Review: Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Because of all the hype and the long wait to get a copy from my library, I had very high expectations, and I just didn't feel like it lived up to the hype. I know there's a lot of exitement about it because of having an author who is a POC, particularly in the fantasy genre.

I'll start with the good. The story did grab my interest right away, and held it most of the time. I love the cover art. I really liked the character of Amari, the princess who rebels against her father and brother to do what is right. I loved the growth in her character, from a frightened princess who made an impusive decision after seeing her father murder her maid and best friend, but not really having a clue what she was doing, to a strong fighter who had the courage of her convictions and is determined to claim the throne in order to lead her country into peace.

I would not say anything was really BAD about it, but some things were annoying. It was very preditable in many ways, especially the romance between the princess Amari and Tzain, the main character's brother, and the ill-fated romance between Zelie and crown prince Inan. Readers can see the sad end of that before it ever gets started, due to Inan's desire for his father's approval overriding any hint of decency and good character he has. In my opinion, the book would have been so much better if that romantic subplot had been left out entirely.

Zelie's character was at times very sympathetic, likeable, and admirable, but at others very annoying because of her poor choices and not learning from past mistakes, which end up costing many, many lives. I'd really like to see the characters of her brother and the princess play a bigger role. The other thing I found annoying was the juxtaposition of a setting that felt like a very anicent time and culture, and the sometimes very modern speech and phrases. Some of the dialog just didn't seem to fit the culture and time. Also, I found the adding of "aire" to the end of real animal names as a naming device for all the fantastical animals annoying, too.

And finally I wondered about the facets of Yoruba legends, mythology, and language being used in high fantasy. I would rather see folklore that is an authentic and accurate representation of an actual culture's mythology and language, or fantasy that is truly all fantantiscal and fictional, rather than a mixing of the two, and another reviewer who self-identifies as Yoruban indicated this usage and representation was problematic to them, as well.

I don't want to disuade anyone from reading this book, but since it has been hyped SO much, I felt more compelled to point out some of the potential flaws. This book is the first of a trilogy, so that's good news to the many who loved it, though I doubt I will read the rest, but will look at summaries and skim them as I am curious about what happens next.

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Review: The End of the World and Beyond

The End of the World and Beyond by Avi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not realize that this book was the sequel to The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts: Being an Absolutely Accurate Autobiographical Account of My Follies, Fortune, and Fate, which came out last year, until after I started reading it. While I would prefer to have read the first book before this one, it does work as a stand-alone since Oliver graciously gives the reader a quick summary of the events in the first book.

In this story, Oliver's misfortune contintues as he is sentenced to 7 years of indentured servitude, and sent to the American colonies, where after surviving attrocious conditions on the ship, he is eventually sold to a cruel master, who boasts of murdering another boy because he thought he was going to run away. Oliver is befriended by Bara, the slightly older black slave boy, and the two begin to plan an escape, but Oliver's recklessness causes them to have to leave immediately, escaping into the swamp. Can they evade both capture and the dangers of the swamp and find sanctuary in the legendary Maroons?

Part history lesson about the disparity between the haves and have-nots in 18th century Britain, the shockingly harsh laws of that time, and the great cruelties inflicted on people and children who were just trying to survive, and heart-stopping tale of survival, this story would appeal to middle-grade readers who are looking for adventure, stories of survival and facing adversity, and enjoy or are at least open to historical fiction. Some readers might be a little put-off by the language and writing style, but if they stick with it will soon be drawn into the story.

This book is fairly fast-paced with short chapters, with a satisfying, though somewhat contrived, ending. My biggest criticism is that the ending seemed a bit rushed, very convenient and contrived, without enough explanation. Based on the way the book ended, I would not be surprised to see a third book that reveals Bara's fate.

[I received this book as a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

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Review: The Darkdeep

The Darkdeep by Ally Condie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The next step for Goosebumps fans!

A bullying incident ends up with Nico falling off a cliff into the mysterious Still Cove, as his friends Emma and Tyler watch helplessly in horror. Opal, a former friend who has lately been hanging out with the bully, comes back and leads a resuce attempt, with the three eventually findong Nico safe on a mysterious island no one knew existed, where they make a very strange discovery that soon proves to be dangerous. Logan, the bully, follows them to the island. Can the five of them learn to trust each other and work together to stop the sinister force they have unwittingly unnleashed?

I must start with the disclaimer that I do not like horror at all, but. I selected it to review because I recognized Ally Condie as the author of the popular Matched YA dystopian series, and I was curious to see how she would write for middle-grade, and I try to read all genres for reader's advisory purposes. Even though horror is not *my* thing, I found it to be an age-appropriate level of "horror"; it is creepy, scary, and suspenseful with assorted monsters, but no one is seriously hurt, no graphic violence or blood and guts (other than a couple of mentions of blood from scrapes and cuts resulting from falling). And while I don't necessarily care for creepy, scary stories with unexplained sinister forces, I did like how the situation forced the kids to work together and learn to trust each other.

It reminded me very much of the Goosebumps series, but is a step or two above in terms of length and reading level. I would definitely recommend it to those who have read and enjoyed the Goosebumps books, or Louis Sachar's Fuzzy Mud, but are ready to move up in length and reading level. It appears that there will be at least one sequel to this book, as well.

[I recieved a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

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Review: Skink--No Surrender

Skink--No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it! I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Carl Hiaasen's books since it's been a while since I've read Hoot, Scat, Chomp and Flush.

This one is an interesting cross between his novels for kids and his novels for adults. It's similar to his middle-grade novels, but the characters are slightly older and the plot is just a bit grittier, but still tame compared to a lot of YA books, and it features a recurring character from several of his adult novels. In this story, a teenage girl has run off with a guy she met in an online chatroom. Her cousin Richard, who is more level-headed and sensible than she is, knows that she could be in serious trouble and alerts her family (who think she's left early for boarding school), and then heads off to hunt for her himself, along with an eccentric hermit called Skink, who also happens to be a former governor and surprisingly tough for a 72-year old!

The story has lots of adventure as Skink and Richard follow Malley's trail across Florida, with Hiaasen's characteristic environmental message woven in. They encounter interesting locals, skunks, gators, wild boars, and a supposedly extinct species of woodpecker in the process, as well as facing other challenges. This is a great book for those wanting adventure stories without a fantasy or sci-fi element, and those who are interested in environmental concerns and conservation.

It is only slightly darker than his middle-grade novels; there is some violence and a death, but it is not overly graphic. There are references to cursing, but I don't believe there were any actual curse words, and though a teenage girl was kidnapped by an online predator, there is no sexual abuse, and she states that he did not hurt her, only kissed her and held her against her will. As I said, it is very tame compared to most YA, and I would not hesitate to recommend it for readers as young as 12, and possibly as young as 11 or 10, depending on maturity.

Now I'm so intrigued by the character of Skink, I'm going to have to find time to read some more of Hiaasen's adult novels....

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