bookshelves of doom

New YA: June 15-21.

New hardbacks:

Dark Metropolis, by Jaclyn Dolamore:

If you’re not in a questioning frame of mind and would like an adventure with atmosphere, some chills, and a bit of romance, give it a try! If you’re feeling like something with stronger character development, give it a miss for now, and pick up Jenny Davidson’s excellent The Explosionist instead: While it’s different in tone—it’s a much quieter book—like Dark Metropolis, it’s about a European girl who stumbles upon a sinister, world-altering plot, but it’s meatier in every department.

Jex Malone, by C.L. Gaber and V.C. Stanley:

I really WANTED to like this book. I mean, based on the premise, it looks practically tailor-made for me. But, alas. The main, overarching reason it doesn’t work is this: It reads like two or three different drafts of the book were smooshed together into a non-cohesive, often incoherent mess.

The Body in the Woods (Point Last Seen), by April Henry

Rebellion (Tankborn Trilogy), by Karen Sandler

#scandal, by Sarah Ockler

Ruin and Rising (Grisha Trilogy), by Leigh Bardugo

Otherbound, by Corinne Duyvis

Blazed, by Jason Myers

No Dawn without Darkness: No Safety In Numbers: Book 3, by Dayna Lorentz

I Am the Mission (The Unknown Assassin), by Allen Zadoff

Graduation Day (The Testing), by Joelle Charbonneau

Fan Art, by Sarah Tregay and Melissa DeJesus

New paperbacks (that I've read):

Girl of Nightmares (Anna Dressed in Blood), by Kendare Blake:

If you still* haven’t read Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood, you may want to do that before reading what I have to say about the sequel, Girl of Nightmares. Because, you know. Spoilers. If you’re a fan of Supernatural or Buffy, though, you really must give the duology a try. Like both shows, it’s a fabulous combination of gore, humor, wit and intense creepiness that recognizes genre conventions while still being emotionally truthful about friendship, love, loss and sacrifice. To top it off, both books are printed in rust-colored ink: the color of blood

New YA: June 8-14.

New hardbacks:

Trouble, by Non Pratt

When Mr. Dog Bites, by Brian Conaghan

Wicked Games, by Sean Olin

Push: The Game: Book 2, by Eve Silver

The Strange Maid: Book 2 of United States of Asgard, by Tessa Gratton

Born of Deception (Born of Illusion), by Teri Brown

(Don't You) Forget About Me, by Kate Karyus Quinn

The Fallen (An Enemy Novel), by Charlie Higson

Glory (The Dust Chronicles), by Maureen McGowan

Hexed, by Michelle Krys

I Become Shadow, by Joe Shine

Lies My Girlfriend Told Me, by Julie Anne Peters

The Murder Complex, by Lindsay Cummings

My Last Kiss, by Bethany Neal

On the Road to Find Out, by Rachel Toor

Pills and Starships, by Lydia Millet

Brazen, by Katherine Longshore

Inland, by Kat Rosenfield

The Merciless, by Danielle Vega

Starbird Murphy and the World Outside, by Karen Finneyfrock

Wings (A Black City Novel), by Elizabeth Richards

New paperbacks (that I've read):

The Secret Ingredient, by Stewart Lewis:

Despite all of the emotionally charged issues (adoption! cancer! dead dog! grief! first love! coming of age! unreliable parents! the meaning of life!) and interest-piquing details (mysterious psychic! stolen ice cream truck! vintage cookbook that includes intriguing personal notes! cameo by Jude Law!) and plotting that is moved along by many serendipitous events, The Secret Ingredient is just kind of...dull. Although her meditations on cooking and food have a nice placid sort of energy, the rest of Olivia’s narration plods, and despite the likable nature of most of the characters, the dialogue feels superscripted—heavy conversation after heavy conversation after heavy conversation, and none of the characters ever seem to have any trouble whatsoever articulating anything—and thus, unbelievable.

Crushed (Readers Circle), by Laura McNeal and Tom McNeal:

Here's a tip for all the fictional characters out there: If your book begins with a quote from Pride and Prejudice, don't go out with a guy named Wickham. You should know better than that. Go for the grouchy brooding guy. He'll be rad. I promise.

Far Far Away, by Tom McNeal:

Readers who stick with it will learn that McNeal knows exactly what he's doing: Jacob is on just as much of a journey as our young protagonist is, and as he changes and grows, his deepening connection to and affection for Jeremy & Co. makes that emotional distance shrink and disappear. As the story goes on, his voice grows steadily warmer and warmer...and then, when the darkness comes—AND HOO BOY, IT COMES—steadily more frustrated, worried, urgent and, as he has the benefit of hindsight: guilty.

The Lost Sun: Book 1 of United States of Asgard, by Tessa Gratton:

Fans of Gratton's work—if you haven't discovered her yet, you're in for a treat—have probably already read this one. It's another roadtrip story, this one about a berserker and a prophetess searching for Baldur, who's gone missing. While the relationship dynamics and the family secrets are totally compelling, and while Gratton does a great job of integrating familiar myths but keeping the plotting unpredictable, for me, this one was all about the worldbuilding, which was FANTASTIC.

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YA Gets Nordic: Seven Stories with Roots in Norse Mythology.

How NOT to Convince People to Read, in 5 Simple Steps.

New YA: February 15-21.

New YA: June 15-21.

New YA: June 1-7.

New hardcovers:

Vivian Divine Is Dead, by Lauren Sabel

yolo, by Sam Jones

My Best Friend, Maybe, by Caela Carter

My Faire Lady, by Laura Wettersten

Pretty Little Liars #15: Toxic, by Sara Shepard

The Prince of Venice Beach, by Blake Nelson

Push Girl: A Novel, by Chelsie Hill and Jessica Love

Rebels: City of Indra: The Story of Lex and Livia, by Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner

Say What You Will, by Cammie McGovern

The Shadows (Fianna Trilogy), by Megan Chance

Since Last Summer (Rules of Summer), by Joanna Philbin

Sometimes It Lasts (Sea Breeze), by Abbi Glines

The Truth About Alice, by Jennifer Mathieu

Lux: Consequences (Opal & Origin) (Lux Novel), by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Lux: Beginnings (Obsidian & Onyx) (Lux Novel), by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Love by the Morning Star, by Ms. Laura L. Sullivan

Hungry, by H. A. Swain

Gasp (Visions), by Lisa McMann

Dark Days, by Kate Ormand

The Book of David, by Anonymous

The Fastest Boy in the World, by Elizabeth Laird

Take Back the Skies, by Lucy Saxon

The Apple Tart of Hope, by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

Related articles

Yesterday @KirkusReviews...

New YA: June 15-21.

HarperCollins has launched 3 new YA sites.

Laura L. Sullivan.

YA Pride Month.

New YA: May 25-31.

New hardcovers:

While We Run, by Karen Healey

We Are the Goldens, by Dana Reinhardt

Take Me On (Pushing the Limits), by Katie McGarry

Surrounded By Sharks, by Michael Northrop

One Man Guy, by Michael Barakiva

Oblivion, by Sasha Dawn

Meridian (Arclight), by Josin L. McQuein

Guy in Real Life, by Steve Brezenoff

Girls Like Us, by Gail Giles

The Girl with the Windup Heart (The Steampunk Chronicles), by Kady Cross

Divided (Dualed Sequel), by Elsie Chapman

Allies & Assassins, by Justin Somper

Bad Luck Girl: The American Fairy Trilogy Book 3, by Sarah Zettel

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments), by Cassandra Clare

Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii, by Vicky Alvear Shecter

The Dark World (A Dark World Novel), by Cara Lynn Shultz

Guardian (Proxy), by Alex London

New paperbacks (that I've read):

Dualed, by Elsie Chapman:

I give Chapman huge points for writing a dystopian set in a brutal kill-or-be-killed world...and just letting it be. Unlike every other YA dystopian I’ve read, Dualed never turns into a story about Standing Up To The Man or Fighting For Freedom. It’s purely a survival story, and it was a nice change to read about a protagonist who wasn’t a special snowflake* or a focal point for a rebellion.

The Good Braider, by Terry Farish:

It's got a fantastic sense of place and Farish conveys long periods of time spent waiting without ever slowing the pace of the story, both of which are quite impressive considering how few words she uses. The contrast between cultures is striking, and it's especially nice that the book portrays Viola attempting to understand and fit into American (and even more specifically, Maine**) culture, but never uses the somewhat-tired "I renounce my former culture/this new culture is so horrible and wrong; oh wait, now I'm proud to be a part of both cultures" storyline. She's drawn towards both worlds, but she just... keeps on keeping on, and eventually finds her place in both.

The Lucy Variations, by Sara Zarr:

It's about music; about art; about beauty; about snobbery and elitism; about grief; about trust and manipulation and spite; about how a clash between two stubborn people can ultimately result in both sides losing; about economic class and using people to further your own ends and living THROUGH other people and about CHOOSING YOURSELF. All of the relationships are so complex—Lucy and her mother, her father, her grandfather, her brother, her best friend, her teacher, and, of course, Will—that I really don't think it would be possible for me to praise it highly enough. 

Rapture Practice: A True Story About Growing Up Gay in an Evangelical Family, by Aaron Hartzler:

There’s plenty of humor—the official Kirkus review called it “hilarious,” though I found it more subdued than that—but I had a lump in my throat for almost the entire 400 pages. It’s written with such emotional honesty that it’s impossible not to empathize with Hartzler’s young self: regardless of whether he’s writing about his Big Questions about God and religion or getting caught in a lie about buying the Pretty Woman soundtrack.

Related articles

Today @KirkusReviews...

YA Tickles the Ivories: Seven Stories about Piano Prodigies.

New YA: February 22-28.

New YA: June 22-30.

New YA: May 22-31.

New YA: March 22-31.

New YA: February 8-14.

New YA: May 18-24.

New hardbacks:

Dangerous Creatures, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

End Times, by Anna Schumacher

Infinite Sky, by C. J. Flood

Now and Forever, by Susane Colasanti

Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark), by C. C. Hunter

The Rules for Breaking, by Ashley Elston

The Summer Invitation, by Charlotte Silver

V is for Villain, by Peter Moore

Biggest Flirts (The Superlatives), by Jennifer Echols

New paperbacks (that I've read):

School Spirits (A Hex Hall Novel), by Rachel Hawkins:

Fans of Buffy will love that Izzy’s relationship with her mother is complex and believable, that she almost immediately aligns herself with the school outcasts (who are all awesome), and that Hawkins turns the usual P.E. dodge-ball scene on its head when Izzy gets ticked off and accidentally dislocates a bully’s shoulder.

New YA: May 11-17.

New hardbacks:

Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend, by Katie Finn

Girl in Reverse, by Barbara Stuber

The A-Word: A Sweet Dead Life Novel, by Joy Preble

We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart

Subway Love, by Nora Raleigh Baskin

The Sound, by Sarah Alderson

Signed, Skye Harper, by Carol Lynch Williams

Second Star, by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Searching for Sky, by Jillian Cantor

Rebel (Reboot), by Amy Tintera

Raging Star (Dust Lands), by Moira Young

Of Neptune (Syrena Legacy), by Anna Banks

Nantucket Red (Nantucket Blue), by Leila Howland

MILA 2.0: Renegade, by Debra Driza

The Lovely and the Lost (The Dispossessed), by Page Morgan

Life by Committee, by Corey Ann Haydu

Free to Fall, by Lauren Miller

Caged Warrior, by Alan Lawrence Sitomer

Bloodwitch (The Maeve'ra), by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Everything Leads to You, by Nina LaCour

New paperbacks (that I've read):

Pretenders, by Lisi Harrison: For some reason, when I picked this one up I thought it was a new Sara Shepard book. (Despite Lisi Harrison's name on the cover, yes. I'm going to go ahead and blame all of this past year's brainmelt on my new job. Though, as you may have noticed, I've gotten back into the swing of posting regularly, so it looks like the brainmelt is receding, which, YAY. Anyway.)

So, The Pretenders. If I'm remembering correctly, there are five narrators, and they're all up for some sort of award, and there is cheating and dramz and romance and so on. Stronger than Harrison's Clique books, and a bit more mature, and while it clearly wasn't all that memorable, I do remember it being a fun, popcorn-y read.

The Beautiful and the Cursed (The Dispossessed), by Page Morgan:

Page Morgan’s The Beautiful and the Cursed marks the first time I've seen a gargoyle as a romantic lead, and the fact that the heroine is almost more drawn to Luc Rousseau’s gargoyle side than to his human side gives it a nicely gothic flavor. There are some steamy scenes that are quite effective, the sense of time is interesting—a scene that focuses on one character is often followed up with one about another character during the same period of time—and...wow. I’ve run out of nice things to say.

Deviant, by Helen FitzGerald:

Despite the book’s disappointing spiral into inanity in the third act, the introduction of a totally extraneous love triangle (and when I say "extraneous," I’m referring to BOTH romances), AND the fact that it ends on a deflating TUNE IN NEXT TIME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS note, I enjoyed my time with the heroine so much that I’ll very probably pick up Book Two.

Personal Effects, by E.M. Kokie:

It's a story that could have gone in any number of unimpressive directions—trite, preachy, insipid, black/white—but doesn't. Kokie doesn't shy away from Matt's less-than-politically-correct and sometimes less-than-empathetic feelings—and even when he's exhibiting them, he's still a sympathetic character because of all of the pain and confusion and anger he's feeling—and she always, always stays true to her character.

New YA: May 4-10.

New hardbacks:

The Falconer: Book 1, by Elizabeth May:

But she revels in fighting the fae, full stop. She can be covered in blood, half of it her own, and rather than bemoaning her fate, she’ll grin in delight. In fighting, she has power, and in fighting, she wrests control from beings that are bigger and stronger than she is…which is exactly what seems so impossible when she’s wearing her public face.

Wish You Were Italian: An If Only novel, by Kristin Rae

Winter Damage, by Natasha Carthew

Waterfire Saga, Book One: Deep Blue (A Waterfire Saga Novel), by Jennifer Donnelly

Undone, by Cat Clarke

Torn Away, by Jennifer Brown

This One Summer, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki

Since You've Been Gone, by Morgan Matson

Secrets and Lies (Truth or Dare), by Jacqueline Green

Pulled Under (Sixteenth Summer), by Michelle Dalton

Portrait of Us (Flirt), by A. Destiny and Rhonda Helms

Pandemic, by Yvonne Ventresca

Only Everything (True Love), by Kieran Scott

The One (The Selection), by Kiera Cass

Monument 14: Savage Drift, by Emmy Laybourne

Killer Instinct, by S.E. Green

A Girl Called Fearless: A Novel, by Catherine Linka

Fool Me Twice: An If Only novel, by Mandy Hubbard

Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders, by Geoff Herbach

Empower (Embrace), by Jessica Shirvington

The Eighth Guardian (Annum Guard), by Meredith McCardle

A Creature of Moonlight, by Rebecca Hahn

The Chapel Wars, by Lindsey Leavitt

Chantress Alchemy, by Amy Butler Greenfield

Call Me By My Name, by John Ed Bradley

Buzz Kill, by Beth Fantaskey

Boys Like You, by Juliana Stone

Blonde Ops: A Novel, by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman

After the End, by Amy Plum

Storm Chaser, by Sheila Rance

Shelter, by Patricia H. Aust

BZRK Apocalypse, by Michael Grant

New paperbacks (that I've read):

Five Summers, by Una LaMarche:

It stars a cast of likable characters, and it’ll be a good pick for fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and the like, but while it’s an enjoyable read, it’s also a somewhat forgettable one.

The Star of Kazan, by Eva Ibbotson:

Classic Ibbotson (minus the fantasy). I loved it, even the horses.

The Dragonfly Pool, by Eva Ibbotson:

If you haven't read any Ibbotson, you're missing out -- while I'm sure that's something you've heard before about a plethora of authors, it really is true in this case. She writes the sort of old-fashioned children's stories that make you smile all the way through and then make you happily cry at the end.