The Pearl Savage by Tamara Rose Blodgett: Review by AimeeKay

Greeting from the Rusty Dagger. We still are awaiting news of the Narwal as we drift through the Iron Seas. This time Melissa was nice enough to send me a copy of The Pearl Savage by Tamara Rose Blodgett.

link to smashwords
Paperback-$8.99
Kindle- $0.99

Description from Smashwords:

"The Guardians," have saved a fragment of 1890s America in nineteen spheres when a natural disaster threatened to drive humanity to extinction. One hundred forty years later, Clara is a seventeen-year old princess that feels a great obligation to her kingdom that is encased in a steam-engineered, bio-sphere for their survival. Clara's father, King Raymond, passes away when she is only twelve, leaving the Kingdom of Ohio in the sadistic rule of her mother. Queen Ada has promised Clara's hand in marriage to an abusive prince of a neighboring sphere. When it's discovered that there are people outside the sphere that did survive, Clara deliberates on escaping Outside to a future free of abuse and tyranny. Unbeknownst to Clara, the Clan people of the Outside have their own calamity and set of perils. Those two objectives collide in an emotional and tumultuous story of love, duty and survival.

Characters:
Seventeen-year old Clara Williamson, reluctant princess and daughter to Queen Ada, lover of wine…who exchanges Clara’s liberty for free trade of grapes with another sphere…

Bracus, who as a protector of the Band, must save his clan’s people from extinction Outside…

Charles, Clara’s long-time companion, keeps his love for her tightly veiled…

Prince Frederic, her sadistic betrothed…bent on having her, and she, escaping his grasp…

Suddenly, with both the clan and sphere peoples’ destiny in her hands, Clara finds herself torn between love and duty…


This was a good story. I liked the world Blodgett has created. I wasn't too sure about the way the author switched between the characters points of view at first, but it didn't really detract from the story. I really liked how she used the mystery "guards" thoughts, I was guessing who it was up until the last moment before his true identity was revealed.

One of the few problems I had with the book was the whole romance angle of the story. ***Minor spoiler alert*** It wasn't so much the love triangle that bothered me. After some surprising facts are revealed about Clara its easy to see that she will have issues deciding who to share her kingdom with, much less give her heart to. It's near the end of the book when the author decides to throw a third party into the mix, and I guess that's where I got agitated with the whole love triangle story lines. (or in this case would it be a love-rectangle?) At least with bachelor #1 she was attracted because of dna, bachelor #2 same thing, plus she actually cares for him romantically. When bachelor #3 was thrown in, well, one too many cooks spoil the stew maybe? Plus the fact that it was a character that through out the whole book the princess says is just her "friend". She knows he has feelings for her, but she doesn't feel the same, and she states this repeatedly that he is just a friend. Yet one kiss later and she's got her panties in a bunch for him. It just didn't make sense .***End spoiler alert*** Up until that point, story was a good story, I already wanted to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next to the peoples of the Spheres and the Clans. (And hopefully to get some more back story on the Guardians involvement). . But after the final twist in the romance portion of the story I don't know if I really care what happens in Clara's love life.

I guess what it comes down to with this one is that I liked the world that the author created more than I liked her main character. Because of this I probably won't enjoy the next book in the series as much as I would hope to. However, I wouldn't let that stop me from giving it a chance and reading it.

Til next time,

AimeeKay

On My Wishlist...

meme sponsored by Book Chick City

Touch by Jus Accardo
tbp: Nov.  1, 2011
Description:

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

Blood on the Bayou by Stacey Jay

Annabelle Lee #2

tbp: March 27, 2012

Description:

It's only been three weeks since Annabelle helped solve the murder of Grace Beauchamp, and in the process, she discovered a secret world of invisible, magic-working people who have decided she might have what it takes to join their ranks.

As best as she can determine, Annabelle’s attack by a group of fairies has infected her with paranormal ability she did not previously possess, including being able to mentally move objects and heal wounds. Her new abilities appear to have few negative side effects, aside from creepy dreams. But would that change if she stopped injecting herself with the mystery drug delivered to her by the even more mysterious Tucker, one of the Invisibles?

Leery of trusting criminals with her health, Annabelle wishes she had someone she could talk to about the changes in her life. Enter Hitch, FBI agent and Annabelle’s ex, who’s back in Donaldsonville on an off-the-books investigation. Hitch suspects that there’s a government-funded illegal lab that’s developing a controversial fairy-killing spray that could adversely affect the existence of every living thing in the delta — including humans. And Hitch and Annabelle will have to find a way to work together if they're going to find a way to shut it down.

I just got the first one, Dead on the Delta for $3.99 for my ereader for the Pocket book's big sale. So, I need the second one when it comes out too! :)

So, what is on your wishlist this week?

Winners!

Winner of:

is

Julie S.

(confirmed)

Hey! Hands off my demon! ;D

Winner of:

is...

Erin L.

(decidedly confirmed)

Congrats!!

DNF

*sigh* Recently I had a couple of books that were DNFs for me. Normally, I wouldn't review those, but since I did agree to review, I shall give my reasons for not completing the book. You may enjoy it, but these books were just not for me. Well, it is a good thing we don't all like everything. There would be nothing to aspire to otherwise... nor would there be individual tastes. :)

Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

Description:

A modern retelling of the German fairy tale "Tristan and Isolde," Tris and Izzie is about a young witch named Izzie who is dating Mark King, the captain of the basketball team and thinks her life is going swimmingly well. Until -- she makes a love potion for her best friend Brangane and then ends up taking it herself accidentally, and falling in love with Tristan, the new guy at school.

I love the cover. It is what drew me in. Plus, I think I've enjoyed the variations of Tristan and Isolde more than I did Romeo and Juliet (sorry, Will...). So, I was excited to get to read this one. Well, the book opens up into a world I didn't expect. No problems, but it seemed to take off as if we already knew these characters. I mean that usually isn't a problem for me... *cough*readsinthemiddleofaseries*cough* but I just couldn't connect to the main character Izzie even after a few chapters. She was too immature and really got on my nerves. Okay, I'm all for character growth, so I just read on. She kept making one bad move after another until I could scream. As soon as her boyfriend, Mark, who was level headed and sweet started doing the whiney dance, I couldn't take it. I don't like my characters to de-evolve! I think I'd be fine with it if the other characters grew even when others might have "shown their true colors" or something like that, but it really didn't seem to move in that direction. So, I looked at my review tbr and decided it wasn't for me.

Now, I may have missed out on some great growth and conclusions as to why it happened, but I personally just needed a bit of it earlier in the story. Who knows, you may see something within the book  that just didn't gel with me. I may pick this one up as a library read later to see, but right now it was a dnf for me.

Deviant by Adrian McKinty

Description:

Danny Lopez is new in town. He made a mistake back home in Las Vegas, and now he has landed at an experimental school in Colorado for “tough cases.” At the Cobalt Charter School, everything is scripted—what the teachers say, what the students reply—and no other speaking is allowed. This supercontrolled environment gives kids a second chance to make something of themselves. But with few freedoms, the students become sitting ducks for a killer determined to “clean up” Colorado Springs.

Set in CO and it sounds creepy. Hey! No problem! Let me read! *sigh* Well, the first chapter was called Cat Killer. Which made me pause. I have a problem with any book that "shows" cruelty like that. If it was in the past... okay, might be central to the story, but don't make me "watch". Spoiler altert (for those like me who want to know what happens if they read it). The cat got away. AND it got away in such an entertaining way! So, I thought no probs, I can read this one. End spoiler alert!

Anyhoo... it started talking about the setting. I have family all over CO so I know the setting well. Cobalt was a fictional place so no problem, but what happened was that the actual town moved! I know the area he described but it changed from going north of CO Springs to the west to the southwest. Uh, what???? Okay, I know that most people wouldn't be bothered like that but sheesh... google maps, man! But what sealed the deal for me was the lingo. The locals called Colorado Springs, "The Springs" constantly. LOCALS! Uh, it's just "Springs" thankyouverymuch! It was to the point I almost threw the book. I even stopped and looked to see if the author spent time in CO at all. AH HAH! He did, but it was in Denver. There is a separation between north/south (and sometimes west) CO. In a way they are quite different regions. It actually made sense to me. Yes, that could be forgivable, but it is harder to forgive the map thing.

So, am I nit picking at what may be a great story? Possibly. I take full responsibility for this DNF. I just knew I couldn't get past these glaring mistakes. I really couldn't get past the moving town. It is totally my fault and I knew I couldn't judge the rest of the story based on my own prejudices that I have revealed.
I received both eARCs through NetGalley and no compensation for my review was received.

Envy by Gregg Olsen

Description:

Murder is such a dirty word… 

New York Times bestselling adult true crime author Gregg Olsen makes his YA debut with EMPTY COFFIN, a gripping new fiction series for teens based on ripped-from-the-headlines stories…with a paranormal touch.
Crime lives--and dies--in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka “Empty Coffin”), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen--and 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic “twin-sense” to uncover the truth about the town's victims and culprits.

Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins' old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out--and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined.

Based on the shocking true crime about cyber-bullying, Envy will take you to the edge--and push you right over.

I was quite interested in reading this book. Taking a few very important problems in today's society like cyber-bullying and suicide and adding a paranormal edge to the whole thing. While you did get some aspects of those problems, taken right from the headlines, it didn't quite work for me.

I enjoyed the characters of Katelyn and the twins, Hayley and Taylor. In fact, I'd have to say I enjoyed all the characters even if they were the "good" guys or the "bad". The author was able to portray characters with more than one side to a personality. One where often the "bad" guys had problems within their lives and a rounded out view as to why they acted the way they did. I also enjoyed the unfolding of Katelyn's life and Hayley and Taylor. The twins who were born to solve problems with a psychic gift between them were the most interesting and who I believe the next stories in this series will revolve around.

So, have I now left you scratching your head as to why I said it didn't work for me? Well... it was the story. It was several stories all jumbled together. Yes, they all have a connection as they all live in the same town, but it was as if we are pulled in several different directions trying to find out what the real mystery is that we are supposed to care about. The main story was elusive and yet seemed to be everything at once. It felt as though this book either needed to be several short stories, or at least let one of the mysteries take the lead. It just didn't work. Even what we thought would be the main story was reduced in the end to something of lesser importance. This was a chance to make a huge statement and I don't think it was achieved here.

I give this book 2 stars. It wasn't bad at all, but lacked direction. I might pick up another book in this series as they are published. I've seen books like this get a direction and then the stories rock. I'm hoping that this will go that way. The ideas were good, so there is potential.

Envy By Gregg Olsen from Sterling Publishing on Vimeo.

I received this ARC through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program and the publisher. No compensation for my review was given.