"Windhaven" by George R.R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle

I wasn't so sure I'd actually finish this book- lately I've been having hiccups with reading a book start to finish. Even though this book is co-authored by George R.R. Martin, I had my doubts as to whether I'd like it or not: it had things that, given my current, dilapidated state of being might end up irking me or worse. However, once I read past the first half, my concerns were put to rest. Windhaven is a story about how the world changes and the people who manage to adapt to those changes.

Maris is a bit of an unassuming character from the start. Though she was a perpetual dreamer, I wasn't too sure about her until I neared the end of the book. What she does have in spades is determination- enough that even when faced with unlikely odds she perseveres.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'The planet of Windhaven was not originally a home to humans, but it became one following the crash of a colony starship. It is a world of small islands, harsh weather, and monster-infested seas. Communication among the scattered settlements was virtually impossible until the discovery that, thanks to light gravity and a dense atmosphere, humans were able to fly with the aid of metal wings made of bits of the cannibalized spaceship.
'Many generations later, among the scattered islands that make up the water world of Windhaven, no one holds more prestige than the silver-winged flyers, who bring news, gossip, songs, and stories. They are romantic figures crossing treacherous oceans, braving shifting winds and sudden storms that could easily dash them from the sky to instant death. They are also members of an increasingly elite caste, for the wings—always in limited quantity—are growing gradually rarer as their bearers perish.
'With such elitism comes arrogance and a rigid adherence to hidebound tradition. And for the flyers, allowing just anyone to join their cadre is an idea that borders on heresy. Wings are meant only for the offspring of flyers—now the new nobility of Windhaven. Except that sometimes life is not quite so neat.
'Maris of Amberly, a fisherman's daughter, was raised by a flyer and wants nothing more than to soar on the currents high above Windhaven. By tradition, however, the wings must go to her stepbrother, Coll, the flyer's legitimate son. But Coll wants only to be a singer, traveling the world by sea. So Maris challenges tradition, demanding that flyers be chosen on the basis of merit rather than inheritance. And when she wins that bitter battle, she discovers that her troubles are only beginning.
'For not all flyers are willing to accept the world's new structure, and as Maris battles to teach those who yearn to fly, she finds herself likewise fighting to preserve the integrity of a society she so longed to join—not to mention the very fabric that holds her culture together.'

I think half of what makes this book interesting is the social hierarchy and interactions between people- flyers and those who are land bound, along with the Landsmen, who rule the land bound people of their island. I almost wished you got to see more of what the different islands were like- the worldbuilding in this book is anything but lacking, and yet I wanted more. Much of the plot involves the politics of Windhaven, so I don't want to reveal too much for fear of spoilers.

Though the story is science fiction in the way the world came about, it has a distinctive fantasy feel that a lot of "stranded on a planet" books seem to pick up. It's not a bad thing for someone like me who enjoys both genres equally, but if you're expecting pure science fiction you'll be disappointed. Most of the time Windhaven sort of reminds me of The Name of the Wind's world- singers/musicians hold a lot of power.

Windhaven may remind me of other books, but I found the concept of human flight to be relatively unique to its world. There's something inherently thrilling about the idea of strapping a pair of wings on and gliding off into the sunset, at least for me, so this book was definitely in my daydreams before I even read it. If you aren't too afraid of heights and enjoy science fiction that may end up more on the fantasy spectrum, Windhaven might be the book for you.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an excellent novel that set my mind adrift.

Age Advisory: Ages 16+ for disturbing politics and violence.

Page Count: 400 pages in my mass market paperback edition

O.o.O.C.: "Out" by Natsuo Kirino

Out of Orbit Critiques are reviews of books outside my usual genres. Out is a contemporary crime thriller set in Japan.

What continues to strike me about this novel is that, despite having finished it awhile ago, it's one of those stories I won't soon forget. Often I can read a book and a few days later if you ask me something about it, I'll be unable to conjure up anything unrelated to what I've written on this blog- I simply have more important things to remember: like when my next appointment is. Out remains in my fickle brain despite almost a month passing since I finished it, and having written no notes about it.

The many characters in Out are what hasten the plot- Yayoi Yamamoto may have been the central character in any other crime book, having been the perpetrator, but in Out that isn't the case. Her work friend Masako Katori takes the spotlight from her to help solve her "problem"- a problem I myself would find distasteful to even think about helping with. Luckily for Yayoi, her work friends are eager enough to help... for the right price.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Natsuo Kirino's novel tells a story of random violence in the staid Tokyo suburbs, as a young mother who works a night shift making boxed lunches brutally strangles her deadbeat husband and then seeks the help of her co-workers to dispose of the body and cover up her crime.
'The ringleader of this cover-up, Masako Katori, emerges as the emotional heart of Out and as one of the shrewdest, most clear-eyed creations in recent fiction. Masako's own search for a way out of the straitjacket of a dead-end life leads her, too, to take drastic action.
'The complex yet riveting narrative seamlessly combines a convincing glimpse into the grimy world of Japan's yakuza with a brilliant portrayal of the psychology of a violent crime and the ensuing game of cat-and-mouse between seasoned detectives and a group of determined but inexperienced criminals. Kirino has mastered a Thelma and Louise kind of graveyard humor than illuminators her stunning evocation of the pressures and prejudices that drive women to extreme deeds and the friendship that bolsters them in the aftermath.'

