Review: Ruby Red (Edelstein Trilogie #1), by Kerstin Gier

Ruby Red (Edelstein Trilogie #1)
By Kerstin Gier
Publication Date: In the US, May 10th, 2011 (Henry Holt and Co), originally published January 6th, 2009 (by some German Publishing House I can't find the name of)
Hardcover, 330 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi; Romance; Historical Fiction; Adventure; Fantasy; YA
Source: School Library! :)

DESCRIPTION:

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended—and rather eccentric—family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesley, watching movies and talking about boys. It comes as an unwelcome surprise then when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past.

She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counter-part. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century...

—from the book's dust jacket

REVIEW:

Every once and a while, it's refreshing to read something straightforward and without the extra wordage lots of writers like to put into their stories. That straightforward book was Ruby Red. Of course, the straightforwardness of the book could be because the author is German and the book was translated into English, so some meaning could be lost in translation, but I don't know. I mean, I believe Inkheart by Cornelia Funke was translated into English from German, and that book is incredibly wordy. So it could just be Kerstin Gier's style. But that's besides the point.

Gwen's best friend, Lesley, was my favorite character. The best-friend-characters tend to be more likable than the actual protagonist to me for some reason. My biggest problem with Gwen, however, was that she was completely useless. The type of useless comparable to Sleeping Beauty's uselessness. I didn't care for Charlotte, Gweneth's cousin, but I don't think the reader is suppose to feel too sympathetic towards her. Nor did I care for Gideon. He was the love interest of the story (not a spoiler due to the book description) and was characterized quite blandly, meaning that he was characterized as the sterotypical male love interest of most young adult lit.: arrogant with some hardcoming that hurts them so badly that somehow it turns their personality inside out and makes them some sensitive nice guy.

Bleck.

The way Gwen's family treated her reminded me of Harry Potter. Everyone overlooks her because she's simply ordinary. They don't think there's anything special about her. Then, when she learns that she carries the time travel gene, some people in her family treat her even worse. It's not exactly the same as Harry Potter's situtation, but it radiated vibes that reminded me of Harry Potter.

Being the first in a triology, this book was more of an exposition for the whole series. That said, there wasn't much action, not much of a climax at all. But it certainly has promise and I'm excited to read the next one.

RATING:

Review: The Monstrumologist (The Monstrumologist, #1), by Rick Yancy

The Monstrumologist (The Monstrumologist, #1)
By Rick Yancy
Publication Date: September 22nd, 2010 (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers)
Genre: Horror; Historical Fiction; Paranormal; Supernatural; Fantasy; Mystery; Sci-Fi; Adventure; YA
Source: Library!

DESCRIPTION:

"These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed. But he is dead now and has been for nearly ninety years, the one who gave me his trust, the one for who I kept these secrets. The one who saved me...and the one who cursed me."

So starts the diary of Will Henry, orphan and assistant to a doctor with a most unusual specialty: monster hunting. In the short time he has lived with the doctor, Will has grown accustomed to his late night callers and dangerous business. But when one visitor comes with the body of a young girl and the monster that was feeding on her, Will's world is about to change forever. The doctor has discovered a baby Anthropophagi—a headless monster that feeds through the mouthfuls of teeth in its chest—and it signals a growing number of Anthropophagi. Now, Will and the doctor must face the horror threatening to overtake and consume our world before it is too late.

The Monstrumologist is the first stunning Gothic adventure in a series that combines the spirit of HP Lovecraft with the storytelling ability of Rick Riordan.

—from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

The Monstrumologist was the first ever Gothic horror novel I have ever read, AND I'M DEFINITELY READING THE SEQUEL! I judged a book by it's cover while I was in the library and it paid off! This book was excellent!

The plot proved interesting and spaced itself away from the vampire/werewolves/supernatural power/sinister academy/fallen angel/fairy books with all those dark looking cover that I'm so very sick of seeing in libraries and bookstores and hearing people rave about (not that I don't like them, because I do like them, just the well-written ones because they're turning those supernatural books out so fast they seem like a generic cereal bran, all with the same character archetypes and plots).

Although the book does have a sinister antagonist in it that is indeed a monster, this monster is completely different from lipstick-wearing vampires that love the scent of strawberry shampoo. This monster is seldom heard of and isn't found in any human-creature romance. Instead, you'll find this monster ravaging human flesh with razor teeth. Wanna looksee?

Picture from the blog, Corner Ink Journal

I baby-barf just looking at it.

Worst part? They've infested New England and it's up to the monstrumologist, Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, and his indispensable twelve-year-old apprentice, Will Henry to exterminate the infestation.

On the negative side, the beginning of the book is very slow-paced, and did little to draw me in (with the first chapter as an exception). I always tried to get a chapter in before bed, but the chapters were so long that I would usually only get half in.

Don't get me wrong: there were phenomenal chapters, my favorite being the one with the old man in the insane asylum ("What of the Flies?" I believe it is called. You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it), and in those cases, I'd read more than a chapter and my eyes would swell because before I would know it, it would be one in the morning.

The writing style is formal and wordy since the book takes place in the 1888. I also suppose that's the reason why the chapters are so long.

The book started to pick up pace during the chapter called "The Help," because it introduced a fascinating character named Jack Kearns. I must admit that I liked him better than Will Henry.

The Monstrumologist is a perfect scare for people who like both historical fiction and fantasy.

RATING:

Review: What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1), by Kat Zhang

What's Left of Me (The Hybrid Chronicles #1)
By Kat Zhang
Publication Date: September 18th, 2012 (HarperTeen)
ARC Paperback, 343 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi; Dystopia; YA
Source: Goodread's First Reads Giveaway and HarperTeen

DESCRIPTION:

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren't they settling? Why isn't one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn't...

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she's still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to more again. The risks are unimaginable—hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet...for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

—from goodreads.com

REVIEW:

The whole idea around souls in What's Left of Me, by Kat Zhang, is Golden-Compass-esque—only instead of the one soul being in a "daemon" and the other in the human as in The Golden Compass, both souls are inside of the human.

The two souls sharing one body in What's Left of Me were Addie and Eva, although the spotlight was more on Eva because she was the "recessive soul," the soul that was suppose to die, but never did for some reason, which of course, the government hates. Eva had more redeeming qualities and was more likable that Addie, but she's still just an average "meh" character that I didn't really have an emotions invested into. Both Addie and Eva, but especially Addie, did a lot of sniveling and crying. :/ Honestly, I did not care much for any of the characters.

But (once again), I love the idea. If Addie kisses a boy, Eva is only an observer: she can't move or speak, but it's awkward for her and maybe she doesn't want to kiss the same boy Addie wants to. Maybe Eva doesn't love the same boy as Addie. I guess it's like being Siamese twins with your sibling, and one of you gets a boyfriend/girlfriend and the other twin is that awkward third wheel.

I wish there was more action, inspiring speeches, better description and such. I was confused a few parts in the book about what was happening because the writing seemed unclear.

What's Left of Me leaves a lot of unanswered questions by the end. Hopefully, they'll be answered in the next book.

RATING:

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1), by Mary E. Pearson

The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1)
By Mary E. Pearson
Publication Date: April 29th, 2008 (Henry Holt and Co.)
Hardcover, 266 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi; Dystopia; Mystery; Romance; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?

-from goodreads.com

REVIEW: 

I really enjoyed Jenna as a character. She was quite fiery in her own way. She didn't need a sword to run people through with or blackmail she could hold people to—just her stinging wit, curiosity, and super intelligence. I never really pitied her for certain things, and maybe I should have, but I wasn't feeling it. However, I did feel sympathetic towards Jenna when her sour relationship with her grandmother, Lily, the person she loved best, was highlighted through many part in the book.

In The Adoration of Jenna Fox, things are described as if Jenna is observing them for the first time, and it's written in a vaguely dream-like and reflective style, which I found I liked a lot.

The plot chugged along slowly, but the questions Jenna asked and the things she said provoked deep thought and reflection on the reader's part. The Adoration of Jenna Fox questions medical ethics most openly, but there are other undertones of themes in there. Also, the mystery of not only who Jenna Fox is, but what she is snags any reluctant reader and keeps them reading until the last page.

RATING: