carina said, on 11/2/2011 2:37:00 AM

Wow, this sounds really, really great. Have to add this to my to-read list immediately.

Thank you so much for sharing,
Carina @ Fictional Distraction

Books For All Seasons said, on 11/2/2011 2:48:00 AM

Very interesting book! The cover looks intriguing. Great pick! Thank you for sharing!

Sam

Krazzyme(Young Readers) said, on 11/2/2011 2:57:00 AM

This one sounds really good! I hope it's as good as it sounds!


Feel free to check out my WOW
Krazyyme @ Young Readers

Giselle said, on 11/2/2011 5:09:00 AM

I haven't read Rebecca but I'm really intrigued by it it's been on my TBR list for months. This one sounds wonderful as well.

Giselle
Xpresso Reads

Creations by Laurel-Rain Snow said, on 11/2/2011 6:31:00 AM

This one sounds good! Thanks for sharing.

Here's MY WOW POST and
MY WEBSITE

Lauren M said, on 11/2/2011 10:31:00 AM

I haven't read Rebecca, so I'll still have the element of surprise, luckily! New Girl sounds really creepy! Definitely looking forward to it. :)

Grace Fonseca said, on 11/2/2011 6:39:00 PM

WOW. I love the blurb for this book. Sounds wonderful. Great choice. Come visit me as well.

Livre De Amour-Books of Love Blog

A. Knight said, on 11/3/2011 4:06:00 AM

Is this a companion novel to Rebecca? Sounds like it. This sounds creeptastic, and I'm going a little gag for the possible romance (really, is that anything new? Wait, how would you know? *lol*). Excellente.

- Asher (from Paranormal Indulgence)

eden.kaye said, on 11/3/2011 9:41:00 AM

how did you get the NaNoWriMo word count button thingy? I can't find it!! :D

danya said, on 11/3/2011 4:00:00 PM

LOL, I've read this description before and apparently didn't clue into the fact that it was a retelling of Rebecca. *facepalm* Now I am definitely more interested!!

Casey (The Bookish Type) said, on 11/3/2011 9:07:00 PM

@eden -- I found the word count bar here: http://www.languageisavirus.com/nanowrimo/word-meter.html

They should have one up on the NaNo site eventually, but so far no dice :\

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Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess, sequel / companion to Bloodtide. Copy supplied by publisher. The first image is the UK version; the second is the US version. Review based on uncorrected book proof.

The Plot: Sigurd is born to be a hero; and Bloodsong begins with Sigurd facing the classic hero quest: slay the dragon.

The Good: Loved it. A Best Book for 2007.

Bloodtide and Bloodsong are set in a future that's barely recognizable. It's a post--apocalyptic world that is as bloody and brutal as anything out of the medieval past. It's a world of death and violence. Science has made magic real; with cloning and machines, and "magic rings" studied under microscopes.

Yet magic is not lost; gods such as Odin and Loki are real (or are they the result of some high tech machine?) For example, Sigurd says he is born to do great things: "You think I'm arrogant; I'm not. I was made for this -- literally. My father designed me for it. Every gene in my body was picked for this purpose. My mother brought me up for it; the gods shaped me as the keystone for this time and place. It's no credit to me. I have less choice than anyone." Magical swords coexist with people that are part pig and part dog because of DNA manipulation.

Bloodsong is about adventure; love; greatness; weakness. It is bloody and violent and heartless. And it's realistic, in the sense that things don't always work out they way you think they should or the way you want them to. Bloodsong takes some unexpected twists and turns, changing the story entirely. I never knew what was going to happen next, which is refreshing. And it's why I won't tell anything of the plot beyond Sigurd is off to slay a dragon.

Burgess often shifts POV; mixing it up, so sometimes it's first person, other times third person, and it's not consistent. It's a bit unsettling at first; but it works because it means that, despite the UK cover ("one hero. one kingdom. one chance to make it his own"), there is no one hero; we see Sigurd's view of himself, as well as how others view him; we get into the heads of all the characters, as well as seeing them more objectively. Which makes the violence, the betrayals, the hope and lost hope all the more real and all the more heart-shattering.

The US cover says "a legacy's final heir. a country's only hope." As mentioned above, Burgess provides a slick mix of Sigurd being the heir and the hope not just because the gods say so, but also because Sigurd himself has been genetically engineered to be heir and hope.

Do you have to read Bloodtide to read Bloodsong? No; I read Bloodtide when it first came out and had forgotten much of the details. While I want to reread it, I didn't have the time. No worries; while there are some connections I may have missed, for the most part Bloodsong stands alone. Actually, anyone reading Bloodtide expecting a true sequel may be disappointed; Bloodsong does not continue the story of Bloodtide, but rather tells the story of Sigurd, son of Sigmund, one of the characters in Bloodtide. It's like first reading the story of Henry II and then reading a book about Richard I.

While my copy of Bloodsong didn't mention it, these books are based on the Volsunga Saga. Many of the names are the same; others are close: Sigurd is a Volson, for example. Those of you familiar with the saga will be less surprised than I at the twists and turns of Sigurd's story, and instead will take greater enjoyment at how that story is reborn, retold and reimagined.

Links, all of which refer to the source material so all are highly spoilerific
The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga)
More on the Volsunga saga.
Interview with author. (video interview)

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