Alexia Tarabotti is soulless, meaning she has the ability to drain someone of their paranormal abilities with just one touch. When she’s attacked at a party by a starving vampire, Alexia realizes that something is not quite in the supernatural community. In Soulless: The Manga Volume 1, the first book in the Parasol Protectorate series is adapted into manga format, showing Gail Carriger’s alternate Victorian London, a world filled with vampires, werewolves, steampunk technology, and silly hats, in an all new light.

Adapting an existing property into a comic format can be tricky. At best, the adaptation can give us a new view of an already beloved story. At worst, the result can come off like a poorly condensed novel with some inconsequential pictures thrown in here and there to cash in on the graphic novel trend. The manga version of Soulless, fortunately, falls into the first category. What makes it shine the most is the artwork, done by REM. Although a few of Alexia’s outfits are unrealistically revealing for the time period, REM otherwise does a great job of capturing the feel of the series. The character designs, although not always how I pictured them, are well done, and a nice amount of attention is spent on the detail of the backgrounds and outfits. REM also has a knack for capturing the facial expressions of the character, making it easier for the audience to understand how they feel.

Soulless: The Manga: Vol 1 is 224 pages long, where the novel is 373. You’d expect this to result in a lot of ridiculous cuts and changes to the story, but it’s actually an incredibly faithful adaptation. Some readers may be disappointed to see certain characters who are less central to the story be pushed aside, but I was okay with how much screen time everyone was given. I found, just after reading the fifth and final book of the Parasol Protectorate Series, that it was actually quite satisfying to see where characters like Alexia, Connall, Akeldama, Lyall, Ivy and Biffy began. One thing that bothered me a bit with the Soulless novel was how large a role the romance played. Although this hasn’t changed in the manga version, I found that I was actually okay with it this time around, perhaps because I was better prepared for the romantic focus.

The first volume of the Soulless Manga is one of the best graphic novel adaptations that I’ve come across in a while. I felt that the manga-style artwork was really lovely and fit the story well. I was also impressed at how faithful the story was to it’s source material. I am planning on continuing to read the Soulless Manga. The second volume is set to be published in November.

Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 224 pages
Source: Readfield Community Library
Other books I've read by this author: This is my first

Next I will be reviewing Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

xposted to temporaryworlds,bookish, and goodreads

At the age of seven, Molly is sent to be a scullery maid at Castle Dethemere. It’s here that she discovers that she has the ability to see visions, the most disturbing of which appear in a silver bowl. Here, Molly learns about a curse on the royal family she serves, but before she can do anything, the castle is attacked. Molly and her friend Tobias are able to escape with the young prince. Together they must find away to break the curse and keep the prince safe.

The Silver Bowl is one of this year’s nominees for the Maine Student Book Awards, and as a Maine librarian that works with kids, I like to keep up on these particular titles as they are often great sources for recommendations. Unfortunately, this will not be a book that I will be recommending to many children, The Silver Bowl may have its bright moments but there is ultimately too much holding it back.

Molly is a tough and capable heroine that’s easy to root for, and I really enjoyed how this book explored what the life of a servant in a castle might be like. The Silver Bowl is written in a brisk manner that makes it very easy to read, which is great for a book aimed at children. Unfortunately, I often felt that this quick pace often ends up being just as much as a hindrance than a help to my enjoyment. The book plunges ahead with such speed that important aspects, such as character development, can be left behind. The book doesn’t fully explain what motivates characters, so it often feels as if their actions only exist to move the plot forward. This results in a cast that can feel very shallow. This is the most obvious with the prince character. The book also features several large jumps forward in time, which ended up making the novel feel choppy. There were times when I felt that the dialog felt stilted and unnatural, and the climatic sequence at the end feels incredibly rushed as characters somehow find themselves transforming into warriors in order to defeat the enemy, despite the fact that they are otherwise not very experienced in combat.

I feel as if I’m being a little harsh with The Silver Bowl because there were a handful of moments when the book was really enjoyable, such as a touching scene between Molly and Tobias where Tobias speaks of his family. Unfortunately, due to the underdeveloped characters and at times rushed plot, the novel came off feeling almost half baked. If the author had just taken a little more time developing her story, the results would have been much more enjoyable. Granted, I am not in the target audience so perhaps a child won’t have the same issue I did. Still, I cannot recommend this books to others and will not be reading any of the other planned books in this series.

Rating: two and a half stars
Length: 320 pages
Source: Readfield Community Library
Other books I've read by this author: This is my first

Next I will be reviewing The Soulless Manga: Vol 1 by Gail Carriger

xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads

This review has spoilers for previous books in the Parasol Protectorate Series. There are no spoilers for Timeless. 

( Read more... )

Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 341 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, and Heartless

Next I will be reviewing The Silver Bowl by Diane Stanley

xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads

This review has spoilers for previous volumes in the Fables series, but no real spoilers for Homelands. 

( Read more... )

Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 192 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author:

Next I will be reviewing Timeless by Gail Carriger

xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads

Archduke Franz Ferdinand has been assassinated, putting Europe on a march towards war. On one side lie the Darwinists (including Great Britain), who have used their knowledge of genetic manipulation to create giant beasts ideally suited for war. On the other side sits the Clankers (such as Germany), who ride into battle on giant war machines that walk on two legs. In the middle of this are two teenagers, Prince Alek, who is still recovering from the death of his parents, and Deryn, a girl who disguises herself as a boy to join the British Air Service.

Leviathan is the fourth book that I have read by Scott Westerfeld, and the first book in the Leviathan trilogy. While none of his works have really blown me away, I have to admit that there are certain things that Westerfeld does very well. With the Uglies Series, I really enjoyed how the author was able to create a rather plausible, and therefore terrifying, dystopia based on our obsession with physical attractiveness and popularity. Leviathan has equally inspired worldbuilding. Using the beginning of World War I as a backdrop, Westerfeld crafts a fascinating, steampunk fueled alternate history. I enjoyed how just a handful of changes in history (for example, Darwin’s discovery of DNA) could lead to a very different past. It also resulted in a book with some really interesting visual elements, and some great action sequences.

Like many young adult books published these days, Leviathan alternates back and forth between two protagonists. I found I connected to Deryn quite well right away, as I’ve always enjoyed stories about girls who disguise themselves as boys in order to infiltrate areas that are otherwise barred from them. I found some of her attempts to hide her gender (such as the shaving scene) to be rather humorous. Alek on the other hand, didn’t grab me as much. At first, he just seemed to do a lot of running around. Fortunately, once the two characters meet, and the Darwinists and Clankers begin to interact, the book really picks up.

After hearing that actor Alan Cumming was narrating, I knew that I had to give the audiobook a try. I was quite happy with the results, as the Cumming does a really good job of creating a variety of accents. I can see why his performance has won awards. Although it took a little while for the book to grow on me, I’m glad that I ended up picking it up. Leviathan is an all around solid adventure story filled with tons of action and drama. For those (like me) who prefer their stories well contained, I must warn you that not much is resolved by the end of Leviathan, making it at times feel like more of a set up for later books in the trilogy. Still, I found it to be an overall satisfying novel and plan on picking up the second book, Behemoth, in the future.

Rating: four stars
Length: 448 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras

Next I will be reviewing Fables Vol 6: Homelands by Bill Willingham and Timeless by Gail Carriger

xposted totemporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads

This review has spoilers for previous volumes in The Agency series. There are no real spoilers for The Traitor in the Tunnel.

( Read more... )

Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 384 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: A Spy in the House, The Body in the Tower

Next I will be reviewing Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads

Whistle is a Deepsman (merman) living off the coast of an alternate Europe. His small stature makes the survival of the fittest lifestyle of the ocean a challenge, and his dual fins mark him as a stranger. When his mother abandons him on the beach, Whistle is taken in by an Englishman who calls him Henry and explains that he is actually half Landsman (human). Being half Deepsman is a dangerous position, as only the Kings and Queens of England are allowed to possess both Deepsman and Landsman blood. Anyone else is seen as a threat to the throne, and executed by fire.

In Great Waters is a fantasy book that transforms the history of Europe by adding in the presence of mermaids. While the book is not without it's faults, what ends up keeping it afloat is its strong characterization and unique portrayal of mermaids. While popular culture (such as Disney's The Little Mermaid) tends to portray mermaids as beautiful or graceful, In Great Waters treads a different path. In the ocean, they may be powerful predators, but since even half-human fins were not designed to hold them upright on land, they are at a distinct disadvantage, dependent on canes (or in a few scenes, crawling) to get around. Combined to the fact that generations of inbreeding among the monarchs have left some of them mentally handicapped as well, the result is a cast of characters that strays far from heroic fantasy archetypes. In response, Whitefield pushes readers further out of their comfort zones by not always making her two protagonists all that likable. Despite his time in the human world, Henry never really loses the animal-like edge he first cultivated while growing up in the sea, eschewing human practices such as reading and  basic courtesy. Princess Anne feels more human, but it does take time to warm up to her as well. I personally found both of the protagonists to be fascinating due to the fact that they were so unique, and was highly invested in their development as a result.

Although the fantasy parts in In Great Waters seemed to be executed quite well, I felt that the historical fiction elements didn't add all that much to the book. When this book was supposed to take place was never really properly defined (at least given my knowledge of English history, which admittedly does have some holes). At times, I felt as if the author could have taken out the names of places like “England” and “Venice,” replaced them with the names of fantasy countries, and not much would have changed. I was also skeptical of certain plot twists, such as how easily people in this world seem to be willing to give up on their established monarchs for complete strangers.

In Great Waters is a unique tale of historical fantasy. On top of enjoying the characters and the portrayal of mermaids, I liked how the story was so unpredictable. There were cases where the exact opposite of what I expected ended up happening. I did have some issues with the historical fiction elements and storyline, but I ultimately found it to be a good read. I will be reading more novels by Kit Whitefield in the future.

