The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Blood of Eden

The Immortal Rules * The Eternity Cure * The Forever Song 

Dawn of Eden

Published: 2012
Publisher: Audible
Author's Website 
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Series: Blood of Eden
Narration by: Thérèse Plummer

Introduction 

In a dystopian future, a disease called "Red Lung" wiped out most of the humans. Now, vampires reign and humans are used for their blood. Cities are walled and humans who do not feed the vampires--unregistereds--are unsupported and starving. Allie is unregistered, hating the vampires to her core, living with her small group of fringe scavengers to survive. In addition to vampires, there are rabids--crazed monsters that didn't quite become vampires in the turning process. During a scavenging outing gone terribly wrong, Allie has to make a terrible decision.

Eventually, all alone in the world, she tries to find a purpose. From a band of humans, she learns of Eden, a place free from vampires.

Protagonist

Allie is a rough scavenger. She talks back, is sarcastic, and wields a katana. She does have a nice side; teaching others to read, making sure Stick doesn't starve, and going out of her way to help even the people that hate her. She is definitely not passive and it is refreshing.

The Love Interest

I wasn't too attached to him. Everyone hates vampires without question, kind of like how everyone hates the pixies in Carrie Jone's Need series. You love someone, they hate what you are. At what point do you throw up your hands, call them a bigot, and tell them to save themselves? And Allie isn't a damsel in distress in this book. She has a sword and will kick butt. She does more than her share of saving others, all while hiding what she is.

Essay Topics

Discrimination (humans vs vampires OR vampires vs humans) would be a very easy one, and it can be paired with Wicked, Need, or pretty much any other YA paranormal book. You could also look at vampire depictions across different genres/publication dates/marketed audience. These vampires are ruthless monsters. Twilight, not so much. Interview with a vampire, they can be, but they are very Romanticized. Depending on the story, vampires represent many different types of real-life fears, and you can tie in some film clips, if you have to present the argument (the film rights have been sold, but we will probably have to wait a while before it is released).

Worst character award goes to:

Stick.

Morgan has his stick.

Rafiki has his stick.

This Stick, is not good.

Second to Stick in the worst character award:

Ruth.

Final Thoughts

An interesting mix of paranormal and dystopian fiction with a female protagonist that can hold her own and vampires that don't suck (har-har). Julie Kagawa is a popular YA author, so I see no reason to exclude this book from a YA section. I hope to alternate between this series and the Immortal Game series by Ann Aguirre.

Secrets in the Attic by Virginia Andrews / Andrew Neiderman

Virginia Andrews also published under V.C. Andrews
This was actually written by ghostwriter Andrew Neiderman

Published: 1979/1997? Conflicting dates.
Publisher: Pocket Books
Author's Goodreads Page
Ghostwriter's Website

Quick Review

Karen and Zipporah are best friends, hanging out in Zipporah's attic, making fun of their classmates and talking about boys. When Karen's life seems to unravel, Zipporah is concerned and tries to get to the truth.

But Karen's story isn't so black and white. 

Young Adult Literature?

Goodreads has this listed as YA, which is why I am including it here. I don't know how this was marketed back when it was published. Just because you have two main characters who are teens does not mean that it is a good example of YA literature. Why do I say this? Because these teens do not act nor speak like teens. They speak like my grandmother would write or describe formally, which is not how young people speak, even in 1979 or 1997. This is sad. None of the teens described are really good depictions of young adults. It reads more like how an adult, who doesn't know any better, would say teens act. Times do change, and I wasn't around in 1979, but the writing is awful either way (in a fight, would you say someone "embraced" your legs, or someone "grabbed" your legs?), and I suspect some actual teens might find it off-putting. 

And about the writing: say KAREN one more time, I swear.

Library Inclusion

I wouldn't buy this for a library, unless, for some reason, Virginia Andrews (of Flowers in the Attic fame) becomes popular again (and you want even the books she didn't actually write but has her name on the cover). The slow unravelling of deceit was alright, but the poor characterization of two teens doesn't make it worthwhile to me.

Below I have a spoiler for something that bothered me in the epilogue, if anyone is interested. Aside from that, this review is done, so you can stop reading it now if you don't want to spoil anything.

  










The Epilogue

Everyone figures out Karen is a manipulator and liar. Why doesn't Zipporah bring up that Karen SAID she slept with two other men, instead of letting her brother's name be dragged through the mud? Karen's mom may be right about who the father is, but we're just not going to bring up any other names in this? No? Anyone? Ok. I don't know if they had paternity tests whenever this is supposed to take place (and I don't care too much to research it), so they'd never really know the truth. I just found the absurdity of the ending to be lazy writing so Karen can be reborn "into the family".  

The Siren by Kiera Cass

Published: January 26th 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Author's Website

Introduction

The Ocean calls them to ships or the sites of disasters to bring a mass of people into their watery graves by singing to them. Kahlen was one of those who heard the sirens' song, and the Ocean decided to keep her, making her siren for 100 years. Along with her siren sisters, she serves Her, the Ocean, through the decades. Kahlen struggles to do what she must, but she obeys because once her sentence is over, she can have a normal life. Fall in love, have a family, go to school, use her voice to communicate. And then a boy stumbles (or perhaps jitterbugs) into her life, and he throws her plans--and the Ocean's--into disorder. 

Genre/Demographic

This book was an interesting mix. It definitely was fantasy (sirens), romance, and it has mass death in it, plus the emotions of being part of that.

While this does fall into the category of  YA on Goodreads, I'd say this is more for an older YA audience, but not quite new adult. There's implied physical relationships, alcohol consumption (but only a bit from the narrator), and most of all, the scenes of shipwrecks. Cass doesn't describe drowning, but you get the horror of a huge ship capsizing with no survivors. The MC, Kahlen, fills in the blanks for the reader by relating the huge amount of guilt she carries, and how she'd rather look away. I think the way the author wrote this so delicately really lets the reader's imagination do its job, and it's so much better than describing it in detail.

It was also a fast read--I was able to read most of it in one day when I was volunteering at a reception desk. I appreciated that the book doesn't dwell on details like the houses they live in, clothes they wear, partying, etc., which I believe are some complaints that Cass gets for her other series, The Selection (the film rights were sold for a film for this in 2015, if you are interested). Each of Kahlen's sisters is unique with their hobbies and mannerisms, and I enjoyed reading about all of them. We get just enough of everything to fill in ourselves and continue on.

Insta-Love

10 days.

That's how long they knew each other for.

10.

Days.

No. 

This is from page 160 of the 2016 paperback (I blacked out the love-interest's name). I got serious Edward Cullen vibes. What's with people thinking this is endearing?

Essay Ideas

An easy idea is to compare this to other mermaid/siren stories, such as the Han's Christian Andersen fable, Amanda Hocking's Watersong Series (which I reviewed some of), Forgive My Fins, and...that's all I can think of. But Goodreads has these two lists: YA Mermaid Novels and Best Mermaid Books.  

Some more ideas can be an exploration of the Enthralling Siren trope and the Femme Fatale trope, as I don't necessarily think they fit the bill for it (reluctant femme fatales?). A paper can probably be written about the subversion of these tropes.   

A bigger topic can be exploring nature personified (the Ocean, which is so motherly She gets unbearable sometimes). 

Upcoming Mermaid Films

Like Mermaid films?

Three "Little Mermaid" Movies are in the Works

2018 film (Wikipedia)

Final Thoughts

It is the most mature book on sirens/mermaids I have read thus far. I recommend it for an older YA audience. I suspect that a younger audience might become bored. Cass is a popular author, so I think including this in the YA section of a library is an easy yes. 

