Review and Giveaway: Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Series: Seraphina #2
608 p.
Publisher: Random House Children's
Published: 3/10/15
Source: ARC from publisher for review

The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways.

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

My thoughts:
 I enjoyed the first book, Seraphina, but I think I ended up enjoying this one even more. The worldbuilding continues in this book and the worlds, both inner and outer, get even more detailed. I really loved traveling along with Seraphina.

Seraphina also comes much more into her own. The growth continues and she really questions ambitions and wants in a new way. She learns to discard things that were once a crutch to get through life and have now become a hindrance. We also see her reevaluate her idea of a utopia for half dragons. She finds that she never even considered how the others would view her utopia. I loved this growth in her. We also see that while the outer changes occur, they only anticipate the inner changes within everyone. It is a new world for dragon and human kind.

My only complaint is the romance. It doesn't quite live up to everything going on and I really didn't like how the romance was "solved" in the end. However, since it is a minor subject to the adventure at hand, it didn't bother me as much as it may bother some. The scope of the whole tale seemed to outweigh my need for romance in this book.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I enjoyed the first but this one really gave me more of what I craved. Answers take a while to get to but they are there! We not only see our heroine have inner growth but almost everyone she meets. I highly recommend this series to those that want to get into fantasy and those that already love it. It is a great story for the YA and adult crowd.

Giveaway!

The publisher has allowed me to give away this book to one lucky person! The giveaway is open to those in the US and CAN only. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good Luck!

Review and Giveaway: Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear

Standalone
352 p.
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2/3/15
Source: From the publisher for review

“You ain’t gonna like what I have to tell you, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. See, my name is Karen Memery, like memory only spelt with an e, and I'm one of the girls what works in the Hôtel Mon Cherie on Amity Street. Hôtel has a little hat over the o like that. It's French, so Beatrice tells me.” 

Set in the late 19th century—when the city we now call Seattle Underground was the whole town (and still on the surface), when airships plied the trade routes, would-be gold miners were heading to the gold fields of Alaska, and steam-powered mechanicals stalked the waterfront, Karen is a young woman on her own, is making the best of her orphaned state by working in Madame Damnable’s high-quality bordello. Through Karen’s eyes we get to know the other girls in the house—a resourceful group—and the poor and the powerful of the town. Trouble erupts one night when a badly injured girl arrives at their door, begging sanctuary, followed by the man who holds her indenture, and who has a machine that can take over anyone’s mind and control their actions. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, the next night brings a body dumped in their rubbish heap—a streetwalker who has been brutally murdered. 

Bear brings alive this Jack-the-Ripper yarn of the old west with a light touch in Karen’s own memorable voice, and a mesmerizing evocation of classic steam-powered science.

My thoughts:
I didn't quite know what to expect from this book but the book is distinctively a steampunk western! It is like walking into an alternate universe where steampunk slightly changes the landscape we know through books and movies. We also get a good look at it since the author is so descriptive though our heroine, Karen.

Karen is a soiled dove. She is registered as a seamstress but the profession is a bit older that that. That fact makes it more of an adult book but there really is no heat in that area even though there are a few scenes with some romance. It is, however, light on the romance. While I did enjoy the worldbuilding and I could easily cheer for our lucky or unlucky (depending on how you see it) heroine, I loved the diversity in this book. The book is filled with diverse backgrounds and a few of them are based on real people (the note at the end of the book tells you who she chose to inspire various people in the book). I also felt that the history was well woven into the story.

I give this book 4 stars. I loved the blending of diverse characters and the history into this steampunk world. It isn't too heavy with steampunk that those that aren't mechanically inclined can follow easily and enough contraptions for those who are inclined will be entertained. It is a great way to get your feet wet with the steampunk genre.

Giveaway!

I accidentally received 2 hardcover books instead of 1 so I decided to give the second one away. If you tried for it last month and didn't win it, here is your second chance! I'm only shipping to the US so if you have a US snail addy you are in luck! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck!

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran

Standalone
368 p.
Publisher: Touchstone
Published: 3/3/15
Source: From NetGalley and publisher for review

When the British Empire sets its sights on India in the 1850s, it expects a quick and easy conquest. After all, India is not even a country, but a collection of kingdoms on the subcontinent. But when the British arrive in the Kingdom of Jhansi, expecting its queen to forfeit her crown, they are met with a surprise. Instead of surrendering, Queen Lakshmi raises two armies—one male, one female—and rides into battle like Joan of Arc. Although her soldiers are little match against superior British weaponry and training, Lakshmi fights against an empire determined to take away the land she loves. 

Told from the perspective of Sita, one of the guards in Lakshmi's all-female army and the queen’s most trusted warrior, The Last Queen of India traces the astonishing tale of a fearless ruler making her way in a world dominated by men. In the tradition of her bestselling novel Nefertiti, which Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, called “a heroic story with a very human heart,” Michelle Moran once again brings a time and place rarely explored in historical fiction to rich, vibrant life.

My thoughts:
When you usually get a story during this time period you almost always get it from the perspective of the Brittish. You may get a woman's perspective in this area and she might even be Indian but it is never truly her story. This book not only gives you the woman's perspective but puts you on the side of Sita a guard of a Queen who ended up having legends in her own right.

As you can tell I really enjoyed this perspective. It is really Sita's life but it brings in full color the problems in India at the time. Not just with the Brittish conflict, but how women were treated then. Sita breaks from a horrible life her grandmother had in store for her because she was treated as a worthy daughter by her father. It is her father that sets her new life in motion. You had to love this guy who loved his daughters as much as he would have any son.

Even though Sita is quite young throughout most of the book, I would caution those very young kids about reading this one. I would place it as an adult book but can be read by older YA readers. I recommend it for the older YA set because there is war in the pages and the author does not shy away from that fact.

I give this book 5 stars. I love that it brings to life a culture during a time period when we don't get too much from that perspective. That alone would make me recommend it. However, Sita is a great heroine and one I enjoyed following.

Review and Giveaway: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Series: Seraphina #1
512 p.
Publisher: Random House Kids
Published: 7/10/12
Source: From publisher for review

In her New York Times bestselling and Morris Award-winning debut, Rachel Hartman introduces mathematical dragons in an alternative-medieval world to fantasy and science-fiction readers of all ages. Eragon-author Christopher Paolini calls them, "Some of the most interesting dragons I've read in fantasy." 

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. 

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

My thoughts:

I have wanted to read this book since it first debuted. When I heard it had music and dragons I was only surprised that I let my large tbr prevent me from reading the book. Still, I waited since I knew it was only the first book and I can devour them one after another when the others come out. I didn't realize that it was a duology. I guess that means I can really catch up! :)

I loved the premise of this book. The worldbuilding was so interesting and different. A few questions still abound but then these are questions that all of our characters still have even after finishing the book. The world hadn't even considered the possibility of interbreeding so my question of how and why will have to wait with the rest of the characters.

Seraphina is a likable character but a bit taciturn and bland in her personality. It makes sense in the book since she holds secrets which could get her and her family killed. This did not put me off of the character and it also allowed the worldbuilding to shine even more. When she started questioning her right to be who she is and was tired of hating who she was the character really took off for me. Her personality started to blossom. I love a book with a lot of personal growth in it.

I give this book 4 stars. It is a great book for those that are a bit reluctant to get into the fantasy genre. I think you will find a engaging story with lots of growth and adventure.

Giveaway!

The publisher, Random House Kids, has allowed me to give away one book! It is open to those in the US and Canada. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good Luck! Oh and those wanting the second book, Shadow Scale, don't forget to come back next Wed for a review and giveaway of that book!

Seraphina: The Audition by Rachel Hartman

Series: Seraphina #0.5
17 p.
Published: 6/19/12
Source: TBR Pile

Free HERE

The Audition is a free prequel to Seraphina available online. It takes place a few weeks prior to Seraphina, covering Seraphina Dombegh's audition to become Viridius's assistant and thus Glisselda's music tutor.

My thoughts:
 I'm about to start the first book but thought I'd read the little novella I've had in my possession for a while now. It was an incredibly quick read (very few pages) but it does establish some important characters. It does what it should and make you want to know more. So, I give this short novella 4 stars.

Don't believe me? Then try the book below! :D (You can increase the size of the pic with the icons right below the book). Don't forget to come back Wed for a review and giveaway of the first book!

Seraphina Prequel WEB by Jinhi Baron