Title: This Savage Song
Author: Victoria Schwab
Series/Standalone: Monsters of Verity Duology (Book #1)
Genre: Dystopia, Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 428
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardcover Copy (Own It)
First Line: "The night Kate Harker decided to burn down the school chapel, she wasn't angry or drunk."
"There's no such thing as safe.
Kate Harker wants to be a ruthless as her father. After five years and six boarding schools, she's finally going home to prove that she can be.
August Flynn wants to be human. But he isn't. He's a monster, one that steals souls with a song. He's one of the three most powerful monsters in a city overrun with them. His own father's secret weapon.
Their city is divided.
Their city is crumbling.
Kate and August are the only two who see booths ides, the only two who could do something.
But how do you decide to be a hero or a villain when it's hard to tell which is which?"
My Rating: 3.75/5
This book wasn't what I had at first expected. This is my first time reading Victoria Schwab's writing and I know that for many in the YA book community her work is a staple. That made me a little nervous going into it. I really enjoyed this novel overall. I think that the characters were lovable and interesting. That being said the plot was predictable for me. I assumed what was going to happen and who would be involved. I enjoyed the concept of crimes and wrongdoing becoming something that really terrorizes humanity. I also enjoyed the concept of different crimes resulting in different types of "monsters."
I am curious about how the second and final book would be written and what the plot will be. I do hope to read this book once the local libraries reopen in my area!
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Like A River Glorious
Author: Rae Carson
Series/Standalone: The Gold Seer Trilogy (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 416
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Year Published: 2016
Format: Hardcover Physical Copy
First Line: "Sunrise comes late to California."
"He will never stop hunting me down. I have to end him, and soon.
Lee Westfall survived the dangerous journey to California. She found a new family in the other outcasts of their wagon train, and Jefferson, her best friend, is beginning to woo her shamelessly. Now they have a real home- one rich in gold thanks to Lee's magical ability to sense the precious metal in the world around her.
But Lee's Uncle Hiram has survived his own journey west. He's already murdered her parents, and he will do anything to have Lee and her talents under his control. No one is safe. When he kidnaps her, she sees firsthand the depths of his depravity.
Lee's magic is changing, though. It is growing. The gold no longer simply sings to her- it listens. It obeys her call. Will that alone be enough to destroy her uncle?"
My Rating: 4/5
My mom loves this series. That's how I'm going to start this review. Solid choices. So after I ordered this book I passed it off to her cause she was dying to see where the series would go (she's not impressed she has to wait until October for the next one). So it's taken me a little while to get reading this book, but wow what an interesting turn from the first book. I found this book to be refreshing between the fantasy reads that I was reading. I found that this book started with a slow beginning similar to the first book. I found that it was it picked up far faster than the first story. I also found that this book had a far sadder story for both our main characters and the surrounding world in up and coming California. There were times in this story where it broke my heart to see people of different race and gender treated like trash, but I think it's important to remember our history so we can improve our future. At least that's what I hope. I would recommend this to any lovers of historical fiction and those interested in gold rush times. It also has a key bit of magic, if you're just wandering into historical fiction for the first time. Overall, I enjoyed this story and plan to continue the series although I'm not sure where it could possibly go.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Like A River Glorious is the second book in the Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson and we follow our main character Lee building a new home with her family and finding her own in the California. We follow her adventures and unfortunate circumstances the characters in our story go through. I think the author did a very good job of picking up right where she left off. I thought that it was interesting to see our characters starting a new home and becoming a new kind of family. The characters seemed to stay true to who they were and I loved that they were interesting and unique to other characters in this time. I also enjoyed the story line. I think that it was important that things weren't perfect, there were accidents, and people leaving. As well as, how the villain returns. I loved the mystery of what happened with Lee's mother and Hiram. It really makes you wonder if she is his daughter by blood. It was sad to see the camp change after people left and passed on, but I see why this was an important aspect in this story. I won't lie, I cried all the same. And what will happen after such a dramatic ending?
Characters:
Leah: I thought that Leah was so strong in the last book, and I was right she was. But I found her need to be too independent in this book to be troublesome. Especially after being captured and when Jefferson asks for her hand throughout the book. I did think that it was about time they got together in this story, but at the same time when you can't own anything or have your name on something because you're a lady... ugh I live a very lucky life to not have to think about things like this. I was very proud of Leah for taking down her uncle, helping those who were trapped in the camp and taking care of her new family. I wonder what will happen with her change in her magic as well, should be interesting to see how the author takes this story to the next book and the next level.
Jefferson: He's grown from a boy to a man. I thought it was very interesting to see how he changed his proposals every time. I thought it was extremely endearing to see him stick up for Leah even after she brushes him off so many times. He is strong enough to deal with what he saw and stood up for what was right even though it was far from easy. I wonder where his path will take him.
Tom: I think that he's an interesting character to look into. It's interesting to see how the college boys act and how those around them accept it. Not that there's anything wrong with whatever sexuality you believe in. But that being said, during this time it would be rare to have this accepted in society.
Hiram: He's a real son of a gun. I hate him. He's horrible to everyone around him but I can't help but wonder what happened between him and Leah's mother. Is it true that they had one last night together? Or did he take advantage of her? I also wonder what happened to make her mother change her mind and marry Reuben.. there's a lot of things that are going unanswered. To see how he treated those around him as well as those in his care broke me a little bit. It's horrible to think that this was often the sad truth as North America progressed.
