Book Review: Firelight

Firelight by Sophie Jordan is another book I've long anticipated reading. The cover is awesome (there's been a slew of awesome covers lately) and just saying the word "dragons" pulls me in. What can I say? I'm a sucker for fire and scales.

According to  the book's blurb:
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki--a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away--if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

The story flies off the page in the beginning. The imagery is brilliant, the plot interesting. But, unfortunately, it's not a strong bird (or draki, take your pick). Halfway through, things became repetitive. The same inner turmoil is repeated and re-explored page after page. Jacinda's half-hearted vows to "stay away from Will. No, be with him" weren't intriguing enough to keep the story soaring. And Jacinda's indecisiveness drove me crazy. Are teenagers indecisive? Yes. But you can only take so much of it in a book before indecisiveness becomes drudgery.

In the entire story, I don't think Jacinda EVER makes a permanent choice. It's like she's afraid to take the leap. In real life, that's fine. In a story that needs an arc, it's not. In the end, this felt like just the first act (and a long-drawn one at that) to a much more complicated story. And given its cliffhanger ending (seriously, I've never been so miffed at an ending), I'm sure there's more to come.

It was a well-told story, but it stalled out and didn't go anywhere for the longest time. (Yes, the kissing scenes were stimulating, but I'm not that easy.) Which is disappointing, because this story brims with potential. I hope that the second book delivers a more satisfying story, and, for the love of God, Jacinda actually makes a decision--and not let them be made for her.

Recommended: Yes. It is, after all, a pretty intriguing tale and worth the read. I would recommend waiting until the sequel is out, however, so you would have a more complete story (let us hope).
Rating: (out of five stars) 3.95

Monday Madness: Revisiting Old Friends

I've been taking advantage of my library card lately and so I've been reading a lot of books. Some good. Some not. And it's the ones that are "not" that's made me really crave the familiar...and the knowledge that the book I'm going to read is a good one.

So, this week I'm going to dust off some of my hardbacks and read some old friends. And hopefully it will remind me why I write. For the beautiful, magical words and worlds, the lively characters, the amazing dialogue. THAT is why I read. That is why I love literature.

But unfortunately, I've read quite a few books lately that have left me with nothing more than a "meh" feeling. I hate that feeling. I'd rather loathe a book than feel nothing for it. Loathing still means that the author did something RIGHT somewhere along the way (at least right enough for it to twang one of my nerves). When I come across a book that doesn't do either for me, it just makes me sad.

Disclaimer: Yes, I know that not every book was intended for whatever audience I'm grouped in. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about a book lacking that certain something that just makes it breathe. That something that makes me FEEL something. Rather than annoyance. I'm annoyed too much for that to be a book's fault.

So I'll be pulling some of my old friends off the shelf these next few weeks (until I once again get the thirst for fresh ink). I'm going to bury my nose in those pages and remind myself that there are books out there that sing.

How about you? Ever need to take a breather from those shiny new releases and pick up your favorite, dog-earred paperback? Which one is it? Please share!

Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan is the perfect example of a gripping, evocative title. Just by reading it, you know that there are going to be some exceptional things going on in the story, maybe even some fantastical things.

But for it's magical title, this story isn't a fantasy. It's post-apocalyptic. Right there with The Hunger Games and I Am Legend. Sure, it has an old world feel to it (the people in it could have stepped right out of the Middle Ages, their life is so rudimentary) but it felt realistic. After all, if most of the population suddenly turned into mindless, flesh-craving zombies, I don't think the modern conveniences would last long.

It's been a while since I've read a story that's made my heart pound and my palms sweat, forcing me to turn the page to find out what happens next, sometimes even tempting me to skip ahead to make sure that all ends well.... But this story is anything but a happy one. I think it's the darkest thing I've read all year. Dark in the way that it disturbs you. Dark in the way that you're not sure what to think about the characters or their dreams...whether you might prefer it if they die. Dark in the way that it keeps you up at night thinking about it.

