Review: The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire LeGrand 

Release: August 28, 2012

Source: via Jennifer Dee's Arcycling Program

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Victoria hates nonsense. There is no need for it when your life is perfect. The only smudge on her pristine life is her best friend Lawrence. He is a disaster—lazy and dreamy, shirt always untucked, obsessed with his silly piano. Victoria often wonders why she ever bothered being his friend. (Lawrence does too.)
    
But then Lawrence goes missing. And he’s not the only one. Victoria soon discovers that The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is not what it appears to be. Kids go in but come out…different. Or they don’t’ come out at all.
    
If anyone can sort this out, it’s Victoria—even if it means getting a little messy.

Poor Victoria. She goes through so much in The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. 

So. Much. Creepiness.

I mean, I'm surprised I survived reading this little book. 

But despite all its creepiness (and perhaps because of its creepiness), The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is a fantastic Middle Grade book. It's one of the best MG books to come out in recent years. 

There. I said it. 

What makes this book so special, though? What makes it stand out? The main reason: Victoria. She's a perfectly imperfect character. She is a know-it-all, a perfectionist, and she likes things "just so". Sometimes, she's even down-right rude. Think Hermione from Harry Potter, except a tad more intense.  

In the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Victoria and we're told she has just one friend. One. Rather than socializing with peers, she's constantly competing with them to be "top of the class". And Victoria is most certainly top of the class. The one friend she has is named Lawrence, and he's more of a charity case than a friend. Or so Victoria tells herself.

Until, one day, Lawrence disappears. And people start acting strange. 

It all leads to The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. Kids go in, but never come out. And if they do come out they're...different. Subdued. Void of hardly any personality. 

Now, I won't go into all the who's and what's of this story, because that's something you should discover yourself. But I will say this: there are bugs. Lots of bugs. And what happens in The Cavendish Home is horrifying and terrible. Just thinking about it gives me shivers.  The ending gave me shivers as well.

Simply put, this book is a must read. It has everything a good book needs: a good protagonist, great plot and setting, and spectacular writing. Seriously. I am envious of Claire's writing skills. I wanna snatch them away from here right now!

But then I would miss out on all the books she has planned: both MG and YA.

I recommend this to everyone who likes there books just a little on the dark side. Now, sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite.

RATING: 5 SLICES 

WoW: The Diviners

The Diviners by Libba Bray
Release; September 18, 2012

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

Um, yeah. The 20's? A murder mystery with a mix of paranormal? This sounds like a awesome read! I haven't read any Libba Bray books...yet...but I plan to. Maybe this one will be my first? Who knows? Either way, I'm very excited for this book! And check out the creepy trailer for the book, below...

 What are YOU waiting on?

- - - - 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases.

Review: Spark

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer 

Release: August, 28 2012

Source: e-ARC from publisher

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

First off, I love Gabriel, and there's probably a million reasons why.

1. He's hot.
2. He's funny.
4. He doesn't sugar coat things.
6. He's very temperamental and that makes him incredibly flawed and awesome.
7. Did I mention he's hot?

These are all things that I knew when reading the first installment in The Elemental Series, Storm. I didn't expect myself to like him even more, but I did! Basically, Spark starts off where Storm ends. The four Merrick brothers are trying to "lay low" and avoid attracting attention. Problem is, Gabriel has a knack for drawing attention to himself. And it's not always his fault.

I know I said it before, but all four brothers are so amazing and incredibly characterized. Flawed to the core, but still equally amazing, I couldn't help but sympathize with each and every one of them. Especially Gabriel, who is confused and unable to "bask in his element", fire.

And then there's Gabriel's relationship with Layne.

I think if you read my review for Storm, I complained that I didn't connect with Becca as much as I did the brothers. Layne, however, is a girl I admire so much. I connected with her on a level that really surprised me! In a lot of ways she reminds me of myself, with her quiet and bookish ways. She's no wallflower, though. She has her own dreams and aspirations and she can kick butt. There's a lot of determination buried under that seemingly nonchalant exterior of Layne that makes me smile.

If I had one complaint to make, however, it would be the pace. Brigid's Storm was packed with non-stop action, and the same can be said for Spark. I felt, however, that the "highs and lows" of the plot made for a rather...bumpy read, if you know what I mean. The outbursts, arguments, and violence in Storm seemed better placed and more thought out than in Spark. Or maybe it's because Gabriel's not exactly a "calm" person, like Chris. Perhaps that has to do with the rigid pacing.

Either way, I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. The wait for Spirit, Hunter's story, will be agonizing and painful. *sigh*

RATING: 4.5 SLICES 

Stacking the Shelves (13)

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Throne of Glass (PB, UK Version) by Sarah J. Maas - Purchased
Burn for Burn (ARC) by Jenny Han and Sibohan Vivian - Won via twitter giveaway from Shannon Messenger
The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls (ARC) by Claire Legrand - Gifted by Jennifer Dee via Arcycling.

As you can see, it's not a huge week, but I'm excited about the three books I got. So what did you guys stack your shelves with? Leave a link below and I'm come and visit. :D

Guest Post + GIVEAWAY: Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

I am pleased to be a part of the GLITCH blog tour. GLITCH is a riveting sci-fi novel that released August 7, 2012. So what are you waiting for? Check it out!  And, as part of the blog tour, the author of  GLITCH (Heather Anastasiu) was kind enough to write a guest post. 

Writing Tip: Let Yourself be Scared

I read a bunch of interviews about Doctor Who recently, and several times people mention how Steven Moffat's writing brings things children are most afraid of out into reality. Being afraid of shadows takes on whole new meanings in the universe of Doctor Who. Spoiler: they are the Vashta Nerada and they are COMING 2 EATZ U!

But it got me thinking. What are the things I'm afraid of, and how do these things trickle into what I write about? On first glance, I thought: I don't write horror, it doesn't apply to me. Then as I was answering an interview question about the impulses behind my debut novel Glitch, I realized I was wrong. In Glitch, I tackled something that has long haunted me as a major theme in the book: going through life as a drone, mostly asleep to the world around you, only performing the tasks you are set and whiling away days and decades without thought or feeling.

It's an easy enough trap to fall into. The American Dream might be a cliché, but it's still something that's easy to buy in to. Go to college, get a steady job, get a mortgage and a car payment and a credit card and work till you drop so you can have something for your retirement. It's about stability. It's about not taking risks. But the problem is when you allow yourself to get so tugged into the numbing patterns that you forget what it means to live and feel and be. Even taking The Road Not Taken and being a writer can still catch you in the same traps: letting yourself be a slave to deadlines, trying to write a book that is just good enough to make the grade instead of slowing down to try to create something truly amazing. 

So, I think exploring our fears through our writing is a way to create powerful stories as well as a way (to use Natalie Goldberg's lingo) to meet our own minds. What fears are locked away in the shadows of our memory and psyche? How do other people cope (or not cope) with similar fears, and how might you create a narrative that really pokes and stabs at these sleeping dragons?
 
Even if just as a writing exercise, I think facing our fears and letting ourselves be scared is a way to dig into some exciting, revelatory territory in one's writing.

It's an easy enough trap to fall into. The American Dream might be a cliché, but it's still something that's easy to buy in to. Go to college, get a steady job, get a mortgage and a car payment and a credit card and work till you drop so you can have something for your retirement. It's about stability. It's about not taking risks. But the problem is when you allow yourself to get so tugged into the numbing patterns that you forget what it means to live and feel and be. Even taking The Road Not Taken and being a writer can still catch you in the same traps: letting yourself be a slave to deadlines, trying to write a book that is just good enough to make the grade instead of slowing down to try to create something truly amazing. 

