Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Reviews
Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Yukiko, her father the Royal Hunter, and his crew are sent to the Iishi Mountains in the northern part of the Kingdom of Shima to capture a thundertiger – a near-mythical beast (it’s essentially a griffin). They capture one, but a storm destroys their airship and Yukiko is separated when she is carried away by the escaping thundertiger. But Yukiko has a rare gift: the ability to hear animal’s thoughts and to communicate with them, and she uses her power to become friends with the gruff Buruu. But the Shogun, the ruler of Shima, still demands his thundertiger, and Yukiko must figure out a way to escape his long, powerful reach.
Why I Picked It: Blurbs from Patrick Rothfuss and Scott Westerfeld, and the fact that it’s the first steampunk novel I’ve heard of that’s set in a Japanese-like country. Why I Finished It: Besides the awesome weapons, rebel ninjas, mechanized samurai suits, chainsaw katanas!, mind reading, griffin riding, and airship riding, the actual premise of Stormdancer is awesome. Shima is just like feudal Japan, except that technology has taken over. And that technology is powered by chi – a fuel derived from lotus blossoms. Chi exudes horrible red smoke and everyone wears masks and goggles because the pollution is so bad. Lotus farming has basically ruined the land as well – the weed eventually kills the soil so that nothing else can grow every again. The Lotus Guild, the steampunky organization in charge of chi production and development of new technology, provides a fertilizer that can keep the farms producing, but at what cost? So there’s a lot going on in Stormdancer with the corporations polluting the earth, the government’s ignorance, rebels terrorizing the countryside, and everyone grasping at whatever power they can, but the real power of the novel comes from the relationship between Yukiko and Buruu. The pair remind the people of Shima of the stories of ancient warriors who fought beside mythical beasts, and it looks like Yukiko might be a reluctant savior. But like Katniss in The Hunger Games trilogy, Yukiko’s not so sure that she wants that role. Who I’d Give It To: Fans of the Hunger Games and steampunk fans alike – the two finally meet! Rating: 5 out of 5 |
After the Snow by S.D. Crockett reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Due to changes in the Gulf Stream (the ocean current that has historically given Europe a mild climate) England is a frigid, snow-bound tundra for most of the year. The majority of the population lives in cities or neighboring settlements where they huddle together for warmth and rely on the authoritarian government to provide food and electricity. They are forced to work at the coal and nuclear power plants scattered around the countryside to earn their keep. Willo and his family are “stragglers,” survivalists who live off the land and off the grid far from the country. Willo’s father is always talking about being “beacons of hope” for the rest of their countrymen and maintaining their civility, but Willo is more interested in communing with the spirit of his dog skull – the power behind his extraordinary rabbit-trapping skills. But one day while trapping Willo hears screams and truck noises coming from his farm, and he returns to find his family taken by the government.
Why I Picked It: Recommended by another teacher who said it was a different take on the post-apocalyptic YA genre. Why I Finished It: It was! I guess I’ve always preferred the “soft apocalypse” (where society and civilization slowly disintegrate) to the world-ending kind, and After the Snow is much smarter and more subtle than the typical zombie outbreak/pandemic flu/nuclear holocaust book. Willo decides to find his family by traveling to the city (where they are presumably kept), but he soon finds an abandoned girl starving to death in a cabin surrounded by wild dogs! Mary is weak and a liability at first, but when they make it to the city she proves adept at keeping them safe. There things get out of hand very quickly. Willo is described as “slow” a few times, and the narration from his point of view is an interesting new sort of dialect that fits well with the changed landscape. Who I’d Give It To: Students looking for something a little lighter than The Hunger Games, but who don’t mind some realistic violence. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
The Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher reviewed Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Golgotha, a small cattle town just past the Forty-Mile Desert, is a stopping place for all manner of odd, strange, bizarre, and dangerous outcasts. The sheriff seems to be immortal, the owner of the general store keeps a creepy secret in his apartment above his store, and the banker’s wife is a secret assassin. Jim, a not-so-innocent teenager, comes to town just as all the weirdness comes to a head, and the results might have disastrous effects for not just the residents of Golgotha, but of the entire Earth and even the universe.
Why I Picked It: The reviews I read mentioned parallels with Lovecraft – that was enough for me. Why I Finished It: The similarities to H.P. Lovecraft’s unique brand of horror were certainly there, but R.S. Belcher has created something all his own. He has a huge cast of characters – some with good intentions, and some that are pure evil – and he does a good job of fleshing out all of them. Chapters alternate between different characters’ points of view and that of a third-person omniscient narrator, so we get to see the forthcoming horror through everyone’s eyes. And that horror is really, really good! One aspect of Lovecraft’s alien death gods that I never really understood was why they wanted to destroy everything so badly. When everything’s destroyed then what comes next? Belcher gives a great explanation of the reasons for the gods’ anger and also a vision of what the potential outcome is. And he even ties in some stuff from the Bible for good measure, but it all works! Who I’d Give It To: Josh, Billy, or Josh – Darren Shan fans who have graduate from his special brand of horror, and are looking for their next step. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevey reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: The once thriving steel town of Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania was founded and formerly run by the Godfrey family, but the steel mill is now abandoned and the Godfrey name is attached to the biomedical facility called The White Tower. When the body of a teenage girl is found mutilated in the woods everybody in town has a theory about the murder. Some suspect an escapee from the Godfrey Institute, but most think Peter Rumancek, a local teenage gypsy and rumored werewolf, is to blame. Peter’s unlikely ally is Roman Godfrey, the teenage heir to the Godfrey fortune, and a chauvinistic dandy who rules the school. Roman’s mother Olivia, his monstrously deformed sister Shelley, and his beautiful cousin Letha all come to believe in Peter’s innocence and help to clear his name. But dead teenage girls keep popping up.
Why I Picked It: Besides the cool cover and excellent reviews, I heard that Netflix was turning the book into a miniseries. Why I Finished It: Told from many different perspectives, the story twists and turns and so does McGreevy’s writing. He’s prone to linguistic flights of fancy and he drops some hilarious and spot-on turns of phrase. But the emerging friendship between the two outsiders, Peter and Roman, takes center stage. They each have their secrets, and as they let their guards down they get closer and closer to the killer. Although most definitely a horror novel, Brian McGreevy gives the reader a sly wink now and then to show that he truly understands what makes good horror: comedy. Because sometimes when you’re the most scared all you can do is laugh. And along with the blood, the mystery, and some heartbreak, he delivers some supremely funny stuff. Who I’d Give It To: Jason, and my sister Jess, because they’d get the allusions that McGreevy sprinkles throughout the story. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Frank Nichols is fired from his professor position in Chicago for stealing a colleague’s wife, so when he learns that he has inherited some money and a mansion in Georgia, he and his new lady don’t hesitate to pack up and leave. It’s during the Depression and times are tough, but his fiancé Dora has been offered the teaching position in Whitbrow, and Frank plans on writing a history of his relatives in the area. The most famous was Colonel Savoyard who reportedly hunted his slaves for sport, skinned them alive, and refused to surrender to the Union Army at the end of the Civil War - finally his slaves rose up and massacred him and his family. All goes well for Frank and Dora until the townspeople decide to stop participating in the monthly ritual of sending a pair of hogs across the river and into the forest that has grown up around the old Savoyard plantation. Then bad bad things start happening in Whitbrow.
Why I Picked It: Great cover blurbs by famous horror authors, and Buehlman’s latest book Between Two Fires, is coming in my next book order. Why I Finished It: Despite a slow start, the book soon picks up pace while also revealing very few details. As soon as the townspeople stop sending the pigs, people start getting attacked during the night. Attacked and eaten. Frank is haunted by memories of fighting in WWI, but he’s also the best qualified for leading an expedition across the river to see what’s going on. But the horrors he saw in France are nothing compared to what he finds on his ancestor’s old plantation. Who I’d Give It To: Jason or Dylan, who could use a good horror novel that doesn’t feature any zombies. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
The Black Company by Glen Cook reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: A band of mercenaries travel across a fantasy world fighting on the side of evil while trying to maintain a sense of their own humanity. Croaker, the company physician and keeper of the annals, narrates their battles and their consciences. After being released from service in the conflict-ridden city of Beryl due to some shading dealings with a masked warlord from the north, they travel by boat with that same character to their new commission. The masked man turns out to be one of the Taken: ten sorcerers in service to The Lady – an ancient and evil sorceress newly awakened from centuries of imprisonment. The Black Company fights under Soulcatcher (the masked warlord) to stop a rebellion that is gaining formidable power.
Why I Picked It: Recommended for fans of A Game of Thrones who find Jon Snow and his time among the Wildlings-storyline the most interesting. That’s me. Why I Finished It: I really liked seeing war from the opposition side for once. The Black Company itself tries to be neutral about whom they serve, but The Lady and The Taken are clearly evil. The rebellion appears to be the side of “good,” but the Company tries to ignore that as they battle. The rebels are searching in vain for the reincarnation of The White Rose – a child who originally overthrew the Lady (and her husband The Dominator) centuries ago. Croaker and the Company end up being a little closer to her than they thought, and as they repeatedly prove themselves in battle they end up getting much closer to the Lady and the Taken as well. Choosing Croaker as the narrator allows for Cook to explore the history of the company (because he’s the keeper of the annals) and to see the Company’s actions through the eyes of the member with the most empathy and humanity. Who I’d Give It To: Devin and Mark (as Game of Throne fans) and Jess because Jon Snow is her favorite! Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Hig is one of the lucky few who have survived a massive nationwide (and potentially worldwide – no one knows) bird flu. He’s holed up at a Colorado airport with his dog Jasper and a gun-crazy survivalist named Bangley. They’ve worked as a team for the past few years to kill any intruders, but Hig is sick of killing and plans a trip in his old Cessna to track down a faint radio signal he heard years before. But the signal is coming from just outside the Cessna’s fuel range and he may not be able to return home if he goes.
Why I Picked It: It was compared with Cormac McCarthy’s The Road – that’s good enough for me. Why I Finished It: At first Hig was a bit hard to understand – the fever from the bird flu was so hot that it killed quite a few brain cells – but his gentle and caring nature is evident from the start. He’s a skilled pilot and surveying the surrounding flat Colorado landscape in his plane has helped protect the airfield from the marauding gangs of survivors, but Bangley is the true survivalist. The two get along (but are certainly not friends) because they need each other, but Hig is obsessed with finding someone else to share his life with. What he finds when he tries to find the radio signal was a nice, un-Cormac McCarthy-like revelation, and the tension and suspense that pervade his quest made for a riveting read. Who I’d Give It To: Fans of The Road who wouldn’t mind a less graphic post-apocalyptic read. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Sandman Slim by Richard Kadry reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: James Stark has finally found a way out of Hell after 11 years as a gladiator then assassin for one of Lucifer’s generals. He’s covered in scars, impossible to kill, and he’s out to get the magician who killed his girlfriend and sent Stark – still alive – to Hell.
Why I Picked It: I’d been hearing about this series for awhile now, and I thought I’d check it out since it sounded a lot like Mike Carey’s Felix Castor books. Another series about a magician set in a world like ours but where magic is real. Why I Finished It: Stark is royally P.O.’d (as anyone would be after what happened to him) and his years as a gladiator have turned him ruthless and indestructible. Add to that the magic he learned in Hell and the few magical talismans he stole when he was down there, and you’ve got an anti-hero who has all the tools to wreak havoc on humankind. But he somehow still has a heart of gold and he ends up trying to right a few more wrongs than he originally intended. First he kills Kasabian, one of the circle of magicians who betrayed him, but keeps his head alive so that he can squeeze information from him. Then he meets up with his immortal best friend – who also happens to be an alchemist – to fight a supernatural power that has taken over L.A. and that is more powerful than Hell and Heaven combined. Stark is wickedly sarcastic and despite the violence and obvious dark happenings throughout Sandman Slim is pretty funny as well. Who I’d Give It To: I bought this with Billy, DJ, and James in mind. Rating: 4.75 out of 5 |
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: In the distant future, London is mobile. The giant “traction city” travels on enormous tank treads and “eats” other traction cities and towns, stripping them of fuel, metal, building materials, and ancient Old Tech to make London bigger and stronger. The Lord Mayor of London decides to leave the temporary safety of ancient Britain and cross the land bridge to the Old Hunting Grounds (what’s left of Europe) in pursuit of more prey, but his real motive is much more sinister. When a girl from London’s first catch attempts to kill the Head Historian, Tom Natsworthy, an apprentice in the Guild of Historians, is accidently thrown overboard with the attempted murderer. Hester Shaw is horribly scarred (and very grumpy), but she’s good at surviving on Open Ground, a place that Tom has never been.
Why I Picked It: I’ve heard about this series (the Predator Series quartet) for a long time, but they were out of print and hard to get until recently. I really liked the new series Reeve is working on that acts as a prequel to his original series (Fever Crumb, A Web of Air, and Scrivener’s Bones so far) set in a post-apocalyptic world many centuries from now. Why I Finished It: Reeve’s worldbuilding is superb! His vision of a future London has various tiers that separate the classes with The Gut (the engine rooms, prisons, algae farms) on the bottom and Top Tier, with St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Engineerium, and various other government buildings at the summit. The city’s Engineers try to figure out how to work the pieces of Old Tech that the Historians dig up, and the Navigators use old maps to track down other towns and cities to “eat.” There’s an Anti-Traction League of static cities that send spies into London, and any additional traveling is done by airships (there’s even a floating city!). Characterization isn’t the best, but this was Reeve’s first book, so I’ll give him a pass on it. His characters do have great Dickensian names though, and the plot zips along making for a very fast read. Who I’d Give It To: Dylan, because it would satisfy his steampunk cravings and also his tendency to like violent books – a whole lot of people die in Mortal Engines! Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
The Office of Mercy by Ariel Djanikian reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: In the distant future, most of society lives in fortified underground silos while a few scattered “tribes” wander the surface and try to survive. Natasha Wiley lives in one of the bunkers - America-5 – and works in the titular Office of Mercy. Her job is to track the tribes by satellite, and to eventually grant them mercy by killing them. The residents of the silos granted the majority of the world’s population mercy years ago because of massive overpopulation, and they continue to grant the survivors mercy with targeted airstrikes. But when a strike against a local tribe goes wrong, Natasha must go “outside” and grant mercy face-to-face and she begins to question the very nature of America-5’s existence.
Why I Picked It: Cool cover and the promise of a Hunger Games’-like dystopia. Why I Finished It: The society that Natasha has grown up in teaches its children to erect emotional walls that prohibit them from emotions – especially those emotions of regret regarding the murder of the innocent tribe members outside their walls. The citizens of America-5 are proud of the fact that they’ve exterminated more tribespeople than any other settlement all in the name of mercy. They are taught that the Tribes lead such brutal and short lives that killing them to end their suffering is the most ethical thing to do. Natasha has always had difficulty erecting the mental walls, and it turns out with good reason. The plot twists and mysteries make for a suspenseful read, and the premise of mercy-giving is arguably more offensive and deeper than the Hunger Games’ ritualistic sacrificial annual contest. Who I’d Give It To: Chelsea, Hannah, Grace, or one of the many dystopian fans in Library Club Rating: 4 out of 5 |
The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Perry Eckert is addicted to Creatures & Caverns, a Dungeons & Dragons-like role playing game, and would gladly spend all summer reading game manuals, creating new characters, and obsessing about the game with his friend Sam. But his divorced parents (and their lawyers – whom they’re both dating) decide he should go to summer camp instead. There Perry quickly gets in a fight and then meets a blue-skinned teen with a devil tail and is transported to an alternate world filled with Other Normals (as Mortin – the blue dude – calls them). It’s basically a world in the multiverse similar to ours, but with some very strange evolutionary diversions. Things are weird and confusing, but Perry feels right at home due to his C & C skills, and his obsession actually helps him survive in the hostile world. Mortin recruits Perry to help rescue a princess, and Perry falls in love with another blue-skinned Other Normal Ada during their travels through the strange world.
Why I Picked It: I loved Ned Vizzini’s It’s Kind of a Funny Story, and since I’m a not-so-closeted nerd I like books about nerdy stuff. Why I Finished It: Role-playing games are about as nerdy as you can get, but really this book uses Perry’s game as a way to start a cool fantasy adventure. The beginning of the book is a little disjointed and rushed, but once they travel (via a mushroom/car battery teleporter) to the world of the Other Normals the action comes fast and furious. Perry and Mortin’s sarcastic banter and Perry’s inappropriate affection for Ada add a nice comic element to an otherwise somewhat violent story. An epic battle back at the summer camp wraps up most of the loose plot points and also leaves open a possibility of a sequel (without a frustrating open or truncated ending). Who I’d Give It To: Jason (because he’s a D & D fan from way back) and anyone else who knows what Weezer song references a “12-sided die). Rating: 4 out of 5 |
Last Days by Adam Nevill reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Guerilla filmmaker Kyle Freeman is hired to film a documentary about an infamous cult called the Temple of the Last Days. The cult became famous in the 70s when all of the members committed mass suicide, including their leader Sister Katherine. Freeman travels to the three locations where the cult resided, and from the very first day of shooting weird stuff starts happening. In the remodeled luxury apartment building in London where the cult originated are weird smells, odd stains on the walls, and then strange sounds and a fleeting glimpse of something when the footage is replayed later. Then at the abandoned farm in France where the cult moved next things start to get really really strange.
Why I Picked It: I don’t really like horror movies, but I do like horror fiction. And I had a few students argue last year in their persuasive research papers that cults were not evil, so I had cults on my mind. Why I Finished It: This book is seriously scary! The first encounters with something in London are kind of spooky, but then when they get to France it gets seriously scary. Freeman slowly realizes that what he is seeing and hearing has no realistic explanation, and when he reacts to something he sees in Sister Katherine’s abandoned cottage in France, he reacts in a way I think most would: he curls up in a ball and closes his eyes, wishing he hadn’t seen what he just saw. At least that’s how I would react. And then by the time he and his soundman reach the abandoned Arizona mine where the cult committed mass suicide, he’s gone pretty crazy himself. The ending is completely wacked – it’s just mindblowingly insane. Who I’d Give It To: All those horror-loving highschool boys – and I’m buying more Adam Nevill books soon too! Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Far North by Marcel Theroux reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Makepeace is the sheriff and last resident of one of the failed states that popped up in Siberia in a future shaped by climate change. Quakers and other fringe religious and political groups escape to the unsettled north as it becomes more hospitable due to global warming, but danger arrives as governments fail around the world and chaos ensues due to overpopulation and super storms. Soon disease and starvation thin the settler’s ranks until only Makepeace and an escaped slave are left. When her friend dies, Makepeace contemplates suicide until she sees a plane crash in the mountains near her home. With renewed hope that someone else survives in this barren future (someone with the resources and knowledge to keep a plane running 100 years after the end of civilization) Makepeace travels west to try and find a reason to live.
Why I Picked It: I’m always looking for good post-apocalyptic fiction, and this one was supposed to be similar to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Why I Finished It: Similar to The Road (but less depressing) Far North is a great example of what is called a “soft apocalypse:” the slow dissolution of civilization because of a gradual weakening of governments and order instead of a some huge calamity like disease or a natural disaster that kills off everybody all at once. Theroux explanation for the collapse seems all too realistic, and it gives him a chance to keep Makepeace hopeful of a better life out there somewhere. She certainly doesn’t find it at first – she encounters stockade Middle Age-type villages, agricultural work camps, and diseased cities full of technology strange to the remaining humans. Makepeace is tough and stoic, but her true strength as a character is to show us what could happen to humankind in the not-too-distant future. Who I’d Give It To: Fans of Alas, Babylon or On the Beach, or apocalypse fans who need to break out of the zombie area of the genre. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Shades of Milk and Honey is set in an alternative Regency Era England (think Pride & Prejudice) where magic exists. Called glamour and primarily used by women, it is used to create illusions and tricks of the eye but very little else. Jane Ellsworth has given up on marriage. Her younger sister Melody is the beauty of the family, and plain-looking Jane’s skill with glamour (and her quick wit) has done nothing to impress the local bachelors. But then a recent gentleman from London and his accomplished (but rude) glamourist, Mr. Vincent throw both sisters’ prospects for a loop.
Why I Picked It: Described as “the book Jane Austen would have written had she written a fantasy novel.” That’s all I needed. Why I Finished It: Although fairly predictable, Kowal’s addition of glamour to the typical Regency Romance sets Shades of Milk and Honey apart. Glamour is never fully explained, but the details about how it is used and the effects it has on its user were very interesting. A sequel is set in a Europe torn apart by the Napoleonic Wars and sounds like it has a little bit more action. Without Jane Austen’s brilliant wit, Shades is a mere shadow of Sense and Sensibility (the Austen book it’s clearly based on), but its uniqueness saves it in the end. Who I’d Give It To: Becca wouldn’t stand for this copycat, but others no so emotionally attached to Austen would like the addition of just a touch of fantasy. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: In the near future, illegal downloading can get you kicked off the internet for a year. And with many jobs now outsourced to stay-at-home workers, doctor’s appointments scheduled exclusively online, homework assignments requiring online access, and even public assistance checks tied to the internet, getting kicked off is a serious problem. So when Trent McCauley – a film-obsessed illegal downloader from the North of England – gets his family’s internet cut, it’s so devastating that he runs away from home to escape his shame. He lands in London and quickly gets mugged, but meets a young panhandler who shows him the ropes and how to survive. They find an abandoned pub to squat in and eat from dumpsters (it’s not as gross as it sounds), and eventually Trent starts making mash up films again. But the English government is about to pass a law that will impose prison time on downloaders, and Trent joins protestors in trying to stop it.
Why I Picked It: Cory Doctorow’s first book Little Brother was amazing, so I automatically buy anything by him. And he’s also become this huge advocate for freedom and privacy on the Internet, and this book ties right in with what he himself fights for. Why I Finished It: Trent is a bit of whiner at first, but when he gets a purpose (and a girlfriend) he starts seeing himself as a part of something bigger. The political maneuvering and protests that he gets involved with become more and more serious, and his final stunt is massive and ingenious. The details of setting up a squat (a place where you live illegally), eating “found” food, and the secrets of begging make for a well-rounded and engaging saga. Some of the techno-speak got confusing at times, but Doctorow doesn’t knock you over the head with it – his explanations are usually pretty easy to understand. Who I’d Give It To: Dylan or Devin or Devrin – technology + stickin’ it to the man + loved Epic by Conor Kostic = will probably like Pirate Cinema. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Halli is the youngest son of the House of Sveinsson, one of the twelve houses that share the rule of a medieval Norse-like valley. The twelve houses were founded by the twelve legendary heroes who rid the valley of the evil Trows in ancient times, and since then all violence has been outlawed. Halli is stocky and swarthy but quick-witted and prone to mischief, and he longs for adventure like the heroes of old. When one of his pranks angers the members of another house and eventually leads to the murder of his beloved uncle, Halli breaks with the valley’s non-violent tradition and vows revenge.
Why I Picked It: I’ve never read Jonathan Stroud’s famous Bartimaeus series (but I’ve heard that it’s really good), so when this book came out I figured it would be a good way to see what kind of an author he was. Why I Finished It: I think I’ll have to get around to Bartimaeus someday, because Heroes was really good. It’s got all the elements of a medieval fantasy, but with a nice little mystery (what lies beyond the valley, and are the Trows really still out there?), some fast-paced action scenes, and humor. Halli’s sarcasm and wit contrast with pretty much everyone he knows, setting him apart (along with his oft-mentioned dumpy stature) until he meets Aud at an annual gathering at his family’s house. And Halli learns and grows a great deal about violence, revenge, and the power of myth over the course of the book. Just a great, funny, thought-provoking fantasy fit for all ages. Who I’d Give It To: Grace, Shawn, and Caleb – and fans of Erin Bow’s Plain Kate: another under-the-radar all-age fantasy (with a boring cover too!). Rating: 5 out of 5 |
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home and starts to remember a traumatic event from when he was 8. A suicide that took place on the boy’s country lane leads him to the farmhouse at the end of the lane where an odd family of women lives. The Hempstead Farm is devoid of modern amenities like electricity and indoor plumbing, but the boy instantly feels safe and comfortable in the cozy country kitchen. But when 11-year-old Lettie Hempstead takes the boy on a walk in the woods she unknowingly unleashes an evil presence that threatens to tear apart our world.
Why I Picked It: I’m pretty much going to read everything Neil Gaiman writes – his Neverwhere and The Graveyard Boy are two of my favorite books. Why I Finished It: One thing about Neil Gaiman’s books is the way he immerses the reader in an alternative world. He doesn’t explain or tell the reader about how his imagined world differs from our own – he just chucks you right in and slowly shows you his mind-bending creation. Just like the three Hempstead women: they have supernatural powers, they can see into the future (and the present), and they seem to be impossibly old but they just are those things. They matter-of-factly telepathically influence the boy’s parents into thinking that he was invited to a birthday party at the farm when in fact they’re sheltering him from a giant, circus tent-like, soul-devouring creature from another dimension. And Gaiman makes it seem perfectly natural. The man is a master – even if this isn’t his strongest book (it seems like he spun the 175 pages from a fragment of some weird idea that sprung into his head) it still showcases all of his amazing literary talents. Who I’d Give It To: Devin and Corey and Caleb will slip right into the story, and then I can get them to read Neverwhere (which should be required reading for Library Club kids). Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Ten years ago a burst of energy in the sky gave hundreds of random ordinary people super powers. But the power corrupted those it touched and none of the “Epics” use their powers for good. Instead they have enslaved normal humans and divided the world into little kingdoms where they rule by fear. Steelheart, the most powerful Epic, killed David’s father just after the Calamity and now rules Newcago with an iron fist (or steel fist I guess). David wants to join the Reckoners, a shadowy resistance group that kills Epics, and he just might get his chance as he’s been studying Epics for a decade and documenting each ones weakness. But the one Epic he wants to kill the most is the one whose weakness remains a mystery.
