US versus UK cover: Fateful: by Claudia Gray

First a quick review . . . 

The book blurb calls this a: A tragic tale about falling in love on the world’s most infamous ill-fated sea voyage as heroine, Tess, discovers darker secrets that lie beneath the doomed crossing… and a hidden brotherhood that threaten to tear her lover from her forever.

This  was a fun read that didn't tax too many of my grey cells. Tess and Alec, the two MCs, are very nicely sketched and Mikhail is great bad guy. Sadly, both Tess and Alec fell prey to that young adult nasty, instalove, but despite that, their love was sweet and believable. When confronted by seemingly insurmountable danger, Alec was even willing to step away from her to do the right thing. I rather like that about him. My only other criticism was that I found the Lisle family for whom Tess works as a maid to be a little stereotypical, which was unfortunate. In fact, Lady Regina harked back quite a bit to Rose's mother in the James Cameron version of the Titanic movie.

The really interesting thing about the book, though, was the setting. It was constantly in my mind that regardless of what was happing in the plot, everything was going to come crashing down when the ship hit the iceberg. After the crash, I again had visions of the movie which somewhat dispelled the scenes and the tension Claudia Gray was trying to create. It's mighty hard competing against a mega-buster movie shot in techni-colour. 

I did enjoy the ending though - especially as this book is a stand-alone and I don't have to wait years to get to the end of a series. 

So, if like a lightweight paranormal, then you will enjoy this. I gave it three stars. 

Now to the covers . . . 

How different are these?

This is the US cover. Pretty, but not as eye-catching as the UK version, although I have read on Goodreads that the lettering is embossed, which would make a difference if you were seeing it in a bookstore, I suppose.

This is the UK version, which I own. I'll admit, I think it's a bit garish and perhaps also a bit misleading. That dress doesn't look even vaguely Edwardian. I do like the moon, though.

So what do you think? Which cover is better? Leave a comment because I'd love to hear from you.

Cheers

Gwynn

Oh dear me, trouble under the sea! Of Triton by Anna Banks

Of Triton (Goodreads)

Okay, let me begin by saying that while the book was hardly Shakespeare, I did enjoy Of Poseidon, the first in this series. Review here. It had lots of sexism, was as shallow as a teaspoon, but it was also fun. And it was my first foray into the murky waters of the merfolk - know as Syrenas in this series. So I was looking forward to a similar swim with Of Triton.

Umph . . . I wish I could say the book delivered, but somehow it fell short.

The first part, where Emma and her mom are on the run from Galen and the other Syrenas was exciting enough, but once discovered, the book quickly spiralled down into two star read for me. I found Emma whiny and childish. (She freely admits to this, but that doesn't make her any more endearing) Galen lacked his usual sexist charm. (If you can call it charm) And the story very soon became bogged down with an under-water tribunal at which the two royal houses are on trial. Instead of keeping me hanging onto the edge of my coral with courtroom drama, I found it quite boring.

Added to that, we have a wonderful cliche thrown into the mix . . .  a special gift, lost for eons to the house of Poseidon, miraculously appears in two of the characters - just in time to save the day. Also the ending, which should have been really exciting, just felt forced and flat - as if Anna Banks was trying to tie up loose ends.

The only surprise in this book - a very unexpected one -  was the death of a major character. I'll give Anna Banks her due, I didn't see it coming. That twist lifted the book from awful to okay. What does it say about me that it takes a death to change my mind? I think that will have to be the subject of a another post on another day. . .

I see on Goodreads that there is supposed to be a third book in this series: Of Neptune expected in 2014. I cannot for the life of me imagine what more Anna Banks can bleed from this story. (As previously pointed out, the plot was already as shallow as a teaspoon)  I, for one, will not be reading it.

Now I know I'm in the minority here given that Of Triton is enjoying a stunning 4.8 worth of stars on Goodreads, but for me it remains a wishy-washy two star book. Have you read it? What did you think? Leave a comment and let's chat.

Cheers
Gwynn

My Wolf's Bane by Veronica Blade

  

  Different species. Mortal enemies. It'll never work, but they'll die trying.

Are you looking for a fun, light-hearted paranormal romance for the summer? Or winter, if you're in the southern hemisphere? Yes. Then My Wolf's Bane (Goodreads) would be a good choice if you're not too picky about originality of plotline. This is a typical school-based paranormal where the girl - Autumn Rossi - meets the strange new hottie - Zack de Luca - and (surprise, surprise) they fall passionately in love. 

