Title:

Author: Jessica Spotswood

Publisher: Putnam

Release date: February 7th 2012

Plot: Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave. (Description from Goodreads)

Why I’m waiting: I love a good story about witches and intelligent women. Besides this sounds like a promising debut full of mystery, fear and forbidden romance.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. I plan to participate for the next year at least (because my to read pile really needs to be longer ;P). If you’d like to join in, grab a graphic, write a post and leave a link on her site.

The Guardian has put up a great article in which that same Emily Gravett shows us how to draw a dragon. (I’m reminded a little of Trogdor ^_^)

And in the video below Benedict Cumberbatch reads Little Red Hen. Not a book by one of my favorites by I’d listen to him read his grocery list. Enjoy:

Do you have favorite picture books?

White’s debut novel has a very interesting concept. Evie’s powers and origins (which I will not spoil) are fascinating as are the Empty Ones and Lend, the shapeshifter. She also brings a breath of fresh air to more familiar paranormals like werewolves and vampires… these vampires won’t make you swoon. The IPCA itself shows promise though it is poorly developped: for a decades old international organization, it is not very organized.

The romance, meanwhile, is quite sweet. I like that Evie loves Lend no matter what face he wears regardless of race or attractiveness (though I don’t know how I feel about her repeated assertions that it’s weird when he’s a girl). Their conversations are cute and funny.

But though I liked all these things about the book (and Evie’s pink taser Tasey ^_^), I was never fully swept away by the story. I found it interesting but I never really felt for Evie. I wanted to: she has lived a hard, lonely life. But White spent too much time telling me how lonely it was, how Evie craved normalcy and not enough making me feel it.

Fans of paranormal romance will enjoy this book. It was a quick, entertaining read but I can wait to read the sequels.

2012 (#10)

Black Butler

• The true nature of Ciel’s servants is revealed when the Phantomhive manor comes under attack. And Ciel must stop a terrible crime that reminds him of the horrors of his past.

Bokurano, volume 5 by Mohiro Kitoh

• This series continues to be depressing as only a series about pre-teens dying to protect their world in a giant robot can be. But a new revelation makes the whole situation even worse!

Chew, volume 3: Just Deserts by John Layman and Rob Guillory

• This series about a cibopathic (he can see where something has been by eating it) FDA agent continues to be brilliant and unique both in terms of stories and art. It can be a little gross but its definitely worth it.

Kings of Shogi, volume 4 (French) by Masaru Katori and Jiro Ando

• The open shogi tournament pitting professionals against amateurs, men against women continues. Though Shion has passed the first round, she is being stalked by her parents’ murderer. A slightly more adult manga for fans of Hikaru no Go.

Mystic by G. Willow Wilson

• Two orphans study magic in a revolution-torn steampunk world. I read this on the recommendation of a friend who shares a name with one of the heroines. Thank you Gen! It was brilliant. Please tell me there will be more.

Princess Jellyfish, volume 1 (French) by Akiko Higashimura

• This was my favorite manga of the week! A very unique series about a group of otaku women living together and the beautiful crossdressing boy that comes into their lives. A very unconventional romance, I look forward to more.

Secret Six, volume 7: The Darkest House by Gail Simone

• The final volume of Simone’s brilliant series about a group of (8, not 6) villains completely blew me away. But I won’t spoil it for you.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

• The beautifully illustrated true story of a young girl and her dental misadventures.

Stardust Wink, volume 1 (French) by Nana Haruta

• A very cute, if slightly generic, shoujo manga about a girl and her two childhood friends. I’d like it better if it didn’t imply that girls and boys can’t be just friends.

X-Factor, volume 12: Scar Tissue by Peter David

• I can honestly say that X-Factor is my favorite Marvel title and it never disappoints. In this volume, the mutant P.I. are hired by J. Jonah Jameson to find a murderer. Only he is keeping some secrets and what X-Factor doesn’t know may kill one of them.

Young Justice, volume 1 by Art Balthazar and Franco

• The creators of Tiny Titans bring us a fun all-ages comic about the younger DC super heroes. Based on the series on the Cartoon Network. Balthazar and Franco nevere fail to make me smile.

Plot: Anna’s father sends her, against her will, to finish high school in a boarding school in Paris. Sounds great in theory but Anna doesn’t speak a word of French and is forced to leave behind her best friend, her potential boyfriend and her little brother Sean. But almost immediately after arriving, she makes friends with her dorm neighbour, Meredith, and by extension St-Clair, the most gorgeous boy she has ever seen. Unfortunately he already has a girlfriend and even bigger problems with his dad than she has with hers.

“Very Romantic. You should date this book.” – Maureen Johnson

Johnson is as amusingly creepy as ever but she is also right: this is a great, romantic read. Perkins’ debut novel actually reminds me of Johnson at her romantic best: quirky, likable characters, great dialogue and complicated emotions. I read it in a single sitting. You know, I used to think that I didn’t like straight up romances (which is silly when you consider my manga collection) but I think I just hadn’t found any books like this one yet.

Anna is a great character. I enjoyed the complicated friendships that she has with those around her and her tentative explorations of Paris. But the best part of the book is without a doubt St-Clair. I’m often told that the romantic interest in stories is gorgeous and charming but it’s harder to make me feel it. I fell in love with Étienne St-Clair right along with Anna. I couldn’t help it. He is smart and funny and kind. His family situation will break your heart. And though he has flaws and he makes mistakes that hurt people, that’s what real people are like. I like that he is Anna’s best friend, because I honestly believe that your boyfriend should be a friend first and foremost. And I love that he’s short and still gorgeous because I personnally like short guys and I don’t think they get enough love in romance.

You don’t need to date the book but I do recommend that you read it. I’ve already ordered the companion book, Lola and the Boy Next Door.

2012 (#9)

I think Oppel got the tone of gothic horror just right for his Frankenstein prequel. The novel is full of castles, dark stomy nights, deep caves and secret laboratories. There is an oppressive air of danger throughout. By the end I was sitting on the edge of my seat, desperate to find out what would happen next but also a little afraid to. Honestly, some of the scenes late in the book gave me chills and I was reading them like I watch horror movies: trying to look away but completely unable to.

Victor is an interesting hero, if you can call him that. You can definitely see the seeds of what he is to become in this intelligent boy: he is passionate, determined but also jealous and prideful. The funny thing is, while reading, I found myself resenting Konrad as he did for always being the best at everything and getting the girl. Elizabeth is the perfect companion for him: as intelligent and passionate with a fiery temper and fierce independence. His love for her is, however, anything but romantic. It’s creepy really, and selfish… not because Konrad loves her too but because he is prepared to ignore her desires in his pursuit of her. Victor is far from evil or mad in this point of his life but there is something occasionally uncomfortable about watching the world through his eyes.

This novel was nominated for the Governor General’s Award (which Oppel has already won before for Airborn) and I’m not surprised. I can’t wait to see how the story, and Victor Frankenstein, develop! The second book, Such Wicked Intent, is due out in August this year.

2012 (#8)

Title:

Author: Megan Crew

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release date: January 24th

Plot: A deadly virus is sweeping through Kaelyn’s community: it starts with a itch, soon you’re babbling all your secrets, then the paranoia kicks in. A few days later you’re dead. Her island is quarantined and the healthy must fight for dwindling supplies as they watch those they love die.

Why I’m waiting: I really enjoyed Crewe’s debut: Give Up the Ghost. It was a very fun, unique ghost story. This one sounds just as promising. A horrible disease, survival and love… What more can I ask for? Besides, I love supporting Canadian authors when I can.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine. I plan to participate for the next year at least (because my to read pile really needs to be longer ;P). If you’d like to join in, grab a graphic, write a post and leave a link on her site.

This book won’t change the world but it was a good read: a fun, interesting with a novel approach to the idea of first contact. It was silly at times but I was endlessly fascinated by the Kishocha. Kimberling created a very interesting hermaphroditic, amphibious race with a fully developed culture and reveals it in tantalizing bits.

The best character is without a doubt Gaia’s alien servant/employee Wave: it is endlessly curious, kind and funny. Its perspective on the world and its frank manner of speech made me laugh out loud a few times. Besides which it takes an almost childlike glee in mischief. Gaia is not bad herself – strong, independent and entrepreneurial – but her romance left me dry. Fitzpatrick, her generically gorgeous paramour, seems less like a person than a programmable love-bot: always exactly what Gaia needs when she needs it, be that arrogant government authority to resent or a comforting shoulder to cry on. He is in Kimberling’s own words “awfully convenient”. It isn’t romantic, but I will say this for it: I like that Gaia is a woman who knows what she wants from a relationship and isn’t afraid to express it.

I will leave you with Kimberling’s amusing warning that precedes the book: This book contains excessive consumption of clams and clam-based snacks. Also gratuitous abuse of orange dye, as well as summary decapitation, forbidden love, alien sex and one beloved hamster named Microbe.

I think I may look into her novel Ghost Star Night which contains “men, magic, man-on-man moments, orangutans speaking in sign language, beehive hairdoes and an army of soulless janitors that seeks to destroy them all.”

2012 (#7)

All Rounder Meguru, volume 3 (French) by Hiroki Endo

• Meguru progresses in the world of competitive Shooto (a kind of MMA) while his childhood friend Takashi strives toward a competitive career but keeps being drawn, against his will, into organized crime. A must read for fans of martial arts (which are represented beautifully and with great accuracy) and of the amazing Hiroki Endo (of Eden fame).

Black Bird, volume 8 to 12 by Kanoko Sakurakoji

• The romance in this series is basically the manga version of Twilight and it angers me. But I keep reading it because I like Japanese folklore and the art is pretty. …Ok, I admit it, it’s all about Zenki, the guy on the cover of volume 12. Totally my type. Seriously though, the story is getting rather exciting.

Cat’s Eye, volume 11 to 13 (French) by Tsukasa Hojo

• The story of the three beautiful sisters and thieves continues though these volumes are more focuses on their loves than their roberies.

City Hunter, volume 9 & 10 (French) by Tsukasa Hojo

• City Hunter was my first introduction to Hojo, and it has only improved with age. Plus I can now better appreciate the filthy humour. ^_^

Family Compo, volume 8 (French) by Tsukasa Hojo

• A lot of Tsukasa Hojo this week. I love his work. This volume continues the adventures of a transgendered family and explores the relationship between their house guest Kaoru and his mother. One of the best yet.

The Super-Cool Life of Strawberry-chan by Ai Morinaga

• The best thing I can say about this manga is that it was less disturbing than the first volume and that it is over now. Avoid this strange story of frog love and torture if you can.

What a page turner! Bacigalupi has written a non-stop adventure in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world. Betrayals, dangerous accidents, deadly fights, flights and daring escapes, this book has them all. I had to stop a couple of times, heart in my throat; I was genuinely worried about the outcome. An adventure story with this much danger can tend toward the ridiculous but Bacigalupi’s excellent pacing and characters keep it from ever becoming so.

Nailer is an interesting hero: loyal, practical, morally conflicted and underneath it all, terrified of becoming like his father. And Nita is not your usual pampered princess. She will lie when necessary and she is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Nailer’s father is, meanwhile, truly terrifying in his pure violence and his unpredictable mood swings. A great vilain: evil, yes, but human. But I haven’t even mentioned the amazing world-building yet! Bacigalupi’s world is truly immersive and believable. And I suspect we have only scratched the surface.

Bacigalupi’s first YA novel well deserves its Printz award.

This spring, he will release a companion novel to Ship Breaker: The Drowned City. It is not a sequel, but stars a character who fascinated me in the first volume. Tool is a genetically engineered dog-man, bred for combat but with a deep desire for freedom. I’m already looking forward to it.

2012 (#6)