Despite all the heart-pounding and page-turning and mind-commandeering, I'm not sure if I liked this book. The MC is a teenager and probably one of the most accurately portrayed teens ever. She made me remember why I hated being a teenager and why I hated other teenagers. She's self-absorbed. Foolish. Impulsive. Wishy-washy. Yes, she has her moments of sorrow and regret, but she doesn't LEARN from them. She still continues on her quest like she never felt those things at all. She never GROWS. Well, I guess she might when (spoiler alert) Travis dies and she finally decides that she would rather have him than her dream of going to the ocean. But too late. Pointless. And guess what? She still decides to go for the ocean (for him, she says...but she's not fooling me). She sacrifices EVERYONE for her dream to see the ocean, even though she has been told that it's just like the forest. Even though she's been told that there is nowhere free of the Unconsecrated (zombies). Towards the end of the story, I couldn't understand her motivations at all. She was like a zealot: full of passion and fire for her dream, but little else. I couldn't understand why two guys, both decent sorts, would love this stupid, petty girl. It made me want to kick all of them in the head.

But that's teenagers for you, I guess. Idiot ones.

Ms. Ryan can write an adrenaline-inducing scene like no one I've read, but sometimes I felt like she jumped from scene to scene with no logical transition, leaving me confused and annoyed. And her character arcs leave a lot to be desired. Probably the only person who grows in this story is Jed, and he gets killed for it. Since I read more for the characters than the story, I can't say that I liked this story. But I didn't NOT like it. It had many redeemable qualities, and Ms. Ryan certainly knows how to craft a page-turner. I just wish she could craft an MC I could cheer for. Apparently her other books in this series follow different girls, so I have hope.

Recommended: Yes, for the thrill junkies. No, for the character lovers (or yes if you like characters who annoy the heck out of you).
Rating (out of five stars): 3.75

Monday Madness: What's in a Name?

SURPRISE! Another Monday Madness post! And I thought they'd keeled over.

But this post was actually inspired by something mundane and probably not too stimulating that happened over the weekend.

I've had a kitten (orange and white bengal, once with blue eyes, now with gold (which I deduced his eyes changed when he signed his soul away to the devil)) for a couple months now. When I got the kitten, I was assured that it was a female and so promptly named it Buttercup.

Well, it's not female. And while I have no issue in calling a tom "Buttercup," my husband insisted on calling him "Butthead" instead. Since I didn't want our kitten answering to Butthead, I decided that I would come up with a better name for him. Eventually.

You see, just like when I'm musing on names for characters in my stories, I'm usually struck by the perfect name and it just sticks. Most of the time it's coincidence (or a strange streak of luck) that when I begin researching the name it has connotations that I like.

But sometimes I do the opposite: research and then name. This was especially true for my short-story-turned-novel "One Thousand." I wanted the mermaid's name to have dark connotations, so I went to babynameworld.com and typed "dark" in Meaning Search. I saw Achlys, liked the sound of it, and the murdering mermaid was born.

More often than not, however, I go with what my muse whispers. Those names are usually stronger, more genuine. They are the names the characters give themselves. Even Drake's name in DRAGON QUEEN was one of those names that just struck me. He and I snickered at the irony of a dragonslayer named Drake until he revealed to me that he had a BIG secret. And then it was even more ironic. When names reveal themselves, usually magical and intriguing things happen in my stories. It's probably part of me being a pantser. I'm more inspired when I just let things unfold as they will.

And then, sometimes, I get lucky enough that my muse (or subconscious) knows what it's doing and I don't have to do a lot of cleaning up to make things coincide later.

So what about you? Do you put a lot of thought into your names or is it something that just pops into your head?

(P.S. My muse whispered to me that the kitten's new name would be Simba, because he thinks he's the king of the jungle...or at least the Christmas tree.)

Book Review: Brightly Woven

This book's cover stopped me in my tracks. You know that saying: Never judge a book by its cover? Well, it's bull. I've found that a good cover is a very good indication of a good book. But I read the blurb first. And then a paragraph or two of the first page before I'm sold.

I was sold. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken is just as magnificent, as colorful, as astounding as the cover. For someone who's been reading a lot of YA urban fantasy, or just strictly YA, this was a refreshing read. Giving me new expectations. New hopes. New scenery. And, perhaps the best part of all, completely NEW characters.

According to the book's blurb:
 Just as the rains come after ten long, dry years, a young wizard, Wayland North, appears, to whisk Sydelle Mirabil away from her desert village. North needs an assistant, and Sydelle is eager to see the country--and to join him on his quest to stop the war that surely will destroy her home. But North has secrets--about himself, about why he chose Sydelle, about his real reasons for the journey. What does he want from her? And why does North's sworn enemy seem fascinated by Sydelle himself?

Through a journey that spans a country, magic and hard-won romance are woven together with precision and brilliant design by a first-time novelist.


