The Vyne: Mystery of the Hidden Ember - Daniel Walls

The Vyne: Mystery of the Hidden Ember
By Daniel Walls

January 2011

Itasca Books Distribution

Source: Library Thing

A chilling, heart-wrenching tale of colliding worlds and forbidden love, The Vyne reinvents steampunk-fantasy for a whole new generation.

It took me several days to get into the book. It starts out slow and took more work than enjoyment in the beginning. Between the introduction of numerous characters and vast information, being shuffled throughout various scenes, my head was spinning through the first hundred pages. Once the story, FINALLY, began to unfold and I had grasped hold of it, I found myself enjoying the book.

Ash, who has been an outsider his whole life, wants nothing more than to escape from the town in which he lives, and his abusive, alcoholic father. When he stumbles upon the mysterious, fugitive Scar, everything changes for him through a series of life altering events. Ash, is thrust on a journey of self-discovery and a prophesized-destiny he could have never imagined. Much less wants.

The Vyne: Mystery of the Hidden Ember, is complex and can be overwhelming at times. The world Daniel Walls, has created is beautifully detailed, as well as the characters that are introduced along the way. At times I was reminded of the world created by George Lucas, in Star Wars. (Wick, had me thinking of a softer version of Yoda.) The twists and turns we are taken on through a series of well developed plots is amazing. There is never a dull moment and the story is definitely not lacking in action. However. While, I enjoyed the imaginative world DW has created, I couldn’t honestly attach myself to some of the characters. Truthfully, I couldn’t understand the strong bond between Ash and Scar. It was the one thing DW was lacking in detail and development. I loved the Count, I think the most. Count LePrey is a villainous madman that grabs your attention, and is surely one character that won’t be forgotten. Secondly, I like Lazlo. A pirate, excuse me, I mean privateer, that is comical at times, but hidden beneath, is a strong belief in doing what is right. Hopefully, I haven’t been misled.

With steam-punk elements, promise of adventure, unforgettable villains, swash-buckling pirates, and a cast of odd characters, all ingrained into a fantasy realm like no other, I truly enjoyed the book. Where DW was lacking in some parts, he made up for it, in others. Ash’s journey has intrigued me, and I am dying to know what will happen next.

3 STARS

Across the Universe - Beth Revis

Across the Universe
By Beth Revis

January 2011

Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated

Young Adult

Source: Library Thing

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

 

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone–one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship–tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

I have always managed to steer away from sci-fi novels. For some reason I never really thought I would find myself enjoying them. When I received the ARC edition, I kept putting it off, and I am sad to admit I only finally picked it up from lack of having anything else to read at the moment. However, Beth Revis, has captured me and opened my eyes to a whole new genre.

Across the Universe, starts off with such intensity. It throws us into the thoughts of Amy, who is filled with such strong emotion and fear just before she is about to be frozen and thrust into the unknown future. From that point on I was completely hooked.

With suspenseful twists and turns that leave you gripping for more, I couldn’t put the book down, and found myself excited with every turn of the page. BR has written a wonderful story that grabs your attention by providing a captivating sci-fi murder-mystery in a dystopian world that will keep you on edge. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you realize it’s just another red herring.

I can’t wait to grab hold of her next book in this mind-blowing series.

3 STARS

The Demon Trapper's Daughter - Jana Oliver

The Demon Trapper's Daughter
By Jana Oliver

February 2011

St. Martin's Press

Young Adult

Demon Trappers Series Book 1

Source: Library Thing

Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

 

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps.  The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

 

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood.  And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

I must say that I entered into this book with the utmost excitement. I can’t say that the excitement rose from having any knowledge of this book, I had none- nor had I ever heard of Jana Oliver. (Sorry) It merely came from receiving my very first ARC! To receive a book, unattainable to so many, to be one of the few to read something before so many, for someone like myself, it is a true treasure. Though, in this excitement, there was danger…we all (Book Lovers) know that it is dangerous to be too overly excited before reading something unknown. However, the disappointment I felt, the fall from such high hopes, only comes from the fact that since I received this book earlier than most, I will have to wait longer for the next book in this series.

The Demon Trapper’s Daughter had me hooked in the very beginning. JO provides us with a long awaited Heroine and a much needed change of scenery. While the idea of good versus evil isn’t exactly new, JO adds her own little twist giving us something exciting and fresh. It’s a nice change from all the typical YA books filled with weak characters and whining heroines thrown into a world of vampires/werewolves. JO’s characters are intriguing and well developed, especially the heroine, Riley Blackthorne. I loved Riley from the very beginning. She is a fierce, impulsive, headstrong, and cynical 17 year-old girl who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. To top it all off, the story keeps you on edge with anticipation and not to forget (and warn) the book ends with a cliffhanger that will leave you begging for more.

If your looking for a sweet, romantic story of a whiny heroine in a sappy love triangle, then go grab Twilight. For all others who have been looking for an edgy story with a strong heroine that doesn’t waste time pining over potential love interests-and I will confess, there are some-but for once, puts her priorities first. Jana Oliver has provided just that!

3 STARS