Audio Book Review: The Secret Sky by Atia Abawi

Posted in Audiobooks, Books, diverse books by wingedcreature

Book: The Secret Sky by Atia Abawi, narrated by Ariana Delawari & Assaf Cohen

Published September 2014 by Listening Library|7 hours, 39 minutes

Where I Got It: I got the audio book from audible.com

Series: None

Genre: YA Contemporary

A novel of love during a time of war by NBC’s Afghanistan correspondant.

Set in present-day Afghanistan, this is the story of two teenagers, one Pashtun and one Hazara, who must fight against their culture, their tradition, their families, and the Taliban to stay together. Told in three rotating perspectives—the two teens and another boy in the village who turns them in to the local Taliban—this novel depicts both the violent realities of living in Afghanistan, as well as the beauty of the land and the cultures there. And it shows that love can bloom in even the darkest of places.

This is an absolute must read not just for teens but for anyone who has lived during the time of America’s War in Afghanistan.

“[The Secret Sky is] a tale of the indomitable Afghan spirit of hope and love. Among the many novels set in Afghanistan for young people or for adults, The Secret Sky stands alone. Unputdownable. Unforgettable.” –Trent Reedy, author of Words in the Dust.

I am so glad I finally listened to The Secret Sky! It was hard to listen to in certain parts, but it was so worth reading, as uncomfortable as it made me at times.

We get 3 different perspectives- Sami and Fatimah, who are the couple, and Sami’s cousin Rashid. If you’re expecting something more swoon-y and romance-ish, this is not that book. This book is the fall-out of a complicated romance. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to not be able to even talk to a childhood friend, especially one who is a different ethnic group. Even though the book is set in Afghanistan, that was something that is still very familiar.

The one thing that really struck me was how little I actually know about other countries and what life is like there. It’s hard for me to picture a world where two people who care about each other can’t be together, even though I know it’s a thing that happens. This is a village where a boy and a girl talking leads to them being accused of being sinners, and this is what we see in The Secret Sky. This book gives a voice to the people who live this reality, and it really opened my eyes to what it’s like elsewhere in the world.

Rashid was easily the most interesting character in the book. He is angry and jealous and full of hate and hell-bent on punishing Sami, and he’s very caught up in a group who are doing things in the name of God…but really aren’t. As much as I wanted to hate him for the things that happened as a result of his actions, I also believe he did realize that as much as he wanted to punish Fatimah and Sami for their actions, he never wanted it to happen the way it did. I think Rashid’s arc shows (very well) how it’s not limited to one particular religious group or part of the world.

Fatimah’s story was also very compelling, and my heart broke for her. It really did. Sami’s was the least compelling of the three, and even though he is essential in the telling of this story, his, for some reason, was the one I cared the least about.

There are a couple of scenes in particular that were really hard to listen to. I can’t imagine reading it, but listening to it? It really immersed you in what was going on, and those couple of scenes were really heart-breaking. As horrible as some characters were, there were also some really good characters. Like the Mullah who helped Sami and Fatimah. And I was surprised (but also glad) that initially, Fatimah’s dad didn’t want her to be married off to just anyone because they might not treat her well, even though that’s what her mom really wanted for her.

This is a book that is going to stay with me for a long time- it really got me to live in their world for a while, and it’s one of violence and hostility but also one of hope that things will get better. So while the book doesn’t have a true happy ending, it is one that leaves us with hope that things will get better for Sami and Fatimah.

I really liked the narration, especially Delawari’s narration. Something about her narration in particular reminded me of Jessica Lawshe’s narration of A World Away, and while The Wrath And The Dawn was already a book I wanted to read, I specifically want to listen to the audio book because I like Delawari so much as a narrator. Cohen’s narration was fine, and you can distinguish between Rashid’s sections and Sami’s sections, but I don’t know if I like one male narrator narrating two male characters- even though both Rashid and Sami have distinct voices (particularly Rashid), it was hard to see them as different people when one person is narrating two different people.

5 stars. The Secret Sky is such a good look at a world that is very different from the world we know. The audio made me feel like I was immersed in a world that was hard to hear about at times, but I recommend it so very much.

22Sep2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books On My Fall TBR

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by wingedcreature

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely folks over at The Broke And The Bookish. Every week, bloggers share their own bookish top ten lists based on the topic of the week. You can check out Ten Tuesdays here.

Audio Book Review: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Posted in Audiobooks, Books by wingedcreature

Book: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, narrated by Kirsten Potter

Published September 2014 by Random House Audio|10 hours, 30 minutes

Where I Got It: I borrowed the audio book from the library

Series: None

Genre: Adult Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalytpic

An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse, Station Eleven tells the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

One snowy night Arthur Leander, a famous actor, has a heart attack onstage during a production of King Lear. Jeevan Chaudhary, a paparazzo-turned-EMT, is in the audience and leaps to his aid. A child actress named Kirsten Raymonde watches in horror as Jeevan performs CPR, pumping Arthur’s chest as the curtain drops, but Arthur is dead. That same night, as Jeevan walks home from the theater, a terrible flu begins to spread. Hospitals are flooded and Jeevan and his brother barricade themselves inside an apartment, watching out the window as cars clog the highways, gunshots ring out, and life disintegrates around them.

Fifteen years later, Kirsten is an actress with the Traveling Symphony. Together, this small troupe moves between the settlements of an altered world, performing Shakespeare and music for scattered communities of survivors. Written on their caravan, and tattooed on Kirsten’s arm is a line from Star Trek: “Because survival is insufficient.” But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who digs graves for anyone who dares to leave.

Spanning decades, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, this suspenseful, elegiac novel is rife with beauty. As Arthur falls in and out of love, as Jeevan watches the newscasters say their final good-byes, and as Kirsten finds herself caught in the crosshairs of the prophet, we see the strange twists of fate that connect them all. A novel of art, memory, and ambition, Station Eleven tells a story about the relationships that sustain us, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the beauty of the world as we know it.

Station Eleven is one of those books that I feel is sort of a buzz-y kind of book, and for some reason, it was a book that I didn’t pick up until recently. I am not completely sure how I feel about it, though.

I thought the non-linear timeline was really interesting, especially since we see Jeevan, Kirsten, Clark, Miranda and Arthur throughout the book. We’d get one person for a while, and then we’d get someone else for a while, and it’s the death of Arthur and the impact he had on people against the backdrop of a flu pandemic that results in a lot of death. Which is an interesting idea, but I am definitely not enchanted with it the way other people are.

I listened to the audio book, and while it worked fine for an audio book, there was something about it (that FOR ME), didn’t quite translate to audio. Kirsten Potter was fine as a narrator- I couldn’t figure out why she sounded so familiar…until I realized that she narrated If I Stay by Gayle Forman. I liked her narration for that book, and I wish some of the emotion in her narration for that book were in her narration for this book.

I also spent some wondering what happened to certain characters, particularly Jeevan, who we saw at the beginning, and didn’t see for quite some time.

Everything is very much connected, and I am somewhat amazed at how connected so many of the characters were. But I was kind of expecting something more interesting. I was interested enough to keep listening to the end, and I’m a little intrigued by the idea that art and culture is important in the worst of times, but for some reason, it felt a little overwhelming at times. And I was surprised she didn’t draw more connections to Shakespeare. Unless it was there and I missed it, because I remember nothing from the little Shakespeare I did read in high school.

And I did find myself, particularly with the last couple of discs, wondering how she was going to tie everything up. It was an okay ending, and I liked that there was a little bit of hope that the world was starting to re-build. But…I don’t know. Something about the ending was also a little too unresolved for my liking, and I’m usually okay with unresolved endings.

I would like to see a Station Eleven comic book/graphic novel, though. I want this to be a thing, because that is something I’d want to read.

2 stars. I get why people like it, and there were things I liked about it, but I felt a little too disconnected from the book.

20Sep2015

Book Review Round-Up: Vampire Knight And MeruPuri

Posted in Book Review Round-Up, Books by wingedcreature

Book Review Round-Up is a random feature where I do short reviews for 2 or 3 books in one post. This is one is another manga round-up. Enjoy!

Manga #1: Vampire Knight, Volume 1 by Matsuri Hino

Published January 2007 by Viz Media|192 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed it from the library

Series: Vampire Knight, Volume 1

What It’s About: Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy’s secret. Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy’s dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

What I Thought: I really liked Vampire Knight! I randomly picked it up at the library, because the title caught my eye, and it seemed really intriguing. It was definitely a good choice on my part, because I really liked the idea of a day class and a night class really interesting. And two students who attend the day school but also know about the Night Class and are doing everything in their power to keep the secrets of the Night Class. Zero reminded me of Kyo from Fruits Basket. I have no idea why I am suddenly reminded of Fruits Basket characters in some of the manga I’ve been reading, but I am.

It was a little darker than I expected, with vampire-hunters and revelations- mostly the one surrounding Zero, which I want to know more about. Certain things were repetitive, like Zero being from a vampire-hunter family and the only survivor of an attack on his family, and Yuki being saved from Kaname. They seem to have an interesting relationship, as do Yuki and Zero.

It also felt like a prequel of sorts, because we were introduced to the school and characters. I know that’s what first books do, and even though it’s volume 1, something about it felt more like a prequel than a first volume. It was still enjoyable, and I can’t wait to get into the story a little more. I really liked the shading and detail for the artwork. It’s something I’m also impressed with, mostly because I can’t draw if my life depended on it. But the detail, especially in black and white is really impressive.

My Rating: 4 stars. I really liked the story, but certain things were pretty repetitive, and that got to be frustrating. But overall, I would definitely recommend it.

Manga #2: MeruPuri, Volume 1 by Matsuri Hino

Published July 2005 by Viz Media|192 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed it from the library

Series: MeruPuri, Volume 1

What It’s About: On the way to school one morning, Airi loses her mirror – one that had been passed down to her through generations – and suddenly finds herself in a bizarre situation. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect Aram, a little boy from a magical kingdom, to have emerged from the mirror in the short time it took her to track it down!

What I Thought: So, when I checked out MeruPuri, I didn’t realize that it was the same person who did Vampire Night! There are things I liked about MeruPuri, but I didn’t like it nearly as much as Vampire Knight. I thought the curse on Aram was interesting- it makes me wonder about his relationship with his brother. Even though it is explained later on in the manga, I still can’t help but wonder about it. And the magical mirror that leads to the world Aram is from! I liked that part of it, but I couldn’t tell you much of anything about the characters. Although I could tell you a little more about Aram and his brother than I could tell you about Airi. She’s a little bit forgettable, considering it’s her mirror.

The artwork is pretty awesome, which isn’t surprising, considering how much I liked it in Vampire Knight. I just didn’t find the story as interesting or compelling as Vampire Knight, but I may pick up the other volumes sometime in the future.

My Rating: 2 stars. There were some things I liked about MeruPuri (like the artwork, and a couple of the elements of the story) but it didn’t capture my attention the way I thought it would.

18Sep2015

Book Review: Ink And Bone by Rachel Caine

Posted in Books by wingedcreature

Book: Ink And Bone by Rachel Caine

Published July 2015 by NAL|298 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: The Great Library #1

Genre: YA Dystopia/Alternate History/Steampunk

In an exhilarating new series, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time…

Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses. Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.

Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s service.

When he inadvertently commits heresy by creating a device that could change the world, Jess discovers that those who control the Great Library believe that knowledge is more valuable than any human life—and soon both heretics and books will burn…

When I heard Rachel Caine had a book coming out, I knew I had to read it! She is definitely an author I have on auto-buy, so I knew I’d be reading it, and it didn’t even matter what it was about, because I think she writes some really cool stories. Ink And Bone was no exception!

I really liked the idea of the Great Library Of Alexandria still being around, and having daughter libraries all over the world. The Library is also extremely powerful, and as far as their power goes, I was very much reminded of the Catholic Church.

There’s something about Ink And Bone that’s both steampunk and sort of futuristic at the same time. But it really works, especially with some of the technology in the book. Particularly with how they get copies of the books to the daughter libraries.

I can’t imagine a world where the flow of information is very restricted, to the point that owning books are illegal. There’s a black market, of course, and even groups of Book Burners. It’s amazing the lengths people will go to in order to have books, and it really makes me glad I don’t live in that world.

Can you imagine a world where there is no Gutenberg Press, because it’s deemed too dangerous? I can’t, and it’s sort of scary to think about. I was struck by how much the Library didn’t like progress…and it did make me think of the e-reader/print debate going on today. It’s really the closest parallel I can think of.

The characters, particularly the secondary characters, didn’t particularly stand out to me, and it took me most of the book to figure out who was who. At least where his classmates are concerned. I think they have a lot of potential, but I also felt slightly distanced from them, so maybe that’s it.

I think, of all the characters, Wolf and Santi were the most interesting. There’s a lot more to them, especially Wolf, than we see in the book. Wolf is particularly interesting, because of why he was teaching, and him wanting to protect his students. I want to know more about him!

I have such a vivid picture of the library, and the different jobs there, and Caine created such an intricate world. There are quite a few mysteries in this book, and I want to know more about this world. I also really liked the letters and such we got before each chapter. It really added to the world and I hope it continues in the next book.

I also can’t wait to check out the playlist at the end of the book. It’s one of my favorite things about her books, and I’ve always found some really cool music because of it, so I’m sure this one will be just as good as the other ones.

4 stars. I really enjoyed it, and even though it wasn’t quite 5 stars, it came really close. It’s a great book about books.

17Sep2015

Audio Book Review: Joyride by Anna Banks

Posted in Audiobooks, Books, diverse books by wingedcreature

Book: Joyride by Anna Banks, narrated by Kyla Garcia and Andrew Eiden

Published June 2015 by Blackstone Audio|8 hours, 41 minutes

Where I Got It: I got the audio book via audible.com

Series: None

Genre: YA Contemporary

A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber’s mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

Joyride was so heartbreaking for me- and yet there were times when a particular character made me so angry! It’s definitely worth reading.

I really felt for Carly, and she and her brother worked so hard to bring their parents back to the U.S. so they could be a family. I can’t begin to image what it’s like to have your parents deported, or what it’s like to have to work two jobs while still in high school to save enough money to even try to bring them back. Her story is very different from Arden’s, and I have to say, I spent quite a bit of the book wanting to get back to Carly’s chapters. I liked her so much more than Arden, who, for a lot of the book, came across as entitled, spoiled and unaware of the struggles other people have to go through.

I get why Arden’s story is so important in telling Carly’s, and Carly’s definitely changed Arden. Knowing her, and her story, did make him more aware of the world around him. There is a moment that really changed Arden, and while I wish it didn’t take that to make him realize things, I can sort of understand where he’s coming from. He’s very privileged, and doesn’t realize his privilege (also, he’s a teenage boy, so I’d be surprised if it was something he thought about or realized) until that one moment.

I did feel for Arden, having to grow up with the dad he did, but in comparison to what Carly was dealing with, his problems seemed to pale in comparison.

I loved that Carly wanted to do so well in school so she could have a bright future, and I don’t blame her for wanting to have a life. I totally understand why she would tell her brother that it’s not her responsibility to help bring her parents over, and also why she’d feel guilty for feeling that way. And that she’d help them become legal citizens once they got to the U.S.

I love how family is so important to her, even with how frustrating family can be sometimes.

I have to say, the sheriff is despicable. Utterly despicable. Never have I hated a character more than I hated him. Blackmailing Carly into doing what he wanted in exchange for not deporting her parents, and the way he talked to her…I really wanted to yell at him. I’m actually sort of amazed at how awesome Arden is, especially when he sticks up for Carly, and pretty much does whatever his wants in order to protect Carly and ensure that she’s reunited with her parents. The dad definitely got what he deserved- and he deserves so much worse than what he got. Anyway, I am glad that Arden is awesome…although, I do wonder if his dad did rub off on him in some way. There is a point where he meets Julio (Carly’s brother) and assumes he doesn’t speak English, and I really can’t help but wonder if maybe he does have assumptions he doesn’t realize he has. But he also really cares for Carly, and he is taking Spanish classes, so he really is trying, and that definitely gives him a lot of brownie points.

It really is a great look at poverty, racism and immigration, and it’s so relevant to some of the issues/thing that seem to be coming up/happening recently. It’s handled so well, and yet, it’s sad that I can see something like this happening.

I do wish we got more closure with what happened to her parents, and I wish we knew if they made their way to the U.S.

While I liked both Kyla Garcia and Andrew Garcia as narrators (I could totally picture them as Carly and Arden), I especially loved Kyla Garcia’s narration. She was Carly to me, and I liked her so much I even added one or two other books she’s narrated to my wishlist.

4 stars. I do wish we got more closure with what happened to her parents, but at the same time, I’m okay with how the book ended. And it’s such a great book that I’m willing to overlook it.

15Sep2015

Top Ten Tuesday Freebie: Top Ten Harry Potter Things I Want To Crochet

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by wingedcreature

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Harry Potter Things I Want To Crochet

This week, we get to pick our own topic, so I thought I would about two of my favorite things: crochet and Harry Potter. What better way to talk about them than to talk about Harry Potter crochet things? All of the links go to where you can find the pattern, if you’re interested in making it yourself.

The Luna Lovegood Scarf. Okay, so maybe I made this scarf already, but I want to make another one! It’s the one on the left, in the collage above. I really want to do it in different colors. Maybe I could do it in house colors? That could look pretty cool.
The Sorting Hat. It looks totally awesome, and I want it now.
Harry Potter House Scarves. I have one a friend made for me (in Hufflepuff colors), and I have a cowl in Hufflepuff colors that I made a while back (the one on the right, pictured above), but I have yet to make any. I will have to make the full set one of these days.
Crochet Fluffy. Who wouldn’t want a crochet Fluffy?
Crochet Mandrakes. It would be so cool to have a crochet mandrake.
Luna’s Radish Earrings. I’d have to do clip-ons, since I don’t have pierced ears, but this would be awesome.
A Snowy Owl. I want to have Hedwig. And since real owls are out of the question, a crochet one will have to do.
Dobby. Dobby is the most awesome house elf ever.
The Ron Weasley Animal Crackers Hat. I totally remember the hat from the movie, and it wasn’t until I came across the pattern that I knew how much I wanted one!
There’s even a crochet time turner! I would wear this so much if I actually had it. I’d better start crocheting!

14Sep2015

Book Review: Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler

Posted in Books by wingedcreature

Book: Afterparty by Ann Redisch Stampler

Published January 2014 by Simon Pulse|297 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the e-book from the library

Series: None

Genre: YA Contemporary

Emma is tired of being good. Always the dutiful daughter to an overprotective father, she is the antithesis of her mother — whose name her dad won’t even say out loud. That’s why meeting Siobhan is the best thing that ever happened to her…and the most dangerous. Because Siobhan is fun and alluring and experienced and lives on the edge. In other words, she’s everything Emma is not.

And it may be more than Emma can handle.

