The Demon King

Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can't sell. For as long as Han can remember, he's worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes. They're clearly magicked-as he grows, they grow, and he's never been able to get them off. While out hunting one day, Han and his Clan friend, Dancer catch three young wizards setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. After a confrontation, Han takes an amulet from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won't use it against them. Han soon learns that the amulet has an evil history-it once belonged to the Demon King, the wizard who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece that powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back. Meanwhile, Raisa ana'Marianna, Princess Heir of the Fells, has her own battles to fight. She's just returned to court after three years of relative freedom with her father's family at Demonai camp - riding, hunting, and working the famous Clan markets. Although Raisa will become eligible for marriage after her sixteenth name-day, she isn't looking forward to trading in her common sense and new skills for etiquette tutors and stuffy parties. Raisa wants to be more than an ornament in a glittering cage. She aspires to be like Hanalea-the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems like her mother has other plans for her--plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4.5 Stars...

I adore Cinda Williams Chima. Her books are just so much fun to read, filled with adventure and danger. This series has the potential to be epic in more than one sense. Already in this first of a series Chima has created a rich and lush world rife with varying traditions. There are the mages, the Clans, and the royals; all of whom have different desires and complexly intertwining histories. This story is set in a completely new world, and has the feel of classic high fantasy; a departure from the Heir series. The change is accomplished with relative ease, despite a few less than stellar pieces. It takes a little bit at the beginning to get your bearings in the book, but it isn't too bad.

The main characters are fairly good. I still have lukewarm feelings about Han, but the end of the book was so great that I think there's potential for me to really love his character. Raisa is delightfully spunky, with true wit and strength. The secondary characters are fantastic, and really help to enhance the book. Everyone is layered, and the fact that this is just the beginning will really allow their depths to be plumbed.

I'm giving this book a slightly higher rating because it's the beginning of a series and the end showed such amazing potential for the rest of the books. Overall, this is a great read for someone looking for a sweeping fantasy to transport them to a different realm.

Nathan says 4 Stars...

Cinda Williams Chima is pretty awesome. Her Heir series was action packed and immersive, but if The Demon King is any indication Chima is embarking on a completely new, and dare I say, better adventure.

I was immediately struck by the influences of Chima’s universe. Every people seems to have a very particular culture that resonates with some actual culture. Native American, feudal, and Scandinavian pseudo-societies make up many of the factions, and though it has yet to be fully revealed, there appear to be even more cultures to explore.

This intricately conceived world is further set off by strong and dynamic characters. I did feel that the characterization of the Heir series was a little more sophisticated, but this book lags behind only slightly.

The plot lags in the middle; however, by the end, Chima is fully in the driver’s seat. The conclusion reveals that much of this novel is set up for the rest of the tale, and I’m really excited to see what she can do with it in the future.

Chima once again delivers a book well-worth reading.

Geektastic+Notes

I'm back, and I'm writing my first blog post from my first dorm room from my first university from my...I think you get the point. There have been a lot of first recently, but fortunately I have the comfort of in BetweeN the pages to go back to, so thank you. Beth is moving-in officially tomorrow, so she may also be hectic for the next few days, but don't worry, I'll take care of you. So, without further ado, the important part.

Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside)and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.

With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on!

from bn.com

Nathan says 5 stars...
This collection of stories is absolutely amazing. When I originally heard about this anthology, I seriously yelled. The contributors to this list are among the elite of the YA world. The shiny glowing stars of our inky galaxy. I'm not going to review all of the stories individually, but I will hit on major points. Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci's opener is brilliant and hilarious. The wittiness is astounding. Garth Nix was not up to his normal standard. I still really loved the story, it just lacked the depth that makes Nix so wonderful. Libba Bray's contribution was lovely and captured the sense of friendship many nerds share. My favorite story though is by David Levithan; it's called "Quiz Bowl Antichrist." The sense of realism and the style of the story are super-fantastically-amazing. On that made-up note, I'm going to leave you with the advice to enter into our contest to win the book, or pick it up in a store...now.

Beth says 5 Stars...
What's not to love about a story collection with the title of Geektastic? I absolutely adored this book. The only problem was that it made me feel not geeky enough. To remedy the situation I decided to start watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and will be eternally grateful for that. There were so many stories that touched so many different areas of geekdom. One of my favorites involved a cheerleader and her interactions with the school geeks. I also loved David Levithan's story. It was so funny and different. Libba Bray's story was fantastic, but it got The Time Warp stuck in my head for the next two hours. That was really the only downside to that one. I of course loved the story by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci. The premise was simply brilliant. There were a few stories that I didn't particularly enjoy, but they really were few and far between. I was dissappionted in Jonh Green's story; I thought that it would rock my white tube socks off and it didn't. Overall this is something that all geeks should read, and make their non-geek friends read so that they can truly appreciate geekdom.

Once Dead, Twice Shy

Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away. Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her. Well, if she believed in that stuff.

from harpercollins.com

Beth says 4 stars...

This book was really cute. The concept was interesting, once I finally was able to figure it out. That was my issue with the book. Things didn't really move along very fast. It took too long to figure out what was going on, and why things were the way they were. Also, some of the characters didn't really get developed. They remained rather flat. Despite these failings, the book managed to be tons of fun to read. I loved the originality of the ideas; I hadn't ever read anything that felt the same. Although I love faerie and vampire books, this was a very nice change of pace. This book is fairly short, and I finished it in a couple of hours. This is a great little paranormal read for the summer. Although it deals with some weighty matters, don't really expect a great deal of philosophical thought. The book leaves at a good place for a sequel to pick up, but who knows. Perhaps that would solve the problem of the underdeveloped characters.

Nathan says 4 stars...

I really liked this one. It was original and pretty fascinating. I found it to be pretty quickly paced, but it did have some awkward lulls. The writing is very nice. Nice vocabulary and good structure, make it easy, but interesting to read. I do have to say that I was really disappointed with some of character development, or lack thereof. I occasionally wanted to throttle Madison, but I generally forgave her. I like the supporting cast, particularly Grace-hilarious. It is pretty light, but watch out for sudden moral heaviness near the end. I mean stuff philosophers have dealt with since there was philosophy;however, the audience making a choice isn't requirement, so it can remain airy. I would like to say that the cover of this book is much "girlier" than its actual contents, so guys, don't be frightened of the fuchsia. Overall, it's a nice preternatural summer read.

Fragile Eternity

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone—but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her—but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.

In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.

from harperteen.com

Beth says 5 stars...

I was so excited about the release of this book. I loved both Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange, and really hoped that this one would be no different. Thankfully, it wasn't. This book continued to delve deeper into the world of the faery courts. I loved how Marr ratcheted up the intrigue and complexities in the book. The old relationships between all of the existing characters deepened and new ones were formed, but all of them impacted the courts. Every single decision made had consequences, and I have a feeling that not all of them have come out yet. My only (minor) issue with the book was that Ash was a bit annoying at times. I mean seriously, she can't possibly be that clueless. I definitely liked her more in Wicked Lovely when she relied less on others. That said, the other characters were all fantastic. Niall is amazing, and just keeps getting more interesting. I also enjoyed watching Donia develop more. I've read that Marr thinks of this as Seth's book, and I can understand why. Seth really becomes a rich character, and his choices send the plot reeling constantly. Marr's writing is amazing, as always, and the plot was full of the unexpected. I couldn't predict many of the plot twists, but enjoyed them immensely. My least favorite part was the ending. It's a cliff-hanger, and I can't wait to read the next book!

Nathan says 5 stars...

I've been waiting on this book for a while, and it was the finale of my spring book trifecta (City of Glass and Bloodhound being the first two). It certainly was worth the wait. With Fragile Eternity, Marr only cemented her place within my list of favorite authors. Her prose is often quirky, but really fresh at the same time. The detail she uses is impeccable, particularly when describing the faery courts. The story is well-paced and fraught with energy. For me though, the most beautiful thing in a Marr novel is the character interaction. Each of the players is already amazing, but their relationships and encounters seems so real. Beth and I had the same problem with the novel. The strong, independent Aislinn we met in Wicked Lovely seems to be have diminished into a helpless maiden. I want to see her back in form soon. Niall is perhaps the most captivating character-he is downright intriguing. This novel seems more like a setup for another book rather than an independent piece, but that's okay because it means more Melissa Marr. Things look dark for our lovely (and wicked) characters at the end of the book, so drama seems sure to ensue in future volumes. I personally can't wait.

City of Glass

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

from Amazon.com

Beth says 5 stars...
This book was fantastic! It kept me reading past 1 o'clock in the morning while I knew all along that I should have been sleeping. This book was worth the lost sleep, though. Clare has an incredible and unique way of writing, fusing sarcastic humor with striking descriptions. City of Glass lost none of that, and it feels like Clare's writing is just getting better. It is the backbone and driving force of the stories, and what makes them so wonderful. All of the characters became more complex, and none more so than Jace. His development was so fascinating and one of the most engaging portions of the book. The existing relationships also deepened and some new ones were introduced. It was interesting to finally get a real look at the Shadowhunters' homeland. That in itself gave insight into why some of the characters behave the way they do. Some of the "plot twists" I was able to figure out fairly easily, however I was blindsided on more than one occasion. I love (most) of the characters and the stories, so it's very sad for me to have to part ways with them. I must admit that this book had the most satisfying epilogue that I've ever read. This was a fitting end to an amazing series and I can't wait to read more books from Cassandra Clare.


Nathan says 5 stars...
I'm entirely convinced that Cassandra Clare could write about the rate at which paint dries and I would read every word. Her writing is amazing. I would put her in the top three YA prose writers today. I loved every sentence. The crew is back again and they are remedying (and creating) more havoc, but this time in Idris, the capital of the Shadowhunters. The dialogue is as amazing as always with a lot of quirk and biting sarcasm. I have one issue with the book-predictability. Most of the plot points were easily guessed, though a few were unexpected. It's so well-written that I really didn't mind. Denouement is one of my favorite parts of a novel and this book had plenty of it. There is a truly massive epilogue; this thing is awe-inspiring. Every minor plot was addressed and we find all of our characters reach a conclusion. I love all of the couplings in this book. It helps that Clare makes her characters realistic, which is hard to do when dealing with demon-slaying Nephilim, warlocks, vampires, and other breeds of mystical beings. This book is truly well done. I love Clare's writing and all I can say I can't wait for her next series*.

*Her next series is about the Shadowhunters and is set in Victorian England-I love Victorian England.

Bloodhound

Beka Cooper is finally a Dog—a full-fledged member of the Provost’s Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus’s streets. But there’s unrest in Tortall’s capital. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the city, and merchants are raising prices to cover their losses. The Dogs discover that gamblers are bringing the counterfeit money from Port Caynn. In Port Caynn, Beka delves deep into the gambling world, where she meets a charming banking clerk named Dale Rowan. Beka thinks she may be falling for Rowan, but she won’t let anything—or anyone—jeopardize her mission. As she heads north to an abandoned silver mine, it won’t be enough for Beka be her usual “terrier” self. She’ll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals—to be a Bloodhound. . . .

from bn.com

Beth says 5 stars...

I'm going to try and keep the gushing to a minimum. However, I LOVE Tamora Pierce's books. Bloodhound is no exception. It read even more like a detective novel than Terrier, but it worked. It's set about a year after Terrier ends and skips some major events (like when Beka is made a Dog). Pierce subtly shows how many of the characters have grown through brilliant dialogue and their actions. After a series of incidents, Beka finds herself in Port Caynn investigating some counterfeit coins that have made their way into circulation. The plot moved forward beautifully, its complexities neither getting lost nor hampering the flow of the story. Because most of the story took place outside of Corus, I missed some familiar characters (Rosto, Kora, Aniki, Lady Sabine, etc.). Pierce attempted to make up for this by introducing some new characters that were fantastic. This pulled me in and refused to let me go. Beka continued to grow and develop. It will be interesting to see what Pierce will do with her in the next book. This book reminded my of why I love Tamora Pierce's writing so much. Her versatility and ability to create a story are anstounding and distinguish her as an extraordinary talent. Simply put, this book was AMAZING!

Nathan says 5 stars...
My love affair with Tamora Pierce began long ago, and this latest tryst left little wanting. As I began Bloodhound, I was once again walking in the muck of the Lower City trolling for Rats next to our favorite Dog, Beka. The instant pull of her writing sucked me in totally. The partner storyline felt a bit ominous, and I guessed the outcome, but I love Pierce so much it didn't matter. I enjoyed the ride to the inevitable. The detailed and believable characters create the magnetism in Pierce's books which has made her a powerhouse in the YA world, this is true of Bloodhound also. The Port Caynn crew made a welcome addition to the series. Readers will be anxious for more of this well-conceived bunch. It was a fairly quick read, but that may be because my life was nearly paused until I finished. As I'm writing this I'm trying keep my book-self from gushing onto the keyboard. Pierce fans will be ecstatic and new readers will be hooked, though I would suggest reading Terrier first. Wait-why are you still reading this? You should be pre-ordering Bloodhound. Go! No really, now, I promise it won't dissapoint.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.
This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing.
Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

ever from bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
I was skeptical of this book. Hmmm... this may become a theme: Beth is a skeptic! I'd read a few reviews, and it seemed that people either loved or hated the book. I put myself into the LOVED category! First of all, this book was cool. The kind of cool that we all wish we were, but aren't. The kind of cool that knows all of the right music and movies without even trying. This book is genius. It's extremely short and a quick read, but everything had some meaning. No words were wasted. A word of caution; there is quite a bit of swearing. However, even the swearing feels organic. The authors aren't writing swear words just to have them there; it honestly feels like that's what Nick or Norah would have said if they were real. What makes the book so phenomenal are the characters. Almost all of them are incredibly complex and layered. I feel like I'm gushing, but this book deserves it. From the wonderful two person narrative to the crazy plot and pop culture references, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is a fun and fulfillinf ride that will leave you wanting more.


Nathan says 5 stars...
You know how some things just exude cool? Well, Nick and Norah goes one step further and is made of cool(I'm not kidding). This book is one of the greatest YA achievements of the last few decades. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan capture what being a teenager is in such depth that the reader is immediately sucked into the lives of Nick and Norah. The characters are phenomenally real. Something I love about the novel is that the authors were brave enough to write characters that were round and real, rather than the character sketches many teen novels have. The writing style is _____________(insert the most positive adjective in your vocabulary) and each sentence is a delight to read. The story is fast-paced, but still detailed which just adds to the frenzy of the couple's crazy night. As Beth said, pop culture abounds, and every little reference just adds to the depth and complexity of the novel. There is even a fantastic Heathers reference (note: everyone should see Heathers, dark comedy genius). There is some swearing in it, but it's not gratuitous and many of you will hear more swearing on a daily basis at school. There is only one major problem with this book...it's way too short.

P.S. - I beg all of you to not judge the book from the movie. The movie was an awful, awful skewing of such a fantastic novel. The book's 3-D characters were smushed into these flat zombie imitations of their written counterparts. The plot seems disregarded to a degree and some of the casting is off (though Kat Dennings could have been the perfect Norah). Read the book, skip the movie.

Inagural Post-City of Bones

In celebration of the upcoming release City of Glass, we are doing our first review on Cassandra Clare's debut novel City of Bones.

Summary:
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

From bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
This is one of the most exciting debut novels I have ever read. Claire creates a new hidden world wrapped within the New York City we all love. Clary is a fantastic new heroine, both vulnerable and strong. The Shadowhunters and other creatures lend an air of darkness and fantasy that meshes perfectly with the realism of Clary and the city. The plot is full of twists and turns. This book had me hooked from the first page; it's one of the rare books that is impossible to put down. I've given this as a gift to someone I liked, because it really is that good.

Nathan says 5 Stars...
Cassandra Clare is truly one of the most innovative and talented writers to reach the young adult section in many years. If this book (and its sequel) are any indication, then Clare has a long career ahead of her. The story centers around Clary, the fiery redhead who gets sucked into a rabbit hole that Lewis Carrol would be proud of. The Shadowhunters are incredibly well-conceived and the detail given to each of the characters lets the reader truly connect. This book is best described as fantasy with a layer of grit. I mean, Holly Black is quoted on the cover- it has to be good. A perfect novel for our generation.