8 New Speculative Fiction Books for Your Wish List

It's just two weeks into the new year, and my reading list is already overflowing. As you know, I enjoy books from many genres, but I will always have a soft spot for speculative fiction, especially fantasy. January is bursting with so many great books for those of us who like to venture into different worlds that I had a hard time narrowing down my choices for today's post. Featured here are the 8 books at the top of my speculative fiction reading list this month. Which titles have you read? Which January releases have I missed?

• Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking (Wednesday Books; Jan 2): I really like Hocking’s writing and am looking forward to this first in a young adult fantasy duology (yay! no long series), especially because it features Valkyries. The plot centers on a conflict between a mother and daughter and promises good action, Norse mythology, and young love.
• The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (Flatiron, Jan 30): You won’t want to miss this young adult contemporary fantasy: It deserves all its prepub hype and starred reviews. The story involves three generations of women, a book of fairy tales with a cult following, and dark magic. This is not your sugar-coated princess kind of tale, but it is bewitching.
• Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Jan 2): Middle grade readers will love this story about Emmeline, a girl who can control and befriend shadows. When her parents decide to “cure” her of magical abilities, Emmeline is caught up in a dangerous game of survival that tests her and her shadow's friendship and loyalties.
• The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson (Scribner, Jan 2): Looking for an adult dystopian that may seem scarily possible? Johnson's novel is about a woman trying to survive in a frozen, post-nuclear world. The story, set in Canada, has been described as having elements of outdoor adventure, thriller, and coming-of-age.

• Chainbreaker by Tara Sim (Sky Pony Press, Jan 2): This second entry in the steampunk Timekeeper series is set in Victorian (British-occupied) India and stars a gay clock mechanic. Sim’s stories are more than mashups of diversity themes; the fast-paced adventures feature gods, magic, and mythology; clockworks; and time bending, all set on a foundation of facts tweaked into an alternate world.
• Reign the Earth by A. C. Gaughen (Bloomsbury, Jan 30): A trusted publicist told me about this fantasy in which a young woman agrees to marry the enemy king and suppress her magic in return for the safety of her people. After her brother turns rebel and her powers call to her, she must weigh the costs of taking control of her own future.
• Sinless by Sarah Tarkoff (Harper Voyager, Jan 9): What if your sinfulness were made manifest for all to see? In Tarkoff’s dystopian world, each wrong act results in physical disfigurement, but who decides what is good and what is evil? Our hero, the preacher’s daughter, begins to notice the gray areas, making her question everything she’s been taught as true and threatening the very fabric of her world.
• The Beginning Woods by Malcolm McNeill (Sky Pony Press, Jan 9): Although geared to a middle grade audience, this story of a boy found abandoned in bookshop should have wide appeal. Full of magic, dreams, mysterious disappearances, and a quest to a dangerous place, the novel puts a fresh twist on familiar fantasy elements and introduces you to Max, who will win your heart.

Click for more

Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

You may remember I had mixed feelings about Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass, which was the first in a new young adult high fantasy. Although I was disappointed that Maas introduced a love triangle--mostly because that device has become almost formulistic in YA fantasy, dsytopian, and paranormal--I was impressed with her world building and the hint that our heroine's future was not going to be easy.

Thank goodness I listened to a trusted marketing friend, who assured me that the next book in the series, Crown of Midnight, took the story in a new direction. I read it and agree. Not only has Maas avoided the sophomore slump but she has written a stronger, surer novel. I'm now officially hooked.

This review contains no spoilers for Crown of Midnight but assumes you read Throne of Glass.

• What happens? Celaena Sardothien, assassin and king's champion, is as deadly as she is beautiful. Although she is bound in service to a king she hates, she uses her position to find ways to undermine him. Meanwhile, she discovers she's not the only person in court who has something to hide and that uncovering secrets can have life-altering results. The novel doesn't end on a cliff-hanger, but by the last page, Celaena has stepped onto a new path.
• What about that love triangle? Maas neatly and smoothly ironed out Celaena's romantic conflicts. I have nothing against a little love during times of political unrest; I just don't like the obvious and predictable, and I'm especially annoyed by obsession. I'm pleased to report that you'll find none of that in Crown of Midnight. If I say too much, however, I'll spoil the plot; instead let me assure you nothing is simple for any of the characters.
• A note on the audience and genre. This series may be classed as a teen book, but the plot is fairly adult and definitely violent. The genre is fantasy, but this is not a world of wands and wizards, and magic is powerful and deadly.
• A note on the plotting. For the most part, Maas is stingy with her clues to the broader world in which her characters inhabit, doling them out in a tantalizing way. There is no single wise man to whom Celaena can turn for answers. She, and we, must puzzle out the meaning of what she learns. In only one aspect (I'm not saying what) does Maas lay it on heavy in the foreshadowing. But being sure I know something that Celaena doesn't isn't a negative; in fact, it makes the assassin's journey even more interesting.
• General thoughts. Maas is growing as an author, and I'm looking forward to seeing where she'll take us as the Throne of Glass series progresses. I won't have to wait too long because the next book is due out this coming fall. In the meantime, I hope to read Maas's novellas, which act as prequels to the series.

