Review: Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule

Title: Strange Sweet Song

Author: Adi Rule

Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin
Publishing Date: March 11th 2014

Pages: 336
Genre:  YA Gothic Romance

Series: Stand Alone
Source:  ARC 

  

A young soprano enrolls in a remote music academy where nothing, not even her mysterious young vocal coach, is as it seems
Outside Dunhammond Conservatory, there lies a dark forest. And in the forest, they say, lives a great beast called the Felix. But Sing da Navelli never put much faith in the rumors and myths surrounding the school; music flows in her blood, and she is there to sing for real. This prestigious academy will finally give her the chance to prove her worth—not as the daughter of world-renowned musicians—but as an artist and leading lady in her own right.
Yet despite her best efforts, there seems to be something missing from her voice. Her doubts about her own talent are underscored by the fact that she is cast as the understudy in the school's production of her favorite opera, Angelique. Angelique was written at Dunhammond, and the legend says that the composer was inspired by forest surrounding the school, a place steeped in history, magic, and danger. But was it all a figment of his imagination, or are the fantastic figures in the opera more than imaginary?
Sing must work with the mysterious Apprentice Nathan Daysmoor as her vocal coach, who is both her harshest critic and staunchest advocate. But Nathan has secrets of his own, secrets that are entwined with the myths and legends surrounding Dunhammond, and the great creature they say lives there.
Lyrical, gothic, and magical, Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule will captivate and enchant readers.

This was a beautifully written story. The romance was very sweet, the story was fantastical, and the ending was pretty amazing. The pacing lacked a just a tad for me but for the most part it was a very exciting read. 

Sing is a singer. Her mother was a famous soprano and her father a famous conductor. She is off to boarding school for musical talent. A very famous music conservatory. The school was once occupied by the author of her favorite opera, the opera her mother had the lead for when she died, the opera her father doesn't like. A story that involves a murderous mystical Felix Sing loves the opera and when the school decides to present the opera, Sing wants the lead and will do what is needed to have that lead. There is more to the story of course. There is the Felix, who really does exist in the woods outside of the school and a very mysterious and creepy apprentice. Everything is strange, creepy, and a bit romantic at this school and Sings wants to explore it all.

I loved the story, I loved the setting, I loved the writing. The pacing was a bit slow at times in between the main story. The story is told in multiple POVs.  Sing's, The Felix, and the Maestro's. Sing's the most present in the story and the most normal. The Felix's was just creepy and freaky, and the maestro's was a bit mysterious. The story involved romance, mystery, and a bit of horror. It was a bit gory at times too. 

The setting was beautiful. A real Gothic feel, old school, woodsy, gargoyle statues.  I got the feeling that I was surround by moonlight and fog most of the way through the book. The author did a wonderful job at bringing the darkness and the romanticism to life. I was able to feel it as well as see it. 

The story moved along really well at the beginning then slowed down a bit towards the middle. Too much on the opera casting, the mean girl, and the school drama. That was a bit boring for me. I could have done without it dragging on, although it was important to the story it was just too much. Once the story took a turn for the romance, I was all in again.  The romance was sweet, passionate, and too short. Not enough of this wonderful relationship in the story. It was more towards the end but it was well worth the wait. I loved it. My favorite part of the entire book. 

The main character, Sing, wasn't one of my favorite characters. She wasn't the worst, but she had her moments of self pity that made me want to slap her or pull my hair out. When she wasn't in the self pity stage she was really likable and cool, and she was in this state for most of the book. The few moments she was annoying kept me from loving her, but I still liked her. 

Nathan was just amazing. Of course he didn't really appear much in the beginning, however when he did make his appearance he did it with wow factor. Smooth and charming. Beautiful and romantic. So so wonderful. 

I think that I would have loved the book with no issues if it wasn't for the pacing issue and the lack of romance in the beginning. I know that the beginning was building up for the romance and that was very important. I just think it was a tad too much of the building and not enough of the good stuff. Still very enjoyable  though. 

Good Gothic Romance worth reading. 

I write in a studio apartment filled with books, cats, pictures of cats, musical instruments, video games, records, and a macaw who refuses to say, "Shiver me timbers!" despite the fact that it would be the best thing ever. When I'm not writing, I may be found playing Triple Yahtzee with my grandmother or singing in the chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra/Boston Pops, with whom I have also been a soloist.I earned my MFA in writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and I also have a BA in voice from the University of New Hampshire. I am represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

Waiting on Wednesday #105

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

The Islands at the End of The World

August 5th 2014

In this fast-paced survival story set in Hawaii, electronics fail worldwide, the islands become completely isolated, and a strange starscape fills the sky. Leilani and her father embark on a nightmare odyssey from Oahu to their home on the Big Island. Leilani’s epilepsy holds a clue to the disaster, if only they can survive as the islands revert to earlier ways.

