YA Friday Book Review: Revenge and the Wild

Revenge and the Wild 
by Michelle Modesto
Audience: Young Adult
Balzar + Bray (February 2, 2016)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
Revenge and the Wild is fast, complex, rollicking tale of revenge and redemption set in a steampunk Wild West. Set in an alternate, magical, steampunk 19th century filled with vampires, zombies, elves, werewolves, and cannibals, the novel is a reimagining of the classic Western revenge story. After losing her family and her arm in a brutal cannibal attack, Westie lives a less-than-normal life as the adoptive daughter of Nigel, a famed inventor. In a town filled with magical creatures, it should be easy to fit in, but between the prosthetic arm, her unwillingness to conform to social conventions, and her thirst for revenge, Westie remains an outsider among the town. But the town has other concerns - namely, how to preserve the protective shield that surrounds the town as the local magic of the Native Americans fades, or, in Nigel's case, how to find investors for his project to fix the shield. Of course, the investors Nigel  draws just so happen to be the very same cannibals that killed Westie's family - but of course, Westie, along with Alistair, is the only one who knows and believes their true identities. Trapped by the town, Westie must expose the investors for who they are and finally exact her revenge for her family. The book is packed full of excitement and adventure, with never a dull or predictable moment. The pacing is measured, though, providing the reader enough time to take everything in.

The characters are fantastic and unique, shying away from tropes. One of the things I love the most about Westie is that she's a YA protagonist whose disability isn't used to just dramatize the plot and provide the reader with a sense of inspiration at the end of the book. Yes, Westie's trauma acts as the driving force behind her quest for justice, but it doesn't consume or eclipse her identity - she lost her arm, and her family, and while that affects her everyday life and does shape her, she isn't held up to some ideal simply because she 'got through' life after what happened. She's flawed, and brash, and looking for revenge, and is never minimized or idealized because of her disability. I also liked how Alistair's physical deformity (missing part of his face) cleverly inverted the trope of the tragic disability: it's tragic when women lose their beauty, but it's only tragic for men when they lose functionality because of their disability. By making Alistair the scarred one and Westie the one who lost function, this trope is completely turned on its side. I felt like the book did a very nuanced job of dealing with disability (though I am speaking from a place of privilege as an abled person). 

The only thing I would caution readers against is that the book does contain some gore (as to be expected, when dealing with cannibalism), so I would recommend reading not while eating, and if you have a weak stomach, this book may not be for you.  

Overall, Revenge and the Wild is a fantastic read, perfect for fans of fantasy, steampunk, and historical fiction alike.

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays. 

YA Friday Book Review: Black Widow: Forever Red

Black Widow: Forever Red
by Margaret Stohl
Audience: Young Adult
Marvel Press (October 13, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Enter the world of the Avengers’ iconic master spy…

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world’s most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow’s infamous academy for operatives.

Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average.The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments—until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.

Until now.

When children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled Red Room tech light up the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has returned—and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava must unravel their pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava’s dreams…

Black Widow: Forever Red features all the heart-pounding adventure readers expect from Marvel, written by #1 New York Times best-selling author Margaret Stohl. Uncover a new side of the Marvel Universe that will thrill loyal fans and newcomers alike, as Stohl reveals the untold story of Black Widow for the very first time."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

I'm a pretty big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and so I was thrilled when I stumbled upon an ARC of a Black Widow novel by Margaret Stohl when I was at the ALA annual conference. I wasn't sure what to expect - while I'm very familiar with the MCU, I haven't read any Marvel comics, so I didn't know if I would understand or enjoy the novel. But all my fears were put to rest as soon as I opened the book. While the novel is definitely set within the MCU, the story introduces original characters and plot lines that make the book wholly unique. The story jumps throughout time, making great use of flashbacks, but the structure of the book — each chapter is starts with a present-day S.H.I.E.L.D. file — grounds the plot line and provides a (slightly ominous) frame of reference for the novel, setting the tone for the story from the very beginning. The book delves into the backstory of Black Widow, as well as that of the two new characters (Ava and Alex) — though in true Marvel fashion, readers may be left with more questions than before. Between the time jumps, changes of point-of-view, and multiple plot lines, the novel easily could have devolved into confusion, but Stohl's deft writing expertly maintains the tense tone while drawing the reader in, towards the shocking revelations the book holds. Scarlett Johansson's portrayal of Black Widow is fantastic, and Stohl's writing gives a depth to the character previously unseen (first person narration and finally being the focus of her own story also can be credited in this regard). The story also shines a different angle on S.H.I.E.L.D., with Ava's interactions with the agency categorically different from the widespread corruption by Hydra (as seen on the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Show and in Captain America: Winter Soldier) or the bright-eyed, idealistic-but-scarred operative narrative seen on the show — rather, the sin of bureaucracy and the failure of government to protect the most vulnerable. The book thus not only juggles characters and their plot lines, but their resulting thematic ideas as well (some of which challenge the narratives and ideas previously put forth by the MCU); this makes for a refreshing and different read.

Black Widow: Forever Red  is a fantastic read for Marvel fans, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays. 

YA Friday Book Review: The Chess Queen Enigma

The Chess Queen Enigma
by Colleen Gleason
Audience: Young Adult
Chronicle Books (October 6, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"And then she mouthed a word at me—an unmistakable word that told me everything I needed to know. “Checkmate.”

Evaline Stoker & Mina Holmes have reluctantly agreed to act as social chaperones and undercover bodyguards for Princess Lurelia of Betrovia, who has arrived in London to deliver a letter that details the secret location of an ancient chess queen that’s been missing for centuries. But when the letter—which will heal a centuries-old rift between England and the Betrovians—is stolen out from under Evaline and Mina’s watchful eyes, the two girls are forced into a high-stakes race to ensure they find the chess queen before anyone else does…including their foe, the Ankh. For the chess queen is not only a historic symbol of a woman’s political power, but it has literal power as well—the queen will unlock the chessboard, revealing both treasures and ancient secrets the Ankh would kill to possess. It will take Mina’s smarts and Evaline’s strength to beat the thief and untangle this mystery before it is too late."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book: 

The Stoker and Holmes series is one of my favorite book series. Kickass crime-fighting and vampire-slaying heroines related to the most revered literary figures of the era? Check. A lush, gorgeous Victorian-steampunk setting? Yep. Social commentary on women's rights at the time? Awesome. An enigmatic and mysterious supervillain? Got it. A running plotline throughout the series dealing with time travel and alternate history? Why not?! But it is Gleason's masterful writing that brings all these elements together to create such a superb series, and the third installment of the Stoker and Holmes series does not disappoint. In The Chess Queen Enigma, the stakes are raised considerably as international politics come into play with visit of the princess of the (fictitious) country of Betrovia looming throughout the novel; though Evaline and Mira see their role protecting the princess as little more than glorified ladies-in-waiting/bodyguards, the reappearance of the Ankh and the threat of ruined diplomacy motivate our heroines to reevaluate their duties and return to their crime-fighting and mystery-solving roles we saw in the first two novels. While readers have puzzled over the identity of the Ankh for the past two books, the third book dives headfirst into the duo's suspicions first brought up in The Spiritglass Enigma...resulting in even more confusion than before, though certainly not without new revelations. However, the daring adventure of the novels isn't even the best part of the book - that distinction would go to Mina and Eveline's friendship, a rare gem among YA fiction that so often maligns female friendships into an either giggly and superficial connection or a tense, frenemy-style resentment. Instead of succumbing to these tropes, their friendship is at times tense and fraught, but their shared values and goals form a solid relationship that is the foundation of their work (and indeed, even the novel as a whole). Their complex relationships with their potential love interests are also well-written, avoiding devolving into a period romance novel level of swooning that derails the plot in favor of incorporating their romantic struggles into the action itself - a far more realistic and accurate depiction of young women in any era. 

The Chess Queen Enigma is a perfect read for fans of mystery, adventure, fantasy, and time travel, and I can't wait for the release of the untitled fourth novel this year. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays. 

YA Friday Book Review: The White Rose

The White Rose
by Amy Ewing
HarperTeen (October 6, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.

But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.

But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book: 
The Jewel was one of my favorite dystopian novels of 2014, combining the glamour of the Selection series with the horrific of commodification of women bodies in Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale. Premised as a necessary and honorable undertaking, girls from the outermost circle of the Lone City are tested for abilities that allow them to be surrogates for the royalty; if the test is positive, they are requisitioned by the government to be trained and auctioned off. In the first novel, The Jewel, the reader accompanies Violet as she finishes her training and is auctioned off to one of the most important royal houses. The lavish surroundings do little to ease the horror at her complete loss of agency in every aspect of her life, but then our protagonist discovers that her life is at stake — as well as the lives of all the surrogates. Soon, Violet is embroiled in plans of escape, while trying to stop herself from falling in love with Ash, the hired companion for the house. But after Violet and Ash are discovered, they are forced to flee in the heart-racing first chapters of The White Rose. The pace quickly changes, becoming slower and calmer — a departure from the feverish wonderment (and in turn, growing horror) that set the tone in the first novel. The underlying emotion is more subtle as Violet learns to tap into her true abilities, and all the while revolution brews - and Violet's struggle to navigate between her own aspirations, the political agenda of the Black Key (the group that aided her escape), and the slow path towards that revolution is reflected in the novel's structure to better parallel the protagonist's inner turmoil. Violet's relationship with Ash is vastly different outside of their bondage, and their relationship troubles read as sincere and honest instead of the shallow drama so often seen in YA. Where many dystopian trilogies fail is the middle book — it's all too easy to let the character development and plot fall by the wayside while focusing on the impending revolution in the last novel, but the complex subtly of The White Rose gives me great hope for the final book of the Lone City series this fall.

The White Rose is a great read for fans of dystopia, fantasy, science fiction, bioethics, action, and romance. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays. 

YA Friday Book Review: See How They Run

See How They Run
by Ally Carter
Audience: Young Adult
Scholastic Press (December 22, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Inside every secret, there's a world of trouble. Get ready for the second book in this new series of global proportions--from master of intrigue, New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter. 

Grace's past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down. 

The twists get twistier and the turns get even more shocking in the second thrilling installment of Embassy Row."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

Ally Carter continues to satisfy readers hungry for intrigue and adventure in the second installment of her Embassy Row series. After the shocking revelation of Grace's involvement in her mother's death, Grace is struggling to come to terms with it all when her brother (and his friend) arrive at the Embassy. When conflict erupts between her brother's friend and Alexei, and the next day that same American is found dead, Grace's best friend is suddenly a fugitive and the most-wanted man in Adria. But nothing is ever simple on Embassy Row, and a Cold-War style Russian-American conflict begins to brew as Grace and her friends not only harbor Alexei but begin to detangle the intricate knot of international politics, secret societies, forgotten princesses, and lost treasure that culminated in the murder. While we still don't know the exact events culminating in either deaths (Grace's mother and the American), readers get a chance to dive into a dizzying array of motives and history behind it all. Grace's group of friends, all children of various embassies, serve to not only break stereotypes but also to present a view of friendship far different than the typical cliques-and-mean-girls narrative of YA (which I certainly appreciate). Several characters move closer towards romance, and I have a feeling that the next book in the series will make certain shippers even happier than this book will (though by no means is the novel lacking in the emotional/romantic development I saw the seeds of in the previous book, All Fall Down). Carter's complex and nuanced portrayal of mental illness (with everyone around her viewing it as either a problem or a scapegoat) is a gem among a genre that doesn't necessarily deal with mental illness in a positive and honest light. There's plenty of action, friendship, espionage, and hints of romance to satisfy any and all readers.

See How They Run is the perfect book for fans of action, intrigue, and romance. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.