REVIEW: Trapped by Michael Northrop

http://www.librarything.com/work/10314028

Source: Bought

Scotty Weems and his friend, Pete, are talked into staying after school by their friend Jason, who wants to show them his go-kart project. Unfortunately, it's started snowing heavily, and they're going to miss the last buses leaving at 1:30. Still, Jason's dad has a truck, and, really, how heavily could it snow? But by 5, about 3 feet of snow have buried the road, and they and four other students are waiting in the hallway, watching more and more snow come down. When a truck stalls on the way up the school driveway, the teacher staying with the students decides to brave the snow to get help. Once he's gone, the seven realize they're on their own, that Mr. Gossell probably won't come back.

Although the thought of having the entire school to themselves is pretty cool at first (since one guy, Les, is a hooligan and can bust open any door, including the door to the cafeteria), things begin to get a little hairy as soon as the power fails, and the heat with it. Plus, when they wake up the next morning, stiff from a night on tile floor, it's clear that this storm is like no other, because only two feet of the ten-foot windows are clear, and it's still snowing. As the storm progresses, it becomes more and more dangerous to be inside the school, as the roof begins to give under the weight of the snow, and the snow climbs even higher. The students have to work together in order to make it, until rescue finally arrives.

I read this book by candlelight, after another nor'easter dumped five inches of wet snow on Northern Virginia. So I was cold and hungry (no microwave, after all), and it was the perfect read for the time. To me, five inches seems like a fair bit of snow, so I couldn't even comprehend what a foot-an-hour of snow would even look like. Basically, the plot was simple: seven teens trying not to freeze. The story could have been dull, especially since they didn't have to really fight to survive until the last 50 pages or so. But the tension between the characters kept the story interesting. It's high school, after all, and cliques will be cliques. There was some sexual tension (girls make everything more complicated), plus there was the weird kid Elijah, and Les, who's scary as hell to anyone with sense, and the three average Joe's.

It was interesting to see the cliques disappear as everyone worked together, and then reform as they got sick of each other and frustrated with being stuck there. Plus, Pete and Julie kept sneaking off together, no one can find out if their families are OK, and Scotty wants Krista, the really hot girl, to like him, but feels like a moron in front of her. I also liked how the situation caused them to all see each other in a different light. For example, the freak, Elijah, actually has a sense of humor, and Les isn't quite as scary as he seems, he just resents authority. Plus, Scotty finds the courage to talk to Krista.

Then, it turns into a survival story, which was harrowing to read. As the roof begins to give, it becomes imperative that they get word to someone that they are there, meaning someone has to risk leaving. Which leads to a somewhat expected, but still well-done, ending. This was the part I wasn't too happy with-the ending was really abrupt. I liked that it involved Scotty really coming into his own as a sort of accidental hero, but there wasn't enough information on how the experience affected everyone in the story in the long-term, and how the school returned to normal, which bugged me, because I wanted to know.

What I did like was the way the story was told, from Scotty's perspective. I felt like a teenager was speaking, without it being over-the-top (as in, constant slang), and the things that popped into his mind worked well (I hope my mom's OK, I can't believe I left my phone at home, Krista's so pretty, I really feel weird now that I haven't checked my email in 3 days, etc.). I also liked that Scotty tended towards self-reflection at times, like when he considered it amusing that it bothered him so much to think over all the things that he could be doing in his online games. I liked that, even though he's a jock, he's smart enough to think about the events going on around him. This worked nicely, considering he's our narrator-he tends to notice more than perhaps Pete or Elijah would have noticed.

Basically, it was a quick and pretty intense read, but not the best thing I've ever read. I enjoyed Scotty's telling the story, and the story was cool, but I thought the ending was way too abrupt (at 232 pages, there was room to continue a little). Mr. Northrop has another novel out, Gentlemen, which I hope to read soon, having read the Book Smuggler's review, which is how I heard about Trapped in the first place. I definitely plan to check it out.

Grade: 3.5/5

REVIEW: Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey

Source: Bought

I am a huge Jacqueline Carey fan! Although I was a little hesitant to leave Terre d'Ange, I was confident that Santa Olivia would be just as well-written, and I'm glad I was willing to try it.

