Review: Ask Again Later (Liz Czukas)

Title: Ask Again Later
Series: standalone
Author: Liz Czukas
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Light Contemporary
Told: First Person (Heart), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (strong underage drinking, some strong language, badly behaving teens, streaking, kissing)
Format Read: Paperback (won)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there's only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother's best friend really be?

Tails: The theater geek...with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart's interests--even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart's simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all...

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A relatively fun but ultimately dizzying prom story with a somewhat sweet romance but serious teens gone wild issues.

Ask Again Later is one book that tells two parallel stories: Heads (prom date: Troy) and Tails (prom date: Ryan). They start out relatively separate but eventually merge at the conclusion into one fateful end.

If this book had just been the Tails story, I probably would've given it 3.5/4 Scribbles. Despite misunderstandings and misdirected jealousy, it was essentially fun with friends that ended in a sweet romance. But then there was the Heads story. The kind of train-wreck I pointedly avoid, it started off bad and quickly degraded into a series of "what else can go wrong to make this night even worse" events escalated by underage drinking (lots and lots and lots of it), stupid pranks, a disturbingly indifferent brother, and some seriously unstable teens that the limo driver really should've called the cops on.

The book started out innocently enough with a playful voice and short chapters, but after the first Heads chapter I was wary. The Tails chapters quickly became a relief from the Heads storyline, but they just weren't enough to save my quickly plummeting rating as the book progressed. Right from the start I had trouble keeping the parallel prom stories separate (I couldn't even remember who was Heads and who Tails), and when they eventually intertwined to share the same chapters it got so confusing that my head ached trying to mentally keep them straight. Not something one is looking for in a fun, flirty contemporary romance.

On the plus side I did like Heart and her diverse crew (even if I couldn't tell a few of them apart). The writing was engaging and, although the story was seriously confusing, the playful voice kept me reading. The romance was complicated but ended sweet, and despite some frustrating miscommunication I shipped it.

If only it had just been the Tails story. *sigh*

Conclusion: Despite the confusing back and forth parallel stories and bad teen behavior, Ask Again Later was an interesting premise with a shipable romance that I would recommend for more mature readers looking for a decent prom story. Due to the older content and language though, I think I'll be passing on any more Czukas stories.

Scribble Rating: 

2.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Nyxia (Scott Reintgen)

Title: Nyxia
Series: The Nyxia Triad, Book 1
Author: Scott Reintgen
Publisher: Crown Books (Random House)
Release Date: September 12, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Thriller
Told: First Person (mostly Emmett), Present Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, attack, murder)
Format Read: ARC (won)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Every life has a price in this sci-fi thriller that has the nonstop action of The Maze Runner and the high-stakes space setting of Illuminae. This is the first in a new three-book series called the Nyxia Triad that will take a group of broken teens to the far reaches of the universe and force them to decide what they're willing to risk for a lifetime of fortune.

Emmett Atwater isn't just leaving Detroit; he's leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family. 

Forever. 

Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden--a planet that Babel has kept hidden--where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe. 

But Babel's ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won't forever compromise what it means to be human.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: An entertaining teen sci-fi thriller with an engrossing competition and diverse cast but very confusing description and way too many characters to keep straight.

>>STRENGTHS

• Main character Emmett was one of the best teen male protagonists I've ever read. He didn't swear like a sailor or constantly think about sex as most other teen male protagonists in my reading experience tend to do. He also didn't objectify girls, instead treating them just like the guys, and even when he eventually fell for one he treated her with respect. He was playful and snarky but with a dark streak and quirky anger issues that made him real and relatable. I thrilled at his triumphs and despaired at his losses and became so invested in his competition position that I worried about the scoreboard as much as he did.

• Although the contest setup was rather Divergent with its shifting scoreboards and somewhat Hunger Games with its deadly consequences, the addition of the mysterious and almost magical Nyxia material was unique and intriguing. The story was strung with dark and exciting twists, some of which I saw coming but generally enjoyed regardless. I especially anticipated the last chapter's twist but it only made the conclusion even more tense and had me literally on the edge of my seat as I read it.

>>WEAKNESSES

• I had two great struggles with Nyxia, the first being description. I couldn't picture much of anything for some mysterious reason, which meant I was very confused where the characters, settings, ships, suits, tech, aliens, and pretty much anything else described was concerned. But despite many paused moments of great ponder, my confusion didn't disrupt my reading too much.

• My other great struggle was the massive cast of characters, the important of which numbered almost 30 by the end. With ten initial competitors plus ship crew, family members, and Emmett's flashback friends, it took over half the book to mostly but never fully keep everyone straight. And then two-thirds into the book, a whole new bunch of characters were introduced, renewing my confusion. Needless to say Emmett was the only one I could recall with any certainty by the end, and I'll definitely need to re-read this book before the second or be completely and hopelessly lost.

• I also wasn't crazy about the romance. Since Emmett treats the girls just like the guys for most of the book there wasn't even a hint of romance until the last 100 pages or so, and because of this it was a rather bad case of  instalove that felt very rushed and sadly culminated quickly. Given the situation though I guess it was realistic, and for the most part I'll be interested to see how it expands in the next book (especially since it'll be shouldering some serious baggage).

Conclusion: While I couldn't picture much of the description and struggled to keep the characters straight, I did become quite engrossed in the thrilling competition and really connected to the main character. After the "End of Part 1" cliffhanger ending I look forward to continuing Emmett's story in the next book, Nyxia Unleashed, and highly recommend Nyxia if you enjoy sci-fi thrillers.

Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Alienated (Melissa Landers)

Title: Alienated
Series: Alienated, Book 1
Author: Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction Romance
Told: Third Person Multiple (Cara & Aelyx), Past Tense
Rating: Older Teen (heavy sensuality, some language and alien swearing, violence)
Format Read: Paperback (purchased used)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. 

Handpicked to host one of the first-ever L’eihr exchange students, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class. 

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A tense but steamy contemporary sci-fi romance about prejudice and conviction.

I originally read an ARC of Alienated in 2013, but as can sometimes happen I never finished my review. While getting said ARC signed some time later, the author informed me a big change had been made to the final published version and insisted I re-read a finished copy before the second book. I therefore put off continuing the series until I got my hands on a paperback, and eventually acquiring one finally picked it up for a re-read. Because of all the innuendo I almost gave up only a few chapters in (I'd forgotten how bad it was for asexual me), but with the second book now waiting on my shelf I decided to persevere.

Despite the colorful dreamlike cover, Alienated is at its heart a tense story of dangerous prejudice - on both sides. Human racism against visiting aliens is a common scenario, so it was interesting to have the feelings mutual for a change as both humans and aliens assume the worst and badly react accordingly. It isn't a plot I generally enjoy, but Melissa's writing style brought a fun voice to the serious situation and kept me reading even as the tension grew past the boiling point.

Cara was too crass and flippant for me to buy her being a brainy valedictorian, but she was a girl of conviction - once she decided to join the exchange program she never wavered from her commitment, even when it lost her everything - and I admired her for it. Aelyx was arrogant and conceited and negative but fiercely loyal to family, even over his own personal desires - until he fell for Cara of course, but by then she'd become family too so the sentiment still holds. Despite his many faults he grew on me, and although his relationship with Cara was heavily physical I shipped them the second read around.

Conclusion: While the content was a little too steamy for my asexual tastes, it was a tense and relatively engaging contemporary sci-fi. Since the romantic pair should be separated most of the next book, which would keep the physical romance to a minimum (I hope), I might be interested in seeing where the story goes.

Remember: If you're going to give Alienated a try, don't read the ARC, read a finished copy.

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss (Kasie West)

Title: Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss
Series: companion to Love, Life, and the List
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Told: First Person (Lacey), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (kissing, zombies)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Fan favorite author Kasie West delivers an effervescent story about chasing your dreams and following your heart, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Huntley Fitzpatrick. 

Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to accept the part.

But Lacey quickly learns that life in the spotlight isn’t as picture perfect as she imagined. She’s having trouble bonding with her costars, her father has hired the definition of a choir boy, Donavan Lake, to tutor her, and somewhere along the way she’s lost her acting mojo. And just when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, it looks like someone on set is deliberately trying to sabotage her.

As Lacey’s world spins out of control, it feels like the only person she can count on—whether it’s helping her try to unravel the mystery of who is out to get her or snap her out of her acting funk—is Donavan. But what she doesn’t count on is this straight-laced boy becoming another distraction.

With her entire future riding on this movie, Lacey knows she can’t afford to get sidetracked by a crush. But for the first time in her life Lacey wonders if it’s true that the best stories really do happen when you go off script.

*          *          *

As I say like a broken record in every Kasie West review, Kasie is one of my favorite authors and I will read anything she writes. That said, Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss was probably my least favorite Kasie book to date.

I really enjoyed Lacey's small part in companion novel Love, Life, and the List and was excited for her to have her own story, but despite being an actress in the middle of shooting a zombie movie I found her surprisingly rather bland. Also, while the book mainly took place on a movie set - one of my favorite settings - there was little to it and we only got a few interesting tidbits offhand. I think both of these problems were due to a serious lack of description: the story all but took place on a minimalist low-budget stage in my mind, or just plain white space - so any location description or character movement stood out awkwardly because there was so little of it.

The biggest disappointment though was a distinct lack of Kasie's signature wit. What little banter there was to speak of mainly happened between Lacey and the love interest, and even then it just didn't click like it usually does. This left Lacey to be little more than a somewhat awkward newbie teen on a film set of much more experienced adults, and sadly that didn't make for a very interesting main character for me.

All that said, Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss was still a signature easy and breezy Kasie West read that I devoured over a weekend. And then there was Donavan, the story's saving grace: he was quiet and serious and I adored his strength and gentle smolder. I also enjoyed the slow build and soft nature of the romance, both Lacey and Donavan focused on their careers but also excited to find happiness in being together.

While I will continue to read Kasie's new books and re-re-read old favorites, I must admit I'm losing the thrill I used to feel about her stories. Hopefully the next one will renew my love.

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles

WoW: HONOR BOUND (Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Honor Bound

Series: Honors #2
Author: Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

Release Date: February 19, 2019
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Summary:

Savvy criminal turned skilled Leviathan pilot Zara Cole finds new friends and clashes with bitter enemies in the second book of this action-packed series from New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre that’s perfect for fans of The 100 and The Fifth Wave.

Zara Cole was a thief back on Earth, but she’s been recently upgraded to intergalactic fugitive. On the run after a bloody battle in a covert war that she never expected to be fighting, Zara, her co-pilot Beatriz, and their Leviathan ship Nadim barely escaped the carnage with their lives.

Now Zara and her crew of Honors need a safe haven, far from the creatures who want to annihilate them. But they’ll have to settle for the Sliver: a wild, dangerous warren of alien criminals. The secrets of the Sliver may have the power to turn the tide of the war they left behind—but in the wrong direction.

Soon Zara will have to make a choice: run from the ultimate evil—or stand and fight.

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Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Honor Among Thieves came the closest to being that book written just for me and is one of my favorite reads (and re-reads) of all time (you can check out my review here), so needless to say I'm desperate to get my hands on this exciting sequel!! 

So what book are you waiting on?

Review: Honor Among Thieves (Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre)

Title: Honor Among Thieves
Series: The Honors, Book 1
Author: Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: February 13, 2018
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Told: mostly First Person (Zara), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (some strong language, violence/murder, abuse and child abuse, brief teen drinking and substance abuse, fighting and scary situations)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Zara Cole has been in and out of New Detroit’s rehab facilities for treatment of her antisocial disorder. There’s no adjusting Zara’s attitude, though. A painful past has made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in the Zone instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan–a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned to along with fellow Honor Beatriz, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time, along with a devotion she’s never experienced before. Yet nothing—not her Honors training or her street smarts—could have prepared her for the dark, dangerous truths that lurk behind the glitter of starlight.

Honor Among Thieves is the first book in a daring new sci-fi series by bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: An engrossing and exhilarating teen sci-fi with a kick-arse female lead and sweet but strong sentient ship. 

This was one of those books that I loved so much I had to read it twice to review it, and very happily did so. Blessed with getting my hands on an early copy it was my favorite read of 2017, and my 2018 reads have been hard-pressed to beat it out for best 2018 release.

