Tag: romance

4 star, YA

Review: Chaotic Good by Whitney Gardner

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Chaotic Good Comps14.inddCameron’s cosplay–dressing like a fictional character–is finally starting to earn her attention–attention she hopes to use to get into the CalTech costume department for college. But when she wins a major competition, she inadvertently sets off a firestorm of angry comments from male fans.

When Cameron’s family moves the summer before her senior year, she hopes to complete her costume portfolio in peace and quiet away from the abuse. Unfortunately, the only comic shop in town–her main destination for character reference–is staffed by a dudebro owner who challenges every woman who comes into the shop.

At her twin brother’s suggestion, Cameron borrows a set of his clothes and uses her costuming expertise to waltz into the shop as Boy Cameron, where she’s shocked at how easily she’s accepted into the nerd inner sanctum. Soon, Cameron finds herself drafted into a D&D campaign alongside the jerky shop-owner Brody, friendly (almost flirtatiously so) clerk Wyatt, handsome Lincoln, and her bro Cooper, dragged along for good measure.

But as her “secret identity” gets more and more entrenched, Cameron’s portfolio falls by the wayside–and her feelings for Lincoln threaten to make a complicated situation even more precarious.

4 Drink Me Potions

Everyone, be prepared to get your nerdiness on! And be proud of it! ‘Cause Chaotic Good brings out the inner geeks for a wild celebration of cosplay, D&D and superhero fandoms.

While I can’t say the main subjects covered in the book may be something relevant to all readers – (like I’ve never tried sewing my own costumes before!), the themes embodied by Chaotic Good are universal that should tug at our empathy. How many of us have been bullied – or at least teased – for the things we love that may not be fully mainstream or “cool”? How many can say that we wanted to try something new that others thought wasn’t fitting for us?

Here, we follow Cameron, a girl who loves to sew cosplay costumes and buy comics. A world dominated by “true” fans of mostly the male variety. While I’m always for girl power, I loved how the author doesn’t quickly lump every guy as all bad or every girl without her own flaws. We see cool guys who do like Cameron the way she is, and her hobbies to boot. And girl besties who may not be fully sympathetic to her predicament.

Aside from the themes, each character was fun and unique. The inner boy sanctum of Dungeons & Dragons players were filled with people I absolutely adored. From easygoing Why and Cameron’s writer twin to not-always-likeable Brody, they made a ragtag group that felt like everyday people you’d meet or want to meet.

And this also features a story within a story! For those who haven’t played D&D before, it’s definitely a huge role playing kinda game and my, the storytelling for their game characters was just as unique and adorable. Including the beautiful comic drawings inside. Imaginative and wildly creative, I flew through these pages not just for the main story with Cameron, but for the unfolding plot within their game.

For those who also love a cute romance, this book’s got you. While I’m not fawning madly over the love interest, I still enjoyed this element as it added more than subtracted from the story. It also helps that this book features the girl-dressed-as-a-boy trope that makes the romance more fun!

So yes, my inner nerdiness was awakened as Chaotic Good brought out the best of all that is geeky. Whether you also love to cosplay, read superhero comics, play D&D or just love a good contemporary, this novel was both fun and endearing. And the ending was the perfect cherry on top!

Overall Recommendation:

Chaotic Good represents the best of geekiness, featuring a relatable protagonist who loves cosplaying, reading comics and playing D&D. Balancing between the serious issues such as the internet bullying Cameron was facing and the fun aspect of D&D role playing, this book has a little something for everyone. Imaginative and empathetic, there’s no other contemporary I can think of that meshes the realistic mess of everyday life with the fantastical of other imaginary worlds we wish to live in as well as this one. Please do yourself a favour and give this book a shot!

Have you heard of this YA book before? Are you as excited as I am about the premise of the story?

2.5 star, YA

Review: Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Flame in the Mist #2

smoke in the sun -renee ahdiehFor weeks, seventeen-year-old Mariko pretended to be a boy to infiltrate the notorious Black Clan and bring her would-be murderer to justice. She didn’t expect to find a place for herself among the group of fighters—a life of usefulness—and she certainly didn’t expect to fall in love. Now she heads to the imperial castle to resume a life she never wanted to save the boy she loves.

ÅŒkami has been captured, and his execution is a certainty. Mariko will do what she must to ensure his survival—even marry the sovereign’s brother, saying goodbye to a life with ÅŒkami forever.

As Mariko settles into her days at court—making both friends and enemies—and attempting ÅŒkami’s rescue at night, the secrets of the royal court begin to unravel as competing agendas collide. One arrow sets into motion a series of deadly events even the most powerful magic cannot contain. Mariko and ÅŒkami risk everything to right past wrongs and restore the honor of a kingdom thrown into chaos by a sudden war, hoping against hope that when the dust settles, they will find a way to be together.

Set against the backdrop of feudal Japan, Smoke in the Sun is the breathless, romantic, not-to-be-missed fiery conclusion to a spell-binding adventure.

2.5 Drink Me Potions

Set in feudal Japan with samurais and codes of honour, Smoke in the Sun continues the story of a girl trying to save the life of a boy she loves at any cost to her own life.

The novel picks up pretty closely to where book 1 ended. With the newly unveiled identity of Okami and his capture by Mariko’s brother and her betrothed’s soldiers. Jumping straight back into this Japanese inspired realm, the world and sense of magic and mystery enveloped me again like an old friend.

Most of the book was spent trying to figure out how to release Okami from capture. Through the eyes of Mariko, the wonders of the palatial life – on the surface – and the hidden secrets and gossip among its upper class were revealed in manner. I liked the lush setting and descriptions, yet at times, this really slowed down the pace of the book. A lot.

Meanwhile, other elements of intrigue unfolded as people in the land started falling into some deep sickness that inhibited the control of their own body and mind. Was this linked to Mariko’s attempted murder? Maybe something exciting was finally happening.

But as some things are, it was kind of a letdown. It was in no way a mystery (we literally see from the POV of the bad guy why this was happening – and mind you, the why wasn’t very exciting either), and how it was revealed to our main characters was neither clever nor surprising. The climax that was being set up took a swift turn for a happy ending that left me wondering if any of it was that bad before at all.

I wanted to desperately love the only element of intrigue this book seemed to have. While I fell in love with the Black Clan initially in book 1 out in the wilds, the relationship between Mariko and Okami felt more real there than it did now. Here, it’s just the aftermath of strong love but I didn’t really feel it. Maybe I forgot a lot of what it was like in the time since I read Flame in the Mist but I couldn’t care as much as I wanted.

Not all of it was a downer though. Secondary characters like Raiden made things more interesting. He wasn’t the typical person you’d necessarily cheer for (at first) or a wounded soul to save, but there’s something redeemable in some way about him that intrigued me. I don’t know about you, but I could totally wish for a book about him. Maybe with a certain someone’s sister guiding him away from less noble influences? You with me?

While I still enjoyed the atmospheric descriptions of a time of old in Japan, I can’t help but overlay and compare it with the recent book by Julie Kagawa, Shadow of the Fox. In my heart I know they’re different in their own way, but I can’t help but see this series in a new light – and where it could do better.

Some action, dramatic romantic overtures, and a land falling to chaos, Smoke in the Sun was lovely on its cover but digging deep into its story left me somewhat disappointed at the potential it could’ve been. I love Renee Ahdieh but maybe I came at this book with my expectations a little too high.

Overall Recommendation:

Smoke in the Sun delightfully drops us back into the world of Japanese samurais and magic. On a grand scale, it’s about a rescue mission for the love of Mariko’s life, with other elements swept to the side in the plot. While it set itself up for potentially exciting action scenes and an explosive conclusion with a battle for the empire, it all gets wrapped up too quickly in a nice bow to ever really feel tense about the situation at all. A decent wrap up if you enjoyed Flame in the Mist, but I suggest you read this before any other similar story set in feudal Japan.

4 star, YA

Review: People Like Us by Dana Mele

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

people like us -dana meleKay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet, but the past is past, and she’s reinvented herself entirely. Now she’s a star soccer player whose group of gorgeous friends run their private school with effortless popularity and acerbic wit. But when a girl’s body is found in the lake, Kay’s carefully constructed life begins to topple.

The dead girl has left Kay a computer-coded scavenger hunt, which, as it unravels, begins to implicate suspect after suspect, until Kay herself is in the crosshairs of a murder investigation. But if Kay’s finally backed into a corner, she’ll do what it takes to survive.

Because at Bates Academy, the truth is something you make…not something that happened.

4 Drink Me Potions

With a boarding school setting similar to Truly Devious, whodunnit suspect scenarios such as One of Us is Lying, and the cruelty of a popular it girl group likened to the popular Pretty Little Liars series, People Like Us feels both psychologically familiar yet carries a darker, more messed up undertone.

I don’t know what’s been floating around in the air lately but I’m really digging the dive into (psychological) thrillers and mysteries in YA. This book is part of that ongoing trend that should deservedly get more attention.

The novel starts off with a group of seemingly popular girls without a care in the world. They’re just leaving a party and BAM they find a dead body.

From there, it leaves your typical, simple whodunnit mystery. Our protagonist, Kay, is seemingly blackmailed by the dead girl. What a strange twist, huh?

I would love to feel more bad for her, but she’s not the most lovable person. She’s a pretty flawed, human girl with a secret past that we don’t know about. And that’s what makes it more fun to read and follow along what may happen next.

I flew through this book in almost one sitting. I wanted to know who’s next on this hit list created by the dead girl. I loved the artistry behind the tasks that Kay was forced to do in order to keep her secret. It was poetic and hauntingly cruel. You never knew who was next (and what did they do *gasp*) and who to trust. I sometimes could barely trust Kay’s own perspective because who knows if she’s hiding something huge from us?

Yet I found myself underwhelmed with other elements of the story.

Including the ending.

Yes, everything – and everyone – was kind of messed up. The culprit wasn’t unguessable but the reasoning behind it all wasn’t amazing. The whys matter to me, not just the whodunnit anymore.

Kay’s secret that pushed her so far to protect was…interesting but the delivery to us, the unknowing readers, wasn’t the best. Maybe I’m just being picky, but there was something in the execution that prevented me from loving it wholeheartedly.

Oh by the way, you romance lovers, there was something present in the story for you too. Though at times I wasn’t sure it was all that necessary to force it in.

Kay’s bisexual so throughout the book, she was torn between her ex-boyfriend and her girl best friend. They made for great suspects with motives, no doubt about it, but it was a lot of drama that felt like it just filled in the empty gaps around the main mystery instead of adding to the story itself as an important point.

So as mysteries go, it was an immediately satisfying rollercoaster spin that couldn’t be stopped once it started – for the most part – but after getting off of it, there’re a few mixed feelings thrown in there. People Like Us definitely wasn’t quite what I expected.

Overall Recommendation:

A YA thriller that gives you a glimpse into the secrets at an all girls boarding school, People Like Us was a fast-paced read that took some weird turns along the ride. With a bisexual protagonist (full of romantic angst and drama) and her hidden secret propelling her on a task list sent from a dead girl, lies get unfolded and intrigue hits its max. Although it was a fun journey, the ending came somewhat abruptly that left a strange, but lasting, impression. If you’re one for mysteries (and boarding schools!), definitely give it a shot.