This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.

Lena Mattacascar has always been different. She tells people she has a birth defect and hides the truth: she’s half-goblin. At least, that’s what her doctor, mother, and grandmother believe. They claim the source of the goblinism is her father, but he disappeared a long time ago. When Lena turns eighteen, she decides to seek her father out and demand answers. On her way to Scree — supposedly a haven for “Peculiars,” people who are different, like Lena — Lena meets Jimson Quiggley, a librarian traveling to Knob Knoster, the town right outside Scree. The two strike up a quick friendship and Lena eventually finds herself working alongside Jimson for the mysterious Mr. Beasley, a man claimed to conduct experiments on Peculiars. When Lena meets Thomas Saltre, a marshal who asks her to spy on Mr. Beasley for the sake of her country, Lena is unsure who to trust.

For some reason, I just couldn’t connect to The Peculiars. In the beginning, I was excited by the idea of ‘Peculiars’ and Lena’s adventure to Knob Knoster quickly grabbed my attention. She’s a strong, independent girl with a lot of questions about herself that promise to lead to exciting answers. The alternate 1800s setting of The Peculiars is equally as interesting as Lena and her unique features. But while all the elements of the story are interesting, the action isn’t. It develops so slowly that I had to force myself to finish each chapter. On the plus side, the chapters are short and easy to read through. The downside: there are a lot of them.

I think my main problem with The Peculiars is that I was expecting it to be someone else. The cover, though intriguing, is misleading. Lena does not have wings and winged individuals play a very small role in the book. In fact, the Peculiars themselves play an oddly insignificant role. The book centers more around Lena’s journey to a new place and her struggle to accept herself. But I wanted to know so much more about the Peculiars! I wanted to know why these people existed, how many of them existed, the different types of Peculiars, and what it was like to have these sorts of unique qualities. Lena’s own “deformities” — an extra joint on each finger and toe — are the least fascinating compared to the other Peculiars. Since the book doesn’t really seem to be about the Peculiars, I’d expect it to at least solve the mystery of Lena’s father’s disappearance. But even though Lena’s questions about her father seem to be the driving force of the book, we never actually receive the answers to these questions, leaving the ending absurdly anticlimactic.

Despite the problems I had with The Peculiars, it’s not a bad book. It’s well-written and very different from anything I’ve ever read. I was excited for the steampunk elements, but I expected them to be played up much more. The inventions are there, but their role is even more miniscule than those of the Peculiars. Still, McQuerry’s descriptions of some of Mr. Beasley’s inventions are gripping and thorough, which further establishes the uniqueness of the setting. Lena is an average character — I didn’t feel much for her, but I didn’t dislike her. The romantic tension is too underplayed for the ending to feel deserved, but it’s still kind of cute.

Overall, I had higher expectations for The Peculiars, but it’s still an interesting read. For those sick of the same-old, The Peculiars might interest you. As far as I know, there’s nothing like it in the YA genre. The steampunk elements add an interesting flair and for those sick of books revolving around a lovesick girl and her undeserving love interest, The Peculiars is sure to end the monotony. Though the book is marketed as a romance, it really isn’t. The ending feels rushed and kind of tacked on, but that may just be because I didn’t really connect with the characters.

Pages: 354
Publication Date: May 2012
Publisher: Amulet Books
Source: NetGalley
Rating :

Teaser Quote: “Maybe it was only goblin women who were restless and wanted to see the world. She didn’t know.”

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Ismae has always been a victim, until one fateful day when the convent of St. Mortain seeks her out. At the convent, Ismae finds herself surrounded by women — a comfort for someone more accustomed to male brutality — strong women who train her as a handmaiden of Death. Ismae grows to trust and love her convent and her God; she’ll do anything for Mortain. But when she finally receives an assignment, she finds serving the convent and serving St. Mortain may not be the same things.

Grave Mercy is easily my favorite book of 2012 so far. Ismae is one of my all-time favorite heroines — she’s ridiculously tough, continually challenges herself, and never gives up. But perhaps my favorite qualities of hers are the most underrated, often overlooked by authors today: she’s intelligent and observant. These are the qualities that benefit er most in her corrupt world, and coincidentally the qaulities we can relate to most. Unless, of course, you’re also a nun trained as an assassin.

Yes, Ismae’s an assassin nun, which is just about as innovative as story ideas get. The sheer originality of this novel drew me in within the first few pages. Grave Mercy is dark and gritty, a tone that’s established early on so that we understand Ismae’s motivation, though throughout the book we come to question what’s right and what’s wrong, just as Ismae does. I love books like this, books that inspire such contradictory thoughts and keep you thinking even when you’re not reading. Of course, I also love that Ismae isn’t afraid to question her own world, even if it means defying those she trusts most. She’s a true heroine in that she’s independent, willing to break free from the herd if need be, which makes her a character I truly admire.

Grave Mercy has all the elements of an up-put-downable novel; it’s realistic historical fiction with rich descriptions of settings and political intrigue. There’s a bit of a supernatural aspect, but not so much that it detracts from the plot or overshadows the characters. LaFevers’s prose is beautiful; authentic and descriptive, emotionally evocative and suspenseful. The courtly discussions and interactions are as thrilling as the action scenes. There’s murder, betrayal, balls, and romance. This book has literally everything I could ask for, including a smoldering suitor.

Duval. I maintain that because I fell in love with him at first sight, he’s technically mine. In any case, the scenes between Duval and Ismae are pure magic (and sexual tension). It takes a lot for Ismae to trust, especially when it comes to men, as they’re always wronged her in the past. And Duval isn’t all that trusting, himself. The two build a slow, sweet friendship, both afraid of opening up to the other. But watching their friendship — and interest in each other — blossom is a true delight. Plus, Duval is just downright sexy.

The first book of the His Fair Assassin series is a sensational must-read. I only wish I could have lived in these characters’ worlds a little longer. Hopefully, we’ll see them pop up in the next book in the series, which will center around Sybella and, most likely, an entirely new cast of characters. Not that I mind too much, as LaFevers is a new favorite author of mine, so I’ll be sure to covet anything she produces. Basically, yes, you should read Grave Mercy.

Pages: 549
Publication Date : April 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Rating :

Teaser Quote: “When one consorts with assassins, one must expect to dance along the edge of a knife once or twice.“

England, 1584.

When beautiful Lady Jane Rievaulx begins her service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled to see the court’s newest arrival…Master James Lacey.

No matter that Jane was previously courted by the eldest Lacey brother—James is the one who has won her heart. For his part, James cannot deny his fascination with Jane; his plans, however, do not allow for love. He is about to set sail on a treacherous journey to the Americas, seeking absolution for what he sees as past sins. But when Jane is forced into a terrible situation by her own family, only one man can save her. Will Master James return to his lady before it’s too late?

Before Jane Rievaulx’s elderly husband passes away, he secures a place for Jane as one of the Queen’s ladies as a way to protect her from his spiteful sons and her selfish family. The last person Jane expects to see at court is James Lacey, the brother of her ex-fiance and the man she still finds herself madly attracted to. Though James feels as if Jane has betrayed his family, he can’t help the feelings she reignites in him. Still, even if he wants to, he cannot be with Jane, for he doesn’t believe himself deserving of love. But when Jane finds herself in a precarious predicament, James might be the only person capable of saving her.

The Queen’s Lady is filled to the brim with court intrigue, passionate romance, dastardly evil plots, and dashing heroes. Jane faces every imaginable obstacle a woman in sixteenth-century England can face. Though she is a strong, independent woman, even heroines sometimes require saviors. But though she feels James Lacey cares for her, she’s not sure he’s up to the task. Luckily for Jane, she has friends who will stop at nothing to help her maintain her freedom. The characters in this novel are richly developed and many of the scenes switch viewpoints, allowing us to gain a more well-rounded view of not just Jane and James, but also Milly, Diego, Christopher Turner, and other minor characters. While shifting perspectives between numerous characters can sometimes feel unnecessary or frustrating, this literary device works perfectly for The Queen’s Lady. We switch frequently enough as to receive important information and further develop important secondary characters, but not so much that we lose focus of who the main characters are. And understanding both the minds of Jane and James is immensely helpful and rewarding. Eve Edwards masterfully portrays each character distinctly, emphasizing traits that make them unique and engaging. Plus, Edwards strikes a beautiful balance between the shorter, humorous scenes that diffuse the tension of the longer, more dramatic scenes.

James’s and Jane’s impending romance is completely swoon-worthy. You’ll root for them from the very first chapter onward. Jane’s cunning wit and sharp tongue allow her to put into words the sly comebacks we generally tend to come up with days after we need them (and subsequently beat ourselves up over). Plus, the setting of 1584 England means every barb and every romantic admission is said so eloquently that you’re sure to fall in love with the language just as much as the characters. Even better: though this is a historic fiction piece, Edwards dishes up a major plate of girl-power, along with a dash of damsel-in-distress for zest. The female characters here are strong, intelligent, and capable of some serious sass — and I love every minute of it!

In addition, if one romance isn’t enough for you, Edwards also provides the endearing love story of one of Jane’s best friends, Milly, and James’s manservant, Diego. With Milly and Diego, Edwards tackles the topic of biracial relationships in historic England, a topic I haven’t seen addressed much but appreciate in The Queen’s Lady for the questions it raises. This book certainly provides a lot to think about and really opens my eyes to specific customs and traditions I hadn’t previously been privy to. For anyone who enjoys historic fiction or tales of all-consuming romance, The Queen’s Lady is a must-read.

Pages: 336
Publication Date: April 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Rating :

Teaser Quote: “Jane plucked a handful of ivy leaves and threw them at him. ‘Why can’t you just love me?’“