Santa Olivia is a border town, but when Mexican leader El Segundo declares war on the US, Santa Olivia is transformed into a buffer zone, and they are forgotten about. Carmen Garron  is now stuck in this town in a dead-end waitressing job, and the only thing that changes is which soldiers come through town. Her first true love is a good-old-boy who is one of the General's boxers, but he's killed, leaving her and his baby son behind. Carmen's next love, though, is different-as in a genetic experiment; he's a Lost Boy, a group of wolf-men raised in a lab in Haiti, and he's trying to escape to a place in Mexico where others like him are rumored to be. Although he wants to stay when he finds out Carmen's pregnant, people in the town are suspicious, and Carmen urges him to flee.

So, Tommy and his little sister Loup grow up with just their mom. When she urges them to go to school, they're kicked out the first day because of Loup. As it turns out, she's just like her father-strong, fast, and not afraid of anything, including the teacher. Wandering around town, they end up in the gym, where citizens hone their boxing skills (since winning a boxing match against the General's champion is the only ticket out of the town). Tommy begins working, then training, and Loup follows him. When their mom dies and Loup goes to the orphanage, Tommy lives and trains at the gym, working to win his chance for him and his sister, while Loup tries to fit in with the kids she's now with. When they notice she's weird, she shares her secret, and they use that knowledge to begin righting some of the injustices imposed on Santa Olivia.

I wasn't quite sure what I was going to get with this book. I guess the easiest way to categorize it is urban fantasy (of which I'll admit to having very little), but the paranormal is really a small part, in a way. Yes, Loup has, for lack of a better term, superhuman powers, but it's not really all that she is. That aspect of Loup is just a fact, and we move on-the other characters and her relationships with them play a much bigger part of most of the story.

The characters were what made me fall in love with this book. They are unique and interesting. I loved the odd mix of kids at the orphanage and how their little clique changed as they all hit puberty and started pairing off in couples, and then would break up and re-arrange. Basically, although aspects of the story don't seem like they could be real, the characters are; they seem like people I'd meet on the streets. The characters also complicate the story wonderfully; it's not just Tommy trying to win a boxing match, with Loup looking on. Instead, there are undercurrents of romance, anger, and, later, heartbreak, which is all tied together in a beautifully written coming of age story, something at which Ms. Carey excels.

Although this is not a super fast-paced novel (although there are definitely some moments), I never really got bored, because there's so much that does happen. So when there's not a fight/boxing match, there's a romance developing, or friendships developing. Plus, the prose is very elegant and flows so well that there never seems to be a discernable drag in the story-telling. There is a pretty epic scene towards the end that had me on the edge of me seat, but it's not inundated with blood and gore (definitely not a typical werewolf story). Which was highly refreshing-I love conventional ideas told in new ways (although, like I said, I don't read very many werewolf books, so this might not be as new to other people).

The story might not have tons of action, but it's character-driven and beautifully written. I was not really expecting to like it (boxing is not really my thing), but I was completely drawn in. The sequel, Saints Astray, is due in November, and I'm very excited. I absolutely cannot wait to see how the story turns out.

Grade: 4/5, leaning towards 4.5/5

REVIEW: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin

Source: Bought

This is the first book of the Women in Fantasy challenge. I haven't really been reading fantasy as of late, and I was almost reluctant to get back into it (because, with school, I prefer really short reads, and I sometimes get bogged down in longer books). Boy, was I surprised! This book was such a quick read, because I could not put it down! I was not expecting to like it nearly as much as I did.

Yeinne is the leader of a back-water little kingdom that most of the rest of her world considers a land of barbarians. She is surprised when she is summoned to the city of Sky, the center of the kingdoms, where the most powerful family, the Arameri, reside; technically, the Arameri are her family, since her mother was an heiress disowned for wedding far beneath her. Thus, Yeinne is beyond surprised when she is told she has been named her grandfather's heir, and is part of the contest of succession, and is no longer a baroness of her former home, but must live there in Sky. As she becomes acquainted with the huge, intricate palace, she realizes that there is more than meets the eye: defeated gods commanded by the noble Arameri and her two scheming cousins who want nothing more than to get rid of her.

The gods, or the Enefadeh, are the siblings of Itempas, the central god, and their children. They take an unusual interest in Yeinne-but as she spends more time with them, the odder she feels, as if there's someone else inside her. That plus a potentially budding romance with none other than the Night Lord, Nahadoth, plus her scheming cousins and grandfather, create an exciting story.

The way the story was told was one of my favorite parts of the book-it was a richly textured story with beautiful prose, and the interchange between perspectives was beautifully realized, although confusing at times, until All Is Explained. In a way, this book reminded me of Jacqueline Carey's D'Angeline trilogies, particularly the first one-politics, romance, and mythology all wrapped up beautifully. The politics made for a fun read, with the scheming Arameri trying to outdo each other. It was just enough, without a huge cast of actors and branching family trees. Instead, the other set of actors is the Enefadeh, which was really cool, and not something I was expecting.

The Enefadeh were my favorite characters. I loved the relationships that developed, almost against Yeinne's will, especially with Sieh, who saw her as a mother (why is explained in the Big Reveal) and Nahadoth, who saw her as a lover. Again, the romance with a god was another completely unexpected and wonderful element.

And finally, the world-building was absolutely fantastic. Even though it was an incredibly complex world, the story isn't bogged down with unnecessary details, just enough for you to understand Yeinne's story, and yet the details reveal a rich and complicated world, made up of warring kingdoms (basically, medieval feudal Europe on steroids). I thought that the semi-floating palace (it's on a single pier, basically), with only circular rooms, was so cool, especially because the dead spaces were where the Enefadeh dwelled.

Everything about this book was just pure awesomeness-the characters, the story, the romance, the politics, the world. It served to remind me of how fun it can be to read fantasy-I really needed the prodding. It's also making me want to re-read all my Jacqueline Carey books (not that I haven't read them 80 times!)-I absolutely love authors that include a detailed and complex world and mythology. Speaking of Jacqueline Carey, next up is my review of Santa Olivia, a much different, but no less fantastic, story than her usual.

Grade: 5/5

Well, I had a bit of a vacation...with school and psycho weather, I realized I had forgotten to keep reviewing until I had a stack of four books!

I thought Northern VA had lucked out this year in terms of weather, but...it wasn't to be. We finally got 5 inches (I know, not much, compared to the amounts falling in the Northeast, but it's enough to make everything a mess).

That was around 5, after it had been snowing about an hour.

And that was what the bushes looked like at 8, when it had finally stopped.

And I had to climb over that to get out of my house...fun stuff.

But, yeah, reviews are forthcoming...

REVIEW: Frostbite by David Wellington

Source: Bought

Having read a couple of paranormal romance series in which werewolves are dangerous, but still lovable, I decided to try something a little grittier. A werewolf story where a woman is attacked, not seduced, seemed like a refreshing break.

Chey Clarke is on her own in the far north when a flash flood disorients her and destroys her supplies. As she grows increasingly desperate to get to the town that should be due north, she realizes that she's being hunted…by something a large pack of wolves runs from. Sure enough, it's a werewolf, which says hello by trying to yank her out of the tree she climbed and tear her to shreds. Unfortunately, he gets close enough to scratch her, and Chey is just like him, and he lets her into his world (after a bumpy start…involving him chasing her with an ax). However, it seems the predator-prey divide is not as clear as it seems, as Chey's backstory is revealed and people from her old life make an appearance.

I mainly wanted a story that took a different look at werewolves, and this did just that. Powell, the werewolf, lives isolated from all humans because, once changed, his one goal is to kill and destroy anything human. That's part of the curse, that the wolf side hates all things human, which battles his human side. Being a wolf isn't cool, it really sucks-you live longer and are stronger, but there are two sides of you that hate each other, and one would eat the other given the opportunity. Although the cause of the curse was never really explained, the story drew in the myth of the werewolf that was prominent in medieval Europe, which I thought was pretty cool. According to Mr. Wellington's website, this is part of a new series (cool!), so maybe there will be further explanations as they further find out about the curse.

