Gold Star Review: The Queen is Dead

The Queen is Dead
by Kate Locke
The Immortal Empire series, book two

When her brother Val gets in over his head in an investigation of Half-Blood disappearances and goes missing himself, it's up to Xandra, newly crowned Goblin Queen, to get him back and bring the atrocities to light. Xandra must frequent the seediest parts of London, while also coping with what she is, the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who wants her head. Add this to a being a suspect in a murder investigation, a werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy, and Xandra barely knows which way is up. One thing she does know is that she's already lost one sibling, she's not about to lose another.

Xandra Varden is the newly crowned Goblin Queen of England. But her complicated life is by no means over.There are the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who for some reason wants her head. Not to mention her werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy. Now she's the suspect in a murder investigation --- and Xandra barely knows which way is up.

What she does know is that nothing lasts forever---and immortality isn't all its cracked up to be. (description from Amazon.com) 

I devoured this book. I really enjoyed the first in the series, but I think as Xandra came into her own in the second it really ramped things up a notch for me. I love the steampunk vibe of this series. I love the fiesty, yet at very infrequent moments, vulnerable, main character.  I love the worldbuilding. I love the twists and turns. I love the, well, love of the series...Vex...*fans self* whew...that werewolf is HOT! 

There was not one thing that I did not enjoy about this book. I loved every minute of the audio book and I plan to reread this series at some point (which is the highest form of praise from me, as I *never* have time to reread!!) In fact, I loved this so much, I'm stamping it with a great big GOLD STAR!! 

You can check out my review for the first book, God Save the Queen, here. 

I can only hope and pray that the third book, Long Live the Queen, which is coming out in November, will be JUST as good.  

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile Magazine, ebook purchased for my Nook

Goblin Secrets

Goblin Secrets
by William Alexander

In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared.

Desperate to find him, Rownie joins up with a troupe of goblins who skirt the law to put on plays. But their plays are not only for entertainment, and the masks they use are for more than make-believe. The goblins also want to find Rowan—because Rowan might be the only person who can save the town from being flooded by a mighty river. (description from Amazon.com)

I picked up this book originally because not only did it win last year's National Book Award, but also because as a fantasy reader at heart, the premise just sounded too good to pass up! As I read, though, I found that I was having a hard time keeping interest in this book.  It has a lot of really fascinating fantasy elements - there's a tie-in to the Baba Yaga myth, goblins, masks with power - but I think it was just the storytelling itself that couldn't grab me.  I was a little disappointed that I had to push myself to finish this one.

Full disclosure: Borrowed from my library

God Save the Queen

God Save the Queen

by Kate Locke

The Immortal Empire, book one

 

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.

The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle. (description from Amazon.com)

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Oh, I almost gave this book a shiny gold star.  Almost. 

This book reminded me a lot of Gail Carriger's brand of steampunk in that there were paranormal creatures of every variety and some awesome costumes/gadgetry.  Unlike Carriger's books, though, this was set in an alternate contemporary London...

This made for the COOLEST blend of modern euphamisms and societal behaviors, blended with some of my favorite bits of historical etiquette.  The world-building by Locke, here, was brilliant.  I loved the way that she explained the creation of paranormal cretures and their ranking in society. I loved that all of that knowledge built to a revelation at the end that I actually DID NOT see coming...for once! 

This book was an utter delight of a romp. Just what I needed for a little mental break.  Something I outright devoured and I cannot wait to dive into book two, The Queen is Dead.

Full disclosure: Purchased for my Nook

What's On My Hold List?



Welcome to the December 2012 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

 

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well.

 

Confessions of a Murder Suspect

by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

 

Eye of the Storm

by Kate Messner

  

The One and Only Ivan

by Katherine Applegate

 

 

You can click on each title to go to their Amazon page for a description...

 

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??





Lips Touch: Three Times

Lips Touch: Three Times
by Laini Taylor

Three tales of supernatural love, each pivoting on a kiss that is no mere kiss, but an action with profound consequences for the kissers' souls:

Goblin Fruit: In Victorian times, goblin men had only to offer young girls sumptuous fruits to tempt them to sell their souls. But what does it take to tempt today's savvy girls?

Spicy Little Curses: A demon and the ambassador to Hell tussle over the soul of a beautiful English girl in India. Matters become complicated when she falls in love and decides to test her curse.

Hatchling: Six days before Esme's fourteenth birthday, her left eye turns from brown to blue. She little suspects what the change heralds, but her small safe life begins to unravel at once. What does the beautiful, fanged man want with her, and how is her fate connected to a mysterious race of demons?
(description taken from Amazon.com)

I am sooooo glad that I finally got to this book. I first heard about it at BEA two years ago, immediately put it on my list of Books To Read, and it just lingered there ever since. Honestly, I even checked it out from the Library twice...and never read it. I just kept finding other books that I was dying to read more.

Let me tell you, though, Laini Taylor's writing is mysterious, beautiful, dark, destructive, and yet hopeful and breathtaking. I was listening to this as an audio book in my car and I couldn't wait to get back into the car at the end of the day to drive home from work because I had to know what happened to each girl next. I was totally hooked!

The first story, Goblin Fruit, is lyrical and compelling. It's insidious and tempting. It's short but punches a big impact. I had thought that Taylor wouldn't be able to top that when she blew me away with the concept for Spicy Little Curses. That was heartbreaking and courageous. Then...then I listened to Hatchling. What an amazing world that Taylor has created. I was enraptured as I listened, drawing deeper and deeper into the cold, nightmare world of the Druje. I loved the layering of different generations, love stories, and how each character was fleshed out as the story's complexities unfolded.

All be told, when I was done, I wanted to start over again. *Sigh* These were great short stories. I should have read this years ago...

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile magazine