Book Review: Mockingjay

I'm glad I waited to read THE HUNGER GAMES and CATCHING FIRE because then I didn't have to wait for MOCKINGJAY. Suzanne Collins definitely wrote an amazing trilogy. Each book stands out strong... and in different ways. But I have to say MOCKINGJAY was my least favorite and CATCHING FIRE was my favorite.

One thing that really interested me about this series, that I failed to mention in previous reviews, is the clothing and style of people in the Capitol. Since this book takes place in the future, it takes something we do now and makes it unbelievable. I'm not a fan of the idea of cosmetic surgery. But it's something that is becoming more and more popular among people. I feel like it started out as something that only celebrities did, and now regular teens are having it done.

Cosmetic surgery in the world of The Hunger Games series is even more extreme. Coloring hair and skin to unnatural colors. Can you imagine living in a world where someone's entire body is dyed lavender or striped like a tiger? Or someone having cat-like whiskers surgically implanted in their face? To be honest, this was my favorite thing about MOCKINGJAY.

I've heard a lot of complaint about the ending of this book. There was death of characters I liked and characters I didn't. One, in particular, made me cry. I don't want to giveaway spoilers because I know not everyone has read it yet. There were sad parts and parts that tried to be happy. But when you're in a war, it's just too hard to be happy some times. I cried again at the end... at the epilogue. And for a while after.

I'm just happy I don't live in a world like that. I think that's one of the benefits of reading dystopian novels. It makes you realize that your life isn't as bad as you may have thought. We live in a free country. Not a country where you can be shot to death to punish a relative that pissed off the president or annoyed a peacemaker. Peacemaker=exterminator.

I think I'm still Team Katniss. And while there were parts of this book I really didn't enjoy, I've enjoyed thinking about all that's happened. I hope everyone who's read the previous two will read this. If for no other reason than to see how it all ends. There was a lot of controversy over how it ended. It seemed people either loved or hated it. And I think it all had to do with how it was read. Anyway, I liked the ending.

Synopsis:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

Book Giveaway: Hush, Hush

Giveaway is closed!

So you may have heard of HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick... and that she has a sequel coming out in a little over a month called CRESCENDO. And if you are like me and often late to the party, you'll want to get your hands on this fantastic book before October 19.

There will be two winners.

First place prize: HUSH, HUSH hardback, swag (including HUSH, HUSH bookmark), earrings inspired by the novel, and fallen angel journal.

Second place prize: Fallen angel journal and swag (including HUSH, HUSH bookmark)

To enter:

1. Must be a follower.

2. Must be 13.

3. Must have a US address.

Contest closes Friday, October 1 at 9PM EST. And don't forget to leave your email.

Want extra points?

+2 Following my twitter @AineFey (leave username)

+1 For tweeting, tweet up to once a day (leave links)

+2 For getting a friend to follow my blog (leave their name)

+1 For being Rather Lovely (leave rath username)

Book Review: Catching Fire

I recently read THE HUNGER GAMES. And while I did not love it, I liked it enough to continue the series. I’m glad I already had CATCHING FIRE on my shelf. I picked it up almost right away. I read it in six hours and loved it. I have to admit that I was concerned. Many friends of mine who had read THE HUNGER GAMES and loved it weren't huge fans of CATCHING FIRE. Imagine my surprise when I liked it more.

Katniss is back at home after The Hunger Games, and she and Peeta are about to go on tour. The thing I love about these two is that they are rebels. They continually act out, even though they know that it could cause punishment, including death. I love that we got to see more Gale in this one, though he still didn't get enough "screen time".

There was one scene that caused tears. Poor Gale! I can completely understand why Katniss is so torn between her two guys. Both are fantastic. I am still unable to choose sides. Currently still Team Katniss! And even though I was late to the party, I'm glad I was. This way, I didn't have to wait a year!

And again... Down with the Capitol!

Synopsis:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Manga Review: Labyrinth and Dark Crystal

The fourth RETURN TO THE LABYRINTH installment hit shelves last month. It was the final volume in the series. If you're familiar with the 1980's movie Labyrinth, then this is for you. Whether or not you've seen the movie, I honestly think you'd enjoy this. However, if you have seen the movie, it will make reading these that much more enjoyable.

