Annette's Book Spot

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Book Review: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin @ryangraudin

Wolf by Wolf is a thought-provoking story about what might have happened had Hitler been victorious in World War II.

In this version of history, our main character, Yael, has escaped from a Nazi death camp but only after being experimented upon and almost killed. The doctor was trying to turn her into an Aryan by using drugs to change her skin, eye, and hair color. A side effect of this treatment is that now Yael has the power to shape shift. She can put on the face of anyone she sees.

Hitler has continued to take over land and try to rid the world of entire civilizations. He and Emperor Hirohito have taken over the Eurasian continent and northern Africa. In the "present," which is 1956, Yael has trained with the resistance to impersonate a teen, Adele, who has won the coveted Axis Tour, an annual motorcycle race from Germany to Tokyo. Adele was the first female to ever win (or even compete in) the race. Now Yael will kidnap her, impersonate her, win this year's race, and assassinate Hitler at the Victory Ball.

We get Yael's backstory in bits and pieces. She describes the people who the five wolves she has tattooed on her arm commemorate. These wolves are designed so they hide the tattoo of her prisoner number that she was given while in the death camp.

Wolf by Wolf is hard to put down. The pacing is nonstop, and the racing is brutal and sometimes deadly. Yael's road to victory is not straightforward, and she must make difficult choices. The descriptions of the death camp are horrifying (as they always are.) The whole shape shifting thing is a bit far-fetched, but that's not what the story is about. It serves a purpose.

I hope Wolf by Wolf gets some attention. I believe it could be the stepping off point for some interesting conversations about racism (both historical and current) and being true to oneself. Or as the author's note says "to impart a deeper understanding of what humanity is capable of. Both the good and the evil." Lots of food for thought.

Published by Little, Brown BFYR, October 20, 2015
eARC obtained from NetGalley
400 pages

Rating: 4/5

Monday, October 19, 2015

The Other Side of Life -- Exciting Things! (Not Reading)

Originally, I blogged about reading and all my other hobbies (mostly sewing and cooking.) My posts got to be so sporadic that I quit posting to that blog, deciding I would use my book blog to post occasionally about other things going on in my life. I still like my old blog header, so I use it for these posts. Feel free to skip this one if you are only in it for the books.

I haven't posted anything to this blog for almost a week. That's unheard of. I'm quite sure that has never happened before -- even when on vacation, I usually have posts prepared ahead. Turns out I'm not reading as much lately. And if I'm not reading, I'm not posting. I have some good reasons though.

First, there's my delightful little granddaughter, who is now almost eight weeks old. I try to see her as much as I can, and am spending time making things for her, like a Halloween costume!

Second, we are building a new house! It's going fine, but I find that there are so many decisions to make that even if I have time to read, my mind isn't willing. I spend countless hours on the internet looking at pictures, getting ideas, and making decisions. Thank you Pinterest!

I have been reading. Just at a slower pace. I'm reading a really good book now, and next up is Queen of Shadows, so I think that will keep me interested!

Thanks for stopping by. Someday soon I should be posting a book review...

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Book Review: The Cove by Ron Rash

The Cove by Ron Rash book cover and review

The Cove is a beautifully atmospheric story set during World War One that involves complex characters and emotions.

Laurel lives with her brother, Hank, in an isolated cove in the Appalachian valley. Their parents are recently dead, and Hank has returned from the war, minus one hand.

It's a hard life, made even harder because the people think the cove is cursed and that Laurel is a witch. A secretive man appears who is mute, and ends up staying to help Hank with the farm. He's also taken a shine to Laurel.

The man's secrets are slowly revealed. We know right away that he has escaped from prison, but there's more to it.

Not much happens in The Cove. It's a somewhat simple story of love and secrets. But the way it is written keeps you in the story. The norms of a society at war and the difficulties of digging a well are just couple examples of explorations in The Cove that make the story rich in atmosphere.

I do have another complaint, though. I'm confused by the last sentence of the book. Does that change everything? Am I getting that right?

I decided to read The Cove because of Rash's other book, Serena, that was weirdly awesome. The Cove just didn't have the same tone, so I can't say I liked it as much, but it was still a very positive reading experience.

Published by Ecco, 2012
eBook, purchased
272 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Stacking the Shelves - Fairy Tale, Anyone?

Happy weekend! I just got one book this week -- couldn't pass up this cover!

For Review:

The Shadow Queen by C. J. Redwine book cover

The Shadow Queen, by C. J. Redwine from Edelweiss

How about you? Can you entice me with any gorgeous covers? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit our hosts, Team Tynga's Reviews.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Book Review: Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch

Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch book cover and review

Ice Like Fire moves the story along and ramps up the tension at the end, but doesn't have the amount of action that was in the first book, Snow Like Ashes.

Spoilers for Snow Like Ashes, so stop now if you haven't read it and intend to.

Miera is adjusting to being queen of Winter. Their alliance with Cordell is shaky and Miera doesn't trust them. When the lost chasm of magic is found in a Winter mine, Miera and Theron must go on a quest to find three keys that will allow this magical door to be opened.

Miera struggles with her dealings with the other kingdoms she visits, and Theron doesn't help. She is losing trust in him, and he is taking liberties with Winter's assets. His main objective is to get all the kingdoms to sign a peace treaty. Miera knows this will not solve their problems.

There are a lot of characters, and it took me a while to remember all the characters and subtleties of the first book. Most of Ice Like Fire is about Miera's inner turmoil -- trying to be queen and stay true to her friends. Protecting her kingdom, but allowing herself to be the warrior she is. With each stop along the journey, she figures out more about herself, and of course, the questionable motivations of others. If you're in it for the romance, you won't find much in Ice Like Fire. Yes, there is a kind of love triangle, but it's not at all a focus of the book (or Miera.)

There isn't very much action in Ice Like Fire except at the end. This book is more about the characters and the different kingdoms and just how difficult it is to survive in this complex world where each kingdom is looking out for themselves. And the ending is not only full of action, but some surprises too.

Ice Like Fire is by no means the end. A war is brewing, and it seems like it's going to be a huge struggle for Miera and the people of Winter.

The Snow Like Ashes Series introduces an interesting world and complex political beliefs along with a magical element that will appeal to a wide range of fantasy fans.

Published by Balzer + Bray, October 13, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
496 pages

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Violent Ends, by Shaun David Hutchinson and Others

Violent Ends by Shaun David Hutchinson book cover and review

Violent Ends offers many different perspectives on a a school shooting, but it left me wanting more.

I like the concept. Each story is written by a different author from the perspective of a character that somehow knew Kirby Matheson, the shooter. Some had negative opinions of him and some positive, but no one really thought he'd so something like this. Some perspectives were from before the shooting, some during, and some after. The list of contributing authors is quite impressive, and for that reason alone, Violent Ends is worth it.

This technique does get the reader thinking. Especially someone like me, who is in a high school environment every day and encounters all kinds of kids. Quiet ones, popular ones, and those that just don't fit in. It's really impossible to know and that is scary.

However, the book just left me wanting more. I really wanted Kirby's perspective. I don't think Violent Ends is complete without it. I get the reasoning, but I think Strasser's Give a Boy a Gun does this much better.

Violent Ends is unique. It made me uneasy, since as seen from these perspectives, it seems we are helpless to prevent these incidents.

Published by Simon Pulse, September 1, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
352 pages

Rating: 3/5

Monday, October 5, 2015

Book Review: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis @MindyMcGinnis

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis book cover and review

Not only did I love the historical element of A Madness So Discreet, I was surprised by the path the story took, and that's always a good thing.

Grace has been put in an insane asylum because she is young, unwed, and pregnant. And there's more to that, but I won't tell you. She's the daughter of a rich and powerful man. Back then fathers and husbands could commit their daughters and wives for pretty much any reason. When she loses the baby, she's expected to be returned to her family, but things take a turn, and that's not at all what happens.

She ends up posing as a mental patient in a different asylum, far from her family. Because of her astute powers of observation, she's assisting a doctor who studies murderers. In today's terms, we would call him a profiler.

Every character in A Madness So Discreet is distinct and memorable. Each one has their own motivations and challenges and the reader understands them completely. When characters are that real, the book just comes alive and you feel like you are IN it instead of reading it.

Wow. I didn't expect Grace to do what she did. What an interesting turn, and that's not even the end of the book. Love when people get their just deserts. That's all I'll say...

Read it. Recommend it.

Published by Katherine Tegen, October 6, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
384 pages

Rating: 5/5

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Stacking the Shelves - A Kindle Daily Deal

Happy Weekend! Hope you have a good one. Here's what I got this week:

Purchased:

The Cove, by Ron Rash, eBook

I enjoyed Serena, so I couldn't pass this one up.

So what did you get? Leave me a link in the comments. Be sure to visit our hosts, Team Tynga's Reviews. Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Book Review: The White Rose, by Amy Ewing @amyewingbooks

The White Rose by Amy Ewing book cover and review

The White Rose, the second book in The Lone City Trilogy, is a substantial addition to the series that enriches the world and the characters that we were introduced to in the first book.

May be spoilers from The Jewel.

I don't think it's any secret that Violet and Ash are somehow going to escape from the seemingly inescapable predicament they were in at the end of The Jewel. (How could there be a second book if they didn't?) They are assisted by many people, all part of an underground group called The Black Key. This society is out to destroy the royals and take back the Jewel. During their dangerous travels to the Farm and also after their arrival, Violet learns much about what the surrogates really are and more about her powers called the Auguries.

We get a lot of development of the world and of both Violet and Ash, and we meet a new and quite interesting character at the White Rose. The pacing kept me wanting to read and thinking about the book when I wasn't. There are certainly surprises and the dreaded cliff-hanger ending, but I'm all-in for the third installment of The Jewel.

I've decided I need to push this series to my teens a bit more. I think The Jewel and The White Rose have a lot to offer in a familiar dystopian trope with a lot of unique elements.

Published by HarperTeen, October 6, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
320 pages

Rating: 4/5

2015 EBook Challenge - Post You October Reviews Here

2015 EBook Challenge hosted by Annette's Book Spot

Here's the sign up page for the 2015 EBook Challenge if you are interested.

You can see my progress for the year on my 2015 Reading Challenges page.

You can post your September reviews here.

Add your October reviews below:

Happy Reading!