The Dream Thieves - Review

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, # 2)

By: Maggie Stiefvater

Expected Publication: September 17th 2013 by Scholastic Press

448 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!!)

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Goodreads description--The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

Oh guys. *deep sigh* I didn't love The Raven Boys right? (Here's my review for that.) But the lowdown was that I felt like it was missing all of things about Maggie Stiefvater's writing style that I loved reading The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. The Wolves of Mercy Falls has really strong characters and is completely character driven in plot. And it's utterly poetic and lyrical. The Raven Boys was more plot driven and was missing the poetry completely. So while I wanted to read The Dream Thieves, I wasn't all that excited about it until I came across this review by Heidi @ Bunbury in the Stacks. Granted I only read the part where she said The Dream Thieves has everything The Raven Boys was missing and I saw that she rated it as 5 stars on Goodreads, but I didn't read the rest of the review because I didn't want my opinion affected by hers.

So I start up The Dream Thieves expecting what I normally expect out of Maggie Stiefvater--brilliance and a flowing, poetic way with words. Well for one, I had forgotten a good bit of the details from The Raven Boys by the time I picked up The Dream Thieves so I started off a bit confused. Then I was just all around confused by the beginning. With the introduction to the Gray Man as a narrator, but really no introduction to him at all. It literally took me until 50% of the way through the book to feel invested and fully interested in the story. And up until this point the writing felt a bit "klunky." It was still poetic, but not in a free flowing, lyrical way. More in an "I'm really having to think about what's being said" kind of way. As I progressed through the book, this got better for me, and I didn't have to think as hard to follow what was happening.

Ronan is such an integral part of The Dream Thieves whereas he wasn't focused upon as much in The Raven Boys. I really enjoyed him being more front and center. I actually struggle with Adam as a character. In a lot of ways, I feel sorry for him. He's had a rough life, and I know there are so many people out there who have been where he's been. But he also has a crap attitude, and I feel like he makes himself weak. It was good to see what character growth he goes through in The Dream Thieves. Gansey takes a much more backseat kind of role in The Dream Thieves as does his search for Glendower, but I absolutely loved him in this book. And then of course there's Blue. Blue also takes more of a secondary kind of role, but as with Gansey, I think I liked her much more in The Dream Thieves than in The Raven Boys. And I completely love the changes that are happening between Blue, Adam, and Gansey.

Our secondary characters make more of an appearance. Blue's mother Maura is developing "something" with the Gray Man. And Persephone's really crucial to Adam's character growth. Obviously as I already mentioned, the Gray Man himself--there's so much going on there. Can I just stop and mention that I thought Blue's family accepted the fact that he's a hit man a whole lot easier than anyone should ever accept such a fact. I mean how many conversations begin with "I'm a hit man," and end with "let's make out,"? Ok, poor example. But you get the point.

The Dream Thieves is told by varying points of view. You're never really quite sure who's going to take on the role next. From Blue, Adam, Ronan, Gansey, and even the Gray Man himself. In some aspects I think writing this way must be difficult because the author must fully understand the minds of each character, but from a reading standpoint, sometimes these multiple POVs make it a little more difficult to connect to our main characters because we don't stay with them for the entire length of the book.

All in all, I did enjoy The Dream Thieves once I made it past 50% and I got really excited about a scene around the 84% mark. I definitely enjoyed this installment much better than The Raven Boys, and I will most definitely pick up book 3 whenever the time comes. I'd give The Dream Thieves a solid 3.5 to 3.8 stars. I think Maggie Stiefvater's work is brilliant when I really break it down, but this one was not "easy" to muddle through. The extremely slow beginning has me unable to give this a full 4 stars. Have you read The Dream Thieves? What did you think? Let me know!

By the way, did you guys hear, Maggie S. is writing a standalone companion to The Wolves of Mercy Falls about Cole and Isabel? You have no idea how happy this makes me. Book one is called Sinner! YAY!

Sunday Post - 62 & Stacking the Shelves - 35

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

It's been a good week. Except for the fact that I've had a killer headache since like this past Tuesday. It's usually gone when I wake up in the mornings, but has been resurfacing every day between 9 and 11 am. UGH! In better news, went to see The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones again yesterday. Yep, it's still as good as the first time I saw it. Oh and my sister got engaged this past week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Hidden (Firelight, # 3) by Sophie Jordan (4 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'd Like to See Turned into a Move/TV Show
Wednesday: Waiting on Wrong Side of Town (With Me, # 3) by Komal Kant
Thursday: Review of Wild Cards (Wild Cards, # 1) by Simone Elkeles (4 Stars)
Friday:From the Ashes: Frostbite (Vampire Academy, # 2) by Richelle Mead (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Dream Thieves (Raven Cycle, # 2) by Maggie Stiefvater
Tuesday: Top Ten Books on my Fall 2013 TBR List
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday: Review of The Power of a Praying Kid by Stormie Omartian

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

This is How I Find Her

By: Sara Polsky

Published: September 1, 2013 by Albert Whitman & Company

260 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!!)

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Sophie has always lived her life in the shadow of her mother's bipolar disorder: monitoring medication, making sure the rent is paid, rushing home after school instead of spending time with friends, and keeping secrets from everyone.

But when a suicide attempt lands Sophie's mother in the hospital, Sophie no longer has to watch over her. She moves in with her aunt, uncle, and cousin--a family she's been estranged from for the past five years. Rolling her suitcase across town to her family's house is easy. What's harder is figuring out how to rebuild her life.

And as her mother's release approaches and the old obligations loom, Sophie finds herself torn between her responsibilities toward her mother and her desire to live her own life, Sophie must decide what to do next.

Witchstruck (The Tudor Witch Trilogy, # 1)

By: Victoria Lamb

Expected Publication: September 24th 2013 by Harlequin Teen

320 pages

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!!)

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--If she sink, she be no witch and shall be drowned. If she float, she be a witch and must be hanged.

Meg Lytton has always known she is different;that she bears a dark and powerful gift. But in 1554 England, in service at Woodstock Palace to the banished Tudor princess Elizabeth, it has never been more dangerous to practice witchcraft. Meg knows she must guard her secret carefully from the many suspicious eyes watching over the princess and her companions. One wrong move could mean her life, and the life of Elizabeth, rightful heir to the English throne. With witchfinder Marcus Dent determined to have Meg's hand in marriage, and Meg's own family conspiring against the English queen, there isn't a single person Meg can trust. Certainly not the enigmatic young Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, despite her undeniable feelings. But when all the world turns against her, Meg must open her heart to a dangerous choice. The Secret Circle meets The Other Boleyn Girl in Witchstruck ,the first book of the magical Tudor Witch trilogy.

Countdown

By: Michelle Rowen

Expected Publication: October 1st 2013 by Harlequin Teen

336 pages

Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!!)

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Goodreads description--3 seconds left to live. Once the countdown starts, it cannot be stopped.

2 pawns thrown into a brutal underground reality game.

Kira Jordan survived her family's murder and months on plague-devastated city streets with hard-won savvy and a low-level psi ability. She figures she can handle anything. Until she wakes up in a barren room, chained next to the notorious Rogan Ellis.

1 reason Kira will never, ever trust Rogan. Even though both their lives depend on it.

Their every move is controlled and televised for a vicious exclusive audience. And as Kira's psi skill unexpectedly grows and Rogan's secrets prove evermore deadly, Kira's only chance of survival is to risk trusting him as much as her instincts. Even if that means running head-on into the one trap she can't escape.

GAME OVER

Alienated (Alienated, # 1)

By: Melissa Landers

Expected Publication: February 4th 2014 by Disney Hyperion

352 pages

Genre: YA, Science Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!!)