Muskrat: I hope that he made it out of the fray, he did what was right for his people, it's a shame that he lost so many before they made it to any form of freedom.
Dilley: I won't lie, I'm glad he died. He deserved it. This character showed his true form of evil in this book for sure.
Tug: I didn't like him at first but he grew on me. I hope that he doesn't get too angry when Leah and Jeff get married, but it was bound to happen.
Mary: What she went through to get to freedom was horrible. To have to sleep with men, be beaten, abused and kidnapped... I can't even imagine. I do wonder what will happen next in her story.
Wilhelm: What is this man's story? How did he get caught up with Hiram and Dilley?
Mr. Hardwick: I don't trust this man as far as we can throw him. He just doesn't seem like a good guy overall. I hope that he disposes of Hiram though as Leah requested.
Moments to Remember:
Pg. 143
"'I think you're in love with me,'' he says.
I stare at his lips. What comes out of my mouth is: "Jefferson McCauley Kingfisher, you have the swagger of a rooster and the swelled head of a melon.'"
Pg. 209
"'What now?' I ask.
He gestures toward the cabin.
'Again? All day?' I hate being cooped up, doing nothing. I've never spent an idle day in my life, and it makes me fit to burst.
He just frowns.
'Well, don't talk so fast. I can hardly understand you.'"
Pg. 250
"Well, I'm going to interfere. I'm going to interfere plenty."
Final Line: "'Never call me that again.'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
Title: Walk On Earth A Stranger
Author: Rae Carson
Series/Standalone: The Gold Seer Trilogy (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 436
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Year Published: 2015
First Line: "I hear the deer before I see him, though he makes less noise than a squirrel- the gentle crunch of snow, a snapping twig, the soft whuff as he roots around for dead grass."
"Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.
Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend- who might want to be something more
She also has a secret.
Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.
When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California= where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.
The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush- era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift."
My Rating: 4/5
Can we start off by talking about how beautiful the cover on this book is? I know it's wrong to judge a book by it's cover, but I'm also the type of person to do just that so judge if you want to, but I'll continue regardless. This book is a historical fiction that takes place during the gold rush era in America featuring strong characters, one with a tremendous power. I think that this story did an amazing job at using history in a creative and interesting way. The thrown in of magic didn't overpower the whole story and overall it had a more historical fiction feel, rather than a fantasy feeling overall. I also think this story did an amazing job of bringing up racism and sexism that were very prevalent during this time. I really enjoyed the story overall and hope to continue the trilogy with the next book shortly.
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
So this book is a historical fiction about a girl who can sense gold during the gold rush era in America. I really enjoyed it overall. I thought that while this book was magical it did it in a way that didn't outshine the history. It was realistic and gripping to read. The characters were incredible to read about, as well as the history was interesting. This book did more than speaking about magic and gold, it also spoke about sexism and racism that was huge during this time. I thought that it was important to see. That being said part of these books seemed a little rushed to me. For example, Leah immediately realising that her uncle was responsible for the murder of her parents. I found that frustrating, that being said let's talk about my favourite part of many books.
Characters:
Leah: I think that her point of view is very important. She is a girl in a time where being female wasn't something to be proud of. You were practically owned by the men in your life. Overall it seemed that she was able to do many things in her home, especially with her father being sick and unable to help take care of the homestead. This being said, she is an extremely hardworking and intelligent character. To disguise herself as a man to travel safely and to get away from her past was a good move. I do wonder what will happen with her and Hiram over time in California.
Jefferson: He is one of my favourite characters. He has dealt with so much controversy with being multirace. Especially being Aboriginal and European which would have been common during this time. People still spoke of Aboriginal people as being savage and wild. Needing the "white man" to help them become civilised and while it was frustrating to read this in the book it was historically accurate. As much as it pains me to read it, I think it's important to remember our past in North America no matter who you are. This being said, we see Jefferson struggle throughout their journey as others speak poorly about him as well as his mother's people.
Becky: I doubt that anyone loved her to start with but over time, she grew on you. She can't cook, she has to put up with an idiot of a husband during this time and take a crazy wagon ride while expecting a child. That's a lot of stress for a person. I do wonder about what she said about refraining from marrying. Did she not want to be married? I'm interested to know more.
Therese: I won't lie. I teared up when she came back to the wagons. She sacrificed herself for her family and gave it all up in hopes that they would be saved. She was a sweet girl and I won't forget about her character going further in the series.
Hiram: He's evil, but I wonder about his past with Leah's mother. Why didn't they get married? Why was her mother on the run? What else can he do to get her? Ugh creepy.
Major: He's a strong man to be trampled and then has to have his leg amputated. I wonder what will happen now that they've reached California. Will he stay with the group?
Reverand: What a creep to want to marry so soon after his wife past away. I guess he thought it was his duty but I wasn't sad to hear that his wagon split up from the others.
Moments to Remember:
Pg. 374
"Men. And their no-good, fool-headed proposals."
Pg. 418
"He leans on his crutch. 'The rest of you are using two legs, but I'm only using one- I think that means I can walk twice as far.' He heads off after Becky before I can tell him that's the worst logic I've ever heard."
Final Line: "'Let's go find us some gold.'"
Thanks for reading,
Sidny
