Mini-Reviews

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

I read this quite some time ago, but thought it deserved a mention. I thought that the story was very compelling. I wasn't sure what to expect, because I had heard some mixed reviews, but I was did enjoy it. Tamsin was prophesied to be a great witch, yet she lacks any Talent at the start of the book. I twas interesting to see how she tried to compensate for that lack of magical ability. Still, when I finished the book, I thought something was missing. Hopefully I won't feel the same way about the sequel.

Published by Clarion Books

A Shepherd's Watch by David Kennard

Kennard is a great storyteller. I first discovered his farm via the short BBC series called Mist. It's a series meant for children, but I have a soft spot for it. His first book, on the other hand, talks about life on a sheep farm in England. It covers a year in the life of a farmer, and how he relies on his sheepdogs. Kennard paints a beautiful picture of his farm, and the animals on it. He also discusses how sheep farming is no longer enough to provide for a family. In one section, he even states that he doesn't encourage his children to take over the farm once he's ready to retire. I think it says a lot that a man who has dedicated his life to this farm doesn't want his children to take over because he's worried that they won't be able to support themselves.

Published by Headline

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

With all the hype surrounding this, it had high standards to live up to. While it didn't quite meet those expectations, it did hold my attention over the 465 pages. I will warn squeamish readers, it's violent, and rape does play a fairly large role in the book. That may turn off some people, but if you can get past that, it's an engaging mystery. The main characters were well developed, and the plot was very detailed. Overall, and interesting read. The one flaw, I'm not sure how I feel about Larsson's female characters.

Published by Knopf

Liar by Justin Larbalestier

Woo, this one was a big mindgame. by the end of the book I wasn't sure if I could figure out what was a lie, and what was actually true. I did like Micah, and found the lies she backtracked on to be really interesting. It was definitely an engaging read, even if the main character wasn't completely honest. I'm also glad that the publisher changed the cover to more accurately reflect Micah. I'm definitely interested in reading more by Larbalestier.

Published by Bloomsbury USA

Book Review: Zombies vs Unicorns Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn? (From Goodreads)

Part of Around the World Tours

I had quite a bit of fun reading Zombies vs. Unicorns. I snickered, I l laughed, and I regretted reading a few of the creepier stories late at night (I scare easily). In the end, I decided which team to pledge my allegiance to, but I'll discuss that later.

Zombies VS Unicorns is an anthology of short stories featuring, you guessed it, unicorns and zombies. Sadly, however, they only interact in one story. Team Zombie includes stories by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Maureen Johnson, Carrie Ryan, and Scott Westerfeld. Team Unicorn includes Meg Cabot, Kathleen Duey, Margo Lanagan, Garth Nix, Naomi Novik, and Diana Peterfreund. Honestly, the authors alone made me eager to read this book. There are quite a few of my favorite authors, like Meg Cabot. The anthology includes stories that are comedic, and dramatic. I'll admit that some stories are stronger than others, but I still couldn't set it down. My personal favorites were written by Meg Cabot (two words: Princess Prettypants), Carrie Ryan, Diana Peterfreund, and Garth Nix.

I really enjoyed the banter between Black and Larbalestier as they introduced the book, and each story. They left me laughing, and attempting to get other people to read certain passages. I also loved that Ryan and Peterfreund wrote stories that actually tied into their other stories. Of course, I love both The Killer Unicorn series, and The Forest of Hands and Teeth . So, it was nice to read different perspectives from those two universes.

Overall, it was great read. I really enjoyed all the zombie/unicorn lore that was included, and that author list is a huge plus in and of itself. There's something in here for every zombie/unicorn fan. So, if you're looking for a dramatic story, you'll find one. If comedy is your thing, there's quite a few stories in here that you'll enjoy.

My favorite quote: ""Probably he's trying to make himself immortal, which never works, except wizards never listen when you tell them that, and we would really prefer if he got stopped before he cuts off the babies' horns trying."

"Let me guess," Alison said. "Is his name Voldemort?"

"No, what freakish kind of name is Voldemort?"

-pg 53 (ARC edition, page number is subject to change)

Zombies Vs. Unicorns
Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
Published by Simon & Schuster
432 Pages
Release Date: September 21, 2010
Rating: A

Why I'm Team Unicorn:
1. Unicorns are majestic creatures, not all gooey and drippy
2. If you get gored by a unicorn, you die. Zombies either eat your brains, or turn you into a zombie. Neither of those options is pleasant.
3. Unicorns have magical healing powers. So, if you accidentally get gored, or hurt in battle, the unicorn could heal you.

In My Mailbox (August 15)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

For Review:
Zombies Vs. Unicorns Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn? (From Goodreads)

Part of Around the World Tours




Bought:

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

What if all your wishes really came true?

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left,
her grades dropped, and her BFF is dati ...more What if all your wishes really came true?

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they
MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend’s boyfriend. (From Goodreads)

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex traffick ...more Mikael Blomkvist, crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.

But he has no idea just how explosive the story will be until, on the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered. And even more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander—the troubled, wise-beyond-her-years genius hacker who came to his aid in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and who now becomes the focus and fierce heart of The Girl Who Played with Fire.

As Blomkvist, alone in his belief in Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation of the slayings, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all. (From Goodreads)

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (August 26)

This was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's basically books that haven't been released yet, but that I can't wait for.

I picked two this week, and since I'm completely indecisive I couldn't choose one.

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Micah freely admits that she's a compulsive liar. And that may be the one honest thing she'll ever tell you. Over the years she's duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents. But when her boyfriend, Zach, dies under brutal circumstances, the shock might be enough to set her straight. Or maybe not. Especially when lying comes as naturally to her as breathing. Was Micah dating Zach? Or was Sarah his real girlfriend? And are the stories Micah tells about inheriting a "family gene" real or are they something that only exists in her mind?
Breathtaking in its plotting, and narrated by one of the most psychologically complex young
women to emerge since Sybil, Liar is a roller-coaster that will have listeners grasping for the truth. Honestly.

Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith
I couldn't find a US cover, so here's the UK edition

Furnace Penitentiary: the world’s most secure prison for young offenders, buried a mile beneath the earth’s surface. Convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, sentenced to life without parole, “new fish” Alex Sawyer knows he has two choices: find a way out, or resign himself to a death behind bars, in the darkness at the bottom of the world. Except in Furnace, death is the least of his worries. Soon Alex discovers that the prison is a place of pure evil, where inhuman creatures in gas masks stalk the corridors at night, where giants in black suits drag screaming inmates into the shadows, where deformed beasts can be heard howling from the blood-drenched tunnels below. And behind everything is the mysterious, all-powerful warden, a man as cruel and dangerous as the devil himself, whose unthinkable acts have consequences that stretch far beyond the walls of the prison.