Cinder, by Marrisa Meyer

“Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time.” 

Title: Cinder 
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles #1
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Format: Paperback
Source: Barnes and Noble
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl...

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I've been sitting on this review for quite some time, mainly because I was so conflicted about Cinder. I had heard so much hype surrounding this book, so I had to see for myself what everyone else was raving over. While I think it was a solid beginning to a series, I just didn't love it as much as I had hoped I would.

Firstly, I give props to Meyers for the innovative twist on a widely known classic. For the most part, the plot stayed within the general realm of the fairytale. In a genre where it seems everything has been done, and then done again, Cinder managed to be completely original. 

The world of New Beijing was promising, but not used to its full potential. The basic foundation was there, but certain areas of the plot could've been explained better. How exactly did the World War start? How did the Lunar people come to be, and why are they feuding with the Earth? 

Also, the setting was so intriguing! A melting pot of people living in a New Beijing! I wanted to see more Eastern influence hinted at other than honorifics, but sadly, I was left disappointed. It seems like Meyers really missed a great opportunity to take these ideas and run with them. It would've only added that much more to the story. 

The main characters, Cinder and Kai, were wonderfully developed. As far as protagonists go, Meyers truly hit a home run with these two. Cinder was strong and determined, without sacrificing emotion; I felt like I could really connect with her, as a reader. I also enjoyed that Kai, while recognizing his attraction to Cinder, did not let it effect his role as the Prince. The best part about him is his ability to remain rational and levelheaded, which seems to be severely lacking in YA literature recently...

The pacing of the romance was realistic and believable. They do not fall in love after one week of knowing each other. Cinder does not constantly fawn over his stunningly good looks (even if she does trip over herself occasionally). And best of all? Kai does not show his interest by being creepy, pushy, or "I will show up everywhere and be annoyingly persistent until you give in". Refreshing, right?

Iko, the household robot, was a great addition to the cast of characters. She deserves her own mention, just because she is that hilarious! There wasn't a scene with her involved where I wasn't smiling to myself. It's a good thing I never read this book in public! 

Despite some minor world-building flaws, I genuinely enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fairytale retellings. I've heard even better things about Scarlet, and I'm hoping some of my issues with Cinder will be resolved, so I will most definitely be reading the second book in the series.

Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make Me Buy a Book

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is going to be a bit hard for me, because I usually single out books based on the cover. (I know, I know. I can't help myself!) However, I do have a few key words I look for when reading a summary that almost guarantees I will buy a book.

1. Fairytale/Mythology Retelling- I'm a sucker for a modern take on classical lore!

2. Martial Arts- If you've read my About Me, you know I've practiced Chinese kenpo off and on for fifteen years, so anything focused on martial arts is sure to get my attention. 

3. Serial Killers- Biographies, fiction; there's something so fascinating about getting inside the head of someone who could commit such unthinkable, twisted acts. 

4. Anti-Heroes- If an author can portray this well, they will totally win me over. I love the male lead who clearly lacks traditional protagonist virtues, but still somehow manages to be considered a "good guy". The best example I can think of is Tony Stark, or Iron Man; by all accounts, there's nothing redeemable about him as a person. He's condescending, womanizing, and does not consider himself a hero. And yet he's one of the most loved characters in the Marvel Universe. 

5. Male POV- There is definitely not enough of this in fiction, especially in the YA genre. Some of the best books I've read are narrated by a male! 

6. St. Louis- I know this one has been mentioned before, but I can't help myself. If a book is set in my hometown, I will read it, no questions asked!

7. Unusual/Strange Setting- Deserted islands, abandoned buildings, middle of nowhere. The weirder, the better!

8. Japan- I enjoy Asian fiction, especially if it is historical, and here lately I've been reading quite a bit about Japan, particularly during the Tokugawa Period. I blame this on my boyfriend mostly, because this is his way of sharing his culture with me (which I think is adorable!). 

9. Horror- If I think it can scare me, I'll probably buy it! 

10. Psychological Thrillers- I love anything that can throw me for a loop, or will really make me think. 

What are your Top Ten for this week? Are they similar to mine?

ARC Review: Josh of the Damned 1-3, by Andrea Speed

"The first time the hell vortex opened in the Quick-Mart parking lot, Josh very seriously considered quitting his job. Or at least ask for hazard pay."

Title: Pretty Monsters 
Author: Andrea Speed
Series: Josh of the Damned
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, LGBT
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: October 30th, 2011
Format: Kindle Edition
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 3 Stars

Josh knew the night shift at the Quik-Mart would be full of freaks and geeks—and that was before the hell portal opened in the parking lot. Still, he likes to think he can roll with things. Sure, the zombies make a mess sometimes, but at least they never reach for anything more threatening than frozen burritos.

Besides, it’s not all lizard-monsters and the walking dead. There’s also the mysterious hottie with the sly red lips and a taste for sweets.

Josh has had it bad for Hot Guy since the moment he laid eyes on him, and it seems Hot Guy might be sweet on Josh too. Now if only Josh could figure out whether that’s a good thing, a bad thing, or something in between. After all, with a hell vortex just a stone’s throw away, Josh has learned to take nothing at face value—even if it’s a very, very pretty face.

The thing that initially drew me to request Pretty Monsters was the off-the wall-synopsis. I've worked as a night clerk at Quiktrip, an American gas station chain, for almost three years. The idea of a hell portal opening up in the parking lot was both humorous and intriguing, so I could tell this was already going to be a fun afternoon read. I was also pleasantly surprised by the fact that not only was I given a copy of the first novella, Pretty Monsters, but also the second and third, Peek-A-Boo and Triple Feature.

Pretty Monsters- The first snippet, about fifteen pages in its entirety, gave me just enough to keep wanting more. We are introduced to Josh, a night clerk who handles his customers with a dry wit that immediately endeared me to him. We also meet Colin, a regular with a taste for candy bars and the clerk selling them. I'll admit, I was skeptical at first about this series, because within the first few pages, there was already a pretty steamy scene between the two. Normally, I tend to shy away from these types of instant attraction, unless I'm reading a genre where it is expected (such as erotica). However, Speed has a way of writing that kept me hooked until the end. 

Peek-A-Boo- This second novella was adorable. Not much happens, as it is fairly short, but we do see a bit more depth to Josh and Colin's relationship. We are also introduced to Bobo, the lovesick yeti, who is probably my favorite character in the series. 

Triple Feature- The final part in this series is considerably longer than the first two, since it is split into three separate sections. It is in Triple Feature that we finally receive a bit of backstory to the origin of the hell portal and just what exactly lays on the other side. For me, this was the most interesting of the three novellas, because there is an actual plot at this point, unlike the previous snippets, where the humor was the only reason I kept reading. 

Overall, Josh of the Damned is the type of series to be enjoyed on a leisurely afternoon. For me, this was a humorous, fluffy read that left me with a smile on my face. If you are looking for something with a more meaningful plot, I would suggest passing this one up. However, it is certainly a good choice if you enjoy bizarre situations and an abundance of snarky pop culture references!

Of Poseidon, by Anna Banks

“Morning tide makes a great companion when you don’t want to be around people. It soothes and comforts and doesn't ask for anything. But the sun does. The higher it gets, the more I am reminded that nothing stops time. There is no escaping it.”

Title: Of Poseidon 
Author: Anna Banks
Series: Of Poseidon #1
Genre: Young Adult,Romance, Mythology
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends  
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Source: Barnes and Noble
Rating: 1 Star

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. 

But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom... 

I honestly debated not even writing this, because I hate coming across as completely negative in my reviews and here lately, that seems to be all I've been doing. These last few books I've picked up have been real misses and out of all of them, Of Poseidon had to have been the most disappointing for me. I really, really wanted to like this book, but alas, it just did not happen. 

First off, I know I won't be the last person to say it, but the cover is absolutely breathtaking. It certainly gives off the mysterious, whimsical vibe that was trying to be achieved here, and when I first saw it circulating around Goodreads, I knew immediately that it was centered around mythology. I'll admit, for this reason alone, I was willing to jump on the "mermaid" bandwagon that seems to be trending right now. Unfortunately, when the cover is the only good thing about a book, there might be a problem...

The first issue I had was the expendable, token POC character. When it was first mentioned that Chloe was black, I was stoked. I thought 'Okay, here we have a legit POC side character with a real personality!' However, that was completely shot down when the stereotyping began. And boy, was it heavy. Here are just a few of her descriptions; loud, embarrassing, fake nails, weave... Way to take someone and dehumanize them to the point where all they are is a caricature of what the author thinks all black women act and look like.

There was absolutely no depth to Chloe's character, which is only made worse by the fact that her death was nothing more than a plot device. By the way, I'm not really spoiling anything for you guys, since she dies in the first few chapters. Seriously, blink and you'll miss her. Overall, the way she was portrayed in this book really hits a nerve with me.

Second issue, the romance in Of Poseidon is reminiscent to Twilight and Hush, Hush. This whole trend of when a woman says "no", she really must mean "try harder" needs to stop, like yesterday.

I'm sorry, but I did not like Galen's character, at all. He stalks Emma across the country, enrolls in all of her classes (sound familiar?), and even goes so far as to threaten to kill a potential boyfriend of hers. Clearly, someone needs to explain boundaries to this guy, because he's just not getting the memo. The thing that really burned me, though, was how he treated her like an amusing child who needed to be cajoled, instead of an adult with legitimate feelings and concerns. 

Actually, just the way women were treated in this novel in general made me furious. Take Galen's sister, Rayna, for example. Her childhood friend, Toraf, goes behind her back and essentially marries himself to her without her consent, knowing beforehand how she never wanted to mate. He disrespects her wishes, takes away her autonomy, and reduces her to nothing more than an item with which he feels entitled to do with as he pleases; all in one fell swoop. Congrats, you have just officially reached douchewaffle status, my friend. 

I won't even go into depth about the instalove ("tingles", I mean, really!?) or Emma's ability to be both adorably quirky and insanely unique (Mary Sue Syndrome). I feel as if I've already expounded too negatively about this book as it is, so I'll just leave all you lovely readers with the few things I think are important to know before reading Of Poseidon. 

Do I recommend it? I'm not sure. If you see things with a feministic eye like I do, I would strongly advise you to skip this one, as it will only anger you like it has me. However, if you read YA without looking so far into the issues, I think you'd be able to enjoy this one.

Waiting on Wednesday #03

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

 Title: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
Series: Between #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Dial
Release Date: August 15, 2013

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing very exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town... until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, likes coffee, kisses you in a cemetery... and makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of Gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying.

Let me just start off by saying, the cover of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is two parts gorgeous, and two parts creepy. I'm not usually a fan of books whose title dominates the cover space, but I feel like it worked out for this one.  The typography is simply stunning!

The summary is as interesting as the book looks; the Devil masquerading in a boy's body? Sounds promising. However, it seems like there may be a blatant case of instalove, which I'm really hoping is not the case, because I'm so looking forward to its release in August!