ARC Review: Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow

Title: Sorrow's Knot

Author: Erin Bow

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: October 29th, 2013

If I had realized how apt the title of this novel is, perhaps I wouldn't have picked it up. In her sophomore novel, Erin Bow, weaves an eerie tale of grief; of the living, of the dead, and our inability to let go of our loved ones. Granted, it's a fairly weighty subject matter, but that doesn't discount the fact that this book blew my mind. I just didn't see it coming. Sorrow's Knot is fantasy at its best: creepy and alluring; is contemporary at its finest: realistic and honest emotions; and horror at its creepiest: shivering but sure.

Sorrow's Knot takes place in a land much like North America, ruled by matriarchal societies in which boys, after becoming men, leave their homes, never to seen or heard from again. It is the women, in this world, who are born with power; the power to create knots. Rangers, to create the knots that will hunt animals and protect the villages; Storytellers, to create the knots that will make their tales all the more real; and Binders, to create the knots that will help the dead to depart from the living. And yet, the Binders are of utmost importance to these tribes, not just because of their duty to help the dead pass on, but because they have the power to keep away the White Hand, an evil manifestation of a human spirit kept on Earth. Otter, the daughter of Willow, the strongest Binder since Mad Spider herself, has always known that she will become a Binder herself one day. When Willow, however, refuses to take on Otter as an apprentice, claiming the knots have turned against themselves, Otter is left with immense power and little training. And, worst of all, White Hands lie near, waiting to touch the minds of the living and turn them insane. With her life slowly unraveling, spiraling out of control in every way, Otter is left with only one choice: find a way to stop the White Hands or become one herself.

Bow's novel is enticing from the very first page itself; impossible to put down. Otter's world is so different from our own, but Bow's world-building is woven throughout the tale, in the little things. In the customs, in the phrases, in the relationships. Nothing is explicitly stated, but rather subtly hinted at; folklore repeated, clues scattered, and dialogue haunting. It's a masterpiece to read, merely because the writing is so beautiful and chilling at the same time. The White Hands of Bow's novel are utterly creepy, being slowly built-up into the terrifying monsters they truly are. In fact, the reason this book excels is precisely because everything is built up slowly, especially the relationships. As a novel dealing with grief, there is - obviously - a large presence of death throughout the story, but despite knowing this, our hearts involuntarily go towards these characters, becoming enraptured by their tales and brutal realities. Sorrow's Knot is deeply emotional because of these connections; because we come to empathize so deeply with these real-life people and are just as hurt when darkness and sorrow come their way.

One of my favorite aspects of this tale, however, is Otter. As a protagonist, Otter is unrivaled, particularly in the realistic influx of her emotions. From the first moment we are introduced to her itself, Otter is full of gray matter: hating her mother for abandoning her, but loving her nevertheless; terrified of her lack of a role in society, but courageous enough to stand up for what she believes in; desperate to fit in, but fiercely loyal no matter what. Every one of the relationships Otter sustains - particularly with her best friends Kestrel and Cricket - is shockingly nuanced. Kestrel, Cricket, and Otter are a fierce trio, constantly there for one another. Kestrel and Cricket's romance - short, but sweet - is never a detriment to their friendship with Otter and only strengthens the bonds between them. Kestrel, a Ranger, and Cricket, a Storyteller, both play important roles in this novel, right alongside Otter, the Binder. From the beginning to the end, their friendship is strong and true, realistic and bold, practically unseen in its honesty. And that, plain and simple, is what I loved so much about the characters in this novel; they were flawed, but proud of who they were, never romanticized or dishonestly portrayed. With the subject matter that she tackled, it was integral for Bow to keep her characters realistic, even in their cruelty, and that came across so well, particularly within the cast of secondary characters who make up the people of this village.

Although there is a romance in this novel, it isn't a focus. In fact, it only emerges during the last quarter, or so, of the story, but still manages to be well-developed and poignant. Sorrow's Knot is very much a creeping mystery, a slow unraveling of the truths hidden in this society. The Rangers, Storytellers, and Binders are kept apart, sworn to secrecy to never reveal their knots and lessons to one another. It's a strange realm, that's for sure, and it's particularly jarring to see males referred to as weak, merely because it's so far from the truth of our own patriarchal society today. Yet, I love that this novel, though looking at a flipped society of female dominance, never veers away from the main plot threads. With her world, Bow manages to touch upon many intriguing topics - the power of secrets, the misconceptions society leaves us with - but those only enrich her tale. With many authors, it's easy to get carried away by these side issues or, more often, ignore their impact on the characters, but Bow strikes such a perfect balance between her tale, her world, and her characters.

Frankly speaking, Sorrow's Knot is a novel one simply has to experience. It's difficult to put into words exactly why it works, but it just does. It's unique, on so many different levels, and leaves such a jarring impact; of our world, of our afterlife, and of death in general. Although it seems to be a very heavy novel, it truly is more horror-story-esque than anything else. And yet, I wouldn't hesitate to thrust it upon any unsuspecting passer-by. I can certainly promise you one thing: it'll leave your hearts in knots. Ones you just won't want to untie.

Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3) 

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Rating: 5 Stars

Maggie Stiefvater has this ability to render life after her books meaningless. It truly seems, to me, that her words cast a spell, throw out their tentacles, and wrap around you, holding you down, close, forever, to her world. Stiefvater has mentioned, many times, that she hopes her books are the kind that never truly leave her readers’ minds, and on that front, she has succeeded completely. Whether it be The Scorpio Races or The Raven Boys or even just Shiver, it’s so difficult to fully leave these characters and settings behind and go forward in life. After all, what is grocery shopping in the face of true love?

Stiefvater’s Forever is, in my eyes, the best this trilogy has to offer. Although my fingers and toes were crossed tight while reading this – I would have hated to be another disappointed reviewer adding to the throng of mixed emotions – I needn’t have worried. Forever is the perfect ending to this trilogy. Each installment truly built upon the previous story in a remarkable manner and the way everything comes together in this in such a bittersweet and realistic way is heart-stopping.

What stands out to me about Forever is its maturity. Whether it be the nature of Grace and Sam’s relationship – all the more intense, romantic, and yet slow – or the developing friendships between Sam and Cole – tentative, understanding, and loyal – these characters have truly grown up. In my eyes, Linger marked a true journey of growth for Cole, but Forever sees him continue to battle his inner demons, especially alongside Isabel. I find that their relationship, though seemingly typical of most, is truthfully very different as Stiefvater never rushes anything between them. Both Cole and Isabel are tortured and broken people; humans who cannot heal merely because of love and affection, but rather with time. And, perfectly, Stiefvater gives them that time and, moreover, she gives us that hope.

Additionally, Isabel truly came alive for me in this installment. In Linger, her emotions were raw and edged with a brutality, but in Shiver they are whirling uncontrollably. I was finally able to see the extent of her pain, but also the extent of her strength. Isabel also acts as the voice of reason, which I love. Despite her grief – or perhaps, because of it – she never hesitates to stand up to Cole, Sam, or Grace and put them in their place. As the only human among werewolf friends, her contributions are valuable. Moreover, Isabel, Grace, and Rachel grow to find a steady footing in their friendship. We come to see just how important both these girls are to Grace and, by virtue of their common friend, Isabel and Rachel manage to form a bond, pushing their differences aside. Friendship hasn’t necessarily been a raging theme throughout this series, but with this installment, I truly found that it shone.

Cole and Sam, especially, have an intriguing bromance that brews in this novel. With Grace a wolf and Isabel a human, Sam and Cole are stuck together in Beck’s home with nothing but their own company and their swirling thoughts. Thus, the steady trust that develops between them was one of my favorite relationships to watch unfold. Moreover, Cole and Grace share an easy friendship. It is remarkable to see these characters from each others eyes, particularly from those of Cole. Cole sees Grace as a remarkably different person that maybe even we see her and I love those additional insights into her character and particularly into her relationship with Sam. Linger gave us an insight into each character and into their role in the tumultuous plot, and while Forever continues to employ that method, it also manages to build a rhythm of greater balance, throwing in these lenses with which to view the other characters differently as well. It is this, I find, that is the strength of novels with multiple perspectives and Stiefvater truly hones on this.