I'll admit I've become a little fed up with angsty teenagers and this was a perfect escape. Sixteen-year-old Sydelle has her problems and insecurities, sure, but she doesn't spend the whole book feeling sorry for herself. (OMG, no one understands me!) She's a go-getter. She's one of those people who makes her own destiny. One of the better female characters I've read in fantasy in a long time.

And the romance? It made me chuckle. A romance built on a foundation of mistrust and disdain, it kept me entertained throughout the book. But what's more, it felt REAL. It was like watching two people in real life fall in love. Never forced. Never contrived. Just real. This book made me smile, made me cheer. I just really, really enjoyed it.

And the world? The magic? Awesome. I loved the concept of wizards using talismans to manifest their power (North's colorful cloaks, the bad guy's string around his dagger). It felt like a breath of fresh air. And coming from a first-time novelist? So envious. I really can't give Ms. Bracken enough acclaim.

Monday Madness: The "AHA!" Moment

Surprise! I actually thought of something. So I have to be really quick and write it down before I forget...

Wait, what was I saying?

Kidding.

I've been fiddling with some of the projects that have been gathering dust on my thumb drive. Trying, really, to decide which one I want to focus on. I know that DQ needs most of my attention (stop procrastinating, Brandi, just get it to the querying stage! Mmkay?) but I want to be WRITING on something.

So I picked up ONE THOUSAND again. For those of you new to this blog (or just need a refresher), ONE THOUSAND is a story about a murderous mermaid in ancient Greece who ends up being captured by a sailor out for revenge. (She killed his brother.) I have some really great ideas for this story, but, the thing is, it takes a LOT of research. I've been spending way too much time surfing the internet, trying to find relevant information on ancient Greece and customs and all that. So much time, in fact, that I haven't really WRITTEN anything. (I've even despaired that I won't be able to write this story until I actually GO to Greece.)

I've been so worried about getting things historically accurate (even though there are mermaids involved) that my muse has been oppressed. But then I had the "Aha!" moment.

I always seem to struggle with switching back and forth between two people's POV (I think it's the romance writer in me) and, with Elpis (the sailor) I've been struggling because ancient Greece is HIS world. So nothing is new or interesting to him. He takes everything for granted. And I'm afraid that he'll come off as more of an information outlet than a character. So, I was thinking that instead I should tell the whole story through Achlys' (the mermaid) eyes. Then everything will be new. Everything will be strange and wonderful and I don't think I would have to worry so much about getting all the terminology right. Plus, it's Achlys' story. And while I will miss digging around in Elpis' head, I think it would be much more interesting (for me and the reader) to see him completely through Achlys' POV. A challenge, yes, but it's made me excited for the story again. Woohoo!

I love those "Aha" moments. They bring the spark back, don't you think? What about you, had any Aha moments lately? And what did you glean from it?

Book Review: Beautiful Darkness

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is the second of the Caster Chronicles about Ethan Wate, an average sixteen-year-old boy from the small Southern town, Gatlin, S.C., who falls in love with a supernatural Caster girl, Lena.

According to the book's blurb:

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.
Sometimes life-ending.
Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

I really enjoyed Beautiful Creatures and this book held up to the standards its predecessor set. Actually, it went deeper, darker. With many twists and turns. The world that Ms. Garcia and Ms. Stohl builds is truly amazing and three-dimensional. Characters were constantly surprising me, and in ways that stayed away from feeling contrived (which is always a bonus). Though Ethan's dilemma got me thinking (spoiler alert). If he were a girl and thought the way he was thinking about Lena (if Lena were a boy), as in: I'll give up everything up for her. My dreams are no longer important, yadda yadda. I would have thrown the book down in disgust. It disturbed me a little bit. I hate the "ideal love" where complete sacrifice is necessary (reminds me a bit too much of Twilight and Romeo & Juliet). And it got to the point where I was literally asking WHY he even wanted to be with Lena when she's treating him like dirt. But he starts asking himself that, too. He even is tempted by/interested in another girl. So, redeemed. But, still, it's an interesting question. And since it's a love story, we know that Ethan and Lena are going to live up happily ever after (I hope I didn't spoil that for you) but my irritations were allayed a little bit by how difficult and imperfect that happily ever after is achieved. So, kudos to the authors.

The ending was a cliffhanger of the best sort, making me just want to pull my hair out and scream, "OMG, what happens next?!"

And Ridley? The most awesome minor character I've read in a while. She's almost more interesting than the MCs. Almost.

