Mini-Reviews: Fantasy and Dystopian

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I'm giving Fahrenheit 451 away for World Book Night this year, and since it has been many, many years since I first read it, I thought it was time for a reread. I would imagine most people are familiar with the story because it is required reading in so many schools, but just in case you aren't -- it is set in the future, in a world where books are outlawed and firemen burn down the houses where they are discovered. People are obsessed with their "parlor wall" TVs and go to sleep with "seashells" burrowed in their ears -- sound at all familiar? It definitely rang a little too true for comfort for me the first time I read it.

Fahrenheit 451 isn't really an enjoyable book to read, but it has an important message. And of course, book lovers will all agree that it is important to keep books, to keep the ideas alive, to not succumb to the mindlessness of  meaningless pleasure-seeking.

4 stars

Warnings: Some language

Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier

Okay, so I've loved all the Sevenwaters books so far, but Child of the Prophecy might be my very favorite one. (Although it is hard to beat Daughter of the Forest, if only because it was first and it was so near perfection). Juliet Marillier's writing is so beautiful and satisfying, and I love the world she has created/channeled (because it is ancient Ireland, with some magic thrown in). Reading her books feels like I am literally transported into the story -- I know that is a cliche way to describe a reading experience, but it became a cliche because it described the feeling so well.

Of course, all of these things refer generally to the trilogy. What specifically made me love this book so much was the fact that every character has two faces. Everyone is so complex, and the characters are forced to make difficult, difficult decisions. The protagonist, Fainne, makes some very serious, awful mistakes. Characters that are pretty universally seen as "the good guys" have some dark actions in their pasts. And even one of the slimiest characters in the novel does something so honorable and tragic that I  felt guilty for thinking he was a sleazy guy. So basically, go read it. But read the first two books first.

5 stars

Warnings: Rapey scene, violence

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

If you thought the last review was gushy, you should probably go ahead and just skip this one. Except don't, because I want to convince everyone in the world to read this book. 

My first experience with Maggie Stiefvater was The Scorpio Races. And I loved it, despite the extremely bizarre subject matter. (Sean Kendrick may or may not have had more than a little something to do with that). After reading The Raven Boys, it is now official -- I will read anything that woman writes. 

I finished The Raven Boys in a 24-hour period, mainly while rocking my son to sleep. And during that 24 hour period, I almost wanted him to wake up and fuss so I had an excuse to go back in and rock him some more. Honestly, The Raven Boys was a perfect book for me. The atmosphere was exquisitely created, this perfect mix of haunting, chilling eeriness and beauty. The characters were all so poignant and alive, despite the fact that the book really isn't that long. The leaped from the page (another cliche that I am using unabashedly, because after all, this is supposed to be a mini-review, so it's not like I'm trying to write epic literature here). And the plot was so unique and so awesome that I was dying to find out what happens next. Bring me The Dream Thieves, please. 

5 stars

Warnings: Language, violence

The Girl With the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

I can't get enough of the Steampunk Chronicles. They are honestly just some of the most fun books that I have ever read. There are bizarre gadgets and menacing, creepy otherworld influences and dashing heroes and spunky, fierce heroines and it is just full of awesome. Is it brilliant literature? No. Is the dialogue sometimes cheesy? Oh yes. But I dare you to not enjoy The Girl With the Iron Touch.

4 stars

Warnings: Violence, rated PG fantasizing

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

I read this because there was a huge billboard of the movie right by where I live (gotta love LA) and because it was cheap on Amazon (so, so many book purchases happen because of this. They know what they are doing, those monopolizers). Anyway, I had no idea what this was about, so I'll summarize it for you in a brief fashion: Boy meets girl. Girl belongs to a family of witches. Witches are cursed and are "Claimed" for good or evil on their sixteenth birthday. Girl is sure she is going to be evil, but boy really likes her, so they decide to figure out how to change her fate.

I liked this -- I pretty much devoured it (and it is pretty beastly long). I have the sequel waiting at the top of my stack of library books. It has a unique setting, awesome atmosphere, and fun characters. At times it dragged, and Lena's constant freaking out grew old (which sounds harsh... I'd be freaking out too. But sometimes I got tired of reading about it). But for the most part, I really liked it, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

3.75 stars

Warnings: Language maybe? A little violence. It's pretty clean overall.

Super Series Saturday: The Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross

Guys, I have a geeky confession -- I totally, completely adore the steampunk genre. So far, I've only had one negative experience with any steampunk book. In general, the atmosphere and the creativity of the stories I've found are completely up my alley, and the first two books in Kady Cross's Steampunk Chronicles series have been no exception.

The Girl in the Steel Corset


In the first book, we meet Finley Jayne, a servant girl who, when attacked by her lusty employer, takes him out in a matter of minutes. Finley doesn't understand why she is able to switch into a state of mind and body where her small frame is able to take on opponents much larger than she is -- or why she seems to be in a dark, evil frame of mind when it happens. But some of her questions begin to be answered when she runs in to the handsome Griffin King, Lord of Greythorne, who has some surprising insights about her past and about the evolution of the world in general. Soon Finley and Griffin, along with a supporting cast of memorable characters, are embroiled in a plot to steal the most valuable substance in the world and attack Queen Victoria.

First of all, I loved the atmosphere of this book. As I've mentioned before, something about dark, gloomy London streets and fancy gowns mixed with bizarre technologies and machines really interests me. Kady Cross does well with incorporating elements of the real Victorian world with the imaginary technologies she has created. The main components of that world are Organites, small creatures that enhance healing, give machines sentient powers, and cause those who are exposed to them to evolve new abilities, and the Aether, the mystical world beyond that which is seen and the final resting place of dead spirits. Both elements, while mysterious, are consistent in the story and allow for many interesting occurrences and objects.

I also completely enjoy the characters. Griffin's misfit band are all possessed of interesting abilities, and they are all fascinating and endearing in their own way, from Emily, the tiny, fiery Irish genius whose inventions power all of the group's exploits, to the large and brooding Sam, who is bitter about the parts of his body that are mechanical, to the quick-witted (and moving), handsome Jasper, an American with a mysterious past. The characters are placed in a plot that is complementary to their awesomeness -- the action is well-paced and interesting.

My one quibble with the book is at times the writing, particularly the dialogue. The characters often seem as if they are trying to hard to explain things, and the dialogue can be stilted. However, other than this the tale is exciting and well-done, and I could hardly put it down until I finished.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar


The Girl in the Clockwork Collar picks up where The Girl in the Steel Corset leaves off, with Griffin, Finley, Emily and Sam worrying about Jasper and headed to America to help him. Once they reach America, they learn about some of the issues from Jasper's past that have been haunting him, including a beautiful Chinese girl named Mei (Mei Xing, in full -- say that together and you'll get it) who is imprisoned in a clockwork collar that tightens to suffocate her if she leaves the house where she is imprisoned. Jasper is required by some old "friends" to find the pieces of a machine and reassemble it, or Mei's life is on the line. Meanwhile, Griffin's crew begin spending time with the genius Tesla, trying to learn more about his machines and their connection with the Aether. All the pieces come together with a shocking finish at the end.

Honestly, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar follows very consistently from the first book in the series. It too has a captivating plot, and may even one-up the first book in the series by incorporating more heart-wrenching moments of tragedy and emotion. Kady Cross continues to incorporate fascinating new characters, like Wildcat, the feisty, long-canined outlaw who harbors a flame for Jasper, and Dalton, the handsome and devilish leader of the gang Jasper used to belong to. We also are exposed to new inventions, including those belonging to Emily as well as new inventions from Tesla. We are further enmeshed in the questions of just what the organites can do and how they affect those exposed to them. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar was, in short, a very satisfying second book, which is a difficult feat to accomplish. It's main flaw is the same as that of The Girl in the Steel Corset -- at times it suffers from cheesy and somewhat forced dialogue.

However, in general I found this read to be thoroughly satisfying, and I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series.

3.75 stars