Nevertheless, Forever is Sam’s story. (Admittedly, everything is Sam’s story because, let’s be honest, no one wants to read anything without Sam Roth in it, but this book is more his than the previous ones.) Sam’s growth throughout this novel is remarkable. Not only is he forced to quickly assume responsibilities, being the leader and in charge of ensuring the pack’s safety, but he is also driven to embrace his past fears. Whether it be the bathtub or losing his humanity or even finally facing the truth of his relationship with Beck, Sam bravely faces it all in a heart-wrenching fashion. With Sam, there is always so much emotion involved and my heart tore for him on more than one occasion. I love how Stiefvater has molded his character from Shiver to Forever and looking back on that journey is ultimately both insightful and rewarding.

Also, the last page of this book? I was praying it was the last. It was beautiful. I'm a huge fan of ambiguous endings and that one was just...lovely. I'd have hated a more conclusive ending (but I've been told I'm strange since most readers seem to like very wrapped-up endings...*shrug*). Needless to say, I'll be walking around in a haze, now, unable to leave Mercy Falls in spirit. And that is why this trilogy is so remarkable. It takes hold of your heart and doesn’t let it go. It leaves you with hope, but also bittersweet longing. It leaves you shivering, but not forever. It makes you look out upon the world and upon every person you meet in a new and different light. And I love that; those are the books I live for.

ARC Review: The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins

Title: The Perfect Match (Blue Heron, #2)

Author: Kristan Higgins

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: October 29th, 2013*

Kristan Higgins has quickly become one of my favorite go-to authors, so after devouring no less than four of her book this past year, it should come as no surprise that I loved her latest, The Perfect Match. From the surface, this novel seems rather familiar. After all, how many romances start out as a "marriage of convenience" and quickly progress to something more? You can always count on Higgins, though, to take a typical chick-lit romance and turn it into a love story with depth.

Honor and Brogan have been friends-with-benefits for years, but while Honor sees him as her future husband, Brogan solely sees Honor as his childhood best friend. Thus, when Brogan turns down Honor's rash marriage proposal and quickly becomes engaged to Honor's best friend, Dana, Honor's life slowly falls out of control. Not only has she reached a stage in her life where what she's expected hasn't happened, but she's being forced to let go of a few reins of the family business she's run since her mother died. If Honor is a mess, though, that's nothing compared to Tom, a British man in need of a green card. Years ago, Tom was engaged to be marriaged, but when his fiancee died, he was denied jurisdiction of his would-be-step-son Charlie. With two desperate people, looking for their lives to change, a fake - and temporary - marriage seems to be the perfect option. Only, are Tom and Honor really faking it after all?

In all honesty, I'm not a huge fan of the "fake marriage" scheme, but I knew that if anyone could pull it off, it would be Higgins. One of the reasons I love these romances as much as I do is because Higgins takes the time to build her characters. I've found that the first-half of her stories are hilarious, filled with the gradual spiraling-out-of-control situations that lead her characters to eventually find romance. For me, it's such an integral part to her novels, both because they give her main characters so much depth, but also because they give her secondary characters prominent positions in the novel. After establishing the close bonds between this family in The Best Man, it's always a pleasure to re-visit favorite characters and see what life has in store for them. Moreover, I love that Faith's perspective of her family in The Best Man is so far removed from Honor's perspective. After all, where Faith is the "princess" of the family, Honor is the tough cookie, taking on everything that life throws at her.

And Tom, too, has so much back story to his tale. I particularly loved the growth of his relationship with Charlie. In some ways, Charlie blames Tom for his mother's death, but at the same time, Tom is the only person who really cares and understands him. Where Charlie's own father abandoned him, Tom is willing to take over. With Charlie in his teenage years, the dynamics between himself and Tom are particularly interesting to watch unfold. It also shows us a much more different side to the sexy, suave Tom we see otherwise. (And this is coming from a family of engineers, so for me to actually find another engineer attractive in any way is HUGE.) I love that both Tom and Honor bring their fair amount of baggage to the table and though they never actively sit down to sift through it, it slowly happens through the course of the novel anyway. Tom is slowly integrated into Honor's family and she into his; it's utterly perfect.

With all of that said, the romance between Tom and Honor isn't easy. More often than not, their interactions are awkward and they don't get along. Of course there's that sizzling sexual tension simmering on the surface, but it's never acted upon - which is agonizing, mind you. Yet, what I really love about their love story, is how understated it is. Although their relationship is the focus of the novel, the individual growth that both Tom and Honor experience is much more important. As these two manage to find happiness outside of the "rut" they think their lives are in, they also manage to find slow and growing love. With these types of love stories, I always look forward to that moment when two people realize just what they're missing without the other person in their lives and Higgins just may have perfected the art of that.

All in all, The Perfect Match is another absolutely perfect Higgins romance. While I initially worried over Honor being similar to the protagonist of Somebody to Love, who I couldn't connect with whatsoever, I was thoroughly invested in this tale. I can't get enough of Blue Heron - especially this family! - so I am more than a little thrilled that Higgins is returning to this small town for her next novel. If there's any author I can constantly count on to deliver satisfying romances, it's Kristan Higgins. Honestly, if you haven't even picked up a book by her yet, I don't know what you're waiting for.

*Quick Note: I've seen the release date for this book marked as November 1st by some publishers, though Amazon has it listed as October 29th.

Just Another...Book Crush (#9): Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

Just Another...Book Crush! is a monthly feature where I invite an author whose book I've recently reviewed and loved to write a guest post and share their three latest book crushes. It's a feature I'm starting mostly because I'm often very shy to approach authors, especially ones I admire, and also because I love reading guest posts since, more often than not, they convince me to pick up a book even when the reviewer cannot. 

For those of you who don't know, Where the Stars Still Shine is one of my favorite novels of the year. It managed to cover everything I've ever wanted from a contemporary read and Trish Doller, though impressing me with her debut last year, has shot up to my list of auto-buy authors. I am so excited to have her on the blog today to discuss one of my favorite aspects of this phenomenal sophomore novel: the romance! After all, who doesn't love a good love story? ;) 

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Callie and Alex go into their relationship in an almost backward direction...which was a deliberate decision. Callie has been damaged by someone she should have been able to trust, so it isn't likely that she would enter into a relationship in a typical way. I did a lot of reading on sexual abuse and while it might seem more natural that a victim would close in on herself and be afraid of sex, there are victims who use sex as a way to feel in control after having their control taken away by their abusers. Callie has been seeking out partners who wouldn't leave her feeling shamed and used afterward, but--mostly due to her living situations--has chosen poorly.

When she arrives in Tarpon Springs, I wanted her to find someone who seemed like another bad choice. All the early signs suggest Alex might be like the rest, but he's not. With him, I wanted Callie to learn what a healthy relationship feels like. Alex respects her boundaries, practices safe sex, and not only can she trust him not to hurt her body, but we also find out that she can trust him with her heaviest secrets. If you're paying attention, you can see their relationship go from purely physical to almost exclusively emotional as that trust unfolds.

Just Another...Book Crush! 

3. Jamie/Poe from the Secret Society Girl series by Diana Peterfreund 

He starts the series as kind of a jerk. An abrasive know-it-all whose motives are suspect all the time. But he's one of those dark horse book boys you don't see coming and when his real personality finally arrives? SWOON.

2. Jonah Griggs from Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta 

This quote right here kind of sums it up nicely: "He stops and looks at me. 'I'm here because of you. You're my priority. Your happiness, in some fucked way, is tuned in to mine. Get that through your thick skull. Would I like it any other way? Hell, yes, but I don't think that will be happening in my lifetime." Rough and tender, strong and sweet, I just love everything about him!

1. Ryan from Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

Ryan was, in some ways, the model for Alex in Where the Stars Still Shine. What I love about Ryan is that he's quiet and steady and even when Carly is blowing like a gale, he's a rock she can bash against until she's calm. Ryan is the man she needs to help her learn how to trust again and when she finally lets go, it gets me every time. 

I could wax poetry about this post: that's how perfect it is. I love the way Doller describes the incredible love story within the pages of her story and both Jonah and Ryan are two of my all-time favorite crushes too. And, now that Doller has mentioned it, I totally see the similarities - and differences - between Alex and Ryan and I absolutely LOVE that. If you haven't already read Doller's sophomore novel - which released just a few weeks ago - don't hesitate to buy it at once! It's worth every penny. :)

Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2) 

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Rating: 4 Stars

I couldn't put this book down. From the first few whispers of Linger to those last harried moments, I was bewitched by the aura Stiefvater re-created with this stunning sequel to Shiver. Nearly everything about it is perfect - the tortured depths of Cole St. Clair, the inescapable guilt of Isabel Culpeper, the creeping disbelief of Sam Roth, and the gentle degeneration of Grace Brisbane. For me, Shiver works perfectly as a stand-alone, but Linger provides a new side of this world, one far more dark and gripping.

Stiefvater wastes no time in quickly getting to the heart of this story – Cole St. Clair. Cole is one of Beck’s new wolves, a human who chose to become a wolf. For Sam, who has fought so hard to maintain his humanity, Cole’s decision is unfathomable. Introducing the perspectives of Isabel and Cole, however, Stiefvater quickly enables us to see a completely different side of this previously simple love story. Not every wolf wants to be human. And not every human wants to stay human.

With Shiver itself, Stiefvater managed to imbed dozens of moments of intense depth, giving us a peek into the true differences between man and beast. Now, however, with Cole, she truly goes into the tortured depths of the human mind, of what makes humans seek oblivion. And Cole is no ordinary human being. No, Cole is a rock star. A Harry Styles, if you will, with throngs of fangirls dying for a glimpse of him and his live music. Nevertheless, despite all that his life holds, Cole has lost hold of who he is and prays for the oblivion to become something entirely. Isabel, who has recently lost her brother and suffers from the guilt of killing him herself, holds no sympathy for Cole. And yet, this is where Stiefvater’s genius comes into play. Both Cole and Isabel are so tortured and alone, confused about their role in the universe, but Stiefvater writes them in such a way that we only feel their pain, but never judge their actions. I love that she is able to tap into the dark corners of humanity and pull out what really matters – not the reasons behind the darkness, but rather its very presence itself.

In my eyes, Cole undergoes the greatest transformation in this book. From the beginning to the end, every conversation, every thought, every action slowly, but surely, changes him. Not to be left out, though, Grace and Sam are still very much the forefront of this series. What I particularly love about their relationship is the muted, quiet parts; the moments when these two simply revel in each other and the simple happiness they find by being in the same room. Sam continues to struggle with the fact that he is human now, perhaps forever, and with that thought comes the scary responsibility of future. Grace, on the other hand, must come to accept that her world is no longer the same, despite Sam’s presence in it, and both her health and relationship with her parents takes a turn for the worse.

One of the favorite aspects of this entire story was the conflict between Grace and her parents. Quite simply put, I got it. I think many teens can relate to the feeling when parents suddenly put down their foot about certain important issues in their lives. Grace’s parents do not understand the serious nature of her relationship with Sam, just as many parents fail to comprehend how their children could want to explore career paths different from their own, etc. And the fact that Grace feels so betrayed, that she feels as if her parents, despite clothing her and providing for her, have no right to truly tell her what to do? It’s written so poignantly. Stiefvater truly nailed this complex relationship on the head and I love that these formerly absentee parents make a very realistic and expected comeback.

Nevertheless, while I loved this novel, I must admit that I missed the ever-present romance of Grace and Sam from Shiver. I found that the four perspectives in this story worked perfectly, but they also took away from the love story. I once found it cloying, but in this novel, with so much conflict present, I ached for just a few of those moments. Linger is a much heavier, sadder type of novel, which doesn’t necessarily make for a good re-read. Yet, as an unexpected sequel to a perfect stand-alone, it goes to show that the story in Shiver is far from complete, that the world-building and lore is far from simple, and that this love story is far from easy. Linger may not be my favorite of this trilogy, but it is a gripping, heart-felt, and essential component to the trilogy as a whole.