Okay, maybe it's not quite so straightforward . . .  

Like all angst-filled teenage romances, Zack first takes an instant dislike to Autumn. He acts like he hates her, yet he keeps bailing her out of trouble. Not only is Zack both insufferable and irresistible, he seems to sniff her anytime he gets close. And that is the key to the story . .  . Zack is a werewolf. And Autumn? I'm not telling you other than to say she can suddenly outrun every critter in the forest, making her wonder if she’s even human. 

The problem is that her 'species' and weres are mortal enemies. But like all headstrong teenagers that little fact doesn't stop their passions flaring. As it hots up, Autumn isn’t sure which is more dangerous: her psycho ex-boyfriend, or falling for Zack — who’s risking his life just by being near her. Although the plot is achingly familiar, the writing is good and there was enough action to keep me engaged.

The publisher is very clear on the My Wolf's Blane Goodreads page that this is a romance, meaning it's romance first and everything else is second. 

So, how did the romance do? 

I'm not sure romance is quite the word I would use to describe My Wolf's Bane. Lust works better, and Veronica Blade definitely knows how to write toe-tingling lust. She skillfully crafted the sexual build-up between them, peppering it with a healthy measure of misunderstanding and mutual embarrassment. The publisher rated My Wolf's Blane PG-13 for sexual situations and mild profanity. Being sensitive to steamy sex (I avoid it), I was pleased that the book remained a fairly clean New Adult read. I would have no problem letting my teenagers at it. 

And the characters? 
I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with Autumn and will seek her out in subsequent books. Veronica Blade also has two free novellas/segments written from Zack's POV which I read and really enjoyed. Lone Wolf - The Complication (Goodreads) and Lone Wolf - The Beginning (Goodreads) The fact that I hunted them down is testament to how much I liked Zack.

Any objections? 
Yes. In the beginning of the book, Autumn's parents are suffocating, even messaging her when she's in class. Then, suddenly, they agree to go away on an extended business trip, leaving her all alone. I'm sure that bit of out-of-character weirdness will be explained in subsequent books, but it detracted enough from the story to rob it of half a star. It felt like a typical YA plot device to get the heroine and the hottie alone together. Still, reading My Wolf's Blane was fun with a capital F. 

So how many stars? 
3.5 shaggy, black wolves howling at the moon.  

Just so you know, I won a copy of this book.

Cheers
Gwynn

 

Autumn by Sierra Dean

Autumn (Goodreads) took me through a whole gambit of emotions:  

"What? You can't be serious! This heroine sucks."  

To

"Man, this book is tense." 

Until finally, 

"No way! It can't be finished. Where's the next book?"  

How's that for a rollercoster ride?

So the heroine sucks, does she? Well yes, to begin with. Lou's dad has recently died of cancer and her mom, having depleted the family coffers caring for him, is forced to move her and Lou to Poisonfoot, Texas, to stay with grandma. And all Lou did for the first part of the book was whinge and whine like an ungrateful teenager. I mean, come on, look at this . . .

"If Eloise (Lou) Whittaker had to narrow down the worst things ever in her life to a list, the top three would go as follows:

3) Uncooked chicken. When it's all, like, pink in the middle? Gross.

2) Her father dying. Which was really tied for number one with  . . . 

1) Moving because her dad died."

Sorry, but that was an epic fail for me. Lou Whittaker had a long way to claw back after those opening lines. So it wasn't with the kindest feelings that I went into her story. But by the time she had gotten to Poisonfoot, had settled in with her weirdo grandmother, and had gone to school where she met Cooper - the hot boy everyone in town warns her against - I was pretty engaged.

I think what saved Autumn for me - at least in the beginning - was Cooper. Now why can't one of my daughters meet a guy like that? He can join us for Sunday lunch anytime.  Okay, okay, I admit he has his problems . . . he's doomed by an old curse to turn into a coyote when he turns eighteen, but still, he's a great guy whom I really ached for as the story unfolded. I would read the sequels just to make sure his life gets sorted out and the curse lifted. In fact, the injustice of his plight has stayed with me long after I put the book down. That counts for something.

But there was something else that really bugged me about this book - the matter of simple teenage psychology. Ask any parent anywhere what happens when you tell a teenager no without backing it up with a concrete reason. Any parent anywhere will tell you that said teenager will - out of sheer bloody-mindedness - ignore you completely and go and do exactly what you told them not to. Well, it seems that not a single adult in Poisonfoot, Texas knows that, because everyone kept telling Lou and Cooper to keep away from each other, but everyone refused to tell them - and us - why. So guess what happened? Yeah, you got that right. So what was the love between them like? To be honest, I've read better chemistry, but I like Cooper so much, I will concede that his love is sweet.

Now about all that tension I mentioned earlier. Trust me, it's there. This book has everything: ghosts, curses, weirdos, magic, and a very creepy town filled with some real odd-ball people. All of it builds up to a whopper of an ending. To be honest, I thought I had the book sussed out: I knew who the good guys were and the bad, and I had the mystery solved until BLAM . . . the ending. I just did not see it coming. Well done, Sierra Dean. You had me biting my nails and then crying out in horror at the outcome. It is a long time since that has happened to me with a book.

So Autumn  . . . would I recommend it?  It's definitely intriguing - well worth a spending an afternoon with. Number of stars: Because of my rocky start with Lou, I will say three.

By the way, I got this book for free of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cheers
Gwynn

Review: The Storm Bottle by Nick Green

Two things attracted me to The Storm Bottle (Goodreads) when I got the email about the upcoming blog tour from Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Firstly, the cover - gorgeous, isn't it? - and, secondly,  I was intrigued to read a paranormal fantasy about dolphins. I mean, everything else has been done, right? I think all that's left are fleas, sea cucumbers and  . . .  okay, okay, you get my meaning. Dolphins are fresh and new.

I was not disappointed by Nick Green's efforts. If I were to sum up this book in a few words, I'd say:  Spellbinding. Imaginative. Different. Unexpected delight. Huge fun to read.

According to Nick Green, his inspiration came the day he was walking along an English beach where he spotted a group of swimmers playing in the waves with a pod of completely wild dolphins. Without stopping to think, he threw himself into the water to join the fun. What resulted is a middle grade -  don't agree with that, I think this book has great cross-over appeal - fantasy capitalizing on the mystique of the Bermuda Triangle where just about anything can happen. (It's time someone did something with that Bermuda Triangle myth!)

As it turns out, for Bibi and her stepbrother Michael anything was about the worst thing imaginable.

Not to give away spoilers . . . After an accident at sea, Michael and a dolphin named Rodrigo end up changing places. Michael, now a dolphin, is thrust into the pod know as the Privateers who - amongst other things - chase dolphin girls around the Bermuda seas. Rodrigo finds himself locked in Michael's body, trying to make sense of life in a human family on land. It's left to twelve-year-old Bibi to sort out the mess. This makes for a great adventure, with a lethal - and wholly unexpected - twist in the tail.

The book is narrated by both Bibi and Michael and each bring their own charm to the story. Bibi is wonderful, so dry and astute - wise beyond her years - and I loved being in her head. She gave me lots of chuckles. Michael, AKA Rodrigo, has a tougher time of it in the story. Being a human trapped in a dolphin's body, he has a totally unique view of the world. I think he played his role perfectly.  I felt for him with every tail flick that brought him closer to home. And the real Rodrigo? His pain and confusion is brilliantly portrayed. This is Bibi narrating before she learns that Rodrigo is now occupying Michael's body:

"Shall I make you comfy on the sofa? I'll put the telly on."

Michael looked horrified. Bermuda TV can have that effect. I screwed up my courage. "No, come to my room," I said. "Tell me about those freaky tests they made you take."

I  patted my bed. His eyes went circular. Quickly I checked (I had a huge centipede get in once) but there was nothing on my duvet except its printed map of Bermuda.

"You can sit on it," I told him. 

But he lowered himself towards the carpet. I slipped a bean-bag under him and he sat like a ragdoll, looking over my room as if everything was new to him, my books, the stereo, the gleaming bottles. He could hardly take his eyes off my deep blue curtains.

Gripping my hand seemed to calm him.

"I thought-" He snatched that strange gulping breath. His words came slowly, yet urgently, like Morse code. "At first I thought this was all a bad dream. A horrible dream I couldn't su-su-surface from. But it's not, is it?"

"No, Michael. It's not a nightmare. You're awake. You're safe."

He leaned close and I heard his terror.

"I am not Michael."

And then I had to turn the page to find out more . . .

Now, what about the world building?

Nick Green's under-sea world was one of the great strengths of his book. His dolphins were so consistent and so . . . fishy. Unlike many other paranormal/ shifter books I've read, these dolphins were not just human voices and opinions wrapped in fins and blowholes. They are 'real/' and their concerns exactly what I'd imagine dolphins worrying about.

And talking about concerns, like the ocean, this book has many layers. I really enjoyed the way Nick Green explored the relationships. Step siblings, Bibi and Michael had never really clicked until the accident. Then it's too late. Bibi and her father have an interesting, if remote relationship, which undergoes a massive change. Bibi's dad and her stepmother's new marriage is also put to a grave test. And those are just the human perspectives. The interactions below the water are even more intriguing. Definitely a strength of this book.

All told, I thought The Storm Bottle was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves an exciting paranormal fantasy. Obviously, given the age of the characters, there's no romance, but the book really didn't need it to be enchanting.

So how many stars? The Storm Bottle is definitely a Five Dolphin Pod read.

Now for the giveaway. Follow this link to find out more about Nick Green and to enter a Rafflecopter to win $25 Amazon Gift Card or the equivalent in PayPal cash. Good luck. And if you do win, do yourself a favour and use the cash to buy the book. You won't regret it.

cheers
Gwynn

Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

If I were giving away prizes for the most stupid heroine in all of Young Adult lit, it would be a photo-finish between Jacinda from Vanish (Goodreads) and Nora from Hush Hush (Goodreads)

Really, how is it possible that a normally intelligent girl can turn out to be so dumb when a boy enters the scene? And a boy she's only known for a weeks too! *eyes rolling* I just don't buy it. I have three teenage daughters and - I'm claiming no brilliance here - none of them have ever been so stupid as to lose all reason, all focus, all sense when a boy enters the picture.

Wait! 

Stop. 

Think.  

Damn! 

Recant.
That is exactly what my daughters do too. 

Sigh.

Okay, back-peddle on Jacinda and the love of her life, Will. Or is it Cassian? Dang . . . how must I know when she's utterly clueless? Anyway, maybe she isn't as annoying and irritating as I thought she was with her constant whining about wanting to be with Will - while devouring Cassian's kisses!

Thinks again.

No. She's still annoying.

For those who haven't read the book, let me fill you in: Jacinda is a draki - a human girl who can manifest as a dragon. Just please don't ask me what she looks like in dragon form, because I have no idea. She has hands and hair, along with wings and slit eyes, but no mention of scales or tail. All very confusing.

But I digress.

She's supposed to bond with (marry) Cassian - the draki hottie slated to be the next pride alpha. Of course, being a hormone-riddled sixteen-year-old, she falls in love instead with a human boy named Will. Who also happens to be a draki hunter. Ho-hum . . . teenagers really know how to push the melodrama. Just so you know, that all happened in book one Firelight. (Goodreads)

Anyway, in Vanish Jacinda spends her time trying to escape her fate as Cassian's mate so she can be with Will. That leads her into real trouble - can't say what because of spoilers - but instead of blasting the bad guys away with her much vaunted fire-breathing skills, she wheezes out a puff of smoke and then . . . nothing. As a result, Cassion's sister Miriam is kidnapped.

So much for kick-butte drakis. If the pride is relying on Jacinda's fire-breathing talent to protect them for their enemies, then they'd better come up with a plan B - fast.  Did I mention that Jacinda irritated me in this book?

Although I have lot's of gripes about Vanish - much eye-rolling - there were a few very tense scenes which managed to snatch it from the clutches of a two star meh into a three dragon talon read . . . Just.

At the end of Vanish - spoiler's stop me revealing more - Sophie Jordan sets up what I hope will be a rollicking read in the next book Hidden (Goodreads) Here's me holding my breath. . . . But if Hidden is a rinse and repeat of Jacinda bemoaning her miserable life while dithering between two boys, then Sophia Jordan has lost me as a fan. That would be a pity because she writes well and the Firelight series has an interesting take dragon-lore. Do I recommend Vanish? At this point yes, because it may just be a horrible link to another good read.

I'd love to hear your views, so don't be shy to leave a comment.

Cheers
Gwynn

PS. In case you're wondering, I'm definitely: