Duo Review: The Crown of Embers & The Bitter Kingdom (Rae Carson)

Titles: The Crown of Embers | The Bitter Kingdom
Series: Fire & Thorns Trilogy, Books 2 & 3
Author: Rae Carson
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins)
Release Date: September 18, 2012 | August 27, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Action-Adventure Fantasy
Told: First Person (Elisa), Present Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, minor gore, sensuality)
Format Read: Paperbacks (purchase)
Find & Purchase Book 2 On: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Find & Purchase Book 3 On: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Book 2 Summary:

She does not know what awaits her at the enemy's gate.

Elisa is a hero.

She led her people to victory over a terrifying, sorcerous army. Her place as the country's ruler should be secure. But it isn't.

Her enemies come at her like ghosts in a dream, from foreign realms and even from within her own court. And her destiny as the chosen one has not yet been fulfilled.

To conquer the power she bears, once and for all, Elisa must follow a trial of long-forgotten—and forbidden—clues, from the deep, hidden catacombs of her own city to the treacherous seas. With her go a one-eyed spy, a traitor, and the man whom—despite everything—she is falling in love with.

If she's lucky, she will return from this journey. But there will be a cost.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A thrilling two-part travel adventure that expands the world of the first book and concludes a stellar fantasy trilogy.

After really enjoying Book 1, The Girl of Fire and Thorns (see my review here), I was excited to continue what I thought of as "the further adventures of Elisa" with the rest of the Fire & Thorns trilogy. As Books 2 & 3 turned out to be rather Parts 1 & 2 of the same story - with a cliffhanger at the end of Book 2 that slid almost immediately into Book 3 - I decided to review them together.

Where Book 1 was about Elisa finding the strength in herself to rule, Books 2 & 3 are the story of a girl who would be queen, struggling to rule and protect her people as best she can while dealing with court politics and trying to solve the mystery of her power. Set mainly on an epic road trip that expands the fantasy world into unknown reaches above and below by visiting lost islands and abandoned tunnels and venturing deep into enemy territory, these books are definitely travel adventures at their heart as Elisa and friends are almost constantly on the move rescuing people and places and saving the day even as they dig themselves deeper into danger and intrigue.

STRENGTHS

• While Book 2 most certainly connects and continues the first book, due to the "further adventures of Elisa" aspect there was absolutely no Middle Book Syndrome!
• The immersive writing style I loved in Book 1 continued in these and brought the world and movement to life with vivid description that didn't shy away from the grit and sweat of real living.
• Main character Elisa remained the amazing and highly relatable young woman I came to know and root for in Girl of Fire and Thorns. Also highly relatable and interesting were the secondary characters, and I grew to love every one of them (especially Red, but who couldn't love Red I mean c'mon).
• The romance was a strong thread woven through the two books but it didn't dominate in any way, instead acting as a kind of breather here and there amidst all the action and an emotional undercurrent for Elisa and Hector. When it finally came to its climax it was (to my happiness) rather mild and faded to black at the proper moments.
• The end was strong and sweet and fitting. Even with a lot of tragedy weighing them down most got a happy ending, and their lives continued right past the last page into greater adventures.

WEAKNESSES

• The story was 90% action, 7% romance, and 3% emotional depth, which left little time to ponder the emotions and intelligence that drove the action. While so much action made for a fast-paced and thrilling read, I really would've liked a bit more depth to the otherwise straight adventure story.
• While I knew Elisa was smart and resourceful based on the first book, in these I was told instead of shown the thought process behind her brilliant plans. It made me feel left out, and left the story with very little depth to hold the string of miniature adventures together.
• Several times in passing there was mention of Elisa's people coming to planet Inverno after theirs was destroyed, hinting that there is a sci-fi origin story to the fantasy setting. I was thrilled with the hope that it would be expanded, and highly disappointed when it wasn't. Sequel series?

Conclusion: While I would've liked more depth, The Crown of Embers and The Bitter Kingdom were adventurous reads with lots of exciting action and magic and a sweet romance. If you enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns and wanted more, these are most definitely worth picking up.

Series Conclusion: As a whole, the trilogy is a solid fantasy adventure read with highly relatable characters, vivid description, and a thrilling story. If you enjoy fantasy, you cannot miss this series.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Dark Energy (Robison Wells)

Title: Dark Energy
Series: standalone
Author: Robison Wells
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 29, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction
Told: First Person, Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (gruesome visuals, violence, violent alien attacks, kissing)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

We are not alone.

Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing—or no one—has come out.

They have arrived.

If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching all of this on the news from Miami, Florida. Instead, she’s the newest student at a boarding school not far from the crash site—because her dad is the director of special projects for NASA, and if anything is a special project, it’s this.

And there’s no going back. 

A shell-shocked country is waiting, glued to televisions and computer screens, for a sign of what the new future holds. But when the aliens emerge, they’re nothing like what Alice expected. And only one thing is clear: Nothing will ever be the same again.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A thrilling and chilling contemporary sci-fi with quick wit, engaging characters, and a compelling story, despite a creepy alien element.

Dark Energy was a genre roller coaster that began a light contemporary sci-fi, plunged into horror at the middle, veered into a tense adventure before a thriller climax, and ended on a romantic note. From the first sentence I was instantly engaged by easy, witty writing with great banter, simple yet realistic settings, and a diverse and relatable cast of characters. Except for a few instances of rather vivid and unnerving horror, the story was fast paced and engaging with exciting and surprising twists, including an ancient mystery I found quite unique and interesting. 

Alice was a fun and, in spite of the horror upbeat viewpoint character thanks to her easygoing attitude and adventurous streak, and the posse of fierce friends she collected were smart and snarky and I loved every one of them. (I especially adored her NASA dad and their close yet liberal relationship.) The romance was cute and sweet in the face of the action and adversity, and I appreciated that it took its time to build over the entire book. Given all the tension I felt the ending was plausible, and the story wrapped up nicely.

Conclusion: A thrilling read that always kept me engaged with effortless banter, relatable characters, and chilling twists. Despite a few rather squicky bits, I really enjoyed the quick and exciting read and look forward to trying more by Robison Wells.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Review: The Fog Diver (Joel Ross)

Title: The Fog Diver
Series: The Fog Diver, Book 1
Author: Joel Ross (site)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Dystopian Action-Adventure
Told: First Person (Chess), Past Tense
Content Rating: Middle Grade (some violence and scary situations)
Format Read: ARC (EpicLibrarian)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | BookDepo
Summary:

A deadly white mist has cloaked the earth for hundreds of years. Humanity clings to the highest mountain peaks, where the wealthy Five Families rule over the teeming lower slopes and rambling junkyards. As the ruthless Lord Kodoc patrols the skies to enforce order, thirteen-year-old Chess and his crew scavenge in the Fog-shrouded ruins for anything they can sell to survive.

Hazel is the captain of their salvage raft: bold and daring. Swedish is the pilot: suspicious and strong. Bea is the mechanic: cheerful and brilliant. And Chess is the tetherboy: quiet and quick…and tougher than he looks. But Chess has a secret, one he’s kept hidden his whole life. One that Lord Kodoc is desperate to exploit for his own evil plans. And even as Chess unearths the crew’s biggest treasure ever, they are running out of time...

*          *          *

In a Sentence: An imaginative and inventive middle grade dystopian adventure with thrilling action and an engaging cast of characters.

When a desperate young salvage crew from the slums stumble upon a pricey jewel while out scavenging the deadly fog that chased humankind to the mountaintops, they hatch a plan to sell it topside in the hopes of paying their way to Port Oro, a paradise where the woman who saved them can be cured of her debilitating sickness. But after a run-in with mutineers causes them to lose their ship, they find themselves on the run from not only the slumlords they owe but Lord Kodoc, the Rooftop ruler who has discovered crewmate Chess's secret and will stop at nothing to use the boy to gain control over the fog and rule them all.

While I found the beginning a little slow at times, the second half of the book was back-to-back thrills as the crew escaped from multiple pursuers by land and air in exciting feats of skill and cunning. The straightforward writing style made for a quick and effortless read with vivid description, smooth action, and easy, amusing dialogue, and the comical old-world references - a mishmash of scrapbook snippets and phonetic names - wove witty and imaginative tales such as the violent game of Golfball ("So each team had a hole? It sounds too easy to guard. You just put your foot over the hole." "Until the other team starts beating you with their clubs.") and the old saga of "Skywalker Trek" ("...about a space war between the Klingons and the Jedi, set in a future when people lived on distant planets, and fought Tribbles, Ewoks, and Borgs.") that made me literally laugh out loud. The setting was a little hard to accept as a whole, but the environmental concept and societal structure were disconcertingly plausible, and the way scavenged supplies were repurposed was clever (paper money as expensive toilet paper, laptops as bricks in building walls, etc.).

It was the crew that really made this book though, a team of quirky and relatable kids carefully and lovingly assembled by strong, good-hearted Mrs. E to tackle their dangerous but inevitable adventure with spunk and determination. Point-of-view character Chess could be a bit too cowardly for me at times, but when it counted he didn't hesitate to defend and support his family, and although he constantly wanted to he never backed down from what had to be done. Commanding but girlish Hazel was an intuitive captain with a quick mind and sharp eye, forced to be the adult of the group but wearing it well, and I think many a young girl couldn't go too wrong aspiring to be her. Sporty, paranoid Swedish played a good devil's advocate even as his mad skillz at the helm flew them out of several spots of trouble, and newbie brutish Loretta provided some good comic relief during otherwise dire situations. Of all though, Bea was my uncontested favorite, the incarnation of a young Kaylee from Firefly who talks to and maintains machines like a seasoned pro, and added some innocence to the unfortunately rather adult situation the kids found themselves entangled in. But it was all of them together as a well-oiled, bantering crew that really made the book an exciting and engaging read, and at the end I was very happy to know that their adventure continued into another book.

Conclusion: With its unique premise, inventive setting, quirky characters, thrilling action, and playful wit, I found this adventurous Middle Grade dystopian and first installment in the Fog Diver duology a fun and engaging read. Definitely recommend for middle-graders and/or anyone who enjoys a good Firefly-esque adventure.

Sequel: The second book in the Fog Diver duology, The Lost Compass, released May 24, 2016. You can read my 3.5 Scribble review here.

Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: The Lost Compass (Joel Ross)

Title: The Lost Compass
Series: The Fog Diver, Book 2
Author: Joel Ross (site)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 24, 2016
Genre: Middle Grade Dystopian Action-Adventure
Told: mostly First Person (Chess), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Middle Grade (some violence and scary situations)
Format Read: ARC (author/publisher)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

In the high-stakes sequel to The Fog Diver, thirteen-year-old Chess and his crew must stop the deadly and mysterious Fog from enveloping the city of Port Oro and destroying their world.

Chess and his crew—Hazel, Swedish, and Bea—may have escaped the slums, but they cannot escape the Fog that threatens to swallow the entire mountaintop city of Port Oro.

Only one thing can stop the fog: an ancient machine known as the Compass. Only one person can find it: Chess. With the help of his crew, Chess faces dangerous encounters, brutal battles, and deadly driftsharks to unearth the hidden instrument. It’s a race against time to save this high-altitude sanctuary.

With adventure at every turn, peril behind every corner, and a few determined slum kids who are up to the task, Joel Ross presents a fantastic world in this fast-paced follow-up to The Fog Diver.

*          *          *

Review copy provided for an honest review. Thank you, Joel & HarperCollins!

Series: This is the second and final book in the Fog Diver duology. You can read my review of the first book, The Fog Diver, here.

In a Sentence: Another adventurous read with a fun cast, thrilling climax, and strong series end.

Chess and crew have finally made it to Port Oro, and although they are wary at first it is everything they dreamed of and more. But with Lord Kodoc still determined to get his hands on Chess and the legendary Compass that controls the deadly Fog, the safety of Port Oro can only be maintained if Chess helps the Subassembly find the Compass first. When Chess acquires the legendary map to the rumored location of the Compass things seem to be looking up, but after Lord Kodoc obtains the map as well the crew must race him to the Compass or lose everyone they hold dear.

The first third of the book was a bit subdued with lots of exploration and little action, but it was the calm before a storm of tense action and surprising twists I did not see coming. The climax was a thrilling ride of frying pan to fire to the whole world burning that had me on the edge of my seat, and the end left me wanting more even as the duology wrapped up well.

The crew continued to be the fun and eclectic group I'd come to love in the first book, and although their conversations were so quick at times I had difficulty keeping everyone straight there was never a dull moment or lack of wit with them. Chess's insecurity and slight cowardice also carried over, but with a new situation and responsibilities he discovered some real strength and power in himself when it counted. Tech-whisperer Bea remains my favorite, although brutish and mouthy Loretta is tied with Captain Hazel for second favorite, and conspiracy theorist Swedish grew on me even more.

Conclusion: While it began a little quiet, the action and twists and climax were intense, and the strong end was satisfying even as it left me wishing for at least one more book. Definitely recommend this duology for readers who enjoy thrilling adventure and great casts of witty young characters.

Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: School for Sidekicks (Kelly McCullough)

Title: School for Sidekicks
Series: standalone
Author: Kelly McCullough
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: August 4, 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Alternate Superhero Action-Adventure
Told: First Person (Evan), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Middle Grade (violence and death, superhero fighting, thematic elements)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Being a hero isn't always what it's cracked up to be in this funny and genuine novel from adult fantasy author Kelly McCullough.

Evan Quick is a GIANT superhero geek who dreams of one day becoming a superhero himself. Every morning he checks to see if he's developed his powers overnight, and every day there's nothing. No flying, no super strength, no invulnerability—that always hurts to check—no telepathy, no magic. Not even the ability to turn off the alarm clock without smacking the switch.

But then Evan somehow manages to survive a supervillian's death ray, and is sent to the Academy for Metahuman Operatives. Unfortunately, his new school is not what he expected, and instead of fighting bad guys, Evan finds himself blacklisted, and on the wrong side of the school's director. If Evan ever wants to realize his dream, he must convince his "mentor" Foxman, a semi-retired has-been, to become a real hero once again.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A campy but also complex Middle Grade that explores the hero-villain dynamic.

With a name like "School for Sidekicks" I expected a story similar to Sky High: a campy action-adventure about kids with "lesser" powers proving they have what it takes to be heroes. But while School for Sidekicks did begin with the same Sky High vibe, it grew into something much more contemplative that both entertained and made me think. 

The story was an interesting mix of mockery and morality that, while the superhero names and powers and classes and tech were for the most part rather farcical, the life lessons that Evan learned about good and bad and the wide gray area between were thoughtful, sometimes almost solemn - more on par with the revelations of adult superheroes than 13 year-old boys. Evan's journey started young and naive, an ultimate fanboy whose ultimate dream came true, but he quickly learned that fulfilled dreams aren't always what they're cracked up to be. He was a trooper though, and even though the results weren't exactly what he'd been hoping for he made the best of his situation, growing and adapting until he embraced his responsibilities with a more mature outlook. The young start was a bit of a struggle for me since I've rather outgrown a lot of middle grade now and I almost gave up a few chapters in, but I stuck with it and was greatly rewarded with interesting powers, great banter, both spirited and sedate action, and some surprising ponderables.

The writing was playful, with occasional sound effects and even a little breaking of the fourth wall, which worked well for the Middle Grade book. The description was a little hard to picture and follow, but the dialogue (especially between Evan and Foxman) was engaging and fun. The setting - an alternate Earth where in 1988 a radiation bomb killed millions but transformed hundreds into the first Masks and Hoods (heroes and villains) - takes place in the "present," where the superpowered are revered like our sports players and their innovations have elevated technology to higher levels than ours. While the differences could be a little over the top, they gave the heavier content a more animated backdrop that age-appropriate readers should appreciate. Evan was young but bright, and I enjoyed watching his growth from flailing fanboy to strong sidekick, absorbing everything he learned and forging his own path, making his own decisions. The rest of the cast was eclectic and eccentric and made interesting associates and adversaries that added mainly to the camp but also to occasionally to the contemplation. 

Conclusion: A fun but also thoughtful superhero adventure that I really quite enjoyed! Definitely recommend for anyone who likes a good superhero story with some camp. While School for Sidekicks is currently a standalone, there is definitely more to Evan's story that I feel needs to be told - keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel!

For Fans Of: Sky High

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Review: The Leveller (Julia Durango)

Title: The Leveller
Series: The Leveller, Book 1
Author: Julia Durango
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 23, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Action-Adventure
Told: First Person Singular (Nixy), Present Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (some language, violence, scary situations, phobias, innuendo)
Format Read: ARC (won - thank you, Brittany!)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Nixy Bauer is a self-made Leveller. Her job? Dragging kids out of virtual reality and back to their parents in the real world. It’s normally easy cash, but Nixy’s latest mission is fraught with real danger, intrigue, and romance.

Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she’s a bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world. Kids in the MEEP, as they call it, play entirely with their minds, while their bodies languish in a sleeplike state on the couch. Irritated parents, looking to wrench their kids back to reality, hire Nixy to jump into the game and retrieve them. 

But when the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding—he’s being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?

Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A short and stellar action-adventure for gamer and non-gamer alike!

Confession Time: I've never played a video game. My parents encouraged reading instead, and by the time I was old enough to purchase them myself I decided I'd rather spend my money and time on books (parental brainwashing = complete). The closest I can claim to ever playing one is an old Mother Goose computer game at daycare (which I rocked at), and maybe a few deaths on a friend's Super Mario Bros once. All that said though, the concept of video games fascinates me, so when I found out about this story I was super-excited to read it!

Writing/Story: Coming in at just over 250 pages, part of The Leveller's charm is how short it is. Because of it, the plot gets straight to the point so we can enjoy the thrills (and chills) of the virtual reality gaming world, the MEEP. The action was short and sweet, powering through levels and obstacles without a word wasted while the description effortlessly painted its pictures with just a few vivid sentences, the world easily visualized in my head.

Setting: Set mainly in virtual reality and centered around gamers, I was a little worried about not understanding all the lingo, but Julia made this book completely accessible to gamer and non-gamer alike. I may have missed out on a few inside jokes but didn't notice, and I really enjoyed learning more about gaming and the culture.

I did have a slight problem with the real world, however. As far as I'm aware, we are still far from the ease of virtual reality that is shown in The Leveller. Never a worry with futuristic fiction, but while the MEEP resided leaps and bounds from current technology, the rest of Leveller's world did not. I noted no other advances - to the tech or anything else - and in fact the general vibe of the story (while really fun) seemed more retro than the few decades into the future that I assumed this was set in. I wasn't expecting drastic changes, but a few more other than the MEEP would've been completely plausible. We spent little time in the real world though, so I was able to overlook it for the most part.

Characters/Romantic Relationship: Nixy was sassy and snarky and I adored her. She showed great initiative and courage, going where grown men feared to tread to feed her college tuition. When she stumbled she picked herself back up, and it was simply a lucky break that she ended up with a cute boy in the end. Said cute boy Wyn was charming and easygoing and I liked him, and although I'm not quite sure I fully bought into Nixy and Wyn together I'm willing to roll with it and reserve judgment for the next book since their relationship really had very little time and opportunity to grow into much of anything.

Favorite Bit: The language cheat. In tense and seemingly unfair situations, swearing is bound to happen, but instead of subjecting readers to the usual words the author gave Nixy a proclivity for foreign swear words. She didn't abuse them though, which made me enjoy them even more.

Conclusion: A thrilling and chilling read that I recommend for anyone who enjoys a quick action-adventure virtual reality story! Really looking forward to the sequel!

For Fans Of: video games

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles