The Book Addict Reviews: Inside by Maria V. Snyder

Genre:  Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Order Online: Amazon.com  
Author Info: Goodreads | Website
Rating: 4 stars   
Received this book as a gift from my blogging buddy, Jen Ryland from YA Romantics.

In A Nutshell:  
Trella is a scrub.  Trella lives on the Inside.  As a scrub on the Inside, she has very definite ideas about her life.  Some of them come from the education received in her care facility (i.e., uppers are living the life of luxury while she is scrubbing the pipes).  Some of them have come from her interaction with others (i.e., her preference for sleeping in the pipes rather than the crowded barracks).  But her unique strength and her unique talents have given her the unique opportunity to be the instrument of change--if she is willing to take the chance. 

Review:  
Admittedly, I love Maria V. Snyder!  I have not read a book by her that I did not love.  So I had high expectations when I started Inside and Maria V. Snyder did not disappoint me.

First, Maria V. Snyder created a complicated and interesting world where the rules and norms are designed to separate and divide the population.  The distrust is so prevalent that even when they come together against a common enemy, they divide again afterwards and give others the opportunity to destroy them again.  The way that Maria V. Snyder presents this deeply embedded distrust and the way it permeates every aspect of their lives is telling.  It is subtle.  It is not based on any one making a conscience decision.  It is based on these ideas being told in little ways in every aspect of their lives.  It is in what they teach their children, how they interact with each other, and how they interact with people they do not know well. 

Second, Maria V. Snyder created an interesting cast of characters.  In particular, Trella intrigued me.  I felt reasonably confident throughout the story that she was on the good side.  But she is flawed.  She makes mistakes.  She sometimes believes the wrong person.  She sometimes does not believe the right person.  And she sometimes does not take into account the effect her decisions and actions have on other people, particularly those people who chose to follow her when the odds were stacked against them.

Third, Maria V. Snyder created interesting dynamics in the relationships between her characters.  In my opinion, the relationship that most exemplifies this is the one between Trella and Doctor Lamont.  This relationship goes from one extreme to another as each of these characters learns more about how and why they ended up separated.  The lack of trust and understanding mirrors the lack of trust and understanding in the world as a whole.  As the situation of their world changes, this dynamic within their relationship changes.

Finally, Maria V. Snyder always seems to have one more trick up her sleeve.  In all of the books by Maria V. Snyder that I have read, I have found that every time I think I know what is going to happen or who is going to be on the "bad" side--I am wrong.  Things are always just a little different from what I expected--but still realistic and believable within the confines of her story.  This is not an easy combination to accomplish over and over again--but it is one of the biggest reasons I am always excited to hear about a new Maria V. Snyder book.  

Recommendations:
I cannot believe that I missed the release of the second book in the Healer series--I want to read it so bad!

However, buying a new book is not in my immediate plans particularly since I have a Maria V. Snyder book in my box that must be read soon.
 

The Book Addict's New Years Resolution

Last month I reached a milestone I had been working towards for five years--I finished my Masters degree!  So I apologize for my lack of participation in my blog, but I have made it a resolution to do better in 2013 (19 days to start working on this resolution isn't bad, right?).

I have also made a resolution to read at least one book in each of the following categories each month this year:

1. A book from my house.  I have a box of books that I bought because I wanted to read them but for various reasons the books got pushed aside for other books.  I went through the books after Christmas and realized I really did want to read them--so I made a promise to myself that I would get through at least one per month.
   Here are some examples of what I have waiting for me:
   
2. A book recommended by a friend.  I have so many friends who recommend books to me--in fact we have started an informal book club at work where we trade books back and forth.  Also, I get so many great book ideas from my book blogging friends.  So this category will be very easy for me to reach every month.
   Here are some examples of what I have waiting for me:
   
3. A non-fiction book.  I realized that without my classes and reading lists, I would not have anyone to force me to read a non-fiction book.  But by nature, I love learning (that was my biggest reason for working towards my masters).  So I decided to challenge myself to read one non-fiction book a month.  The advantage of doing it this way versus as part of a program is that I get to pick the book and the topic.
   Here are some examples of what I have waiting for me:
   

And once I finish a book in each category (and probably more--because really three books a month is not that much), I will be able to blog about them.  Thus helping reach my goal of blogging at least 4 times per week.  I love when resolutions work together so I feel like it is more probable I can be successful.  Let's see. 

Follow Friday (16) and Hunger Games Movie Countdown Trivia and Giveaway

Q: What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

As we enter March, the month where my most anticipated movie of the year is coming out, I have been thinking a lot about a lot of the books I would love to see as movies:

Anyone who knows me well--yes Jen I am talking to you--know I have a little bit of a literary crush on Valek.  Him on the big screen...all I can say is *sigh.*


Veronica Rossi created a world of such vivid visual details that I would love to actually see it on the screen!


I have been sharing this one with everyone I work with (who is a big reader) and now we all want to see it on the big screen.

And Now To Announce:

My blogging buddy, Jen, and I have been working on a sequel to our Valentine's day celebration (the Famous YA Couples Trivia Quiz). 

So everyday I will post a trivia question about either a YA dystopian novel in general or the Hunger Games in particular.  Everyone gets one opportunity a day to answer--and it does not matter if you are right or wrong.  Any answer is worth a chance to win a prize!  This contest will continue until March 16.

The prize:
1) The Girl Who Was on Fire
2) The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook
Since these books are available from the Book Depository, I will open this giveaway internationally to any place that BD offers free shipping to.

What is the first line of The Hunger Games?
A) "Look what I shot," Gale holds up a loaf of bread with an arrow stuck in it, and I laugh.
B) When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.
C) One time, when I was in a blind in a tree, waiting motionless for game to wander by, I dozed off and fell ten feet to the ground, landing on my back.
D) When I was younger, I scared my mother to death, the things I would blurt out about District 12, about the people who rule our country, Panem, from the far-off city called the Capitol.

Please fill out this form to submit your answer.

The Book Addict Reviews: Touch of Power (Healer) by Maria V. Snyder

Genre: Fantasy
Order Online: Amazon.com
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 4 stars
Won this book in a giveaway on Jen's page.

In A Nutshell:
I loved this book and I love this author.  Everything I have read by her has been wonderful--and I want nothing more than to read everything by her that I have not read yet!

Review:
Once again, when I read the description of one of Maria V. Snyder's books and thought "umm, I am not so sure about that one."  It seemed a little gruesome for my taste.  Avry has a gift--a gift that will allow her to heal the only person who may be able to end the war and save Fifteen Realms.  But using her gift will come at a price--if she heals him she will not survive herself. 

The story is compelling and emotional.  For the last 20 pages, I honestly had to wipe tears from my eyes.  But that is only because Maria V. Snyder is a master of bringing her characters to life and making me (as the reader) care about them.  They are not necessarily easy-to-love main characters, but it does not matter because in the end despite their faults I do love them.  I do want to see them happy.  With the same token, her villains are complex and interesting.  Sometimes I question whether I am supposed to love the guy or hate the guy--it is not necessarily easy or clear cut until the end and sometimes not even then because she leaves me hanging, intrigued and wanting more.

The world created in Touch of Power is interesting but still very mysterious.  There are rules, politics, magical abilities, and a history that has not been fully explained.  In some ways I find that frustrating, but mostly I am intrigued.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series so I can learn more and have more opportunity to lust after Kerrick!

Recommendations:
On my TBR pile and I really do need to get it out!!

Series In Review: Study Series by Maria V. Snyder

Series are a tricky thing. I have series that I love as a whole, but an individual book within the series did not impress me.  So I am not always sure that reviewing the individual books is fair to the author's vision. However, I do not want to postpone all of my reviews of the books within a series until the end. With those thoughts in mind I decided to start Series In Review. In these postings, I will be looking at more than one book in the series or if possible the entire series at one time.
_____________________________________________________
**This review may contain spoilers for some of the books in the series**


Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy,
Books Released in Series: Poison Study, Magic Study, & Fire Study
Supplemental Short Stories: Website
Author Info: Website | Goodreads
Rating: 4 Stars
Books picked up in Paperbackswap games.

In A Nutshell:
This series enchanted me. The world created by Maria V. Snyder inspired me to believe in magic, in love, and in destiny. The characters were interesting. I was left guessing who was good and who was not until the end of each novel. The stories were enthralling. I could not put these books down once I started them. I have loaned my books to a number of friends, and each of them has been as impressed as I with this series.

Review:
Yelena is given a choice. She committed a murder which means she faces an execution as required by the laws of Ixia. Or she can have a reprieve and serve as the food taster for the Commander to ensure that he is not poisoned. This reprieve comes with its own strings. In particular, she is given a poison that will kill her unless she takes the antidote daily.

This story opens the series, but the story continues to chronicle Yelena’s adventures to learn and understand her magical gifts. For that training, she must leave everything she knows and loves and travel to the land of her birth. Yelena’s training however will be very different from the norm. Her talents are unique within the magical community. For some people, that uniqueness inspires fear, anger, and hatred. But Yelena must use her unique gifts to save everyone from a crazy plan that would destroy everything that the citizens of Ixia and Sitia hold dear.

I found myself drawn to the characters of Yelena and Valek from the very beginning. I was rooting for them, hoping there would be a way for them to be together. The time they spent together was a highlight for me throughout the series. Whenever they had to separate, I read with anticipation to see them together again.

Maria V. Snyder created an interesting world where magic is honored in one country but feared and despised in another country. Yelena is stuck in the middle. Her heart, her memories, and in many ways her life is in Ixia but her magic is outlawed there. Hher family and her magical training are in Sitia; but her love is not welcome there. She has to figure out for herself where her place really is; where will she be happiest?

Poison Study is by far my favorite book in the series. The chemistry between Yelena and Valek is endearing. I agree with some of the reviews that I have read that claimed that Fire Study is the least enchanting of the series. There was one point in the Fire Study where I literally said aloud “you have to be kidding me!” I was so frustrated with the number of road blocks being put in their path—they could not catch a break at all. In the end, however, I was glad I read Fire Study. I wanted to see how Yelena and Valek’s story ended, but after so many road blocks I was very glad to see it finally come to the end.

Recommendations:
I recently won this book in a giveaway on Jen's site--and I could not wait to read it!

TBR Intervention (4)

Last Week's Intervention

I finished both of these books from my goals last week:



My review for The Truth About Forever is already up and the review for Touch of Power will be up next week!

I am halfway done with Crank by Ellen Hopkins.  I may have it done by the end of the day (which would technically mean I am 100% successful on this week's intervention).  But even if it takes me until tomorrow I am happy with the results of this week's intervention.

This Week's Intervention

I had this book listed on a previous TRB intervention but due to some technical difficulties I was not able to finish it. This week I will finish it!


Summary:
The murder investigation Detective Inspector Harriet Ware is heading takes her into an unsuspected world where publishers wearily fend off a spate of unwanted manuscripts. Her suspects include would-be authors who live as much in the plots they are weaving as in the mundane world they actually inhabit. ‘Crime Fiction for Beginners’ is five novels in one with an unexpected twist at the end.

My buddy, Jen, sent me the following book--which I am so excited about because I have heard so many great things about John Green.

Summary:
Before.  Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home.  His whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (Francois Rabelais, poet) even more.  HE heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe.  Because down the hall is Alaska Young.  The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself.  She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.

After.  Nothing is ever the same.

And of course I have to work at least one audiobook--but the one I have picked this time may take me more than a week but I am so excited because I have been wanting to read more of the classics and this series in particular.

Summary (copied from Goodreads):
Frodo Baggins knew the Ringwraiths were searching for him - and the Ring of Power he bore that would enable Sauron to destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now it was up to Frodo and his faithful servant Sam to carry the Ring to where it could be detroyed - in the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom.

So what are you planning to read this week?