To be honest, the character who intrigued me most in this book wasn't all that involved: Yoshie Azuma. Yoshie is the eldest of the work crew (earning the nickname "the Skipper"), takes care of her mother in law and daughter, and doesn't have all that much money to her name, which may be why she ends up helping with the plot of Out. Kuniko rounds out the work crew as the only supremely unlikable character, who did introduce some problematic elements in my opinion. True, she was vain to an exacerbating degree, but it seemed like her weight presented more of a problem to other people's perception of her than it should have. This was originally published in Japan in 1997, which makes many of the problems I had with it seem less irksome- the '90s weren't precisely a high-tech time for crime solving, perhaps because CSI didn't premier until 2000.

As I don't often finish books involving crime and mystery, the only one I have to compare this one to is The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. In some ways, they're similar- Out is also gruesome, but has somewhat less sexual violence, and both books feature females who aren't purer than the driven snow. Where they differ is with the setting, and somewhat of a difference in the tone- I found Out to be a bit bleaker than The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but perhaps it's because this is a standalone novel.

Out is the blast of cold air I needed this October in terms of shaking up my usual tried-and-true genres for reading. It hasn't converted me into a crime thriller fan, but the next time I see a translated crime thriller, I'll be all the more likely to pick it up. I recommend Out for those who enjoy darker elements in the human nature, because this one lacks a fairytale ending.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an excellent crime thriller that gave me chills.

Age Advisory: Ages 18+ for graphic violence, sexual violence/assault, and fearsome women.

Page Count: 400 pages

"Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Dirk Gently #1)" by Douglas Adams

The trouble I had with this book is... I read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy first. That may not seem like such an insurmountable problem, but when this book also has robots, quirky characters, and save the world-type plot threads, I find myself dreadfully sad that there is no Marvin the Paranoid Android to comment on the goings-on. There is an Electric Monk, but I must say, it's a poor substitute for the robot I really wanted.

I read this one because there is an upcoming BBC series based on it (and also, Rachelle loved it, and I was curious). I like Douglas Adams's writing, but when I have brain fog, I can be a bit slow to catch onto his humor, and I was in a bit of a stupor while reading this. I assumed this was urban fantasy (because, detective agency), but it's more sci-fi than anything else. I was reminded of a book I'd read previously, Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews, which also melds sci-fi into a modern day setting (although modern day for Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is 1987).

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'What do a dead cat, a computer whiz-kid, an Electric Monk who believes the world is pink, quantum mechanics, a Chronologist over 200 years old, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet), and pizza have in common? Apparently not much; until Dirk Gently, self-styled private investigator, sets out to prove the fundamental interconnectedness of all things by solving a mysterious murder, assisting a mysterious professor, unravelling a mysterious mystery, and eating a lot of pizza – not to mention saving the entire human race from extinction along the way (at no extra charge). To find out more, read this book (better still, buy it, then read it) – or contact Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency.'

Despite this being set in 1987, there were a lot of things that are still applicable to today's society. For example, couches that improbably get stuck in stairwells. Although car phones are now defunct, couches/furniture stuck in stairwells continues to plague modern society. If only we had computer whiz Richard finish the program he started, we would have much less trouble moving things (and/or trying to get couches into spaces couches cannot fit).

Richard, who is a main character along with Dirk (which isn't his real name, by the way), has to navigate a murder inquiry of his boss, while having admitted he saw his boss on the night he was killed to a policeman prior to knowing his boss was dead. As you may notice from my difficulty structuring that beast of a sentence, it's a rather murky area, so Dirk elects to help him through his troubles for a fee. Dirk Gently was previously arrested for scamming fellow students with his supposed psychic skills to help them with upcoming tests, but Richard doesn't seem to hold it against him.

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is a great adventure- but I still wanted more. Perhaps with time I will acclimate myself to the absence of Marvin (as I did buy the next book in the series right after finishing this one), but for now I'm a bit bummed out by his non-existence in this realm of Douglas Adams's mind. I recommend this book to those who enjoyed The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or would like zany sci-fi adventures, as long as they keep their expectations in check.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for a great sci-fi that made me long for a great robot.

Age Advisory: Ages 16+ for swearing (one f bomb, if I remember right), violence/murder, and couches improbably stuck in stairwells.

Page Count: 306 pages

"Fifth Quarter (Quarters #2)" by Tanya Huff

Though this is the second in the Quarters series, you really don't need to read Sing the Four Quarters to read this book- the magic system is the same, but that's about it. However, I really liked Sing the Four Quarters (and it was funnier), so don't skip it unless you hate books about magic users.

I don't find myself drawn to books about assassins, but I'd never stray from the subject either- as long as it has an interesting plotline to pair with it. Vree and Bannon are a sister and brother who were trained as an assassin team, but end up in trouble when their target body-swaps with Bannon (for lack of a better term), prior to their target drinking some poison. Vree comes to the rescue and Bannon's spirit jumps into her body. Two souls, two differing personalities, in one female body. It leads to some fascinating situations, as you might guess.

My interest in this story grew from the fact that Vree was attracted to her brother Bannon sexually from the start. The author seems to have no qualms with making her characters sometimes unusually sexual beings, given most of her characters would qualify as either bisexual or pansexual (there were no apparent transgender people in this book, so I have no idea on the classification as of yet). However, let me say that the sexual parts of this book often have little to do with romance and more to do with lust- sex is basically given the same attention as what a character might eat or drink in a "normal" book.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'THE SONG OF DEATH-
'Bannon and Vree, brother and sister, they are assassins of the highest caliber who have long plied their trade for the Havalkeen army. But all their skill and experience cannot save them from a magic-sprung trap that will see the two forced to share one body when the very man they've been sent to assassinate steals Bannon's body for himself. How long brother and sister can coexist in one body neither can guess. And so they set out to catch and defeat this foe who has already bested them once.
'But when Bannon and Vree confront this master of a magic beyond their comprehension, he offers them a terrible choice - to continue their new dual existence forever, or to betray the Empire they have served all their lives. For it is not control of Bannon's body which is Gyhard's true goal but rather the body - and with it the identity and power - of the Imperial Prince!'

Vree and Bannon are a very close knit pair of siblings- however, there are some dysfunctional aspects to that as well. Vree basically has functioned as Bannon's mother, even though she's just a year older than him. I understand that some elder sibling/younger sibling relationships might function like that, but again, Vree is attracted to her younger brother- it wasn't quite as creepy as you might think, but it did leave this reader with some brain struggles as to why I loved Vree's character so much.

Add in Gyhard, the villain in this book, and there are lots of unusual conversations going on that speed up the plot dramatically. Though there is some action in this book, much of it is conniving or manipulation between Gyhard and the assassin siblings. Vree begins to have a downward spiral near the end of the book, but there are some surprising developments that bring that about. Although I love Vree, I'm not sure that I would want to share a body with either of my brothers' spirits- I guess I'm greedy like that.

Fifth Quarter is a gripping fantasy read that ponders relationships between siblings even as a race to a possibly life-saving solutions occurs. Due to its unusual aspects, I wasn't tempted to compare this with any fantasy book I've read previously, which may have boosted the rating- but then again, Vree's character had me reading with a raised brow from the beginning. If you enjoy fantasy that pushes boundaries, but somehow maintains that classic fantasy feel, the Fifth Quarter might be a good read for you.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an unusual fantasy that had me reading with raised brows.

Age Advisory: Ages 18+ for incestuous thoughts, sexual content, the walking dead, violence, and a whole spectrum of brother/sister boundary-defying stunts.

Page Count: 416 pages

"The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux

It's difficult to even begin to review this book because I loved it so much, I'm afraid I'll do it more harm than good by reviewing it. If a book is anything but five stars, it's simple for me to parse it piece by piece, because I don't have that troublesome love emotion clouding my judgement. I loved this book- that's simple. Explaining that love will take some doing.

In the beginning, I was relatively unimpressed. It started like many other classics I've read, so why would it be different from any other? I loved the writing style, elegant words strung together in such a fashion that I read efficiently, and I found none of those cumbersome, hard to decipher sentences that seem to plague me with other works. The story, in the beginning, mind you, could've used a little boost: it was definitely on the slower end of things. For me "riveting" isn't how I'd describe it until halfway through, when we finally get toward the action side of things.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'First published in French as a serial in 1909, "The Phantom of the Opera" is a riveting story that revolves around the young, Swedish Christine Daaé. Her father, a famous musician, dies, and she is raised in the Paris Opera House with his dying promise of a protective angel of music to guide her. After a time at the opera house, she begins hearing a voice, who eventually teaches her how to sing beautifully. All goes well until Christine's childhood friend Raoul comes to visit his parents, who are patrons of the opera, and he sees Christine when she begins successfully singing on the stage. The voice, who is the deformed, murderous 'ghost' of the opera house named Erik, however, grows violent in his terrible jealousy, until Christine suddenly disappears. The phantom is in love, but it can only spell disaster. Leroux's work, with characters ranging from the spoiled prima donna Carlotta to the mysterious Persian from Erik's past, has been immortalized by memorable adaptations. Despite this, it remains a remarkable piece of Gothic horror literature in and of itself, deeper and darker than any version that follows.'

It's kind of funny, because usually I really gravitate towards heroines, but with this book the heroine was definitely not who I was intrigued by. Yes, Christine does play her part in the story, but the character who grabbed my attention was the mysterious phantom. Not only is he masked, he can also blackmail with the best of them. He's a sort of eccentric super spy who hides out in an opera house: you never know if he's there or not.

This style of classic is a bit of a melodrama- but I feel like it definitely works for it. Modern works of fiction tend to stray too far into soap opera territory, but there's something about Gothic style classics that invariably appeal to me, even when they go a little far. Sometimes, one needs a book with a lot of emotional flair, even when one purports oneself to be dispassionate.

One of my favorite quotes:

None will ever be a true Parisian who has not learned to wear a mask of gaiety over his sorrows and one of sadness, boredom, or indifference over his inward joy.

             ~The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, page 15 Kindle edition

The Phantom of the Opera is a love story, a horror story, and an antihero tale wrapped into one. Personally, the antihero tale is what kept me engrossed in this particular book- I've long been a fan of characters who are less than perfect. Add in a writing style that make the pages flick by with the greatest of ease, while evoking beautiful ideas and imagery, and I was head over heels for this book. I recommend The Phantom of the Opera for those who love heroes who may be villains as well.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for a classic that took me completely by surprise!

Content: Ages 16+ for scary bits (with violence).

Page Count: 225 pages

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1)" by Douglas Adams

The beginning of this book didn't impress me near as much as the second half- and I have my childhood experience of watching the movie to blame for it. Sometimes watching the movie does ruin the book, and for me, it did greatly affect my perception of the first half of the book, so naturally I didn't have the best first impressions. The movie version made little to no sense to me, having watched it when I was roughly 13 years old with little grasp of satire- you have to have a slightly peculiar sense of humor to realize some of the more subtle moments in this book.

Beyond that, I have become less tolerant over the years of the basic absence of female characters in some (usually older) sci-fi/fantasy books. So when the book has basically one 'main' female character, and you're used to reading books teeming with female characters, as it is your preference... let's say you miss all those badass ladies. If you don't mind books with mostly male characters, you likely won't even notice, so consider this my pet peeve.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
'Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.'