Because as intoxicating as her secret life may be, when Emma begins to make her own decisions, Siobhan starts to unravel. It’s more than just Dylan, the boy who comes between them. Their high-stakes pacts are spinning out of control. Elaborate lies become second nature. Loyalties and boundaries are blurred. And it all comes to a head at the infamous Afterparty, where debauchery rages and an intense, inescapable confrontation ends in a plummet from the rooftop…

This explosive, sexy, and harrowing follow-up to Ann Redisch Stampler’s spectacular teen debut, Where It Began, reveals how those who know us best can hurt us most.

I really wanted to like Afterparty, but instead, I found it was weird and frustrating.

One of my issues with it is that we’re told how her dad is over-protective. We don’t really see it much, and it was a little hard to believe that he was as over-protective as she made him out to be. He’s the parent, so he can be as protective as he wants, but unfortunately, their relationship isn’t really shown very well, and I wish it were shown better. Still, I feel for him, with his wife, who died from overdosing, and how Emma acted.

It is pretty predictable- good girl meets bad girl, does really stupid things in order to make said best friend happy, until there’s that one thing where the good girl realizes she can’t be friends with her friend anymore. It was pretty tired, and there wasn’t a twist to make it interesting. It was so frustrating to see her make stupid decisions, and how she couldn’t see how messed up Siobhan was. And how, no matter what happened with Siobhan, she kept going back to her. I get why Emma would find Siobhan so appealing, and why she acted the way she did, especially if her dad is as bad as she says, but it was still frustrating.

I also felt like Emma’s relationship with Dylan was really shallow, as was his backstory. I didn’t get the whole thing with his family preferring his brother, and I’m not sure if maybe I missed something (which I doubt), or if it just wasn’t explained well. I think Dylan, like the other characters (except for maybe the dad) needed a lot more development.

1 star. I couldn’t get into it, and it was frustrating and underdeveloped.

13Sep2015

Book Review Roundup: Kitchen Princess, Pita Ten and Skip Beat

Posted in Book Review Round-Up, Books by wingedcreature

Book Review Round-Up is something I do very sporadically, when I want to review several books in one post. I’m on a manga kick right now, and thought it would be easier (and fun!) to review several of them in one post since they go super-fast!

Manga #1: Kitchen Princess, Volume 1 by Natsumi Ando (illustrator) and Miyuki Kobayashi (story)

Published January 2007 by Del Rey|187 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed it from the library

Series: Kitchen Princess, Volume 1

What It’s About: Najika is a great cook and likes to make meals for the people she loves. But something is missing from her life. When she was a child, she met a boy who touched her heart–and now Najika is determined to find him. The only clue she has is a silver spoon that leads her to the prestigious Seika Academy.

Attending Seika will be a challenge. Every kid at the school has a special talent, and the girls in Najika’s class think she doesn’t deserve to be there. But Sora and Daichi, two popular brothers who barely speak to each other, recognize Najika’s cooking for what it is–magical. Is either boy Najika’s mysterious prince?

What I Thought: Kitchen Princess is such a cute story! I love Najika, and her love of cooking and making food that people enjoy! I loved seeing her go to Seika Academy, where she feels like she doesn’t belong- and she certainly doesn’t see her cooking as magical or as a special skill. Both are things I think we can all relate to at some point in our lives.

I’m really intrigued by Sora and Daichi, and who gave Najika the silver spoon! I know it’s one of them, and I can’t wait to learn who it was. And who Najika will end up with, because I’m pretty sure she’ll end up with one of them at some point in the series.

I also loved the recipes at the end, and it really makes me want to cook! Actually, there is something about Najika that reminds of Tohru from Fruits Basket- I think it’s in how they both want to make sure others are okay, and how positive they are. I really liked the illustrations, and I’m amazed at how the drawings told a story, even when there were no words to describe what was going on.

My Rating: 4 stars. I really liked it, and I’ll definitely keep reading!

Manga #2: Pita Ten, Volume 1 by Koge-Donbo

Published January 2004 by TokyoPop|200 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed it from the library

Series: Pita Ten, Volume 1

What It’s About: How to Acquaint Oneself with an Angel: With middle school entrance exams coming up, Kotarou was hoping to crack down on his study habits. But when a zany girl unexpectedly moves in next door to him, those plans go straight down the drain. When Misha boldly asks Kotarou to go out with her the moment they meet. Stunned at the sight of the girl, Kotarou turns and darts away like a kid scared of cooties. Now Misha has started popping up everywhere Kotarou goes, from school, to review class, and even hanging out outside his front door! What’s with Misha’s bizarre stalker mentality? Simple, she just wants to protect Kotarou and make sure he’s happy…by becoming his new momma! Sure, that might sound well intentioned, but Misha really has no clue what she’s getting herself into. Not only can’t she cook, but she’s also lives like a complete slob! And what’s all this talk about Misha being an angel?

What I Thought: Pita Ten is cute! I’ve wanted to read it for a while, and I finally got around to reading it! I liked it, and Misha is definitely…interesting. She is pretty over-the-top, and while I liked Pita Ten, I think a big part of why I didn’t like it as much as I thought is because of Misha. I did like that she wanted to protect Kotarou, and maybe she’ll calm down in the other volumes. It seemed a little younger than I expected it to be, and I’m not sure why- maybe because of how Misha talked? It did get irritating as the book went on, and it was a little too cutesy for my liking. I love cutesy, but apparently, it has limits.

If it does get toned down later on in the series, I think I could really like Misha a lot more than I did.

Like Kitchen Princess, I really liked the artwork and how you knew what was going on, even when there were no words to describe what was going on. I definitely want to read at least one or two more volumes, if not the entire series.

My Rating: 3 stars. Misha and the baby talk got to me overall, it is pretty cute, with awesome artwork.

Manga #3: Skip Beat, Volume 1 by Yoshiki Nakamura

Published July 2006 by Viz Media|184 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed it from the library

Series: Skip Beat, Volume 1

What It’s About: Kyoko always thought that Sho, whose family took her in when she was small, was her prince charming. However, when Sho heads for Tokyo to make it big as a musician, Kyoko goes with him and has to quit high school to support his dream. But soon, being in the big city makes Kyoko realize that she has show business ambitions of her own!

What I Thought: Skip Beat was a lot of fun! Something about Kyoko reminded me of both Shigure and Kagura from Fruits Basket, but I think that made her a lot of fun and really interesting as a character. I don’t blame her for wanting to getting revenge and having a grudge. I probably would too if I were her. I really liked the artwork, too, and she has an awesome attention to detail. I also loved the sidebars throughout the book about how Skip Beat came to be. There’s just something really fun about it.

Plus, Kyoko is pretty determined to get what she wants, and I really like that about her! She certainly is persistent. Also, Sho is not a cool guy. Not cool at all. It kind of makes me hope/wish that Kyoko gets her revenge and doesn’t give up on her show business ambitions. Still, he is a little bit more interesting than Ren, who, other than his name and the fact that he is Sho’s rival, I remember nothing about.

I’m really glad I read it, because I’ve seen on the library shelves for a while and never picked up. I definitely need to pick up volume 2 soon!

My Rating: 4 stars. I really liked it, and I can’t wait to read volume 2!

11Sep2015

Book Review: Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Posted in Audiobooks, Books by wingedcreature

Book: Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, narrated by Kevin Collins & Khristine Hvam

Published May 2015 by Hachette Audio|8 hours, 27 minutes

Where I Got It: I got the audio book from audible.com

Series: Dangerous Creatures #2

Genre: YA Paranormal

From the world of Beautiful Creatures–a dangerous new tale of love and magic continues in the sequel to Dangerous Creatures.

Love is ten kinds a crazy, right?
Let me put it to you this way: If you can get away, run. Don’t walk.
Because once you’re exposed, you’ll never get a Siren outta your head.

Some loves are cursed. Others are…dangerous. Especially the love between wannabe rocker and quarter Incubus, Wesley “Link” Lincoln, and Dark Caster, Siren, and bonafide bad girl, Ridley Duchannes.

But now Ridley is missing, and Link was with her-right up until she vanished. Determined to find her, Link reunites with his New York bandmates and the mysterious Lennox Gates, who wants Rid for himself. Together they travel to the deep south, find the crossroads where blues guitarist Robert Johnson made his deal with the devil, discover a menagerie of Casters locked in cages, and uncover an evil in New Orleans that threatens to destroy them all.

This time, love might not be enough.

I really liked Dangerous Creatures! It really makes me want to know what happens next.

Dangerous Deception picks up right where Dangerous Creatures left off, with the car accident, and Ridley missing, and everyone else trying to find her. I liked that we had Ridley, Link and Lennox narrate the book, because we saw what was going with Link and Lennox trying to find Ridley, and what was going on with Ridley.

We didn’t need a recap, because you did get little bits and pieces of what happened in the previous book. I was really surprised by the appearances of Amma, John and Liv, and it was really nice to see them. No Ethan or Lena, but I’m oddly okay with that. John and Liv’s appearance actually makes a lot of sense, given John’s past, how smart Liv is, and what’s currently going on. There was still part of me that wished I had listened to Dangerous Creatures and Dream Dark (the prequel novella) just for a quick refresher (and maybe even Beautiful Creatures), but I don’t think it’s super-necessary.

Things in the caster world are a lot more interesting than I ever expected. We are getting further and further in this Caster world, and we are most certainly seeing the dark side of this world. I love that we’re seeing parts of the Caster world we never saw in Beautiful Creatures (BC)…which brings me to something that came up in Dangerous Deception. It came up that when Lena broke the order of things in BC, she really broke things. It gave you an idea of how much things were broken in BC, and what happened elsewhere. I’m still really curious about what things were like, but at least we get a glimpse of what had happened.

And everything with Silas and the experiments! I can’t even wrap my mind around that, and yet I want to know more.

Of course, we can’t forget about the ending. I was not expecting that ending! It’s interesting, because there was something about this book that seemed really…resolved. I’m trying to figure out if there’s even going to be a third book, because I can’t find any info on a third book- I don’t know if it’s because that information’s not available yet or if it’s because there isn’t going to be a third book. There is something about it where I’d be fine if it ended with this one, and yet there’s also enough there for another couple of books.

Ridley! I felt for her, and everything that happened to her broke my heart, especially the ending. As much as I wanted things to go differently, and for Ridley to make a different choice, I also understand why she made the choice she did.

I really liked Khristine Hvam and Kevin Collins! I really need to see what else they’ve narrated, because I really like them! As much as I like Kevin Collins, though, I’m also a little conflicted, because for me, he’s Ethan, and I’m still having a little trouble seeing him as Link or Lennox (but mostly Link). But at the same time, I can’t picture anyone else narrating a Beautiful Creatures/Dangerous Creatures book.

4 stars. I didn’t love it but Ridley broke my heart in this book, and I loved how we keep seeing all of these different sides to the Caster world.

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Manga #2: Pita Ten, Volume 1 by Koge-Donbo

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Book Review: Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

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Top Ten Books I Want To Read This Fall

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Manga #1: Vampire Knight, Volume 1 by Matsuri Hino

Manga #2: MeruPuri, Volume 1 by Matsuri Hino

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Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Harry Potter Things I Want To Crochet

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Manga #1: Kitchen Princess, Volume 1 by Natsumi Ando (illustrator) and Miyuki Kobayashi (story)

Manga #2: Pita Ten, Volume 1 by Koge-Donbo

Manga #3: Skip Beat, Volume 1 by Yoshiki Nakamura

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