a monster calls,

The Unpopular Opinions Book Tag || (Or, "I Really Don't Love Romance Books")

3:21 PM Deborah Embury 0 Comments

5 tips for graphic novels,

Introduction to Graphic Novels || 5 Tips for Where to Start Reading

2:24 PM Deborah Embury 0 Comments

Before I started reading graphic novels, I was always a little intimidated by them- the sheer size of the selection at most stores was enough to make me skip reading them! It wasn't really until 2015 that I slowly began picking them up. "iZombie" had just premiered on TV, and I was curious to read the graphic novels that inspired the show. Then I just slowly started picking up different ones from the library, and reading ones I saw recommended from YouTube videos.

What I'm saying is that delving into the realm of graphic novels can be a little daunting. Superheroes, zombies, girl gangs, dystopian tales and more all vie for attention in splashy colors and glossy pages.
I thought I would offer up some advice on how to pick out where to start. So here are 5 tips, plus a few reading suggestions, for those who are new to graphic novels! Enjoy! :)

#1) Check out Goodreads lists

It's like browsing at the bookstore expect without the stress of seeing stuffed shelves overflowing with choices!  You can see a plot summary, reviews, and if a particular novel is part of a series or a single book. Plus, there are dozens of themed list on GR that can help you narrow in on a particular topic or theme.
HERE is a list with graphic novels that have badass women characters. HERE's one about graphic novels that are focused on (mostly) real historical events. And HERE is a list of supernatural (but not superhero) reads.

#2) Think about genre- what genres do you already like? Fantasy? Nonfiction? Contemporary? If you like a certain kind of book, say horror, then staring with similar graphic novels may be a good way to start. It's familiar grounds! You can use Tip #1 and look for lists of a certain genre, or ask a librarian or bookstore worker for a recommendation.

*Suggestion for a horror graphic novel: Try "Wytches" by Scott Snyder- very eerie and unsettling! If you like Stephen King or Josh Mallerman, I would recommend this!

If You Liked This Book, Read This Next || #1

7:20 PM Deborah Embury 1 Comments

Have you ever finished a book or series and wished the author had written more? It's one of the most frustrating things a bookworm can experience when they realize a beloved book is over. Book hangovers are a real thing, people.
I've seen a couple videos where bloggers recommend books that are similar to other titles, and I thought I'd do the same! It's a really phenomenal way to discover books that are close enough to what you like to enjoy it, but of course, each book is different so there's a whole new story to be found.
So, here are four book-to-book recommendations I hope you'll enjoy!

Similar Themes Include: Grieving; death of a loved one; loss; depression; LGBT+ main characters.

Both of these novels are multilayered stories that each move backwards and forwards in time, weaving a narrative of death and the impact death has on the ones left behind. Yes, both of these are pretty heavy and have quite a few teary moments. But they're also hopeful and lyrical in their own right.


Similar Themes Include: Main characters who cannot leave their houses; potential boy-next-door romances; dreams of traveling; close relationships with mothers.

Quite honestly, it's remarkable how two books can be so similar and yet also so different. Both deal with teenage love, illness, and acceptance. There is a great mental health narrative in "Under Rose-Tainted Skies" as it talks about OCD, self harm, and anxiety. "Everything, Everything" has a bit more of a classic contemporary feel to it. And while I won't spoil the ending I will say that both books have some pretty eye-popping twists that I did not see coming!


Similar Themes Include: Setting in Rome/Roman-inspired world; fighting and battles; threads of magic; strong female warriors; controlling empires; captured main characters; schools for battle training.

I just mentioned these two books together in my review of "The Valiant", but they're worth mentioning again! These are modern day epics, stories of bravery and heroics, of flaws and fighting. Maybe I have "a type" but I truly love books with ancient Rome vibes and badass warriors. They're never a dull read! Plus, there are really swoon-worthy soldiers in both. ;) If you want a daring, nail-biting read, these are the books for you. Just know they're a little bit graphic, what with all the sword fighting and whatnot.


Similar Themes Include: college setting; creative writing/English classes; "cute & fluffy" contemporary reads; characters placed together via class project; shy main characters.

Looking to get a little more of that slightly geeky, adorable "Fangirl" vibe? Sounds like you need "A Little Something Different" (lololol). Ahem. Truly though, both of these are fun and grin-inducing books that will make you want to start writing fanfiction or stories of your own. There are cute college boys, opportunity-filled class projects, and charming moments that will make you go "awww!" Rowell's book brings the fanfiction, and Hall's brings a whopping 14 different viewpoints to her story (even a squirrel??).


I hope you found some new books to check out from this list! I'll be making a Part #2 later in March, so stay tuned! :)

edmund pevensie,

Top 5 Wednesday: Books You Felt Betrayed By

6:11 PM Deborah Embury 0 Comments

Et tu, Brute? 

ancient rome,

"The Valiant" by Lesley Livingston || Book Review

12:30 PM Deborah Embury 0 Comments

Photo by Deborah Embury

When I about 14, I began reading historical fiction. That's not a very exciting sentence, but in the context of my reading life, it meant a big change had just happened. Up until then, fantasy was the genre that pulled me into most books and made me stay up late reading. But historical fiction quickly began pulling me into its pages. One of the historical fiction novels that sparked my interest in reading more broadly was "Cleopatra's Daughter" by Michelle Moran. It was a sprawling story of a book, set in ancient Rome and Egypt, and it was full of adventure, far off places, and settings which simply captivated me.

Since then, I have loved reading books that are set in or inspired by ancient Rome (see "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir) and am always looking out for new releases in that vein. At the end of 2016, I began to hear chatter in the YA community about an upcoming book called "The Valiant" by Lesley Livingston- and I knew I needed it. I requested it from my local library, but after reading the first few chapters, I placed an order for it, too. I was hooked.
Having now read "The Valiant" I am so ready to go buy more of Lesley Livingston's books, because this one was stupendous.

PLOT
"The Valiant" is a young adult novel that follows the story of Fallon, the daughter of a Celtic warrior
king, part of a ferocious tribe in Durovernum. Fallon wants to follow in the footsteps of her deceased sister, Sorcha, a brave and fearless warrior who died on the battlefield. But things take a turn when Fallon's father announces she it not to become a warrior, but rather be wed to a prince from another tribe. When she decides to take matters into her own hands, Fallon finds herself captured by slavers from Rome. She is taken far from her homeland and bought by an elite training school for female gladiators. And this school? It happens to be owned by the man Fallon despises most- Julius Caesar.

FALLON
Right from the beginning of the story, readers see how determined Fallon is. She attempts chariot tricks no one else dares, she speaks her mind, and she is a strong fighter who wants to be even better.
After the wedding announcement is made, we see this strength as she decides her fate:

"I would be the master of my own fate. Me and the goddess Morrigan. No one else- and certainly no man. Mael and Aeddan could fight over me until they were both bloody. My father could deny me my blade. But they couldn't force me from my warrior's path unless I let them."

Fallon refuses to let anyone tell her she cannot be who she wants to be. At first, I was a little worried that Fallon might be one of those heroines who is essentially a "Mary Jane"- no flaws (EVER), always right, and always putting other people in their place. But that's not true. As Fallon's story progresses, she finds herself in situations where her beliefs are challenged, and what follows is some beautiful character development.

Photo by Deborah Embury

Fallon doesn't want to fight in a school owned by Caesar. Her tribe has fought against him for years, and Fallon despises the thought of fighting for him. But other characters encourage Fallon to think about what she can accomplish by doing so.

"You think I should fight for Caesar?"
"I think you should fight for yourself," he said. "But those things needn't be exclusive. Temper passion with control, conviction with cunning."

"Temper passion with control" is a perfect way to describe Fallon's character arc. She is fiery, brave, and smart, but also a little stubborn. Throughout the book, she learns to use her attributes to fight for what she wants, even in bad situations.

"Be an idealist, by all means, but be a pragmatic one."

SISTERHOOD & FEMALE FRIENDSHIP
The friendship between Fallon and Elka, a fellow gladiatrix, was  by far one of the best parts of "The Valiant". What started as two captive girls at odds with one another quickly became two strong girl fighting side by side to survive. Elka is also a captive, and she and Fallon don't start out on the best terms. Both stubborn and spirited, they literally butt heads before ending their friendship truly begins.

I actually got quite emotional reading about Fallon and Elka. As much as I love reading Young Adult novels, one of the aspects I think is not very well represented is female friendship. Livingston does a marvelous job here, writing two young women whose friendship develops and grows in a genuine way.
Fallon and Elka fight for each other. They train together, each encouraging one another. They joke, they confide, and they look out for one another. After their initial fight, there is no moment when Livingston uses their true friendship as a plot device to make drama.
Yes, there is another female character, Nyx, who acts as a foil to Fallon. But even in the end, Fallon tries to do what she thinks is right and save Nyx from a horrible fate (see bottom of page 370). Fallon recognizes that she has the chance to give something better to someone who hates her, even if it may be a little difficult for Nyx to adjust.

The theme of female empowerment is strong in "The Valiant". The school in which Fallon learns is a sisterhood, where are the girls are expected to bind together and find freedom among themselves, even if it's not in the "normal" sense of the word freedom. During an oath ceremony, Livingston writes:

"This oath is the oath we all swear. Not to a god, or a master, or to the Ludu Achillea...but to our sisters who stand here with us. Our sisters. This is the oath that binds us all, one to one, all to all, so that we are no longer free. We belong to each other. We are bound to each other. In swearing to each other, we free ourselves from the outside world, from the world of men, from those who would seek to bind us to Fate and that which would make us slaves. We sacrifice our liberty so that, ultimately, we can be truly free."

At the start of the novel, Fallon believes being free to run about the forests of her home is true freedom. She doesn't understand how freedom can be found anywhere else. But throughout the book, she encounters characters who have made a life for themselves and are completely happy- even though they are slaves. One such character says to Fallon, "I've made my own freedom, and that is something I'll never give up."
Later, another female character confronts Fallon about her belief of what freedom is and what it can be. She asks Fallon is fighting over cattle back home was more honorable than what was going on in Rome. She proclaims that she is fighting for Fallon and for a sisterhood.

Photo by Deborah Embury

ROMANCE
At one point, I was really upset because I thought this was about to become a love triangle romance- but it didn't! The romance in "The Valiant" is lovely because it takes a back burner to the main story arc.
I don't want to say too much about the romance and spoil it for anyone, but I will say I very much enjoyed how Livingston brought two worlds together in the romance. She allowed both her characters and readers to learn something from the clashing of worlds, and we were allowed a look at both of the characters motivations and thoughts.
(also, the love interest is <3 <3 <3 )

OTHER
My only issue I had reading this was that, geographically, I was confused a bit at the beginning of the book. Livington uses older names of countries/cities, so I had to go and Google a couple names to find out where they were. For instance, Fallon is from Dunvernum, which I found out is actually modern day Canterbury in England. Clearly I knew where Rome was, but during the beginning of the book I needed to figure out where we were starting. I think a map would have been a good addition to the book (maybe we'll see one in the second?). It wasn't a huge factor at all, I just think it would have been helpful for the first half of the book.

CONCLUSION
If you are a fan of "An Ember in the Ashes" read this book.
If you like historical settings woven with a hint of magic, read this book.
If you like strong female characters who fight and grow, read this book.

This was a wonderful, epic read that transported me to ancient Rome in a heartbeat. It is woven with hearty descriptions, sharp dialogue, and a cast of characters that felt incredibly lifelike. I will absolutely be adding more books by Lesley Livingston to my bookshelf!
5/5 stars!!

an ember in the ashes,

Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books

6:49 PM Deborah Embury 0 Comments

angie thomas,

Diversity Bingo 2017: February Update

3:28 PM Deborah Embury 0 Comments

February was a slightly slower reading month than January for me, but I did read two more books towards the #DiversityBingo2017 challenge.
I'd also like to mention that I'm going to be meeting both of the authors of these books later in March, and I'm very eager to hear them talk more about their work! Angie Thomas, author of "The Hate U Give" will be at Politics & Prose Bookstore in Washingon, DC on March 13th. Nina Lacour, author of "We Are Okay" is the keynote speaker at NOVA Teen Book Festival on March 11th. If anyone is in the area and wants to learn more about these books, I encourage you to attend!

That being said, let's get into the books:


1) Square: Black Main Character (Own Voices)
    Book: "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
    Rating: 4.75/5

This is by far one of the most important and currently relevant books to hit shelves this year. There has been quite a bit of hype and anticipation surrounding "The Hate U Give" because it was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.

"The Hate U Give" is the story of Starr, a young black girl who witnesses her childhood best friend, Khalil, get shot right in front of her by an officer who pulled them over after a party. Starr is trying to hold herself together and maintain appearances in her two worlds: her private school world, where her boyfriend and best friends are and where she is only one of two black students, and her home world with her family in Garden Heights, a neighborhood with multiple gangs and bars across the windows of her dad's grocery store. But as the media and world follow Khalil's story and the court case, the world around Starr begins to cave in and she has to deal with the heartbreaking memories of what she witnessed.

Starr is a courageous, funny, and smart girl who feels so very real to the reader. Thompson did a fantastic job of creating a fully fleshed out character with passions, hobbies, and a distinct voice. The family aspect of this book is equally solid.
This is a novel that was needed. Unfortunately, while Starr's story is fictional, the inspiration behind it is not, and there is hardly a person alive in 2017 who has not heard the names Freddie Gray or Trayvon Martin or the others who have been shot down. "The Hate U Give" honors those lives and lets readers understand what is happening in the real world around them from a perspective of someone who has seen these tragedies firsthand. I think everyone should read this book- it's eye opening, comprehensible, and hopeful.

The only reason I'm docking a small chunk of rating is because Thomas skipped over writing a couple moments in this book that I think would have greatly aided in Starr's overall story. Namely, when Starr has to give her testimony before the court. There was quite a lot of build up to that moment. It would have been nice to see Starr in those moments and would have rounded out her character arc more fully.


2) Square: Free Choice
    Book: "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour
    Rating: 5/5

I selected this book for the Free Choice square because the two female main characters are both part of the LBGT+ community, and thought it fit well with the rest of the DB2017 squares.

This is a fairly short book, coming in at 234 pages, but boy does it pack a punch. From the very first chapter I was utterly engrossed by Lacour's lyrical and lonely prose. Quickly Lacour builds up the world and personality of Marin, a young college freshman who is reeling from the recent losses and discoveries in her life. Marin is attempting to keep up appearances and behave in a "normal" way- she's going through the motions of eating, reading, watching documentaries. But over Christmas break, alone in her dorm on her empty college campus, the loneliness begins to catch up to her.

One of my favorite aspects of "We Are Okay" is that the story is not wholly plot driven. There is no Point A to Point B and the story is everything in between. Readers are simply immersed in Marin's isolated world as she reflects on the past few months and tries to deal with the present and her best friend. Speaking of friends, Marin's is a young woman named Mabel who is just as equally readable and interesting as Marin. Their friendship, in all of its form, is one of the best relationships I've read in a YA novel. It's a strong tie that is tested and yanked through different situations, and Lacour doesn't hide anything from the reader. We see it all- the endearing time they buy matching dresses from Forever 21, and the emotional turmoil they face after a death has driven room between them.

This is a haunting, emotional, and modern story of depression and friendship and love. In my opinion, Lacour's writing has grown immensely from previous books, and she has found a style that is uniquely her own here.

So, here's what my Bingo chart looks like now:

fablehaven,

Top 5 Wednesday: Fictional Jobs You'd Want To Have

4:56 PM Deborah Embury 3 Comments

The lineup for March 2017's T5W is looking really fun, and we're kicking things off with listing the top 5 fictional jobs you'd want to have! I like this topic because it got me considered the worlds of different books a little more seriously, because some of these jobs (while awesome) would also come with some fairly strict boundaries (see #3). And that just makes me feel like I understand the author/creator intententions better- how they decided to structure and limit and build their fictional world.
Okay, enough rambling- in no particular order, here's my T5W of fictional jobs!


1) Crow Club gang member
    So I'd a) get to work with Kaz Brekker, b) live in Ketterdam, and c) get to participate in all the shenanigans and mayhem that ensue from a and b. The world Bardugo has created in her books is so vivid and full of life that I imagine living in Ketterdam would be nonstop thrills. The atmosphere is rowdy, historic, and dangerous all at once, with something interesting in every alley. Or in the least, I'd get to hang around the club and play cards and throw knives and whatnot. Either way it's a win-win scenario for me.

2) Jedi master
    I mean- this can count as a "job" right? Right?? Welp, for the purpose of this article, I'm gonna say it counts. As long as I wouldn't have to deal with someone like Anakin Skywalker or JarJar Binks, I'd be willing to do nearly anything that was required of me. Training young Jedi? Check. Making peace negotiations with another alien government? Done. Practicing lightsaber moves? I'm there. Plus I can style my hair in a huge variety of bun-shaped updos, so I'd definitely fit in with the locals! ;)

3) Caretaker of a magical preserve
     "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull is my all time favorite middle-grade fantasy series. I recommend this to young readers and older fantasy buffs alike. This is a series where there are secret preserves around the world for magical creatures. Each one has a caretaker who oversees and live on the preserve and ensures it stays protected. I mean- what other job could possibly come close to doing something so cool? There's magical creatures, ancient artifacts, landscapes from sweeping deserts to lush forests, and fairies. Oh, and a couple preserves have dragons, too. There are some other really fascinating jobs in this world, like a fairy trader, but caretaker is the one I'd pick.

4) Crew member of the starship Enterprise
     Again with the space jobs! If I can't work in the Star Wars universe then I'm working here! I think any position in science (although not with numbers), or research would be good for me. I picked this job mainly because it would allow me to explore deep space and see all sorts of different planets and aliens and all that jazz. There's a catch with this one thought- I absolutely wouldn't a "big" title position. As in, no officers or people who really have to deal with all the crap happening on the bridge. Call me a red shirt wannabe, but I just want to enjoy the ship and study aliens and not deal with the Star Trek drama!

5) Professor or Groundskeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry
    There's definitely a theme in my choices in this article: space and magical-based professions are clearly my top picks. The groundskeeper position is somewhat close to the Fablehaven caretaker position mentioned in #3, but you know, at Hogwarts so it's a teeny bit more epic. Honestly, give me a magical wand and I have complete faith in my abilities to wrangle up the various beasts or repair stuff or just grow giant pumpkins like Hagrid. Working here as a professor would be grand, too. I'm thinking Herbology (I've got an excellent green thumb) or maybe the Hogwarts equivalent of a literature professor.

Ahhh, I really loved doing this week's prompt! If anyone is interested in joining the T5W group or finding more about upcoming topics, here is the link for the Goodreads group.