Brad About Books: Hideous Love by Stephanie Hemphill

HIDEOUS LOVE
Expected Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Harper)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 320 pages
Source: ALA

From award-winning author Stephanie Hemphill comes the fascinating story of Mary Shelley, a brilliant teenager who wrote one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time: Frankenstein.

An all-consuming love affair.

A family torn apart by scandal.

A young author on the brink of greatness.

Hideous Love is the fascinating story of Gothic novelist Mary Shelley, who as a teen girl fled her restrictive home only to find herself in the shadow of a brilliant but moody boyfriend, famed poet Percy Shelley. It is the story of the mastermind behind one of the most iconic figures in all of literature: a monster constructed out of dead bodies and brought to life by the tragic Dr. Frankenstein.

Mary wrote Frankenstein at the age of nineteen, but inspiration for the monster came from her life-the atmospheric European settings she visited, the dramas swirling around her, and the stimulating philosophical discussions with the greatest minds of the period, like her close friend, Lord Byron.

This luminous verse novel from award-winning author Stephanie Hemphill reveals how Mary Shelley became one of the most celebrated authors in history.

Despite from seeing some not-so-good reviews, I loved Hideous Love! The beautiful writing, the engaging arc, and the tragic and achingly stunning story of Mary Shelley all worked together flawlessly for me - I really, really enjoyed this book!

I'm just going to go ahead and state the obvious Goodreads has shown me: Hideous Love didn't receive the best of reviews from my friends. But it was one of my most anticipated books of fall, so I knew I had to give it a shot; and in the end, I'm so thrilled I did! This, to me, is the best example of trying something for yourself before you knock it. I thought that the writing was masterfully done. While it is a slower-paced novel, I was so hooked and engrossed by Mary Shelley's story and the twist that Hemphill spun on it. The fact that Hideous Love was told in verse was superb; it fit the story so seamlessly, and I fell in love with this book so much. Beautiful, enthralling, and fantastic!

Like I said before, Hideous Love is a slow-build kind of book. It took me a couple of pages for me to get into the groove of the story, but it wasn't long before I caught myself sinking deep into this rich and fascinating world. If something happened to Mary, I ached for it. If she succeed, I cheered her on. I absolutely love it when an author can make me connected to a character like that, much less an actual person. What's weird is that I didn't enjoy Frankenstein at all, but I loved the story that was based off of the author! If you're in the mood for a wonderful historical that will have you falling in love with the characters and captured by the writing, definitely give Hideous Love a try!

Stephanie Hemphill, why don't you just rip my heart out. The ending of Hideous Love is what made the book for me. Hemphill just reflected the scenario of Mary Shelley's pain and struggles so incredibly, and I felt a better understanding for Mary after this novel. And though I've said that Hideous Love is a slow-build book, it's not boring by any means. The pacing fit the story so well - whether it was her family or Mary's writing, she goes through many hardships, and Stephanie Hemphill brought that essence of obstacles to Hideous Love so well. Highly recommended!

Overall, Hideous Love is a slow-paced, brilliant book that enthralled me and made me feel a connection to the characters I haven't felt in a very long time. Hideous Love is lovely!

M Y    R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Read on April 20, 2013

RUBY RED
Published: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Henry Holt (Macmillan)
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 322 pages
Source: Purchased
Series: Ruby Red, #1

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

Ruby Red is a whirlwind of a novel, with combinations of epic moments and wonderful characters that make this crazy and awesome read even more enjoyable. I wish I could travel back in time to experience Ruby Red again!

The concept of Ruby Red is very engaging and highly addictive - how could you not resist a time travel story?! And luckily, Ruby Red is one of my favorite time travel stories I've ever read. Wanna know what I loved most about this time travel? There was a plot reason for time travel. It's not just something cool to give the story that extra dazzle, extra push. The story revolves around family secrets, heartbreaking betrayals, and traveling back in time to fix the past and restore the future. And the mystery! Gosh, Ruby Red is such a tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat type of book, and it's impossible to put down. My only regret was not picking this one up sooner! Loved it!

Gwen was awesome, short and simple. I get that some times, characters need to be a little naïve in order to get a true grasp on the situation at hand, but I feel that some characters go way past the boundaries with being naïve. Thankfully, Gwen wasn't that type of character. Sure, she was apprehensive at first (who wouldn't be?), but she handled the situation very maturely, and I loved her character! And can I just give Kerstin Gier a round of applause for not putting insta-love in the book? It could've been so easy to make Gideon an insta-love character that would fall in love with Gwen, and the story could have taken off from there. But Ruby Red doesn't revolve around love! It worked flawlessly. Ruby Red was masterfully structured and complexly rich; Kerstin Gier did an incredible job with this fantastic novel.

And while I had just a little trouble getting into the beginning (by, like, 25 pages, maybe?), it's so easy to be captivated and fall under the spell of Ruby Red. It will absorb your mind and consume you whole; I never, ever wanted to put this book down. It was that awesome.

Overall, Ruby Red is an explosive, fiery tale that wrapped itself in my brain and never left. I still think about it to this day. Ruby Red is epic!

M Y    R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

Read on July 3, 2013

MARIE ANTOINETTE, SERIAL KILLER
Expected Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic
Format: ARC
Page Count: 304 pages
Source: ALA

Let them eat cake... and die. 

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer was, unfortunately, a little disappointing for me! I really wanted to enjoy this book, and while I did at some parts, others fell flat for me.

I'll start with what I did enjoy about this book: the aspect of Paris was fantastic! I felt like I was roaming the streets of the City of Lights with Colette and a definitely-freaky-scary murderer, and I could really tell that Alender put a lot of research into this book. And I really appreciated that! The world is great, and I especially loved the twist on Marie Antoinette, and Paris in general! Colette was a great character for me... for the most part. Sometimes, she seemed naïve and didn't understand the situation wholly, but still went into it headstrong (which can be a good quality), and other times, she'd be a kick-butt, take-no-crap-from-anybody character that I fell in love. I flip-flopped with how I felt about her character.

Now, with what I didn't particularly enjoy... some of the scenes felt a little silly. The plot sounded awesome! And Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer was awesome at times, for sure. But others seemed a little farfetched and too out there for my likings. And I noticed that some of the deaths repeated! I was hoping for a little more substance from this book, and I, unfortunately, didn't get that.

But that's not to say that this isn't a good book, because it was! I think I set my expectations a tad high for this one, and not all of them were met. But if you're looking for a fun, eerie read, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer is the perfect choice!

Overall, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer is a good read that had me on the edge of my seat at times, and drifting off from the book at others.

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Venom by Fiona Paul

Read from May 11 to 12, 2013

VENOM
Published: October 30, 2012
Publisher: Philomel (Penguin)
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 435 pages
Source: Purchased
Series: Secrets of the Eternal Rose, #1

Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

Venom is a vivid and lush story that had me so emerged into the beautiful and haunting backdrop of Venice, that I never wanted to leave. Fiona Paul is an awesome new voice in YA! Love!

The thing that made me want to pick up Venom first was the setting of Venice. I, personally, have never been to Venice, but I am SO intrigued by it! I mean, water everywhere, you have to take canals, and just Italy! Yes! Add a murder mystery in there and a very unique and cool twist, and what do we get? The awesomeness that is Venom. The twists and turns that this novel takes are incredible. I was actually shocked by some events that happened - I love it when a book pushes some limits and doesn't hold back. It's one of the many reasons why Venom is such a wonderful book!

And the characters... don't even get me started. I loved Cassandra right from the first page, and she never let me down. I have to admit that during some mystery novels, the girl is so naïve and completely oblivious to everything surrounding her. Thankfully, Cassandra isn't like that whatsoever. She's strong, fierce, and dauntless. She's a new favorite protagonist for me! And Falco was just as great. I can't wait to see what Paul throws at us in Belladonna and Starling!

Like I said in a previous review, I'm not a huge fan of historical novel, but Venom is a definite historical favorite. I will admit, it was a slow build-up in the beginning, but once we hit the fifty page mark, it takes off like a bullet. It's just so... I'm honestly speechless. It's beautiful, it's mind-bending, and the tension and suspense will keep you up all night, turning pages to figure out who is committing these murders. Woah, I can't even handle how awesome this book was.

Overall, if you're looking for an intriguing and phenomenal historical, Venom is the champion. Eerie, chilling, and absolutely absorbing, Venom is a fresh and brilliant new hit!

M Y    R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Rebel Spirits by Lois Ruby

Read from May 13 to 14, 2013

REBEL SPIRITS
Expected Publication Date: June 1, 2013
Publisher: Point (Scholastic)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 304 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Infused with history and mystery, this tale of ghosts, love, and murder takes place in present-day Gettysburg, where the Civil War still looms large.

Lori Chase doesn't know what to think about ghosts. She may have seen a few in the past, but those were just childish imaginings...right? Only now that she is living in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, spirits seem to be on everyone's mind. The town is obsessed with its bloody Civil War history, and the old inn that Lori's parents run is supposedly haunted by the souls of dead soldiers.

Then Lori meets one such soldier--the devastatingly handsome Nathaniel Pierce. Nathaniel's soul cannot rest, and he desperately needs Lori's help. Because Nathaniel was not killed in the famous battle. He was murdered. Lori begins to investigate the age-old mystery, stumbling upon shocking clues and secrets.

At the same time, she can't help falling for Nathaniel, just as he is falling for her...

I hate to say it, but I was disappointed by Rebel Spirits. While the plot was intriguing, I couldn't get past the characters. 

I'll go ahead and start with the problem I had with Rebel Spirits - the characters just felt too two-dimensional for me. I couldn't connect with Lori, which was the biggest problem I had. She just seemed too flat for me to get in touch with, and I just didn't like her. Nathaniel was better because of his secretive backstory, and I enjoyed learning about his past! 

And luckily, that's what redeemed Rebel Spirits for me. The scandal, the secrets and the hidden past makes Rebel Spirits an enjoyable, quick read. Whenever it's brought up in the book of Nathaniel's mysterious past, I was reeled in and hooked deep into the story, and it kept my interest the entire time. It definitely was my favorite part about the book and redeemed it for me.

And the entire story felt too jumbled, for me at least. We had the hidden past-thing going on, and then, BAM insta-love, which I didn't care for in this case. I don't read many ghosts stories, especially not ones with insta-love, so I guess Rebel Spirits does stand out in that way. I just would have preferred more eerie and haunting scenes, less romantic. But that's just for me.

Overall, Rebel Spirits let me down. Who knows, this may be the book for me! Some parts worked for me, some didn't, unfortunately.

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

Read from March 2 to 4, 2013

BORN OF ILLUSION
Expected Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Balzer & Bray (Harper)
Format: e-ARC
Page Count: 352 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Series: Born of Illusion, #1

Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?

Born of Illusion is an electric, unique novel of magic, love and family. One of the most original novels I've read in a long time!

This book is intense! There are many scenes in this book that had me on the edge of my seat, and Teri Brown did a great job at making such thrilling scenes! The idea of putting magicians into a historical fiction setting is simply awesome, and since Born of Illusion was executed so well in that way, it totally worked. I loved getting to see the "behind-the-scenes" of magic shows and it can transform people.

The characters... Anna's mom is AWFUL. I could not stand her in the slightest bit. Anna {our main protagonist} made me connect to her so easily, but gosh, her mom was horrible! I felt so bad for Anna, and I guess that's why I loved her character! Right from the first page, I gravitated towards Anna, and she never let me down!

Also, the book is so eerie. Born of Illusion is almost dark and twisted, but gosh, is it good! There are so many chilling and spine-tingling events that occur in Born of Illusion, and honestly, it had me scared to death what would happen next! The ending was definitely fast-paced, and in the end, I really, really enjoyed Born of Illusion!

Overall, Born of Illusion is a must-read for fans of haunting and chilling stories. Teri Brown has crafted a lush and vibrant world that scared me and enthralled me into the story. A wonderful, fresh novel!

M Y   R A T I N G

Brad About Books: So Close to You by Rachel Carter

Read on May 1, 2013

SO CLOSE TO YOU
Published: July 10, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 313 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Series: So Close to You, #1

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the strange things that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who've disappeared over the years. Stories about people like her own great-grandfather.

When Lydia stumbles into a portal that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, she discovers that all the stories she's ever heard about the Montauk Project are true, and that she's in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.

Alongside a darkly mysterious boy she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the Project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices—and if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them... and herself.

So Close to You is a captivating read! One of the most originals novels I've read in a long time.

Historical fiction with time travel... yes please. I wasn't sure how I felt about So Close to You in the first few pages - but after page 40, things got interesting. And by interesting, I mean our protagonist, Lydia, is thrown back in time to the 1940's. Which is awesome. In this time, everyone is going crazy about World War II, and I loved how it was explored upon. The feelings, the emotions, the heartbreak; Rachel Carter did a fantastic job at incorporating all those elements into a fast-paced and unique story. 

Speaking of characters, I adored Lydia! I actually wasn't a fan of her in the beginning, but she grows and develops as So Close to You progresses. She became strong and tough, and she's definitely a standout in characters I've read about! And Wes, Dean, practically everybody was great in their own way. I love it when I get connected to not only the protagonist, but the ensemble as well - and I did very much so in So Close to You.

That ending was crazy! Thrilling endings are my cup of tea, and man, So Close to You is insane! I tore through those final 50 pages like it was nothing. It was so engrossing and enticing - I couldn't set the book down, and when I would, it was the only thing on my mind. Excellent time travel at its best!

Overall, there are no words for how great So Close to You. I was a bit wary in the beginning, but the middle and ending were epic! This book glows from its complex plot down to its marvelous. Carter is an author to watch!

M Y   R A T I N G