Devil and the Bluebird ~ By Jennifer Mason-Black – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Coming-of age, Domestic Abuse, LGBT, Relationships, Sex Trafficking, Supernatural, YA Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Amulet Books for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: May 17th, 2016

Synopsis: Blue Riley has wrestled with her own demons ever since the loss of her mother to cancer. But when she encounters a beautiful devil at her town’s crossroads, it’s her runaway sister’s soul she fights to save. The devil steals Blues voice–inherited from her musically gifted mother–in exchange for a single shot at finding Cass.

Armed with her mother’s guitar, a knapsack of cherished mementos, and a pair of magical books, Blue journeys west in search of her sister. When the devil changes the terms of their deal, Blue must reevaluate her understanding of good and evil and open herself to finding family in unexpected places.

I have to admit that when I requested Devil And The Bluebird, it was because the synopsis with it’s mention of crossroad demons reminded me of the tv show Supernatural, which if you’ve been following me you might have noticed my slight, ahem, obsession. For those of you not familiar with crossroads demon folklore, these are the demons you can make a supernatural deal with. Unfortunately it also involves the giving up of your soul, and in Supernatural when your contract is up, you’re  brutally killed by Hellhounds, who then drag your soul to Hell. Nasty huh? So, in this instance 17-year-old Blue is desperately trying to save her sister Cass who disappeared after making a deal with a devil. Blue makes a bargain: the demon gives her six months to find Cass and if Blue fails then she can collect both sisters’ souls. Of course, as is often the case with demons, this one pulls a sneaky trick on Blue. While Blue sets off on her journey with her guitar and a pair of magical boots, she does so without her voice. Yep. No singing, no talking, nada.

Naturally the devil has other tricks up her sleeves as well, but I’m going to let you discover them on your own if you choose to read this. Blue is a picture-perfect tragically flawed character. She’s smart, loyal and stubbornly determined. She has more love in her heart than she realizes. Mourning her mother deeply, Blue will do whatever it takes to reunite with her sister which gets her into some pretty awful situations. As she makes friends and allies on her journey, she also learns some of different types of evil that are out there, and I’m not talking about the paranormal kind. Throughout the book Mason-Black does a beautiful job with Blue’s voice which rings with clarity and sincerity. The secondary characters, of which there are quite a few, are richly drawn. Each one, no matter how brief their role, is a fully realized person. I fully believed that all these characters who walk in and out of Blue’s life, also have lives of their own. While some of them show that greed, selfishness, indifference and cruelty can take many forms, they also show the same for kindness, compassion and love. It’s these last three that allow Blue to continue on her quest. Alongside the paranormal elements that are in the story, there are also many real-life issues explored including: loss of a parent, teen runaways, transgender teens, drug abuse, homelessness, domestic abuse, and sex trafficking. It amazes me that the author was able to include all of this in a 336 page novel without once slowing the pace down. Devil And The Bluebird is a lyrical and poignant debut that despite its touching on some of the uglier parts of life, still manages to be a beautiful redemption tale. Because of the mature themes I recommend this to older teens and adults. I also think it would be a perfect novel for a book discussion group. And now for some reason I’m feeling an overwhelming need to binge- watch the Winchesters.

The Feathered Bone ~ By Julie Cantrell – 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Depression, Domestic Abuse, Human Perseverance, Human Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 26th, 2016

Synopsis: In the pre-Katrina glow of New Orleans, Amanda Salassi is anxious about chaperoning her daughter’s sixth grade field trip to the Big Easy during Halloween. And then her worst fears come true. Her daughter’s best friend, Sarah, disappears amid the magic and revelry–gone, without a trace.

Unable to cope with her guilt, Amanda’s daughter sinks in to depression. And Amanda’s husband turns destructive as he watches his family succumb to grief. Before long, Amanda’s whole world has collapsed.

Amanda knows she has to save herself before it’s too late. As she continues to search for Sarah, she embarks on a personal journey, seeking hope and purpose in the wake of so much tragedy and loss.

Set amidst the murky parishes of rural Louisiana and told through the eyes of two women who confront the darkest corners of humanity with quiet and unbreakable faith, The Feathered Bone is Julie Cantrell’s master portrait of love in a fallen world.

Feathers–no matter what size or shape or color–are all the same, if you think about it. They’re soft. Delicate. But the secret thing about feathers is…they are very strong.

The Feathered Bone is not an easy book to read, yet it’s a hauntingly memorable one that you won’t soon forget. Julie Cantrell has done an incredible job weaving a mesmerizing tale about people who are faced with unimaginable loss, and how they react. It invokes feelings of shock, outrage, sadness and anger, yet in the end, I am so glad I read it.

The story follows both Amanda and her family, and friends as they try to cope with the devastating loss of Sarah as well as Sarah herself as she desperately tries to survive the hell she’s put into. Although the plight of Amanda, and her daughter Ellie, each of whom struggles with feelings of guilt, are difficult to read, it’s the innocent and ever hopeful journal entries of Sarah that are the most gut-wrenching. One of her captors gives her some notebooks and pens. She’s at her lowest when she thinks Ellie is also being held captive. It’s her writing and a little sparrow outside her window that keeps her going. Just to give you an idea, here is an example:

Hello, Sparrow, I asked The Man if I could see Ellie. He hit me. He said I wasn’t being good enough, and that Ellie was going to be put in the box because of me. I didn’t cry, even though blood was all around my eye. He said The Boss is mad at me. I have to do everything they all tell me, even when the other men come to visit. I have to stop fighting. I will try.

Things I Am Thankful For:

1. My sparrow (that’s you)

2. My notebooks

3. My pen

4. Turkey and mashed potatoes (even though they were cold)

5. The Man didn’t come see me today

6. The Lady is nice sometimes

7. I don’t have to stay in the box anymore

8. I am still alive

9. God is with me (I think) I know

Heartbreaking right? But despite the horrific topics explored in this book including: human trafficking, teenage depression, suicide, and domestic abuse, the story’s true message is that we are all deserving of love, and to always hold on to hope.

So many novels tackle big, weighty issues with varying degrees of success. Julie Cantrell’s book though, is in a class of it’s own. This isn’t a book that gratuitously feeds off the news. Rather, it’s an intimate look at its characters who are representative of far too many in our society. The issues explored are not rare, but they’re ones we prefer not to talk about. I personally feel these are subjects we all should be discussing which is why I think this is a perfect book to share with friends, co-workers, and in book groups.  The Feathered Bone may not be for everyone, but it’s one I highly, highly recommend.

IA: Initiate ~ by John Darryl Winston – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Domestic Abuse, Dysfunctional Families, Dystopian Fiction, Inner City Life, Mystery, Supernatural, YA Fiction

 I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: A seemingly random act of gang violence sends “Naz” Anderson on a quest to find answers surrounding his dead parents that lead to a series of discoveries about his supernatural abilities. Naz tries to stay out of the way at his foster parent’s home, but he walks in his sleep, and he is unable to keep the fact that he hears voices from his therapist. He attempts to go unoticed at school and in the streets of the Exclave, but attracts the attention of friends and bullies alike, and his efforts to protect his little sister make him the target of malicious bullying by the notorious street gang, Incubus Apostles. Naz is an ordinary thirteen-year-old, or so he thinks. He harbors a secret that even he is oblivious to, and a series of ill-fated events reveal to him telekinetic and telepathic abilities. Now he must navigate newly found friendship and gang violence, and face the full force of the world around him. The only way he can survive is to discover the supernatural world within.

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I’m always a little anxious when an author offers me a book to read and review. What if I think it’s terrible? I hate writing negative reviews, but even more so in these cases. Well, I needn’t have worried in about IA: Initiate because it’s an exciting genre-bending YA book that tweens will gobble up. 

Naz is the type of protagonist that will tug at your heartstrings. Having lost both his parents under mysterious circumstances which are slowly revealed as the story progresses, he’s just trying to be a good student, protective big brother, and to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, trouble seems to follow him, as he and his younger sister live with a disinterested foster mother in the violent urban area known as the Exclave. Naz has become prone to sleep-walking episodes which usually result in his few possessions being destroyed, and mysterious voices in his head. As if all that wasn’t enough to try to cope with, suddenly the violent street gang Incubus Apostles has become disturbingly interested in him. Naz is a street smart kid who just wants to make sure that he and his younger precocious sister Meri survive this dangerous world. They’ve both survived so many hardships in their young lives, but there’s not one instance where they feel sorry for themselves. Indeed, they retain a wry sense of humor and are completely devoted to one another. 

Interspersed with the present day narrative are flashbacks to their parents, Dr. Cory and Camille Anderson. These short chapters add an intriguing layer to the mystery surrounding Naz because it’s obvious that Dr. Cory’s research has something to do with his son’s developing powers. 

The only frustrating thing for me regarding this book was it’s relatively short length of 218 pages. Naz is such an appealing character that I wish more had been revealed about his family background and his mysterious powers before the end of the book. Thankfully the sequel IA: B.O.S.S. is coming out on November 27th, 2015 

IA: Initiate is an imaginative science-fiction novel which successfully combines a coming-of-age story, with the beginning of a true hero’s quest. Featuring characters that middle-schoolers will identify with, as well as a thrilling, fast-paced plot, this is a great read which is perfect for classroom use or book discussion groups. I’m eagerly anticipating the sequel! 

Undertow ~ Michael Buckley 4.5 Stars

Tags

Domestic Abuse, Fantasy, Friendship, Government Control, Inner City Life, Military, Prejudice, Science Fiction, YA Fiction

 I received this ebook from NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group, in exchange for an honest review. Lyric Walker’s life is changed as she watches 30,000 Alpha, a multi-nation, ocean-dwelling race emerge on the beach in Coney Island. While the world is initially awed, it’s not long before the prevailing attitude turns to suspicion, and paranoia. Violence breaks out, and Lyric’s town becomes a military zone. Three years later it’s decided that to help diffuse tensions, six Alpha teens will integrate the local high school. Sixteen-year-old Lyric is assigned to help assimilate the Alpha’s prince and she soon realizes there a lot more to him than his prickly exterior. They develop feelings for one another, but this is extremely dangerous, as many on both sides, wish to keep them apart. As Lyric learns more about the Alphas, it becomes clear that they are not the enemy. Indeed, there is something far more dangerous approaching from the depths of the ocean, and the Alphas may be humanity’s only chance at survival!

Undertow is one of the most original and imaginative books I’ve read in a while. I just finished last night and my thoughts are still racing, so I hardly know where to begin. Well, first, let me warn you that the Alphas aren’t like the sweet, beautiful seafolk as portrayed in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. They’re actually made up of five nations with different physical appearances and abilities. What they have in common is they’re all highly intelligent and they’re fierce warriors. In fact, most of the book had me wondering why they allowed themselves to be segregated to this small stretch of beach for three years. If you look at the cover, it will give you an idea of the living conditions. Lyric was a bit of a wild child when the Alphas first made their appearance, but after discovering a family secret, she’s learned how to keep her head down, and to not attract attention. She’s smart, tough, and resourceful. In essence, she has all the qualities you want to see in a female protagonist. She suffers from excruciating migraines, which as a migraineur myself, I could empathize with. Despite everything, she’s popular with her classmates and possesses the unique gift of being able to bring different groups together. When the new principal forces, ahem, requests her assistance, it’s not really a big surprise. The relationship between the Alpha prince, Fathom, and Lyric, develops slowly through the course of the book. They start out extremely supicious of one another, but as they spend more time together, they realize they are more alike than they thought. Fathom isn’t the most likeable character at first. He’s arrogant, quick to anger, rude, and not very appreciative of Lyric’s diplomatic efforts.  But there are so many more layers to his complex personality. Once he and Lyric start getting close, she brings out his better qualities. There are some real nasties in this book, including Fathom’s father, but I think my favorite character I loved to hate was the governor, who could have been Dolores Umbridge’s sister from Harry Potter. Same smarmy mannerisms, same xenophobic views. At its heart, this is a book about prejudice, domestic abuse, politics, government control, and more. Sometimes when an author attempts to tackle too many issues, their work just gets bogged down with details, but this is not the case here. Michael Buckley does a masterful job balancing these issues, which can be taken from today’s headlines, without taking away from the fascinating story itself. His writing style is full of emotion, and you won’t be able to stop yourself from connecting with the characters. While much of the book is dark and suspenseful, there are lighter moments interspersed, mainly thanks to Lyric’s best friend Bex, who despite her abusive home life, manages to still see the humorous side of things. The only thing that prevented me from giving this 5 stars, was that after a slow and steady build-up, I felt the ending was a bit rushed. This is going to be a trilogy, so I’m quite interested in seeing how this story further develops.