Why I Picked It: There’s been a ton of publicity for this book because Sanderson is super famous, and I really liked the idea that when granted super powers everyone becomes evil. Why I Finished It: Sanderson creates a scary but very realistic world. Newcago is about the only community that still functions like (semi-)normal. People have jobs, they have food and clean water, and it’s all because Steelheart provides for them. Granted he kills on a whim and everyone lives in fear, but apparently the rest of the country is in ruins. That’s one of the interesting challenges the Reckoners face – will Newcago really be better off with Steelheart dead? Plus there are legions of cool Epics with unique powers, awesome futuristic weapons, and lots of twists and surprises. Who I’d Give It To: Zach would love this book, and I’d love that he would take a break from graphic novels to read something a little longer. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Advent by James Treadwell reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: It seems like Gavin has always been able to see Miss Grey, the name he’s given the silent ghost that has haunted him all his life, and he’s learned not to speak about her to adults. But when she begins talking (screaming actually) he can’t take it anymore and confiding in his guidance counselor gets him kicked out of school. His Dad is a jerk and suggests that Gavin go live with his aunt at Pendurra, an estate in the south of England. But Gavin soon realizes that Pendurra is magical, like really magical, and what he seems to know of his own past is linked with the centuries-old mystery that surrounds the estate.
Why I Picked It: I liked the spooky English manor house on the cover and the simple “Magic is Rising” tagline. Why I Finished It: Treadwell’s version of magic’s actual existence and disappearance made a lot of sense, and its gradual reemergence creates a chaos that no one is prepared to handle. Gavin’s aunt is the governess or housekeeper (or something, Gavin never really figures it out) at Pendurra who takes care of Marina: a young girl who has apparently never left the estate. Marina’s father is an eccentric of some sort, and he basically leaves Gavin and Marina to figure out the mystery of his aunt’s disappearance. And then things start to get really really weird. Miss Grey (the ghost Gavin sees) is somehow tied to Johannes Faust – the famous magician who made a deal with the devil for the world’s knowledge – and the fact that Gavin can see her means a great deal. It’s hard to summarize Advent without giving too much away, but it has a Harry Potter-ish vibe to it, and there’s some ancient magic, and a mermaid, and a giant magic dog, and a magical crow creature, and a magic ring, and…. it’s just really good and you should read it. Who I’d Give It To: Devin or Grace will read it, but even Derek would like it after he finishes all of the Game of Thrones books. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
Sabriel by Garth Nix reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Sabriel is finishing up her last semester at a boarding school in Ancelstierre, an England-like country bordered to the North by the Old Kingdom, when she receives a cryptic message from her father that he’s trapped in death. Her father is The Abhorsen, the necromancer who protects the Old Kingdom from the forces of evil, but Sabriel knows little of what he does or how the Old Kingdom works. Magic only works on the northern border of Ancelstierre, but it runs through everything in the Old Kingdom, and Sabriel will have to call on all her magical and necromancy skills to survive the cold and terror that await her there.
Why I Picked It: Another possibility for the 10th grade English curriculum, but again it’s a book that I’ve wanted to read for awhile and just hadn’t found the time for. Why I Finished It: This is high fantasy at its finest. Nix reveals bits and pieces of how the Old Kingdom works slowly (but not frustratingly slow), but he doesn’t reveal so much that he ruins the suspense that builds as Sabriel journeys deeper into danger. She travels with Mogget, an elemental being in the shape of a cat, who is one of her father’s servants, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage with a secret past that he can’t remember. Nix’s various secrets and withholdings are revealed in a series of epic, cinematic battles/fights with a very cool and somewhat tragic ending. Mogget’s sarcastic cat-like wit and Touchstone’s brooding heartthrob-iness pair with Sabriel’s calm determination to make for a very entertaining team as they fight Shadow Hands, Mordicants, and an ancient evil intent on turning the Old Kingdom into a sort of hell on earth. Who I’d Give It To: Fans of Lloyd Alexander or Tolkien, but only those with patience. It’s almost like the book was written in an earlier time because it’s more of a slow burn than a raging inferno. But those slow burns last the longest and leave the most heat. Okay, that’s a ridiculous metaphor, but the book is amazing! Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Something Red by Douglas Nicholas reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: In 11th century England, a mysterious beast stalks the forests and villages in the north of the country. Hob is an orphan, adopted by Molly – an exiled Irish queen – and travels the countryside with her small company that consists of Molly’s granddaughter Neiman and Jack, the burly but stoic ‘muscle’ of the group. They travel around northern England, visiting villages and inns to play music and dispense Molly’s healing potions. As they make their way through a vicious winter towards York, something is attacking and killing people at will – something strong enough to dispatch trained warriors and massive guard dogs with ease.
Why I Picked It: It sounded like an interesting mix of history, horror, and magic, and the snowy cover felt perfect for this long winter we’re having. Why I Finished It: The setting and Nicholas’s language are two of the more powerful elements of Something Red, and help to completely immerse you in the time and place. I was surprised most of all by how wild England was at the time. Vast impenetrable forests cover most of the countryside, and inns and safe refuge are hard to come by on the road. And each stop on the way is a veritable fortress with measure upon measure to keep the inhabitants safe (Nicholas spends a lot of time detailing the various security setups, and although I found them very interesting not everyone will feel the same). The fact that these secure outposts are easily overcome by the mysterious beast makes the foreboding that much more palpable, as Molly’s band are eventually trapped in a castle by a treacherous snowstorm. Douglas Nicholas is a poet (according to his author bio) and he uses his beautiful grasp of language to elevate everything in the novel – Neiman’s beautiful red hair, the delicate wood carvings on a fellow traveler’s wagon, or the sickening crunch of a thigh bone being ripped from a recently-dead body to be used as a weapon by a supernatural man-eater. Something Red is super suspenseful, with a great climactic twist, and a very nice denouement for those who hate ambiguous endings. Who I’d Give It To: Sue and Gary would like different aspects of this novel – there’s really something for everyone. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Legend by Marie Lu reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: In the year 2130,the western half of the United States is now The Republic, a brutal military dictatorship with complete control over all aspects of people’s lives. June is a being groomed for a career in the military due to her well-connected family and prodigy-like physical and mental abilities. Day is a rebel – constantly on the run from the government as he steals from them to give food and medicine to the huge poor population of Los Angeles. When June’s brother is murdered, presumably by Day, she vows revenge and is given command of hunting the rebel down and bringing him to justice. But while undercover in the slums, June starts putting the pieces together of what really happened to her brother and she starts to doubt if the Republic is really who she should be fighting for.
Why I Picked It: I had an 8-hour drive to Pennsylvania to buy $2000 worth of doughnuts, and I needed an entertaining book to listen to on my trip. Why I Finished It: Well I didn’t finish the audiobook on my trip, but I came pretty close. I had to listen to the rest on my iPod as I washed dishes or hung up laundry because I needed to see how it ended. The book jumps between June and Day’s voices in alternating chapters, and this really drives the book along. The same event is looked at in very different ways: June is blind to the Republic’s brutal ways, and Day’s behind-the-scenes insurgency sheds light on the vicious plague sweeping through the poor sections of the city. The attraction between the two is far from obvious at first, but of course, they end up falling for each other. Who I’d Give It To: Definitely for fans of The Hunger Games, as The Republic is very Capital-like, but the love story is a bit more star-crossed. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: The notorious evil genius Doctor Impossible has escaped from prison yet again, and he’s determined to finally succeed in building his doomsday device. Standing in his way are the New Champions: a legion of superheroes tasked with protecting mankind from villains like Doctor Impossible. Fatale, the Champion’s newest member, is a super-advanced cyborg with computer-aided reaction times and new-age weaponry tucked into various parts of her body. Formerly unemployed, she is given an invitation to join the superheroes, but soon finds that their lifestyle is far from the glamorous one portrayed on TV and in magazines. They’re just as human as the rest of us (besides the fact that most of them really aren’t humans) with relationship, family, and health problems that are decidedly unglamorous. But they’ll have to stick together if they want to bring down the nefarious Doctor Impossible. And he’s got some new tricks up his sleeve.
Why I Picked It: The cover, with two red leather-gloved hands holding up a winged helmet, was designed by Chip Kidd and is particularly eye-catching. And I always like a good superhero story. Why I Finished It: The novel switches between Doctor Impossible and Fatale’s points of view which makes for an interesting approach. I especially liked knowing Doctor Impossible’s motivation for trying to take over the world again and again. Grossman directly addresses that classic evil villain trope: building a doomsday device and using it to blackmail the worlds’ governments for ultimate power. Why? What’s the point really? And Fatale’s behind the scenes look at the good guys was enlightening as well. Most of the New Champions are modeled after existing superheroes: CoreFire is Superman, Damsel is Wonder Woman, Blackwolf is Batman (and Damsel’s ex-husband), but Grossman throws in a ton of new superheroes of his own creation – all with their own histories and special attributes. Who I’d Give It To: Old Zach, one of my first students ever, who loved all things superheroes. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
Fiend by Peter Stenson reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Chase and his friend and fellow junkie Typewriter have just finished a week-long crystal meth bender when they look out the window and see a little girl eating a Rottweiler in the street. At first they think it’s a hallucination (apparently they’re used to seeing stuff like this), until the girl spots them and attacks. They manage to fight her off and escape, but they soon realize that it’s the apocalypse and that the only ones to survive the ‘turning’ are meth heads. Something about the drug counteracts the zombie virus and soon Chase and Type and Chase’s ex-girlfriend KK are traveling to their supplier’s house to find out if he’s still cooking. Through trial and error they discover that they can’t stop taking crystal meth – they’ll start to get sick and turn if they try to quit. So they’re looking at a future of constant using – and Chase couldn’t be happier.
Why I Picked It: I never thought to consider the similarities between zombies and meth heads, but it makes perfect sense! Pretty cool cover too. Why I Finished It: Fiend is disgusting. Zombie novels tend to be, but the descriptions of Chase and his friends’ hygiene after a week of smoking meth is pretty gross too. Bad breath, body odor, picking scabs (which is apparently a meth addict thing to do) – they were worse than the zombies most of the time. I pretty sure that’s the point Peter Stenson is trying to make – meth heads are already zombies. They don’t crave human flesh but they’re just as tenacious about getting their fix. They have about the same moral compass as zombies too: Chase is constantly stabbing his friends in the back to score, and even when his redemption is close (near the end of the novel), he makes a decision that proves how much control the drug has over him. Who I’d Give It To: Probably DJ or Dylan – zombie action, and hopefully a little bit of a reality check about poor decisions. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
The Martian by Andy Weir reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Mark Watney and the other five astronauts of the NASA Ares 3 mission to Mars are hit by a vicious sandstorm on the way to their Mars Departure Vehicle (MDV) when Mark is blown away by flying debris. Presuming Mark is dead his crew members blast off from Mars to their orbiting interplanetary spaceship. But somehow Mark didn’t die – his blood and part of the debris that hit him sealed his suit and kept him alive. But now he’s alone on Mars with no way to communicate with his crew members or NASA back on Earth - and no way to return to Earth. Luckily, like all NASA astronauts, Mark has multiple skill sets: he’s a botanist and an engineer, and his positive attitude and odd sense of humor will be crucial in surviving for years waiting for rescue. So if anyone can figure out a way to survive on Mars – it’s Mark Watney.
Why I Picked It: The cover is pretty cool, but the idea of someone being stranded on Mars and surviving! And back cover blurbs from Ernest Cline (Ready Player One) and Hugh Howey (Wool) didn’t hurt either. Why I Finished It: Watney definitely has an uphill battle in surviving Mars. The extreme cold and lack of atmosphere are constant threats, and his equipment keeps breaking because he’s using it a lot longer than NASA anticipated. He can’t talk to Earth because the debris that collided with him during the storm was the satellite dish (and the back-up antennae), so he has no way of telling them that he’s alive. But he’s ridiculously upbeat, and he manages to overcome everything Mars has to throw at him. Watney figures out how to grow plants inside his pressurized habitat using a tiny amount of earth soil, Martian dust, and ‘night soil’ that should allow him to grow enough food until he’s rescued. He even figures out a way to communicate with NASA (who has been watching him – along with the rest of the world – via satellite), and they immediately devote everyone at the agency to finding a way to save him. Their work is almost as interesting as Watney’s quest for survival. Who I’d Give It To: Andrew, Brandon, Scott – and other brainy boys who will probably be engineers like Mark Watney someday. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Red Rising by Pierce Brown reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: In the future, the social classes are divided by color with Golds at the top and Reds at the bottom. Humans have colonized most of the solar system thanks to the mineral Helium 3 that is mined far below the surface of Mars. Darrow is a Red HellDiver – he operates the dangerous and massive tunnel-digging drill that finds the Helium 3, and at 16 he’s the youngest HellDiver in history. He’s happily married to Eo, his childhood sweetheart, but life for Reds is hard. They are brutally overseen by Grays (the police caste) and food is carefully rationed, but they are constantly reminded that their hard work is for the greater glory of the human race. But then an act of rebellion violently changes Darrow’s life, and he discovers that everything he thinks he knows about Mars, the color system, and the mysterious terrorist group called the Sons of Ares is a lie.
Why I Picked It: Compared to The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones! Why I Finished It: This book was amazing! The color-coded caste system alone is worth reading about, but Pierce Brown has created a unique and very memorable new series. There are some recognizable elements from The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones (and especially Glen Cook’s Black Company novels), but he mixes them up and adds so much of his own awesomeness that he’s completely forgiven. After an opening sequence that basically sets up Darrow’s motivation for revenge, he infiltrates a battle royale with Gold teens at an elite school and the brutal capture-the-flag-like game that the school consists of makes up most of the book. There’s violence and betrayal, friendship and strategy, and it’s completely addictive. It’s as good (or better) than the first The Hunger Games book! I can’t wait for Golden Son! Who I’d Give It To: Everyone! It’s going to be a movie series I’m sure, but it’s so good that I want everyone to read it now. Right now! Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Alina Starkov is a lowly cartographer’s assistant in the massive Ravkan army. She has a secret crush on her best friend and fellow orphan Mal, but no discernible talents or skills until her unit is deployed across The Fold. The Fold is a massive strip of impenetrable darkness that cuts the country of Ravka in two, and is infested with harpy-like monsters called volcra. Alina’s unit attempts to cross the Fold quickly on sand-skiffs, but they’re attacked by volcra and Mal is injured. Just as one of the creatures descends towards Alina, a brilliant light explodes from her body scaring off the volcra and allowing her unit time to escape. Alina is taken to The Darkling, the leader of the Grisha, for training to develop her powers. The Grisha are a caste of wizards who help keep Ravka’s enemies at bay, and the Darkling is the most powerful of them all. Secreted in the Grisha stronghold of Os Alta, Alina develops her skills and starts to find herself attracted to the Darkling.
Why I Picked It: Well it sounded pretty cool – girl finds out she has crazy wizard skills after fighting off scary monsters in a patch of unnatural darkness that cuts a country in half. Why I Finished It: Ravka is like a fantasy version of pre-Communist Russia with cool Russian names for characters and places and objects, and the political setting is similar as well. The king is weak and lives a decadent lifestyle while the peasants starve and die in the wars with the neighboring countries. The big difference is the Grisha. They’re divided into different categories based on their abilities: the Corporalki can heal or destroy living flesh, the Etherealki are summoners of fire, water, or the weather, and the Materialki can fabricate chemicals or materials using their magic. Alina is a sun summoner, the only one that has ever existed, and the Darkling plans on using her to destroy the Fold forever. Alina’s training and life in Os Alta has shades of Hogwarts, but there is far more intrigue and political wrangling than in Harry Potter. When Alina starts to find out some of the secrets surrounding the relationship between the Darkling and the king and the creation of the Fold, the book really starts to zip. Who I’d Give It To: Fans of Harry Potter or Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea books. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Locke Lamora is the ‘Thorn of Camorr,’ the notorious thief and leader of the Gentleman Bastards. He and his fellow thieves only target the super rich in the exotic island city of Camorr, which breaches the pact made generations ago between the city’s rulers and the capas, the gang leaders who really run the city. But the Gentleman Bastards are too good to be caught, and their ambitions become grander and more elaborate with each successful scheme. Locke and his gang are in the middle of a new heist when a shadowy character calling himself The Gray King starts killing Camorr’s capas. Now Locke and his crew have to not only avoid the Duke Nicovante’s secret police, the yellowjackets (Camorr’s police), and Capa Braavasi (the head capa) and his thugs, but they have to contend with the seemingly invincible Gray King.
Why I Picked It: Recommended by George R. R. Martin. That’s good enough for me. Why I Finished It: George R. R. Martin knows his stuff! The Lies of Locke Lamora is very much like Game of Thrones in a lot of ways (but without as much violence): a cast of colorful characters, exotic locations, ancient artifacts from lost civilizations, backstabbing plot twists, mythical deadly creatures, and orphans plotting for revenge. Locke’s current larcenous deception involves disguises and numerous lies, and the ‘present day’ accounts of his scheme are interspersed with flashbacks to his childhood of how he became such an accomplished thief. Orphaned by the plague, he’s adopted by a thiefmaster who sells him to another because Locke is too much to handle. Chains, a fatherly thief who masquerades as a blind priest, trains Locke and his fellow Gentleman Bastards to be the finest thieves in Camorr, but also the intricacies of social etiquette, history, math, languages, and even cooking. What emerges is a group of thieves who extort only from the upper classes and who eschew violence whenever possible. Maybe Scott Lynch’s plot isn’t the strongest, and maybe the ending is a little too neat, but he’s created such unique characters and such an exotic and wonderfully realized setting that all is forgiven. And the two sequels (so far) are coming in our next book order! Who I’d Give It To: I already gave it to Caleb, and then probably Derek, and then maybe to some of the younger GoT fans who have somehow watched the show but haven’t read the books. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: The 12th expedition into Area X - an uninhabited portion of the Eastern seaboard – consists of five scientists tasked with exploring the mysterious region. Each group that has entered Area X has reported differing versions of what it contains – if they report anything at all: the 2nd expedition committed mass suicide and the 3rd killed each other – but none have reported finding the mysterious underground shaft that the newest explorers find on their first day. Descending into this “tunnel” leads to some seriously weird stuff.
Why I Picked It: The three books in this trilogy (Authority and Acceptance) are all being published 4 months apart from each other, and I thought these shortish science fiction thrillers would be good for those senior boys who are so reluctant to read. Why I Finished It: The biologist (all the characters use titles instead of names) of the group narrates the exploration of the “tunnel” and her further journey into Area X, and things get progressively weirder for her (and the reader) the deeper she goes. Some sort of unexplained (in this book anyway) disaster has made Area X what it is, and plants and animals have flourished in the absence of humans. But something or somethings else are there too, and Vandermeer slowly reveals the Lovecraftian nature of these supernatural/extraterrestrial/mutated/? somethings. The suspense is almost palpable and the sense of unease is heightened by the biologist’s confused and questioning take on the events happening around her. Weird and awesome stuff. Who I’d Give It To: Devrin and Jimmy B. would definitely be looking for the other two books if I gave them both Annihilation. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Harper Curtis is a serial killer who can travel through time – upon entering a boarded-up house in 1930’s Chicago he is transported forward in time to different eras in order to find his ‘shining girls,’ kill them, and escape back in time to avoid capture. Kirby Mazrachi was supposed to be one of his victims, but she manages to survive (although her body is now covered in scars from Harper’s knife). After she recovers physically she joins the Chicago-Sun Times to try and track down Harper and joins forces with Dan Velasquez, an ex-homicide reporter who originally wrote about her attack and escape. They begin to piece together clues about Harper and slowly start to realize that something is very strange and very different about this killer.
Why I Picked It: Stephen King raved about it, and that was good enough for me. Why I Finished It: King was completely right – The Shining Girls is amazing! The time travel element takes the traditional serial killer thriller and adds a cool science fiction twist that really amps up the suspense. The characters are expertly drawn as well: Kirby is the gruff, smart-mouthed survivor who tries to alienate everyone she meets as a defense mechanism, but her new partner Dan Velasquez is damaged enough himself that he doesn’t let her push him away. And revealing the killer right at the beginning of the book – and seeing his point of view in alternate chapters – is a fairly unique technique that makes for riveting reading. You can see what each side sees and the close calls and near misses add to the suspense. Who I’d Give It To: Definitely fans of Stephen King, Joe Hill, or any of the good thriller writers, but especially for those who are distrustful of King – The Shining Girls is smarter and less crass than most of Stephen King’s books, and it might turn a disbeliever on to a new genre. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Thomas, a knight turned bandit, is travelling the French countryside with his small crew of fellow ruffians trying to find food and to avoid the Black Plague which has decimated Europe in the 1340s. When they come across a young girl orphaned by the sickness, Thomas saves her from being assaulted by killing all of the other bandits, but he’s reluctant to believe her visions of the coming war between Heaven and Hell that she prophesizes. He decides to stay with and protect her as she travels to Paris – guided by angel’s voices – with the companionship of an alcoholic priest they find outside a town ravaged by plague (and a river monster). It starts to seem that the girl is telling the truth as the travelers keep coming across monsters and other horrors that can only have come from one place: Hell.
Why I Picked It: I really liked Buehlman’s Those Across the River about creepy things happening in a small Southern town. His brand of horror is unique: a suspenseful beginning with a disbelieving narrator, and then a gruesome smack in the face that wakes up the main characters and the reader. Why I Finished It: Between Two Fires was even better than Those Across the River! The river monster is Thomas’s rude awakening to the Hellish new nature of life in 1348 France, and things only get progressively weirder and more evil as the travelers make their way across the barren landscape that resembles Purgatory more than it does Earth. Demons, angels, zombies(!), the Pope, and unspeakable abominations all make an appearance, but all the weirdness of Hell on Earth doesn’t ruin anything in this novel – in fact, it makes it seem all too real. Who I’d Give It To: Jimmy or Devin, or anyone who likes there historical fiction flavored with horror! Rating: 5 out of 5 |
The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra by Jason Fry reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Tycho Hashoone and his family are space privateers – legal pirates for the Jovian Federation – who land in hot water after commandeering a ship that is carrying a diplomat from Earth. Ships carrying diplomats can claim diplomatic immunity and thus avoid pirates, but there’s something fishy about the whole scenario. While their case is pending in space court, the Hashoone family set out in their ship The Shadow Comet to find the location of missing Jovian merchant ships. It turns out that they’ve been taken by the notorious – and thought-to-be-dead – pirate Thoadbone Mox and his ship The Hydra. And it seems that somehow the suspicious diplomats and Mox are tied together.
Why I Picked It: It’s about Space Pirates. Why I Finished It: For centuries the moons of Jupiter (that make up the Jovian Federation) have been at war with Earth, with the loose space federation barely surviving against the now corporately-run home planet. Tycho’s ancestors have all been pirates, but under his grandfather Huff they became legal. Huff is mostly machine now as cybernetic repairs and appendages account for most of his body, but they haven’t dampened his scurvy nature – he’s the only character who actually talks like a pirate. There are space battles and boarding parties and laser blasts and intrigue and spies – it’s a fun space romp and there are sequels on the way. Who I’d Give It To: Middle schoolers who aren’t sure about science fiction. The Jupiter Pirates is a good introduction to the genre and the pirate elements make it fun. Rating: 3.5 out of 5 |
The Twistrose Key by Tone Almhjell reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Lin Rosenquist misses her country home after moving to the city with her family, but more than anything she misses Rufus, her pet vole who has recently died. While exploring the decrepit cellar under her parent’s rental home she finds a door that leads to a magical land called Sylveros. Rufus is there in this wintery but beautiful world, along with all the other childhood pets anyone has ever lost. Lin is immediately thrust into a race against time to save Sylveros, for she is the Twistrose – a human child brought to Sylveros every couple of centuries to restore the magic that keeps the magical land alive. But there’s someone that is conspiring against Lin and Rufus that doesn’t want the prophecy fulfilled – and they’ll kill if they need to.
Why I Picked It: Awesome cover and blurbs from Erin Bow (Plain Kate) and Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone). Plus it sounded Narnia-like. Why I Finished It: The Twistrose Key is very much like The Chronicles of Narnia (it’s even winter all the time in Sylveros) and although nothing can touch C.S. Lewis’s classic, Almhjell’s imagination comes close at times. Lin is a child of the woods, and is very out of place in the city (where she can’t hunt for imaginary trolls or wander the woods with Rufus), but the skills she’s gained through years of play are called upon when Rufus and his mentor, the fox Teodor, enlist Lin in finding the Frost Child, a human-like boy who has the ability to make it snow in our world or something. That’s supposed to impart enough magic to Sylveros to keep it running for a few more centuries. I’m not quite sure how it all worked, but I didn’t care! The plot is so delicious (just like the chubby hamster’s waffles!) and so cozy (like Lin’s new knit gloves and hat – made by a cat!) that despite some real suspense and danger from ice trolls (!) I was just completely overwhelmed by how cute this book was. Maybe that’s offputting to some, but I guess I was transported back to my youth when I read The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time. It was that same sense of reading about a world so magical and so full of wonder that you just wish you could go there and help save it – no matter the danger you might face. There is a lot going on in this book with the complex prophecy overshadowing the entire plot, and so many characters that the protagonist Lin isn’t very clearly defined, but it doesn’t really take away from the pure joy and wonder that you’ll feel when reading it. Who I’d Give It To: Anyone – it’s a book for everyone! Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Relic: The Books of Eva (Book 1) by Heather Terrell reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Almost 250 years after “The Healing” destroys much of the planet, humanity’s last outpost is New North – a rigidly-organized society in the frigid Arctic wilderness. Eva is the daughter of the Chief Archon, and has volunteered for the annual survivalist competition The Testing in her dead brother’s place. Eamon died while training illegally for this competition that pits 12 teenagers against the harsh weather and landscape of the Arctic as they search for Relics – ancient artifacts from the 21st century that are used to show how evil our lives were. Eva is ready physically for the challenge having been trained by Lukas, an Inuit from the Boundary area that surrounds the caste-controlled New North, but she may not be ready for the philosophical or emotional challenges she will face as she discovers the Relics of a teenage girl killed during The Healing. What she finds could potentially change the very fabric of her society, and there are some who would do anything to stop that change from happening.
Why I Picked It: I liked the pickaxe and computer power button symbol on the cover, and I’m always drawn to post-apocalyptic books where people from the future find and interpret everyday items from our time. Why I Finished It: Heather Terrell does a great job of slowly revealing the lies that are the basis of New North’s founding and existence. As is the norm with a first-person point of view YA novel, the narrator is the dumbest character, and Eva continues the trend. Arguably she’s been brought up in rigid society that keeps its citizens from questioning the rules and traditions, but she’s awfully dense when confronted with the truth. But it’s a minor quibble (even Katniss in The Hunger Games is guilty of it) as the rest of the book is pretty good. There’s a dogsled race across the tundra to the Relic testing site, the search for and discovery of ancient artifacts, mean Testors who target Eva, and a conflicted love triangle with Lukas, Eva, and Jasper, her potential future mate and prime state-indoctrinated antagonist. There’s plenty of action, suspense, and slowly revealed secrets, and a nice ending with a setup for the inevitable sequel (a trilogy I assume?). Who I’d Give It To: Fans of Katniss, Triss, June (Marie Lu’s Legend) and the countless other tough teenage girl main characters of post-apocalyptic dystopian YA genre. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
The Last Wild by Piers Torday reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Kester Jaynes is a resident of Spectrum Hall, a juvenile detention facility in a future England. A man-made virus has wiped out all animal life except for “varmints” (bugs and pigeons basically) – all mammals, fish, amphibians, most other birds are gone. Kester hasn’t talked since his mother died when he was a child, but one day while feeding a cockroach during lunchtime he finds that he can hear what the bug is saying (telepathically I guess). Soon a flock of pigeons and Kester’s bug friend bust him out of Spectrum Hall and take him to an isolated part of the countryside where there are still some animals! A wise old stag tells Kester that he has been chosen to find a cure for the Red Eye virus that is killing the animals, and the answer lies with Kester’s dad, a famous veterinarian who now works for Factorium – the corporation that now runs England.
Why I Picked It: It was supposed to be a “sci-fi Roald Dahl” book – and that sounded pretty intriguing. Why I Finished It: It was very much like Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach – Kester talks to bugs and they help him escape a horrible living situation, and it’s filled with very Dahl-like humor. The Factorium’s head animal killer is on Kester’s trail and he’s a perfect Dahl villain – he’s got crutches as weapons and a goofy accent. He’s also a killer, and that’s where The Last Wild’s homage to Dahl really works – just like Roald Dahl, Piers Torday doesn’t sugarcoat death. Dahl’s books are very dark comedies, and in The Last Wild there is death as well. All the animals are dead! There are forests full of bones! Main characters die! Villains die! A lot like Neil Gaiman, Piers Torday effectively writes a book for middle school students in content and language and theme, but he doesn’t baby them. Just like in real life, decisions can sometimes mean life or death, and things die. Parents, favorite pets: nothing is immortal. Wow, I’m getting really philosophical and dark, but The Last Wild kinda is too. But it’s also funny and has a great ending. Also like life, things usually work themselves out in the end. Who I’d Give It To: Zach A. as a middle schooler – our soon-to-be world famous biologist would have liked this a lot at that age. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
Plain Kate by Erin Bow reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: A talented woodcarver like her late father, Kate just barely scrapes by with her trade until a stranger named Linay offers to buy her shadow for a wish and enough supplies to survive. She flees her small town when plague strikes and the townspeople become suspicious of her skill (they think she’s a witch). Kate and her talking cat Taggle join up with a group of Roamers who provide safety and friendship. As the plague spreads Kate begins to think that Linay is the cause, and that her shadow is somehow fueling him.
Why I Picked It: The cover is somewhat boring, but I read some glowing reviews from people I admire. And I love me a good magical fantasy novel. Why I Finished It: Linay’s creepiness begins to draw Kate into darkness, and the story gets more and more suspenseful as Kate races against time to stop Linay and the plague. Taggle’s sarcasm lightens the mood and as one of the most important characters his fate ultimately plays a major role in the book’s ending. Just excellent, excellent fantasy. Who I’d Give It To: Dillon, because I’d just give him the book and tell him he’d like it, and he’d read it. He foolishly trusts me! Rating: 5 out of 5 (I cried) |
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ranson Riggs reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Jacob only ever half-believed the stories his grandfather told him: of the island orphanage where he grew up, of the strange children who lived there with him, and of the fantastic powers those children had. But then a strange monster kills Jacob’s grandfather before his eyes, and Jacob finds a box of photographs of kids: kids who seem to actually have the strange powers that his grandfather described.
Why I Picked It: The weird pictures on the cover: a levitating girl, creepy identical twins with Nine Inch Nails-style outfits, etc. Why I Finished It: Uh, I almost didn’t finish it. The pictures are cool, but the accompanying story is not. It’s all over the place and not really all that exciting. The author found the pictures and then created the story around them, and you can tell – the story is weak and the link between the pictures is rather tenuous. Who I’d Give It To: Maybe to fans of A Wrinkle in Time, because there are some interesting concepts about time travel, but I’d really have a hard time recommending it to anyone. Rating: 3 out of 5 |
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Life isn’t so great in the year 2044. Poverty is rampant; starvation, power outages, and unemployment are the norm. Like the majority of humanity, Wade Watts spends his days plugged into OASIS: a massive, multiplayer, online virtual reality “world” where anything is possible. And everyone on OASIS is looking for the “eggs” hidden by its founder – “eggs” that will lead the winner to the world’s greatest prize. But after 10 long years, no one has found even one of the eggs – until Wade finds the first one.
Why I Picked It: Reviews claimed that it was chuck full of 80’s pop culture and video game references, and it definitely is! The OASIS founder was obsessed with 80’s trivia, and all of the egg clues are based on old music, movies, TV shows and video games. Wade is a classic underdog, and after finding the first egg everyone in OASIS is chasing after him for clues, and to kill him! It’s fast-paced and crazy and awesome, but somehow always believable. Who I’d Give It To: Garrett would like the video game references, and how students can attend school virtually. And Jason would like everything about it. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Zone One by Colson Whitehead reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: A plague has swept North America turning most of the inhabitants into mindless cannibals – or, even though the term is never once used, into zombies. The days of terror are almost over though as a provisional government set up in Buffalo begins to provide aid, food, ammo, and direction to the surviving masses. One of the first goals of the new government is to clear lower Manhattan of any remaining “skels” and to prepare it for resettlement. Mark Spitz is on a civilian “cleaning” crew that’s going building by building dispatching any zombies missed by the Marines in their initial sweep of the zone. Life is actually pretty boring for Mark and his crew, until things start to go wrong. Really, really wrong.
Why I Picked It: It’s been billed as the first “literary zombie novel.” That’s good enough reason for me. Why I Finished It: Colson Whitehead has created a beautiful, moving, and breathtaking zombie novel. The stories of how Mark Spitz and the other survivors made it through the worst of the apocalypse takes up most of the book, and each one is harrowing, suspenseful, and emotional. And everything about the post-plague world seems so authentic and real despite the fact that it will only ever be fiction (hopefully!). Who I’d Give It To: All of those zombie-loving guys in my library after they’ve filled up on The Walking Dead, Rot & Ruin, Z, and The Zombie Combat Manual. And maybe once they’re juniors or seniors. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Johannes Cabal, the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Johannes Cabal sold his soul to gain the powers of necromancy, but now he wants it back. He makes a deal with the devil to convince one hundred people to sign over their souls to win back his own. Satan gives him a creepy travelling carnival as a pickup tool, and Cabal uses his necromancy skills to create some carneys to run the carnival. And he rescues his brother, who is a vampire, from a crypt for extra help.
Why I Picked It: The book is billed as being funny as well as dark and creepy, and that sounded like a good combination to me. Why I Finished It: The various methods Cabal uses to obtain souls were often pretty funny (like breaking violent inmates out of prison to use as security for the carnival, then having them sign a “contract” to receive their benefits) despite the dark purpose. And I liked how Cabal wrestles with his conscience as he gets closer and closer to his 100th soul. He wants his soul back so badly that he risks becoming even more inhuman than he already is. Who I’d Give It To: Rodrigo, a fictitious student I just made up who likes exactly what I tell him to like. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Sam coasts through life: he works at a fast food restaurant, he hangs out with his friends, he skateboards a little bit. But a prank at work gets him noticed by Douglas, a powerful necromancer who decides that he’ll teach Sam a lesson. But then he learns that Sam has latent necromancy powers, and that he’s potentially very powerful.
Why I Picked It: The title is supposed to be sung to the tune of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” specifically the line: “Hold me close now tiny dancer.” That was good enough for me. And I had just finished Johannes Cabal: The Necromancer, so I was kind of on a necromancy kick. Why I Finished It: It’s alternatively darkly funny and darkly dark. What happens to the stuck-up girl Sam works with and the repercussions (I don’t want to say too much) are a good example. Douglas kills her and sends Sam her head in a box. But then her severed head still talks and complains a lot. And she’s very funny, but still very dead. Who I’d Give It To: Meg would enjoy the sarcasm, and Ricky would enjoy the beautiful teenage werewolf who uses Sam for her own means. Despite the werewolf (and I think I remember a vampire or two as well) this book is no Twilight. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: At 16, Durango is already a battle-hardened mercenary whom, through some untold disgrace, has to work on the black market to make enough money to survive on Mars. Mars now has an atmosphere after years of terra-forming, but the environment is still harsh and unforgiving (like its inhabitants), and Durango and his crew are hired to head to one of the bleakest outposts to protect a group of miners.
Why I Picked It: Besides the awesome Soundgarden song as a title, one of the blurbs on the cover was from Suzanne Collins. The reviews I read also made it sound like it was action-packed and awesome! Why I Finished It: It was action-packed and awesome! And so much more: Durango has an implant of his former chief Mimi in his head, and she alternates between mocking sarcasm and helpful strategy. Durango’s second-in-command, Vienne is devastatingly beautiful (and deadly) but they don’t have time for romance because everything is blowing up or they’re getting shot at or they’re being chased by cannibals on snowmobiles – on Mars! And it’s so well written that it almost seems plausible. Who I’d Give It To: This book started Melvin reading, so I’d give it to those students (usually boys) who say they hate reading. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Kvothe is the owner and operator of a quiet inn in the middle of nowhere until a traveling scribe recognizes him for the fallen hero he is. In order to protect his new identity he agrees to tell the scribe the story of his life – and what a story it is! Here’s how he starts:
“My name is Kvothe. I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep. You may have heard of me.” The son of a pair of traveling actors, Kvothe learns his unique skill-set early in life. The ability to read people and present to them any personality that will get him his way he learns from the acting troupe. The beginnings of sympathy (what they call magic) from Abenthy the Arcanist who travels with the group for a time. He learns to play the lute better than anyone alive during a period of extreme loneliness. And how to survive starvation and beatings while living on the streets of a harsh city. He eventually makes his way to the University in order to become a true Arcanist. Patrick Rothfuss’s epic fantasy debut has been compared to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and although I think that’s a bit of a stretch, the world he has created in this first installment in The Kingkiller Chronicles mirrors Tolkien’s Middle Earth in many ways. Evil runs rampant, and everyday folks are willfully ignorant of how dangerous the world has become and how close civilization is to annihilation. The setting is middle-agey (horses for traveling, swords for fighting, etc.) but with a strong element of magic. The story slows down a little while Kvothe is at University, but when he leaves to chase down rumors of a massacre during a wedding in a town called Trebon the story kicks back into gear. This first installment ends with Kvothe’s story just picking up steam – the second book comes out in March and I can’t wait! Fans of fantasy can’t miss this amazing addition to the genre. Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
Libyrinth by Pearl North reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Haley is a Libyrarian, tasked with storing and protecting a massive collection of books from Ancient times in a massive maze of books called the Libyrinth (think: a Labyrinth of a Library). On her planet (a former colony of Earth?) a religious group called the Eradicants hates the written word, preferring to record their history and knowledge in song instead, and is continually trying to destroy the books in the Libyrinth. Haley is special in that she can “hear” books: being near books causes them to speak to her, even in languages she doesn’t know.
Why I Picked It: A giant maze of books on a lost planet? Sounds like my cup of tea. Why I Finished It: Haley’s power has the potential to unite the Libyrarians and the Eradicants – she can understand what is in books but she never has to actually “read” them. But far from being mindless zealots, the Eradicants turn out to be cultured and Haley has to overturn everything she thinks she knows about them. I also liked the sentences and phrases that Haley “hears” from the books as she moves through the Libyrinth. They are all from famous or iconic young adult books and add perfectly to the story (an index of the books they come from appears in the back of the book). Who I’d Give It To: Emily or Zach, who would both appreciate the power books have – for reverence and fear – in this novel. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Aging death-metal legend Judas Coyne has a creepy collection: a signed confession from a 17th century witch; a trepanned skull; a cookbook for cannibals; a used noose - but the latest addition to his collection has some extra baggage attached. A suit last worn by a dead man and haunted by the man’s ghost seemed like a great purchase, but then the man’s ghost actually shows up and he’s no Caspar the Friendly Ghost. He dangles a golden razor from a chain and he’s out to kill Jude for a past wrong. He narrowly escapes the ghost and then takes to the road in his restored Mustang with his girlfriend Georgia and their two dogs, Angus and Bon. The road trip south to confront the ghost’s daughter (who tricked Jude into buying the suit) brings Jude back to his hometown and forces him to face his all of his demons, supernatural and otherwise.
Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son, and he seems to be successfully carrying out his father’s twisted legacy in his own horror novels and short stories. Jude is not a very likable protagonist at first, but as his past and the ghost’s start to connect the reader starts to root for Jude and Georgia. Things get creepier and creepier, and a series of Jude’s flashbacks and visions enlighten the reader on crucial backstory and serve as a catalyst for the final confrontation with the ghost. Scary, and suspenseful, and wonderfully well-written, Heart-Shaped Box isn’t for everyone, but fans of horror will be very, very pleased. Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Incarceron is a self-sustaining and self-perpetuating prison so vast that entire forests have grown up within its walls. Prisoners are born inside and they die inside – the world ‘Outside’ is only a legend, but a few believe that escape is possible. Finn is 17 and his memories begin and end in Incarceron, but he mysteriously sees visions of Outside. He believes that he can follow the path of Sapphique, the only prisoner ever to escape, and use his visions and a unique key to help him find a way out of Incarceron. Claudia is Outside, and lives a sheltered life as the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron. She’s headstrong and rebellious, and she steals her father’s key to Incarceron vowing to find the entrance and free the prisoners. When Claudia and Finn discover that they can use their keys to communicate they start to work together to uncover the secrets of Incarceron.
There’s so much to this book that it’s hard to write a short summary of the main plot lines, but Fisher’s world-building is so believable that it doesn’t matter. Outside is ruled by Protocol – a system where anything modern is banned and everyone lives in a fake 18th century environment – and everyone believes that Incarceron is a perfect utopia: sealed up so that it can’t be perverted by the suspect morals of the rest of the world. In reality, Incarceron is a hell ruled by a sadistic artificial intelligence. Only the Warden knows what Incarceron really is. The sequel, Sapphique, comes out in late December and will hopefully keep developing Fisher’s unique creation. Mr. Hyde says 4.5 out of 5 |
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own fairy tale and into eight other of the Brothers Grimm’s bloody and dark stories. Some are familiar, and some are more obscure, but these certainly aren’t the Disney versions. Parents are selfish, witches eat children, monsters abound, and cruelty runs rampant as the two siblings are separated and then finally come together again.
Why I Picked It: A cool, creepy cover and lots of recommendations from 6th graders! Why I Finished It: The stories flow into each other so seamlessly that it’s hard to put the book down. Every horrible thing imaginable is done to the siblings, and Gidwitz gleefully warns the reader when it’s going to get bloody. Fairy tales have been around for forever and there’s good reason why: the stories are simple, but the themes of jealousy, cruelty, betrayal and love we can all relate to. Who I’d Give It To: If Lizzy is anything like me she’s going to love having me read this to her in a few years (okay, maybe in like 5 years). Rating: 5 out of 5 |
The Passage by Justin Cronin reviewed by Mr. Hyde
In an attempt to turn death row inmates into super weapons, the US Army accidentally creates a race of unstoppable vampires that decimates the country. A hundred years later a small group of survivors live in a heavily fortified enclosure surrounded by high-powered spotlights to repel the ‘virals’ at night. It’s a hard life, but the members of the Colony get married, have children, farm, and live. But the batteries that store the daily electricity from their wind farm (and that power the lights at night) are slowly dying. In a year, maybe longer, the Colony’s lights will go out, and the virals won’t hesitate to attack. But when a group checking on the wind farm’s substation encounters a young girl who has somehow survived in the harsh apocalyptic world, the Colony’s fate is decided long before the batteries have a chance to die. The first in a planned trilogy, this book is something truly remarkable. It will consume you as you read it, and it’s all you’ll think about when you’re away from it. Even if you don’t like vampires or post-apocalyptic fiction, The Passage will draw you in with Cronin’s superb character development and amazing skill with setting and plot. So good I want to read it again.
Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: In the not-too-distant future, a scientist finally creates artificial intelligence, and it issues a call-to-arms to all the robots of the world to rise up and kill all humans. Robots pervade everyday life as servants, mailmen, guards, and factory workers, so the humans are quickly outnumbered by the robots. But a few humans start fighting back.
Why I Picked It: It was compared to Max Brook’s excellent World War Z, which was filled with first-person accounts of survival during the zombie apocalypse. Why I Finished It: The first-person accounts make for a quick and exciting read, but the book was not nearly as good as World War Z. The writing isn’t as good, and the emotional connection in Max Brook’s book wasn’t there either. Pretty good, but maybe zombies are just more fun? Who I’d Give It To: Zombie lovers – the apocalyptic setting and blood should satisfy them. Rating: 3.5 out of 5 |
Blood Red Road by Moira Young reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Saba and her family live in Silverlake, a dried up wasteland isolated from outsiders, until the day a dust storm rolls in with black cloaked riders at its center. They kill her father and kidnap her brother Lugh, and Saba sets off on a quest to rescue him. On the way she encounters eloquent slavers, a group of helpful female raiders, and a handsome thief named Jack.
Why I Picked It: The setting is a post-apocalyptic North America, and Saba and her family scavenge through “Wrecker” landfills for useful objects. I also read reviews that compared it to The Hunger Games and Mad Max – two of my most favorite things! Why I Finished It: It’s just so good! Saba narrates in a western dialect, so “for” becomes “fer,” etc., and it quickly immerses you in the futuristic setting. The “romance” between Saba and Jack is funny and believable, and Moira Young has people her book with a very interesting cast of characters. Saba is also a lot like Katniss from The Hunger Games, and there’s cage fighting! And Hell-Wurms! And land yachts! And cage fighting! Who I’d Give It To: I think Hope or Taylor would like it – maybe not as much as they like The Hunger Games though. And then maybe they’d watch Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome! But probably not. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Temple is a 16 year-old girl living in a future America decimated by a zombie plague. She’s tough and has no trouble traveling through the wasteland dispatching “meatskins” with her curved ghurka knife if they get too close (the zombies in The Reapers Are the Angels are of the slow-moving, stupid variety). She lives alone when she can, but when her hideouts are eventually discovered by zombies or if she gets lonely for human contact she’ll attach herself to a group of survivors. Some are travelers like her, and some hole up in abandoned buildings or walled-off stretches of towns or cities and try to recreate life before ‘the living dead.’ After a violent run-in with a man in a survivor community she takes off with the man’s brother hot on her heals, stopping to help a mentally handicapped man even though she wants nothing to do with the “dummy.” She encounters freaks and mutants, good folk and bad, and even manages to fall in love a little bit.
The Reapers Are the Angels is bloody – very bloody. Temple is skilled with her ghurka knife (or any other weapon for that matter) and she doesn’t hesitate to use it. But the depth of her character is what sets this zombie novel apart from the rest of the bloody pack. She’s haunted by all the killing she’s done, and she’s convinced that she’s evil because of it. Her inner struggles mirror her external battles and help with overcoming her demons comes from an unlikely place. Bell’s writing is quite lyrical and beautiful in many places, and it’s most often on display when Temple is witnessing some of the wonders of nature she encounters between episodes of violence. The Reapers… is a beautiful, moving work of fiction that rises above the normal zombie tale. Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Seventeen-year-old Riley is happy to help her dad, famous demon trapper Paul Blackthorne, as Atlanta – and most other major cities - plays host to an increasing amount of demons. Life is simple (relatively), until a Grade 5 demon attacks Riley during a routine trapping, signifying a sudden shift in demon tactics. Then tragedy strikes, and Riley is forced to figure out a solution on her own.
Why I Picked It: Not my usual type of book, but I read a lot of reviews that promised an action-packed supernatural mystery. The reviews were right. Why I Finished It: Riley is a strong-willed female protagonist who doesn’t take any guff from anyone – including demons. Setting the book in a future, post-economic collapse, makes the demon infestation plausible and adds a few other interesting elements - like a scarcity of gasoline – that introduce various hurdles for the characters. The characterization in this novel is very strong – even the “bad guys” within the Trapper’s Guild come across as more than one-dimensional. Who I’d Give It To: DJ, because he’s a big fan of Mike Carey’s Felix Castor books. These are like YA versions of those books. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To by D.C. Pierson reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: High-schoolers Darren and Eric become friends because they’re basically both losers – bottom rung of the social ladder, scared of girls, obsessed with science fiction and fantasy. Together they’re creating a massive science fiction graphic novel/movie/TV series/book series project based on Darren’s drawings and Eric’s concepts. Then Eric reveals to Darren that he doesn’t sleep. Ever. And he doesn’t ever need to. Then some very sketchy guys find out about Eric and they start chasing the two boys.
Why I Picked It: Darren’s goofy drawings start each chapter and cover the outside of the book. Plus it has an awesome title. Why I Finished It: I could instantly identify with Darren and Eric’s love of science fiction and fantasy (being a bit of dork myself), and they have a very sweet relationship for a couple of dudes. After Eric tells Darren his secret Darren tries testing his power by first videotaping him for two days (to see if he ever sleeps), then giving him roofies, and then trying to knocking him out. Who I’d Give It To: My friend Jason would enjoy the dorkiness, and I think he’d realize the potential awesomeness of one of the side effects of Eric’s lack of sleep. Rating: 4 out of 5 |
Sidekicks by Jack D. Ferraiola reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Sidekicks starts off with Phantom Justice’s sidekick, Bright Boy, being caught in an embarrassing situation by a news helicopter after saving a female kidnapping victim. Just another banner day for Scott Hutchinson, Bright Boy’s alter ego. When he’s not training he’s attempting to hide his superhero secret from the idiots that populate his school, but now he has a new concern: Dr. Chaotic, New York’s criminal mastermind, is out of prison and looking to spread evil once more. And his sidekick, Monkeywrench, is really annoying.
Why I Picked It: Superheroes. Awesome cover. Great reviews. Why I Finished It: Ferraiolo creates and interesting reality for his characters. A scientific study of superheroes has divided them into categories: plus strength, plus speed, and plus intelligence. Bright boy is a plus/plus (strength and speed) and so is Phantom Justice (a great spoof of Batman: melodramatic and obsessed with justice), and Dr. Chaotic is a plus intelligence. The book takes a different direction when Scott finds out that Monkeywrench is really a girl from his school. Who I’d Give It To: Zach (from way back) would like this, and so would Mike – a different look at superheroes that’s a little bit like Watchmen. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smith reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: The three wise men that visit baby Jesus in the manger are really three criminals who have just escaped from King Herod’s dungeon in ancient Judea. Balthazar, a famous criminal known as The Antioch Ghost, and the other two criminals attempt to lead Mary, Joseph and Jesus to safety in Egypt with Herod’s henchmen and an army of Roman soldiers close behind.
Why I Picked It: Grahame-Smith is known for his Pride and Prejudice and Zombies mash-up and the historically inaccurate Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, so I knew that this biblically-based novel would be just as ridiculous (and bloody!). Why I Finished It: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was horrible – all he did was take the original text of Jane Austen’s brilliant novel and add zombies to it. But Unholy Night was quite original. There’s no record of who the Three Wise Men really were, so he’s able to construct a complete backstory that fits in with the scant details provided in the New Testament while adding in plenty of gore and violence. But the book is surprisingly good: not perfectly written (clichés abound), but perfectly plotted and very engaging. And somehow it’s less sacrilegious than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! Who I’d Give It To: Tyler, Garrett, Tristan, etc. – Stephen King lovers who don’t know that there are other writers who can do creepy gore well. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: A half-human/half-bird (one of the legendary Garuda) visits Isaac, a disgraced but brilliant scientist, to hire him to create a new pair of wings. During the course of his research, Isaac becomes obsessed with one of his lab specimens: a brightly colored caterpillar that only feeds on a rare hallucinatory drug. What emerges from its cocoon has the capability to destroy the city – even the ambassador of Hell refuses to help.
Why I Finished It: Mieville has created a unique new world full of bizarre creatures and customs, and the story he tells there is riveting. But the story is just as bizarre: the story of the Garuda becomes the story of the caterpillar becomes the story of the Slake Moths, then a dissident group based in a slaughter house, then a sentient robotic being made of garbage, then cactus people living in a doom, then an inter-dimensional spider, and there’s the fossilized ribcage of a giant beast that soars over the city… there’s so much here that you’d get lost if you weren’t so interested. Who I’d Give It To: Anyone who likes weird stuff – the faint of heart need not apply. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Yeine Darr is the young clan leader of a barbarian kingdom in the poor north when she is mysteriously summoned to Sky, the world’s capital. Her grandfather is the king (of everything) and he names her as one of his heirs alongside her scheming cousins Relad and Scimina. The Arameri family (of which Yeine’s mother was a part) has ruled for centuries using a group of all-powerful fallen Gods as weapons to consolidate power. The most powerful and dangerous of these Gods is Nahadoth, the Night Lord, and after almost killing Yeine on her first night in Sky they begin to have a strange attraction for each other. Then Yeine learns of an ancient secret that will affect the very nature of the universe, and she only has a week before she’ll be sacrificed in the ascension ceremony to learn what it is.
Why I Picked It: I was reading an article about how few African American science fiction and fantasy writers there are, and this series was named as a great example of how talented those few sci-fi/fantasy writers are. Why I Finished It: The political maneuverings reminded me a lot of Frank Herbert’s Dune, and the use of fallen Gods as characters was something I’d never seemed before. The history and the mythology that surround the God’s war was also really interesting – Itempas, the God of the Day, kills his sister Enefa and enslaves his brother Nahadoth and their children to become more powerful. They are confined to Sky and trapped in mortal bodies to keep them weak, but they still have god-like powers and are hard to control. Sieh, the trickster God that usually takes the form of a child, instantly befriends Yeine and helps her navigate the treacherous scheming that pervades the palace. Zhakkarn, the Goddess of the battlefield, is used as the palace executioner, and Nahadoth – the most powerful of the banished Gods – is chained and beaten by the evil cousin Scimina. Who I’d Give It To: Sue, Devin, Dillon, Zach, Mercedes: all of my fantasy lovers will love this! Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Beautiful, mysterious, blue-haired Karou lives in Prague, draws countless demons in her sketchbooks (that may or may not be real), knows countless languages (not all of them human), and runs errands for an employer that take her around the world to collect human teeth. One day she’s spotted by Akiva, a beautiful stranger who can’t stop thinking about her. When they finally meet, he tries to kill her.
Why I Picked It: Definitely not for the cover! I read countless favorable reviews, and they didn’t give much of the plot away (I tried not to either). And there is a lot that ends up going on. Why I Finished It: Karou is sarcastic, which I always like in a narrator, and her background and family remain a mystery until almost the very end of the book – very suspenseful. Plus the two star-crossed lovers, Karou and Akiva, have an almost Twilight-like romance brewing - and that’s actually a good thing (it’s hard to remember now after the other terrible books and the ridiculous movies, but Twilight – although poorly written – had that smoldering initial romance between Bella and Eddie)! Who I’d Give It To: Mackenzie or Grace: they both love fantasy, and Laini Taylor’s fantastic world-building is fantasy writing at its finest. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi reviewed by Mr. Hyde
On America’s Gulf Coast, crews of impoverished teenagers rip apart beached oil tankers and merchant ships in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world. Nailer is 17, but he’s small enough that he can still squeeze through the ductwork and tight passages of the ships to scavenge copper wire. He’ll eventually have to try out for ‘Heavy Crew,’ the cutting and hauling of large sections of the ships, but he’s not big enough and he’ll probably have to turn to stealing to survive. But when a ‘City Killer’ hurricane wrecks a beautiful wind-powered schooner near his home, his lucks seems to have finally changed – salvage on the wreck would make him immensely wealthy, and he’d never have to work again. But when he finds a beautiful teenage girl still alive on the broken vessel he’s faced with a tough decision: kill her and claim the wreck, or help her live, lose the salvage rights, and face a life of poverty and an early death. He decides to help her, but his decision causes hardship almost instantly - his drug-abusing father finds out about and wants the wreck for himself, and he wouldn’t hesitate to kill the girl (or Nailer) to get it. Nailer and the girl manage to escape with the help of a giant dog/man mutation used for security, but their escape to New Orleans is fraught with just as much danger. What sets this dystopian science fiction apart from the pack is the well-developed characters. Nailer, his friend Pima, Lucky Girl (the rich girl from the ship), even his dad Richard Lopez are all fairly complex characters – at least for a YA novel. The fast-paced action and unique, futuristic setting all make for a gripping story.
Mr. Hyde says 4.5 out of 5 |
The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: In the near future, sea levels have risen significantly, and civilization is in ruins. Mahlia and Mouse live with Dr. Mahfouz in the small village of Banyan Town, not far from the Drowned Cities (present day Washington D.C.). Militias in the Cities have been at constant war for decades, employing child soldiers and constantly raiding the countryside for supplies and new recruits. Mahlia, Mouse, and the Dr. narrowly escape Banyan Town after one such militia invades, and in a neighboring swamp find a wounded half-man: a genetically engineered killing machine that is equal parts dog, hyena, wolf, and man. When Mahlia decides she’s going to save the half-man and use him to escape to the north, it sets off a deadly series of events.
Why I Picked It: Bacigalupi wrote the Printz Winner Shipbreaker, set in the same future landscape of a partially-drowned United States. It definitely deserved the Printz! Why I Finished It: Mahlia is a castoff: an offspring of one of the Chinese Peacekeepers who in the past tried to keep peace in the Drowned Cities before withdrawing, so she is universally despised by everyone. But she has learned valuable lessons about survival and warfare from her father, so she’s managed to stay alive – although she is missing her right hand (a common militia punishment). She’s most definitely a flawed character: to survive she must constantly be ready to abandon friends, belongings, and her own humanity, but she’s different with Mouse. The little orphan originally saved her life after her hand was taken, and when he’s “recruited” by the UPF militia, Mahlia’s decision to save him eventually affects the fate of the Drowned Cities themselves. Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Pure by Julianna Baggott reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Quick Plot Summary: Pressia lives in a rubble-filled city populated by survivors of the nuclear disaster that destroyed much of America. Her and her fellow survivors have been deformed from the blast: some (like Pressia who has a doll for a hand) are fused to the objects they were holding or touching when the bombs went off, and others have been completely taken over by the materials fused to them (like the “people” that live in the ground made up of dust and stone). The local militia forces everyone to join when they turn 16 or die, and Pressia is on the run due to her upcoming birthday. On a hill above the city sits the Dome, where the rich and privileged took refuge from the blasts, and Pressia dreams of what life must be like for the Pures who live there.
Why I Picked It: I love me a post-apocalyptic story. Why I Finished It: Pressia is a likeable and strong character, and from the start she’s running away from the militia which makes for a fast-paced read. There’s also a bit of a love triangle that starts to develop as the story goes on. But what I liked most was the world that Julianna Baggott creates. Her description of the various types of survivors (like the army of former rich housewives) and their method of survival was believable and well-thought out. Who I’d Give It To: Fans of the Hunger Games (I think there are a few out there!) Rating: 4.5 out of 5 |
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Nobody Owens is only a baby when he comes to live in the graveyard down the street from his house. He narrowly escapes the man who kills the rest of his family (for reasons left unknown until the end of the book) and the residents of the graveyard (almost all of them dead) take him in. A childless ghost couple, the Owens', raises Bod and a mysterious looming presence of a man named Silas provides food and clothing from the world outside the cemetery. Bod befriends a girl named Scarlett, learns how to call a Night-Gaunt, visits the ghost of a Druid in a burial mound far below the graveyard, and falls in love with a witch - and only then does he get to venture into the world outside the graveyard. But his family's killer is still looking to finish the job and eventually Bod must call upon all of his knowledge to save his friends and himself from an evil organization that threatens the normal order of things. Neil Gaiman doesn't disappoint with this latest addition. Although written for young adults and middle school students, The Graveyard Book is typical Gaiman - dark, sinister, and mysterious. He likes to leave unanswered questions too: What is the Sleer? Who (or what) is Silas exactly? What are the killer's motives? These questions might be frustrating or annoying coming from another writer but they only seem to add to the suspense and gloomy atmosphere of Gaiman's writing. For Gaiman fans and new readers alike, The Graveyard Book is sure to please.
Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins reviewed by Mr. Hyde
The United States and North America are no more. In its place is Panem, a country made up of 12 different districts ruled by The Capitol. To keep the districts in line, each district sends two Tributes, a boy and a girl, to the annual Hunger Games where they will fight to the death with the Tributes from the other districts. The winner is given money and security for life and their district is showered with aid and help from the Capitol. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen is a hunter and trapper from District 12, the poorest of the districts, who provides for her mother and younger sister by illegally poaching outside the fences that surround her district. When she takes her sister's place as this year's Tribute it's tantamount to a death sentence - no one from District 12 has won, or even come close to winning, the Hunger Games for years. The other Tribute from her district is the baker's son, Peeta. A boy that saved her family from starvation when she was younger, but who Katniss hasn't ever thanked - or even talked to - since then. Together they must battle Tributes from wealthier Districts who have been training for the Games their entire lives in an arena where the Gamemakers can change the game to end however they want it to.
This book is so much more than just a violent fight to the death between teenagers. Collins explores the ideas of freedom, sacrifice, and love in a world that is disturbingly similar to our own, and her book touches on many other elemental themes that apply to all of us. Deeply moving and absolutely riveting from start to finish, The Hunger Games is my choice for the best book this year (so far). Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
Graceling by Kristin Cashore reviewed by Mr. Hyde
In the Seven Kingdoms that make up the world of Graceling, anyone born with an extreme skill is said to be 'Graced,' but the stigma associated with being Graced is anything but positive. Katsa, the niece of King Randa of Middluns, is Graced with the ability to kill, and the king uses her skills to enforce his rule and to strike fear into his enemies. As Katsa gets older she starts to realize that she doesn't need to do Randa's dirty work, and her and her friends create the Council to secretly right some of his wrongs. She's stubborn, quick to anger, and determined to remain independent, but when she meets Prince Po from Lienid - a man Graced with a fighting ability that almost equals hers - her coldness starts to thaw.
Cashore's creation of X-Men-like abilities for the Graced is believable and is the driving force behind this relatively unique fantasy novel. The explanation of both Katsa and Po's Graces are excellent twists in the story, and the secret of a king from a neighboring kingdom is pretty easy to figure out but is nonetheless a great plot development. The ending of this novel is somewhat anticlimactic and feels like a last minute effort to change the story leaving room for a sequel. This doesn't really detract from the story as a whole though because the first two thirds of the book are so good and I'm kinda excited about a sequel. Overall, a great new fantasy novel with some unique characteristics and the possibility of an equally exciting sequel. Mr. Hyde says 4.5 out of 5 |
Hero by Perry Moore reviewed by Mr. Hyde
It's an acknowledged fact in the world of books and publishing that an author's first novel is often plagued with too much of everything. I guess a lifetime of writing short fiction and dreaming about writing that first novel leads to first-time authors cramming all of their experiences, dreams, catchy lines and neat plot devices into the opening literary salvo. Perry Moore (the executive producer of the movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - which has nothing at all to do with this book, but I thought it was interesting) has successfully avoided these pitfalls and written an amazingly fresh look at superheroes in the modern world. Thom Creed is a great athlete, model student, and award-winning volunteer but his life is anything but perfect. His father is distant and aloof, his mother walked out on him and his dad years earlier, and he has no one to talk to about the most important aspect of his life: the fact that he's gay. When he discovers he has the superpower to heal people (and even things) he wants to try out for his Dad's old team - The League of Superheroes. His powers are unique and he gets placed on a probationary team with Scarlett (who can control fire but not her own temper), Typhoid Larry (who can make people sick at will), Ruth (a smart-alecky old lady who can see the future), and Golden Boy (a demoted superhero with super speed). There's too much that happens in Hero to give much of a plot synopsis here, but it's jam-packed with action - and what makes Hero unique and fresh is that every other non-action scene is superbly written and powerful. I don't think that there's anything negative I could say about this book: it has a perfect blend of genres that should make it popular with anyone who decides to check it out.
Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Lyra Belacqua runs wild through the streets and passageways of Jordan College at Oxford University in a different but oddly familiar world. She only has to behave when her Lord Asriel, her hot-tempered but extremely powerful uncle, visits. What she overhears about his latest trip to the North changes her simple world forever. Everyone in her world has a daemon, or an animal, that accompanies them at all times and is never separated from them. As a child, your daemon can change into whatever animal it wishes but as you get older and hit puberty, your daemon stays in one form for the rest of your life. This relationship between human and daemon is one of the core themes of the novel and serves not only as a really cool element to an already awesome world, but as the central theme to Lyra's world. Accompanied by her demon Pantalaimon, Lyra leaves Jordan College to live with Ms. Coulter, a woman who visits and asks to have Lyra as her companion. Before she leaves, the Master of Jordan College gives Lyra the golden compass, a device that can answer any question - if you know how to use it. With her daemon and compass, Lyra lives a life of luxury ignorant of the true nature of the world around her, of Ms. Coulter's intentions, and of the disappearrance of children from all corners of London. Lyra soon learns something that puts into motion events and prophecies that deal specifically with her ability to read the golden compass and her devious but good-hearted nature. There's way too much in this book to talk about in a short review but not too much in the book that it is in anyway overwhelming. As fantasy novels go, The Golden Compass is fairly tame in regards to the weirdness of the setting and the subtle differences (like everyone having a daemon) make the story powerful and enticing (who wouldn't want the constant companion of an animal that could change shape and talk to you?). The themes of the novel also put The Golden Compass on a thought-provoking and powerful level that gives the story more meaning than your average young adult book (or fantasy book for that matter). Evil organizations, conniving gypsies, satanic monkeys, armor-wearing polar bears, flying Texans, magic, animals - I could go on and on but suffice it to say, they better not have messed up the movie because the book was simply amazing.
Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly reviewed by Mr. Hyde
In this fantasy novel, World War II rages across Europe and the Battle of Britain forces thousands to flee from London into the surrounding countryside to live. Young David, his father, and his stepmother stay at her family's country house that's full of interesting corners, mystery, and a bedroom full of books that David devours. He finds little notes and odd drawings in between the old fairy tales he knows so well - but does he know them? They seem darker and bloodier than the stories he's used to and when his father and stepmother have a baby, David starts to see dark and scary things out of the corner of his eye. Are those fairy tales coming to life? A plane crash and a hidden passageway in the sunken garden soon take David to a land where those fairy tales are the only reality. Talking wolves, trolls, harpies, giant worm monsters - they all try to kill David as he makes his way to the king. But will the king's Book of Lost Things help David return home? With elements from classic fairy tales but with a much darker twist, The Book of Lost Things is suited more for high school.
Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow reviewed by Mr. Hyde
17 year-old San Franciscan Marcus Yallow, aka w1n5t0n, beats the security at his school each day in order to escape classes and play Harajuku Fun Madness, an Alternate Reality Game, on the streets of the city. While looking for the current clue with his teammates Vanessa, Darryl, and Jolu, terrorists blow up the Bay Bridge, killing thousands. Marcus flags down a vehicle to help Darryl who was stabbed in the confusion, but instead of the Police or Firefighters he unwittingly gets help from the Department of Homeland Security. Because him and his friends aren't in school and Marcus has some 'suspicious' devices in his backpack (a WiFinder and an encrypted phone) they arrest the four teenagers and take them into custody. After being beaten, interrogated, and humiliated for four days, they release Marcus, Van, and Jolu - but not Darryl. They return to a city that's almost unrecognizable. The Department of Homeland Security has taken control of San Francisco and set up roadblocks, checkpoints, security cameras, and radio frequency ID tags to catch suspected 'terrorists,' and Marcus's school has fired free-speaking teachers and installed even more technology to harass students. Humiliated from his encounter with the DHS, Marcus vows revenge and hacks into his Xbox and uses it to create a new internet called the XNet. Calling himself m1k3y, Marcus creates chaos when he and the other XNetters find ways to disable or subvert each of the DHS's security measures, but the authorities keep getting closer and closer to finding his secret identity, and he knows that if they capture him this time, he won't be coming back.
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow has been one of the most talked about new books among young adult librarians lately and for good reason. The setting may seem futuristic but the technology is here today and the reaction to the bombing is eerily reminiscent of post-9/11 New York City. You can't help but cheer for Marcus as he quests to save his city from the evil government, there's plenty of action and even a little dash of romance. Neil Gaiman has said that he'd "recommend Little Brother over pretty much any book [he's] read this year" and I definitely agree. Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
Epic by Conor Kostick reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Erik Haraldson lives with his mother and father on an olive farm on the planet of New Earth. Hundreds of years ago a group of humans fled Earth due to the savagery of that world and arriving on New Earth they outlaw all violence. All conflicts are resolved in the online role-playing game called Epic. Epic is not just a game, it's a way of life for the people of New Earth. Instead of having tests in school in order to graduate, all students battle in Epic in order to win spots at the University. To challenge a government ruling or to gain advantages such as new equipment or surgery (no health insurance I guess) you can challenge Central Allocations to a battle in the local arena. Central Allocations, the rulers of New Earth, all have unstoppable characters who never lose so they therefore remain in power and whatever they say goes. When Eric's family is blamed for breaking a solar panel they are in danger of being sent to the mines in order to work off their debt. But Eric's father decides to battle Central Allocations to challenge the decision although he hasn't played in over 20 years. This decision sets events into action that will change the world of New Earth forever. Along with Eric's dad's entering into battle, Eric himself makes a radical decision that changes his future drastically. When you die in Epic, your character dies and you have to start over from scratch. Eric dies all the time because he's always trying to finish impossible tasks or challenge dragons. So when he decides to create a new character he picks a different character category then what is usually used. He picks a female 'swashbuckler' instead of the usual 'warrior' that almost everyone picks and her unique attributes and skills lead to different depths of the game that haven't been explored in generations.
For anyone who has played online role-playing games (like World of Warcraft or Diablo) the world of Epic will be familiar and exciting, but even those that are new to the gaming world will enjoy the battles, intrigue, and moral dilemmas that face the characters throughout. The game could have been explained a little more clearly (it's an odd mix of virtual reality with old-school keyboard-based commands) but despite the "epic" proportions of this novel it never gets too ridiculous or out of control. Mr. Hyde says 4.5 out of 5 |
The Magicians by Lev Grossman reviewed by Mr. Hyde
A mature mix of Harry Potter with The Chronicles of Narnia, Lev Grossman’s The Magicians is one of my Top 3 Books of 2009. Quentin Coldwater is a typically bored teenager – he’s in love with his best friend’s girlfriend, he likes to perform card and magic tricks, he’s nervous about getting into Princeton, and he’s been obsessed with the Narnia-like Fillory books since he was a child. He’s always wished that the magic and chivalry in his favorite books were real, but when he’s admitted to Brakebills Academy – a secret school of magic – he finds that learning magic is almost as tedious and boring as any other subject he’s taken. After graduating he discovers that being a magician means he never has to work, but this leads to a life of boredom and debauchery in New York City with some fellow Brakebills graduates. When it seems that his life has hit rock-bottom (despite the magnificent skills he possesses) he and his friends learn that his beloved Fillory is real. But what he finds there is not at all what he imagined. Grossman’s use of elements from Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia shouldn’t be off-putting to fans of either series – his book is a unique and fresh take on all that we love about fantasy, and the implications of suddenly getting everything you ever wanted.
Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Orphaned, then adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb of the Order of Engineers, Fever is the only female Engineer in futuristic London. The Engineers are responsible for interpreting uses for objects found by the city’s archaeologists, which include cellphones, broken TVs, and other everyday devices, whose meaning have become lost over the course of hundreds of years. London is finally recovering from the riots that eliminated the Scriven, the city’s former rulers. A mutant race blessed with long life, the Scriven used London’s human population as slaves until the Skinner’s Guild destroyed the few remaining Scriven and displayed the Scriven’s unique spotted skins around the city. Fever is assigned with opening a secret vault/workshop belonging to the last of the great Scriven leaders, Auric Godshawk, but when she is mistaken as a Scriven on the streets of London, just staying alive is hard enough. Meanwhile, nomads from the north are driving their enormous mobile city straight towards London, intent on cannibalizing it for parts. The secrets contained in Godshawk’s vault might stop the nomadic city, but can Fever open it in time? Peopled with goofy characters, odd futuristic uses for modern-day technology, and unique science fiction elements, Fever Crumb creates a distinctive world. Fever Crumb is a sort of prequel to Reeve’s Hunger City Chronicles (which I’m looking to buy for the library) with his usual humor, imagination, and typical undercurrent of darkness.
Mr. Hyde says 4.5 out of 5 |
The City & the City by China Mieville reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Inspector Tyador Borlu works for the city of Beszel's Extreme Crime Squad, and the case of a murdered young woman looks routine until Borlu discovers that she was murdered somewhere else. That somewhere else is Ul Qoma, the city that occupies the exact same geographic space as Beszel. These two cities may be in the same place, but they are very different from one another. Some areas are strictly Beszel and some are completely Ul Qoma, but much of The City is 'crosshatched' - both cities occupy the same ground. Citizens of one city are trained to ignore people, places, and things from the other city - driving necessitates a willing ignorance of half of the cars on the road! Acknowledgment of something in the other city (or even worse, interaction with anything across the 'border') enacts Breach - a shadowy entity/society/police force that quickly steps in and removes the offending person. Breach justice is swift and final. The recent murder looks like a case for Breach: the murder took place in Ul Qoma but the body was dumped in Beszel, but the murderer obeyed the law in the way he traveled between the two cities and therefore Borlu must travel to Ul Qoma to track down the killer. The deeper the Inspector gets into the investigation, the more real a myth of a third city gets - a city in between Beszel and Ul Qoma. Throw in warring factions of unificationists (who want to unite the two cities) and nationalists (who want to get rid of the 'other' city), a mysterious archaeological dig with remnants of an advanced race before the creation of the two cities, and a foul-mouthed Ul Qoman partner and you've only summed-up a fraction of The City & The City's plot. The book is much easier to understand than this review, and is an excellent mix of light fantasy and crime thriller.
Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld reviewed by Mr. Hyde
One of the immediate causes of World War I was the assassination of the Austrian-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the subsequent political fiasco that pitted rivaling groups of allies against each other. In Scott Westerfeld’s amazing new novel, he imagines an alternative history that includes the Archduke’s fictional son Alek and his flight from his father’s assassins. But this is far from the only change Westerfeld has made: European countries are divided by the type of science they rely on and the fictional setting can only be described as Steampunk! For an explanation of Steampunk check out the Library Blog, but basically it’s a past world that still relies on steam power, but with advanced technologies far beyond what was possible at the time. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire are all ‘Clankers’ – they use giant war machines bristling with guns – while Great Britain, France, and the rest of Europe are ‘Darwinists’ – they’ve genetically engineered animals into weapons and vehicles. The book bounces back and forth between Alek’s flight in a Cyklop Stormwalker (a two-legged walking tank, basically) and the story of Deryn Sharp, a girl masquerading as a boy in order to join the British Air Force. She manages to get aboard the Leviathan, a massive whale-based creation that resembles a giant Zeppelin (but it’s alive!), as it flies across Europe with mysterious cargo bound for Constantinople. Keith Thompson’s detailed artwork really helps in immersing the reader into the story – you’ll definitely be tempted to download some of his beautiful work for your computer’s desktop background! Word is that Leviathan is the first book in a planned trilogy, and I can’t wait!!!
Mr. Hyde says 5 out of 5 |
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Nick and his older brother Alan have lived their entire lives on the run from evil magicians. The magicians killed their father and have been trying to get the brothers ever since in order to get the charm that their mother wears. Nick is all muscle and no heart – his sword seems to be his best friend and killing magicians is his idea of a good time. Alan is all heart – his crippled left leg requires a reliance on firearms (as opposed to Nick’s swords and knives), but his ability to connect with people proves to be a valuable asset. The book starts out with a bang (literally) as a pack of demonically possessed crows - led by a magician - attack the brothers in their kitchen. Almost as soon as the attack is over two teenagers from Nick’s school show up looking for help. Mae and Jamie are brother and sister, and Jamie has been marked by a demon which means certain death. In the process of questioning the siblings, another magician sends a snake demon to target the brothers and Alan is marked as well. The brothers must now figure out a way to take off both marks and protect themselves from the ever present magicians. The Demon’s Lexicon seemed a little rushed in parts but the book also seemed to drag at times. The twist at the end of the book (and the clever way it ties in with the title) was definitely a nice surprise, but the book didn’t do anything special for me. The ‘dreamy’ cover and the first paragraph (“The pipe under the sink was leaking again. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except that Nick kept his favorite sword under the sink.”) are sure to hook readers though. The ending also lends itself to a possible sequel.
Mr. Hyde says 4 out of 5 |
Impossible by Nancy Werlin reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Faced with an unwanted pregnancy due to being raped on her prom night, Lucinda Scarborough has enough to deal with before finding out that the rape and pregnancy are all part of an ancient curse that targets the Scarborough women when they turn 18, eventually leading to insanity after the child is born. Whew! Throw a teenage wedding and foster parents on top of that and it sounds like possibly the most depressing YA book ever written. But in the capable hands of Nancy Werlin, Impossible is instead a powerful story about love, family, and how no one's future is predetermined. Lucy eventually learns that she can break the curse by performing three impossible tasks based on the ancient folk song "Scarborough Fair" - Simon and Garfunkel's version has different lyrics ('Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme') but the same tune. She must make a shirt without any seams and without using a needle; she must find an acre of land between the sea and the shore, and then plow it with a goat's horn and sow it with just one ear of corn. Her loving foster parents, and next-door neighbor and best friend Zach start researching a solution immediately, but will they have enough time to break the curse? Or will Lucinda go crazy and become the mistress of an evil Elfin Knight? As implausible (or uninteresting) as this might sound, Werlin weaves a very believable story that effortlessly blends fantasy and reality and it's easy to see why this book was a National Book Award Finalist.
Mr. Hyde says 4.5 out of 5 |
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan reviewed by Mr. Hyde
Mary lives in a village surrounded by fences that swarm with the Unconsecrated. Her whole life she's lived with their moans, their hungry, searching eyes, and the constant threat of a breach. The Guardians carefully maintain the fences, the Sisters rule the village through religious authority, and everyone else goes about their daily lives within the confines of the compound. Mary is different than the other villagers because she dreams of what's outside the village - everyone else is content to get married, have children, and just survive. When her father and mother are attacked and killed by the Unconsecrated, she is sent to the Sisters to become one of them. But it's there that she witnesses a girl come in the gate from the outside and her dreams of venturing out past the Forest of Hands and Teeth will come true quicker than she expected.
I had very high hopes for this book based on its title and the premise of a post-zombie war world where the survivors can't remember a time before the Return. I was somewhat disappointed - maybe because I was too excited, but I still think that the book could have been better. Carrie Ryan doesn't describe anything though! You never get a description of a single character, the Unconsecrated, the village, or any of the details of what's going on. This bothered me, because it turned the book into a 'following your dreams/teen romance/standing up for your beliefs' type of novel and it should have been about zombies!!! Still, a worthwhile read despite the ambiguity. Mr. Hyde says 4 out of 5 |