Even after 15 years, Jareth, the goblin king, is still in love with Sarah. And he has been keeping his eyes on the baby. Though, Toby is no longer a baby. Toby is to be the successor to King Jareth's throne. But is this high school slacker up for the job? And is Jareth being fair?

Other lovable characters show up to help along the way: Ludo, Hoggle, Didymus, the worm. "I said 'Ello." And we get to meet a few new characters as well: Hanna the wingless faery and her friend who's basically a baby Ludo.

Synopsis:

The Goblin King has kept a watchful eye on Toby: His minions secretly guiding and protecting the child... Legions of goblins work behind the scenes to ensure that Toby has whatever his heart desires... Preparing him for the day when he will return to the Labyrinth and take his rightful place beside Jareth as the heir to the Goblin Kingdom... That day has come......but no one has told Toby.

While I enjoyed RETURN TO THE LABYRINTH, I loved LEGENDS OF THE DARK CRYSTAL. It follows Lahr and Neffi, two gelflings, whose homes and villages have been destroyed by the garthim. Again, I think this would be more enjoyable to someone who has seen and loved the film, but everyone could enjoy it. The evil Skesis are behind the garthim attacks.

If you've seen the movie, then I'm sure you remember the Skesis often saying "Hmmmmmmm". They say it a lot in these books, and I can hear their "Hmmmmmm" as though I was watching the film. These books take place before the movie, a prequel, and is set at a time when there were more geflings. Aughra and the mystics, make their appearance, of course, making this a thoroughly enjoyable series. I'm sad there's only two books.

Short Story Review: Of Course I Try (and giveaway)

Contest Closed! The winner is... Sandy!

I was recently asked by a friend to review her first published work. It is epublished by Decadent Publishing, a company that publishes erotica (which is what this is) as well as various sub-genres of romance and even some YA. Seleste deLaney is a penname for... actually, I can't tell you that. =P But you can read an excerpt here.

She pitched it to me as an adult story with some paranormal thrown in. The paranormal is the part that attracts me to a lot of stories. Jocelyn is our MC, and she is in love with Max. Or perhaps it's just "in lust with". And I can see why. Unfortunately, I can't say too much about the story, or you'll know the big secret that's revealed at the end.

The only complaint I have is that it's just too short. I wanted more. The writing is superb, and I am looking forward to more from her. Hopefully, longer pieces, and, of course, I'd read more short stories as well.

This type of story isn't for everyone, but if you're an adult and enjoy erotica, you'll definitely enjoy this tale.

Synopsis:

Love is a wonderful thing. Unless you don't get a choice in the matters of your own heart.

Jocelyn has loved Max since the day she met him. Even when he scares her enough to leave, she can't resist going back. No matter how many times she tries to break free from him, she ends up in his arms and bed again. Not this time. Jocelyn needs to be free and Max isn't going to stop her from walking away -- no matter how hard he tries.

And I liked it so much, that I'm giving away a copy. This is only published in eformat, so this contest will be a bit different. I will send you a gift certificate for the exact amount on Amazon, and by entering, it means you will use it for that. Honor system. Contest runs through 9/10. You have until 9:00 PM EST.

1. Leave me a comment to be entered.

2. You must be 17 years of age and a follower of Aine's Realm.

3. You do NOT need a kindle, as you can download kindle for PC or Mac.

4. This is open to US, Canada, and UK. Let me know which country so I can order from the right amazon, though I'm not sure it actually matters. =P

5. Extra point for following @SelestedeLaney on Twitter (leave name).

6. Extra point if you promise to review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

Author Interview: Dianne Salerni (and giveaway)

I’ve wanted to do author interviews at Aine’s Realm for a while now and, unfortunately, had been rather lazy about it. A few weeks ago I met a bunch of wonderful authors at PAYA, including the lovely Dianne K Salerni, and she graciously agreed to be my first author interviewee.

Aine: First off, Dianne, can you tell us about your book, We Hear the Dead?

Dianne: We Hear the Dead is a fictional retelling of the story of Maggie Fox, one of two girls credited with starting the spiritualist movement in the 19^th century. Maggie was a fun-loving and mischievous girl who became caught up in the 1800’s equivalent of a “viral video.” The clever prank that she and her sister Kate pulled on family and neighbors snowballed into a phenomenon, a social pastime, and even a religion. Pretending to be spirit mediums lifted Maggie and her family out of poverty, but she was never fully comfortable with the deception. When she fell in love with a famous Arctic explorer from a higher social class, Maggie was forced into a crisis of conscience, deciding between the man she loved and her family duties.

Aine: I absolutely loved We Hear the Dead. There were so many good scenes. Which scene was your favorite to write?

Dianne: I loved writing the romantic scenes between Maggie and her beau, Elisha Kane. As part of my research, I read many of the actual love letters between these historical people. They were both very playful and enjoyed using clever words to needle each other. Elisha called Maggie a fraud, and Maggie punctured holes in Elisha’s (rather large) ego. While I was writing, I became totally caught up in weaving the real words exchanged between these lovers 150 years ago into their conversations on the page.

Aine: Were there any events that happened in Maggie’s life that you wanted to include, but had to cut for length or storyline purposes? Can you tell us about one of them?

Dianne: One event that had to be cut involved a narrow escape from exposure. A sister-in-law of their sister-in-law (if you follow that) overheard Maggie and Kate discussing the manner in which they really produced the ghostly knocking sounds. This woman spilled the beans to a gentleman named C. Chauncy Burr who was trying to discredit the Fox sisters. Burr went around the state denouncing the girls and demonstrating how they faked the knocking sounds. Maggie and Kate’s older sister Leah salvaged the situation through good marketing! Leah reduced the prices for the séances and made sure clients were happy, while Burr insulted believers and made more enemies than friends.

Aine: I know you originally self published a few years ago. How much editing/rewriting happened between High Spirits and We Hear the Dead?

Dianne: 30,000 words worth of editing happened! I cut that much out of the original version. Events lost along the way included the Burr episode, various small things that happened to Kate, and a long story about Elisha Kane’s Arctic adventures.

Aine: How is the We Hear the Dead screenplay coming along? Any movie news you can share?

Dianne: I am working on another draft of the screenplay this fall – it’s the 8^th draft by my count. This draft will mostly stick to the previous version, but add one layer of depth over top of what I already have. I am really excited about the proposed changes, because I think it will give the whole movie a better sense of purpose. The producer, Amy Green of One Eye Open Studio, plans to roll out the screenplay to financial backers this fall. She would like to see filming start in late 2011!

Aine: What do your students (or past students) think about having a teacher who is also a published author? Have any of them read We Hear the Dead and if so what kind of feedback have you gotten?

Dianne: My students (and their parents) have been some of my best supporters. I know the students were excited to see the book on the shelves of stores last spring, and I can’t wait to see their reaction when they spot it in the Scholastic TAB Book Club flyer this September! We Hear the Dead is geared toward older readers, but some of my fifth graders have read the book anyway. One of last year’s students even read the original (longer) version and wrote a wonderful review of it on our classroom blog! I can also credit my students with naming the book. When Sourcebooks decided to change my original title (High Spirits), it was one of my students who suggested “We Can Hear the Dead.”

Aine: What can you tell us about the book you’re working on?

Dianne: I have two projects I’m working on right now. I’m working on the first draft of a historical mystery surrounding two caged graves in a lonely mountain town in Pennsylvania. The graves really do exist, and the story behind the cages is shrouded in mystery. I also have a manuscript set in the Victorian age about a girl orphaned under mysterious circumstances who confounds a group of scientists investigating psychics. This story is also based on true events, and I am working on revisions to plot structure and pacing.

Aine: How much of your summer vacation did you spend writing? And do you prefer to write your first drafts long hand or on the computer?

Dianne: I spent ALL of my summer vacation writing -- first the screenplay, and then the caged graves manuscript, with periodic revisions on the other piece as I collected feedback. I write completely on the computer. The only time you’ll catch me working long hand is during a faculty meeting, when I’m pretending to take notes.

Aine: Any chance we’ll see more from you about the Fox sisters? I, personally, have my fingers crossed for a Kate story.

Dianne: Well, there are eight drafts of a screenplay about the Fox sisters! LOL! I’ll never say never regarding a follow-up novel, but Kate is a tricky subject. Unlike Maggie, she never confessed to fraud, nor did she commit her inner thoughts and personal dilemmas to paper. I can historically justify what I wrote about Maggie based on her letters, but Kate … is an enigma.

Aine: How did you celebrate the release of We Hear the Dead?

Dianne: Coincidentally, the same day We Hear the Dead was released, my husband and I were scheduled to attend a Sweetheart’s Ball at the local Rotary Club. It was originally a Valentine’s Day event that was postponed to May because of a blizzard. So, on my release day, I had my hair done, dressed up in a fancy gown, and had a night on the town with my husband.

Aine: And some random questions, because those are sometimes the most fun… What book are you most looking forward to that is released this fall?

Dianne: In the YA genre, I am looking forward to Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. In adult fiction, I’ve preordered a copy of a novel called Cryoburn, by one of my favorite science fiction authors, Lois McMaster Bujold.

Aine: What is your favorite sweet treat?

Dianne: Cheesecake – or my husband’s homemade vanilla ice cream.

Aine: What toppings do you like on your pizza?

Dianne: Black olives, spinach, and feta cheese.

Aine: What is the one place you want to visit most in the world?

Dianne: I’d like to visit Greece someday and possibly take a cruise around the Greek islands. I’m especially interested in visiting Minoan ruins.

Aine: And… what does the K in Dianne K Salerni stand for?

Dianne: The K stands for Katherine, my middle name. I get some ribbing because I have a Facebook account under Dianne Marenco Salerni – so high school and college friends can locate me by my maiden name. But then people want to know if I think Marenco starts with a K! I probably ought to fix that.

Aine: Thanks again, Dianne, for allowing me to do this interview. I don't think we could split a pizza, but I'm definitely in for some cheesecake. =P

Don't forget to check out Dianne's website for information on her other works and her blog to read more about her upcoming projects, the Fox sisters, random musings, and book reviews by her daughter.

***

Now for the winner of WE HEAR THE DEAD, signed by the one and only Dianne. As chosen by random.org, our winner is Maggie. Congrats!

Short Story Review: Necromancer and Greydeere

I have this condition. I wish I knew the name of it. Diagnoses are important. But I know many other bookaholics have it, so at least I’m normal. Right? What happens is... I read a book that I love, so then I go find everything else that author has written. This has happened many times with authors such as Sarah Dessen, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Charles de Lint.

As you all know, I recently read WE HEAR THE DEAD by Dianne K Salerni. And I loved it so much that I’m giving a copy away here. Check back on Sunday for the winner announcement and an interview with the fantastic author. And while I'm plugging cool stuff, you have until tomorrow to enter Dianne's contest on her blog.

While playing around on Dianne K Salerni’s website I found out that she had written two short stories. “Necromancer” in VISIONS Volume 1 and “Greydeere” in VISIONS, Volume 2. Both are published by Strider Nolan. If you click on the titles you can read excerpts in pdf format.

I received VISIONS Volume 1 on Monday. Why does Amazon ship books separately even when you click on “group items together”? Anyway, I cracked it open that night to read “Necromancer”. And I feel the need to point out that this is one of the greatest covers ever.

VISIONS was referred to as “a modern pulp magazine”. I have to admit that I had no idea what that meant. So I turned to the ever faithful Wikipedia and read up on the history.

“Necromancer” fits in the horror/occult genre, as you could probably guess from the title. It was fantastic, very creepy. And what I loved most about it was that I thought I knew what was going to happen, but… I was wrong. I love being wrong when it comes to this. Figuring out the ending in the beginning is never any fun. I’m not crazy about Miranda, the main character. She made some decisions that I consider unethical. Rakhoum was a creepy old man, but I enjoyed his scenes. He came to the library Miranda worked at in search of ancient Persian texts on sorcery and necromancy, but remember “raising the dead is impossible.”

Based on the synopses of both stories, I was sure I’d like “Necromancer” better. Again… wrong… “Greydeere” was even more amazing! It fits into the fantasy/sword and sorcery genre, however, there was little of that in there. The ninth Marquis was mysterious and tricky… or so he thought. And Evan was so sweet. *little crush* But the character that fascinated me most was Greydeere. The little surprise Dianne included early on made this character that much more interesting. Can’t say more or it would give it away. There was some major sexual tension I this story, and I was never sure who I could trust or not trust. But the “legend of Greydeere reached new heights”, and I hope we see more of this thief.

I can only say how much I loved Dianne's selections, as I haven't gotten to the others, but I can say that between what I've read, and what I've heard, these books are must-haves.