Review: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Title:  Etiquette and Espionage

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher:  Hachette Little, Brown and company

Publishing Date:  October 8, 2013

Pages: 320

Genre: YA Steampunk/Alternate History/Supernatral

Series: Finishing School #1

Source: Paperback

  

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Pretty much this is an amazing kick butt steampunk/fantasy/action packed book. It has everything you could want in a book. Humor, action, werewolves and vampires, OH MY! 

What made me pick this book up?

 I had seen the second book at Barnes and Noble for a long time, and I had kept looking and looking for the first one. I picked this book up because the cover really caught my eye. It was bright and had Victorian clothing on, which immediately made me think steampunk. That's why I originally picked the book up.

What do I like about the cover?
It's more what I don't like about the cover. Which is absolutely nothing. The cover caught my eye pretty quickly. I especially love the colors of the cover.

What made me read it?
Steampunk. That's about it. Jenn had read another book by her, and said she was really funny. Which is another thing I look for in books, if it can make me laugh out loud then I'm sure I'll love the book. Other than that I love anything steampunk.

What did I like the most?
The humor, I was almost falling out of my chair at work laughing. I love the vampires and werewolves and how they are just a normal thing of society. I also love seeing the different gadgets and such that they come up with.

The least?
That it ended. But I just started the second one, so yay. 

Would you read the rest of the series/Other books by this author?

Uh, yes. I literally want to go buy every book by her now. 

This has become one of my favorite series, I really love this book and I'm sure I'd read it again.

Possible books of likeness...

Gail Carriger writes comedic steampunk mixed with urbane fantasy in three series: two adult, the Parasol Protectorate and Custard Protocol, and one YA, the Finishing School. Her books are published in over a dozen different language. She has twelve NYT bestsellers via five different lists (including #1 in Manga). She has received the Alex Award from the ALA (for her debut Soulless) and the Prix Julia Verlanger and the Elbakin Award from French readers. She was once an archaeologist and is overly fond of tea.
Gail has a fun newsletter: the Monthly Chirrup, sign up at
http://www.gailcarriger.com/contact.php

Blog Tour: Astarte's Wrath by Trisha Wolfe

Tour Hosted by Trisha Wolfe

Title: Astarte's Wrath

Author: Trisha WolfePublishing Date: March 2nd 2013

Pages: 215
Genre:  YA Fantasy/Alternate History

Series: Kythan Guardians  #.5
Source: Kindle version provided by author

  

A tragic love story.

Two thousand years before Dez Harkly developed her secret powers, Guardian Astarte was vowed to protect by the binds enslaving her to the Egyptian pharaohs. Discover the prophecy that originated from a very different time, and spans generations to link two very different girls.

This is the beginning.

Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Actium, in the city of Alexandria, Star struggles with her guardian duties as her feelings for the newly named pharaoh of Egypt grow deeper. Not only is Caesarion her duty, he's the son of Cleopatra, and he's human. All of which makes their love forbidden.

But when a conspiracy linked to Caesar creeps into Alexandria, Star must choose between helping her fellow Kythan free themselves of their servitude, and protecting her charge - the last pharaoh - while Egypt burns around her.

I was so totally excited to get my hands on this book. I read Destiny's Fire a while back and loved it! This is the book that goes back to the beginning, the start of the Destiny's purpose. The book was everything I hoped for and more. I couldn't put it down, I was mesmerized. I just loved it. 

Back thousands of years ago, the Kythan race existed, Shythe and Narco, and they lived together in harmony. They were enslaved, designed to do one thing, protect the Pharaoh and their family. Star is Xarion's guardian, he is to become Pharaoh, he is Cleopatra's son. Star loves him but is not his equal in Alexandria's eyes. She is just the protector. Octavian's army is out to take over Alexandria and kill Xarion for the throne. He has created a new Kythan race, one that has power of the Aether, the spirit world. Star and her friends are in the fight for the Pharaoh's life and their own. 

Wow, what a great story. The love story was intense, the battle scenes intense. I loved the way it followed the ending of Cleopatra's reign. It was not true to all historical fact of course, it had it's own story, but I felt that this was the true story. The historical facts that exist around Cleopatra are lies. This one is the real story, and it's a must read. The fantasy mixed with History wasn't the only thing that got me going. 

The love story, oh my goodness. Trisha sure knows how to get it right. I loved the forbidden but destined love between Xarion and Star. It was sweet and passionate, built of childhood friendship, lifetime loyalty, and of course some pretty strong hormones... I mean Xarion sounds HOT!!!! No Insta Love- No Love Triangle, just good ole true love that isn't supposed to be. 

The characters... well they were icing on the cake. The story awesome, the love awesome, the historical elements awesome.... the characters beyond awesome. 

There were a couple of moments I really wanted to slap Star at the very beginning for letting her brain control her heart.. but she got over it. She was just a kick butt character for sure. She was smooth, strong, brave, and really don't mess with her. Xarion, well he was just swoon worthy times ten. A real smooth operator, knew what to say and where to put his hands. Tall, Dark, and Handsome! He was also very sweet, devoted, funny, and just plain lovable. Love him I did too. 

I really don't have any complaints about this book, well except parts in the end, but I could see it coming. The tears were only slightly drowning my pages. The last bit of the ending was just superb! It brings everything together just perfectly. 

If you liked Destiny's Fire... this is a must. If you have not read Destiny's Fire, you should and read this one too. They both are awesome in my book. 

Sneak Peek: Bath Scene from Xarion’s POV

Star narrows her eyes at me, her full, bottom lip puckering out the way it does when she’s in serious thought—and though I’m listening to her words, all I want to do is trap that bottom lip between my teeth. Nip it and caress it with my tongue. 

“I knew you’d say that,” she says. “And that is precisely why I didn’t want you to know.” She raises her hand from my chest and swipes the wet hair from my forehead. Her body subtly moves against me with this action, and it drives me wild. “A possible retaliation by the guardians is just one more weighted burden on top of the many you already carry. You don’t need the added strain. Let me deal with Candra and the Kythan. They’re my kindred. As long as I’m their equal—in both power and status—I can protect you.”

This woman—the woman I’ve loved my entire life—is my protector. She not only guards against physical threats, but watches over my mental wellbeing. But I cannot allow her to carry all my problems alone anymore. I want to be her guardian, to be the one to comfort her when she’s fearful, and protect her against this world.

I tilt my head and suck in a deep breath. “This is why you won’t be with me.” I want her to admit it. If she finally confesses that our titles and her battle with the right course of action have been the only reasons for her kept affections, then by Gods…help me from laying her out on this tile and taking her—making her mine. I won’t stop. 

She nods.

“This is the only reason.” She nods again, and that is all the conformation I need. “Then I refuse to let them keep us apart for one more moment.” I grasp her face between my hands and claim her lips with mine. 

Her lips are soft and warm as I achingly coax them into a fevered kiss, unable to hold back my desire for her. I had planned for our first kiss many times, imagined it over and over. The way I would caress her lips slowly and lovingly, conveying my affections. But every emotion I have ever felt for Star rushes to the surface all at once, and I can’t slow. I won’t. I won’t allow her a moment to question our actions, to reconsider us. I’m going to kiss her senseless—kiss the reason right out of her infuriatingly rational head.

Help Trisha and the Tuff Girl Legion get to 50 reviews on Amazon for the full scene release of the “Bath Scene” on Trisha’s blog! You can bookmark the bonus material here!Sneak Peek: Bath Scene from Xarion’s POV 

Bio: Trisha Wolfe is the author of the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (Omnific Publishing), the NA Historical/Supernatural ASTARTE'S WRATH, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD from Spencer Hill Press, October 2013. Her NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013. 

She’s the creator of YA Bound, a promotional site for the Young Adult genre. Also a member of SCWW and The Apocalypsies. Check out www.TrishaWolfe.com for more on her books and bonus material. Follow Trisha on Twitter @TrishWolfe and like her Facebook page for updates.

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Review: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Title: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Author: Seth Grahame-Smith
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publishing Date: March 2nd 2010
Pages: 433
Genre: Alternate History
Series: Stand Alone
Source: Audio Book

Goodreads Summary:
Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."

"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.

Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.

When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.

While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.

Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.

Review:
I have been trying to get this out of my TBR list since the movie came out, I cannot see the movie until I read the book. I finally fit it in and loved it! It was not at all what I thought it would be. I assumed it would be a funny light read, no it was a very serious deep, dark, read. I have always been a fan of the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln, the book was full of actual facts mixed with some twisted fiction. It is so worth the read.

The story is an age old story: Abraham Lincoln, he had a tough go at life since he was born. Even without proper schooling, he was a brilliant and well spoken man. Who ever thought he could kick some supernatural butt! There isn’t a lot to say about the story or the characters, we know the story without the vampires, and we know the main character without the super ninja cool weapon fighting. So we just add the vampires, a short appearance from Edgar Allen Poe, some made up history, a big ax, and some pretty cool fighting moves, we have a brand new story. I think one of the more interesting add-ons to the story was the conspiracy or the “real reason” for the Civil War and that every rich and powerful man was in cahoots with vampires. Pretty awesome.

The writing was amazing, the flow of the book was smooth, lots of fighting and history, lots of blood. A worthy read for sure and now I need to go see the movie.

Rating: