Review: Son of the Shadows (Sevenwaters, #2) by Juliet Marillier

Title: Son of the Shadows (Sevenwaters, #2) 

Author: Juliet Marillier 

Rating: 4 Stars 

It is, for some reason, extraordinarily difficult for me to explain my feelings concerning this novel. Son of the Shadows is, as all the reviews proclaim, a worthy follow-up to Daughter of the Forest. In fact, both novels are so vastly different that it is practically impossible to compare them and, without a doubt, Son of the Shadows is a beautifully written story, just as heart-breaking and emotionally impactful as its predecessor. Yet, my feelings of awe for this piece are mixed in with guilty disappointment. I say guilty merely because the majority of my friends have found this to be as remarkable a story as the first, and I definitely thought the first was a better novel, and disappointing because I went into this novel expecting it to be just as good, if not better, than its predecessor, and it wasn’t. Nevertheless, I will attempt to push aside my jumbled feelings and convey that, despite what I may have felt, this novel really was a masterpiece in and of itself.

Son of the Shadows chronicles the story of Liadan, Sorcha’s daughter. It introduces us to Niamh, Sorcha’s eldest daughter, Sean, Sorcha’s only son and twin of Liadan, and Liadan herself who happens to be a seer. In Sevenwaters, Liadan’s life has been one of happiness and she, more than her siblings, has received the perfect mix of both her parents’ best qualities. Yet, disaster strikes Sevenwaters when, firstly, Sorcha falls ill and slowly begins her descent to death and later when Niamh is found to be having an affair with a man she is forbidden to be with. As such, Niamh is sent away for a profitable arranged marriage, accompanied by her sister, Liadan. On her way home, Liadan is kidnapped by the troop of the Painted Man, a notorious bandit who wants Liadan to cure his blacksmith. It is here that Liadan’s tale truly begins.

What I loved about Son of the Shadows was the fact that, in many ways, it was the opposite of Daughter of the Forest. While Daughter of the Forest is a slow journey of trust, with every step taken one that is a little closer to happiness, Son of the Shadows is the unraveling of that trust and the plunge into darkness. Its themes, different from that of its predecessor, explore the true test of faith, of the multiple sides to every action, and of the importance of recognizing that one person’s happiness or correct path does not necessarily ensure happiness for another. It weaves a complex web of belief in others, one that is very fragile and easily broken, and the steady journey to see where each character winds up in the end and if they can survive and mend relationships despite hurdles is an interesting one to watch unfold.

In addition to the themes itself, Son of the Shadows contains a very different kind of romance. In this, Liadan swiftly falls in love with one man, and he falls in love with her too, but the moment he finds out that she is from Sevenwaters, he instantly shuns her and refuses to have anything to do with her due to a past mistake of her father. As readers of Daughter of the Forest, it is impossible to understand why Bran, the Painted Man who falls in love with Liadan, could possibly hate Red and their love story, instead of being one in which the reader is waiting to see if the two characters truly love each other, is one where the reader is waiting to see if the two finally wind up together. I’ll admit that the nascence of this romance moved a little too quickly for me and I wasn’t able to form a solid bond with these two as a couple, but as the story wore on, they won me over and I can frankly admit that their love story is just as beautiful, moving, and powerful as that of Sorcha and Red. Furthermore, Bran is easily my favorite character in the tale, proving to be far more complex and tortured than I imagined and the build-up and eventual truth of his past definitely does not disappoint in the least.

