YA Friday Book Review: Deception's Pawn

Deception's Pawn
by Esther Friesner
Random House (April 28, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Fortune favors the bold in this adventurous tale of broken friendships, forbidden love, and a fiery heroine's journey to escape the role into which she was born. Perfect for YA fantasy fans of Shannon Hale, Malinda Lo, and Tamora Pierce.

Maeve, princess of Connacht, seems to have won her freedom. Her father, the High King, is finally allowing her to explore the world beyond his castle. But Maeve soon discovers that being the High King's daughter doesn't protect her from bullying or the attention of unwelcome suitors.

Struggling to navigate a new court, she must discourage the advances of her father's rival, who is vying with her host's son for her hand in marriage. Maeve is a pawn trapped between these two boys. Her bold defiance will bring her to the brink of disaster, but her clever gamble may also lead to her independence. Though she faces danger and intrigue, Maeve will also discover what kind of person-and queen-she's destined to become."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
Esther Friesner's Princesses of Myth series has been with me for a long time; I can still remember eight years ago when my sister picked up a copy of Nobody's Princess from our local bookstore and handed it to me the minute she finished reading it. I was only ten years old, but I was hooked: an in depth narrative about the (fictitious) early years of Helen of Troy, before she became a pawn in the Trojan War. Despite how Helen of Troy is so much of a symbol of passive femininity - given away as a prize, sparking a war over which man would claim her - she suddenly became a warrior, an inspiration in my mind and the mind of readers. Then came the next two books (Sphinx's Princess and Sphinx's Queen), focusing on Nefertiti, the famed queen of Egypt, and then a duo of novels focusing on Himiko, the Shaman queen of an early Japanese tribe. In her latest two books, Deception's Princess and Deception's Pawn, Esther Friesner lyrically and comedically explores the life of the fictitious Maeve, an Irish legend and a hero in her own right. Picking up where Deception's Princess left off, the story starts with Maeve settling in to her new home - and a whole new set of problems - as a fosterling in a foreign kingdom. Once again, she's seen by many only as a prize to be won, and soon Kian, the son of her hosts, and Conchobar, the son of her father's rival, are facing off to win her hand and her heart. And though she gains a set of friends, she just as quickly realize how deceptive friendship can be. Wavering loyalties and political upset complicates her relationship with her once-rival, Conchobar, and new revelations about Maeve's father's secrets cause her  to question his loyalties. Ultimately, Maeve's wits and passion prove to be her greatest strengths, and she proves herself far more worthy than any of her suiters of ruling the kingdom of Connacht. 

Deception's Prize is an excellent read, perfect for fans of folklore and historical fiction alike. I eagerly await the exploits of the next heroine Ms. Friesner choses to explore. 

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

YA Friday Book Review: Dream a Little Dream

Dream a Little Dream
by Kerstin Gier
Henry Holt and Co. (April 14, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
"Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv’s dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially this one where she’s in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals. 

The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They’re classmates from her new school in London, the school where she’s starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But what’s really scaring Liv is that the dream boys seem to know things about her in real life, things they couldn’t possibly know—unless they actually are in her dreams? Luckily, Liv could never resist a good mystery, and all four of those boys are pretty cute…"

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
I enjoyed Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red Trilogy, so I my interest was piqued when I heard that another one of her YA books was being released in English (all of her books are originally written in German). Dream a Little Dream is very similar to the Ruby Red books: financially well-off girl discovers secret group involving magic, becomes involved, has a more-than-slightly unbelievable relationship (which may or may not be sincere) with handsome and popular boy involved in said secret group, someone (or multiple someones) have secret ulterior motives, etc. But despite (or possibly because of?) the heavy use of tropes, Dream a Little Dream is a fun and engaging read - and while the sub-plots might be trite, the plot isn't predictable the way similar YA books can be. Liv is a compelling protagonist, with a sincerity to her sarcastic personality (her voice feels very natural - not contrived at all). Liv's awkward relationship with her mother's boyfriend and his children (surprise! new family!) is not glossed over in the least (let's just say it's no Brady Bunch). The articles from the Tittle-Tattle Blog (the anonymous gossip column of Liv's prep school) add a nice touch. The mystery of the identity of Secrecy, the author of the blog, is another great sub-plot that will unfold over the next two books (as will the possible relationship between Liv's former nanny and her step-uncle). All these sub-plots serve to make the book more complex and ground the story in believability - sure, demons may be rising and people can invade one another's dreams, but the awkwardness between the new (almost) step-siblings and the hilarious narration is searingly on point. The depiction of everyday life is where Gier's writing shines the most, especially the narration - Liv's voice is fantastic. The fantasy is explained enough to avoid confusion, but isn't as intricate as the magic in the Ruby Red trilogy (though that doesn't mean it's any less interesting or entertaining). 

Since the Silver Trilogy has already been published in Germany, the English edition of next book is set to release in January of next year (less than a year away!!!). I'll be eagerly awaiting its publication. Dream a Little Dream is perfect for those who enjoy YA fantasy with a modern setting and are willing to indulge their sense of realism.

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

YA Friday Book Review: Kin

Kin
by Lili St. Crow
Razorbill Books (March 3, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
"Dreamily dark and spellbinding with a hint of horror, New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow stuns with this toothsome retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

Full moon. Glowing eyes. Red lips. And such sharp, sharp teeth… 

In the kin world, girls Ruby de Varre’s age are expected to play nice, get betrothed, and start a family—especially if they’re rootkin, and the fate of the clan is riding on them. But after a childhood of running wild in the woods, it’s hard to turn completely around and be demure. Even if your Gran is expecting it.

Then Conrad, handsome and charming, from a clan across the Waste, comes to New Haven to seal alliance between their two families. The sparks fly immediately. Conrad is smart, dominant, and downright gorgeous. Yet as Ruby gets to know him more, she starts to realize something's...off. 

Then, the murders start. A killer stalks the city streets, and just when Ruby starts to suspect the unimaginable, she becomes the next target. Now Ruby’s about to find out that Conrad’s secrets go deeper than she ever could have guessed—and it’s up to Ruby to save her Gran, her clan, and maybe even herself....

Prepare to become thrillingly lost in the third, final, and simply mesmerizing installment of Lili St. Crow’s Tales of Beauty and Madness series."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
The Tales of Beauty and Madness series is easily one of my favorite fairytale-retelling YA series. Set in a lavishly complex and magical world, each book paints more and more of a picture of the enchanting setting, and specifically dives into the sub-community each heroine lives in. In Nameless, a retelling of Snow White, the reader learns about the Vampire Family (eerily similar to an Italian crime mob); in Wayfarer, a retelling of Cinderella, the Charming clan system is explored; and in Kin, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, the Clan system of the werewolf community plays an integral role in the story. There are other great details that add even more to the story - the alternate history, the religious systems. Each of the three protagonists - Cami, Ellie, and Ruby - come from different backgrounds, but band together in the face of their hardships. One of my favorite things about this series is while all three girls do have borderline-extremely low self esteem (which may or may not be ultimately cured through validation from the opposite sex), and other high-school girl tropes, their ultimate triumph, or rather, their ultimate survival through everything they've experienced, is in no way because of the love interest - it's always two girls rescuing the third. They might as well have just hung up a sign reading 'No Prince Charming needed'. 

Something that I particularly appreciated in Kin was the brilliant and complexly nuanced portrayal of an emotionally abusive relationship - something that is all too often glossed over in YA (Stockholm syndrome much?). Kin is deeply psychological in that regard, which added a nice depth to an already lovely novel.  I'm sad that this series is ending, but Kin closes it out perfectly.

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 Wrath and the Dawn

The Wrath and the Dawn
by Renée Ahdieh
Putnam Juvenile Books (May 12, 2015)
Audience: 13 to 18 years old 
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
"A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights.

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all."

A wedding Invitation sent by the publisher made the book even more intriguing.

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
I am a huge fan of fairy-tale retellings, but unlike the vast amount of YA books that seek to put a new spin on the tale of Cinderella or Snow White, I had never encountered a YA retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. I certainly had some concerns going in to the book (hello, Stockholm Syndrome), but my feminist fears were allayed: although Shahrzad, the protagonist, does ultimately fall in love with Khalid, she originally intends to assassinate him (so not the passive maiden typically depicted in fairy tales), and as the book moves along, both she and the reader discover more and more about the terrible reason Khalid has been wedding and murdering a young woman every night (and it's decidedly not some twisted, misogynistic hatred of women as a whole). Overall, the book definitely didn't echo the damsel-in-distress trope or any other typical, patriarchal clichés that seem to (sadly) abound in some retellings of fairy tales.

The book is masterfully crafted, artfully revealing the perfect amount of secrets and backstory as the story goes along. Shahrzad is a relatable and likable character, and her fierce loyalty and determination to protect her loved ones, whoever they may be, is one of her many endearing qualities. Likewise, Shazi's cleverness and intrepidness allow her to hold her own against Khalid. Their relationship is engrossing and captivating, the more they learn to trust and love one another -  despite the circumstances that bring them together and then tear them apart (in more ways than one). The mysterious magic and delicate political situation, in addition to being fascinating, add depth to the story and the setting. 

I am already anxiously anticipating the release of the sequel (The Rose and the Dagger) next year. The Wrath and the Dawn is a brilliantly enthralling tale, and especially suited for readers who enjoy retellings of fairy tales with strong female protagonists.

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

YA Friday Book Review: Under a Painted Sky

Under a Painted Sky
by Stacey Lee
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (March 17, 2015)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
"A powerful story of friendship and sacrifice, for fans of Code Name Verity 

Missouri, 1849: Samantha dreams of moving back to New York to be a professional musician—not an easy thing if you’re a girl, and harder still if you’re Chinese. But a tragic accident dashes any hopes of fulfilling her dream, and instead, leaves her fearing for her life. With the help of a runaway slave named Annamae, Samantha flees town for the unknown frontier. But life on the Oregon Trail is unsafe for two girls, so they disguise themselves as Sammy and Andy, two boys headed for the California gold rush. Sammy and Andy forge a powerful bond as they each search for a link to their past, and struggle to avoid any unwanted attention. But when they cross paths with a band of cowboys, the light-hearted troupe turn out to be unexpected allies. With the law closing in on them and new setbacks coming each day, the girls quickly learn that there are not many places to hide on the open trail.
 
This beautifully written debut is an exciting adventure and heart-wrenching survival tale. But above all else, it’s a story about perseverance and trust that will restore your faith in the power of friendship."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:
I had the privilege of attending the Southern California Independent Bookseller's Association Children's Literacy Day in February, and as part of that event, I attended a We Need Diverse Books panel that featured Stacey Lee as the moderator. Hearing her speak about her novel, I knew that I had to read her debut book, Under a Painted Sky. The book definitely did not disappoint - at times hilarious, it was also poignant and touching. I tend to be selective about what kinds of historical fiction I read, but this book had everything that I like the most about the genre: it showcases an often overlooked perspective and tackles social issues (specifically racial and gender issues of the time). Sammy and Andy are fantastic protagonists, each with their own compelling and sympathetic story. Equally entertaining are the three cowboys they befriend, and though their journey together is fraught with difficulties and hardships (and the concealment of Sammy and Andy's identities only further complicates things), the friendships – and romantic relationships – that develop are genuine and believable. The book is a captivating and brilliant read, and would make a perfect addition for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or books that tackle historical social issues.

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