Mini-Reviews: Fantasy Novels

Every Day by David Levithan

I read this book for the FYA book club, and to be honest, I didn't have very high expectations. Different people had told me that they didn't care for it, and the premise, a nameless, genderless spirit who occupies different bodies each day but falls in love, seemed bizarre and a little hokey. Still, I have never escaped my obedient school days in which I never failed to complete a reading assignment, and the lure of book club made me feel obligated (even though I didn't actually attend the meeting where the book was discussed). Also, all (two) of my experiences with David Levithan have been positive. He is pretty experimental, but he is also a fantastic writer, particularly at transmitting emotions. So, I gave it a chance.

And the verdict? I really enjoyed Every Day. A's transformation into different bodies each day was interesting, despite the bizarreness. In addition, despite the fact that the experience of possessing a different body each day is at the very least uncommon, the story still held powerful themes that almost anyone could relate to -- letting people go, making sacrifices for the people you love, what love really is. I think it's a worthwhile book that will bend your brain a bit.

4 stars

Warnings: Some language, brief drug references, brief referral to sex

Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier

If you've been reading this blog for the last year or so, you've probably gathered that Juliet Marillier can do no wrong in my opinion. Having recently finished her first Sevenwaters trilogy, I was very excited to dive into the second trilogy (although like the Jane Austen books, I can't stand the thought of being finished forever, so I am puttering around a bit). In Heir to Sevenwaters, Aisling and Sean have finally had a son -- only to have him ripped from them days later and replaced by a changeling creature of the forest. Meanwhile, unrest in the region is threatening Sevenwaters. Clodagh decides to rescue her brother by entering the land of the Fair Folk -- a land where nothing is certain and risks abound.

While I didn't love Clodagh as much as some other Sevenwaters heroines, this book just brutally shredded my heart. Motherhood is a theme in most of the Sevenwaters books, but for some reason it was particularly wrenching in Heir to Sevenwaters. There were scenes that literally felt as if I had been kicked repeatedly in the stomach. One of the reasons I love to read is to experience a powerful range of emotion, so I found Heir to Sevenwaters to be evocative and satisfying. I plan on reading every book Marillier has ever written, and I will probably reread all the Sevenwaters books. She is definitely elevated to favorite status.

4.5 stars

Warnings: Violence, referrals to sexuality (off the page)

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

I read the sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball a long time ago, and you know me -- I can't leave anything unfinished. I actually enjoyed Princess of the Midnight Ball more than Princess of Glass, although it had a few moments of dullness for me. 

The story is a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. Rose and her eleven sisters (all named after flowers -- I'm impressed that Jessica Day George came up with all the names) are forced to dance for an evil fairy king each night to pay off a family debt. They can't escape, and no one can help them, til a brave soldier and gardener, Galen, takes matters into his own hands. 

Initially, I felt that the story was slow moving and I found it hard to relate to the characters. The backstory dragged on a bit and I was ready to put the book down. However, in the second half the action picked up and I found myself eager to return to the adventures of Rose, Galen, and the rest of the princesses. I'm a sucker for a fairy tale retelling, and Princess of the Midnight Ball provided a light, enjoyable story. 

3 stars

Warnings: None

Sabriel by Garth Nix

This is another FYA book club assignment (but I did go to this meeting). I actually read this book when I was much younger, having randomly picked it off the shelf at Barnes and Noble when I had a giftcard. I remembered being completely unimpressed, but now, over ten years later, I knew that Sabriel had a huge fan base, and I was curious to see if maybe I had missed a gem. The good news is that I had! I think only rarely do fantasy books improve with time, but the book that left me completely unimpressed as a pre-teen charmed me (in as much as a story about the dead can be charming) as an adult. 

Sabriel and her father have the power to visit the land of the dead -- to help spirits go past the seventh gate to their eternal destiny. However, often spirits find their way to earth and cause harm -- and it has been happening a lot more frequently. Suddenly, a huge weight of responsibility rests on Sabriel's shoulders, and she has no idea what she is doing. 

I loved the world-building and the fact that the creatures could be considered zombies (closet zombie story lover). And while Sabriel herself was a bit stiff and unlovable, I respected her strength and her journey. There was even a bit of romance, albeit somewhat bumbling. I have the second book in the trilogy out from the library and I am curious to see what Garth Nix does next.

