Waiting On Wednesday #38: Changeling, by Philippa Gregory

This is a weekly book meme, hosted by

Jill @  Breaking the Spine,

which features future releases that
we book bloggers

are eagerly anticipating!

Here's my pick for
this week!!

Changeling

Philippa Gregory

Hardcover, 272 pages

Simon Pulse

May 29, 2012

Genres: YA Fantasy, Romance,

Historical Fiction

From the Goodreads Synopsis

Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.

Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.    

This author is well-known for her

superb historical fiction,

written for the adult market.

Now she has ventured into

the YA genre,

and I'm curious to see the results!

This novel certainly sounds

like an exciting, captivating read!

I love the historical period,

the location, the myths and

mystical ambience...

This one must be mine soon!!

What fascinating books

are you all  eagerly anticipating

this week?

And what do you think

of my choice?

On My Bookshelves #27: Two Mary Balogh Romance Novels

My Sunday book meme

highlights books that I own,

but have somehow never gotten to,

as well as those wonderful books

I would love to re-read!!

Here are my picks for this week!

Simply Perfect

Mary Balogh

Hardcover, 352 pages

Delacorte Press

March 26, 2008

Genre: Historical Romance

From the Goodreads Synopsis

Set against the seductive backdrop of Regency England, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh’s latest novel sweeps us into the sensual, enthralling world of an elite academy for young ladies. Here, amid music lessons and garden parties, whispered confessions and secret yearnings, one of the school’s teachers—headmistress Claudia Martin—will find her well-ordered world jolted by love when she meets a man who would make the perfect husband…for somebody else.

Need I mention how much I love

this stunning blue cover?

One Night For Love

Mary Balogh

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Dell

July 13, 1999

Genre: Historical Romance

From the Goodreads Synopsis

It was a perfect morning in May . . .
Neville Wyatt, Earl of Kilbourne, awaited his bride at the altar—when a ragged beggar woman raced down the aisle instead. The cream of the ton saw him stare, shocked, then declare that this was his wife! One night of passion was all he remembered as he beheld Lily, the woman he'd wed, loved, and lost on the battlefield in Portugal. Now he said he'd honor his commitment to her—regardless of the gulf that lay between them...

Oh, and I also happen to like

this pale, cream-colored one! 

(Although not quite as much as

the blue one...)

Mary Balogh

She is the incomparable master

of historical romance,

in my opinion, and most especially

of the Regency romance.

I have yet to be disappointed by

any one of her books that I've read!

They always sweep me away

on a tide of beauty and passion,

and I always regret coming

to the very last page, since I can't help

but fall in love with her characters!

The men are dashing and noble,

and are inevitably attracted to women who

are spirited and anything but docile!

Reading a Balogh novel is, for me,

akin to savoring a fine wine...

something to be done slowly, and well.

Ah, romance!

Book Review: Forgiven, by Jana Oliver (eighth review for The 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge)

Here's my eighth review for this

wonderful challenge!!

For the rules and a list of hosting blogs,

just click on the challenge button in my sidebar.

There are great prizes involved,

so be sure to check out

the rules and consider joining in!

Title: Forgiven (UK edition)
Author: Jana Oliver
Format: Trade Paperback, 407 pages
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Published: March 1, 2012
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Dystopian Fiction, Young Adult





This third installment in The Demon Trappers series (there's a fourth book on the way) is just as riveting and exciting as the previous two!  In spite of plot elements that I found totally objectionable, I couldn't stop reading!  I don't know what kind of magic this author wields, but I had to keep reading to find out how everything ended, in spite of all my reservations...

I firmly believe that a large part of the attraction these books have for readers, including me, is the great characters. 

Riley Blackthorne is, I think, one of the most wonderful heroines I've ever come across!  She's gutsy, compassionate, daring, smart, and, to top things off, very touchingly devoted to her father, the Master Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne.  She's still hurting from her mother's death, and has done everything possible to rescue her father's body from the clutches of the unknown necromancer who reanimated him.  She finds him, only to lose him again shorthly thereafter, and her desperate anguish moved me to tears.

Then there's Denver Beck, who is Master Blackthorne's apprentice.  He comes from a troubled family background, and is also illiterate.  He attempts to hide these things behind a macho front, but Riley discovers that he's really a very sensitive, caring soul.   She initially misinterprets his attitude toward her as a bossy one, only realizing, in this novel, that he actually loves her, and has for a long time...  She herself had a crush on him when she was 15, and never got over his apparent rejection, which Beck felt was necessary at the time, due to her age.  Beck has been fighting his attraction to Riley for a long time -- two books, as a matter of fact.  In this third one, he finally begins to acknowledge it. 

I don't want to give the impression that this is really a romance novel, because it's not.  The romance takes second place to all the action, which is another of the things pulling me to these books.  At the beginning of the novel, Riley's in hiding from the demon hunters, who have somehow discovered that she has an agreement with Hell.  Furthermore, Beck is furious with her because of her brief relationship with Ori, a Fallen Angel,  in the second book.  Riley has found her dad, and he's safe, for the moment.  Then she finds out that Beck will take the blame for the horrible Tabernacle massacre, which occurred in the second book, unless she decides to turn herself in.  She promptly does so, under the protection of the Scottish Grand Master Stewart, another of my favorite characters.  When questioned by Father Rosetti, the leader of the Vatican's demon hunters, she's surprised to discover that she bears the marks of both Heaven and Hell -- the first on her left hand, the second, on her right!

Riley already knew, at the end of the second novel, that she was supposed to somehow stop the coming Armageddon.  She's puzzled as to how she's also supposed to render a favor to Lucifer, the Prince of Hell...

To my dismay, there's a new element introduced in this third novel -- zombie demons!  Due to some really powerful magic, they are now nearly invincible, and can only be killed through decapitation.  Ugh.  As if it weren't bad enough already that there are reanimated humans who are then sold as servants to the rich...  Of course, this new element adds more excitement to the plot, since the stakes have been raised.  Riley and her friends -- the demon hunters and the demon trappers are now working together -- have to do their utmost to defeat these formidable foes.

Ori is still part of the story, trapped inside a statue by Lucifer, only coming alive at the dawning of each new day.  He calls out telepathically to Riley, attempting to convince her to give him her soul.  She remains firm, however, and instead, uses him to get information crucial to her cause.

This third novel is as full of twists and turns as the first two.  There's hardly any respite from the constant action!  There's plenty of character development going on, though, especially in the case of Denver Beck.  We also learn more about Paul Blackthorne, and the terrible thing he did in order to protect Riley, whom he loves just as fiercely as she does him. 

We also find out more about Mort, one of the necromancers.  I didn't expect to actually like such a character, but Mort turns out to be a very decent sort.  Even though I still object to his occupation, I do appreciate the fact that he takes care of Riley and her father, doing everything he can to help them.

Another character I like is Ayden, the witch.  She, too, is a very good friend to Riley, using her magic to help her young friend, and coming across as a very compassionate person.

Peter, who is Riley's best friend, is another wonderful character!  He helps her solve the mystery of the holy water scam, and is always there for her emotionally, listening to her problems, giving her unsolicited, but helpful, advice.  If it weren't for him, Riley would probably have ended up an emotional wreck a long time ago.  

The complex mix of elements in these books not only create a compelling plot, but also raises some questions for this reader.  Since the plot is so laden with religious concepts, I have to mention those things that I find so objectionable. 

 First off, the idea of demons creating physical havoc, and capable of being killed (before the new zombie ones arrive) just doesn't seem believable.  I realize that this is fiction, but still...   Demons are supposed to be spiritual, not physical, entities; as such, I would think they could not be killed.  They could perhaps be portrayed as creating physical havoc, if they manifested in physical form.  But I really don't see how they could possibly be killed.

Secondly, fallen angels are, essentially, demons.  In these novels, they're treated as creatures who are somehow not completely evil, and apart from demons, as if they were between Heaven and Hell.  According to the Biblical tale, when Lucifer was thrown out of Heaven, he took many angels with him, angels who had rebelled against God right along with him.  These angels then became demons, or devils. 

Thirdly, I think it's rather incongrous, not to mention pretty much unbelievable, that the Catholic Church would be working so closely with wielders of magic such as Mort and Ayden.  Although the Church no longer burns witches at the stake, it still frowns on magic.  In this novel, though, Father Rosetti has to acknowledge that magic can help them defeat the demons, even while he warns Riley that using it could place her soul in jeopardy.  But then, some Christian denominations consider certain Catholic practices to be magical, such as the use of holy water, the rosary, and praying to the saints...  This is a topic that certainly opens up a can of worms!

I've already mentioned my fourth objection -- the zombies.  Reanimating human corpses is a sickening concept in itself.  Although Oliver handles the encounters between Riley and her father in a very delicate, even touching manner, I still find the idea offensive.  She really goes outside my comfort zone when she then presents the zombie demons!

There's one more point, and it's actually the most important one of all.  How could one human being, whether male or female, possibly stop Armageddon?  This is simply not plausible, or believable!  According to the Book of Revelation in the Bible, Armageddon is a done deal, something that will inevitably take place at some time in the future.  No mere human can possibly stop it.

In spite of all my objections, I have to say that Oliver is a superb writer!  She kept me interested throughout the novel, in spite of all my inward groaning.  Her pacing is flawless, and her strongest point is her characterization.  Riley, Beck, Paul, Stewart, Mort, Ayden, Peter, the demon hunters...even her villains, all emerge as real people, with all of their conflicting motivations and hidden agendas, their flawed personalities, their strengths and weaknesses.

I will definitely go on to the fourth and last book in the series.  Why, you might ask, since I have found so many objectionable elements in this book?  Well, all I can say is that Oliver has made reading her story a very compelling activity that I find myself wanting to see to the very end...

I would not say that these books are in the young adult category, even though they're presented as being such.   In spite of the age of the main characters, the themes and elements presented are much more suitable for a mature, adult audience, one with a solid spiritual background, to boot.   


MY RATING: <




Where To Buy:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble

 

Shelf Candy Saturday #18: Darkness Falls, by Jessica Sorensen

This wonderful book meme/blog hop

is hosted by

Stephanie @

Five Alarm Book Reviews!!

The purpose of this feature is to display

a beautiful book cover,

with information, if available,

about the cover illustrator,

photographer, and/or designer.

For all the participation rules,

just click

HERE.

Here's my pick for this week!

Darkness Falls

Jessica Sorensen

Paperback, 286 pages

CreateSpace

April 20, 2012

Genres: Dystopian Fiction,

Urban Fantasy,Young Adult

Why do I love this cover?

The design is a very dynamic, deceptively simple one, which makes a very bold statement.  I especially like the repeating circular shapes.  I've always loved circles, so covers incorporating this shape into their design instantly attract me.

The girl is standing in front of a circular opening which looks out onto a mysterious landscape dominated by a huge moon.  The shape of the opening, located in what I presume to be a tunnel, is echoed by the moon, adding to the power of the whole design.  The girl is framed by the two circles, so she certainly stands out!  The birds flying in the distance, with the moon as backdrop, add to the mystery of this gorgeous cover, as does the mist at the bottom of the tunnel opening.

The girl is carrying a samurai sword, which she's ready to pull out and wield.  She glances warily back at the viewer, ready for action.  The look in her eyes seems to be a warning, too; don't underestimate what she can do!  It's obvious that she has turned her head quickly, because of the swirling of her hair.  I love this!  It adds to the cover's realism. 

The color scheme is mostly gray, which is not one of my favorite colors, although I do think it's very effectively used here.   The picture available on the illustrator's website shows that the outer rim of the circular opening is a bright blue, which extends to the landscape beyond.  Unfortunately, I was unable to copy and paste that illustration here, but you can see it on the site. 

I also like the contrast of the predominantly somber colors with the burnt sienna-colored letters of the title, which make it pop right out.   The font is an appropriately stark, dramatic one, too.

If you click on the book's title above, you'll be taken to a synopsis of the novel, which is as exciting as the cover promises it to be!   I'm planning to buy it just as soon as I possibly can!

Although this novel is not currently

part of my collection,

I was easily able to obtain

information about

the very talented designer!

Her name is Regina Wamba,

and I know about her

thanks to Cambria Hebert,

since Regina designed the cover

of Masquerade, one of Cambria's books.

She has also designed the

cover of the upcoming sequel,

Charade!!

You can view more of

Regina's amazing book covers

at her website,

Mae I Design!

 

You can find Regina's Facebook page

HERE.

So what do you think 

of this cover?

What beautiful cover(s) 

are you featuring this week?



Waiting On Wednesday #37: Dark Star, by Bethany Frenette

This is a weekly book meme, hosted by

Jill @  Breaking the Spine,

which features future releases that
we book bloggers

are eagerly anticipating!

Here's my pick for
this week!!

Dark Star

Bethany Frenette

Hardcover, 368 pages

Hyperion

Expected Publication:

October 23, 2012

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

From the Goodreads Synopsis

Audrey Whitticomb has nothing to fear. Her mother is the superhero Morning Star, the most deadly crime-fighter in the Twin Cities, so it’s hard for Audrey not to feel safe. That is, until she’s lured into the sweet night air by something human and not human—something with talons and teeth, and a wide, scarlet smile.

Now Audrey knows the truth: her mom doesn’t fight crime at night. She fights Harrowers—livid, merciless beings who were trapped Beneath eons ago. Yet some have managed to escape. And they want Audrey dead, just because of who she is: one of the Kin.

Now this sure looks like

a very exciting plot!

I love that there are some

seriously dangerous females

involved!

These 'Harrowers' definitely sound

like something to be

defeated at all costs...

It doesn't hurt that the cover

is absolutely gorgeous, too!

This is already on my Goodreads

TBR bookshelf,

and I can't wait to get it into my

greedy little

bookworm's hands!!

What incredibly exciting books

are you all

eagerly anticipating

this week?