Review: Dress Rehearsal by Zoe Thurner

Book Description via Goodreads:

ARC, 269 pages

April 1, 2011, Fremantle Press

‘This term we’ve had a bank robbery, an abduction and this crazy show. You kids are running wild, Lara. It’s too much.’

Lara Pearlman has an appetite for life.

She loves acting, vintage clothes and her best friend Oggy. She flirts with Nathan but really likes Blake. She devours muffins with cream and chocolates by the box. Lara’s mum says big girls shouldn’t eat cream, but if rules are made to be broken then Lara’s the girl to do it.

Source: Claire, Fremantle Press (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

After reading the first five sentences, I was instantly hooked to Dress Rehearsal. The story started out as light and hilarious then it became conflicted, sadder and darker. This twist was intriguing and surprising. I never expected it to turn out that way. But I love surprises especially the ones in contemporary novels. The writing was marvelous. It brought out the beauty of ordinary things and even ugly things. I don’t usually read contemporary novels but I enjoyed this one. I laughed, hurt, groaned and smiled at the scenes. It was the kind of story that was easy to read, easy to like and completely enjoyable.

Lara had an appetite for life. She was wild. There was a burning flame inside her, something that ushered someone young as her to do the things she did. She was uncontrolled and free – as free as she could be. Theater was a part of her. But Oggy, her bestfriend, was a bigger part. She adored Oggy and she would do almost anything for her. She was best friends with Nathan, the reliable and comfortable shorter guy who was always looking out for her. She had always wanted Blake, the top drama student at her school and the guy that every girl wanted. She craved for him, wanted his attention like any other girl.

The characters were bright, fiery individuals in the beautiful landscape of Dress Rehearsal. They filled the pages with drama, chaos and emotion. Some of them were easy to relate to while some of them were not. There were a few who were extremely hard to understand and to like. But that worked out with how the story progressed. Each character had something to deal with. I may not like how they chose to solve their problems but their decision and the results of those made this realistic. They suffered the consequences of their actions. Sometimes they were strong enough to face it, sometimes they were not. I liked how it became a domino effect. Each action, each decision of one character affected the other characters, until all of them were affected one way or another.

The family dynamics in this novel would appeal to teens. There were two of them, both imperfect. One had a brilliant disguise but underneath it was in tatters, ruined and splintered. The other one was better – firm but it had sutures in the middle. Lara’s friendship with her two best friends would be tested. Could she make it up to both of them before it’s too late? I loved how this novel showed how fragile relationships could be and how these could affect a person. It’s like a wake-up call for everyone to see what we mostly take for granted.

Dress Rehearsal is a humorous, fun contemporary novel that readers will love. It’s a reflection of youth, passion and flaws told through Lara’s witty voice. This is a work of art and I appreciate every page of this novel. This is the kind of novel that does not spell out everything for the reader. I loved that I needed to fill in the gaps with my thoughts, my realizations about the story. I recommend this to everyone!

Rating:

Teaser Tuesdays: Starcrossed & The Near Witch

It’s time for another Teaser post! Today’s the first day of the semester. I got home and slept right away so I’m posting this one a little late!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read.
-Open to a random page.
-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I’m currently reading two titles: The Near Witch and Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini.

My Teasers:

 

“Had enough?” he asked, smiling at Helen’s brazen admiration of his looks.

“Not yet,” she said, a matching smile breaking across her face.

-p. 160, Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (Hardcover)

 

I catch my breath as the stranger’s eyes find mine. Eyes as dark as river stones and yet somehow shining, soaking up moonlight. Eyes that widen a fraction as they meet my own.

-p. 13, The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (egalley)

 

Spotted: Amalie Howard + 5 Readers will win Bloodspell!

Hi everyone! Today, I have a treat for vampire-witch readers and for ebook readers out there! This post (especially the treat after the interview) is for you!

I have spotted Amalie Howard, the author of the amazing debut, Bloodspell. She’s a very interesting person with a colorful array of experiences. Today, I’ll be asking her a few questions that came to my mind after finishing one of my favorite novels for 2011 – her debut.

How did you choose the words for the spells (incantations) in Latin?

I really loved how the spells in Harry Potter were variations of Latin as mine were, but my inspiration for my spells, funnily enough, came from an unhealthy addiction playing Super Nintendo and Final Fantasy pretty much all through high school. My love for all things magic didn't stop at books and movies, I was entranced at being able to play a role-playing video game where I could command white and black magic! It was so cool! I would actually hide from my mother to play that game … it was my one guilty pleasure, especially when I should have been studying! Inspiration aside, in some cases for my spells, I used variations of Latin or French, but for the most part, they were all loosely translated from English into Latin. "Transeo" for example, which is the teleportation spell in the novel, came from the Latin translation of "to go across or to traverse." Once I had an idea of what the translation of the spell would be, I played around with the sound of the words, sometimes changing letters to make the spell sound more mysterious or more ominous. By the end, I started keeping a log of all the spells, even the ones I didn’t use, just because I didn't want to confuse or misspell any of them in future books! 

What kind of research did you do for Tori's ancestry? Who inspired the character of Brigid (if any?)

Although I did a ton of research in terms of actual factual data for Bloodspell (for example, there actually was an attempted assassination attempt against King Louis-Philippe in the summer of 1835 in France which I talk about when Christian and Lucian were turned), most of Tori’s ancestry is fabricated entirely out of my head. I made up the journals because I really liked the diary element incorporating some historical fiction, and I liked the thought of Tori having some kind of guide, especially one that would show her what could happen if she gave in to the blood. I can’t say that any particular person inspired Brigid, but I really enjoyed writing her character because she was so dark. I mean, I liked writing about Tori triumphing over the blood, but being able to explore the darker, more malevolent side of it was a little intoxicating in itself. But that’s just me. When everyone else wanted to be Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo or Princess Leah, I was the kid who wanted to be Darth Vader. I don’t consider myself to be a villain, but I do appreciate both sides of the battle, and the lure of the dark side. Someone once asked me who my favorite hero was, and my answer was the Phoenix. I have no doubt she’s had some influence on the development of both Brigid and Tori. I love that she embodies life and passion, and as a character, she fascinates me because she is so consumed by her own state of being, which is really neither good nor bad. In some ways, she embodies both Brigid and Tori … who are the two opposing sides of the same coin, but in the end, her indifference combined with an innate selfishness can only consume and destroy her (as it did Brigid).

You grew up in a small Caribbean island! Can you tell us if there was witch/magic-related folklore there? Did this in any way inspire you to write Bloodspell?

The Caribbean is an area of the world rich in occult folklore and mysticism, which undoubtedly shaped my interest in dark fantasy. Growing up, we had our share of spooky or “jumbie” (monster) stories—word of mouth tales of voodoo or West Indian sorcery called Obeah, tales of the Soucouyant, a supernatural beast disguised as an old woman by day and a blood-sucking creature by night—those stories thrilled and terrified, and I always wanted more. Put it this way, I had more than enough inspiration to develop an early and ongoing obsession with all things fantasy, and Bloodspell was likely a natural culmination of that. Growing up in the Caribbean has also given me a great foundation for experiencing different cultures and understanding the true meaning of diversity, which I think gives my writing a unique edge and voice.

How did you prepare for the fight scenes? Did you watch any TV shows/movies, read books or something else?

From a personal perspective, when I’m reading a book, I like to get so drawn into the story that I completely lose myself, and I’m transported into the world within the book just by force of the author’s intense descriptions. I am an extraordinarily visual person, so I like vivid imagery in my books. In fantasy, I think everything has to be a little brighter and more effervescent, more punchy and fierce. You want to experience these worlds like the “paranorms” do … with every cell of your being. A local bookseller reviewed Bloodspell as being “cinematic” and I can only say that movies are unequivocally to blame. They are my Achilles heel, my kryptonite. I absolutely adore watching them, and I especially love book to film adaptations if only for the gratifying comparison of how I felt reading it in a novel versus watching it in a film. Like I said, I’m very visual so I have no doubt that that translates across into my action scenes and the flow of the story. I’m a total tidbit-hoarder, too, so if I see something I like, for example a spinning crouch kick move in a movie, I’ll file it away in my head for future use. When I’m writing out a scene, especially an action scene incorporating such a move, I envision how that kick and the fight sequence plays out in my head—almost like a movie reel—and that is what I hope to communicate to the reader, even though the medium is via text. My goal is to convey that same sense of vividness and fluidity that you would experience watching a movie.

*CLOSED* Giveaway: 5 ebooks of Bloodspell by Amalie Howard *CLOSED*

A big thank you to Marissa at JKS Communications for this awesome giveaway! I loved Bloodspell and it’s a joy to be able to share this gem with you guys.

The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

Rules:

Be a follower.

Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win (or if you're not comfortable with that email it to me at precious_shusky@yahoo.com)
Open to everyone!

Ends June 30, 2011!

Extra entry (not required):

+2 Tweet this (leave direct link)

Review: Circle Nine by Anne Heltzel

Book Description via Goodreads:

Egalley, 270 pages

September 13, 2011, Candlewick Press

She knows only Sam, a mysterious teenage boy. He is her sole companion; her whole life. She was born, already a teenager, lying outside a burning building in soot-stained clothes, remembering nothing, not even her name. He showed her the necklace she had on, the one that named her: Abby. Sam brought her to live in his cave-palace, where he gives her everything she needs. He loves her. He protects her from the world outside, from everyone who wants to hurt them, like the denizens of Circle Nine, Dante’s deepest circle of hell. But even in a charmed, brand-new life like Abby’s, change will come. Sam falls ill. A new girl comes to stay, and Abby begins to question Sam’s devotion. With doubt comes emotional turmoil, changes in perception, and glimpses of her past identity. In this courageous psychological thriller, Abby tells the story of living her new life and discovering her old one, while grappling with an ever-changing reality.

Source: Netgalley & Candlewick (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

The story started out as sweet and confusing. Abby had no memory of what her life was, who she was and what her name was. She didn’t even know the mysterious boy who was with her. Everything was lost. But she woke up and her angel was in front of her, waiting for her, ready to save her from the chaos. She trusted him, even though she was wary and confused. She was lost and it would not be so hard for her to be anchored to the only person she knew: Sam. It was as if I walked into a fantasyland filled with love, hope and smiles. Sam and Abby were the sweetest couple I’ve ever encountered in YA. They even rivaled the sweetness of Sam and Grace from Shiver. I couldn’t stop smiling at their closeness. But like every relationship, this was not a perfect one. The shift from beautiful to ugly was jarring and saddening. I loved how Heltzel made me feel for the characters.

As Abby’s dreams and flickers of memory continue to invade her mind, she became more curious. Her unanswered questions only made her think more and probe more into her aching mind. Then things get more complicated when Sam came home with another girl, Amanda. She told and showed Abby things that Abby never considered. Jealous and even more baffled, Abby tried to come up with reasons behind Amanda’s actions.

Sam was a character with two sides. He was the sweet, smart and charming type who could easily make you like him. He was also the manipulative, short-tempered and cold type who could make readers hate him. I admired, hated and pitied him. Like Abby, he was also vulnerable, needing someone to hold onto, someone to stay with him. Whenever I think about this, I can’t help but feel sad for him.

The plot was smooth. Every chapter had me intrigued and hooked more than the last. I just read this in one sitting. I was that addicted to Circle Nine. The writing was amazing. Two thumbs up! It was so good that I was tempted to add around a hundred lines as quotes in Goodreads. Every line was mesmerizing, a painting of extracted beauty from Circle Nine’s world.

I was greatly intrigued with Abby’s vision and how it changed sometimes. Most of the time, she saw the world around her as completely beautiful but at other times, this ‘beauty screen’ slipped and Abby would see the world as it really was. I was convinced that something was wrong with her. Maybe she just saw what she wanted to see. It reminded me a bit of the movie Sucker Punch and how the character built a world she could escape in. It was fascinating to read about how her mind worked, no matter how silly and overly passionate her thoughts were. Her insights and observations of her world, of Circle Nine, of her relationship with Sam, and of her past had a childlike curiosity that burned so fierce it became one of the things that cracked her perfect little world. Her past and the truth were stronger than anything she had ever known before. Would the truth free her or would it bind her?

Circle Nine is an engaging, powerful and riveting psychological thriller. This extremely dark debut will shock, chill and terrify readers. I highly recommend this to readers of psychological thrillers, dark novels and twisted love stories. Don’t miss out on this one. It’s worth it.

Rating:

Giveaway: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Hi everyone! Today, I have a giveaway for you. I’m sure you’ve seen tons of giveaways like this throughout the blogosphere. But if you haven’t entered any yet, or if you want more chances of winning, take the time to view this post.

What’s up for grabs: A shiny, finished copy of Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier! 

You guys have no idea how much I want to join this giveaway myself. I've been dying to read this!

 

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

For more info about Kerstin Gier, including excerpts, book cover, reviews and audio: http://us.macmillan.com/rubyred

Here’s something visual for you to get a ‘feel’ of the book:

*CLOSED*

Rules:

Be a follower.

Open to US and Canada. (If you’re an international reader, you can enter as long as you have a US/Canada mailing addy!)

Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!
Ends on June 15, 2011!

Cheers,