The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher
Release Date – January 7, 2013
Publisher Website –  Scholastic
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 384 pages
My Rating - 4.5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Fatal attraction, primal fear, survival in the forest: From the author of the Printz Honor Book STOLEN, the highly anticipated thriller about deadly games played in the dark.

Ashlee Parker is dead, and Emily Shepherd's dad is accused of the crime. A former soldier suffering from PTSD, he emerges from the woods carrying the girl's broken body. "Gone," he says, then retreats into silence.

What really happened that wild night? Emily knows in her bones that her father is innocent -- isn't he? Before he's convicted, she's got to find out the truth. Does Damon Hilary, Ashlee's charismatic boyfriend, have the answers? Or is he only playing games with her -- the kinds of games that can kill?

Lucy Christopher's Stolen was the first novel I reviewed on this blog. It remains one of my favourite (and most heart crushing) reads to this day. When I heard that The Killing Woods was being released I was ecstatic. I am thrilled that my high expectations were warranted, as The Killing Woods is an intense, twisty read that made my pulse race.

The setting of this novel is all encompassing. The woods surrounding Emily's house are a character in this story all on their own. Thye seem to breathe and come to life within these pages in a way that allowed me to slip into the peaceful, eerie and secret filled setting. Lucy Christopher manages to make you feel like a part of the setting and the research and care she puts into the descriptions is glaringly evident.

The suspense is kept throughout the novel. We're offered more than one suspect in the case of who may have killed Ashlee Parker. Each of the suspects are viable options, and each have their own motivations. Lucy Christopher weaves doubt, and twists into the story so that you're constantly changing your mind as to what happened. The truth, well unexpected, fit within the story. It also rang true to Ashlee's character, and the running narrative of the lives of these characters. It also turned the story into something I wasn't expecting. I went in expecting a completely different kind of novel, and Lucy twisted it into something else entirely.

The story is told in a dual narrative. Emily, and Damon each narrate their own part of this story. This allows us to learn things that we would not be privy to without this style of narration. Often my biggest complaint with this type of narrative is that there isn't a difference in the voice of the characters. Lucy manages to create two distinctive voices. We take different journeys with both Emily and Damon, but each leads to the truth of what happened in a way that shows how one would not be complete without the other.

Emily is the kind of character I would love to see more of. She's a typical teenage girl, living a normal life. She isn't remarkable, she's average. Her life is turned upside when her father carries Ashlee Parker's body out of the woods in a dazed state. Her family life had already been rocked by her father's return from war with PTSD. They're a family just trying to piece together some semblance of what they had before. Her passionate support of her father, her driven desire to clear his name, and her need for the truth is all something that leaps off the page. It defines Emily's character. Her worry that her father may have killed Ashlee, and not because he is suffering from PTSD, haunts her. She is afraid of not only what it says about her family, but what it means for her. Her fear that she shares her father's blood and the impact that could have if he is a stone cold killer, is chilling. It eats away at her, until she is unraveling and unsure what she believes. Seeing her loose faith, and question everything she was sure about allows the reader to feel a sympathy for her, and lets us into her head.

Damon is an enigma. His role is Ashlee's death is undefined for most of the novel. You, and Emily, are not quite sure what to believe when it comes to him. His reckless lifestyle that includes the mysterious 'game' mentioned is something that lends itself to secrets and lies. There is a delusion of invincibility that often is associated with teengers, and Damon displays this in spades. He, and others, have to face their own vulnerability in the wake of what happens. The desire for the thrill, the need to push the limits, and to go a little further is in every aspect of Damon (and his friends) and that makes for a fascinating look at how things can spiral out of control.

A pulse pounding look at how things can quickly escalate to the point of no return. A story of how secrets can do more harm than we expect. It's also one of healing, and holding on to your convictions. Lucy Christopher has one again provided a novel that is spell binding and spine tingling.

Defy by Sara B Larson

Defy by Sara B Larson
Release Date – January 7, 2013
Publisher Website –  Scholastic
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 336 pages
My Rating-2.5/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Expectations can help you pick up a novel. They can also hinder your enjoyment of it. Defy is a perfect example of this. It ended up being not quite what I expected, and didn't quite work for me as as result.

The set up of Defy sounds amazing. A girl hidden as a member of a Prince's guard. A delicious love triangle, and above all else, some amazing action. The novel itself starts off strong. I found myself immersed into Alexa's world right away, and really respected her character. Sadly, about half way through the novel it felt like I was reading another book. One where the driven, focused heroine was reduced to someone was distracted (and defined) by the boys in her life.

I was expecting romance. I knew going in it would be the focus, because of the attention the love triangle is given in the synopsis. I didn't expect for it to define Alexa, though. She immediately becomes less focused as soon as the love triangle enters into the equation. She also deems herself unworthy of the Damian's affections. This is at odds with the focused girl we meet at the beginning. She unravels as the story goes on, and looses some of that edge I felt she had in the beginning. The romance itself felt rushed, and under developed. I didn't get a clear picture as to why Alexa liked Damian, other than his looks. He was mysterious, and perhaps held a certain allure, but there was nothing about their interactions that would lend itself to love. He's infuriating most of the time, and Alexa herself doesn't have very nice things to say about him most of the time. We see brief glimpses of a different man underneath but without interaction, it didn't feel earned enough. Rylan is the boy who has cared for her from afar (and obviously knows her secret) and is more believable in his affections. He has had time with Alexa, and knows her well. It is quite evident whom Alexa prefers, and who holds her heart, which is nice after a first installment, but I just wish I would have been allowed to experience the falling in love. I felt as if I was told, instead of shown.

The sibling relationship between Alexa and her brother is one of my favourite parts of this story. It's a bond that shows us more about Alexa. We see how much family means to her. We get to see how rough her life has been. We come to understand her desperation and what lead to her decision to disguise herself. They have an easy, protective nature between them. I wish this relationship had been a larger focus.

The set up of the world, and why Alexa is disguised as a boy is done rather well. The breeding houses and what they represent for the kingdom, and what it says about it's King are something that directly impacts Alexa. It gives her purpose, and it gives the reader higher stakes. We know what awaits her if she is found out. We become invested. It is something that I wish was explored more, as it is the driving force behind the 'why' of Alexa. Everything she does is to avoid this fate. It should have been fleshed out, and I feel there was much left unexplored. The jungle setting certainly felt a little undeveloped as well. The balmy, sweaty climate was captured perfectly, but I had a hard time envisioning the character's surroundings.

The direction of the story at the end of the novel is a mystery to me. Many of the events that happened in this installment I anticipated happening much later in this series. The surprise direction was welcome, and it made it feel not drawn out. The question, however, is where it goes from here. It may be the one aspect I am curious about as most of the other plot points are wrapped up by the end of this book. It felt like it could have been a stand alone, but that does leave potential for something entirely new in the sequels.

Do I think there will be others who fall in love with this book? Of course. There are things that present some promise for this series. It ended up being, overall, just not a novel that was for me. I think I wanted something that this novel was never going to be, and those expectations may have shaped my feelings going in.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

No books for me this week, but I did get some other goodies in the mail!

My friend Kari got me The Polar Express on DVD! She also got me a cute magnet featuring Snow White's wanted poster from Once Upon A Time, and a travel mug (for my David's tea obsession) that also features my TV obsession. I love it all (and Kari is amazing!).

I also purchased myself the following (and it was shipped to me by Kari).

I finally own The Crow! I am so excited to watch it (again) as I've craved watching it recently. Also, I am SO excited to own season 2 of Once Upon A Time.

Happy Reading, and Happy Weekend!

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOK

That Monstrous Thing by Amanda Panitch

A new book deal was announced that caught my attention. The deal announcement provided the following description

pitched in the vein of a YA Gone Girl, about a girl who survived her twin brother's murderous rampage only to discover that her dark secret survived as well.

Immediately I was intrigued. I adored Gone Girl, and I am very much looking forward to learning more about this novel. It's set for Spring 2015 release, so there is still a ways to go before anything gets revealed. It is available to add on Goodreads now however, if you wish.

MOVIE/TV

Breaking Bad

So Kelly (from Kellyvision) told me I had to watch this show. I ended up recording the entire series during a holiday marathon that AMC had. I am currently on season 4 and am HOOKED. It's emotional, and you want to save some of these characters from themselves. The downward spiral of Walter White is hard to watch, and each episode fills me with anxiety.

Penny Dreadful

A new TV show from Showtime that is being called 'a frightening psychological thriller that weaves together classic horror origin stories' (according to Showtime's website). It seems to include Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dorian Gray. I've seen it called Once Upon A Time for horror stories, and that immediately grabbed my interest. I am not sure when in 2014 this premieres, but I am excited to check it out.

So what are you obsessed with this week?

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends.

This weeks question is:

What were your favorite books of 2013?

Well, I did a top ten post, so I will just copy that here. I've linked to my reviews (if they are posted) should you wish to check them out.

1 Tarnish by Katherine Longshore

2 Night Film by Marisha Pessl (adult novel)

3 Vicious by V.E. Schwab (adult novel)

4 Dance of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

5 Tampa by Alissa Nutting (adult novel)

** Tampa is REALLY adult. It is not intended for the younger readers**

6 The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (adult novel)

7 Cress by Marissa Meyer

8 Just One Year by Gayle Forman

9 Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

10 Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Happy Weekend and Happy Holidays!

Wait For You by J Lynn

Wait For You by J Lynn (Jennifer L Armentrout)
Release Date – September 3, 2013
Publisher Website –  Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader
Pages -  384 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**borrowed from a fellow blogger**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Some things are worth waiting for...

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago--an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe--please God--make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she's building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing...

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that's just so... so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet...

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she's has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for...

My journey into this New Adult category has been a rocky one. There were a few novels I really enjoyed, but just as many that lacked any substance. Wait For You is one of the good ones. It doesn't sacrifice the plot for the sake of fluff, and instead, weaves it into the story.

I've read previous Jennifer Armentrout books, and I don't think this is her best writing. It's not off putting, but nothing really stands out. It's simplistic and direct. It will appeal to a lot of people, and for someone who is new to the entire New Adult category, it's perfect for that. It's addictive, and completely engrossing, but it's because of other factors.

The characters are what stands out in this novel. Each of them immediately wins the reader over, and makes you care about them and their story. They are what pulls you in. Avery, especially, is a character I really enjoyed. She's just an average college student who is trying to put herself back together after something horrible happens. She made the story feel more personal because she felt recognizable.

This novel looks at what happened to Avery in a very realistic light. Her reaction to what happened, and the events that came after it, felt so honest. She's broken, and trying to cope, but isn't really doing a very good job. She's existing but not really living. The truth about what happened to Avery is something that unravels throughout the novel, and there are a few little surprises in store. I thought I knew what happened early on, and it ended up being even worse than I expected. Jennifer handles this topic with a realism and honesty that allows you to feel Avery's pain.

The overall message of standing up for yourself, and learning how to cope things instead of letting them define you was one I loved. Avery goes through her journey for herself. Yes, Cam is there to help and support her, but she does it for herself. She wants to get herself to a better place because of what that will mean for her. It shows that you can have support to help find the strength within, but that it is in you after all. This type of story lends itself to this message, and the way Avery's progress comes about feels earned.

I am pretty sure every single review is going to mention how swoon worthy Cam is. I've often lamented the decline of the 'bad boy'. We've gone from the 'tame bad boy' who isn't really all that bad, to characters who are harmful to the character they claim to love. Cam is a throwback to that my favourite kind of bad boy. He's known as a womanizer. He is a massive flirt. He uses his charm to his advantage. Yet he is one of the sweetest guys I've come across in novel. He bakes her cookies! His patience, charm, and support of Avery makes him a contender for top book boyfriend, and the cookies just cement his status.

Wait For You is what I expected New Adult to be. It mixes the sexier nature these novels have with an actual plot. It merges them together so that the story is the focus, instead of the usual other way around. This is a story about finding your voice, learning to cope, and the strength that can be found in healing. If you're curious about New Adult, it's a pretty good place to start.

3rd Annual Ottawa Book Blogger Meet Up - Sign up!

It's time for the annual Ottawa Book Blogget Meet Up. It's a fun afternoon of book chat, and a great chance to meet some fellow bloggers, so I hope anyone in the area will join us.

Planning is underway and we do need final numbers for a reservation, and there may be some prizes, and other goodies.

If you would like to join us the date is March 30, 2014 and we're meeting at 1 pm! The place is to be determined as we have to wait to see what numbers we have first, but we are thinking of a restaurant so we can grab lunch.

Please email aglassofwineblog@gmail.com with OTTAWA BLOGGER MEET UP 2014 in the subject line (so I can find it easily) by January 15. Please include your name, your blog name and a link to your blog. If you could also include your twitter name (if you have one).

The date of January 15th is firm as we will be planning and booking things at that point. Unfortunately we will not be able to accommodate late sign ups once sign ups are closed.

Looking forward to meeting everyone, and hope you can make it!