Recommended? Yes. For those who would like a more realistic view of teenage love and dark, deep magic places.

Rating (out of five stars): 4.25

Monday Madness: Overcoming the E-mail Obsession

If you've ever submitted any of your stories (be it for a magazine, an agent, or a contest) you've probably experience the E-mail Obsession at one point.

This involves:

Checking your e-mail every 3 minutes or so.

Having a new heart attack when you have any kind of new message.

Get disappointed when its yet another spam for Viagra. (WTF? I'm not even a GUY!)

Get even more disappointed when there's nothing new.

Check "Sent" messages to make sure you sent it to the right person.

Count the days your submission has been out.

Go to Duotrope.com and check average response times.

Refresh e-mail again. Disappointed again.

Tell yourself you're not going to check e-mail for the rest of the day.

Resist for five minutes. Check again.

Go to submission website and fret over the guidelines. Yes, you did it right.

Refresh e-mail.

I am happy to say that I have finally overcome the e-mail obsession. Granted, I don't have any queries out for my novels, but I DO have a couple of short stories out on submission. Going on two months. Gah.

But I've discovered a little secret that prevents me from overloading Yahoo with all my refreshes. Forgetting about it. Acting like you don't care. Moving on to other things. Yes, it works. Amazingly well, actually.

Now, I still check my e-mail once a day (just in case) but that's my limit. Why waste the time fretting over when an e-mail is going to arrive (and what it will say) instead of moving on to another project? Distraction is key, my friend. Yes, indeed.

Now, anyone need the hookup on discounted Viagra?

Stretched Thin

I've always been a bit socially awkward. I say the wrong things a lot. Laugh at unfunny things. Don't make enough eye contact...or too much. My jokes flop. I try really, REALLY hard to be a person's best friend, but I usually fail. Because I try TOO hard, as my mother always says.

Well, I feel like I'm trying too hard to be helpful and insightful and provide you with interesting tidbits on Monday Madness. The truth is I feel like Monday Madness is flopping more than flipping. Everything I say (or, more accurately, try to say) comes out a little stale. A little lifeless. A little awkward. So, next Monday will be the last regularly scheduled Monday Madness. It might make an occasional occurrence in the future when I can actually THINK of something interesting.

However, I do have recommendations for helpful blogs. 

The Sharp Angle. Lydia Sharp always has interesting things to say and I'm learning something every day from her. And when her husband, Joe, pops in you can usually get a unique perspective on things (as well as a grin-inducing post title).

Don't pet me, I'm writing. Tawna Fenske always has an amusing anecdote about writing or her experience as a writer. She's a lot of fun to follow!

The Other Side of the Story. Janice Hardy, author of The Shifter and Blue Fire, is always sharing helpful information on character development, plotting and writing in general.

I will continue to post book reviews on Wednesdays. Luckily I'm about two weeks ahead on that. Woohoo. I hope you're enjoying reading them, because I'm enjoying writing them. :)

Hopefully with less pressure on my brain to come up with something brilliant over the weekend for Monday Madness, I can start writing on my stories again. Maybe even some poetry.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Do you like my 69?

Buahaha. Yes, I have a dirty mind. That's probably a given seeing as my first published work will be erotica. (More on that later.)

Anyway, over at The Sharp Angle, Lydia was discussing the idea that you should buy a novel based on its page 69. That should reveal the heart of the novel's style and situation. Well, she said it better than I ever could, so go check it out.

However, I had to see if my page 69 had any merit. So I thought I'd share and get your opinions. Are they interesting? Would you "buy" it?

Here's Page 69 from LAST OF THE ELVES, my WIP:

“Yes, I know just how busy you’ve been. But tell me, boy, has it done any good?”

“I don’t know,” he answered truthfully. “There was this one—a girl—who I thought would be different. But…” He squeezed her hand. “She’s like all the others.”

She studied him, her hazel eyes—his father’s eyes—seeing more than he would like. But that had always been her gift. A witch by birth, she harnessed the powers of light, truth and beauty, and could always see through the darkness. “She’s special to you.”

“No.” He shook his head. “No.”

Ollie laughed. “Oh, Lial. You were never a good liar. You take after your father’s side of the family too much.” She released his hand and reached for a box beneath the counter. Constructed of polished wood, it did not appear to need the intricate lock clasping the lid. Ollie withdrew a key from her blouse and opened it.

“Hold out your hand,” she said. He did and she placed something smooth and warm in his palm. She curled his fingers around it. “This was your mother’s. She wanted you to have it. For your special woman, she said.”

“I don’t—“

“Shh. Just take it. I’m afraid if I don’t give it to you now, I never will.”

His hand clenched. “Auntie…”

She laughed. “Don’t be sad. I am the fortunate one, Lial. I’m nearly a century old, ancient for a human. It shall be like going to bed after a long, hard day.”

“You’re only ten years older than me.”

“But you’re not human.”

His mouth thinned. “No need to remind me.”

And here's page 69 from DRAGON QUEEN, which I will be querying for soon:

“You’re right, of course,” he interrupted. “We’ll have a feast once she establishes her seat.”

“My seat? I’m going to have a seat?” I squeaked.

“Of course,” the female replied, smiling her gentle smile again. It was such a contrast to her fearsome features that it unsettled more than soothed me.

“Every ruler has a seat,” the male said.

“But . . .I don’t even know how to rule.” Panic crept in again, scratching at my voice and pulling me toward hysteria. I focused on breathing, trying to regain control.

Amusement lit his black eyes. “Do not worry, my Queen, we shall teach you all that you need to know.”

“And what am I supposed to bring to this?”

“Your self,” he answered. “That is greater than any weapon.”

His answer did not stifle my panic, but fed it. It was a bloated thing now, lodging in my throat until I could barely breathe.

His mate must have sensed this, for she abruptly said, “My name is Vahra. This is my consort, Kale. We are the leaders of the Council. The leaders of the Nerolytes.”

“The Nerolytes?”

“It means, “Against the dark.” It is what the Kelsten Skala call us.”

“So the Kelsten Skala are the prominent power?”

She shrugged. “They would claim that, yes. But the Council is an ancient dragon tradition. We have been here far longer than the Kelsten Skala, and we still hold power. Despite being forced to meet in secret for some centuries now.”

Book Review: The DUFF

When I first saw the title of The DUFF by Kody Keplinger, I laughed. I think every girl has felt like the Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) at one point or the other. That alone was enough to intrigue me. And then the book's blurb reassured me that this was a book worth reading:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

I admit, I have a softness for hate-turning-to-love relationships, so I thought this book would be right up my alley. But now, uh, I don't know. In fact, I feel like I have a love-hate relationship with this book.

I loved the situation the MC is in. Every girl can relate to being a Duff, or at least feeling like one. Every girl knows that sleazy man-whore whom she is attracted to despite herself (even if she won't admit it) and every girl has issues at home. The set-up felt pretty dang real to me. Even the way Bianca deals felt real to me (if something I could never see myself or anyone I know doing).

Bianca as a character was interesting and dynamic. I liked her little oddities (like finding folding clothes relaxing) and liked that she also had the tendency to keep her emotions bottled up (something I can relate to). But, for all that, I'm not sure if I really liked HER. In some books, that's okay, but in this book I should have been on the MC's side, and I was for the most part, but there were so many things she did that I disagreed with that at times I just wanted to smack her and say, "Really?"

Wesley, at the end, made me smile. I liked how he grew and we got to see the true guy underneath all his BS. It gives me hope for all a-holes out there.

BUT, the author almost lost me when Wesley tells Bianca, to her face, that she is the DUFF. It just seemed so unrealistic to me. The whole reason why he's talking to her is to come off as the nice, sensitive guy so he can sleep with her friends (he says so) so WHY would he admit that? That's just stupid. Creeps are creeps and ones with his reputation would be a little smoother than that. Now, if it had ended up just being a play for Bianca, i.e., to get her attention even if it was negative attention, I could see why he would say it. But that's never suggested. Which left me disappointed and feeling like it was all contrived. Bleh.

And I think that's what REALLY bothered me about this book. For all the difficult situations and obstacles Bianca faces, everything resolves a bit too nicely. Everyone is a bit too honest, a bit too willing to change and make everything right. And the story ends so neatly. Wrapped in a pink, shiny bow. Cherry Coke all around!

And that, to me, felt contrived.

I'm not saying that the book was completely unreadable. There were moments when I was so wrapped up in the story that I didn't care how easy the resolutions seemed. I was just happy that the characters were happy. So, all-in-all, I had the exact same attitude toward this book as Bianca does towards Wesley. I'm pretty sure I don't like it, yet I can't bring myself to say I hate it because of all its redeeming qualities.

Recommended: Partly yes, for an easy, semi-emotional read. Partly no for its "too-neat" ending.

Rating (out of five stars): 3