Rating: four stars
Length: 416 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: this is my first

Next I will be reviewing The Traitor in the Tunnel by YS Lee

xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads

Beatrice Prior lives in a future where everyone is defined by a single characteristic. Growing up in the faction Abnegation, Beatrice’s life so far has been defined by the concept of selflessness. At the age of sixteen she will be given a choice, remain in Abnegation or switch to one of the four other factions where she will end up living the rest of her life. Only Beatrice doesn’t really fit into any of the factions, a position, she is told, which can be incredibly dangerous. She eventually picks the faction Dauntless, and begins her initiation into this new existence, all while trying to understand what it truly means to be “Divergent.”

With the (still rising) popularity or The Hunger Games, it seems like there are new dystopian titles to read every month in the field of young adult fiction. Perhaps the one that has received the most attention lately is Veronica Roth’s Divergent, which is why I was the most nervous about picking it up. How could one title live up to so much hype? Now that I’ve read it, I can say that although the world building may not be as strong as other dystopian titles, when it comes to building tension and exciting, action packed sequences, you can’t do much better. Divergent reads like a cross between The Hunger Games, The Harry Potter Series, and Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies Trilogy. It’s easy to get pulled into Beatrice (who eventually adopts the name Tris) Prior’s world, and root for her as she enters the gladiator-like competitive world of the Dauntless faction. Here she must put aside her timidity, learn how to fight, and face her deepest fears.

The idea of “choosing” a faction to live in for the rest of your life (mostly based on the result of one test) is an aptly chosen metaphor for the choices that many teenagers must face at around Tris’s age: where do I go to college, what I do want to be when I grow up, and how am I going to decide how to live the rest of my life? The idea that one’s life path is not determined by personal wealth or connections, but personality, may seem smart at first, but as most readers will realize, very flawed. Human beings can rarely be defined by one concept, as we are more complex than just one personality trait. Also, the living of a single trait to such extremes can often lead to the warping of such a trait, which Roth illustrates really well. It’s one thing to value honestly, but those in Candor do to such an extreme that they’re often rude. The Dauntless may have been all about bravery once, but now the faction is more about showboating, and bullying people into doing more and more dangerous tasks.

Divergent is a satisfying dystopia featuring a tough, relatable heroine. Although it doesn’t quite end on a cliffhanger, the story is clearly not done and I look forward to seeing how Tris’s adventures will continue in the second book in the trilogy, Insurgent.

Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 487 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: this is my first

Next I will be reviewing In Great Waters by Kit Whitfield

xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads

This review has spoilers for previous books in The Inheritance Trilogy. There are no real spoilers for The Kingdom the Gods. 

( Read more... )

Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 613 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The Broken Kingdom

Next I will be reviewing Divergent by Veronica Roth

xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads

Briony Larson knows that she is a wicked girl, and a witch. She knows that she is responsible for injuring her sister beyond all repair, and helping her stepmother to her death. She lives with the knowledge that before all else she should hate herself, and what she is. Then a strange boy named Eldric comes to town. He is entranced by her, and the swamps that surround their village, which are filled with the wicked and mischievous Old Ones, who desire nothing more than to pull people to their deaths. Can Eldrich convince Briony to find the good in herself again, or will her wicked nature hurt him as well?

Chime is a gorgeous young adult title that is bound to appeal above and beyond its target audience. The book takes place in the Swampsea, a misty, mysterious place that appears to be caught between the ancient and modern day world. Here, mythical Old Ones trifle with mortal lives, while people dream of being able to go to the city where they can see electric lights and motorcars. The setting, combined with Briony’s fantastic voice, gives the book an attractive murky atmosphere. The strength of the characterization is also worth narrating. Briony is a really great narrator, a girl that insists passionately on her own wickedness, but through her actions (mainly taking care of her mentally handicapped twin sister, Rose), she proves that there’s more to her than just hard heartedness. Eldrich makes a great romantic interest, and I found the love story to be really captivating. Lately, I have encountered so many love stories that have just not worked for me, so I was happy to finally find one that made me swoon. The secondary cast is also great, as there is often more to them than the reader first suspects.

If you’re looking for a story that’s beautifully written, then look no further. Chime’s often opaque prose style can be a little confusing at first, but it doesn’t take long before you’re swept up by the story’s beautiful language. It made me a times regret that I chose to listen to the audiobook, because I couldn’t go back and reread certain passages. At the same time, I’m actually pretty happy that I chose the audiobook because it was really well put together. The narrator, Susan Duerden, did a great job at crafting a variety of voices, and her passionate narration succeeded in making certain suspenseful scenes really exciting.

Although it took me a little while to get into it, Chime is an all around satisfying fantasy tale that should appeal to older young adult readers, and adults as well. Those who enjoy a good historical fantasy should give it a chance. I’m very happy I did.

Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 361 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: The Folk Keeper

Next I will be reviewing The Kingdom of Gods by NK Jemisin

xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads