Friday, February 28, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (2/28/20)



Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!


>> CURRENTLY READING <<
Everything Isn't Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down
Everything Isn't Terrible by Dr. Kathleen Smith (HBK)
A quick and easy to understand self-help about dealing with anxiety by getting a better handle on your relationships (family, friends, dating, work, etc.). I'd actually started unconsciously working on this already, but it's been nice to have it explained out and get some helpful hints and tips.


>> JUST FINISHED <<
Something from the Nightside (Nightside, #1)
Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green (MMP)
3 Stars. 2/20 Re-read. A darkly imaginative but heavily commentative adventure that covers a lot of genres, from urban/contemporary fantasy with both supernatural and paranormal elements, to hardboiled and noir mystery, as well as monster and survival horror. The long-winded dialogue was unrealistic, but overall it was better written than I originally remembered. Looking forward to re-reading more in the series soon. 


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<
(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)
The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 12
The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 12 by Kore Yamazaki (PBK)
A new volume in this favorite series just released! Expecting my copy this weekend, and brushing up on the previous volume to prepare.


So what are you reading this week?

Monday, February 17, 2020

DNF Review: Steelheart (Brandon Sanderson)

Steelheart (Reckoners, #1)
Title: Steelheart
Series: The Reckoners, Book 1
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Ember (Delacorte)
US Release Date: September 24, 2013
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Superheroes
Content Rating: Teen (Part One: violence, killing)
Format Read: Paperback
Find OnGoodreads
PurchaseAzon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his will.

Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart — the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning — and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.


*          *          *

**I did not finish this book.** 
I stopped at Part Two (Page 118).


Series: This is the first book in The Reckoners trilogy. All books in the series have been released and are available for purchase.

I have enjoyed several of Sanderson's stories (his Alcatraz series is a particular favorite), so over the years I collected all of the Reckoners books, even though I prefer to avoid dark revenge stories like the series advertised to be. This year, however, I finally decided to pass on it and let my copies go, but not before at least reading the first few pages of the first book, Steelheart, just in case.

And then I couldn't stop. Sanderson has a quick and engaging writing style with long but engrossing action scenes and smooth dialogue, and while it was a revenge story the book's mood was light despite deadly violence and ruthless villains. David was a bright boy who knew his stuff and stuck to his guns (figuratively and literally), even if he could be a bit bumbling at times and could not stop thinking about Megan. The setting was odd and hard to picture, and I wasn't particularly impressed with the Epics and their powers, but to my surprise I quickly found myself some 100 pages in and quite enjoying myself.

And then the action ended. As they traversed and hid in the bizarre setting and talked at length about the unimpressive Epics, I immediately lost interest in the story and started flipping pages, looking for when the action picked back up again. When I discovered it would be a few chapters, nearly 40 pages of more traversing and talking, I set the book aside to consider my enthusiasm to continue. With the action-packed opening behind and the revenge plot looming ahead, it didn't take long to realize my complete lack of interest in seeing David's story through, and I resolutely ended my read at Part Two.

If you love superpower stories, and especially enjoyed Marissa Meyer's Renegades, then I highly recommend you give Steelheart a try. Sadly, it just wasn't for me.


STRENGTHS (Part One)
  • Quick and engaging writing style
  • Long, engrossing action scenes
  • Smooth dialogue

WEAKNESSES (Part One)
  • Bizarre, hard-to-picture setting
  • Unimpressive Epics and their powers (probably just me, I'm so over superheroes)
  • When the action ends, the story becomes a lot of walk and talk


For Fans Of: Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Monday, February 10, 2020

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (Jennifer E. Smith)

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Series: standalone
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Poppy
US Release Date: January 2, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Content Rating: Teen (loss, kissing)
Format Read: Paperback
Find OnGoodreads
PurchaseAzon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.


*          *          *

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
is a contemporary romance that was heavy on the contemporary and light on the romance, something I typically prefer but here did not. It's a story about loss and acceptance in a number of ways, which made it a much more serious read than expected given the colorful cover, playful title, and romantic summary. Hadley spent most of the story internally brooding and surprisingly little time in the present with Oliver, well over half the book (possibly two-thirds) absorbed in flashbacks of her childhood and recent past. Because of this, and just in general really, the Third Person Present Tense point-of-view grated, making for a clunky and uncomfortable read as Hadley constantly switched mental past and present gears. I continued reading only for the mystery that was Oliver, even though I wasn't particularly enamored of him. I just kept hoping he would eventually brighten Hadley's dark attitude and story, but instead he only sunk her and me deeper into a depressive mood when his own was revealed. By the time we solved his mystery though I was two-thirds through and decided to finish the short book, although while I was reading it the book did not feel short at all. Hadley and Oliver's interactions were the highlight of the story, but this really doesn't say much as they weren't particularly witty or even very interesting - not that they were given much time to try with all the flashbacks hogging the word count. Statistical does end on a hopeful and somewhat happy note, but while I appreciated the conclusive lift of spirits it came much too late for me to declare I in any way enjoyed the read.

Conclusion: Am I glad I read it? ...Not really. I wish I'd given up early on when the Third Person Present voice grated and Hadley's brooding flashbacks brought me down. I am glad I've finally read a Jennifer E. Smith book though, and now know to be wary of her future work. That said, Field Notes on Love still sounds interesting so I'll probably give it a try since I have a copy. Recommend Statistical for readers who enjoy their romances depressively heavy on the contemporary aspect.

Scribble Rating
2 of 5 Scribbles


Other Reviews That Might Interest: 


Saturday, February 1, 2020

The Differences Between Japanese Culture & American Culture - Seven Deadly Shadows Blog Tour (Courtney Alameda & Valynne E. Maetani) + Giveaway!


The Differences Between Japanese & American Culture
with author Courtney Alameda

Hi everyone, Courtney Alameda here, co-author of SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS! I’m here today to highlight some basic differences between Japanese and American culture—but please keep in mind, this list is in no way authoritative or comprehensive! But for those of you who haven’t ever watched a Kurosawa film or read a manga, you might find it easier to acclimate yourself to Kira’s Kyoto if you know a few key cultural differences first.

“First” names don’t come first. In Japan, surnames/family names precede individual given names. I.e., my name would be “Alameda Courtney” in Japan. Calling someone by their given name in Japan infers a close relationship, and given names are used by family and friends. Strangers, acquaintances, and superiors (like school teachers or supervisors) will use an individual’s family name.

You’ll also see the occasional use of honorifics in the novel, such as –san or –sama. These words are added on to names to confer status or respect. The honorific –san is equivalent to the western Mr., Mrs., or Ms.; while the honorific –sama means “lord.” Most honorifics are attached to an individual’s family name, but in some cases where the honorific is diminutive, it’s attached to a given name. Chan falls into this second category, as it roughly translates to dear. So you’ll see Shimada-sama and Kira-chan in the novel.

While writing this novel, Valynne and I went back and forth on how to format the characters’ names. In the end, we decided to accommodate western readers’ understanding as much as possible.

Bow to your sensei! Bowing is something I wish we did in the west, as it’s a versatile and graceful way to communicate with other people. The Japanese use bows to greet other people, confer respect, ask for forgiveness, thank someone for their service, and more. Depending on the context of the bow, this might be a slight bob of the head, or a full-scale bend to 45 degrees—the deeper the bow, the more empathetic the emotion or intent.


Take the “P” out of your PDA. Public displays of affection are a huge faux pas in Japan! Even holding your significant other’s hand in public is frowned upon, which meant Valynne and I had to get creative as Kira and Shiro’s friendship developed into a romance. We even ended up cutting a kiss on a train platform, because there was no way Kira and Shiro would ever disrespect the other train passengers like that!

Japanese Kit Kats come in hundreds of flavors! I’m not even joking, Japan is a Kit Kat paradise. You want a raspberry Kit Kat? Japan’s got that. Matcha green tea? Sure thing. Butter cookie? They’ve got that, too! Kit Kats are popular gifts for students in Japan, as the words kit kat sound like the Japanese phrase kitto katsu, which means, “You’re sure to succeed.”


Planes, trains, and automobiles.  . . . Actually, just trains. In my opinion, Japan’s railways are the cleanest and most efficient on Earth. Trains are a very popular form of transportation in Japan—I’d say moreso than in the U.S.—and passengers observe a very particular etiquette to ensure that everyone’s ride is comfortable and safe.

Eating on trains isn’t allowed, unless you’re traveling via shinkansen (bullet train). In Japan, people seldom eat in public places (excluding restaurants, of course), as being seen walking and consuming a snack or beverage is seen as bad manners. Loud chatter is discouraged, and talking on a cell phone is considered impolite.

In SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, you’ll see Kira and Shiro sharing a bento-box style meal on a shinkansen train to Tokyo . . . but that’s the only kind of train it would be considered fine to do so!


That’s it for now! Thanks for reading, and if you have a chance to pick up SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, Valynne and I hope that you thoroughly enjoy it! Until then, don’t fear the shadows . . .


31248158. sy475
Seven Deadly Shadows
Authors: Courtney Alameda & Valynne E. Maetani
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: January 28th, 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Synopsis:

Kira Fujikawa has always been a girl on the fringe. Bullied by her peers and ignored by her parents, the only place Kira’s ever felt at home is at her grandfather’s Shinto shrine, where she trains to be a priestess.

But Kira’s life is shattered on the night her family’s shrine is attacked by a vicious band of yokai demons. With the help of Shiro—the shrine’s gorgeous half-fox, half-boy kitsune—Kira discovers that her shrine harbors an ancient artifact of great power . . . one the yokai and their demon lord, Shuten-doji, will use to bring down an everlasting darkness upon the world.

Unable to face the Shuten-doji and his minions on her own, Kira enlists the aid of seven ruthless shinigami—or death gods—to help stop the brutal destruction of humankind. But some of the death gods aren’t everything they initially seemed, nor as loyal to Kira’s cause as they first appeared.

With war drawing nearer by the day, Kira realizes that if this unlikely band of heroes is going to survive, they’re going to have to learn to work together, confront their demons, and rise as one to face an army of unimaginable evil.



Purchase:


About the Authors

COURTNEY ALAMEDA

A veteran bookseller and librarian, Courtney Alameda now spends her days writing thriller and horror novels for young people. Her debut novel, SHUTTER, was nominated for a Bram Stoker award and hailed as a "standout in the genre" by School Library Journal. Her other novel, PITCH DARK, is a genre-blending science fiction/horror novel in the vein of Ridley Scott's 1979 film ALIEN.

Courtney holds a B.A. in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing. She is represented by the talented John M. Cusick of Folio Literary. A Northern California native, she now resides in Utah with her husband, a legion of books, and a tiny five pound cat with a giant personality.


VALYNNE E. MAETANI

Valynne E. Maetani (pronounced Vuh-lin Mah-eh-tah-nee) grew up in Utah and obtained a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In a former life, she was a project manager and developed educational software for children with learning disabilities. Currently, she is a full-time writer. She is a member of the We Need Diverse Books team and is dedicated to promoting diversity in children's literature because every child should grow up believing his or her story deserves to be told. Her debut novel, INK AND ASHES, is the winner of the New Visions Award 2013, a Junior Library Guild 2015 selection, and Best Fiction Book in Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah Arts Award for 2015. She lives in Salt Lake City.


Tour Giveaway

Open International | Ends February 11, 2020

Grand Prize: Win a signed copy of SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, a signed copy of Courtney Alameda's SHUTTER, and a signed copy of Valynne Maetani's INK AND ASHES; anime portraits of Kira and Shiro; a stuffed fox omamori charm from the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Japan; an origami fox hand-folded by Valynne Maetani; a yokai mini sticker sheet; and an assortment of Japanese Kit Kats (not pictured) [INT]

Second Prize: Win (1) of (2) A signed copy of SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS with anime portraits of Kira and Shiro [INT]


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Be sure to check out the rest of the tour: 



The Fantastic Flying Book Club