After years of trying her poor mother’s patience, Sophronia Temminnick is being sent to finishing school. Mrs Temminnick is sure that an education in refinement will cure Sophronia’s habit of climbing, fraternising with technology and befriending lowly stable boys. Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality appears to be the perfect solution.

Appearances, however, can be deceiving. With the carriage being attacked before the party reach the school and the school itself being attacked soon after, Sophronia soon realises that Mademoiselle Geraldine’s may well be what she has been looking for. As promised, she will learn how to dress, converse, dance and charm; but only if she also applies herself to poisons, knives, diversion and lying.

Etiquette and Espionage is the first book in the Finishing School series. Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate series, Etiquette and Espionage is aimed at a slightly younger readership. In this case, however, I think that age recommendations should be summarily dismissed. Adults and teens alike will love this clever, irreverent Victorian-era steam-punk novel.

The writing style has been compared, with good reason, to Wodehouse. As in his works, Carriger’s voice is almost like another character in the book; quirky, witty and delightful. From the opening page it draws you in, imbuing everyday objects with motives and making the most tedious events into adventures.

Not to be outdone by the narration, Sophronia and her friends are amazing. For a group consisting primarily of girls they all have distinctive characters that aren’t bogged down in stereotype. Sidheag, with her rough manners and nonchalance about how the others see her, is my favourite, but the others are just as compelling. Dimity with her wish to be evil, even though she can’t help being lovely, and Vieve are both loyal and clever. Sophronia is the perfect lead character. She is complex and interesting; but her personality is the glue that holds this novel together. Her dynamic with other characters, her natural curiosity and her taste for adventure all meld together to keep the story moving forward.

Of the Victorian-era teen books I’ve read, this one strikes me as most historically accurate. Sorry, Cassandra Clare, and I love you, Libba Bray; but here it is. While the supernatural and steam-punk aspects would seem to counter any historical reality; the language, manners and values of the characters have something to them that just exudes old-fashioned sentiment. Characters, even the good ones, have no notion of political correctness when it comes to meeting other races. Even at the risk of blowing an operation, Sophronia point-blank refuses to wear trousers because she does not want to be a boy. The edges of the sharp bits of history have been blunted, but there’s still enough to hint at the unsavoury things that were, once upon a time, and I really liked that Carriger didn’t shy away from those things.

Etiquette and Espionage is a wonderfully funny start to what looks to be a great new series. I have seen Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series around, but had dismissed it because I haven’t read a steam-punk novel that I’ve enjoyed before. I am happy to say that this is no longer the case. I’ll be reading Carriger’s other books while waiting for the second Finishing School novel.

Etiquette and Espionage – (Gail Carriger)

Little, Brown (February 5, 2013)

ISBN: 9781907411588

the break-down of her parents’ marriage Elissa and her mum, Sarah, move to a new house away from the city for a fresh start. The house is beautiful; two storeys of polished wooden floors, expansive windows and elegant furniture. There’s just one catch; four years earlier in the creepy run-down house that Elissa can see from her windows, two people were murdered by their troubled daughter. And though she is said to be dead, her body was never found.

Settling in to the new house is not easy. Despite promises of a new beginning, Elissa’s mum goes back to her old ways, working late into the night at the hospital. The neighbours are judgemental, worrying more about appearances than basic human compassion; and Elissa’s dad has fallen out of contact all together. There is one glimmer of hope in all of the darkness though. Elissa meets Ryan, the only son of the murdered couple, and a boy who is sweet, caring and actually there. He is still living in the house his parents died in, trying to come to terms with the gravity of his loss. As he and Elissa establish a fragile connection, strange things begin to happen and she realises that the past may not have been laid to rest after all.

The House at the End of the Street is a film novelisation of the Jennifer Lawrence movie. It was written to accompany the movie and works well in conjunction with it. I watched the film at much the same time as I read the book so that I’d be able to contrast them. Both are light and enjoyable and, though only one is needed to get a sense of the storyline, reading and watching each will fill in gaps left by the other.

In this novel Lily Blake adds depth to the film’s emotional landscape without changing the atmosphere created by it. Character feelings and motivations are explored more thoroughly, as are their backgrounds. While Ryan remains largely a mysterious character in the film, in the book he has a well-developed sensitive side. Elissa too has a more well-rounded character in the books. She has a life back in Chicago and issues outside of Ryan and her mother.

It’s refreshing to read a book with a protagonist as independent as Elissa. She is strongly ethical but, beyond that, she comes across as a person rather than a character. Her relationship with her mother is rocky on the surface but strong at the core, she has a passion for music and, though she can be incredibly snoopy, it’s never unrealistic. The way she reacts to the danger going on around her is another point in her favour.

