Bookshelf Archives - The Pencil Princess Workshop

Jade City

I’ve been meaning to read Jade City for a while, and I don’t know what took me so long.

Once I finally got into it, I found this book totally lived up to its hype. It’s a brilliant story, with intricate plotting and rich world-building

The real stars, though, are the characters. My favorite is Kaul Shaelinsan, the prodigal daughter returned to her hometown to lick her wounds and try not to get caught up in the family business. But I also love her brothers, and her cousin. And the dozens of minor characters who fill out this magical city-state.

If you like young adult fantasy, or martial arts, or stories about crime syndicates, or just a wonderful story well-told, I’d recommend Jade City. (And if you don’t like any of those things, why are you reading book reviews?)

A Voice that Thunders

In A Voice that Thunders, Cully Mack plays around with that weird bit from Genesis 6. You know the bit–where Nephilim are on Earth, and sons of God are having children with daughters of men.

That bit is a mysterious and intriguing glimpse of something odd going on in ancient times. As such, it has given rise to more than a few fascinating stories (including Many Waters by Madeleine L’Engle). Mack’s story doesn’t have as strong a setting as L’Engle’s, but I like the way it explores temptation. The story is about Mirah, a captive of a band of warriors from a far off place. Before capturing Mirah and several of her friends, these warriors slaughtered everyone else in Mirah’s village.

As Mirah and her friends seek to survive, to escape, and perhaps even seek revenge, they receive amazing, powerful tools. Unfortunately, those tools come at a great cost. That’s where the temptation comes in. Do they use the tools they’ve been given? Or do they figure out another way to survive and defeat their enemies?

If you like young adult stories, especially ones with magic and romance sprinkled in liberally, you’ll probably enjoy A Voice that Thunders. I enjoyed it, and I suspect I’ll go looking for the rest of the series at some point.

Broken Skies

Theresa Kay’s Broken Skies is a young adult science fiction novel about Jax, a traumatized young woman, living in a post-apocalyptic world. Disease has decimated the human population, and aliens are colonizing Earth.

Then some of those aliens kidnap Jax’s brother, leaving one of their own behind, wounded. Jax makes a deal with the wounded alien. She’ll help him get back to his city if he gets her in, so she can rescue her brother.

What follows is a journey that’s as much about self-discovery as about surviving in a world become savage. There’s also a fair amount of romance.

I like Jax in this piece, and I think there’s lots of great conflict–both internal and external. The world-building is decent. Even better, the plot comes to a relatively satisfying conclusion for the first part of a series. I will probably eventually want to read more.

I’d recommend Broken Skies for people who like science fiction, especially dystopian. Interested in other science fiction recommendations? Check out my take on Beyond, The Left Hand of Darkness , or Cinder.

Mazie

Mazie, the newest book by Melanie Crowder, is a great story about one young woman’s journey toward Broadway.

As a small town girl from Nebraska, Mazie doesn’t know any professional performers (unless you count her dance teacher). In many ways, she’s aiming for something that seems utterly unreachable. It’s a powerful thing–watching her transform her dreams into reality.

I love the deep, realistic character development in this book. I also love the way it explores how ambition can affect relationships–with family, with a boyfriend, and especially with fellow artists. In this book, these other performers often feel like both collaborators and competition.

Like Audicity (which is another Crowder book I love), this trip into the past also has great world-building. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a drive-up restaurant with live performances and waitresses on roller skates, but this book put me there.

If you like historical books, or musical theater, or coming-of-age stories (especially ones about young people who are talented in one of the fine arts), this might be a great read for you.

Not quite your thing? If you browse through my bookshelf here, you can check out other books I adore. The “loved it” and “keeper” tags mark some of my favorites.

Flora & Ulysses

If you need a fun, quick read that’s delightfully magical and laugh-out-loud funny, Flora & Ulysses is a great pick.

Flora is a wonderful character. Smart and cynical, she nonetheless manages to be be sweet. Also, her ability to accept the incredible (but true) is refreshing.

I wonder, in fact, if that ability to accept the incredible is one of the great gifts of childhood. Those, like Flora, who can navigate the path toward adulthood and its worries without losing that acceptance, are gifted. Or stubbornly unique. Or something.

Flora isn’t the only character I like in here. Ulysses is probably the most well-rounded squirrel I have ever met in a book. The neighbors–both her mother’s and her father’s neighbors–are quirky and full of compassion. And Flora’s parents, despite their issues (real issues!) are fascinating people we can empathize with.

There are plenty of difficult things in this book, but it doesn’t come off as heavy. In fact, the humor keeps it almost buoyant–without ever getting crass or minimizing the problems. This is an amazing book, well worth its Newbery. If you can at all tolerate middle-grade books, I’d recommend this one. (Note: I have not seen the movie. I’ve heard it’s good, but have no other information on that point.)

The Kingdom of Back

Marie Lu’s The Kingdom of Back surprises with its mix of fantasy and historical fiction. I expected a fantasy, but at first, got nothing but a tale of Mozart’s forgotten sister.

As a historical tale, this story immerses me in a world of rich detail, patriarchy, ambition, and music. Then, just when I’m comfortable, fantasy seeps in. It infuses the story, seeping into the everyday world in a magical realist style.

So, not quite what I expected–but so much better. I love Nannerl. I’ve never quite connected to music the way she does, but I relate to her ambition and the complicated feelings she has about her brother and her brother’s talent. This story is epic–both in the realm of music (with genius rising, getting squelched and sometimes getting stolen) and in the Kingdom of Back (where Nannerl fights monsters that are not always exactly what they seem).

I’d strongly recommend this book for anyone who likes fantasy, magical realism, historical fiction, or stories about women in the arts. I may even try picking up a physical copy for myself (and I don’t like books that much very often. I did feel that way about this one, too.)

The Priestess Trials

The Priestess Trials by A. A. Lee places me in a rich, unique world that feels vaguely familiar.

It’s like something I saw or heard during my time in China–but in the countryside, not the city. However that doesn’t quite fit either because this world has very little modern technology. (They have knives and cooking pots and spears, but certainly nothing electric.)

The main character, Tala, barely survives as a slave for a poor family at the edge of a village facing famine and war. With their harvest threatened, the family plans to sell off Tala as a wife–to a man who has killed off his last several wives. Desperate to escape, Tala joins the priestess trials, where she must tap into her hidden store of magic to make the final cut and have a chance at a future.

From the first page to the last, Tala’s story engages me. I’m rooting for her, hoping that things will work out even when it seems like all of society is designed to keep her down.

Though I found one or two points confusing and was less than satisfied with the ending, this was an excellent book. I will be looking for the sequels.

The Raven and The Dove

I picked up The Raven and The Dove from a sales promotion that Songs of Healing was also in, and I was glad I did. This story by Kaitlyn Davis has great world building, interesting magic, good pacing, fascinating political intrigue, and romance. Plus, people can fly!

Seriously, I love the flying bits. I also love the secret, dangerous magic and the friendships. There are lots of conflicting loyalties here, and they make the story fascinating and frustrating all at once.

I was less excited about how this story ended–or didn’t. I know it’s the first in a series, but there was much more pushing toward the next story than settling this one into a good place. Despite this, I will probably go looking for the sequels to The Raven and The Dove since I did enjoy the characters and quite a few other things about this book.

The Crossover

The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander, is a gorgeous novel in verse. In lyrical language it sings…and seduces…and transports.

In fact, The Crossover is a bit magical. I know that, because partway through reading it, I imagined I actually wanted to get out and play basketball.

Anyone who knows me will understand the magic of this. I’m hardly what you’d call a sports person. I’m uncomfortable with any level of physical activity that requires a shower afterward. And, I don’t watch sports. (I make exceptions for Olympic figure skating, gymnastics, and occasionally diving.)

But this book magically turns me into Josh Bell, a basketball phenom. Josh’s pure love for the game sings through me, and so does his love and worry about his family. So does his love and frustration with his twin.

I used to think I didn’t like novels in verse, but now, I suspect I just hadn’t read any. If you haven’t tried one, this is a fabulous one to start with. (I’d also recommend Audacity by Melanie Crowder–or maybe even Flying in a Cage)

Invisible

Invisible–another great book by Cecily Anne Paterson.

The book stars Jazmine Crawford–a young lady who actively avoids attracting attention. Since her father’s death, she has perfected the art of becoming invisible.

But then, Jazmine gets in trouble. To stay in school, she agrees to help with the school play. Soon, everybody sees her. Though it feels uncomfortable at first, Jazmine begins making friends. Her past haunts her, though. She must face it before she can truly move forward.

I love the characters in this story, especially Jazmine. Her insecurity reminds me so much of my own feelings at that age. I also like how this story handles the effects of frequent moves, disability, and mental health issues.

If you like your young adult books on the realistic side, this could be a good one for you. (For my other reviews of Cecily Anne Paterson’s books, check out Love and Muddy Puddles and Charlie Franks is A-OK.