4 stars

Warnings: Scary images, violence, innuendo

Italian Folktales retold and edited by Italo Calvino

This was a beast for me to conquer, but it was enjoyable as well. I love mythology, fairy tales, folktales -- you name it. I saw this book mentioned and was intrigued for two reasons -- first of all, the Italian background, which intrigued me because my husband used to live in Italy, and second of all, the fact that it is by Italo Calvino, an author that I have always wanted to read because he is mentioned in my favorite book, Kartography. Checking in at 200 stories and well over 700 pages, it literally took me months to read, but it was rewarding. It was interesting to see the different take on traditional fairy tales as well as the similar threads and tropes running through the tales. It won't appeal to everyone, but I think Italian Folktales is a true masterpiece. I only wish I could remember more of the stories so I could share them with my children.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Fairy tale violence (evil stepmothers in boiling oil, cut off hands, etc.)

Once Upon a Time VII

I've become much choosier with my challenges this year, but I honestly just can't get enough of the seasonal challenges hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings. I'm looking forward to participating in the Once Upon a Time Challenge, which runs from March 21st to June 21st. 

I will be reading one book in each of the four categories: fantasy, folklore, mythology, and fairy tale.

Potential choices are:
Fantasy - The Heir of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
Mythology - The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter
Fairy Tale - Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Folklore - Italian Folk Tales by Italo Calvino

I'm also looking forward to participating in this "quest" by reading A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare to begin my "Shakespeare Project" (more about this in the future).

I love this challenge and am excited to get started!

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Title: Daughter of the Forest
Author: Juliet Marillier
Series: Sevenwaters #1
Genre: Fantasy, fairy-tale retelling
Publisher: Tor Books, 2001
Source: Gift from my mom
Read for: Alex Awards challenge, Chunkster challenge

Daughter of the Forest is a retelling of the six swans fairy tale. Sorcha is the seventh child of a seventh son and the only girl in her family. She loves her childhood with her six brothers, learning to heal and having strange encounters with the Fair Folk. However, Sorcha's life is turned upside down first when she encounters a Briton, sworn enemy of her people, and second when her father marries the beautiful but venomous Lady Oonagh. Her family torn apart, Sorcha begins a quest to save her brothers. However, her quest takes her places she could hardly have imagined.

I am not especially familiar with the fairy tale of the six swans, but I do know that Daughter of the Forest was a compelling and beautiful read, rich with descriptions and haunting mystery. I found myself completely enthralled in Sorcha's world and eager for the next installment of the trilogy.

I think one of the greatest strengths of Daughter of the Forest is the atmosphere. Marillier creates a world that is beautiful yet completely wild and untamable. The beliefs of Sorcha's family lend an eerie, mystical feel to the story. As Sorcha encounters the Britons, the atmosphere changes into more of the hearty, meat-and-potatoes, green countryside type of setting, but Sorcha keeps her haunting air of magic. The way the mood enveloped the story made it so powerful and entrancing.

Hand in hand with the atmosphere is the beauty of the writing. Marillier's voice is distinct and lovely, with vivid descriptions of the forests and the emotions of the characters. I felt completely invested, completely involved with Sorcha's tale. I think the ability to involve a person so deeply into a book that is so long and so different from my contemporary life demonstrates Marillier's remarkable skill as a writer, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Another aspect of Daughter of the forest that was extremely compelling to me was the depth of emotion in each of the characters. They do not experience flat, simple urges and reactions. Instead, their experiences are complicated and their sentiments are reflections of that complexity. I  felt strongly about what Sorcha was going through, experiencing moments of anguish and joy as if they were my own, even when the circumstances were situations I have never experienced. The sheer emotion of the characters were transmitted exquisitely through the writing.

Daughter of the Forest was a powerful and lovely book. As a fantasy novel it satisfied me by providing an interesting world with magic, but it also satisfied me simply because it stirred my emotions and was beautifully written. I am looking forward to reading the next book, Son of Shadows.

5 stars

Warnings: Violence, a scene of sexual abuse

YA Friday: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Genre: Fantasy, science fiction, spinoffs, YA
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends, 2012
Source: Library
Read for: Once Upon a Time Challenge

Cinder is a mechanic in what was once China and is now an amalgamation of Asian countries. Reviled by her stepmother and neighbors for being a cyborg, she contents herself with working on machines -- a skill for which she is renowned -- and spending time with her two friends, android Iko and stepsister Peony. However, Cinder's life changes when Prince Kai ducks into her shop. Suddenly she is mixed up in interplanetary politics. Oh, and there's a plague.

Okay, I have to attribute the last line of that summary to Marissa Meyer herself, who came to the Provo Library on the Fierce Reads tour. When she was describing her book, she went into most of the details and then added, "Oh, and there's a plague," at the end like an afterthought. 'Twas amusing. But I digress.

If you haven't figured it out yet, Cinder is a futuristic, machine-filled retelling of Cinderella. There's a ball, a wicked stepsister out to get the prince, and an appendage left on the stairs at midnight. However, Cinder incorporates many other fascinating elements into the plot. I was impressed with the way Marissa Meyer managed to use the framework of the popular fairy tale while creating such a unique and unexpected story.

I enjoyed Cinder immensely. She is completely down to earth, not expecting anything out of the ordinary out of herself because of the fact that she is a lowly cyborg (although I don't know why they are lowly. They have so many extra talents that the "normal" people don't have!). Even when she begins to learn secrets about her past that indicate that she is actually as extraordinary as a person could be, she is straightforward and likable.

I also liked Kai. I'll admit part of that is because of his name -- it definitely came up when my husband and I were discussing boys' names for our baby. However, I also appreciated that he was not a snob, that he valued skill (thus, seeking out Cinder when he needed a job to be performed well) and that he wasn't a snob about who he made friends with. It was also interesting to see him grow from a relatively carefree prince to someone with responsibility for millions of people. His willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of others was endearing and made him truly a worthwhile character.

I did not love Levana. You might be thinking, "NO kidding," but I do have a penchant for enjoying the odd nastily written character. However, for me Levana was not a character that I loved to hate. I know the powerful, glamour-shrouded queen of the Lunars was essential to the plot of the story, but I despised every moment she was on the page. She was the epitome of sliminess.

My main complaint with Cinder (other than the utter repulsiveness of Levana) was that the story ended in a messy spot. I know that with series, authors tend to cut off at pivotal points. However, in general (and I know there are many, many exceptions to this rule) there is some sense of closure -- or at least, I appreciate when there is. Cinder leaves us hanging in the middle of everything, with nothing resolved. The ending wasn't such that I was throwing the book across the room like some certain trilogies, or that I was so desperate for more that I could have cried at the wait. I was more just confused, thinking, "That was it?" I know that more will happen as the series continued, but I did wish the ending was tied up a bit more nicely.

Overall, however, Cinder is a fun and refreshing take on an old fairy-tale, using a completely original tactic to tell the story. If you love unique fairytale retellings, you won't want to miss Cinder or the remaining books in the series.

3.5 stars

Warnings: Maybe a bit of violence? I am having difficulty remembering anything, so there must not be much to warn about.

Short Story Spotlight: "Snow, Glass, Apples" by Neil Gaiman

I'll tell you up front that "Snow, Glass, Apples" is the only thing by Neil Gaiman that I have ever read (shame on me). I actually read it a while ago and never posted anything about it. When the short story I read for this month's post left me completely cold, I found myself thinking of this creepy little story again, and decided it was more deserving of mention than the book I read.

"Snow, Glass, Apples" is a retelling of Snow White from the "evil" queen's point of view. For some reason, the princess holds a strange fixation for people, particularly for men, but her young stepmother sees beyond the princess's strange allure to a lurking darkness within.

I know that I will enjoy Gaiman's other works just from the beauty of the language he uses in "Snow, Glass, Apples." The words evoke images that are descriptive not in the sugary, sentimental way but with a sharp, diamond-cut cleanness. The story is not beautiful and romantic like a traditional fairy tale; it is disturbing but poignant, and the images do not fade quickly.

The creativity of the story is also powerful. I don't want to give away the crux of it, what Snow White really is, because figuring that out was part of the fun of reading the story, but I will say that I was amazed by how Neil Gaiman took the elements of the fairy tale and twisted them neatly so that they told a completely different story without being corrupted at all.

Don't read this story when you are alone at night -- it is very creepy. Also bear in mind that with that creepiness, there are some mature themes in the story. However, it is a brilliant and well-written retelling of Snow White, and one that is worth reading.

Super Series Saturday: Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale

I first started reading the Books of Bayern about five years ago, when one of my roommates lent The Goose Girl to me over Christmas break, telling me it was her favorite book. And while I lukewarmly enjoyed it, it definitely wasn't the right book for me at that time. However, since then, I have seen so much love for the Books of Bayern that I decided to give them a second try, and I am glad I did.

The Goose Girl
Anidori Isilee is being shipped off to Bayern to marry the prince -- a huge disappointment because she spent her life believing that she would be the queen of her own country, Kildenree, despite her shyness and her family's concern over her "eccentricities" -- an ability to communicate with animals. However, on the way to Bayern, her smooth-talking, cunning lady-in-waiting, Selia, pulls a surprise attack and leaves with Anidori's troop, planning on impersonating her and becoming queen herself. Anidori is left to find her own way to survive, and she does -- by seeking employment at the castle as a goose girl. Going by her middle name of Isilee (or Isi), she searches for a way to find love and get Selia out of her rightful place.

The Goose Girl is somewhat of a slow-moving book, but Shannon Hale's writing is beautiful and the images are powerful. I think I was possibly expecting more action when I read it the first time, but this time I was more able to appreciate the simplicity and beauty of Isi's story, as well as delving deeper into the layers of complexity that I rushed past on my first reading. Isi is a character of incredible grace and strength, as is further revealed in the story, and her love story is sweet, if slightly predictable. While The Goose Girl didn't become one of my favorite books during my second reading, I gained a much greater appreciation for it.

Enna Burning
Isi's best friend, Enna, is a forest girl. She works in the city to send money back home. However, one day Enna's brother brings home a strange fragment of paper and begins practicing strange skills. As his skill increases, he threatens Enna, but for some reason she can't keep herself away from the parchment and begins learning how to create fire herself. As Bayern moves into a war with Tira, Enna must decide if using her fire power is worth the danger it presents.

Enna Burning had much more action than The Goose Girl, which is fitting, because Enna as a character is much more fiery and volatile. With the dangers of the war pressing on Enna, she is forced to make difficult decisions, not only about her outward actions but about the way that her newly acquired powers will affect her own life. She is also presented with difficult choices to make about love -- there is Finn, one of Isi's first friends, who always seems to throw her off balance, but she also meets another mysterious stranger that seems to fit perfectly into her life. Enna Burning also presents an interesting dilemma, because in The Goose Girl we only see the positive aspects of the elemental speaking powers that Isi possesses; in Enna Burning we learn that there are negative aspects as well. Enna Burning is a powerful sequel to The Goose Girl and was actually much more enjoyable for me.

River Secrets
While the war with Tira has ended, the tensions certainly haven't, and the atmosphere is tense as select members of Bayern's own (as well as Enna) are sent into the heart of Tira for diplomatic discussions. Razo, one of Isi and Enna's friends from working at the castle, is uncertain why he was chosen -- despite his unwavering loyalty, he is known as the worst swordsman in Bayern's own and is very short, which leads him to be frequently mocked. However, as he spends time in Tira, Razo is one of the only people to notice that burned bodies are appearing in unlikely places. He also finds himself entangled with Dasha, a beautiful girl with hair a color he has never seen before that he is not sure if he can trust.

River Secrets was my least favorite of The Books of Bayern. While I understood Shannon Hale's reasoning in telling the story from Razo's point of view rather than Dasha's (because all the narrators have been connected in all of the books, and Dasha would have entered in as a stranger), it didn't feel as natural being in Razo's head for me. He felt somewhat stilted and immature. The immaturity factor may be because he is a boy and younger than Enna and Isi, but it didn't quite work for me. I also felt disappointed that I didn't know Dasha as well as the other girls with elemental powers. I know part of the intrigue of the story is finding out exactly what Dasha is up to and the mystery she presents, but I would have preferred to have more time inside of her head. River Secrets isn't a bad book, but it did less for me than the other Books of Bayern.

Forest Born
The last Book of Bayern is about Rin, Razo's little sister. Rin has lived her entire life in the Forest, and she works incessantly at being good, the type of daughter that her mother would be proud of. She stifles her instincts to do wrong and keeps quiet. However, during one of Razo's infrequent visits from the city, Rin feels suffocated and decides to leave and find work at the castle for a change of scenery. Working as a lady's maid for Isi, Rin finds herself entangled in what appears to be a negative situation among some of Isi's maids and enthralled by the women she calls "the fire sisters" -- Isi, Enna, and Dasha. However, when a bizarre circumstance throws Rin on an unexpected journey with the fire sisters, she realizes that stifling herself may not be the best way to be a good person.

This was my favorite of all the Books of Bayern. I felt that I could relate to Rin so well in many ways. This girl doubted every single word that she said. She felt the need to be perfect, and punished herself endlessly for all of her mistakes. She felt completely bound by her circumstances, and even leaving her home in the Forest wasn't enough to set her free. I think more than any of the other characters, Rin had to go through a very deep and intrapersonal growth experience. While she admires and spends time with the fire sisters, she never completely interacts with them; most of her journey is internal. All of the other books have love stories, but Rin's story is more about learning to love herself. However, while that may sound as if the book was less exciting than others, that wasn't the case. Rin's growth is moving, powerful, and relatable, and framing that growth is a series of exciting and unexpected events. While Rin was more quiet and introspective than other characters, she was still swept up in a huge adventure.

Overall, these books are sweet and enjoyable. At times they move slowly, but the writing is beautiful and the characters are lovable. I really wish I had read these books when I was younger because the fairy tale setting would have absolutely entranced me ten or twelve years ago (it was still entrancing, but not in that magical way of when you are younger). If you are looking for a sweet, gentle, and lovely group of stories, The Books of Bayern will not disappoint.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Like I said earlier - month of the YA. I read an uncharacteristic amount of YA novels in January, probably the result of me following a lot of YA bloggers on Twitter. While I'm in no way opposed to reading YA, it isn't my usual choice. However, it's been a fun trip backwards on memory lane.

I read Princess of Glass after stumbling across a review for it. I've always had quite a weakness for fairy tales - Gail Carson Levine was one of my favorite authors when I was younger - and I thought it would be fun to read another fairy tale spinoff of Cinderella. I ended up using this book as my January "Just For Fun" read.

Princess of Glass takes place in a slightly altered Europe, in which many of the kingdoms, concerned about war breaking out and hoping to make new alliances, send their young heirs and heiresses on a royal exchange program, hoping their princes and princesses will come back having formed advantageous attachments. Princess Poppy is one such princess, sent from her kingdom of Westfalin to Breton. She soon becomes good friends with Prince Christian of the Danelaw. However, an unfamiliar young lady begins arriving at balls, copying other girls dresses and capturing the attention of Prince Christian.

Princess of Glass is a spin-off of Cinderella, but it is told from a very different angle. Cinderella is not the prince's first choice, and the fairy godmother is a nasty, vengeful old woman who pours blistering molten glass on young ladies' feet. I appreciated the originality in the plot - I think really that is the greatest challenge of a fairy tale spin-off. How can the author keep to the outlines of the beloved story, while managing to create something novel enough to hold the interest of their readers? Jessica Day George has done a good job of maintaining that balance.

However, the characters left me wanting a bit more. Poppy, the main character, was interesting and quirky. She preferred gambling at the balls to dancing, and when the mysterious Cinderella character begins to weasel her way into the prince's affections, Poppy wants to protect her, not fling a handbag at her. However, the rest of the characters seemed a bit flat. Prince Christian doesn't have much personality. He is handsome and nice, but I can't really think of anything else to describe him. He also seemed pretty weak in the story. Granted, he was under a magical enchantment. However, while I appreciated that Poppy was a take-charge girl, I still would have liked a hero that acted like a hero. It was hard for me to understand why Poppy was attracted to him.

I should also mention that this book is a sequel. The first book, Princess of the Midnight Ball, (which I have not read) is a retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which I am not actually very familiar with. While I understood Princess of Glass without reading the first book, the events of Princess of the Midnight Ball were referred to frequently, and I think I would probably have enjoyed this book more if I had read the first one. I will probably read it at some point.

Overall, this book was a fun but light read. I was left wanting a bit more from the story and the characters, and I did roll my eyes a few times at some corny scenes. However, I thought the reimagining of Cinderella was clever and this book will be enjoyable for younger girls.

Readability - Easy read.
Aesthetics/literary merit - 3
Plot - 4
Characters - 2
Personal Response - 3.5
Overall: 3