Review: The Frog Prince by Jenni James

The Frog Prince (Fairie Tale Collection #8)

By Jenni James

Released: June 5, 2013

Publisher: StoneHouse Ink

eBook, 87 pages

A prince disguises himself to find true love—

Prince Nolan has had enough of Princess Blythe—the woman to whom he has been betrothed since infancy—and her simpering letters. Does the princess truly not have a brain in her head? Never before has he communicated with someone who seemed so childish and spoiled. It was time he met her for himself, to decide if he could actually follow through with this marriage. But to do it right, she must not see how handsome he is. He needs a disguise—something that would show him her true nature.

Nolan asks an old herb woman to transform him into a creature that is disgusting to any female—a frog. The spell will last thirty days unless the princess does the impossible and kisses him. Now the true test begins. Will Blythe prove to be as monstrously annoying as he believes she is, or will he learn to see past his judgments and find a loving princess waiting for him? --Goodreads

Purchase The Frog Prince here: Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes & Nobles (Nook)

4 Stars

Review:

Jenni James has once again proven herself to be extraordinarily gifted with her fairy tale retellings. While staying close to the setting and dreamy quality of fairy tales, Jenni James sends her readers off to a darker, more developed fairy tale world. These retellings all have a special quality about them that set them above all others. For example, Sleeping Beauty included a world of good warriors fighting off the evil witches. I mean who would ever think of that? What about a cannibalistic stepmother in Hansel and Gretel? The stuff Jenni James usually writes is just candy (fluff, but addictingly tasty fluff), so when she started exploring human nature through fairy tales, her retellings reach another level of amazing-ness.

We begin with a not-so stereotypical scene of a prince convincing his mother that turning into a frog is the best course of action. A majority of Jenni James' retellings involve witty banter, and this was no exception. It may seem as if the smart talk takes up a majority of the book because there is so much of it, but it really suits the story. In fact, it is way more amusing to see characters making fun of each other using their words, rather than the more commonly used body gags. 

The best part, though, was not the humor inserted in the dialogue: in reality, it was the depiction of the natural bond between Nolan and Blythe that develops. I know, it's ridiculous that a person can bond with a frog. But somehow it's easy to fly with this idea that people can bond with frogs realistically. The original fairy tale was kind of "meh" on explaining how a princess who hates frogs can deal with a frog hovering around her 24/7, so this take on The Frog Prince revises and improves the logistics of how princess and frog fall in love and eventually marry. We really see that from the moment Nolan and Blythe meet that these need each other and how their relationship shifts from acquaintances to close confidants to finally lovers is so romantic. It's difficult for a book to force a reader to fall hard for the romance, especially in an 87 page book, but this book managed to do it so effortlessly.

The thing that really strikes the most is the evolution Nolan and Blyth themselves. Remember him? How he thought that he was better than his fiancé and wanted to judge her? Remember her? The one who judges on first impressions? Yeah, these two flawed people are able to overcome their faults with one another's help, which is so adorable and meaningful. This relationship is definitely a keeper!

Sigh... Fluffy fairy tale retellings are always a relaxing, fun read, but only if they are done right. Too often writers incorporate too much detail or aren't able to sell their retelling. Thankfully, The Frog Prince didn't have too many problems with this. The only thing that was really annoying was the extremely rushed endings that Jenni James always ends with. Once again, the ending was kind of lame and needed more oomph to make it have greater impact. Rushed endings with quick little blah blah stuff is always a drag to read, so I really hope that the next fairy tale won't face this epidemic problem. However, this was expected, especially after this happening seven times already. Despite this minor issue, The Frog Prince is a fantastic retelling that stays true to the essence of the original while exceeding expectations with a beautiful romance that eclipses all others.

Review: Solar, Defeated by Diantha Jones

Solar, Defeated (Oracle of Delphi #2.5, Mythos #1) 

By Diantha Jones 

Published: Feburary 27, 2013 

Mythos: Stories from Olympus, Book One

From the moment Strafford Law saw Chloe Clever, he knew he was destined to love her forever. But a dishonorable past and a bleak future threaten to destroy him before he gets the chance.