So, I think exploring our fears through our writing is a way to create powerful stories as well as a way (to use Natalie Goldberg's lingo) to meet our own minds. What fears are locked away in the shadows of our memory and psyche? How do other people cope (or not cope) with similar fears, and how might you create a narrative that really pokes and stabs at these sleeping dragons?
 Even if just as a writing exercise, I think facing our fears and letting ourselves be scared is a way to dig into some exciting, revelatory territory in one's writing.

Thank You, Heather. Here's more information about GLITCH: 

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu
Release: August 7, 2012

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

AND CHECK OUT THE GIVEAWAY BELOW:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

500 Follower Giveaway (Part Two)

I have passed the 500 follower mark. WHAT? That's insane! Thank you so much! And, to celebrate, I am going to host a giveaway! What can you win?

1. HB copy of Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (SIGNED at her book launch)
2. All four Throne of Glass e-novellas by Sarah J. Maas
3. ARC of Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

AND MORE! The contest will go on for the entire month of August. I will reveal the next prize on Saturday, August 18.

How do you enter? Fill in the rafflecopter below. 

Rules:
1. Must be a blog follower
2. Must be 13 years of age
3. Winner must respond to email within 48 hours with mailing address, otherwise I reserve the right to pick another winner.
4. US ONLY. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Defiance

Defiance by C. J. Redwine

Release: August 28, 2012

Source: Publisher (e-ARC)

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

I started reading Defiance, expecting epic adventure and a kick-butt heroine.  And I am pleased to say that Defiance met, and exceeded, my expectations.

But first, let me be frank: the writing in Defiance is okay. It's not magical, lyrical, or poetic.  It is choppy and honest, but that suits the book well. Once I got over my desire to read "flowery prose", I was completely and irrevocably absorbed in the world CJ Redwine created.

Balboan is a city surrounded by tall stone walls that protect its citizens from "The Cursed One"--a monstrous beast that lives underground, with killer instincts and an impeccable sense of hearing. Rachel lives in this town, ruled by the vicious and cruel Commander. When Rachel's father goes missing, she has every intention to find him. But the Commander doesn't make it easy and then there's the issue with Logan, her "protector" and childhood crush. A few years back, Logan made it clear that a relationship between them wasn't possible. Ever since, things have been awkward between the two.

But both Logan and Rachel share a common belief: Rachel's father is not dead and they need to search for him.

In a daring plan of escape from the strict confines of Baalboden, Rachel (and eventually Logan) embark on a journey full of ups and downs. Honestly, this book had my heart racing and my breath quickening. It was that intense. I didn't want to stop reading because I was so invested in these perfectly flawed characters! Rachel's as fierce as they come: lethal and loyal (to a fault). Instead of teaching her to be a "lady", her father made her into a very capable and independent fighter. And Logan: so devoted, calculating, and intelligent! Then there's the Commander, who made me shiver with every scene he entered.

As far as world-building goes, Baalboden is reminiscent of the Middle Ages, with a bit of futuristic technology embedded in its society. I found it fascinating! The characters, the world, and the tight-paced action-packed plot made this a delicious read. Ah, but what would a YA book be without some romance?

The romance in Defiance is sweet, if a bit rushed in the beginning. I had to tell myself that Logan and Rachel have a history, and perhaps that is why I felt things developed a bit too quickly between them. What sets this apart from a lot of other romances, though, is that Rachel doesn't sacrifice her passion and independence for love. She has an emotional "need"for Logan, but that need doesn't break her. She does what she has to do to move on and find her father. She's broken, but not defeated.

To be honest, a part of me feared I would be let down by the mystery behind Rachel's Father's disappearance. I wasn't. In fact, my mouth was hanging open when I found out and I said "uh oh"for reasons you will have to find out yourself. *winkwink* I think a part of me had a vague idea of what the package would be, but I was too caught up and absorbed in the story to make a fully-formed guess.

Overall, Defiance is full of twists and turns, some cliched and some surprising. It is a fantastic and imaginative debut. I am also pleased to say that, while Defiance doesn't end on a terrible cliffhanger, it is clear that there is more to come. I honestly can't wait to see what's in store for Logan and Rachel!

RATING: 5/5 SLICES