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

From the Ashes - Frostbite

From the Ashes is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know where I re-read books that I read before blogging and finally review them.

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, # 2)

By: Richelle Mead

Published: January 1st 2008 by Razorbill

327 pages

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy, Vampires

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

My review of Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, # 1) by Richelle Mead.

*sigh* I still love these books. Frostbite has a kind of New Moon feel to it for me. It has at times been my least favorite book in the series as book 2's often are. But at the same time there's so much that happens in Frostbite that is pivotal to the overall story, to each individual character's growth, to moving the plot along, and to turning this into more than a cute vampire novel series. It's really the glue that binds the whole series together and completely sets the scene for book 3, Shadow Kiss, which is probably the most pivotal book in the series. The prologue does a great job of spelling out this fantastic world that Richelle Mead has created. I can't tell you how many friends that I've forced this series on who told me they were so thankful for the prologue because while they really enjoyed Vampire Academy, they were a bit confused. So if you were confused at all after finishing Vampire Academy, the prologue breaks everything down quite nicely.

I just love Rose. She's such a strong character. She's impulsive and rash, but she's so passionate and loyal. Rose is stuck in this place where she can't really talk to anyone about what all she's feeling. She hasn't had a chance to really tell Lissa about her feelings for Dimitri and what has gone down between them--especially because Lissa has been pretty wrapped up in her new relationship with Christian. It's completely real to see Lissa and Rose drift apart during this time period as friendships often do when one friend has started a new relationship. Rose starts off Frostbite being extremely naive and even bordering on childish and immature, but she grows so, so much in this book. She sees death in all of it's brutal and ugly glory which forces her to grow up. She learns that she's not invincible and neither are like heroic figures like Arthur Showenberg. As always, Dimitri has a way of putting her in her place without making her feel like complete and utter crap--even when she deserves it.

Speaking of Dimitri, it sometimes surprises me how childish Rose can act and yet it doesn't really change the way he feels about her. Dimitri still plays the wise mentor, but Rose continues to see him for what and who he really is thus shaking him to his core. He tries to remain in control at all times, but some things are just beyond being controlled. Rose being one of those things, and his feelings for her being another. However, Dimitri is presented with another potential suitor and decisions must be made about what he'll do with his life and if he'll follow this new path set before him--one that's not restricted and won't put anyone in danger for pursuing.

I've always been impressed with the foreshadowing that Richelle Mead uses in this series. And things really begin to pick up in Frostbite as far as that's concerned. We've got stuff going on with the bond, false ideas, changing politics, and all kinds of things that are really eluded to in Frostbite that, again, without knowing the rest of the series a reader would easily miss. Going back through the series is really the only way to completely pick up on all of this stuff, and even after as many times as I've read this series, I still find something new each time. Specifically I love how Richelle Mead will tell the reader something that the character believes is fact. Because the character believes these things as fact, the reader takes them as fact as well. It's a great way to lay down the groundwork for some false ideas that will turn into plot twists and such in the later books. But how do you tell fact from fiction without knowing the ending? Ha! I love it!

Along with Rose and Dimitri--my favorite characters--we have the same secondary characters as before, Lissa and Christian (Lissa and Christian are probably main characters, but for me they're secondary), Mia, Mason, and with the addition of a few more, Rose's mom, Adrian--oh Adrian!--Eddie, who's mentioned in the first book, but doesn't have a large role, Tasha, etc. The secondary characters continue to grow, and the new additions shine. Eddie's character is so different from Frostbite to the end of the series that with this re-read I almost didn't recognize him. He seems like a totally different person. Obviously Rose and her mom have issues and seeing that relationship play out was interesting. Nothing brings out Rose's childish side like her mother. Lissa begins to step up and come into her own with the other royals. She's able to discuss Moroi politics with them on a level that serves as mediator and peacemaker during a few of the meetings which is a huge step up from the girl we saw in Vampire Academy.

I keep thinking that Adrian has blonde hair, but Frostbite clearly states that he's a brunette. (Is it okay to call a guy a brunette?) I love how Adrian immediately picks Rose out yet throughout Frostbite during my first reading of it, I was so distraught that he might actually be going after Lissa too since he does seem to be a player. Not that I wanted him to go stepping in between Rose and Dimitri either. But I seriously couldn't help but fall for Adrian's charm--even early on.

The ending was one of those that had my heart pounding. Do you remember that feeling of playing hide-and-seek when you were little and just sitting in the dark trying to be utterly silent so as to not give away your position but feeling the increased steady drum of your heart? I totally felt this exact way reading the ending of Frostbite. This ending was so brilliant because it's such a pinnacle point for so many of the characters, specifically Rose, Mia, Eddie, Christian, Mason, Dimitri, Rose's mom. It was the humbling experience that Rose needed and turned the series from cute vampire series to something a bit more serious. I loved how resolution doesn't come easy to Rose. She doesn't just miraculously get out of this dangerous situation, she has to fight her way out, and every single moment of that fight is tough and difficult.

Frostbite easily gets 4 Stars from me. I still adore this book and this series. Have you read Frostbite? What did you think? Let me know!

Wild Cards - Review

Wild Cards (Wild Cards, # 1)

By: Simone Elkeles

Expected Publication: September 24th 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

288 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

When I saw in the description of Wild Cards that this book is about a girl who plays football, I almost checked out immediately. For one, I'm actually not a football fan so much. But this is such a unique concept in the world of YA literature that I figured it might be nice to give it a shot and read about something different. Surely the challenges facing a young girl who dreams of playing football for college can't be the same challenges facing the typical main character who's a senior in high school. And well...they're not.

Told from dual POVs, I connected with both Derek and Ashtyn pretty quickly. Derek is somewhat adrift in life with his mother having passed away a year or two back and his father being deployed in the military. He's just trying to find a distraction until he's old enough to be on his own. Ashtyn on the other hand is trying to get noticed--by her father, her sister, her nephew, her dog, her boyfriend, college scouts...whoever will pay her some attention. Ashtyn and Derek develop an easy, bantering relationship. They both pick on each other and drive each other bananas. But they both also know there's something more there. They both fight the relationship because Ashtyn thinks she knows that Derek will hurt her, and essentially Derek thinks he's leaving soon and he doesn't want to break her heart when he does.

I couldn't help but find some of Wild Cards cheesy. The writing had some parts that I felt like could have been polished some more, but I found there were some deeper messages about how our past scars us and our thinking and how to move past that. Lessons about what's worth fighting for and how love and life often change our plans for us. And how not to make the same mistakes twice. These parts were probably my favorite.

Overall I was pleased with Wild Cards and it turned out to be more than I was expecting. I'm giving Wild Cards 4 Stars. Have you read Wild Cards? What did you think? Let me know!

Waiting on Wrong Side of Town

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Wrong Side of Town (With Me, # 3)

By: Komal Kant

Expected Publication: September 30th 2013

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads )

Goodreads description--“You don’t realize someone was missing from your life until the moment they enter it.”

Estella Markson is a good girl. She studies hard, stays out of trouble, and is struggling to hold together her family that is falling apart because of her alcoholic father.

Vincent Madden is the guy your mother warned you to stay away from. He doesn’t follow the rules, is in a notorious motorcycle gang, and doesn’t care if he breaks the law or someone’s bones.

After a chance encounter, Vincent starts to take an interest in the innocent girl who is so different to him. Despite Vincent’s infamous reputation, Estella is also intrigued by him. There is something about this bad boy that gives her an escape from her world of problems, and she can’t stay away.

Even as they struggle with the problems in their lives, Vincent and Estella soon find that trying to forget is easier with someone by your side.

Recommended for mature readers 17+

What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!