Looking back, he recalls his life before it came crashing down around him...a time when the one he now loathes most of all was the one he adored more than anything.

SPOILER ALERT: Read as Oracle of Delphi #2.5! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.--Goodreads

4 Stars

Review

For the people how have fallen in love with the Oracle of Delphi series, Solar, Defeated is a must read. Who can deny the amazing allure of Strafford Law and all of the bothersome secrets cause a guy that amazing to be ostracized on a daily basis? Story of my life right here.

Initially, the novella began with Strafford reminiscing his past with melancholy and regret strewn everywhere throughout the pages, setting the bar of the novella relatively low. However, immediately the reader is sent on a flashback journey that introduces the Strafford that everyone once loved and his family that was once closely bonded. Diantha has done a splendid job of revealing the pain within Strafford that has been hidden from readers previously. The flashbacks are not pathetically depressing, but are in fact extremely cute and fun to read.

Despite all of the adorable flashbacks that were so enjoyable, they also left me tearing once I finished. After seeing a happy Strafford with his joyful family, it was shocking and tragic to see the family all broken up after the death of Isolde, Strafford's twin sister. It was unimaginable that her death, even though it was already known, could destroy the familial bond between Strafford, his siblings, and his parents. 

If I could describe this book it would have to be like an Annie or Les Miserables mash-up. Yes, both of these are musicals, but since Strafford and his siblings are the children of Apollo, it's not like they're avoiding music. In fact at one point, one of the cutest scenes was when the family formed a band. In other words, the desolate beginning soon branches into a fluffy, cheerful middle, and ends with a somewhat deflated climax. Although there are so many questions answered in Solar, Defeated, there are also so many more questions that came up as well, especially with the vague, open ending.

For the most part, it is hard for me to decide whether this novella was a read I loved or a so-so read. There was so much that had me smiling and eagerly rereading, but the inevitable depressing parts of the novella were quite burdensome. There were points that felt a bit disjointed because of the vacillation between the bright and the dark. It is definitely not Diantha's fault or the novella's problem; it's my own personal tastes that playing a factor in it. This is definitely a novella that all Oracle of the Delphis series lovers will enjoy, so go and give this series a try because it is so worth it.

Purchase Solar, Defeated here: Amazon (Kindle)/ B&N (Nook)

Review: Double Crossed by Ally Carter

Double Crossed (Heist Society #2.5, Gallagher Girls #5.5)

By Ally Carter

Published: January 22, 2013

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

ebook, 89 pages

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists. --Goodreads

4.5 Stars

Review

Anyone who hasn't tried out either of these series needs to run and get them now! What began as a Mr. and Mrs. Smith sort of book without the assassins and sex has become a phenomenon that cannot be stopped with con men coming into the picture. Spies and con men joining forces together has become something incredibly fascinating that I'm definitely hoping to see more of after Double Crossed.

Ally Carter's writing has drastically improved since her I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You days. Her two series that she releases books alternately (last year was Gallagher Girls #5, this year's Heist Society #3) top the list of books I'd kill to read. Her books are able to effortlessly capture the action and espionage required for the complexities of her protagonists' professions without going overboard or being unclear. Even with all of the alternating points of views of the characters with completely different thought patterns, the novella was easy to greedily flip through, like I was, without any problems. 

As mentioned before, the novella included multiple points of views. These viewpoints were easily distinguishable because of the spy vs. con man thinking that these characters have been drilled with. Seeing the two different series coming together in Double Crossed made it enjoyable to compare the two series. After some thought, I can't decide which one I love more. They both have characters I love to death, aka Zach and Hale. Unfortunately, there isn't any Zach here, but seeing a ton of Hale and Kat moments totally made up for it.

The mission/heist involved with this story manages to create a plot where both the smarts of a spy and con man is necessary to succeed, which I initially thought to be near impossible. Of course, Ally Carter has proved me wrong, as she has multiple times. It was a little disappointing to not see many of the characters from Gallagher Girls using their smarts, such as Cammie, Bex, and Liz (who I adore), but seeing Macey grown and mature with her new spy skills totally had me hooked. Hale and Kat's puzzlement over the whole "spy" and working with people siding with the law was adorable, and totally made me go into spasms for Perfect Scoundrels because it sets the whole thing of Hale in this elitist society with poor Kat on the sidelines. 

Cross-overs are usually an author's worst work. They're terribly sloppy, or favor one story over the other one(s) involved, which is incredibly annoying. As obvious as this is, Double Crossed is perfect in almost every way, except that I wanted more Gallagher Girl involvement. Hey! We have the main OTP of Heist Society, so why not some Liz, Bex or Cammie. The story has a good excuse for the reason behind the lack of our amazing quartet of spies, but I am never going to accept it (because I love the 4 spies together). Anyway, if you are a newbie who wants to try out some of Ally Carter's series, which you should totally do, maybe start out with this one to get a teaser on both Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series. 

Purchase Double Crossed for free: Amazon (Kindle)/ B&N (Nook)

Review or Rant: Origins: The Fire by Debra Driza

Origins: The Fire (Mila 2.0 #0.5)
By Debra Driza
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books 

Published: January 8, 2013
eBook, 15 pages

Heart-stopping and electric, MILA 2.0: Origins: The Fire contains a short prequel story and an excerpt to MILA 2.0, the first book in a riveting Bourne Identity–style trilogy by Debra Driza.

Mila can't remember anything before the fire that took her father's life. It's normal to have some memory loss after traumatic events, but Mila doesn't remember if she's ever learned to ride a bike, or if she's ever been in love. Nothing.

What she doesn't know is that she isn't supposed to remember—that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to forget. Because if she remembers, she might discover her true identity.

The question is: If she relived the fire, what would she see? --Goodreads

2.5 Stars (My experience of reading it)

Review or Rant

Basically, if you were paying attention, this is a "review or rant." Basically, I am  "reviewing" this 15 page novella, but am also going to spend most of the time droning on and on about certain aspects of it. WARNING: Half of it is improbably irrelevant to the entire novella (it's only 15 pages, what did you expect!?!)

This is not to say that Origins: The Fire wasn't enjoyable. It was a quick, fast-paced excited adventure about a fire (no duh!!). Still, only 15 pages of excitement isn't enough for the reader to gain a full or partial understanding of the world of Mila 2.0, which is what most novellas strive to achieve. Apparently, when I finished the novella, another 84% of the "book" was still left to be finished, and what was it: an excerpt of Mila 2.0. Of course I loved the excerpt, but then that leads to what was the point of this?

Let's just say I have nothing against novellas. I love the idea of getting a sneak preview of the amazing new YA series coming out, but then most of them are at least 50-100 pages. So basically, the 15 pages of this novella are sort of out of place in the norms of the publishing world. Harper Collins (Katherine Tegen is an imprint, if you didn't know) is totally experienced with the world of publishing, especially YA book publishing, but really, what were you publicists thinking? At least the novella is free, right? WRONG! What is the frikkin' point of releasing a novella that could easily be the prologue of Mila 2.0, rather than a "prequel" novella. This seems more of a publicity stunt to draw crowds, than to genuinely draw the YA audience's attention to this series with a gorgeous cover, which probably did a better job of drawing the crowds anyway.

Overall, Origins: The Fire was an extremely disappointing novella. There was nothing wrong with anything, but its length. The length of it, in fact is the reason why it's near impossible to review. Nothing happens in the entire novella besides a fire burning down a building with people in it. Not much room for growth or characterization. Unless you are seriously dying for all of the juicy bits of Mila 2.0 before it comes out, this is a waste of time to read. Still, there's much to look forward to with Mila 2.0. With the book coming out this March 12th, and ABC planning to adapt it as a series with the producers of Grey's Anatomy, there's much to look forward to in the coming year or so. 

Purchase Origins: The Fire: Amazon (Kindle)/ B&N (Nook)

Review: The Queen's Army by Marissa Meyer

The Queen's Army (Lunar Chronicles #1.5)

By Marissa Meyer

Published: November 21, 2012

It is time. The boy must leave his family to serve in the Queen’s army. To be chosen is an honor. To decline is impossible. The boy is modified. He is trained for several years, and learns to fight to the death. He proves to the Queen -- and to himself -- that he is capable of evil. He is just the kind of soldier the Queen wants: the alpha of his pack.--Goodreads

Read it here, or purchase the eBook for Amazon & B&N!

4 Stars

Review

Gotta love the dramatic-ness of the summary. The "It is time" part just makes this sounds like a joyride. Congratulations to us the readers, because this isn't just any ordinary novella that is totally irrelevant to the plot and is a boring intro to the new guys. Well, yes this is an intro to a new guy, but it's dark, nitty gritty stuff ready to totally make the Scarlet-desperately-needed-person (SDNP) to blow up for Scarlet. I had almost forgotten and gotten over my thirsting desire for Scarlet, until I stupidly let myself read this, and now I must thank the author, Marissa Meyer, for totally destroying the rest of my childhood with your amazing series.

So far, you guys must all be thinking, "What the heck?" this has nothing to do with "The Queen's Army." What a rip-off, give me back the 10 seconds I took to read your beginning paragraph. For this, I do apologize. Deal with it, I'm going to start my short rant on this short story that explains the whole story behind Z, a new character confirmed to appear in Scarlet. Notice, I haven't read Scarlet yet because of it's ridiculously far away release date in February, so I cannot state whether this is a perfect way to tie the two books together. However, what I can say is that this was a tale that will defy the expectations one had after Cinder.

This novella that is too short for it's own good begins with Z, a lunar with extraordinary athletic prowess. He is expected to be drafted into the Queen's Army, and is extremely excited for this high honor. Despite his original anticipation to be drafted, Z realizes that this isn't rainbows and ponies anymore. The grittiness of the the Lunar world is fully revealed when he and his family are torn apart, never to be seen together again, and the army implants machinery to turn him into an ultimate warrior, a wolf, along with others. We see Z fighting for his humanity through out this novella. It's such a tragic path that he is treading, and I cannot wait to see more of him in Scarlet.

The terrifying beauty of the Lunar Chronicles is basically nonexistent. Everything in this dystopian world is meant to be corrupt and despicable, which makes me really scratch my head at why I love this series so much. There's so much strife between the lines that burst through the seams of the story. It's so dark and terrifying, I can't imagine it any better than how Marissa Meyer describes it. I loved how "The Queen's Army shows us the world of the Lunars that we've only heard rumors about. This world is evil, pure evil, which of course makes me love it even more. Hey, more pain for the characters, more gain for us, the readers!

"The Queen's Army" is an extremely short expansion on the world of Cinder, for us who have yet to read Scarlet. There isn't much going on to really make this short story stand out, but there's just enough to keep us on our toes for what's the come. I wish there was a bit more expansion on the tension between Z and his brother, but for now, I'll take what I can get. It's fascinating to see Z try to fight the animal instincts that the army is trying to force upon him, but his acceptance of his beast behavior is what really makes me fall for this novella. The positioning of humanity and savagery is explored in such a simplistic, yet complex way that really takes ahold of the reader for the short period of time it can.

Review: Iron's Prophecy by Julie Kagawa

Iron's Prophecy (The Iron Fey #4.5)

By Julie Kagawa

Published: September 1, 2012 

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

eBook, 69 pages

Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn't have it any other way.

But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts' gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan's past returns with a dire prophecy: "What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them."

Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey—and her and Ash's unborn child….

A novella from Julie Kagawa's bestselling Iron Fey series. --Goodreads

4.5 Stars

Review

This novella is such a must-read for Iron Fey lovers! Everyone needs to read this. Seriously, when I read The Lost Prince, the first book in the spin-off series, Call of the Forgotten, at many points, I was lost in this other dimension (figuratively and literally). Iron's Prophecy provides the necessary explanations to smoothly transition from The Iron Knight to The Lost Prince because there's such a large time gap between the two series. Although this novella wasn't the best of the three novellas released for the Iron Fey, it is probably the most vital to the series in terms of plot. 

If you compare Iron's Prophecy to any of the other Iron Fey works, it doesn't really stand out. The plot is typical: Meghan and Ash are in trouble, they quest and meet Puck and Grimalkin along the way. In a way, this was a let down. After reading an entire series that follows the same basic plot line, I was hoping for something to spice up the series, like Summer's Crossing did earlier. Unfortunately that was not to be. Despite this fact, the plot was still an exciting, fast-paced one that was strong all-around.

The novella is told from entirely Meghan's point of view, which allows us to better see the tensions that the fey are facing due to the conflicting courts. None of the books have ever described the political intrigue as well as the Iron's Prophecy's brief introduction did. This is just an intro to what is to come in Call of the Forgotten, which involves Ethan, Meghan's brother, and Keirran, Meghan and Ash's son. Repeatedly, I have stated and continuously I will say that this novella is the perfect bridge between this two somewhat radically different series. Their plots and characters may have some similarity; otherwise, the tones and world-building is a new sophistication. The style manages to be a mesh of the simplistic Meghan and the rough-edged Ethan's narration, which I found somewhat odd, but was able to quickly look beyond.

I really enjoyed reading Iron's Prophecy in comparison to many other novellas out there. Julie Kagawa is gifted at expanding the world of Fey without any awkward or overcomplicating the new material she has imagined. It is understandable that a reader wouldn't read this novella without reading the other books in the series, or let alone start this series because of a measly 70 page novella, but seriously. This series is totally worth every minute, and this novella just adds to this series of near perfection!

Purchase this book here: Amazon (Kindle)/ B&N (Nook)

Review: The Shadow Cats by Rae Carson

The Shadow Cats (Fire and Thorns #0.5)

By Rae Carson

Published: July 17, 2012
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins)
eBook, 54 pages

Once a century, a person is chosen for greatness. And it was not Alodia

Alodia is the crown princess of the realm. The sister who knows how to rule, and the one who is constantly reminded that she has not been marked for a grand destiny. But Alodia has plans, and she will be the greatest queen her people have ever known. So she travels--with her hopeless, naïve, chosen sister--to a distant part of their land, to begin to secure her supporters. This region needs its princesses, for it is plagued with a curse. The crops don't grow, the spring doesn't arrive, and a fierce jaguar stalks the shadows, leaving only empty homes splashed with blood behind. If Alodia can save them, no one will be able to deny her strength and her sovereignty.

But what she discovers could change the fate of her kingdom, if not her world. And it will most certainly change her opinion of her younger sister.
 
"The Shadow Cats" is a prequel to the riveting Fire and Thorns trilogy: Book One, The Girl of Fire and Thorns; Book Two, The Crown of Embers; and Book Three, The Bitter Kingdom.-- Goodreads

 

3 Stars

Review

The Girl of Fire and Thorns ended on such an exciting note, so when I heard The Shadow Cats was to be released, I instantly made this a must-read. Rae Carson has done a splendid job of world-building in The Girl of Fire and Thorns, incorporating Spanish and Catholic influences into a fantasy world and she has continued the expansion in the prequel as well.

The Shadow Cats expands on the strained relationship between Elisa and Alodia that is brushed on The Girl of Fire and Thorns. The tension between the two is explained, as well as the surprising amount of emotion that Alodia shows when Elisa leaves their home to another land to be queen in The Girl of Fire and Thorns. 

The intensity between the girls is one that is thought-provoking. It can be seen that Alodia is the more responsible of the two, and she knows that. Because of this, Alodia resents Elisa for her naive and gluttonous outlook on life. Elisa receives all of the attention because she is the bearer of the godstone, while Alodia has to work for the attention she receives. I enjoyed seeing how each sister foiled each other, which is emphasized throughout The Shadow Cats.

There were parts of the novella that made me feel that the condensed novella was too short. During the action scenes, the descriptions, dialogue, pretty much everything was rushed and finished off quickly. Disappointment is an understatement of my reaction when I reached the final page of The Shadow Cats. Although there are hints of Elisa and Alodia working together in future books, I just felt let down. There should have been more development on how Alodia's opinion of Elisa changed exactly. 

Even though The Shadow Cats was somewhat of a letdown, I really enjoyed diving back into the world of Fire and Thorns. I cannot deny the thrill of re-entering the world of danger and character maturation that occurs in The Shadow Cats. The prospect of seeing Elisa and Alodia together again in The Crown of Embers is definitely one of my many reasons to get my hands on it as soon as possible. The Shadow Cats is a great companion novella to the epic The Girl of Fire and Thorns that I would recommend for all Fire and Thorn lovers.

Purchase this eBook: Amazon (Kindle)/ Barnes&Nobles (Nook)

Review: Throne of Glass Novellas by Sarah J. Maas

In honor of Throne of Glass' release today, here's a review of the four novellas released during the past few months.

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne of Glass #0.1)

The Assassin and the Desert (Throne of Glass #0.2)

The Assassin and the Underworld (Throne of Glass #0.3)

The Assassin and the Empire (Throne of Glass #0.4)

By Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's

 

3.5 Stars

Review

The Throne of Glass Novellas are basically the setup to the conflicts of Throne of Glass. In other words, it's the explanation of "Why Celaena is in this crappy situation?" I have not yet read Throne of Glass, so I won't be able to say if the novellas did a wonderful job in building up the momentum for the first book of the series, but I will say the novellas were action-packed teasers that do prepare readers for Throne of Glass.

Celaena Sardothein is the ridiculously arrogant assassin living in her own bubble. Selfish and ruthless, Celaena obeys her adoptive father, Arobynn, without question, who in return gives her a lavish lifestyle. Until the day when Celaena and her former rival, Sam, disobey Arobynn's orders and have to face Arogynn's dangerous side. The novellas follow Celaena's journey of breaking free from Arobynn's grasp, while suffering hardships such as heartbreak and betrayal.

I usually obsess over high-fantasy assassin series for weeks before I let another book entrance me. Unfortunately, these four novellas didn't seem to grasp my attention as much as I would have liked; the plots were all exactly the same, Celaena doesn't seem to actively show her skill as the "greatest" assassin and the mystery aspect fell flat.

The first novella was a decent read. I enjoyed the romantic aspect of the novella between Celaena and Sam. Then, the second novella served no purpose beyond improving Celaena's already legendary assassin skills (which seems kind of pointless). Finally, the third novella just made me want to scream at Celaena for being so naive when she lives in such a dark, sinful world. She has no problem with the man who introduced her into seeing people at brothels or assassinating people. After all of the cruel punishments he deals out to her, she still trusts the evil guy. I won't even go onto the fourth novella, that was so predictable. After three novellas, it is pretty easy to figure out what Celaena will mess up yet again. 

There does not seem to be any hope for Throne of Glass redeeming its faulty novellas. Many of the negative reviews also acknowledge the lack of seeing "Celaena the assassin" and the flat love triangle. The romance in the novellas was so sweet and climatic, so I'm expecting a letdown with the love triangle. However, these four novellas proved to be a refreshing read for someone who wants to escape to a new fantasy realm for a short period of time.

Purchase these eBooks and Throne of Glass: Amazon/Barnes and Nobles