Brian Review: As Old as Time by Liz Braswell

Title: As Old as Time

Author: Liz Brazwell

Published On: 9/6/2016

Page Count: 496

Synopsis:

What if Belle's mother cursed the Beast?

Belle is a lot of things: smart, resourceful, restless. She longs to escape her poor provincial town for good. She wants to explore the world, despite her father's reluctance to leave their little cottage in case Belle's mother returns--a mother she barely remembers. Belle also happens to be the captive of a terrifying, angry beast. And that is her primary concern.

But Belle touches the Beast's enchanted rose, intriguing images flood her mind--images of the mother she believed she would never see again. Stranger still, she sees that her mother is none other than the beautiful Enchantress who cursed the Beast, his castle, and all its inhabitants. Shocked and confused, Belle and the Beast must work together to unravel a dark mystery about their families that is twenty-one years in the making.

Overall Rating:  4.5/5

I haven't very many fairy tale re-tellings before, so I went into this story not really knowing what to expect aside from having seen the disney film several times. I was really blown away by how interesting the characters were and the depth that this book had to offer. I felt like I could see different parts of the story that I already knew, but was able to learn so much more about everyone and the world around them. I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book, and am interested in the possibility of a sequel.

Cover: 3.5 / 5

I liked the color scheme used on this as well as the shadow of the beast not giving away all the details. I think that everyone reading this story will be superimposing all the disney characters on everyone in their minds as they're reading (or maybe its just me) but I do like the idea of trying to leave some things to the imagination. That said, I'm really not a big fan of quotations of any kind on the cover, and although the quote on this one is a major plot point and not an accolade, I still don't particularly like it.

Characters: 5/5

The characters were the best part of this story, hands down. I am a fan of disney already, and the idea of taking their characters and building off of them is interesting to me. The author was really able to add a lot of depth and intrigue to each of them, and you can really see the characters grow as the story progresses.

Belle: As the antagonist, I feel that Belle didn't have a whole lot of room to grow from where the original story had her. The author was able to fill in a few blanks, give her a strong back story, and a personality that wasn't as apparent in the film. A voracious reader who is somewhat misunderstood and enjoys the company of beasts and horses, I feel like I might know her parallel in the real world.

The Beast: I feel the Beast is opposite of Belle in that you don't really get to know him all that well in the film, but he goes through lots of changes in the story. You learn of his past and why he is the way he is, and get to see the world through his eyes occasionally. I found his character to be the most interesting.

Rosalind: Belle's mother, we mostly get to know her in the flashback parts of the story, dealing with the history of the family and the country they live in. Rosalind felt like the driving force behind the book's plot. If you remove Rosalind from the story entirely, you are left with the disney movie. She was a very interesting character that is able to show that not everything is black and white, and in dealing with people while protecting your own, there are always shades of gray.

Plot: 4/5

Not a whole lot to say, if you've seen the movie, you know the story. However the book shines in providing the details that you can't get in 2 hours in front of a screen. Getting to know everyone's past and their motivations was well worth the read. The book somewhat diminishes the light heartedness of the movie and shows you a reality where everyone really is suffering the effects of a decade long curse, which doesn't always provide a reason for singing and making jokes.

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Brian Review: Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin

Title:  Spare and Found Parts

Author: Sarah Maria Griffin

Published On: 10/04/16

Page Count: 384

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Nell Crane has always been an outsider. In a city devastated by an epidemic, where survivors are all missing parts—an arm, a leg, an eye—her father is the famed scientist who created the biomechanical limbs everyone now uses. But Nell is the only one whose mechanical piece is on the inside: her heart. Since the childhood operation, she has ticked. Like a clock, like a bomb. As her community rebuilds, everyone is expected to contribute to the society’s good . . . but how can Nell live up to her father’s revolutionary idea when she has none of her own?

Then she finds a mannequin hand while salvaging on the beach—the first boy’s hand she’s ever held—and inspiration strikes. Can Nell build her own companion in a world that fears advanced technology? The deeper she sinks into this plan, the more she learns about her city—and her father, who is hiding secret experiments of his own.

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

I had no idea what this book was about going in. I took a look at the cover when it was handed to me and just dove in. The story I found was definitely better than I was expecting. There was a lot of symbolism and meaning in between each line, and I felt that it was able to hit an emotional level that I could really appreciate. Every character has the potential to be great and terrible, joyful and extremely depressing. After I finished, I felt better for having read it.

Cover: 3.5 / 5

Typically I am a big fan of off the wall covers, and when the cover artist tries to depict the meaning of the story through more interpretive designs. However, I felt that this book did enough of that on its own, and there was so much going on in this world that I would’ve appreciated seeing a picture of the artists take on the surroundings the characters were in for this story. A more traditional cover might have been better here, at least for me. The cover they chose was interesting, with a good idea behind the design.

Characters: 4.5 / 5

I really appreciated the depth in the characters for this story. Even characters you didn’t directly interact with often seemed to have their own unique voice.

Nell: The antagonist, and girl our story revolves around. Nell has a lot of inner turmoil and considers herself to be a step removed from everyone around her, including her closest friends. She doesn’t make much effort to fit in, which I appreciated, because it let her be herself. When she finally finds something she is passionate about she refuses to let anyone stand in her way, and does anything necessary to accomplish her goal for better or worse.

Ruby: Nell’s closest friend, Ruby is much more down to earth and approachable than Nell will ever be. She is sweet and kind, and tries to help Nell integrate with their society as much as she will allow, but knows she can only take her so far. Ruby came off as somewhat predictable, but most best friends are like that, and it didn’t detract from the story.

Julian: Nell’s father, the great biochemist / scientist / doctor. You hear a lot about how wonderful Dr. Crane is for his contributions to society, helping to replace lost limbs and parts for members of the town while he spends a majority of the story locked away in his lab. There is always a shadow of doubt, however, on the good doctor’s true intentions.

Plot: 5/5

This story has a lot of deeper meaning, in that if you read everything and take all the words at face value, you’re missing out on half of the story. I felt like it was reaching out to so many different types of people at once, and that there was a character or plot twist for everyone. The book itself can be broken down into fairly simple lines; ‘A post apocalyptic society is recovering from devastation and plague caused by artificial intelligence, watch what happens when some of the old technology is discovered and revived.’ However, there are so many layers to each character and the actions they take, I found myself re reading pages to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.


~Brian

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Brian Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Published On: 9/29/15

Page Count:465

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

This was the first book I read in this world, though I knew going in that there were others in the same setting with some of the same cast. Now that I’ve finished it, I definitely feel the need to go find any other books that are tied in and read those as well. Six of Crows was excellent, after a somewhat slow start it kept me hooked all the way through. The characters were interesting and well developed, the story interesting and action packed. I can’t wait to continue the story in the next book.

Cover: 4/5

The cover fit the book pretty well. I liked the colors and the grittiness of the mixture, the pictures were good and I enjoyed the blending of buildings into the crow’s feathers. The font was a good choice as well, and fit the style.

Characters: 5/5

I loved the characters in this book. There are too many to do full descriptions on here, but here are some of my favorites.

Kaz: As close to a ‘main character’ as you can get, though this story revolves around several integral people. Kaz is a conflicted guy, in the same 5 minutes he can be a completely self serving, cold, manipulative jerk, and a fiercely loyal companion trying to help his friends. Often you can’t tell if one is just a mask for the other. I found myself re-reading lines and going back a page or two to make sure I read every piece of dialogue so I could get to know Kaz better. You do get to learn some things about his past, but he is always a bit of an enigma.

Wraith (Inej): Kaz’s trusted rogue / assassin / thief / eavesdropper / anything that requires being quiet and invisible. Wraith, like everyone in this book has a very interesting past that shaped her into who she is. Her skills are amazing but getting to know her character when she isn’t doing her job was just as interesting to read about. You can see her go through several changes throughout the story, and try to figure out just how she feels about Kaz as she watches his actions around their other companions.

Plot: 4/5

The story started off a little bit slow for me, but that didn’t last long. There were a lot of characters and even the city of Ketterdam itself to learn about, and very quickly the story picks up its pace and really starts to roll along as all of the planning turns into action. After the first few chapters I was hooked, and couldn’t put it down over the next day or two. It was interesting to see how a very intricate heist full of very real danger was managed in a fantasy setting with swords, sorcery, and an amazing cast.

Quotes:

“Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"

"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej.

"Gun to the back?" said Jesper.

"Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina.

"You're all horrible," said Matthias.”

“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you'll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.”

― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows


~Brian

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Brian Review: Revenge and The Wild by Michelle Modesto

Revenge and the Wild

Author: Michelle Modesto

Published On: 2/2/16

Page Count: 384

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Cover: 4/5

I really love the font used for this cover. It works with the cover art and background and altogether tells an interesting story. I usually don’t like quotes used on a book cover, but this one works very well to set the tone for the book before you open it.

Characters: 4/5

Westie: The main protagonist, Westie was a very interesting character. She is constantly struggling to overcome her past and it feels like she spends most of the novel trying to adjust. She never really got over the traumatic events of her childhood and would rather chase the ghosts of her family’s murderers than try to fit in at home.

Alistair: Another character with a tragic past, Alistair can only speak with the help of a machine created by his and Westie’s makeshift adopted father, Nigel. He grew up with Westie after being saved from cannibals, and their friendship brought them close, though their current feelings for each other are somewhat awkward. Alistair is a classic strong and silent type, always looking to protect Westie when he can, and help Nigel with his inventions.

Plot: 3.5 / 5

I need to start by saying I really enjoyed reading through this book. The story was interesting, the characters had depth and were likable, and I would absolutely recommend anyone interested in picking up this book. The only gripe I had was that the story itself felt a bit cluttered. The creatures in the book, aside from a select few, seemed tossed in for no real reason. I think that either having a few different types of creatures in the story, or having more pages to flesh out the numerous races would have made the story more enjoyable for me. While I’m trying to reconcile werewolves, vampires, fae, and goblins, Westie will turn the corner and run into a banshee and an orc. It was a bit too much for me. All of that aside, I don’t believe that it detracted from the book that much, and it was a very fun and fast read.

~Brian

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