The Series I Didn’t Know I Needed: Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara

Just the Facts:

Overall Rating: 3 ½ stars

Addiction Level:  I ignored the hubby and puppy until I finished the book.

Believe-ability:  I daydream about the created world and wonder how I fit in.

~~~

I didn’t know I needed a new series until I was introduced to Chronicles of Elantra.  (Thanks Tori & Lynn!)  The last complete series I read was Harry Potter.  I am in the midst of many series as authors write and publish them.  There is something to be said about already published series or at least having more than one book in a series published.

I have been yearning for a good fantasy story since I read Eon and Eona.  The Chronicles of Elantra follows Kaylin, a young woman who escaped the bad side of (the fiefs) and is now an officer of the law (Hawk).  As she solves crimes she has to face her past and learn about herself.

What I liked:

• The story – An orphan girl who ran away from her past gets to start anew.
• The characters
• Kaylin & Severn – They used to trust one another.  They still do to some extent.  They have to trust one another to conduct an investigation.  The dynamic of their relationship is interesting, especially since Kaylin tries to kill Severn several times!
• Nightshade – He is the creepy, evil fief lord who rules “the bad part of town.’  He marks Kaylin with his symbol, a nightshade flower…on her cheek…for the whole world to see!  In magical ease it means he owns her.  Despite his creepiness he intrigues me, and I even liked and trusted him.

What I was annoyed with:

• It felt like the narrator kept switching between first and third person points of view.  The flip-flopping was confusing.
• Some of the dialogue was confusing.  I had to reread several passages.
• I had to wait until the middle (of a 500 page book) to discover why Kaylin wants to kill Severn.
• The pieces of the story took a while to fit together.

Cast in Shadow felt like a rough draft.  Despite its flaws I loved the characters enough to want to continue in the series.

P.S. Book 2 rocks!

Unbelievable Narrator: Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Just the Facts:

Overall Rating:  2 ½ Stars

Addiction Level:  I read it when I had spare time.

Believe-ability:  Some aspects were real.

Dystopia Factor:  The world is starting to disintegrate.

~~~

I was not able to sit down and read Timepiece in one sitting, which could have contributed to my confusion, lack of interest, and dissatisfaction.  For me Timepiece did not deliver.

In Hourglass the audience discover that Jack is the bad guy/mastermind behind Liam’s death and other time-related crimes.  In Timepiece it becomes imperative to find Jack, because the powers that be are angry.  Life could cease to exist if Jack is not found!

As much as Emerson annoyed me, I was ready to step back into her world.  Instead I stepped in Kaleb’s.  That’s right, Kaleb is the protagonist.  I thought it would be cool to navigate this world through Kaleb’s point of view, but I had a difficult time believing and remembering it was Kaleb.  Every time I picked up the book, I would have to make a conscious effort to tell myself that Kaleb is the narrator.  It didn’t work very well; I found myself saying, “Why would Emerson say that?  Oh…yeah…it was Kaleb.”

This book suffers from second book syndrome.  It relies too heavily on what McEntire set up in Hourglass.  Timepiece cannot stand alone.  I was unsure of relationships, even of Michael and Emerson’s.  I love dialogue, but Timepiece needed more description.

I did enjoy more of the “Dr. Who” element and Lily’s rising importance.  The time travel mystery was exciting, and I am dying to know more about the various conflicts and their resolutions.  In Hourglass we only got a small glimpse of Lily.  In Timepiece her character is flushed out more.  What she can do is very intriguing. 

After reading, I feel eh.  I’ll read the third book, but I probably won’t buy it.  Here’s hoping for a better ending in book three.

Sarah Dalton Interview

Apocalypse Reads:  Today we have Sarah Dalton, author of The Blemished, her first published novel.  Sarah, thanks for taking the time to do an interview with us.  What was your inspiration for The Blemished?

Sarah Dalton: I’ve always been interested in science fiction and genetics. I’m a big fan of Margaret Atwood’s science fiction novels and I wanted to create something similar for a teen audience. I wanted to give teenage girls an interesting heroine and a book which primarily deals with themes which are things that would affect them as they grow up – beauty, reproduction, love.

AR:  Why did you choose dystopia for the setting?

SD: I’ve loved dystopian books since reading 1984 and have read authors like JG Ballard and Ray Bradbury but it was when I read the Hunger Games that I knew I had to write a dystopia. I’d never seen it done for a teen audience before and it was at that moment that ideas started flying around my head.

AR:  How far away from this kind of world do you think we are?

SD: Oh, I don’t know! It would depend on science advancing very fast and a chain of events leading to the demise of democracy. It’s hard to know if genetics will ever be allowed to go this far. There are certainly a lot of moral implications but I think at the end of the day the human need for exploration and knowledge will force things along.

AR:  What are your favorite books/authors?

SD: I read a lot of varied genres. I love Ray Bradbury, Margaret Atwood and Theodore Sturgeon. But I also love Emily Bronte and Scott Westerfeld!

AR:  What character did you have the most fun writing?

SD: Probably Elena. She’s a complex character and I wish I could have featured her a little more. I am thinking of writing a short novella in her perspective because she’s such an enjoyable character to write.

AR:  Who was the hardest to write?

SD: Mina and Daniel were both hard to write. I didn’t want them to be caricatures of teenagers in love. We’ve seen enough passionate romances in YA fiction now. I wanted their relationship to be based on mutual respect and attraction. I wanted it to realistically show how hard it is for a teenage girl to recognize her feelings, especially a girl who has been told those feelings are forbidden! I hope that they show the subtle nuances involved in growing up in the world that they are forced into.  

AR:  I love that Mina takes responsibility for her actions.  How important was this as you wrote?

SD: Very. In fact, in the first draft Mina was much more impulsive and rebellious but it made her a difficult character to like. I think it’s important for a dystopian world such as The Blemished to have a character that the reader can relate to and actually root for. She isn’t perfect though! It’s a tough time being a teenager and it’s the time when you make the first real mistakes of your life. It just so happens that she’s had to grow up quickly and that helps her take some responsibility.

AR:  You decided to self-publish your first book.  Tell us a little about that.

SD: I didn’t want to at first because I wanted to see the book in print. But then I found out you could do that when self-publishing and that made up my mind for me! Dystopian fiction is at its peak right now and I knew that if I waited for a publisher it could take years and years. I was worried that no one would get to read the story. That’s really what I wanted – for people to read the story and enjoy it and hopefully come away feeling differently about the world.

AR:  What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

SD: There is so much! Write and read and write and read. You get better with practice. Format your book properly right from your first draft (google standard manuscript format). If you want to self-publish there are some things worth investing in – a cover artist and a proof reader.

AR:  Thanks for your time and stopping by!  One last question…When will The Blemished be published?

SD: Soon! I don’t want to give an exact date in case it takes longer than I set myself. But I can say that I’m finalizing my ebook formats with Amazon and Smashwords and am just waiting for the printers at Feed a Read to sort out the new version of the book. Follow me on twitter @sarahdalton or on my blog www.sarahdaltonbooks.com and trust me when I say I’ll be shouting it from the roof-tops when it’s finally published!

Dystopian Adventure: The Blemished by Sarah Dalton

Just the facts:

• Overall Rating: 5 Stars
• Addiction Level:  I read it every waking moment and then started rereading.
• Believe-ability:  I daydream about the created world and wonder how I fit in.
• Dystopia Factor:  The world has been turn upside down and all hope is lost!
• Favorite Quote:  “Once, my mum told me a story about a princess and it began with her stuck in a castle.  My story begins with my head stuck in the toilet.” Click to Tweet.

 

~~~

I really enjoy books that grab me from the start:  “Once, my mum told me a story about a princess and it began with her stuck in a castle.  My story begins with my head stuck in the toilet.”  Needless to say I wanted to know why this story started with a girl’s head in the toilet. 

Our protagonist Mina Hart is a “normal” person with genetic defect(s) somewhere in her family making her “blemished.”  This might be ok if people weren’t genetically engineered.  In Dalton’s society GEMs, those that are genetically engineered, have the upper-hand.  (For a complete synopsis, check here.)

Though Dalton combines many of my favorite dystopian books and movies into one, it does not seem cliché.  The Blemished has elements of oppression, rebellion, loyalty, friendship, betrayal, and survival.  What make is it unique is the strong female protagonist who owns her choices. 

What I loved:

• The way Dalton drew me into the story with the opening line.
• The fast-paced nature of the novel.  I barely had time to breathe while reading.  Danger and poor choices seem to lurk around the next page.
• Mina
• Though she is frustrating at times, I enjoyed her growth and ownership of her choices.
• A dystopian novel does not seem to be complete without a love triangle.  Mina’s choice surprised me.  Read to see who she chooses.
• Mrs. Murgatroyd aka Murder-Troll
• She is revolting to look at:  “The collagen in her lips made her mouth baggy and shiny, like slugs inside loose skin.”  Ew!  She’s not hard to hate, but Dalton gives you glimpses of her true nature which made me question my hate.
• Choice Ownership
• It is refreshing to see Mina own her choices no matter how disastrous the consequences.
• The Ending
• Dalton ties up most of the loose ends.  I know this is the first book in a series, but I am satisfied with the ending.

Check out The Blemished by Sarah Dalton if you are looking for a fast-paced dystopian adventure!  Many thanks to Sarah for an ARC! 

Up & Coming: The Blemished by Sarah Dalton

Looking for a new dystopian novel?  Check out The Blemished by Sarah Dalton

A beautiful world comes at a price...

In a world filled with stunning clones Mina Hart is Blemished. Her genes are worthless and that takes away her rights: her right to an Education, her right to a normal life and her right to have a child.

Mina keeps a dangerous secret which she never thought she could share until she meets Angela on her first day at St Jude's School. But their friendship is soon complicated by Angela’s adoptive brother Daniel. Mina finds herself drawn to his mysterious powers and impulsive nature. Then there is the gorgeous clone Sebastian who Mina is forbidden from even speaking to…

The Blemished is a frightening take on a fractured future where the Genetic Enhancement Ministry have taken control of Britain. It will take you on a ride filled with adventure, romance and rebellion. (This synopsis is from the author.)

Expected publication is August 2012.  My book review is coming soon!  If that weren't exciting enough, look for an interview with Sarah Dalton herself on Monday, August 14, 2012!!!

On the importance of world-building

OR: When is a YA novel just a YA novel?

When D13BC met to discuss Timepiece, I had forgotten all the things I loved about the book (which I included on my goodreads review). In my defense, I had been sucked into other books earlier that week, and didn't make time to re-read Timepiece. Not unlike a student who shows up to class without having done the reading, I grasped at the things I did remember, and went into critique mode.

My first issue

I think Kaleb & Emerson's voices are too similar. It was almost impossible to tell the difference between them as narrators, which is problematic for me as an ADHD reader; I prefer not having to backtrack to figure out who said what. Too distracting. Maybe I’m a writing snob, but I think characters should have unique voices—literally unique. 

My bigger issue

Granted, I may have been feeling the aftereffects of my own pontification, but I left our book club discussion feeling vaguely unsatisfied. On the drive home, I realized that the problem I experienced with Timepiece was one of world-building (or the lack thereof). When a novel is set in a world that resembles the readers’, s/he doesn’t have to do much world-building, because the readers already know what they need to know in order to sink into the story. On the other hand, when an author invites readers to a world that differs dramatically from our own, s/he has a responsibility to orient us to the time and space in which the novel takes place.

Timepiece is set in the contemporary US—which I don’t need explained—but includes science-time travel-factoids which remain under-developed and/or unexplained. I know at least one reader with a strong science background who did not struggle to figure out the ins-and-outs of time travel as depicted in Timepiece. I am not that (kind of) reader. I am the kind of reader who skips parts of novels that make me squint in confusion. Unfortunately, I squinted at, and then skipped, whole chunks of Timepiece.

Don't get me wrong: I love reading books about things I don’t already know. I just need some scaffolding along the way. For example, I recently discovered the genre of urban fantasy, and am in love. What I like most about UF is when authors successfully integrate magical / paranormal elements, characters, and/or events into worlds I recognize (e.g. the London of Midnight Riot or the New York depicted in Hard Magic--neither of which is a YA book). I am perfectly content to suspend disbelief as long as the author provides enough details to render the paranormal plausible. Without sufficient world-building, Timepiece is a novel about young love masquerading as something else, which left me longing for less paranormal and more romance.

Ode to French Fries

Salty,

crunchy,

hot goodness

melting

in your mouth

like French vanilla ice cream on a hot

Summer’s

day.

Salt

accentuates the crispy

golden flavor

and highlights

the potatoey

goodness

kept for safe keeping.

Ketchup,

honey mustard,

Polynesian,

and other dipping sauces

ruin

and mask

the delightful

flavor.

Cubed

or thinly sliced

oven-baked

French fries

marinated

in onion

soup mix

hit a most satisfying

spot.

Even Ember

cannot resist

the power

and goodness

of the French fry.

Knowing

French fries by their heavenly

smell,

she sits

patiently

waiting

for her doggie treat.

If I am feeling

down

or blue,

their crispy,

salty,

greasy goodness

brings sunshine

to the darkness

and makes me feel

whole

again.