That said, I wish I'd read this book back in my irreverent teen years (15-18), as I would've loved this one likely more than I do now. The humor (and/or sarcasm) is right on target, as seen in this snippet from Chapter 15:

In those days spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women, and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri.

         ~The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Chapter 15

If that's not your sort of humor, you may want to consider skipping this one. Naturally there are funnier bits, but those have longer set-ups as well as the eminent possibility of spoilers. The characters, although mostly male *sighs*, are the key to making this book what it is. Specifically, I found Marvin the Paranoid Android my favorite of the bunch, but maybe that's because I like dark humor.

If you don't own The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy yet, don't panic. You should be able to pick up a copy before you begin your universal travels begin, or, to play it safe, right after you read this review, just in case Earth is set for demolition or something absurdly strange like that. I recommend this to those who enjoy light science fiction laced with quirky humor, as long as the absence of female characters doesn't deter you.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an excellent classic sci-fi that has more than a few laugh out loud moments!

Content: Ages 14+ for brief panicking, crimes against sperm whales, and general violence/mayhem.

Page Count: 216 pages of galactic adventures

Fair Warning: If you own a Kindle or other ereader, this book will make you zealously covet a "Don't Panic" ereader cover.

"Once Burned (Night Prince #1)" by Jeaniene Frost

Vlad the Impaler is... too sexy for his shirt.



*Sorry, not sorry*

Ahem.
I readily admit when I first dipped my toes into Jeaniene Frost's work, I was expecting a bit more than I got from Halfway to the Grave. Yes, it was fast-paced, the romance was steamy, and although I was lukewarm about that hero who everyone loves, Bones, I did love Cat. There was something missing. I didn't know what it was, but I think I found it in the spin-off series, the Night Prince.

Speaking of Vlad's shirt, it's weird he's on the cover without it. Most of the book is about Leila trying to keep the dang thing on, or Vlad keeping it on expressly to annoy her. The shirt should be on with this particular cover, but since I'm not your average paranormal romance reader (half of the genre I loathe or am lukewarm about), I suppose my two cents don't really count. Other than that, I feel the cover is a decent likeness of Vlad, who I met before in one of the Night Huntress books (a series which I haven't yet finished). Although it was somewhat beneficial to me to have 'met' him before, I don't believe you have to read the Night Huntress series beforehand, unless you hate spoilers for that series and actually plan on reading it.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'She's a mortal with dark powers...
'After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...
'He's the Prince of Night...
'Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.'

In this book, I wasn't 100% on Vlad's side. I'm notoriously picky about alpha males, having grown up with a control freak male figure in my life who could be compared with both certain dictators and beloved romance heroes, and Vlad was everything you'd anticipate in a medieval male. This greatly concerned me, but I have to admit, his savagery is what later makes me appreciate his character. I'd loathe it if an author took a beloved historical figure like Vlad Tepesh and make him into some sort of wheatgrass-guzzling, well-adjusted modern male with a degree in political correctness.

The character who made me stand up and cheer was obviously Leila. It's pretty obvious why- she grew up different, having to keep other people at arm's length (or actually longer) due to her powers. As a teen, I struggled with doing the same thing because of my incessant medical issues, which made being social a bit of a choreographed dance. With Vlad, none of her objections to being close with a person apply, leading to a bout of instalust. But really, who would pass up the only person in the world who can stand your touch? Leila does her best to.

I warmed to Once Burned much more quickly than I have to any of Jeaniene Frost's previous works. I hadn't expected that, despite snapping up all of the series as a Kindle Daily Deal, but some part of me wanted to fall in love with some of her work just to hang out with the cool kids (hi there, cool kids!). If you liked the Night Huntress series, I can't imagine this being a disappointing read for you, but I also recommend this if you're obsessed with Dracula. This from someone who knows.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for a great start to a series I've enjoyed immensely so far!

Content: Ages 18+ for the expected violence/vileness (he's Vlad the Impaler), and the obvious paranormal romance scenes.

Page Count: 346 pages

"Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy #1)" by Ilona Andrews

So, the first agenda in this book review is to cover that awful cover. Ignore it. As I imagine the characters, they look nothing like that. Nevada is supposed to have skin as dark as Rogan, and she never once wears a 'Gone With the Wind' rejected dress/top, and I don't recall reading Rogan as 'shirtless with dog tags'. Nevada would also never pose like that with Rogan, since he kidnapped her- and not in the fun 'I'll let you go after I torture you with a feather' way.

Now that we've moved on from that subject (and mourned the loss of the original cover), it's onto my first impressions. This is a much easier book to crack into than Magic Bites, which had uneven pacing. I was in a headache-induced slump when I picked this up, hoping it would prove as entertaining as my beloved Kate Daniels series, and it was. We have a larger cast of characters in this book, in addition to a mechanic grandma who fixes up tanks for private security firms. Yep, you read that right.

The Plot: (As Seen on Goodreads)
'Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.
'Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.
'Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.'

As always, a good urban fantasy cannot be good without a decent amount of worldbuilding. In Burn for Me's case, we have a world that's similar to ours, but changed as a byproduct of magical inheritance. People in power marry other people with magical genes so they might stay in power, since the serum that gave them the magic has been destroyed.

The characters, as I may have eluded to previously, were of Ilona Andrews' usual caliber. In other words, they were pretty much perfectly personified. In 'Mad' Rogan's case, it worked against him, because he was so brash and stupid with how he went about things, but I believe in later books I may warm more to his character. Nevada and her family were my favorites, winning me over whenever I began to grow a little too creeped out by Rogan.

Burn for Me isn't what I'd thought it would be- which is a good thing. While the cover suggests an excess of paranormal romance, in reality, it's much less than other books people deem Urban Fantasy like Halfway to the Grave. I recommend Burn for Me to Ilona Andrews fans (no duh), urban fantasy aficionados, and those who like urban fantasies with superhero-like characters.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for an excellent start to a new Ilona Andrews series!

Content: Ages 18+ for kidnapping, monstrous magic, some sexual elements, and some swearing.

Page Count: 400 pages

"Vicious" by V.E. Schwab

Vicious is a book I've wanted to read for some time and it most certainly didn't disappoint me. I read the preview pages on Amazon and had drooled over the book that begins with a graveyard scene since last year, and luckily enough it went on sale for the Kindle edition.

I readily admit I don't really like superhero storylines as much as I used to- my favorite were the X-men because it didn't just focus on one superhuman- there were multiple. That is the case with the plot of this book: there are multiple people with extraordinary abilities. Just don't expect any of the characters to be entirely altruistic.

The Plot: (As Seen on Goodreads)
'Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?'

There's something compelling about an excellent superhero origin story, and what better start for a pair of opposing personalities then as college roommates who later become friends? You can't help but dislike Eli from the start, because through Victor's eyes Eli is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and a very attractive sheep at that. Victor, meanwhile, is much more likable due to his desecration of his parents' self help books.

While Sydney and Mitch come into play a little later on in the story, I feel like they should get a mention in this review. Mitch is not what he seems, which made him the perfect pairing for Victor. Sydney seems almost too innocent to be grouped with them, but it oddly works due to her macabre talent.

One of many favorite quotes:

If Eli really was a hero, and Victor meant to stop him, did that make him a villain?

                    ~Vicious by V.E. Schwab, page 91 Kindle edition

Vicious satisfied my superhero sweet tooth. Sure, it wasn't your typical good vs. evil superhero plot, but that was what made it so compelling to read. Beyond that, the characterisation is fantastic: I won't soon forget Victor, Sydney, and Mitch, nor will I stop hoping they might not be entirely fictional. If you love X-men, but also a good antihero, Vicious might be the book for you.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for the perfect summer blockbuster in book form!

Content: Ages 16+ for murder, torment, and near-death-experiences.

Page Count: 364 pages

O.o.O.C.: "The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal" by Vicki Constantine Croke

Out of Orbit Critiques are the reviews on books outside my usual genres. In The Lady and the Panda's case, this book is a posthumous biography of Ruth Harkness.

When I started reading this, I was expecting a mildly engaging biography with maybe a little about pandas and China. Little did I know, this book tells you a lot about China and pandas, and while the story is about Ruth, it is also the story of how the Giant Pandas first came to zoos. Ruth may get the main plot, but there isn't much about her early and later stages of life- in other words, it isn't your typical biography. You have to want to read about pandas to enjoy this book. But really- who doesn't like pandas?

Appalling Panda Cuteness From GifSoup

The Plot: (As Seen on Goodreads)
'Here is the astonishing true story of Ruth Harkness, the Manhattan bohemian socialite who, against all but impossible odds, trekked to Tibet in 1936 to capture the most mysterious animal of the day: a bear that had for countless centuries lived in secret in the labyrinth of lonely cold mountains. In The Lady and the Panda, Vicki Constantine Croke gives us the remarkable account of Ruth Harkness and her extraordinary journey, and restores Harkness to her rightful place along with Sacajawea, Nellie Bly, and Amelia Earhart as one of the great woman adventurers of all time.
'Ruth was the toast of 1930s New York, a dress designer newly married to a wealthy adventurer, Bill Harkness. Just weeks after their wedding, however, Bill decamped for China in hopes of becoming the first Westerner to capture a giant panda–an expedition on which many had embarked and failed miserably. Bill was also to fail in his quest, dying horribly alone in China and leaving his widow heartbroken and adrift. And so Ruth made the fateful decision to adopt her husband’s dream as her own and set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
'It was not easy. Indeed, everything was against Ruth Harkness. In decadent Shanghai, the exclusive fraternity of white male explorers patronized her, scorned her, and joked about her softness, her lack of experience and money. But Ruth ignored them, organizing, outfitting, and leading a bare-bones campaign into the majestic but treacherous hinterlands where China borders Tibet. As her partner she chose Quentin Young, a twenty-two-year-old Chinese explorer as unconventional as she was, who would join her in a romance as torrid as it was taboo.
'Traveling across some of the toughest terrain in the world–nearly impenetrable bamboo forests, slick and perilous mountain slopes, and boulder-strewn passages–the team raced against a traitorous rival, and was constantly threatened by hordes of bandits and hostile natives. The voyage took months to complete and cost Ruth everything she had. But when, almost miraculously, she returned from her journey with a baby panda named Su Lin in her arms, the story became an international sensation and made the front pages of newspapers around the world. No animal in history had gotten such attention. And Ruth Harkness became a hero.
'Drawing extensively on American and Chinese sources, including diaries, scores of interviews, and previously unseen intimate letters from Ruth Harkness, Vicki Constantine Croke has fashioned a captivating and richly textured narrative about a woman ahead of her time. Part Myrna Loy, part Jane Goodall, by turns wisecracking and poetic, practical and spiritual, Ruth Harkness is a trailblazing figure. And her story makes for an unforgettable, deeply moving adventure.'

Amazingly, capturing a panda was not really Ruth Harkness's dream- it was her husband's. When he died before he could complete the task himself, she decided to go to China and try her hand at finding the semi-mythical beast. By the time she set out to find one, only bodies of the dead pandas had been brought back as proof of the animal's existence- the panda was the stuff of cryptozoology until about 1869, when the West realized their existence with the finding of a panda skin.

Although typically you can expect some degree of racism in any dealings with people of different nationalities in historic bios, this book was relatively clean of that, at least in the case of Ruth Harkness. She did make some very questionable choices later in the book, but during the majority of it, her sensibilities were almost modern. She was very much a woman 'before her time' throughout the entire book. There is one offensive term (coolie) used throughout the book, but I believe it was used to give you the character of that period in time.

This book really makes you think about how animals came to be in zoos, and how much they suffered during the times of the first zoos and menageries. Some of the descriptions made me nauseous as a 'tame' animal owner and nature lover. I personally have always preferred seeing wild animals in the wild, but realize that most modern city dwellers would never get to see them in person without the aid of zoos, which are (thankfully) much more humane than they used to be (depending on the facility).

The Lady and the Panda was a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. Not only was Ruth Harkness a female pioneer in exploration, she was also a fashionista, a widow, and someone who you really wouldn't think would be willing to climb steep hills in order to find a panda. Although we don't get much of a picture of Ruth in her earlier and later stages in life, The Lady and the Panda makes you want to rethink your next trip to the zoo. If you like pandas and adventure stories that may have the occasional slow point to them, I recommend this book for your next read.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a story about pandas and the woman who brought them to our attention.

Content: Ages 16+ for mentions of illicit affairs, mild derogatory terms, and lots of panda-monium.

Page Count: 294 pages of the actual book, with an additional 81 pages of references/acknowledgements, for a total of 372 pages.

"The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

So a masked man, the Sicilian Crowd, and a semi-suicidal princess/bride-to-be walk into a bar hang off a rope tethered to the Cliffs of Insanity...

I don't know if I've read this book before, or if I've seen the movie so many times it feels like I've read the book. Either way, I was long overdue for reading/rereading it, and I'm happy to report it was even better than I expected it to be.

The Plot:
Buttercup had her heart broken when her true love, Wesley, was killed by pirates. But soon after, she catches the attention of Prince Humperdinck due to her beauty, and is given a choice: to wed him or to die. She chose to wed him, but soon finds herself kidnapped by a motley crowd of criminals: Will she be able to escape her captors before it's too late?

As much as this book is an obvious satire- there are also traces of to blave true love for those of us who like romance. Certainly, there's a great deal of gushy-ness in that aspect, but I didn't find it near as corny as Tom Cruise saying "You complete me," in Jerry Maguire. It seems absurd, but I understand the romance makes more sense in the book than in the movie for me- perhaps because there's more preliminary building?

My favorite characters, however have not changed. I do love Buttercup and her story of true love, but I have always favored characters out for revenge, and so Inigo Montoya has always been my favorite of the bunch- but really- all the characters are awesome, from the Albino to the deaf Archdean of Florin. Also, I'd be remiss not to mention Fezzik, but I'm afraid I have no rhymes for his name... perhaps my rhyming has come up lame?

So by now you should presume, "Litha rated it 5 Stars, right? She admits to loving it." But, there is two lines in the book that upset my moral code of honor- and most of you who've read this book may know what I'm talking about. I admit I love crass humor- South Park was one of my favorite shows as a teen, but I can't help but be irritated when I find a way-out-of-date racial slur in a book that was published in 1973. I know- the '70s were a long time ago, but to live through the '60s and still have that ugly word in your writing vocab- even for a satirical and crass joke, it's a low blow.

The Princess Bride is everything I hoped it would be, but is a few words from my top-tier rating of 5 stars. I've watched the film, so I assumed this book's magic might be lost on me, but to my surprise, it exceeded expectations. So, if you've watched the movie and are afraid it may have ruined the book for you, don't worry: there's still a high probability you'll love this book. If you love tales of high adventure, true love, with a bit of a criminal element added in, I recommend The Princess Bride for your next read.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for a new/old favorite book!

Content: Ages 14+ for one outdated racial slur against Latinos, men getting a little slap-happy, a woman getting shove-happy, and various torture/revenge scenes.

Page Count: 283 pages

Your Favorite Quotes (Taken From My Rafflecopter Blogiversary Giveaway)

"Life isn't fair, it's just fairer than death, that's all."

"Just because you're beautiful and perfect, it's made you conceited."

"As you wish."

"I'm not a witch, I'm your wife, but after what you just said, I'm not sure I want to be that anymore!"

"I just want you to feel you're doing well. I hate for people to die embarrassed."

"First things first: to the death." "No- to the pain."

"Surrender." "You mean you wish to surrender to me? Very well, I accept."

"They're kissing again. Do we have to read the kissing parts?"

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

"Life is pain, highness; anyone who says differently is selling something."
~This was the most popular line, and also my favorite, and actually does show up in the book from a completely different character.

"Your true love lives. And you marry another. True Love saved her in the Fire Swamp, and she treated it like garbage. And that's what she is, the Queen of Refuse. So bow down to her if you want, bow to her. Bow to the Queen of Slime, the Queen of Filth, the Queen of Putrescence. Boo. Boo. Rubbish. Filth. Slime. Muck. Boo. Boo. Boo."

"You've been chasing me your entire life, only to fail now. I think that's the worst thing I've ever heard: how marvelous."

Extra:
Check out the cool (but mildly unhelpful) book map for this book on my latest edition of the Sunday Fun Five.

"Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels #7)" by Ilona Andrews

This review features a book that is the seventh in the Kate Daniels series, and has inevitable spoilers for those who have not read the first six books of the series. My review of the first book can be found here.

As a now-frequent reader of urban fantasy, I've become acclimated to expecting less of certain authors and more of others. I expected a lot from Ilona Andrews's seventh Kate Daniels book, not only because I spent an unorthodox amount on the ebook price, but also because Magic Rises had been the best of the bunch. With great surprise, at the end of Magic Breaks, I felt it was even better than Magic Rises- a feat which boggled my poor brain. This book is borderline perfection, in part because I hadn't expected the plot to progress so far.

The Plot: (As Seen on Goodreads)
'No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…
'As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.
'As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…'

What is most amazing about this book is the sheer amount of action stuffed into 348 pages. Some books I've read have had less than ten percent of the plot progress and still felt 'action-packed'. Magic Breaks has all the action, but it doesn't feel rushed- it feels more urgent than anything else. The Kate Daniels series has been escalating for quite some time, but with these last few books, the sense of urgency and tension springs from the page.

The characters, as always, are incredible. It isn't often in a series that you could talk about any one of the characters, even minor ones, and not bore me, but with the Kate Daniels series, it's very true. In each character's background there are decisions and allegiances which make them who they are, and none of them are painted black or white. There are a million shades of grey in this book, which well exceeds the 50 that are so popular right now.

Magic Breaks is one mega-action-quadrupled book. It is so action dense, I have to make up words and phrases to describe it- it is no wonder I was able to finish off this series in the last month of 2014 because it's paced so frenetically. I could expound on the virtues of this book indefinitely, but then we'd have dastardly spoilers and you'd be asleep at the monitor. But, believe me when I say this series is well worth reading- especially if you like high octane reads that keep you up at night.

In other words, read it.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for a surprisingly extraordinary seventh book in the series!

Content: Ages 18+ for the usual Kate Daniels warning assortment, with added daddy drama.

Page Count: 348 pages

"Moxyland" by Lauren Beukes

In a land of ubiquitous jargon...

I picked up this ebook from my invisible-pile because I've been seriously slacking in my Sci-fi reviews. Also, the cover was cute and I thought it was pretty non-threatening to pick up.

By my ubiquitous jargon comment, I mean the words and slang can be fairly hard to decipher at first. Most of the complex ones are explained, but there are several words of which I still have no freaking idea what was meant by them, or what combo of words they were meant to be. Even though its frustrating to trudge through at first, a lot of the slang grows on you and becomes one of the signature and (dare I say it?) fun parts of the book to read.

The Plot: (As Seen on Goodreads)
'A frighteningly persuasive, high-tech fable, this novel follows the lives of four narrators living in an alternative futuristic Cape Town, South Africa. Kendra, an art-school dropout, brands herself for a nanotech marketing program; Lerato, an ambitious AIDS baby, plots to defect from her corporate employers; Tendeka, a hot-headed activist, is becoming increasingly rabid; and Toby, a roguish blogger, discovers that the video games he plays for cash are much more than they seem. On a collision course that will rewire their lives, this story crackles with bold and infectious ideas, connecting a ruthless corporate-apartheid government with video games, biotech attack dogs, slippery online identities, a township soccer school, shocking cell phones, addictive branding, and genetically modified art. Taking hedonistic trends in society to their ultimate conclusions, this tale paints anything but a forecasted utopia, satirically undermining the reified idea of progress as society's white knight.'

The characters in this book were interesting, but slightly stereotypical. Most reminded me of exaggerated caricatures of people I knew: although the characters were realistic, they weren't fully fleshed out. My favorite by far was the artist-type and "sponsor baby" Kendra, who made several interesting observations about photography and life in general. However, she was a little bit of a drifter- not that she moved a lot or anything like that, but she's one of those people who sort of just drift through life making questionable choices and reaping those oh-so-lovely rewards.

The best (and most surprising) part of this book was the gaming aspects. As a gamer, I've taken offence to certain renditions of the future because the gaming tech they described is already in effect and is virtually no different from now. This book, while originally published in 2008, presented a more plausible gaming environment: barcades with 'game wombs', age-specific gaming worlds (Moxyland is for cutthroat kids, people), and real-life situational/immersive 'gaming' in which the game companies come up with real-life operations for gamers to fulfill (with paint guns instead of real guns).

A funny thing about this book is the dystopia parts sneak up on you. Most of the book, you knew Big Brother was watching all the characters but thought 'Hey, that's not too bad- no child murders are going down on the sideline'. Sure, it had hallmarks of dystopia, but it wasn't that bad. Then you read to about 70% and your opinions on the matter drastically change, while in a waiting room where you suddenly slump in your seat and try to hide your ereader screen from innocent bystanders who happened to sit beside you.

The ending, for me, was where it went wrong. Some books it seems like you're happily reading along, waiting to read a nice epilogue or extra chapter, but suddenly you run out of pages, and the last 3% of the book you thought was part of the story is actually acknowledgements and other filler. What made it almost okay with me was a section where she returned to write of the inventions similar to ones in her book that have been made (or suggested) in the years after it was published. Some of it was scary- I don't want 2018 to have police states like this!

Moxyland is a haunting glimpse at a possible dystopic near-future that you almost feel is possible. The key word is almost. I don't think we'll advance this far by 2018, but I will gladly eat my words and wear a BabyStrange (a jacket with screens/cameras embedded in it) while livestreaming an apology tour on my recently appropriated vlog if I am proven wrong. Nonetheless, this read was solid entertainment, even if the characters didn't really make their mark on me (other than dearest Kendra). If you're a fan of dystopia that sneaks up and smacks you in the face, filled with jargon that's a bit difficult to dive into at first, I recommend Moxyland for you.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars for a great dystopia with a jarring ending.

Content: Ages 18+ for a rather scary dystopia (violence, swearing, drug and sexual content).

Page Count: 384 pages in the ebook version.

"Magic Rises (Kate Daniels #6)" by Ilona Andrews

This review features a book that is the sixth in the Kate Daniels series, and may have spoilers for those who have not read the first five books of the series. My review of the first book can be found here.

Alternate Title: Magic Rises: the Panacea Panic! (at the Disco Castle)

As you may have noticed from my alternate title, the focus of this book is almost strictly on Pack business, until it isn't. The panacea, the cure to youngins and others 'going loup', is a miracle dispensed and controlled by the packs of Europe, who rarely hand it out and don't plan on sharing the recipe. Due to one of Julie's friends going loup, the Pack has run out of the miracle cure and are desperate for more, but at what cost?

The Plot: (As Seen on Goodreads)

'Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

'Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

'Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…'

Lovers of the Kate/Curran dynamic may be a bit disappointed in this book. Not that their relationship isn't awesome and banter-y any longer, because it is, but there is a certain degree of pressure and stress on it (even more so than usual). I wasn't upset with it, but there were some romance-ish tropes in the book, which aren't the focus of the story, yet may frustrate some of those who want a fairy tale romance with no clouds lingering overhead. 

There comes a stage in almost every series I read where the author(s) start introducing new characters that I couldn't care less about: once I'm hooked on the main crew, I will take no substitutes. However, Magic Rises makes me recant some of that usual intolerance of change. The new characters we meet in this book quickly become some of my favorites, which makes me wonder more about the authors who produce new characters I hate: are they slacking, or does it really take two people to make a renewing cast of awesome characters? (Ilona Andrews is the title of a husband/wife writing team, in case you didn't know).

I added roughly 25,000,000,000,000 stars because of this quote:

"I'd managed to find a hobbit in the Caucasus Mountains. I wondered what he would do if I asked him about second breakfast."

 

    ~Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews, page 253 Kindle edition

Magic Rises represents the one book in the Kate Daniels series where the tide turned me, the oh-so-eloquent Litha, into a rabid fangirl. Although there were parts of this book I balked at, the hobbit quote more than made up my expectations for a 5 star read and mended my crushed heart. I suggest you not read this book, unless you're willing to be a Ilona Andrews fangirl for life.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for an extraordinary series continuation that made this soul a fangirl!

Content: Ages 18+ for the usual Kate Daniels content (in other words, badassery).

Page Count: 355 pages

"A Feast For Crows (ASoIaF #4)" by George R.R. Martin

This is the fourth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. For those of you who haven't read A Game of Thrones, (or haven't watched the tv series), there are unmarked major spoilers for the first three books of the series in this review.

You'd think with the amount of murdering George R.R. Martin does, there would be no one left to even want the Iron Throne. I mean, even if you're a peasant, you're liable to be slaughtered if you live near any of the campaigns of false kings. If I lived in Westoros during this time, I'd be hiding under a rock... kind of like Bran is.

Although this book only covers half the characters that it usually does, I didn't feel like it was lacking. Then again, by the time I'd finished it, A Dance with Dragons was a week or so away from being actually published, so I suppose some of the outcry over this book could be amounted to people disappointed with the waiting game.

The Plot:
The King of the Iron Islands, Balon Greyjoy, is dead, leaving his heirs to vie for the throne in a kingsmoot. The Dornish plot to make Myrcella Baratheon the queen of both Dorne and Westoros. Cersei attempts to deal with the aftermath of her father's murder and keep the rest of her family from being killed. Samwell Tarly tries his best to help Lord Commander Jon Snow maintain political neutrality, even when Jon's heart betrays his oath. Arya joins the ranks of the House of Black and White, and the favor of the Many-Faced God.
"For at a feast of crows, many are the guests- but only a few are survivors." (blurb from the back of book)

This book makes you glad you don't live in the medieval times. Although this is technically fantasy, it also is inspired more than a little by our own history, leading to the prevalent women-bashing. This is one book where I honestly begin to relate with some of the more prevalent antagonists, mostly because the ones I loathed the most were eliminated.

I have to say, I was kind of sad that I didn't get to hear about purely evil antagonists in this book. There is something special about being able to not relate with a villain- an absolute tyrant makes even those morally gray characters look purer than septas. It was also nice to imagine the cruel deaths Mr. Martin was planning for them.

Religion plays a huge role in this book, and with these particular religions comes the misogynism and "slut-shaming". Having never experienced the phenomena personally, I was aghast to see it play so prevalently in the plot. It's difficult to read about, even though it happens to characters I didn't particularly love. Technically speaking, it is realistic and was eventually bound to happen with the setup Mr. Martin planned in the previous books, but it made me more than a little bit sad and I came to empathize with characters I hadn't before.

A Feast for Crows did not disappoint me. Then again, I wasn't told A Dance with Dragons would be coming out the next year (2006) by the author and then waited another four years for it to be actually published. Yeah, I'm sure the anticipation would've most likely killed any buzz I'd receive after reading this book. But, having not waited forever, I was thoroughly engaged in the story and plot, even if I felt a few scenes were a bit difficult to bear (that tends to happen with this series). If you've read the other A Song of Ice and Fire books, I encourage you to read this one, if only for your own sanity.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for an exceptional continuation of the series.

Content: Ages 18+ for the usual Martin medley.

Page Count: 967 pages in my massive mass market edition