Main character Zara was tough and kick-arse and, while a bit broken, her openness to embrace and bond with a sentient spaceship proved the recipe for now one of my favorite characters ever. Her story engaged me from Page 1, as did the original alien race of Leviathan and their mysterious motivations. Nadim was an absolute lamb, sweet and strong and curious and a bit broken himself, and his intimate (but non-sexual, they are completely different species) relationship with Zara has to be one of asexual me's favorite relationships of all time. 

The story was a rather relentless and engrossing thrill-ride packed with action and emotion and mystery that I did not want to put down and breezed through twice with ease. Although almost 500 pages long, the plot and setting and characters were so engaging I actually felt it wasn't long enough. I despaired over the whole week of Honors training that was skipped over, and feel it and more training time aboard Nadim could've, if nothing else, really opened up Beatriz's character. Although I really liked what she brought to the story, she never seemed quite a fully formed character, her actions driven by the story instead of a comprehensive personality. She was probably my only slight disappointment with this otherwise mind-blowing book, and I hope she will come into her own in the sequel.

Conclusion: I've said this about books in the past but with its strong main character, sweet sentient spaceship, and their intimate but non-sexual relationship all set in space, Honor Among Thieves has come the closest to being that book written just for me. I cannot begin to express how much I'm dying to get my hands on the sequel, Honor Bound, due to release February 2019!

Scribble Rating: 

5 of 5 Scribbles

Review: Love, Life, and the List (Kasie West)

Title: Love, Life, and the List
Series: standalone
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: December 26, 2017
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Told: First Person (Abby), Past Tense
Content Rating: Teen (kissing)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

What do you do when you’ve fallen for your best friend? Funny and romantic, this effervescent story about family, friendship, and finding yourself is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han.

Seventeen-year-old Abby Turner’s summer isn’t going the way she’d planned. She has a not-so-secret but definitely unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper. She hasn’t been able to manage her mother’s growing issues with anxiety. And now she’s been rejected from an art show because her work “has no heart.” So when she gets another opportunity to show her paintings, Abby isn’t going to take any chances.

Which is where the list comes in.

Abby gives herself one month to do ten things, ranging from face a fear (#3) to learn a stranger’s story (#5) to fall in love (#8). She knows that if she can complete the list, she’ll become the kind of artist she’s always dreamed of being.

But as the deadline approaches, Abby realizes that getting through the list isn’t as straightforward as it seems... and that maybe—just maybe—she can’t change her art if she isn’t first willing to change herself.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A quick and fun teen contemporary romance with an engaging contemporary story but cheesy romance I sadly didn't ship.

When it comes to teen contemporary romances, you can never go wrong with Kasie West thanks to her breezy writing style and signature witty banter. That said, the romance in Love, Life, and the List was not for me.

The contemporary part was awesome - girl creates and tackles a list of activities based on traits she admires in her loved ones to gain life experience and broaden her heart and her art for a show. I adored Abby and as a fellow creative could relate to her drive to expand her emotional range for her art, and really enjoyed following her adventures as she gained new perspective about her family, her friends (old and new), and herself.

But then there was Cooper. Don't get me wrong, Cooper was cute and energetic and generally a great best friend for Abby. But as a romantic interest, considering how he treated her and what happened over the course of the book, I did not ship him and Abby at all. I could see why she would be attracted to him, but didn't understand why she loved him. And Cooper's realization and end confession... it was so cheesy (complete girl service and not guy-realistic at all, in my opinion) that it just put me off them as a couple even more. I never felt the chemistry Abby insisted was between them, and don't feel they should have ever left the friend zone.

Now the requisite contrast boy, Elliot, was sweet and thoughtful and artistic, and if Abby had given up on Cooper like the smart girl I knew she could be and given Elliot a chance, I think they really could've been great together. Kasie perfectly set it up for him to win, but sadly that's not how these kinds of books work. Still, I hold out hope for that unicorn where the (truly) unexpected but totally worthy love interest actually wins. The day I finally find it, I will be the author's devoted reader forever.

Conclusion: While I enjoyed the artsy and inspiring contemporary story, the cheesy, chemistry-lacking romance just wasn't for me. I'm still a devoted Kasie West fan though and will continue to read anything she writes.

Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles

Paragraph Review: Dark Metropolis (Jaclyn Dolamore)

Title: Dark Metropolis
Series: Dark Metropolis, Book 1
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Alternate Dystopian
Told: Third Person Multiple, Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (violence, death, fighting, zombies, human mistreatment, suicide)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

Cabaret meets Cassandra Clare-a haunting magical thriller set in a riveting 1930s-esque world.

Sixteen-year-old Thea Holder's mother is cursed with a spell that's driving her mad, and whenever they touch, Thea is chilled by the magic, too. With no one else to contribute, Thea must make a living for both of them in a sinister city, where danger lurks and greed rules.
Thea spends her nights waitressing at the decadent Telephone Club attending to the glitzy clientele. But when her best friend, Nan, vanishes, Thea is compelled to find her. She meets Freddy, a young, magnetic patron at the club, and he agrees to help her uncover the city's secrets-even while he hides secrets of his own.

Together, they find a whole new side of the city. Unrest is brewing behind closed doors as whispers of a gruesome magic spread. And if they're not careful, the heartless masterminds behind the growing disappearances will be after them, too.

Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, this is a chilling thriller with a touch of magic where the dead don't always seem to stay that way.

*          *          *

Don't let the somewhat innocuous covers fool you - this book is a dark one of necromancy and night clubs, disturbing city secrets and revolution. An alternate historical dystopian with magic, the story follows three teens who mire themselves in suicide and the undead, government conspiracies and violent rebellion to master their powers and rescue loved ones. They were diverse characters with good motivations and intriguing magical gifts, and the take on zombies was different and interesting. But while the writing style was quick and easy, the action and emotion were disconnected and choppy which made it difficult to feel and follow the violently charged story. Also, the city setting was too self-contained and the description minimalistic, and coupled with a plot that didn't make a lot of sense due to little-explained reasoning on both sides the second half was rather a mess of cutaway movement and two-second magic that had little to no emotional impact. For the most part it was a relatively engaging read with decent magic and zombies, but I won't be picking up the sequel.

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles

Paragraph Review: The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion (Chris McCoy)

Title: The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion
Series: standalone
Author: Chris McCoy
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 14, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction Humor
Told: First Person (Bennett), Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (lesser innuendo, substance abuse, underage drinking, maybe a few words of language, murderous intent, death-like situations, words that make you shudder)
Format Read: Hardcover (purchased)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

It's Superbad meets Spaceballs in this hilarious extraterrestrial road trip!

Just a few days before prom, Bennett pulls off something he never imagined possible: his dream girl, Sophie, agrees to be his date. Moments afterward, however, he watches Sophie get abducted by aliens in the middle of the New Mexico desert.

Faced with a dateless prom (and likely kidnapping charges), Bennett does the only thing he can think of: he catches a ride into outer space with a band of extraterrestrial musicians to bring her back.

Can he navigate alien concert venues, an extraterrestrial reality show, and the band's outlandish egos to rescue his date in time for the big dance? Fans of King Dork and Winger won't want to miss this!

*          *          *

If you love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as much as I do, then you are in for a treat with The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion! With the same dry wit and wacky imagination, this YA version tells the story of a hapless teenage boy who hitches a ride to rescue his abducted prom date from the outrageous wonders of the galaxy. Bennett's teen male voice was realistic without being crass (bless you, Chris!), and I adored his detached humor and quick wit in the face of an utterly ridiculous situation. Despite playing with heavier subjects of abduction, substance abuse, death and death-like situations, murderous degenerates and more, the story was a lighthearted road trip/rescue mission packed with quirky characters (alien, human and ram alike), bizarre situations, destructive music, and outrageous outfits. Although I wasn't crazy about the day-long chapters, the fast pace and Adams-esque style made it a breeze of a read from foreboding Prologue to satisfactory More Epilogue. Thoroughly entertaining and laugh out loud funny, The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion was a highly enjoyable read and I highly recommend it for Hitchhiker's Guide fans.

Scribble Rating: 

4.5 of 5 Scribbles

WoW: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats & Piracy (Mackenzi Lee)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats & Piracy

Author: Mackenzi Lee

Release Date: October 2, 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Summary:

Felicity Montague is through with pretending she prefers society parties to books about bone setting—or that she’s not smarter than most people she knows, or that she cares about anything more than her dream of becoming a doctor.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind tour of Europe, which she spent evading highwaymen and pirates with her brother Monty, Felicity has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of Callum Doyle, a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh; and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a small window of hope opens. Doctor Alexander Platt, an eccentric physician that Felicity idolizes, is looking for research assistants, and Felicity is sure that someone as forward thinking as her hero would be willing to take her on. However, Platt is in Germany, preparing to wed Felicity’s estranged childhood friend Johanna. Not only is Felicity reluctant to opening old wounds, she also has no money to make the trip.

Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid. In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that will lead her from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

Add to Goodreads

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: As a lady of the Ace persuasion, I'm extremely eager to lay hands on this beauty with its Asexual main character! I've also heard great things about the author's delightful character and storytelling skills. Can't wait!

So what book are you waiting on?

Release Spotlight: COMPETENCE (Gail Carriger)

Today I'm delighted to spotlight Gail Carriger's latest novel, COMPETENCE! Set in her alternate historical paranormal parasolverse, it's the third in the Custard Protocol series but first from the point of view of the Tunstell twins. I had the pure pleasure of reading an early copy (you can peruse my paragraph review here), and it was a playful and witty adventure and my favorite of the series so far! Needless to say I highly recommend it, so if you haven't checked it (and the rest of the series) out yet, do so below!

Title: Competence

Series: The Custard Protocol #3
Author: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit Books
Release Date: 7/17/18

From New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger comes the delightful sequel to Imprudence.

Accidentally abandoned!

All alone in Singapore, proper Miss Primrose Tunstell must steal helium to save her airship, the Spotted Custard, in a scheme involving a lovesick werecat and a fake fish tail.

When she uncovers rumors of a new kind of vampire, Prim and the Custard crew embark on a mission to Peru. There, they encounter airship pirates and strange atmospheric phenomena, and are mistaken for representatives of the Spanish Inquisition. Forced into extreme subterfuge (and some rather ridiculous outfits) Prim must also answer three of life's most challenging questions:

Can the perfect book club give a man back his soul?

Will her brother ever stop wearing his idiotic velvet fez?

And can the amount of lard in Christmas pudding save an entire species?

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PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository

Check out the first two books!

Book 1: Prudence

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Book 2: Imprudence

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Manga Review: Pandora Hearts Series (Jun Mochizuki)

Title: Pandora Hearts
Author: Jun Mochizuki
Volumes Reviewed: 1-24 (complete)
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: December 15, 2009 - March 22, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Horror Fantasy
Content Rating: Older Teen (heavy violence and disturbing images, monster violence, some child abuse and neglect, mental instability, murder, some minor language)
Format Read: Paperback (own)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary (for Volume 1):

The air of celebration surrounding fifteen-year-old Oz Vessalius' coming-of-age ceremony quickly turns to horror when he is condemned for a sin about which he knows nothing. Thrown into the Abyss - an eternal prison from which there is no escape - Oz meets a young girl named Alice who is not what she seems. Now that the relentless cogs of fate have begun to turn, will they lead only to crushing despair for Oz, or will Alice provide him with some shred of hope?

*          *          *

Pandora Hearts is an extremely convoluted series with a multi-layered plot and extensive cast that hurt my brain more often than not. The paranormal fantasy story was an interesting one with many heart-stealing characters (darn you, Break *sniffles*) and intriguing twists, but with every volume the plot complicated more and more until I was less interested in the reveals and more in just finishing the series and being done with it. Despite my story frustration I really enjoyed following the character progression for most of the cast, especially my favorites - Break, Gil, Echo (although her climax still doesn't fully make sense to me) - but prepare your feels because with a violent and tragic story such as this one no one emerges unscathed, and many don't emerge alive.

Ultimately Pandora Hearts is a story of self-acceptance, grief, and forgiveness of yourself, your past, and the selfish and misguided actions of others. With seriously creepy monsters and several mentally unbalanced characters running about a twisted Alice-themed nightmare setting, it's a chilling tale of the darkness within us all, but ultimately ends in redemption. It's definitely not a read for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy epic, convoluted alternate dark/ horror fantasy stories then I recommend a Pandora Hearts binge.

Scribble Rating: 

3 of 5 Scribbles