The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross

Published: February 6th 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Author's Website

Introduction

Brienna's grandfather has placed her in Magnalia House, a boarding house to intensively study one of the five passions: art, music, wit, theatre, or knowledge. The problem is, at 10 years old, she doesn't have an innate ability in any of the passions. Her grandfather convinces the Dowager (headmistress) to take her, even when they were already full. All she knows is that it has something to do with her mysterious father. Ardens (students) live and learn at Magnalia House for 7 years, and Brienna must master a talent and secure a patron (an employer). Obtaining a patron doesn't go as planned, but she does become entangled in politics from the neighbouring country, Maevana. Maevana was once ruled by queens, and is now ruled by a ruthless king. The queen is rising, and Brienna finds herself part of the uprising.  

IF YOU'RE READING A PRINT COPY, DON'T READ THE FAMILY TREE IN THE FIRST FEW PAGES. Seriously, it's like putting Luke Skywalker's family tree before the scrolling wall of text.

Similar Stories/Essay Ideas

The easiest thing to compare this to is Divergent. Brienna doesn't have more than one talent, but I think she benefits from knowing a bit about each one. There also isn't much on the line for her if she fails to passion (become a master), other than being embarrassed and going home, not like in Divergent. Harry Potter comes to mind as well, as Houses are separated by personality. I don't tend to read many stories that separate their people like this, so this is all I have.

Feminist matriarchies come to mind as well, as Maevana has always had queens, and they highly respect their women. An essay can easily be written about feminism or matriarchies. 

Romance

There is a romance that is a bit problematic. The romance of Brienna's story doesn't take up much space, but it's there. This part of the story might bother some people.  

SPOILERS AHEAD!

I have a problem with who Brienna ends up with. He seems to be a fine young man, but the issue is that he IS A YOUNG MAN. At the end, Brienna is 18. He is 26. If that was it, I don't have much of an issue with it. But he was her teacher. There's a major power imbalance. He doesn't act on his feelings until she's about to leave. Ok... but he knew her when she was 10, and he was a teacher. Something about this is so skeevy. It didn't seem that he was grooming her, and he only taught her for her last two to three years. It also didn't help that the audiobook makes him sound like an old man. Anakin and Padme is so close to this. At least she wasn't his teacher. 

End of Spoilers 

Final Thoughts

It was a great book! The author has stated on Goodreads that there is a second book coming out next year. There's action, school drama (at the beginning), a tiny sprinkling of romance, some mystery, a tiny bit of magic, and a bit of simple politics. I liked how it wasn't a YOU'RE THE CHOSEN ONE, BRIENNA, story. A queen is rising, she's not the queen. It makes the rest of us pleebs feel good. I see no reason to keep this from a library collection. 

A Monster Calls Film, Book to Film Adaption

A Monster Calls book review

This 2016 adaption of Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls was alright. I'll make this quick review based on my thoughts about it being shown in a library or having it in the collection. 

Library Showing

I think the problem with this film is similar to what I also believe is an issue with the book (perhaps): most adults can enjoy it, because adults can theoretically relate to dying before their children. Teens, though, I think the book might not connect with everyone unless they are dealing with a parent that is ill. Honestly, I don't think I would have connected with the book at all when I was the target demographic. I'm fairly certain I would have found it childish. Like the film, there's something childish about Conor that I found off-putting. But as an adult, I can appreciate what he's going through. 

Ultimately, I don't think it would hold the interest of teens, unless you can find a group of them that WANT to see it together.

Library Collection 

Why not? I suppose someone might be upset by the bullying. It wouldn't go in the children's department, and I never hear of teens' sections having AV materials. There shouldn't be too much trouble putting it in the regular film collection. 

Other Thoughts

The three stories are animated instead of live action. I think the animation is good, but it's jarring. I get why they did it for the narrative, though. 

The monster was interesting. I suppose it is like most films where you get to see the monster up close and regularly: it becomes familiar and no longer frightening. 

There's a lot of scenes that adults get how good they were filmed.

I felt that it was an ok film, and I'm a little disappointed, but it did convey the story nicely. No reason not to include it in your collection, though it is a few years old now. I'm waiting on the Chaos Walking Trilogy to be filmed.