Showing posts with label Balzer and Bray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balzer and Bray. Show all posts

January 31, 2014

[Review] The Madman's Daughter by Megan Sheperd

Title: The Madman's Daughter
Author: Megan Shepherd
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: YA, Historial Fiction, Horror
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Source: Library
Purchase: Amazon | TBD | Kobo | B&N

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Book Review
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of this book. I wished that I had read the original book by H.G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau, I did, however, watch the movie staring Val Kilmer, but it was such a long time ago, that I don’t remember much of it.

The characters of the book, you either loved them, hated them or just flat out didn’t trust them. I immediately disliked Dr. Moreau, he was rude, arrogant and had no emotional attachment to his own daughter, Juliet. He treated her like she was a nuisance. Always trying to order her around and assuming his fatherly role after years of being MIA.  

Montgomery wasn’t quite a gentleman, but he still had that air about him. You immediately like him right off, he seems very up front, even though he does hide what Juliet’s father does. But he does everything because he deeply cares. Whereas Edward, on the other hand, just seems sneaky right off the bat. I never did trust him. He seemed to always be hiding something and wasn’t always honest.

I did like Juliet’s character. She always seemed to be optimistic. Always giving the benefit of the doubt, even when she shouldn’t. She was tough, only because she had to become that way after her father’s crimes. She could take care of herself but always wanted someone there for her. She took a lot of crap from her father’s crimes and then from her father once she reached the island, but yet, never gave up. I admire her for that.

The story was fascinating. I was really not expecting the ending and who the “culprit” was. I actually shed a tear or two with the ending because it was very unexpected. So I’m hoping that I can get some resolve in the next book.

Rating

January 24, 2014

[Review] Born of Illusion by Teri Brown

Title: Born of Illusion
Author: Teri Brown
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Source: YABE
Purchase: Amazon | TBD | Kobo | B&N

Anna Van Housen has a secret.

A gifted illusionist, Anna assists her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums, and mentalists in 1920’s New York. As the illegitimate daughter of Harry Houdini—or so Marguerite claims—sleight of hand illusions have never been a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her own gifts secret from her opportunistic mother. Because while Marguerite’s own powers may be a sham, Anna possesses a true ability to sense people’s feelings and foretell the future.

But as Anna’s powers intensify, she begins to experience frightening visions of her mother in peril, which leads her to explore the powers she’s tried so long to hide. And when a mysterious young man named Cole moves into the flat downstairs, introducing Anna to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, she is forced to confront her past and rethink everything she’s ever known. Is her mother truly in danger, or are Anna’s visions merely illusion? And could the great Houdini really be her father, or is it just another of Marguerite’s tricks?
What did I think of Born of Illusion? Well, for starters, it was hard for me to get into at first. It took me over 100 pages before I started to really like it and not want to put it down. It seemed to just drag on and on at first. It was also predictable. Once you started to get into it, you start to realize who is true and a friend and who is the "bad guy". You also find out about things pretty late in the book.

But even with that being said, I really did enjoy it. I thought it was quite interesting to read about an illegitimate daughter of the famed Houdini. It's not very often you read about him in anything. I actually really don't know much about him except that he was a really great magician. This book made me want to find out more about him (I think I might look him up on Wiki).

The story was pretty good as well, once it finally started to pick up pace and keep me interested. I enjoyed Anna's abilities or feeling others emotions and the visions she would get. I have always been fascinated by the aspect of psychic abilities. I used to be envious of people that had them (I know, pretty lame haha).

I did enjoy Anna's character, flaws and all. She was tired of being her mother's lackey, tired of her mother being jealous of her and wanting to get out. I don't blame her. Anna was a strong willed individual and very stubborn. I enjoy stubbornness to a point, and Brown did not push her over the edge with that.

Cole was quite the mysterious guy. I love mysteriousness. It keeps you guessing and wanting more. I think every good book needs someone mysterious.

I do recommend this book to anyone who likes magic and psychic abilities. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book, Born of Deception. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Anna and Cole.



Find the author:

August 20, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #WoW @BalzerandBray @rosamundhodge

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's to spotlight upcoming reads which I can't wait to get my hands on.

This week my book is: 
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
Release date: January 28th 2014

Pre-order your copy today:
Amazon | TBD



Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.
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