Tag: Books

Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis

On By cherylmahoneyIn Reviews, Science Fiction1 Comment

I ran across Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis when it was suggested at one my book club meetings (and described as “Snow White meets Star Wars”–which means I’m having a Snow White-themed week on the blog…)  This book wasn’t picked for our monthly read, but I decided to read it anyway.  Because: fairy tale retelling!  It wasn’t quite Star Wars…but it might be “Snow White meets Mockingjay,” in a good way.

Sixteen-year-old Essie has been fending for herself since she was nine years old, living in a mining colony where her closest “friends” are seven drones (droids) she built herself.  She trusts no one, spending her time fiddling with tech and earning extra money fighting cage matches at the bar (really!)  Everything changes when a small ship crashes nearby, and Essie pulls Dane out of the wreckage.  He tells her he’s on a treasure hunt–but the treasure turns out to be the missing Princess Snow, heir to the throne of the most powerful planet in the system.  Essie, of course, is really Snow, and soon she’s unwillingly drawn into interplanetary politics and conflicts.  But she has a choice–to be a pawn or to be a leader, to run away again from her father and stepmother, or to embrace the courage and compassion her mother tried to teach her. Continue reading “Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis” →

Book Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer

On By cherylmahoneyIn Reviews, Science Fiction3 Comments

I really, really, really want to read Winter, the final book in Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles Quartet.  But it won’t be out until November.  So in the meantime, it was some consolation to read the prequel, Fairest, providing the backstory of the terrifying Lunar Queen, Levana (and, incidentally, Winter’s stepmother).

I’ve reviewed the first three books in this series (Cinder, Scarlet and Cress).  It’s a sci fi series, where a Lunar kingdom is hostile towards Earth, and fairy tales are played out in clever ways with cyborgs and satellites.  This one…is the story of Snow White’s stepmother.

Fifteen years old when the book opens, Levana is the unwanted, disregarded younger princess, always in the shadow of her cruel and shallow sister Channary. Levana dreams of attaining renown, respect…and the eye of Evret, a handsome palace guard.  But Evret is devoted to his beautiful wife, and they’re expecting a child.  This doesn’t interfere with Levana’s belief that they’re fated to be together, and she’ll use all her royal power and her ability to manipulate minds and emotions to seize what she wants–beauty, Evret, and the throne too. Continue reading “Book Review: Fairest by Marissa Meyer” →

Blog Hop: Author Connections

On By cherylmahoneyIn Blog Hop9 Comments

book blogger hopThis week’s Book Blogger Hop question: Do you ever get comments from authors when you have posted or tweeted your review?

Despite all those links back to authors’ sites, as far as I know, no author has noticed the link-back. Or at least, they haven’t told me about it! I have sent letters or emails to a few favorite authors, usually mentioning a review, and received lovely letters back.

Gordon Korman seemed happy to get a letter about Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag, commenting that it’s nice to hear a response to one of his older books. Juliet Marillier complimented my review of Wildwood Dancing (and responded to my comment about the “twist” ending). And Geraldine McCaughrean wrote me the best letter ever when I wrote to her about The White Darkness—and mentioned that she had recently had lunch with Richard Morant, the audiobook voice of Titus, and shared my review with him. I had not intended for the comment about “a voice worth following to Antarctica” to reach the original source…but she told me he was “appropriately tickled.” !!

After those kinds of responses, I keep meaning to write more letters to authors (Catherynne Valente, Marissa Meyer and Jim C. Hines all come to mind as recent favorites) but alas, that falls under the category of, if only there was more time…

Have you ever had an author respond to a review? Are there favorite authors you’d like to write to?

Book Review: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

On By cherylmahoneyIn Reviews, Young Adult1 Comment

HatchetI haven’t been reading exclusively rereads lately, but I seem to be reviewing all of those…and today continues the trend.  I recently reread Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, one of my favorite survival stories.

Thirteen-year-old Brian was the only passenger on a flight into the Canadian wilderness on a small bush plane, when the pilot suffers a fatal heart attack.  Brian manages to crash-land the plane on a lake and scramble out of the wreckage with no serious injuries.  But he’s far off of the original flight plan, rescue is uncertain, and he has no resources but what he’s wearing–including a hatchet hanging on his belt.  With courage and ingenuity, Brian learns to survive in the wilderness.

I find this book hits a nice balance between focus on character and details of wilderness survival.  Except for the very beginning and (spoiler…) the very end, Brian is the only character.  The book remains always centered on him, and whatever else happens or whatever he does, it all hinges around how it affects Brian, or how it’s an outgrowth of his character. Continue reading “Book Review: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen” →

Book Review: The Witch of Blackbird Pond

On By cherylmahoneyIn Historical Fiction, Juvenile, Reviews3 Comments

I seem to be starting my year of rereading with classic children’s books.  Along with Little House in the Big Woods, I also read another book about simple living in the woods: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.

Set a couple hundred years before Wilder’s book, in 1687, the book focuses on Kit Tyler, who leaves her comfortable life in Barbados when her grandfather dies and goes to live with her only relatives, in Connecticut.  Used to luxury, fine clothes, and books (!), Kit struggles to find her place in the severe, hard-working Puritan community.  She doesn’t know how to do any work and the neighbors look askance at her high spirits.  Then one day she meets Hannah, who lives apart out in the meadow.  A kind, elderly woman, Hannah is a Quaker and therefore an outcast.  The rumors of her being a witch seem like nonsense–until an illness sweeps through the community and people look for someone to blame. Continue reading “Book Review: The Witch of Blackbird Pond” →