Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer
Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends
Publish Date:  January 3, 2012
ISBN:  978-0312641894
Pages:  400


Note:  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I always approach the retelling of a fairytale in a skeptical manner.  However, Marissa Meyer did a beautiful job and I can't wait to read more!  She kept the basic idea of Cinderella and updated it to a sci/fi cyborg story with death and disease and a horrid Queen trying to overtake Earth.  What more could you ask for?

The Characters:
Cinder - a true delight!  She knows what she is and what she isn't, seems proud that she can do things as a cyborg that regular humans can't, yet at the same time is embarrassed about being a cyborg.  She's reasonable, romantic, adventurous...I just love her! Did she remind anyone else of FIREFLY's Kaylee?  I mean, Kaylee wasn't a cyborg...but if she was, she would have been Cinder.


Kai - Prince of New Commonwealth, has a temper, hates that he has to do things he doesn't want to do, wants to be a regular guy sometimes, is prepared to do all the things he doesn't want to do, and seems to only really want one thing for just himself - Cinder.


Peony - the youngest stepsister, loves Cinder, very sweet and lovable.

Pearl - the oldest stepsister, rude, mean, haughty, but still shows humanity here and there.

Adri - the stepmother (guardian), awful, but does show other emotions.

Iko - the family android, but really hangs out with Cinder most, has a delightful personality chip (remember the android in Robin Williams' BICENTENNIAL MAN?)

Dr. Erland - research doctor in the palace, trying to figure out how to cure the plague and maybe has his own research going on....

Queen Levana - Lunar Queen, true evil, a royal B...

The Plot
 First off there's the whole Cinderella thing, you know - Cinder has to work to support the family, she does all the dirty work, she never gets updated parts or clothes, she sleeps in a tiny room and isn't allowed to attend the ball.  There's a tiny bit of romance, but just enough to keep you wanting more.

Then there's the fact that there's a plague in the world - Letumosis.  No one seems to know how the plague starts, spreads or how to cure it.

The whole book was wonderful and I really enjoyed it.  I love that Miss Meyer took a traditional fairytale and updated it so well.  Congratulations!

Dead of Night by Lynn Viehl

Dead of Night by Lynn Viehl
Publisher:  Flux Book
Publish Date:  July 8, 2012
ISBN:  978-0738726465
Pages:   312


I received this book from www.netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.



I will say up front that I didn't read the first book in this series.  However, it didn't really seem necessary, there was enough explanation to help me along and until I got into it, I didn't even realize that this wasn't the first book!

So to catch us all up:  Cat and her brothers, Gray and Trick, are Van Helsings, but they want to lead normal lives.  Or at least her brothers do.  Cat is in love with Jesse - he's not exactly a vampire, but almost.

Powers: 
Jesse and his parents don't age, but they can't stand sunlight.
Cat - can command felines, of all sorts.
Gray and Trick - I can't keep them straight for some reason.  One has the power to track anything and one has the power to cover up your memories.

Cat and Jesse didn't make me believe they're in love.  The couple-ness just didn't touch my heart and the whole star-crossed lovers thing just didn't fly for me.  I was saddened, but I know that not all couples can be like Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes. :)

Trick and Gray, even though I can't keep them separate in my head, came across as more real than anyone in the story, I liked them.  I did feel like Cat came across as a bit of a spoiled brat - her brother, while trying to protect her and control her - still spoiled her to pieces. 

While not my bag of chips, you might like it if you enjoy the vampire/vampire hunter romance.

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

Publisher:  Harlequin Teen
Date:  September 27, 2011
ISBN:  978-0373210398
Pages:  304


The role of Juliet is played by Miranda (Miri) and the role of Romeo is played by Edmund.

Miranda's dad ditched out awhile ago, so it's just her and her mom.  They're both actresses in community theatre.  Miranda wants nothing more than to play Juliet, so she purchases a spell online and uses it.  What she receives is not what she expected.  She gets Edmund - William Shakespeare's brother!

It seemed odd to me that not only Miri, but her mother were so accepting of a strange guy showing up claiming to be Shakespeare's brother.  Not only were they accepting, but they let him live with them.  I just can't imagine a teen girls mom letting some strange guy live in their house, pretty much with their teen girl!

The story seemed to be too busy, trying to incorporate too much at any given time.  In this case, simpler might have been better.  It is light and fluffy.

Far from the War by Jeffrey David Payne

Far from the War (book 1) by Jeffrey David Payne
Publisher: Roche Harbor
Publish Date: July 24, 2011
ISBN: 978-0983732204
Pages: 366


FAR FROM THE WAR is about the worst things you can imagine happening if the US broke out into civil war.  It's also about the tenacity of people, mainly a 17 year old girl, Esther.

Esther is from Orcas Island, Washington and wins a chance to be a Congressional Page in Washington D.C.  Shortly after beginning her new job, a coup is accomplished by some political and military leaders.  Esther and two other Pages decide to go home and they head out to the airport.  Upon reaching the airport, they find that there is only one seat available and have to make a difficult decision.

Throughout the book it's hard to decide which side is in the right as they both so firmly and desperately believe that their side is the right one.  I'm sure it's that way in any war, civil or otherwise.

Esther's journey was often heart wrenching but so similar to stories that you read about people who have lived through a war zone that it comes off as very real. This is not a general book, Mr. Payne explains exactly what is going on, how it looks, feels, smells, etc.  There are some scenes that were gruesome, but entirely necessary for the story.

Things of interest:
- romance - some, innocent and sweet, very little physical description
 - language - not much, more tone than words
 - events - death, dismemberment, rape, amputation

I've read a few reviews that said they felt Esther came across as much older than 17 and that the romance happened too quickly.  I think that we all know a 17 year old who feels more comfortable with adults, and knows what they are doing and where they are going.  It's not that unusual.  Also, getting stuck in a war zone would certainly mature you in a hurry.  As for the romance - it's wartime!  Historically, there are a lot of quick romances and hurried weddings during wartime. Couples are worried that they may never see each other again.

I think that all history and political science students should read this.  It really gives a great feel for what could happen in a civil war in the US.  What things would shut down, how people would act, the entire thing.  The more I read, the more disturbed I became.

Do yourself a favor, pick this book up, read it, then share it with a friend.

The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith
Publisher:  Pyr
Publish Date:  November 18, 2010
ISBN:  978-1616142476
Pages:  301


I received this book from the authors' publicist for a review.

This book combines alternate world history, steampunk and vampires.  In short, it's awesome!  I really loved the characters, they were all drawn strongly and had their own personalities.  The main characters are:
Princess Adele, The Greyfriar, Senator Clarke, Colonel Anholt, Lord Kelvin, Mamoru, Flay and Prince Cesare.

The story goes that vampires rose up in The Great Killing of 1870 and began killing all the humans.  Now it's 2020, is it the humans turn to do the same?

The vampires can't stand the heart, so most of the surviving humans have their kingdoms around the equator now, while the vampires take places around Europe (mostly).  The vampires can fly by changing their body density, so they're very dangerous.  However, they hate to fly over water - what if they change density, fall and drown?!  They do fly airships, but they use 'bloodmen' for that.  'Bloodmen' are the humans that serve them willingly, in hopes that eventually they'll be turned into vampires.

There are 2 vampire princes:
              -1 wishes to live in peace with the humans and is kind and thoughtful
              -1 wants to kill all humans, rule the world and uses humans to advance his cause

Both want Princess Adele, but for very different reasons.

Princess Adele of the southern European states is promised to marry Senator Clarke of America (which has decidely moved southward). She isn't really interested, but is willing to do her duty for her country. On a political trip her airship is attacked by vampires and she's rescued by the mysterious man known as The Greyfriar.  He's a legend and no one thought he really existed.  The Princess ends up as a pawn between the human and vampire worlds.  Prince Gareth (vampire prince #1) and The Greyfriar are trying to help Princess Adele, while Prince Cesare (vampire prince #2) wants to use her in their political battles.

 The vampires come across first as animals-like and savage, but behind that you see all their families, political structure, logic, and strangely, a limited dexterity of their hands - which causes some jealousy of humans.

Adele is tough and strong-willed, and sometimes uncertain and fearful, but at the same time decisive.  She's pretty real and how you would think a vampire-fighting princess should be.  There's some romance, to be sure, but mostly it's innocent and sweet.

Ahh, Senator Clarke.  Imagine on old west cowboy on a steampunk airship with the arrogance of a spoiled rich boy.  Got it?  How could you NOT hate him?!  I hated him instantly and delighted in it!  I had to marvel at the way he handled things, even when I was hoping he was being beaten.  What a great character!

This book was a real surprise for me, I agreed to read this one and the second one for reviews; but I didn't expect to like it this much.  I recommend that you read this one, it was definitely overlooked this year! 

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Publisher:  Philomel Books (Penguin)
Publish Date:  October 19, 2010
ISBN:  978-0-399-25482-6
Pages:  452
Cover Design:  Katrina Damkoehler

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure about reading a story about werewolves and romance.  Too many were-mances were passed on to me that were just ridiculous.  But I gave it a chance, mostly because the cover is gorgeous!


Calla Tor and Ren Laroche are Seniors at Mountain School.  They've been chosen to head up the new pack being formed - a combination of the Nightshade and Bane families.  Calla is a Nightshade and Ren is a Bane.

There are several groups involved in the story and it took me a few minutes to sort them out:

Guardians - the werewolves.  They're soldiers and sworn to protect whatever the Keepers tell them to, they can switch into wolves whenever they want to.
Keepers - in charge of the packs, provide everything for the Guardians - homes, food, education, vehicles. They are considered witches or Old Ones, they protect humanity and demand complete obedience and loyalty from the Guardians.
Searchers - they want to take over the sacred sites and use the power (or so we're told) for their own gain.
Humans - They have no idea of what's going on really

Calla knows she has to mate with Ren, but the new boy at school, Shay, is causing her doubts.  The worst part is that while Ren has been able to play the field, she has had to be chaste.  No boyfriends, no kissing, nothing.  Now that the ceremony is close, everyone is on edge.  Add to that the fact that the Keepers have assigned Calla to watch over and protect Shay and it's no wonder she's confused.  As she hangs out with Shay more and more, things begin to come to light that just don't make sense with what she's always believed.

On the night of her 'wedding' to Ren, pieces begin to fall into place and nothing will ever be the same again.

For a book I was really skeptical of, this one turned out to be pretty good.  Calla comes across as a typical teenager with real feelings, while Shay seems pretty normal, it's very believable characterization.