{ARC Review} Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Series: Finishing School #2

Publication date: November 4, 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13: 9780316190114

Synopsis

Not all finishing schools are the same, especially Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality where the young ladies are not only thought the proper way to act in society but they are also instructed and encouraged in the arts of espionage, diversion and the difference between cooking for 4 and poison for two.

Sophronia has find herself quiet comfortable with this unexpected finishing school and after proving to herself that this is the place she has to be and with suspicious and unusual behaviors occurring on the school Sophronia is not a minute late to inspect what is happening.

With someone after her best friend, a conspiracy is a foot and hands on the job of breaking a reputation Soprhonia might have her hands in more that she can chew, but she must learn to be careful with the games she plays.

 Review

Curtsies & Conspiracies is the second book in the Finishing School by Gail Carriger where we find Sophronia a girl that wasn’t really meant for the average Victorian lifestyle her family was pushing on her and how on a twist of fate she ends up in a finishing school that is more then she could have expected.

As Etiquette & Espionage, this book is enriched by the secondary characters to the point that I think that at least one of them deserves her own book. The mix of new characters and the collision with the old ones was brilliant, although at one point I think there was some inside joke when they introduced some of the, I will have to read Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate to make sure there aren’t some character from that series popping up here.

Compared to the first book, I feel that danger and the time where Sophronia and her friends start taking action comes sooner in this book, making it move at a faster pace then Etiquette and Espionage.

This book is more set right now into living the moment and in a one conspiracy at a time at a time where I suspect everything will start tying up, there is no main villain from the beginning there is no Voldemort, no corrupt government to overthrow or anything that sets a specific group as the main evil doer.

We are all experiencing this world one book at a time trying to see behind the masks that each group hides behind, and to hopefully get to see their true intentions.

I would like to do a Fangirling on post of this book once it has been published so that we can all talk about this series in an uncensored matter full of theories and spoilers, is anyone game?

Rating:

{Cover Wars} Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

It’s Wednesday and you know what that means, it’s time for Cover Wars!! The place where we compare the then and now of covers and sometimes international editions, but we always talk about the same one book that has been given different faces.

Last week you guys voted on Perdido Street Station by China Miéville and we all know we can only have one winner and that is…

Conspiracy theories accepted cover

Now that the winning cover has had some time of the glory it deserves, let’s move to this week’s book, Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff the first installment of the Lotus Wars series. For those of you that don’t know what this book is about here we have the book blurb:

Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him, no matter how hopeless the task.

But the mission proves far less impossible, and far more deadly, than anyone expects – and soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. But trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu soon discover a friendship that neither of them expected.

Meanwhile, the country around them verges on the brink of collapse. A toxic fuel is slowly choking the land; the omnipotent, machine-powered Lotus Guild is publicly burning those they deem Impure; and the Shogun cares about nothing but his own dominion. Yukiko has always been uneasy in the shadow of power, when she learns the awful truth of what the Shogun has done, both to her country and to her own family she's determined to do something about it.

Returning to the city, Yukiko and Buruu plan to make the Shogun pay for his crimes – but what can one girl and a flightless griffin do against the might of an empire?

After taking the time to know a little about Jay Kristoff's Stormdancer we must move to what you guys have been waiting for the faces that have represented Stormdacer.

First off we have the UK cover, one that shows a more traditional Japanese setting for this steampunk book, this book seems more peaceful and not as dangerous as the contents of the book, it’s as if the designer wanted to give a tranquil vibe before diving into action.

Next up we have the US cover, with more aggressive colors and a Yukiko that seems ready for action. This is the type of cover that give the feeling of movement and it hides more behind the strong colors.

Now that the contestants have put their faith in your hands it’s time for you guys to vote in the poll and to comment on your favorite cover. Let us know which cover you would love to have in your bookshelf, in your read list and please share the why you liked or disliked each cover.

 

{Trailer Sunday} The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one...except the "thing" inside her.When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no "normal" Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch....

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of "them." The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help--and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

{Review} The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Series: The Looking Glass Wars #1

Publication date: September 26, 2006

Publisher: Dial Books

ISBN-13: 9780803731530

Synopsis  

Lewis Carrol not only lied to us but he lied to a little girl too, he said he would write Alyss Heart’s story but he took liberties with it, completing the scam with the misspelling of her name.

Lost in a world that is not her own little Alyss only knows two things for sure, first, she is on the run from Redd and second she must learn to live and blend in the new world she has been transported to by the pool of tears.

And let me tell you Victorian London can be a strange and weird place for anyone coming from Wonderland, especially when everyone keeps telling you that you imagined it all.

Review

This book made me feel like a little girl again, when you ask for a little more and your imagination goes on overdrive painting the world the words in the book keep coming your way.

 The world that Frank Beddor created with Alice in Wonderland was revolutionary, he really made it his own, specially by giving us a reason to forget about the original and to let our minds dive into what he has to say.

The thing that attracted me from this book was “Princess Alyss of Wonderland” a side book that is a scrapbook of sorts that digs more into the life of Alyss as she arrives to the obscure and unknown streets of London, as soon as I started reading that small book I knew I would end up reading The Looking Glass Wars.

In The Looking Glass Wars we watch Alyss grow and jump worlds and both her and the reader experience the changes that have happened to Wonderland while Alyss was away and the decisions she would have to make in case she wishes to restore peace to the land that should have watched her grow.

I know this book was in the list of steampunk for kids but honestly this book goes beyond ages, this is the type of book that makes you want to dig deeper into the world, you would want to fill the holes that are left in this book and fortunately Frank Beddor does help you fill up the blanks.

Rating:

{Cover Wars} Perdido Street Station by China Miéville

Welcome to Cover Wars, the place where covers put their trust in your hands for you to pick who is the best representative for the story they represent, so remember it is up to you to pick a winner. Last week we had Steel Kiss by Bec McMaster and after almost a week and a little technical problem with the poll the winner is…

Victorian society may not approve cover

Now that we know which cover caught your heart let’s take a look at this week’s contestant, Perdido Street Station by China Miéville and for those of us that need to get acquainted  with the Perdido Street Station here is the book blurb:

New Crobuzon is a squalid city where humans, Re-mades, and arcane races live in perpetual fear of Parliament and its brutal militia. Isaac, a brilliant scientist, is asked by a bird-man Garuda to restore his power of flight. But one lab specimen threatens the whole city. A vividly colored caterpillar eating a hallucinatory drug grows in order to consume all.

Now that we know at least a bit of what this story hides it is time to take a look at the covers that are claiming the face of this story.

First up we have the glimpse at the city cover, one that tries to paint a version of what this world could be about and the silent vigilante un top of it.

Up next we have the New Crobuzon and the bird-man’s wing that seem to show the place where the action will be taking place and what put this all in motion.

Last but not least we have a cover split in half although the meaning of the two elements that make this cover are more of an interesting blend in which their meaning is more of a mystery for me but conspiracy theories are accepted.

After this little cover runaway have you found a favorite cover? Is there one that you would like to adopt in your bookshelf? Please let us know what you think by commenting and voting on this week’s poll.

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{Trailer Sunday} The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one...except the "thing" inside her.When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no "normal" Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch....

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of "them." The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help--and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

{Steampunctober} Steampunk for kids

Today we have a special little collection for those of you looking for a little of steampunk for your little ones.

 The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling

No one performs on the circus trapeze like 16-year-old Rémy Brunel. But Rémy also leads another life, prowling through the backstreets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. When she is forced to steal one of the world’s most valuable diamonds, she uncovers a world of treachery and fiendish plots.

Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Rémy that he needs to save?

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Alyss of Wonderland?

When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape the murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly!

Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions surrounding mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats, and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination.

Freaks by Kieran Larwood

Weirdest. Crime Fighters. Ever.

Sheba, the fur-faced Wolfgirl, can sniff out a threat from miles away. Monkeyboy clambers up buildings in the blink of an eye -- then drops deadly stink bombs of his own making (yes, THAT kind)! Sister Moon sees in the dark, and moves at the speed of light. Born with weird abnormalities that make them misfits, these FREAKS spend their nights on public display, trapped in a traveling Victorian sideshow. But during the day, they put their strange talents to use: They solve the most sinister crimes. And in a dank, desperate world of crooks and child-snatchers, they're determined to defend London's most innocent victims: the street urchins disappearing from the city's streets.

The Dead Gentleman by Matthew Cody

The dead are up and walking, and the Gentleman is at the door...

Featuring a kid hero, time travel, and otherworld portals in unexpected places (maybe there are monsters under your bed), The Dead Gentleman is a wild ride between parallel New York City timestreams—1901 and today. Eleven-year-old Tommy Learner is a street orphan and an unlikely protege to the Explorers, a secret group dedicated to exploring portals—the hidden doorways to other worlds. 
But while investigating an attercop (man-eating spider) in the basement of an old hotel, Tommy is betrayed—and trapped. And it's then that his world collides with that of modern-day Jezebel Lemon, who—until the day she decides to explore her building's basement—had no bigger worries than homework and boys. Now, Jezebel and Tommy must thwart the Dead Gentleman—a legendary villain whose last unconquered world is our own planet Earth, a realm where the dead stay dead. 
Until now. Can two kids put an end to this ancient evil and his legions of Gravewalkers?

The Brimstone Key by Derek Benz, J.S. Lewis

Max---the leader

Natalia---the brains

Ernie---the changeling

Harley---the muscle

A year ago, the Grey Griffins were just regular kids from Avalon, Minnesota. That was before they learned about the existence of evil fairies, werewolves, and other things that go bump in the night. Now they are monster-hunters, celebrated heroes, and allies to the legendary Templar knights---but even heroes have to go to school.

When the Griffins enroll at Iron Bridge Academy, a school to train young recruits in the fight against the forces of evil, they find themselves at the center of a whole new adventure. The Clockwork King, a Templar foe from days past, has returned to finish the plan he set in motion decades ago. A plot to steal the souls of changelings---humans infused with fairy blood and supernatural abilities---in order to power his army of clockwork war machines.

In The Brimstone Key, authors Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis deftly blend the mystical wonder of steampunk with magic and adventure to create an action-packed thrill ride.

I hope you find something interesting for you and your kids in this list, and if you have some books to suggest please share.

{Audio Book Review} The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

Series: Stoker & Holmes #1

Narrator: Jayne Entwhistle

Publication date: September 17th, 2013

Publisher: Chronicle Books

ISBN-13: 9781452110707

Synopsis

When a series of suicides turn out to be more than just that, Mina Holmes meets Evaline Stoker to go into action and show them exactly how much of a Holmes and a Stoker they are and bring the truth to light.

Now trying to keep their service to a crown a secret and solving the mystery that has all the young girls in London, they must dig deep and find out how the clockwork scarabs come into the equation.

Review

I really enjoyed the Clockwork Scarab narrated by Jayne Entwhistle, she did a wonderful job giving each character a unique voice and keeping the story flowing. Jayne did a delightful job giving each of the young male characters giving each one of them their one accent and making them as memorable as Mina and Evaline.

Sadly I can’t say if this books is appropriate for Arthur Conan Doyle or Bram Stoker fans, I have never read any of their books (please don’t hurt me!), what I can say is that Colleen Gleason took some great risks making them part of the word count, among other risks she took along the book.

The author leaves the idea in the air of possible love triangles, but romance really play a big role in this book, this book is more about presenting the main actors and letting us know how Mina and Evaline’s relationship got started.

There is a part of the book that may be too out there for some, it took me some taking used to and it’s the fact that there is some time and dimension traveling in this book, if you are not willing to give this idea a try then this book is not for you.

This a fun read and what I truly hope is the beginning of the Stoker & Holmes world expansion, I hope that we get to see the characters undergo real growth, see them fight their way to their happily ever after (if there is going to be one), I hope the mystery goes deeper and really makes a great job unmasking the villains at hand.

Rating:

 

{Cover Wars} Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Hi guys and welcome to Cover Wars where covers aren’t afraid to cry for attention. Each week we have a new book title showcasing the different faces it’s had and each week we reveal last week’s winner. Last week we had The Affinity Bridge by George Mann you guys voted and now it’s time to reveal the grand winner.

Now that the winner has had its chance to gloat, let’s take a look this weeks contestant Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster and for all of us that we aren’t all that familiar with this book let’s take a look at the book blurb:

When Nowhere Is Safe

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

Now that we are all know a little about what this book is about shall we take a look at the covers that will be fighting for your affection.

First up we have the face known in most of the paperbacks, the one that isn’t afraid to show a little bit more of Honoria then ladies of the Victorian era would, especially while standing next to a man, specially a dangerous one like Blade.

Next up we have the a cover that shows a lady that likes to live more in the shadows, one that leaves you wanting to know the women that hides behind the hat and what secrets she hides, we have the audio book cover.

Well guys the covers have done their catwalk and now it’s time for you to pick your favorite, don’t worry they don’t mind just comment or vote and let us know which one you prefer and remember to check in next Wednesday to see which cover won.

{Review} Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Series: Finishing School #1

Publication date: February 5th, 2013

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13: 9780316190084

Synopsis  

Sophronia is a young, educated, an active mind and the energy to take on the tasks she sets herself into. Sadly, this does not amuse her mother, nor Sophronia’s sisters. As a last resort to correct her unlady like daughter Mrs. Temminick sends her daughter off to Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

Being sent into a school that would teach her how to curtsy or make her a proper lady was always a treat her mother used, but not one that Sophronia’s mother would actually act on. But the school seems to hold more than the key to becoming a true lady, her education is more complete and exciting then she expected.

Review

Etiquette and Espionage was a book hard to put down, an interesting combination of supernatural, Victorian etiquette and a girl that won’t let society limit all that she can be.

For those of you that are expecting a comparison between Finishing School and the Parasol Protectorate, the only thing that I can tell you is what the blurb in goodreads says, they are both set on the same world. This is my first experience with Gail’s work and let me tell that I will be keeping an eye out for her new series as well as getting myself familiarized with her first series.

I am going to be honest there was a part of the book that made me doubt if I was going to read this book ‘til the end, I thought maybe there was some forced multiracial in the book, you know like in the movies when suddenly a non-caucasian characters enters to give “color” to the story. That was my first impression with the characters in the first line it appeared, but after that line I felt bad for thinking that and was relieved that this wasn’t the case.

I love how the story developed at its own passed, it gives you time to know more about the paranormal in this world, about who the characters are, how the technology in this world works and for the story to breath.

As a main character Sophronia is smart, fun, one to take risks and not stuck on herself. And her roommates give you a broader dimension on how this world works, the expectations of society, makes the story more fun and makes you wonder about each of their background stories.

Rating:

 

{Trailer Sunday} The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one...except the "thing" inside her.When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no "normal" Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch....

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of "them." The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help--and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.