A powerful story enriched by fascinating elements of Hawaiian ecology, culture, and warfare, this captivating and dramatic debut from Austin Aslan is the first of two novels. The author has a master’s degree in tropical conservation biology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Review: Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon

Title: Dragonbreath

Author: Ursula Vernon

Publisher:  Dial
Publishing Date: June 11th 2009

Pages: 160
Genre:  Juvenile Humor/Fantasy

Series: Dragonbreath #1
Source: Hardcover

  

It's not easy for Danny Dragonbreath to be the sole mythical creature in a school for reptiles and amphibians?especially because he can't breathe fire like other dragons (as the school bully loves to remind him). But having a unique family comes in handy sometimes, like when his sea-serpent cousin takes Danny and his best iguana friend on a mindboggling underwater tour, complete with vomiting sea cucumbers and giant squid. It sure beats reading the encyclopedia to research his ocean report . . . Using a hybrid of comic-book panels and text, Ursula Vernon introduces an irresistible set of characters with a penchant for getting themselves into sticky situations. It's perfect for both the classroom and fans ofWimpy Kid and Bad Kitty.

This book has been on my TBR list for a very long time. I read bunches of great things about it just not wanting to read Juvenile books at the time. I finally grabbed from the book store and gave it a try. It was a very cute and humorous read. Tons of great graphics and the story was just fun. I liked the characters, the adventure, and the creativeness.  

Danny Dragonbreath is a dragon that lives among many other animals and attends school with many other animals. Danny has issues with being a dragon. The main one… he can’t breathe Fire. He has a hard time at school… staying focused… bothered by a bully…. He feels a bit down. With the help of his best friend, Danny takes an adventure under the sea, taking his mind of his problems and learning a bit about the ocean for a school report. He learns quite a bit and gets himself in a bit of trouble… but the adventure comes through in the end. 

I thought this book was ton of fun. I really enjoyed the story and I liked Danny. He was funny, a bit of a troublemaker, wild imagination, and seemed pretty normal for a kid his age… well except for being a dragon. The issues that Danny faces, aside from the unable to breathe fire issue, normal issues as a kid his age would. He needs help getting a grip on things when they become too big for him to handle alone, and he is okay asking for help. Danny was a great character to kid around with and there is plenty more to get to know about him in future books.

All the supporting characters were just awesome too. Danny's best friend, Wendell, is quite the opposite of Danny. He brings so much more to the story. He is nerdy, shy, and afraid of his own shadow. He and Danny made a great duo for the under sea adventure.  

Others that made an appearance, a pretty mean bully, very entertaining parents, a crazy sea monster cousin, and a teacher. Together they meshed perfectly for a complete story. 

I felt the story was simple but still entertaining. There wasn’t a whole lot of dept the story, great for 10-12 year boys. It was well paced and kept my mind satisfied with not only the adventure but the graphics. This was a great fast, light hearted, fun read. I think this is a great collection to have on your bookshelves to share with kids as they grow up. I will for sure be keeping this book and the other installments around to read to my grandson as he gets a bit bigger.

Quite the adventure, cute, amusing, and carefree. A wonderful new addition to  my home library.

Ursula Vernon is a freelance writer, artist and illustrator. She is best known for the webcomic Digger and the children's books Dragonbreath and Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew. Ursula is also a prolific painter and the creator of the Biting Pear of Salamanca, a work which became an internet meme in the form of the "LOL WUT" pear.
Ursula's cover for Best in Show won the 2003 Ursa Major Award for Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration. She was nominated for the 2006 Eisner Awards in the category Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition for her work on Digger. She was also a guest of honor at Midwest FurFest 2004 and 2009, and the Artist Guest of Honor at Further Confusion 2010.
The daughter of an artist, she attempted to rebel and become a scientist, but in the end couldn’t fight her destiny. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she writes, draws, and in her words, “creates weird thingies.”

Review: Death Sworn by Leah Cypress

Title: Death Sworn 

Author: Leah Cypress

Publisher:  Greenwillow
Publishing Date: March 4th 2014

Pages: 352
Genre:  YA High Fantasy

Series:  Death Sworn #1
Source: Audio

  

When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.
But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.

This was a very anticipated read for me. Everything about the book really drew me in. I was happy to find it on audio and dove in. I enjoyed the listen, great story and great characters. It was a refreshing read for YA fantasy. Not too deep but more than a light read. The only issue (small issue) I had was the pacing. It lacked a bit for me. Other than the pacing, wonderful read.

Ileni is sent on a suicide mission. She is sent to the cave of assassins to teach those assassins magic… her real mission… find out who killed the teachers prior to her. Two have ended up dead. Ileni is OK with this mission, it gives her purpose. Her magic is slowly dying and she is afraid of what will come after its gone. All she is, is her magic. She ends up with a shadow, a guardian, an assassin all to herself, to protect her, his name being Sorin. Being with him, talking with him, she has learned many things. Her thoughts of these assassins slowly change. She learns more about who they are, what they are trying to do, and how easy it is to kill. She also falls in love. She sets forth to uncover the mysteries behind the deaths of previous tutors and comes to learn that all she thought is not all that is right.

The story I loved. I loved the assassins vs. the magic makers, killing vs. peace…I enjoyed they story at its place and where it was headed. There was a lot to the story and the author did a great job with the world building. It was not over done or under done. I felt that I was able to quickly grab on to the world, who was who, and the conflicts. I was invested in the story pretty early one.

The pacing of the story was the main issue for me. There were some really awesome parts in which I could not put the book down. I was very into everything that was happening. Then there were times I was just a tad bit bored and spaced a bit. It didn’t deter me from wanting to finish the book. The exciting parts put a hold on me that really got me through the slow parts and I was able to move on and really enjoy the story and the characters.

The characters I adored. I really liked Ileni. She started off a bit naive when it came to the assassins. Not really her fault, She only knew what she was taught. What I loved about her, she wasn’t afraid to forget what she learned and change her mind with what she was experienced instead of what she was taught. She had an open mind. She had a bit more trouble opening up her heart. She started off a bit distant, stand offish. She had a mission, she didn’t care for killers, and she had a great desire to stay alive for as long as she could. She was committed to her mission. She was loyal. Even when it seemed she may have been headed in the wrong direction, she held on to her loyalty… She just figured out how to expand her loyalty. She was a strong, brave, and very intelligent. Great character.

Sorin was also a fantastical character. I fell in love with him from the very beginning. He was an assassin, yes, he was trained to kill, yes, but from the very beginning, clearly he was one of the good guys. He was very honest, very hard, but he had goodness going on. He fully believed in his mission and would not fault from it. He changed his ways a bit when it came to Ileni and that is when his hardness began to falter. He fell in love and it changed him. Only a bit though. Only enough to save her hide when needed, he still stayed true to his beliefs. He wasn’t arrogant, he wasn’t cruel, he wasn’t a jerk. He wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies either. He treated Ileni as an equal, I liked that very much. Of course that didn’t stop his need to protect her, but only in the moments she needed it. Wonderful character.

There is love in the story… written just perfect. Not overwhelming, not instant, just right. It was sweet and deep. It grew over time as it should. Started out with a spark and took off from there. It was not the center of the story but I would say it plays a pretty big part overall. I think it will be even more prominent in the books to come. The only issue I had with the romance.. it was forbidden in a way and of course there will be lots of obstacles in the way. In the end I am sure they will be together and all with be wonderful… but until then it will be a very hard road.

The ending was the best part.... I loved the relationship play out, the story come together, it felt as if the story was just beginning for me. It had a conclusion but only to the main issue in this story... there is still so much more to come, so much story left, the ending was not the conclusion and I can't wait to read more. I think the best is yet to come. This story was just build up. 

A great addition to YA High Fantasy. Enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading more in the series. 

Leah Cypess wrote her first story in first grade. The narrator was an ice-cream cone in the process of being eaten. In fourth grade, she wrote her first book, about a girl who was shipwrecked on a desert island with her faithful and heroic dog (a rip-off of both The Black Stallion and all the Lassie movies).
After selling her first story while in high school, she gave in to her mother's importuning to be practical and majored in biology at Brooklyn College. She then went to Columbia Law School and practiced law for almost two years. She kept writing and submitting in her spare time, and finally, a mere 15 years after her first short story acceptance, she sold her first novel.
Leah currently lives in Brookline, Massachusetts with her husband and children.

Teaser Tuesday #101 and Top Ten Tuesday #91

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Bloggers choose two

sentences out of our current read to peak others' curiosity.

Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni

                                 

In this riveting fantasy adventure, thirteen-year-old Jax Aubrey discovers a secret eighth day with roots tracing back to Arthurian legend. Fans of Percy Jackson will devour this first book in a new series that combines exciting magic and pulse-pounding suspense.

When Jax wakes up to a world without any people in it, he assumes it's the zombie apocalypse. But when he runs into his eighteen-year-old guardian, Riley Pendare, he learns that he's really in the eighth day—an extra day sandwiched between Wednesday and Thursday. Some people—like Jax and Riley—are Transitioners, able to live in all eight days, while others, including Evangeline, the elusive teenage girl who's been hiding in the house next door, exist only on this special day.

And there's a reason Evangeline's hiding. She is a descendant of the powerful wizard Merlin, and there is a group of people who wish to use her in order to destroy the normal seven-day world and all who live in it. Torn between protecting his new friend and saving the entire human race from complete destruction, Jax is faced with an impossible choice. Even with an eighth day, time is running out.

Teaser:

Evangeline looked around in horror. She was standing under the nighttime sky in a wet mist, alone and vulnerable. 

Top Ten is an original feature/weekly meme created here at

The Broke and the Bookish that features a great bookish top ten every week.

My Top Ten Books that led me to need more.... or read more... 

Most of these introduced me to more genres.. 
Twilight introduced me to YA... 
The Dollhouse Murders I read in 6th grade and got me reading chapter books. 
The Sweet Pickles series made me want to read books when I was little. It was the first books I remember reading on my own. 
Grover was my favorite kids book before I could read... 
The rest were the ones that grabbed me for a particular genre.... 
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