The fast pace builds to an unforgettable climax in House at the End of the Street. While the strong characterisation makes the story, you’re hooking yourself in for a plot-twister of a ride. Definitely a must read for fans of the film or anyone who enjoys a solid thriller.

The House at the End of the Street – Lily Blake

Atom (August 12, 2012)

ISBN: 9781907411991

Moonlight & Ashes by Sophie Masson is a gorgeous retelling of the Cinderella fairytale – though probably not as you know it.

Based loosely around the German Cinderella – Aschenputtel – this isn’t a story where you’ll find Fairy Godmothers and Princes who come along to rescue poor Cinders (renamed Selena here) whose fate is out of her own control. Nope, this gutsy heroine does it all herself … with a little help from a hazel twig and some pretty cool magics.

Moonlight & Ashes kicks off where we expect it would. Selena is a slave to her evil step mother and sisters, while her father remains distant and aloof, not seeming to care what becomes of his daughter with his first, deceased wife. Her existence is miserable by all accounts – her step sisters now own the beautiful dresses and jewellery that were once hers, her place is with the lowest of the servants, scavenging for food and a friendly ear. Society has shunned her and the family renamed her as Ashes. But this Cinderella has a secret, bigger than any of them can imagine, told to her by her dying mother: she is a Moon Sister.

Many years ago, magic was outlawed and the last of the Moon Sisters were captured or killed by the Mancers, a menacing and politically powerful association of men and sorcerers. Theirs is the only magic authorised by the government. Selena is, of course, terrified of being found out by the Mancers, and will do anything to stay under their radar and away from magic. She denies anything to do with her Moon Sister heritage. Then, on her sixteenth birthday, she dreams of her Mother and the hazel twig. And this is where things get interesting.

I loved Moonlight & Ashes. I loved that Selena is strong enough to not only take charge of her own life but also the lives of those who she cares for. She’s a fantastic heroine. Far from perfect, Selena makes plenty of stupid mistakes and takes risks that will have you cringing as you turn the page. The story moves quickly, with the Cinderella ball and prince storyline pretty much over and done with in the first eighty or so pages. From there, it’s all adventure, deceit and honour. Ah, and the romance bit. Well, this is based on the Cinderella fairytale you know. Yep, capital F Fairytale – and who doesn’t appreciate a little true love? Just don’t think you already know how this romance ends…

I do wish there had been space to investigate and learn more about the co-stars of this story such as Andel, the barge-dwelling philosopher, Olga, the Ruvenyan Werewolf and Tomi, who I felt was over-looked. They were seriously engaging and interesting characters. Maybe we can cross our fingers for a spin-off there?

Moonlight & Ashes is the first Sophie Masson book I’ve read, so when I looked the author up I was pretty happy to find she had a bit of a back-list. Like, in the vicinity of fifty novels. Fifty! I’ll be checking some of those out. And so should you.

Moonlight & Ashes by Sophie Masson

Published by Random House

Paperback, 318 pages

ISBN – 978 1 74275 379 9

~deep breath iiiiiinnnnn…. deep breath oouuuuuut~ I’m counting here as well.

Now you may be asking me why it is I am acting like I’m in labour over a book. If you’re not, perhaps you’ve already read Hot Blooded, and know exactly why I am being rather strange.

I’ll start with my impressions on the cover art. Not a fan of the model. The dress is fine, but the hair and the make-up free face is far too stark for the back drop of wolves, mountains, pine forest and a huge full moon. For the sake of the story, her expression is far too blank. There is also what looks like an aged effect over the page to make it look like it’s been folded. To me it just looks like the artist forgot to erase their placement marks. I also missed the embossed title lettering from Unleashed. I’m usually a big fan of red overlays and sepia tones, but this one just didn’t do it for me. Sorry ladies.

Once I got over the cover there was a story to be read, and boy, what a story.

In Unleashed Kat is bitten and becomes a werewolf. In Hot Blooded she’s adjusting to living in both the regular human world, and coming to terms with being the bottom wolf in the Fenners pack. The transition isn’t running as smoothly as she’d like due to the alpha wolf being consumed by dementia, and her best friend, Cordelia, being banished from the pack. The only thing standing between her and certain death is Justin. And what on earth is the story behind the contents of the boxes in her grand father’s shed.

I love the way, for Kat and Justin, the boundaries between human nature and the inner wolf collide, sometimes living in harmony, and at other times the inner turmoil must be exhausting. It’s nice to know it goes beyond teen angst and a petty conscience.

The setting of Wolf Springs and the woods make me imagine clean fresh air and bird song. But don’t let the peaceful atmosphere lull you into a false sense of security. Nature is a cruel and unforgiving thing. I think it adds an eerie backdrop to an already gritty storyline. If book three picks up where this one left off, the weather will become a character of it’s own and add a whole new layer of complications to an already tense situation. Looking forward to that.

And since I’ve talked about everything besides the ending it is safe to assume my behaviour at the start of this review has to do with that. It’s not fair. I don’t like Niagara falls high cliff hangers and OH MY GOODNESS I could stamp my foot in rage. Where the hell is the next book. I need it NOW!

I was grabbed by the scruff of the neck from the first page and my brain was rattled around by the constant fast pace of the plot line. If real life and headaches didn’t get in my way I would have had this finished in under a day. The final hundred or so pages were beyond gripping and I got to the last page in record time.

I recommend this series if you’ve enjoyed the Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls Series and Alyson Noel’s Soul Seeker’s series. They have similar themes and I think the three heroines would probably get along swimmingly.

Let us know what you thought.

http://www.wolfspringschronicles.com/

http://nancyholder.com/

http://debbieviguie.com/

Paperback 382

Published December 1st 2012 by Doubleday Children’s

ISBN 0857530720 (ISBN13: 9780857530721)

Three years after the event that shattered the world as we know it, Sam is still walking the desolation of post-apocalyptic America. While he no longer has his father-figure and guide, Hikari, or his beloved Aimi; he is on a mission to find Grace, the only friend he may have left. She, however, is in the depths of hell; and, even if she is still alive, after experiencing its torments she may never be the same again.

Aided by the Watcher, Samyaza, and with an unexpected new ally, his fight to protect the innocents continues. However, new friends might not be enough to save him from the latest horror his father, Satan, has unleashed on him.

Tribulation is the second book in the [intlink id=”8812″ type=”post”]Rapture [/intlink]trilogy and, like its predecessor, the action begins right from the start. With the world already set up from the previous novel, the plot commences from the first few pages as well. It is a refreshingly exhilarating way to start a book and suits this action-packed series well. Back-story is worked in as the novel progresses so, while readers starting out with Tribulation will be able to understand the events, those who have read Rapture won’t get bogged down in scenes from the past.

As he has proven in Rapture, Simpson is a master at crafting battle scenes. In Tribulation, he shines again. The way Sam sees and interacts with his surroundings in battle is almost poetic. The atmosphere and settings stand out as well; the widespread desolation almost taking on a life its own. It makes for some incredibly creepy build-up and some stunningly vivid fight scenes. New demons are introduced, far more terrifying than those in the previous novel, and that amps up the terror factor too.

While the plot has deepened and the danger and risks are both higher; Sam hasn’t developed enough as a character to meet the challenges. He makes the same mistakes he did last time. Not physically, but spiritually. He makes pacts with creatures he can’t trust without regard for the consequences and, at times, it seems as though he has no understanding of the Bible; breaking covenant and then wondering why he’s punished for it.

As a character he works well. Despite whatever heritage he has, he’s a good person. Those around him have more darkness in them than he does, though he does not seem to see it. Without Aimi and Hikari to lean on, I really wanted to see him branch out emotionally and rely on other people. Though he considers doing this with Grace, he has no understanding of complexities in relationships and can or will not adapt to her brokenness. He has developed so much as a character physically; adjusting his methods of fighting and applying them to different foes. It adds appealing depth and substance to the tale, making the battles stand out from one another. Without the accompanying emotional development, it feels as though only half of the potential is being met.

The Grace and Sam plotline is the most interesting development in Tribulation. Grace seems to be the only person in Sam’s life who isn’t perfect. She’s not the angel that Aimi is; always sweet and pliable. So willing to do what Sam wants that he doesn’t need to ask her. She’s confused, cranky and lashes out at those nearby; and she’s not afraid to show all of those facets of herself. Despite Sam’s anxiety about her behaviour they have a bond that will hopefully strengthen in the final novel, Apocalypse.

Anyone who enjoyed Rapture will love Tribulation. As fast-paced as the first, this novel treads a darker road. It expounds on the mythology; casting both Heaven and Hell in a more uncertain light than they had been. By the end of it, you’ll be waiting for Apocalypse.

Tribulation – Phillip W. Simpson

Pear Jam Books (December, 2012)

ISBN: 9781301374595