My favorite part of the book was Chey-she was a really strong lead character, and I loved how the way her character changed facilitated the twists and turns of the plot. Powell was also interesting, and I liked how their relationship developed, especially when Chey's previous experience with wolves comes to light. Plus, there's (sort of) romance that doesn't involve sex-which is totally fine, but, seriously, it's not a requirement when a werewolf and a woman meet.

Another strength of the book was Mr. Wellington's description; although the book was not particularly scary, there were a few rather chilling moments, especially given the way it was described-

            "She took in its shape in all in an instant, but after she saw them she had trouble looking at anything but its eyes. Those eyes-they were not yellow, like those of the timber wolves, but an icy green, narrow and cold. Intelligence resided in those eyes as well as something else, a deadly anger. She could read it plainly, as well as she could have read the eyes of a human being. This animal didn't want to eat her. It didn't consider her prey. It wanted to kill her."

So even though I was expecting something a little scarier, I did begin to enjoy the story once I realized that this was more gritty adventure than horror. In some cases, the writing style bugged me slightly, but I think it had more to do with the fact that it was just different than I was used to. I plan on trying more of David Wellington's books, particularly his vampire series. I particularly want to see his spin on the traditional vampire lore. I'm also planning to read on with the next book in this series, Overwinter.

Grade: 3.5/5-not my favorite, but definitely something I'll keep up with

REVIEW: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Source: Bought

I absolutely loved The Maze Runner, the first book in the series, since it was an action-packed story of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Thomas and the Gladers are now out of the Maze, but it turns out that WICKED isn't finished with them yet. Only one night's relief, and they are thrust into an even more threatening environment. I don't want to give too much away-one of the reasons I like the series so much is that you aren't quite sure, especially at the beginning, what dangers there are-but let's just say that the Grievers were only the beginning.

The main appeal of this series is all the action, and The Scorch Trials delivered admirably. From giant lightning storms to fleeing in city sewers from Cranks, Thomas and the Gladers don't have time to breathe. The only section that dragged a little was towards the end, when Teresa went through some rapid changes quickly (I know that sounds lame, but I'm trying hard to keep out spoilers); it was very confusing, and I'm assuming that it is something that will be explained in a later book. Which is the main thing that stinks-another cliffhanger! Just as we're about to get some answers! But that's OK, I guess, as long as the next one comes out soon.

Against the backdrop of all the changes going on around him, Thomas himself stays pretty much the same. The main difference is that his dreams about his past are increasing, but the truth remains elusive. Also, a love triangle develops as another girl enters the story (which is so refreshing in the midst of the boy-girl-boy triangle). The only character who really goes through some major changes is Teresa, but it is unclear why these changes happened, and if they are real-mainly, Thomas sees her differently…again, trying not to spoil everything! Part of the reason that it seems that all the changes are superficial is because, well, they don't really have the time for lots of self-reflection. They're trying to cross the Scorch and not get eaten by Cranks, so the story is driven by action more than anything. Plus, Thomas is still clueless about many things (how he was involved in WICKED and why, what they are doing, etc.), so I have a feeling much of that character development will happen in the next book, when Thomas hopefully gets answers.

If you want a book with non-stop action, then this is definitely the book for you! I couldn't put it down. Although many aspects of Thomas's world are still confusing, there is still enough revealed that you don't feel lost.

Grade: 4.5/5

2011 Challenges

So I have entered into two challenges for next year, and I'm really excited!

First, The Women of Fantasy Challenge. A couple of the books were already on my TBR list, and the rest look really interesting. I've been trying to get back into fantasy, as I didn't really read as much of it this year, so this is the perfect opportunity.

Here's the list:
January: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin
February: Elfland by Freda Warrington
March: Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter
April: Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest
May: War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
June: The Dark Mirror by Juliet Marillier
July: All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear
August: Indigo Springs by A. M. Dellamonica
September: Firebird by Mercedes Lackey
October: Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
November: The Gaslight Dogs by Karin Lowachee
December: Readers' Choice

The other one is the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Challenge. I only picked out 6 books so far (which is the bachelor's degree level), since most of the books I picked are classics, and I'll have lots of those to read already for school, so I'll have two months to finish each one.

Here's what I'm planning on reading:
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemmingway
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens