The Apocalypse Gene

  For the past few months or so I've been having dystopian fatigue. With the excitement surrounding the Hunger Games movie and the influx of dystopian reads in the YA world, it's hard to not get swept up in the frenzy. Unfortunately, when a genre becomes popular you get a lot of books that are derivative-filled with the same plot and characters. Just when I thought I read your average dystopian book, along comes The Apocalypse Gene by Suki Michelle and Carlyle Clark which dares to go beyond the dystopian boundaries and dares to do something new.

Description (from Goodreads): Global pandemic is raging.

Olivya Wright-Ono's once loving home has been converted to a hospice for the dying. Her ability to see auras forces her to witness, with agonizing detail, the vibrant colors of life consumed by malignancy. 
  The beautiful and troubled, Mikah, is an elite Empath in the ancient Kindred clan, led by the brooding, ever-morphing, monster named Prime. Mikah has learned a terrible truth . . . the plague is linked to Kindred origins. When Olivya sees evidence of disease creeping into her mother's aura, she has no one to turn to but Mikah. Can he unearth the Kindred secrets and find a cure?
   Can she trust this boy whose power allows him to manipulate her very emotions? With her mother's life, and that of the world, in the balance, Olivya and Mikah embark on a quest to stop the Pandemic, only to discover it is far, far more than a mere disease . .

Review: By combining elements of the dystopian, paranormal/supernatural, science fiction, fantasy, and adventure, The Apocalypse Gene is a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all these individual genres. The story world building is intriguingly built as the past and future begin to collide. Ethical dilemmas and modern-day humor add depth to the tale while we are shown somber visions of apocalypse with every twist and turn of the plot. The different genre elements are put into play as the neck breaking actions begin at the very first page. While we aren't given answers right away and feel disoriented at first, we are swept away by what is unfolding right before our eyes just like our main characters.
  Olivya has the ability to see auras, something she has always tried to control and keep separate from her daily life, which is extremely hard to do when your house is turned into a hospice. Who would want to see the vibrant colors of death and diseases? Olivya’s abilities lend a very vivid and artistic element to the story. I enjoyed the descriptions of emotions through color and a glimpse of what it means to be a member of her world. I also loved the fact that Olivya is of mixed race, part African American and part Japanese, which both cultures play an important role in her life. Despite the dark ambiance surrounding Olivya, her humor is what keeps The Apocalypse Gene from being a dark and dreary read.
  While Olivya is rooted to reality, Mikah is otherworldly. He brings a mythical and supernatural slant to the book with his not quite human abilities. His story also connects the death Olivya is surrounded by every day with worlds beyond imagination and monsters of alien background. I had a fun time trying to figure out what exactly Mikah is and his role with the pandemic.
  The combination of Olivya and Mikah twists classically separate genres into the main story arc. Although I loved the different elements incorporated into the story, I felt it made the plot very convoluted. I had to get past all the various mythological creatures, invading aliens, technological gadgets, etc. to get to the root of the story, which is about belief-believing in yourself, your friends, your family and the hope of a better future. The characters come alive when things are kept simple, allowing the readers to connect to the characters at a personal level. If the authors decided to concentrate and develop a few elements in their story, it would have worked better.
 As a whole, The Apocalypse Gene was a very interesting albeit frustrating read, that offers a genre buffet-style read, which should appeal to many different readers.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and PG-13 violence. Recommended for Grades 8 and up.

If you like this book try: I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, Possession by Elana Johnson

Cole Gibson's: Top 10 Items Every Samurai Girl Needs

  As part of the Teen Book Scene promotional tour for Cole Gibson's debut novel, Katana, I have Cole here to share with us the ten most important things that every samurai girl needs. While I haven't gotten around to reading the book, I've heard great things about it. A lot of reviewers are describing it as Buffy meets Kill Bill. If that sounds like your kind of book, be sure to check it out. Katana was released on March 8th!

 Cole Gibson's Top 10 Items Every Samurai Girl Needs

1. Glitter bandages. There’s no reason an injury can’t be stylish.

2. Kakute. Another decorative item that can double as a weapon. The kakute or “horn finger” is a metal ring with two metal spikes most often worn on the middle finger for the ultimate “give ‘em the finger.”

3. Neosporin. Infections from cuts and scrapes are no joke. Don’t be a hero.

4. Dr. Scholl’s shoe inserts. Who says you can’t fight in comfort?

5. Chip-resistant nail polish. Because you know how annoying it is to chip your polish after delivering a perfectly timed left hook.

6. Kanzashi. These decorative hair pins can double as a fashion statement as well as a hidden weapon.

7. Kashi Trail Mix. Surviving a ninja ambush takes energy. Keep trail mix on hand for a pick-me-up on the go.

8. A list of clever comebacks. You never know when you’ll have to engage in witty banter with the enemy. Best to be prepared so as not to resort to the ever clichéd, “Your face!”

9. Listerine pocket packs. What better way to get the taste of blood out of your mouth?

10. A cute boy. Who else is going to hold your stuff for you while you fight?


 Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings.
  While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.
  Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

Kiss Me, I'm Irish Read-along: Chapters 6-10 + 11-15

  


  Kiss Me, I'm Irish is a read-along of HOUNDED by Kevin Hearne, and hosted by awesome bloggers Felicia of Geeky Blogger's Book Blog, Amanda of On a Book Bender, Ash of Smash Attack Reads!, Jen of In the Closet with a Bibliophile and Missie the Unread Reader. This post will contain answers for last week and this week. Hope that's okay with you ladies!

Chapters 6-10

1. In Chapter 6, Atticus goes hunting with Oberon and Flidais. What was supposed to be a fun hunting trip turned rather disastrous. Were you expecting something like this to happen or did it catch you by surprise? Have you ever had something that should have been fun turn disastrous or nearly disastrous?

I expected something to go wrong and crank up the action in the book, but I didn't think it would be so disastrous. I've had lots of great plans and expectations to do things that I thought were fun like a part or a movie night only to find people back out at the last minute, which is why I stopped planning for things. It just seems counterproductive.

 

2. We are only briefly introduced to the witches (or, a witch) in chapter 7. What are your first impressions? How much would you trust the witches? Why?

 After reading lots of paranormal/urban fantasy books, I've learned quickly to never trust anyone who has super powers. I don't trust the witches at all, because they always seem to back out of their deals and twist things around to favor themselves just like the fey.

3. Oberon says, “With dogs you just go up and smell their asses and you know where you stand. It’s so much easier. Why can’t humans do that?” Do you ever wish there was an easier way to find out where you stand with someone (besides Oberon’s suggestion, of course)? In what cases would it be easier or better to hide your true feelings?

Of course! There were lots of times where I wished I had a radar like Cinder does in Marissa Meyer's book where she has a light that goes off when she suspects someone and if they are not telling the truth. I think it would be easier to hide your true feelings in a life or death situation or when you have the potential to really hurt someone. 

 

4. Chapter 9 makes Atticus’ life much more difficult: the witches are in some way working with Aeghus Og, Bres comes after Atticus, and more trouble appears at the end of the chapter. Have you made sense of what has happened thus far? Any predictions for what might happen?

 I had an idea of what would happen next, but since I already the book and knows what happens I'm going to avoid this question.

 

5. Atticus has had plenty of time to cultivate attitudes and ethics that would allow him to live a very long time. What do you think it is about Atticus that has allowed him to live for as long as he has?

 Well, he is smart and keeps thing in check.  He has a very small circle of people who can trust and help him when in need. Plus, you know, he's a druid so magic spells are also a big help. :)

Chapters 11-15

1. I love Leif Helgarson, Viking Vampire, Esq. I have to say that combo makes a pretty cool attorney. If you could have a paranormal/mythical beastie (or combo) covering your tuckus in court, what would you choose and why?

You're making me think on a Friday morning? Hrm..well, I guess I would have to go with Jim, the were-jaguar who is head of security, from the Kate Daniel series. Jim is a non-sense guy who doesn't hide around the bushes. He's super smart and a sleuth so he would have no difficulty in finding evidence and using those to my benefit.

2. The police show up to question Atticus about his Irish Wolfhound, Oberon. If you could own any dog breed, what would it be and why? (P.S. Oberon is going on my list of favorite sidekicks!)

 I honestly don't know. I don't own a dog or know much about them. 

 

3. Malina Sokolowski and the other Sisters of the Three Auroras coven have my antennae up. What is your opinion of them?

I don't like them at all. They're are sneaky and can't be trusted.  I'm pretty sure they have an ulterior motive too.

4. Brighid, goddess of poetry, fire and the forge, gave Atticus the power of Cold Iron, which can be used to fight off that nasty lilttle hellspawn. If you could wield one magical power, what would it be and why?

I know it's a cop-out but I would love to have Rogue's power from the X-men who is able to absorb other people's abilities by a touch. If that's not possible than Professor X's talent of memory manipulation. If you can't already tell, I'm a huge Xmen fan. :D

5. The cops show up at Atticus’ shop to search for poor Oberon, who remains magically hidden throughout the ordeal. What is the one thing you would do if you could remain hidden from sight? I want to hear some good answers for this one!

 Not sure to be honest. Being voyeuristic just sounds so ... creepy.

Blood Lie Tour: Character Tweets

  As part of the Teen Book Scene promotional tour for Shirley Vernick's Blood Lie, today I have a really interesting post about its characters. Although the book takes place in the 1920s where cell phones did not exist, but what if these characters were placed in our world now? Fast forward 80+ years and let's meet Jack, Emaline, Lydie, Harry, and George.

Emaline@Jack16:  Happy bday sweetie!


Jack16@Emaline: Thanx. U r up early. Will I c u after work?


Emaline@Jack16: !!!


Jack16@Emaline: gr8. Paradise Woods, our tree, 4:00?


Emaline@Jack16: Double !! No, triple !!!


Emaline@Lydie: Hey cuz, u have 2 b my alibi l8r. Hot date!


Lydie@Emaline: George?


Emaline@Lydie: Nope. Mystery man. LOL


George@Emaline: Can I c u later? I want to ask u something.


Emaline@George: Can’t. I’ll be at my cousin Lydie’s.


George@Emaline: Damn.


Emaline@George: What’s up?


George@Emaline: Why – is the suspense is killing u?


Emaline@George: Just curious, that’s all.


George@Emaline: I think u can’t wait 2 c me, THAT’s all.


Emaline@Lydie: I repeat, it is NOT George.


George@Emaline: Em? U still there?


Harry@Jack16: Hey bro, guess who thinks u r hot?


Jack16@Harry: idk idc


Harry@Jack16: Would u care if I said Sarah Gelman?


Jack16@Harry: Yeah, right.


Harry@Jack16: So, can I tell her u like her back?


Jack16@Harry: NO!


Harry@Jack16: Does that mean u don’t like her, or u just don’t want her 2 know it yet?


Jack16@Harry: Drop it, twerp, or I’ll put Tabasco sauce in your matzo balls.


September 22, 1928, Massena, New York. Jack Pool's sixteenth birthday. He's been restless lately, especially during this season of more-times-at-the-synagogue than you can shake a stick at. If it wasn't Rosh Hashanah, then it was Yom Kippur, and if it wasn't Yom Kippur, it was the Sabbath. But temple's good for some things. It gives him lots of time to daydream about a beautiful but inaccessible Gentile girl named Emaline. And if she isn't on his mind, then he's thinking about his music and imagining himself playing the cello with the New York Philharmonic. Yup, music is definitely his ticket out of this remote whistle-stop town—he doesn't want to be stuck here one more minute. But he doesn't realize exactly how stuck he is until Emaline's little sister Daisy goes missing and he and his family are accused of killing her for a blood sacrifice.
Blood Lie was inspired by a real blood libel that took place when a small girl disappeared from Massena, New York, in 1928, and an innocent Jewish boy was called a murderer.

What Angels Fear (Sebastin St. Cyr #1)

  You may have noticed about a lack of adult book reviews posted lately. I've been through a really bad adult fiction reading slump lately. I'm trying several genres to help me snap out of it and so far it's been working. I thought I would give my first adult historical mystery a shot and picked up the first book in the Sebastian St. Cyr series. I have a friend who really enjoys this series and suggested I give them a shot during my slump. I read and enjoyed the first one.


Description (from Goodreads): It's 1811, and the threat of revolution haunts the upper classes of King George Ill's England. A beautiful young woman is found savagely murdered on the altar steps of an ancient church near Westminster Abbey, and the dueling pistol found at the scene and the damning testimony of a witness both point to one man--Sebastian St. Cyr.

Review: The first book in the Sebastin St. Cyr series is off to a racing start with the gruesome near-decapitation and rape of a lovely actress. Sebastian St. Cyr, the youngest but only surviving son of an earl, stands accused of brutally raping and murdering a young actress. As he's led away by police, an accidental knifing of a police officer is also attributed to him. Sebastian runs, bent on finding the real murderer and clearing his own name. and an innocent man on the run. What turns out to be a simple murder mystery, quickly evolves into what seems to be a political game where the Whigs try to gain control of the government before the Tory prince becomes regent.
  I was pleasantly surprised by the fast-paced plot of this Victorian mystery. Harris does a great job in  pitting the sophisticated, overly mannered elite against the grimier lower echelons of 1811 London society. We see all social classes at work in the book as the plot and mystery unfold. I thought the mystery was very well interwoven. At first I was a bit disoriented by the sheer amount of characters that are introduced, but I quickly got over that when I realized that all of these seemingly unconnected people leads to a maze set with clues connecting everyone from the high-ranking politicians to actresses who have side jobs. What I found unusual is that a lot of the character development of Sebastian comes from the people who is associated with him.
  Since this is the first book in a series, there is much we don't know about Sebastian. We know that he was an intelligent officer in the army during the Napoleonic War and suffers from shell shocks or from post traumatic stress disorder. He does have a real life genetic mutation, which allows him to have uncanny seeing and hearing abilities. The author describes him as a Darcy and James Bond combo, so far I do find him charming and he does have the skills to be an effective sleuth. I am interested to get to know him better as I continue the series. What Angels Fear will appeal to readers who like historical fiction, political intrigue, romance, and of course mystery.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, small sex scenes, and violence (which mostly happens off the page). Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn, And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander, The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry

Friendship on Fire

 I first heard about Friendship on Fire on Nic's blog, Irresistible Reads. For full disclosure, I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange of an honest review. I liked the book and would recommend it to someone who enjoys contemporary romance.


Description (from Goodreads): Daisy Brooks’s senior year is not off to a great start. Her first assembly as school captain is slightly ruined by her new bright orange hairdo – thanks to her father’s inability to choose correct permanent hair dye. The local Blonde Brigade is already giving her a hard time (and affectionately dubbed her ‘ranga’) and her teachers have done the unthinkable and handed out assignments on the first day back.
   The one bright spot in Daisy’s first day back is the appearance of a private school boy hottie. Oh, and her best friend and vice-captain, Roman, who she can count on to hold her temper and have her back, but the winds of change are sweeping through Daisy’s small town of Twin Rocks. Turns out the private school hottie is new in town and fast friends with her brothers. His name is Nate and he turns Daisy’s legs to jelly. But her totally platonic best friend, always reliable Roman, is starting to act strange.
   This is Daisy’s senior year. She’ll learn hard truths and lose small battles on the path to adulthood but, hey, nobody said it was going to be easy.

Review: Danielle Weiler's Friendship on Fire is a book that a lot of readers will be able to relate. Our narrator is Daisy, an Aussie who is in her 12th year of school. Like most kids her age, she is trying to find her place in the world. The journey with bumps on the road particularly when it comes to relationships isn't always smoothed. Not only is Daisy uncertain about her future, but she also finds herself falling in love for the first time, changing her friendships, and learning more about herself along the way all the while keeping her head above the water with all her responsibilities as a school captain and student.

   It took me a while to connect to Daisy. She had a fiery personality and a bad temper that often got her to trouble. I found her to be a bit whiny and self absorbed, but as I continued to read Daisy opened up a bit more and I didn't mind her as much. Though she is at a crossroads about her future, Daisy seems more preoccupied about wanting to be in love. When she spots an arrogant hottie from another school, she is determined to find out who he is but more importantly, if he's dating anyone. For the first time, Daisy is listening to her heart and not her mind. During the process of a crush and the highs of a beginning relationship, Daisy loses her perspective on life and becomes one of those girls whose lives revolve around her boyfriend. What makes Daisy different is that recognizes what she's become and struggles with being true to herself or giving into the feelings of a first love. She makes real choices and mistakes that many teens will be able to relate too. There were quite a few times I found myself wanting to remind her to listen to her gut and stop being so gullible, but that's only because I'm cynical and had my suspicion radar go off on numerous occasions. Weiler does a great job in showing how ones teen years can be fun, challenging, and confusing time. 
  I also liked the supporting characters around Daisy. She has a very close knit family and I loved how protective her big brothers were of her. Her parents were much more lenient than mine, but I was glad that they trusted her enough to make her own mistakes and let her grow. There were plenty of times I got frustrated with Daisy, especially when so many people around her advised her about the mistakes she is making, but she ignored them all. 
  As Daisy's boyfriend, I didn't care for Nate. Sure he was rich, cute and had a great body to lust after, but beyond that superficial surface he was a complete jerk who gave nothing but back handed compliments. I had a really hard time trying to understand what he saw in Daisy. Perhaps he craved her undivided attention or maybe she was a pet he took care of during his endless amount of spare time. You don't have to be a genius to figure out that Nate is not the right person for her. Though I did want Daisy to be happy, I couldn't fully support her in this relationship especially how they barely meet in one scene and then madly makeout in the other.
  I did, however, really like Daisy's best friend Roman, who truly cared about her. Daisy and Roman's friendship is solid and slowly becomes more. You very easily tell that Roman liked Daisy. I grew frustrated with him when he pulled the "I don't want to tell her because that'll ruin our friendship card" when clearly he was miserable watching her and Nate get close. Regardless, I really liked watching these two interact. 
 Though the book's length is a lot longer than needed for this contemporary story, Weiler brought a lot of issues female teens deal with in her story, which made it realistic. I liked her character development and humor in the book. The plot, as you can probably tell from the description is predictable, but if the book was edited a bit more and trimmed, the story's climax and Daisy's self realization could have been much stronger and memorable. Aside from that I liked the setting. Being set in Australia it was fun to get glimpses of the culture and learn some of the slang, which I understood by the context. Over all I enjoyed Friendship on Fire and I think many people could relate to and identify themselves with Daisy's struggles and her rite of passage.

Rating: 3 stars


Words of Caution: There is some strong language, underage drinking, crude sexual humor, and a couple of allusions to sex. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kelley, Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

Manga Q + A: Manga, Anime, Graphic Novels..Huh?

 
   I've been inspired by Small Review's Tips and Tricks feature and thought I could do something similar for readers who have questions about manga. This week's question has to do with terminology that many readers and reviewers have thrown around:

What is the difference between manga, anime and graphic novels?

First of all, thank you for the awesome question! There are ongoing debates in how these terms are defined. Below are the definitions that most scholars agree on. I defined graphic novel first since the forms the basis for manga and anime.

Graphic novels:  Graphic novel is a relatively new term popularized by Will Eisner when he presented his stand-alone long work, A Contract with God, as a 'graphic novel'. What Eisner meant was that his work  is a bound narrative that tell a story through sequential art with or without text. These comics may have been conceived originally as novel-length works or be compilations of previously serialized stories. Graphic novels can range in length from 50 pages to thousands, but they are always intent on telling a longer story arc. They may be collected from serials (as are most superhero stories, for example, and most manga) but they may also be created as a graphic novel. Many people may be involved in creating a graphic novel, or it may be done by one creator who both writes and illustrates the story. Most people think that since novel is implied that all graphic novels are fiction, which is completely wrong.

Still confused? Let's try a visual example. The first image you see is an excerpt from Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis which chronicles her childhood under the Iranian Revolution. As you can see the image below doesn't tell the whole story and you would need several images to find out what happens next.

Here is a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip where the story begins and ends in the same line. You don't need another image to tell you what happens next.

Manga: Manga is the Japanese word for whimsical or humorous comics. Outside of Japan, the term is usually interpreted as comics or graphic novels that were originally published in Japan. It is either read in serialized form in monthly magazines or in volumes. Manga come in many different genres and are created for every audience, age range, and sensibility, so there are comics intended for kids as well as comics intended for adults. Like many other books and graphic novels, manga comes in a variety of genres and merge illustrations with text. The illustrations are mostly black and white, although there are very few in color. Manga is read differently than your usual graphic novel. For one thing, it is read right to left, which means you start at the back of the book. There are other things associated with manga too, particularly the "big-eyed" Japanese art style, the giant robots, the fangirly-like schoolgirls, etc.



Anime: Anime from the English word animation which was then adopted into Japanese as animeshon or Japanimation (what we called it in the U.S.), which was then shortened to the term anime. Anime is basically any animation that is produced in Japan, from feature films (Spirited Away, Princess Monoke) to manga adaptations (Fruit Basket and several others ) to direct-to-video releases know as OAVs (R.O.D. Read or Die, Voices of a Distant Star.) Most kids and teens today are familiar with TV show anime (i.e. Pokemon, etc that appear on the cartoon network) and a few of the feature films (Howl's Moving Castle.) The Japanese animate for many different audiences and have a larger demand for them than we currently do in the US. Just do a quick search on Hulu and you will find pages and pages of examples. As note, many anime are based on manga series, particularly if the manga become best sellers, but not all. A few manga are produced from anime stories.  Below are a trailer for Spirited Away (which you'll see has been dubbed in English) and the opening and ending credits of Vampire Knight Season 1:






Wow, I never thought I had to think so hard on a Monday morning! Hopefully, this post makes sense and I haven't completely failed. If not, please let me know.

Do you have a question about manga? All you have to do is simply fill out this form. The form is completely confidential so please don't feel shy in submitting a question and remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question.