Full review posted on CandidCeillie

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken is a brand new book, published on January 5, 2016 by Disney-Hyperion. Alexandra Bracken is fairly well known for her The Darkest Minds series, which I have never read. Passenger is the first book in a duology. The second half, Wayfarer, is due to be published in 2017.

I read this book as a part of the #readwomen group on Goodreads. It was the book that was voted on for this month, so if you want to see more reviews, please go check the group out!

I bought a Nook copy of this book, and looking at the cover, I wish I’d bought the hardback, because it’s stunning. Seriously, Disney-Hyperion’s team did an amazing job on making this beautiful. The typography is great, the image is awesome, and I love the way that the title goes slightly off the edge of the cover. It’s a really great piece of design work.

Full review posted on CandidCeillie

This was a cute little murder mystery that kept me coming back to it, and the recipes in it look absolutely delicious. The characters were endearing, despite the narrator having some thoughts that made me cringe - "he was mildly retarded" and "looking at her made me promise to lose that ten pounds." I get that these are acceptable things to feel and think, I just personally didn't like a few phrases here and there.

I think this is a good basic overview of all of the research and beliefs that has gone into what we know about being transgender. I would have preferred it to be a more cohesive book, organized by topic more instead of the strange mix of time & topic that Rudacille decided to go with. However, for someone who knows very little about the history of the movement, I think this is a good starting point. I think my favorite thing about this book was the interviews - I could read those all day, with more context and a more extensive interview for each person. It would be amazing.

Immediate Reaction: I swear to God if she doesn't continue with another series, I'm gonna cry. Full review to come later!

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their boards.

I’ve been reading Richelle Mead’s work for about five years now, thanks to a friend who introduced me to her Vampire Academy series, which led to me reading and then buying all of those books, and continuing with her Bloodlines series. I attempted her Succubus Blues series, but never got into the style or the topic. So, I decided to try again with Gameboard of the Gods when I saw it on Netgalley, and I am so glad I did.

One of the reasons I love Mead’s writing is because of her extensive world building, and she did not disappoint me in this, although as usual in the first novel in a series, I craved to know more about their world. I really REALLY want to know what Cain actually was, and why the blamed religions for the Decline, not to mention what the Decline actually entailed. I could have done with more details as regards to that, but otherwise I really loved the novel. As it’s the first in a series, it definitely piqued my interest. Oh, and also what on earth was going on in Europe that Justin wouldn’t even run there? I want to know!

Mae, Justin and Tessa all had extremely different viewpoints on the things that were going on, which was very refreshing to read. I loved learning about the praetorian lifestyle and how Mae dealt with the changes between her normal, apparently pampered lifestyle to that of a warrior who is always ‘on’ and ready for whatever might come. That was actually another thing I wanted more information on – what is this implant, what is it attached to, and how does the science work?

I loved that while religion was partially the villain in this, the characters all recognized that the religion was not at fault – it was the practitioners’ misinterpretation of their goddess’s lore and taking it to an extreme that most of its practitioners generally would not go to.

There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.

- - -

First of all, I would like to point out that a good chunk of that summary is absolutely useless in regards to a plot summary. However, I’m aware from trying to tell people to read this series, that they are extremely difficult to summarize without giving away plot points. As such, I will give whoever wrote this kudos for the lovely prose. And whomever designed the cover also gets kudos for it. It’s stunning, just like the other two in the series.

I really liked this book, for a lot of reasons. I finished it in one sitting, much like I did with “The Raven Boys” and “The Dream Thieves” If you have not read these two novels, stop reading this review immediately and navigate your way to your library or bookstore and get these books. They’re amazing and will make this one make so much more sense.

Stiefvater’s prose is realistic and melodic without being unrealistic. Her pacing is perfect throughout the novel, always keeping me on the edge of my figurative seat. Her characters each have their own voice, their own word patterns, and it’s awesome. I love that she called characters out as “Richard Gansey the Third”-ing others. It was beautiful.

I love Stiefvater’s characters more than anything else. Jessie Dietley is a very interesting addition, and very reminiscent of folks in my hometown. Piper and Greenmantle are so human, I can’t help but like each of them. Greenmantle corrects Ronan’s Latin grammar, and they got married being fully aware that they’re both narcissistic to the nth degree? All right! Gansey recognizing his privilege is because of who his parents are? Fantastic. And Malory was pretty fab. I think they should keep him.

I think the things I loved most about this book were, in order, the character development for Ronan, the dynamic at 300 Fox Way, and characters learning to use their powers.

I adored the snark and the sheer number of ‘fucks’ in the novel. Maggie Stiefvater gave us exactly 20 fucks throughout the book, which might be enough for me to get through the rest of this semester, when I will likely do very little recreational reading. Thanks, Maggie!

The only thing that I really didn’t like about this book was the anxiety-inducing ending and a spoiler that I can’t share with you. Read the book and come talk to me!

Review to be posted!

This book was not only exceedingly well-written, with fantastic parallels and stunning characters, it was absolutely moving to the last page. I absolutely could not put it down since I bought it this morning. This is historical fiction paralleled with a novelist's life, and it's probably one of the best novels I've read all year.