Lincoln's Spymaster: A fascinating history lesson

This fascinating book, geared toward ages 10 to 14, is a great introduction to history. Without talking down to her readers, Seiple conveys Pinkerton’s intriguing and complex career, which spanned the years just before, during, and after the Civil War. 

Pinkerton stumbled into his career when he alerted local law enforcement of a suspicious campsite, which turned out to be the lair of counterfeiters. He moved up through the ranks, eventually accepting a detective’s position in Chicago. The restrictions faced by police forces, particularly state lines, prompted Pinkerton to set up shop as a private eye. With a network that stretched across the nation, Pinkerton was in the perfect position to spy for Lincoln, uncovering and foiling Confederate plots. In later years, the Pinkerton National Detective Agency was involved in the pursuit and capture of renegades robbing the banks and railroads of the newly reunited country. Throughout his career Pinkerton pioneered techniques that are now standard operating procedure in the CIA, Scotland Yard, and police departments and detective agencies worldwide. 

Lincoln’s Spymaster focuses less on biography and more on the more thrilling aspects Pinkerton’s career, reporting both the successes and the scandals. This career provides a framework for the Civil War, the Reno and James Younger gangs, and the Great Chicago Fire - all of which Pinkerton lived through and played a part in. A well-written page turner, this is, for me, the best way to learn history - through the people who lived it.

Seiple, Samantha. Lincoln's Spymaster: Allan Pinkerton, Americans First Private Eye. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2015. 4 star.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in the review are mine alone. 

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender: A great Fall read!

Snuggle in and prepare for a long, dark night of reading, because once you meet Delia, the ghostly heroine in Katie Alender's latest horror novel, you won't want to let her go.

16-year-old Delia has inherited a house from her aunt and namesake, Cordelia, and the family is moving there for the summer to fix it up and get it ready to sell. When they arrive they find that the house wasn’t always a house. Founded in 1866, the Piven Institute for the Care and Correction of Troubled Females (called Hysteria Hall by the locals) was in operation up until the 1940’s, when it was closed by the state medical board following a rash of mysterious deaths.

Delia becomes the next victim, only to find that even death does not free the souls of the “troubled” women, teens, and children who died within the walls of the house. To protect her family, Delia must discover the source of the house’s evil and destroy it, no matter what it takes.

It’s not often I read a book where the main character dies only seven chapters into the story, but it’s only once she’s dead that Delia becomes a heroine. Piecing the story together from bits and snippets told to her by the other ghosts, Delia realizes that there is something wrong with the house. But it’s not until four years later, when her baby sister returns, that Delia feels compelled to act against the evil that has taken root. The story is at turns sad and spooky, with an intriguing, suspenseful plot and likable narrator. I highly recommend this one.

Alender, Katie. The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall. New York: Scholastic, 2015. 4 stars.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in the review are mine alone. 

Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop: Killing me with the tension

Multiple plotlines are skillfully juggled in this urban fantasy novel. To go into them all would take several pages (and would be incomprehensible to those who haven’t read the previous books). I will tease you a little, though, and tell you that Meg is becoming more and more important to the Others. Not because of her prophecies, but because she may be a trailblazer for her sisters. Meanwhile, across Thasia and in Toland, Nicholas Scratch continues to stir up the Humans First and Last (HLF) movement, inciting riots, rebellion, and working with politicians to move against the Others. What the HLF movement doesn’t realize is that the Others who interact with humans are the tip of the iceberg, and the more benevolent, and human-tolerant, of their species.

The Elders watch. Humans only live on the continent by permission and contract with the Others, and it may be time to remind them of that. Again.

Vision in Silver is the third book in The Others series, which should really be read in order. Over the course of these three novels Bishop has skillfully built up the tension and plotlines, interweaving the stories and characters tighter and tighter. A quick Goodreads glance shows at least two more titles planned in the series, and I have no idea what mayhem Bishop has planned for the characters I’ve come to love, but I know I absolutely have to find out. The wait is going to be torture. 

Check out my review of Written in Red, the first book in The Others series!

Bishop, Anne. Vision in Silver. New York: ROC, 2015. 4.5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in the review are mine alone. 

Crossdressing thief meets magician from another world

There are four worlds, and each contains a city called London, magically linked and accessible to the Antari. Three hundred years ago people traveled between the worlds with relative ease, and magic flowed through the people and lands. Then a plague struck Black London, and in an attempt to keep it out the other worlds shut themselves off, closing all of their magical doors and destroying all Black London souvenirs just to be sure. Only Antari can travel through the remaining three worlds, and then only to take messages back and forth between the rulers of Red London, White London, and Grey London. Smuggling is forbidden, whether it be objects or people.

Kell is from Red London, where the magic is still strong and everyone has some ability to use it. He is Antari, adopted son to the crown rulers, and their messenger between the worlds. When a broken black stone comes into his possession he knows, from the power that thrums through the shard, that it is a relic from Black London. It’s a magic unlike anything he’s ever experienced: tempting, draining, and very, very powerful. The rulers of White London, evil, sadistic siblings, are after the relic, and Kell hops to Grey London to escape their servant, Holland, the only other Antari in existence. In Grey London Kell meets Lila Bard - when she pickpockets the stone from him. Kell must get the stone back before Holland finds it...and Lila.

Lila yearns for adventure. Dressed as a man she thieves her way through London, trying to save enough to buy a ship and sail away to a life of piracy. When she takes the black stone from the stranger’s pocket, she doesn’t realize she’s about to get far more adventure than she bargained for. 

A Darker Shade of Magic is a classic fantasy tale: the overall theme is good versus evil; there is a quest that must be undertaken; and the main characters gain depth and understanding over the course of the novel. These time honored plot devices are the backbone for an intriguing, complex, and well written story full. Schwab has built a world where magic is plausible and has created characters that jump off the page and into the reader’s heart. I loved this book, and hope to see more of Lila Bard and Kell in future novels. 

Schwab, V.E. A Darker Shade of Magic. New York: Tor Books, 2015. 4.5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received an eGalley of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in the review are mine alone. 

All the Bright Places has all the feels PLUS author interview PLUS giveaway!!

Theodore finch, the Freak, has climbed to the top of the school bell tower to think about suicide. Ultimately deciding jumping would be far too messy, he’s about to climb down when he notices a pretty girl a few feet away. She’s also on the edge, and appears zoned out. “Come here often? Because this is kind of my spot I and don’t remember seeing you here before.”

Not exactly poetry and flowers, but Finch’s words, and his subsequent actions, talk Violet down from the bell tower ledge. As the two work on a school project and “Wander the State,” Violet goes from resenting Finch’s presence to craving it. He’s the only one who understands, and he pushes her out of her comfort zone, making her feel more alive that she has since her sister died. But the depression that drives Finch to research methods of suicide never quite goes away, and as the days pass he becomes more and more manic and remote. Violet seems to be the only thing tethering him to life…but for how long?

This extraordinarily well written novel was so very real that realistic fiction doesn’t seem an adequate term. In alternate voices both characters tell the story, and as it built toward the foreshadowed turning point I felt like I actually knew both teens. Niven pulled me fully into Violet and Finch’s lives, showing me the complexity of the their thought processes easily and without judgement. All the Bright Places gave me insight into the helpless, hopeless feeling that many teens face when they are fighting depression, mental illness, etc. Sometimes it's easier to connect with fictional characters than it is with those around us, and it's possible that some teens will see themselves or their friends in Violet and Finch. I think this is going to be an important book to those teens, and I encourage everyone, high school through adult, to read it. 

Five Question Interview with author Jennifer Niven!
As the new year rolls in I'm adding some new features to Fun-Size Reads. One of these is slightly kooky interviews with authors. 

I love authors. I go all fangirly when meeting them though, and never manage to actually speak to them. I just grin stupidly while they sign my books. Starting these interviews gives me the opportunity to ask authors questions that, hopefully, no one else has asked. 

Jennifer Niven is the author eight books, including the Velva Jean historical fiction series, her memoir The Aqua Net Diaries, and Ada Blackjack and The Ice Master, two nonfiction titles that make me shiver just looking at the covers. All the Bright Places is her first Teen novel. 

Jennifer took a break in her busy schedule to kindly answer a few odd and random questions for Fun-Size Reads:

What author, novel, or story inspires you to write?  
My mom. She was a prolific, award-winning author, and when I was a little girl, we used to have “writing time.” While Mom sat at her grown-up desk, I sat at my little one, composing stories in crayon.  She not only encouraged my own writing from a very early age, she taught me that I could be or do anything I wanted to be or do. In August 2014, she passed away unexpectedly and suddenly, and I am trying to honor her with every word I write. I feel like that little girl again, sitting at my desk, crayons in hand, doing what I most love to do, knowing that—if not for her—I wouldn’t be doing it at all.

What is your favorite comfort food?  
Popcorn.

Jared & Jen

What is your favorite guilty pleasure TV show? If you don’t watch TV, what genre of books do you read for pure enjoyment?  
Supernatural.  I love it so much I went to a Supernatural convention in 2013 just so I could have my picture taken with Jared Padalecki.  Sam Winchester is my fictional boyfriend.

When you were growing up, what was your favorite playground spot?
The swings. I loved going higher and higher until I felt like I was part of the wind.

What is one misconception people have about you and/or your profession? 
That being a writer is easy. I was lucky enough to grow up with a writer mom, so I saw firsthand how difficult and stressful and unpredictable the business was.  I also saw the commitment it took.  I’m grateful for that because I think so many people go into the business of writing with unrealistic expectations—not realizing that it is, in fact, a business, and that you have to be ready and willing to do it in spite of everything else.  I hear from people who ask if I only write when I’m inspired, but the answer is no.  I work harder (and longer!) than most everyone I know.

Giveaway Time!!
Finch and Violet find unexpected bright places in their state. What are your bright places? What locations have you found that make you happy? Tell me about one, and you'll be entered to win a finished cop of All the Bright Places sent to you directly from the publisher!
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Niven, Jennifer. All the Bright Places. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2015. 5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in the review are mine alone. 

The Lost Abhorsen (with giveaway!)

I have long loved the Abhorsen trilogy and was excited to learn that a new title was being released. However, it’s been quite a while since I read Sabriel, Lirael, or Abhorsen, so the events of those books are no longer clear in my mind. Fortunately that wasn’t a problem. Clariel can be read as a stand alone title (though it is, in fact, a prequel to Lirael). 

Clariel’s mother, Jaciel, is a renowned goldsmith. So renowned that she is invited to Belisaere to join the High Guild of goldsmiths. Jaciel is also distantly related to the king, who is neglecting his kingdom, and is a daughter of the Abhorsen, who refuses to take up his sword and bells. Clariel wants nothing to do with any of these worlds, and would rather stay in her beloved forests in Erstwael. Aa she is only seventeen, however, her parents still dictate her life, and the move to Belisaere is made. 

Clariel's family is given a luxurious home and Jaciel is able to accept apprentices and concentrate on creating golden works of art. Clariel, however, is not swayed by her rich surroundings. She sees that Belisaere is filled with unrest and dirty politics, adding to her unease about being closed up within the crowded city walls. All too soon she is drawn into a plot to overthrow Belisaere’s neglectful king, and tragedy ensues. Escaping the city to her grandfather’s house, she hopes to find help and avenge the murder of her parents. Instead she finds a man who would rather hunt and feast than take up his duty. With the help of Free Magic creatures Clariel escapes again, intent on using her borrowed power to destroy those who murdered her parents and have laid siege on the palace. But Free Magic is unpredictable, and the creatures who wield it should not be trusted. 

This was, to me, the saddest of the Abhorsen novels. Clariel is short sighted, easily frustrated and impatient. Acting on emotion she makes tragic decision in what seem to her to be no-win situations. Nevertheless, she is a likable character, and readers will be empathetic even when she makes all the wrong choices. I recommend this novel for fans of epic fantasy, whether they’ve read other Abhorsen novels or not. 

Nix, Garth. Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen. New York: HarperCollins, 2014. (On-Sale Date: October 14, 2014.)

Disclaimer:  This novel was given to me by HarperCollins representatives at the American Library Association Annual Convention in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in the review are mine alone.

Want to read Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen for yourself?

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There's no Gene Kelly in this Scottish Highland...

I was recently set loose in a veritable shopping center of digital ARCs set up by publishers to showcase upcoming releases. In an effort to expand my genre horizons, I selected  Doon. At first glance it’s not all that different from what I usually read, falling into both fantasy and romance genres. However this novel is published by Zondervan, a  Christian publishing house. For the most part I’ve found the label of “Christian Fiction” to be a turn off when selecting books. I’m always afraid that the dogma will overpower the story, turning the novel into a religious tract instead of entertainment. Doon was not what I was expecting.

Mackenna  and Veronica, two recent high school graduates, are spending the summer in Scotland. While

they were hoping for a bit of adventure and views of handsome young men in kilts, they got a little more than they bargained for when they crossed the Brig o’ Doon one misty, foggy night and ended up in a land

seemingly untouched by time. Veronica is especially startled when she sees one of Doon’s princes, Jamie MacCrae, for the first time – he’s the super hot “Kilt Boy” she’s seen in her waking visions. How could that be? Mackenna is more taken with Jamie’s brother Duncan. With warm eyes and an easy, flirtatious smile, Prince Duncan is everything that his cold, suspicious, standoffish older brother is not. It’s not unreasonable that Jamie is paranoid of the girls’ appearance, though. Doon is constantly on guard against an evil witch, and the kingdom is at its most vulnerable when at the Centennial – just two weeks away. At that time the gates open and outsiders who receive a Calling come to Doon to live. It’s also at that time that the witch could sneak a cursed object in, or try to send in a spy or a member of her coven to destroy Doon and regain her full power. Veronica and Mackenna know that they weren’t sent by any witch, but with mysterious disappearances and signs of evil appearing throughout the kingdom coinciding with their presence, how can they convince Jamie, Duncan and the citizens of Doon that they are innocent? More importantly, how will Veronica be able to leave Doon in two weeks, when her heart has finally found its home?

Told by both Mackenna and Veronica in alternating chapters, there is plenty of teen angst in this novel, though most of it is Veronica's (it's really more her story than Mackenna's). While developing the characters the authors have done a wonderful job with solving the questions of Doon’s survival, imagining explanations for things that might have niggled at the back of reader’s minds (such as inbreeding). This is definitely a “gentle read,” but it is not overly preachy or even pushing morality. The majority of the faith-based discussions fit seamlessly into the storyline. Equally well plotted is the avoidance of actual sex or anything beyond heavy kissing. It would actually be jarring and out of character, in this novel, for Veronica or Mackenna to have taken that step.

Overall, Doon is quick, enjoyable read that will leave you wanting more. The ending leaves us ready for another book in the series, and I’ll definitely add it to my to-read list when it comes out. Meanwhile, you can enter to win a copy of Doon on Goodreads right now!

Title: Doon (Doon series book #1)

Author(s): Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

Publication Date: August 20, 2013

Version Reviewed: Netgalley Digital ARC

Rating (out of five stars): 3 1/2 - 4 stars

Teen angst meets trickster gods? That's just asking for trouble...

I had high hopes for this digital ARC (advance reading copy), obtained through Netgalley. The premise sounded amazing: set in modern times, ancient gods were awakened and are a constant threat. Only through the intervention of a small group of people, the Society, and the relics they weild, are the gods and their interfering magic under any sort of control...and that’s all I read before I was intrigued enough to request the ARC. It sounded very Rick Riordan meets Warehouse 13, and I really wanted to check it out. 

The day the gods awoke - no one’s sure how or why that happened - Kyra was forgotten by her parents. While other kids were picked up at school by tearful and frightened adults, Kyra was left alone on the school steps until she finally gave up and walked home, getting lost more than once, to find an empty house awaiting her. Ever since that day Kyra has assumed this was her lot in life: to be the unimportant one, the one who gets left behind.

Soon after that day her mother went mad and her father, a librarian, became even more distant and absorbed in his work. Kyra has done everything she can think of, even staying out all night, to get his attention, but he doesn’t even seem to notice. Coming home in the early hours one morning she’s surprised to find him at home, and even more surprised when he actually seems to have been waiting for her. He’s not angry, but...odd. He tells her that if anything should happen to him she’s to take all the money in the house and run. Then he leaves her - again - for his work. 

This odd conversation with her father is just the start of events that will turn Kyra’s world upside down and inside out. She will discover family secrets that shake her to the core. She will meet gods and tricksters. She will drag her friends, old and new, into schemes and adventures. And she will uncover a plot within the Society that could end the world - one that only she can stop.

The Woken Gods has a lot of potential, but also quite a bit of overwhelming info dump, primarily at the beginning. Instead of world building naturally over the course of the narrative, the first third of the novel gives the reader the back story of the awakening as well as the critical stages of character development. For me it was confusing, and it simply didn't flow well. Once the preliminary groundwork of the plot had been laid and the alternative history set, however, the novel evened out and became very interesting indeed. There were still a few unusual and jarring moments, but overall the remainder proved to be an entertaining tale. 

The ending of The Woken Gods isn’t really “The End” but sets us up for at least one sequel, if not a multi-book series. I’m not overly invested in this tale, but may check out book two just to see what happens.  The author’s first novel, Blackwood, has been picked up by MTV as a series, so I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Gwenda Bond. 

Note: This review is based on an Advance Reader's Copy, and editing may still be done before this book is published. All of the comments above should therefore take this into account.