Nevertheless, despite its positives, Son of the Shadows certainly had a slew of negative aspects as well. Firstly, I have to state that Liadan experienced little to no character growth at all. When we first meet her, she is already an extremely well-developed character, but it is disappointing to see that her personality doesn’t experience much change despite the events she goes through. Instead, her siblings, Niamh and Sean, are much more flawed and humanely realistic than Liadan is, going through far more drastic stages of growth than she does. Yet, despite this, they don’t feature into enough of the storyline, making Liadan the sibling to love, and furthermore, they lack the strong bond between siblings that is so palpably felt between Sorcha and her brothers. In addition, some parts of this novel almost felt forced, most noticeably the drama. As a novel, it started and ended very strongly, but the middle, opposed to lagging, simply lacked something that left me rather detached from the tale overall. Where Daughter of the Forest made me feel like I was Sorcha herself and made me sob and weep and laugh and smile so much my face hurt, I was so consciously aware of reading a book while reading this. At times, Liadan's journey was just as powerful as her mother's, but during other times, it was simply a very good story.

Overall, however, I can’t recommend this novel enough. Sure, it has its flaws, but the ultimate message it leaves you with, the character tales you won’t be able to forget, and the lore that never fails to captivate just cannot be missed. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Juliet Marillier is a remarkable author. For any fan of her novels, this is a definite must-read. It lacks a little something that Daughter of the Forest had, but it is an excellent novel in its own right and it is one that I know I will return to and re-read in a few years, this time without that added expectation, and perhaps I will, after all, find it to be just as good as its predecessor at long last. 

Blog Tour: The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell (Facts and Giveaway)

I am so excited to be part of the tour for The Cadet of Tildor today and welcome Alex Lidell herself to join us today and share some interesting facts about her debut! You can check out the other tour stops HERE. 

Title: The Cadet of Tildor
Author: Alex Lidell
Release Date: January 10th, 2013
Genre: Fantasy 
Age Group: Young Adult
Tour Organized By: AToMR Tours

There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers. But when her mentor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty to teach at the Academy, is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and her best friend Alec find themselves thrust into a world rife with crime, sorting through a maze of political intrigue, and struggling to resolve what they want, what is legal, and what is right.

You can find The Cadet of Tildor at Amazon, GoodReads, and its Official Website.   

Alex Lidell is a YA fantasy writer and author of ABNA Finalist THE CADET OF TILDOR (Penguin, 2013). Although English is Alex’s primary language, it wasn’t her first.  Coming from Russia, Alex learned english in elementary school and fell in love with reading when the school librarian put Tamora Pierce’s ALANNA into her hands.  Years later, in college, it was another book that re-united Alex with russian, which she had shunned in adolescence. The Three Musketeers.*  Alex thanks both books, and the writers who created them. Beyond writing, Alex is also a photographer, a horseback rider, and a paramedic. The latter two go hand in hand more often than one would like.  She is trying to self-teach herself and her horse to sword-fight. Alex would love to see THE CADET OF TILDOR in the classroom and is working on developing teacher guides for the novel.  She enjoys “e-meeting” both students and educators.

You can find out more about Alex Lidell and her novel at Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads, Shelfari, and Library Thing.  

Facts About The Cadet of Tildor: 
1) Despite its problems, Tildor has the strongest and most prosperous economy of all the neighboring nations.  Commerce forms Tildor's economic backbone.

2) Cory, Savoy's younger sergeant, was a thief before joining the military.  

3) Davis, Savoy's older sergeant, used to be in charge of Savoy during Savoy's own field internship as a cadet.

4) Connor Seaborn is an awesome soccer player.

5) Tamora Pierce's SONG OF THE LIONESS and PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL inspired this book.  Tammy's wonderfully simple and visual prose is my gold standard.

6) A lot of the moves the characters use in ground fighting come from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

7) Before he become a High Constable and the Academy Headmaster, Verin was one of the best sword fighters in Tildor.

8) The next book in the series will either follow Renee's progress, or jump pack to detail Savoy's field internship as a cadet.  Both stories are in the works. 

9) When they were cadets, Seaborn did most of Savoy's homework.

10) A scene cut from the original draft included a direct, secret confrontation between Headmaster Verin and Lord Palan.

Giveaway: 

$20 Amazon Gift Card, PLUS a copy of THE CADET OF TILDOR with swag – US
$20 Book Depository Gift Card – International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: No and Me by Delphine de Vigan

Title: No and Me 

Author: Delphine de Vigan 

Rating: 4.5 Stars

No and Me is that book that you wish you had a time machine for; the one you want to go back in time and thrust to your young teenage self, begging them to read it because perhaps, if they do, they'll understand life a little better and won't make all the mistakes they will. It's the type of novel that whisks you away into a completely different world, but its prose isn't flowery like that of Laini Taylor; instead, it's a more subtle type of beauty where each and every phrase simply makes you put down the book and think. I knew, even before I picked up No and Me that it would be amazing - it did, after all, come recommended to me by three of my most trusted bloggers - but I didn't quite expect the level of wonder, of emotion, and of nostalgia that this book would make me experience, all over again and somehow new at the same time. Truly, No and Me is a literary gem like no other and really, I cannot recommend it enough. 

Delphine de Vigan's debut into YA Literature seems to be a simplistic story, one of Lou, a thirteen-year-old precocious girl living in France who interviews No, a homeless eighteen-year-old woman, for a school project. Only, Lou can't stop thinking about No or the homeless life she leads and when she invites No to live with her, to become part of her family, she doesn't count on No's own past coming back to haunt, not only No, but Lou as well. In my eyes, the depth and beauty of this novel isn't in its plot or subject matter, but in its writing. Lou, as a highly intelligent teenager, sees life in a different light and it is this - her flashes of brilliance, her incredible insight - that made this novel so special for me. 

No and Me isn't an easy novel to read. I'm sure that we've all had an experience or two with homeless people, perhaps less if you haven't traveled outside of America. Ever since I was a child, however, I've been painstakingly aware of the plight of the homeless and beggars. Born in India, I witnessed hoards of homeless people daily, on every street, begging for money or selling cheap plastic toys to tourists in an effort to make a few cents. If it wasn't on the streets, it was in the railway stations as children sold tea instead of attending school, in the airports where they would greet you stepping off the plane - everywhere. I've visited India every summer since I moved to America when I was a baby, but it never fails to shock me, every time, the number of homeless who are still there, who will probably always be there, and most of all, the plight of those like us who are, frankly, unable to do anything. 

It is this lesson that Lou learns in this novel, this earth-shattering wake-up-call, but more than even her friendship with No, her dependency on her, her refusal to believe that No and herself really did not belong in the same world, let alone the same life and the same home, was Lou's life at home. Although this novel focuses primarily on No and her impact on Lou's life, it also focuses on Lou's parents; her mother who has been numb with grief ever since her second child died in her arms, her father who cares for No with an optimism that hides his inner grief, and Lou's own social awkwardness when making friends and approaching seventeen-year-old Lucas who is everything she sees herself as not being. For me, it was the realistic portrayal of Lou's home life, of her struggles with her parents and her inner insecurities about growing up with a mother who never really cared that touched me more than anything else.

Perhaps best of all, though, is how painstakingly life-like this novel is. Its ending never wraps up any loose threads, never tries to explain No and her behavior or even the lives of those living on the streets, never tries to sugar-coat the fact that Lou's mother will never be the same despite the tragic events that happened years ago...it's almost an abrupt ending, one that leaves you smiling, with the twinkle dimmed from your eyes. Yet, it's a beautiful story, one that is written unflinchingly, told realistically, and leaves you wanting to simply hold the novel to your chest as you're forced to - yet again - contemplate the simple truths of existence that one person is too small to change. Nevertheless, this manages to be a novel of immense hope and although I wished for a slightly longer, dragged out, or even more conclusive end, I wouldn't have it any other way - this book is perfect, just the way it is.  

I'd urge you all to check out the reviews of Catie from The Readventurer, Maja from The Nocturnal Library, and Leanne from The Reclusive Reader.

ARC Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Title: Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, #2)

Author: Veronica Rossi 

Rating: 4.5 Stars 

Release Date: January 8th, 2013

Through the Ever Night is one of the few sequels that truly took me by surprise - in the best possible way. I can't quite articulate how excited I was for this book, especially after loving Under the Never Sky, so to say that my expectations were met would be an understatement. Once again, Veronica Rossi has proved her prowess as a writer and if there's anything I can guarantee, it's that fans of the series will most definitely not be disappointed by this scintillating sequel.

Through the Ever Night picks up exactly where Under the Never Sky left off with the reunion of Aria and Perry. Unlike its predecessor, which was rather fast-paced and full of romance, Through the Ever Night is filled with a steady undercurrent of loss, of longing, and an atmosphere of tension. Even from the beginning, we can see that this won't be the same swoon-worthy romance we were treated to in the first novel. Instead, Aria and Perry are practically estranged from one another as Aria is very much an outsider in Perry's tribe and their relationship is kept a secret. Yet, before Perry and Aria can even begin to come to terms with the direction their relationship is taking now that they are no longer alone, Aria and Roar are whisked away to find Liv, Perry's sister, and fulfill the task of finding the Still Blue.

It seems weird, but for some reason, I always enjoy romances that are tinged with a hint of longing, despair, and utter want, which was exactly what I got with Through the Ever Night. Even while living in the same tribe, Aria and Perry seem miles away from one another, until literally, they are. As Blood Lord of the Tides, Perry has an immense amount of responsibility, and it doesn't all come so easily. It is evident that as a leader, the role one plays is extremely different and seeing Perry struggle through his duty, making mistakes and blunders, all while slowly coming to realize his significance and grow into his role, is an incredible journey to see. Just like with her debut, Rossi manages to capture the essence of humanity within her characters, making them shockingly three-dimensional and realistic in the growth and change that she ensures they go through throughout the novel.

Aria, too, is a different person. Although we don't see as drastic a change of growth in her as we do in Perry, she is a far cry from the frightened Dweller we met in the beginning of Under the Never Sky. Aria and Roar's friendship is as strong as ever and seeing them interact, console each other, and just generally be there for one another without any romantic feelings on part of either of them was utterly refreshing. I love that Rossi made Aria just as much a friend to Roar as Perry and furthermore, that she made Roar such a huge forefront in this novel. Although he doesn't have his own PoV in this novel, like Aria and Perry do, a large part of the plot revolves around him and seeing him change and grow is rewarding as well.

In addition to the main characters, the majority of the secondary characters from Under the Never Sky return in this novel, some of them in unexpected ways. I was thrilled to see them all come back and see the role they played in moving the plot forward. If I have any qualms with this story, it is just that it seems as if not enough quite happens. It almost seems as if there is still so much left to happen in the last novel, but the plot never lags, never slows, and never bores the reader. It isn't as fast-paced or intriguing as Under the Never Sky, and many of my questions concerning Aria's parentage remain unanswered, but it keeps you flipping the pages and the world-building is explored a little further as well.

Ultimately, I can see this novel being an instant hit with fans of Under the Never Sky for it is a fabulous follow-up novel. Veronica Rossi just keeps surprising me. While Under the Never Sky felt like Aria's story, TtEN is Perry's in a way and it's phenomenal. I simply love the character development in this novel. It completely blew me away with its depth. COMPLETELY. Furthermore, it was an incredibly emotional novel. INCREDIBLY. Seriously, my feelings and emotions were EVERYWHERE. It was an incredible whirlwind of pure emotion for sure. If there is anything I know for sure it is that Into the Still Blue is going to be SUCH a great conclusion - I can just tell. 

HUGE hugs and kisses and thank-yous to my friend, Amelia, at The Authoress for lending me this book. You're the BEST, Amelia! THANK YOU!(:

ARC Review: Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Title: Level 2 (The Memory Chronicles, #1)

Author: Lenore Appelhans

Rating: 3.5 Stars 

Release Date: January 15th, 2013

For me, the biggest appeal of Level 2 was the fact that it was written by a blogger. I was so enthralled that a blogger had been able to get her book published and, best of all, who else knew best the pitfalls that most authors stumbled across better than a blogger herself? Thus, Level 2 seemed like a novel that could do no wrong. In many ways, it couldn’t (although it’s synopsis seems to think it’s going to get more readers by hinting at a love triangle when there is no love triangle in this story at all). Yet, despite the unique concept, excellent writing ability, and creative characterization, it is disappointing to note that Level 2, is, after all, missing something.

Appelhans’s debut is one of those novels where revealing too much can ruin the story. Thus, I will keep my synopsis brief enough to merely say that it is an original spin on afterlife. As humans, we live on Level 1, or Earth, and are then transported to Level 2, an in-between place between Earth and Heaven, Level 3. On Level 2, everyone who has died now has access to their memories and the goal of this level is to ultimately come to terms with your death and move on. Felicia, the protagonist of our tale, is living in Level 2, blissfully unaware of a rebellion that is going on with the angels who guard Level 2. When Julian, her ex-best friend’s boyfriend, shows up promising Felicia that she can be re-united with her boyfriend, Neil, she doesn’t hesitate to join in the rebellion. Only, there is more to what is going on in Level 2 than what Julian initially has Felicia believe and even after all these years, Felicia isn’t quite sure she can trust the boy she lost her best friend for…

What Level 2 excels in is its characterization. From the very beginning, we are thrown into memories of Felicia’s past and through her eyes, we re-live her romance with Neil, a budding and beautiful story, her fall out with her best friend, her days spent making out with Julian without telling her best friend, her strained relationship with her parents…we see it all. We witness Felicia’s ups and downs and although it all comes together very slowly, the pieces of her traumatic past and her ultimate death seeming to take forever to unfold, it’s worth the wait. I love that Felicia is a flawed and unlikeable protagonist; I love that it is her who is the bad guy, the one who messed up, the person who is wrong. Yet, what I love most is that we can see that it isn’t all her fault and that, deep inside, just as her boyfriend Neil sees, is some good.

In this manner, Felicia is one of the most in-depth characters I’ve come across and her relationship with everyone, from her friends to teachers to parents to her own boyfriend, are all richly complex and a thrill to read. Even her unfolding romance, one that is endearingly sweet, only adds to the multi-faceted characterization of Appelhan’s protagonist and really, it was this aspect of the story that truly made Level 2 such a powerful novel – the part of it that resorted to becoming a contemporary tale. Unfortunately, however, Level 2 is a science-fiction novel and it is in this genre placement that the novel falters. While the mystery of Felicia’s past kept me flipping the pages in anticipation, forming bonds with the characters and barely containing my excitement to find out what really happened, the present action of the rebellion utterly lost my interest.

Felicia, with the help of Julian, essentially explores the place known as Level 2, breaking the bonds of the regulations set forth there and attempting to help her friends. I hate to say it, but this so-called “action” was extremely dull. Furthermore, with the exception of witnessing ones memories from the past, there were no truly innovative gadgets or sci-fi elements to this novel, which was a huge disappointment. I could, perhaps, forgive all this for the plot twists were superb and much of the novel is focused on the past, not so much the present, but the ultimate ending was rushed. It had an engaging plot thread, concluding with a plot twist that had quite an element of surprise to it, but then the rest of the novel, to its rather astonishing ending, was a blur.

Thus, I have to say that Level 2 is a novel that I’d more recommend for contemporary instead of science-fiction lovers. Perhaps if you are new to the sci-fi genre, Level 2 will captivate you in a manner that this novel failed to captivate me in, but if you’re more looking for hard-core sci-fi, I’d suggest look elsewhere. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Appelhans’s debut and with her strong characterization, unique thought-processes, and lush writing style, I am already eagerly anticipating her next novel. A slight change of expectations can render this novel a definite favorite among many and joining the ranks of authors to look out for is Lenore Appelhans – without a doubt.

I was given a copy of this book on behalf of DAC ARC Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!