Published by Bloomsbury USA Children's, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781619630628
Source: Print: review; audio: bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

Click for more

Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I had high expectations for Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass: it was billed as high fantasy with great world building and complex characters. I was thinking Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones for young adults. Although there is a lot to like about this novel, it wasn't love at first sight for me.

Beautiful Celaena Sardothian began her training as an assassin when she was just eight years old. Within a decade she had become the most feared killer in Erilea--that is, until she was captured and sent to the salt mines, where it was expected she'd quickly die as a result of exposure, slave labor, and/or starvation.

Strong and resourceful, Celaena beat the odds, surviving months of ill-treatment until she was given a second chance by Crown Prince Dorian: Wealth and freedom could be hers if she could find a way to defeat twenty-three other criminals in a deadly competition and then serve as the king's personal assassin for four years. With nothing to lose, Celaena accepted the offer.

The bulk of Throne of Glass revolves around Celaena's training for the competition and her life in the castle. But Mass interweaves several additional story lines into the main plot, including the king's agenda and court politics. Although some of the story arcs were easy to figure out, others are more complex and some are left up in the air, presumably to be picked up in future installments in the series.

The side stories help create a full world in which people and places have a deeper history, which we discover slowly as the series develops. Most of the characters are multi-dimensional; though some of the bad guys are clearly bad and some are left flat (for example, Celaena's maid in the castle).

My principal issue with Throne of Glass is one that other reviewers see as a strong point. That's the personality of Celaena herself. It was extremely difficult for me to believe her to be a feared assassin. Yes, her mind is constantly looking for escape routes, weapons, and other people's weaknesses, just as you'd expect from a professional killer. On the other hand, she seems overly concerned with court affairs and fashions and soon finds herself in a love triangle. Would a trained hit man who had only one chance at regaining freedom really distract herself by mooning over the prince and sneaking into a court ball? I had trouble buying it.

I understand that Celaena is more than just a killer. I appreciated that she liked to read, that she was curious, and that she wanted to make friends. But something about the love triangle (Hunger Games or Twilight, anyone?) made me weary. Perhaps it was the timing. Let her have a conflicted heart only after the competition, when she finally has time to recuperate and contemplate her future. (This is not a spoiler, we're really sure from page one that she will live no matter what happens at the castle.)

It speaks to Mass's skills that, despite my reservations noted in this post, I am curious enough about Celaena and her world that I plan to read the accompanying Throne of Glass novellas. If they capture my full attention, I'll gladly give Crown of Midnight (the second in the series) a try. Furthermore, I'm really looking forward to Mass's 2015 A Court of Thorn and Roses books, which are targeted to an adult audience and involve myth and fairy tale retellings.

I listened to the unabridged audiobook edition (Audible, Inc.; 12 hr, 47 min) read by Elizabeth Evans, who is a veteran audiobook narrator but new to me. I thought she did a fine job building tension, rendering the snappy dialogue, and projecting the characters' emotions. Evans enhanced my enjoyment of the book; in fact, I'm not sure I would have finished it if hadn't been for her worthy performance.

Note that if you decide to listen to the book instead of reading it in print, you'll miss the map at the front of the book and the extras found in the paperback edition (pronunciation guide, additional scene, and author interview).

Published by Bloomsbury USA Children's, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781599906959
Source: Print: review; audio: bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

Click for more

Review: Captivate by Carrie Jones

Last month I reviewed the first book in a refreshing young adult urban fantasy series: Carrie Jones's Need. I enjoyed it so much, I didn't wait long to read the second book in the quartet.

Captivate starts fairly soon after Need ends. Now that Zara White, our teen heroine, knows the truth about her family tree and some of the secrets of her grandmother's Maine town, she and her friends can no longer ignore the larger problems caused by the resident pixies.

I loved Zara's independence in Need; she was open to the possibility of having a boyfriend, but she didn't let Nick push her around. In Captivate, unfortunately, she is more dependent on Nick, and her relationship is sometimes more important to Zara than her own safety. I was disappointed that Jones decided to make Zara so focused on her boyfriend.

I could have forgiven Zara her Nick-crazy teen love if Captivate had moved along more quickly. Instead, Jones spends more than half the book on Zara and Nick and the "are they/aren't they" dating relationship of their best friends. On the positive side, when the action finally does pick up, it's good. We have pixie fighting pixie, were-animals fighting pixies, and pixies terrorizing humans. Through it all, Zara is forced to figure out her unique role in the current hostilities and in the bigger war to come. Jones also introduces two new paranormal species to the mix: Valkyries and elves. Each type of being, including humans, will have to take a side.

Although I guessed what part Zara would ultimately play, I didn't figure out the circumstances that would lead her there or the after effects of her actions. Carrie Jones has nicely set the stage for the next book, Entice.

So what's my overall reaction? Captivate is not as strong of a novel as Need, but Jones may have required a transition book to carry the story to the next phase. The bottom line is that I'm still interested in how everything will shake down. And I'll likely listen to book three next month.

I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Brilliance Audio, 8 hr) read by Julian Whelan, who reads the entire quartet. Again, I was impressed with her performance and her characterizations, making Captivate a recommended listen.

This review will be linked to Kid Konnection, hosted every Saturday by Julie at Booking Mama.

Buy Captivate at an Indie or at a bookstore near you. This link leads to an affiliate program.
Published by Bloomsbury USA / Bloomsbury USA Childrens, hardcover January 2010
ISBN-13: 9781599903422
Source: Bought (audio) (see review policy)
Rating: C+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

Click for more

Review: The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante

Honey and Agnes were born just days apart at the Mount Blessing religious commune in Connecticut. They shared a crib and then a small bed until they turned seven, the age at which all children are returned to their parents.

Because Honey's mother ran out on her a few days after her birth, Emmanuel, the group's leader, sent the girl to live with Winky, the handyman and gardener, who is considered a bit slow, though harmless. Agnes moved in with her parents, and later her little brother, Benny, also lived in their house. Despite being separated, the two girls remained best of friends and shared everything. In fact, when Agnes's grandmother, Nana Pete, made her yearly visit, she treated Honey as if she were family.

Unfortunately, by the time the girls are fourteen, they have started to go down separate paths. Agnes wants nothing more than to be a saint, praying daily for a vision or miracle and making personal sacrifices. Honey, on other hand, has seen Winky's forbidden portable black and white TV and knows that Mount Blessing is not part of mainstream America. All Honey wants to do is escape, and as a consequence, she is constantly in trouble with Emmanuel.

When Nana Pete makes a surprise visit to the commune during their most holy and sacred week, she witnesses a terrible accident and is forced to put into action a daring plan to protect the children, but one that could destroy the community. Honey sees only possibilities, but Agnes is scared and worries about sinning and Emmanuel's anger.

Cecilia Galante's The Patron Saint of Butterflies is a frightful look at life on a religious commune, told by Honey and Agnes in alternating chapters. Emmanuel holds all the power at Mount Blessing and rarely lets his followers forget that because he walks the path of true faith, God has given him the ability to work miracles. What happens to children who have been indoctrinated from birth? Who could have the strength to question God's will?

Galante, drawing on her own childhood experiences in a closed community, writes with terrifying authority. The details of daily life and the attitude of the believers will make you shudder, and the vivid characterizations make the story personal. Although The Patron Saint of Butterflies is marketed to a young teen audience, I was so emotionally engaged, I couldn't put the book down.

Galante makes you think about difficult issues, such as what is the meaning of freedom of religion? Is there ever a time when people shouldn't be allowed to worship in the way they deem correct? You'll also think about parenthood and guardianship and who has the right to determine what is best for children. And on a related note, you'll wonder how old kids need to be before they can make decisions about their own life.

The Patron Saint of Butterflies won multiple well-deserved awards and recognition, including being a Book Sense Pick and an Oprah's Book Club Teen Reading List Selection. To learn more about Cecila Galante, visit her website, where you can read what her father thought of the novel.

I listened to the unabridged audio edition of the bookl (Full Cast Audio, 9 hr) read by Lydia Rose Shahan and Julie Swenson as the girls, along with a full cast of narrators for the other characters. For my audio review, see the AudioFile magazine website.

The Patron Saint of Butterflies at an Indie

The Patron Saint of Butterflies at Powell's

The Patron Saint of Butterflies at Book Depository
These links lead to affiliate programs.

Published by Bloomsbury USA / Bloomsbury Kids, 2009
ISBN-13: 9781599903774Source: Review (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

Click for more

Today's Read: Hush by Eishes Chayil

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesdays. Here's how it works: Grab your current read; let the book fall open to a random page; and share 2 “teaser” sentences from that page. For more teasers, click on through to MizB's blog.

2009
Devory, can you hear me?

It's hard to write a letter to the dead. It is easier to talk with you directly, as if we are having a real conversation. Sometimes, though, writing is strangely reassuring. When I finish the letter to you I fold the paper into an envelope, tape it shut, and drop it into the mailbox. There is no address on it, no stamp, or anything. It's just a small, white letter, and I can pretend it gets to you. (p. 4)

—From Hush by Eishes Chayil. This quotation comes from an uncorrected advance review copy and may not match the published book. For more about this novel, please see the Bloomsbury Kids / Walker website. (Source: review, see review policy.)

Hush at an Indie

Hush at Powell's

Hush at Book Depository
These links lead to affiliate programs.

Click for more