Hope Harbor~Irene Hannon | Review

Title: Hope Harbor
Author: Irene Hannon
Genre: Christian Romance
Length: 336 Pages
Release: July 2015
Rating: 5/5 Stars

A copy of this novel was received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review

Irene Hannon has once again written a beautiful story in her newest novel Hope Harbor. It was an excellent read with beautiful writing that made following the story not only easy but enjoyable. 

The characters in this novel were excellently written and very likable. They weren't over the top or annoying like so many characters in books these days. Through the characters and their interactions was woven a theme of forgiveness and restoration that gave the book a sense of relevance to everyday life. Another aspect of the novel that I found particularly appealing was the idea of second chances and how they can help you find healing. Through these themes of forgiveness and healing Hannon was able to develop each character beautifully, weaving together their individual stories expertly to create the whole. Tracy, Michael, and Anna each had their own struggles and challenges to overcome and their growth over the course of the novel was heartbreaking and heartwarming.  

Irene Hannon is an excellent writer and story teller with relevant characters and themes. We all need second chances, we all need forgiveness, and we all need to know that it is never too late to seek for that restoration. The novel was a bit slow at points, but definitely worth reading and pushing through the slow points. Highly recommended for those who enjoy Hannon as well as those who need a story of redemption. 

Mistborn: The Final Empire Discussion #4

Saloni, from MyFantabulousBookShelf, and I are reading the Misborn trilogy over the summer and occasionally we have discussion posts to discuss the different sections throughout the books. Just was a warning, this post will contain spoilers through section four of the first novel, so if you have not read it or are not up to that point yet, wait to read this post.

Do you think Kelsier really died?

Courtney: I don’t really see any possibility for there to be a different outcome. The fight was rather detailed and Vin saw his body afterward, I don’t see how he could have survived. It’s possible that it was some kind of imposter but since they were using Allomancy I don’t think that is likely. That scene was heartbreaking to read. I also feel like this will somehow play into his plans. I’m not sure exactly how this would have been included, but I feel like he had a plan that the others didn’t know about that had this built in as a possibility.  

Saloni: For some reason I don’t think he really died. I know all the evidence seems to point towards his death, but there just seems to be something missing. His death was too short and quick to be real. I think this might be where the Terrisman’s powers come into play, perhaps the aspect of Vin being able to access the Terrisman’s powers. I’m not completely sure, but I think this aspect will play a role in the future.

Do you think the Inquisitors broke Marsh or that their information was obtained some other way?

Courtney: I don’t feel like we have enough information about what happened to Marsh to really know for sure. I don’t think they broke him though. I kind of feel like that would have come out in Kelsier’s fight with the Inquisitor if they had because he could have used the information against Kelsier to defeat him more easily. If Marsh broke then they would have known his relationship to Kelsier. That seems like too valuable of information to ignore.    

Saloni: It seems too easy that the inquisitors broke Marsh, too predictable. I really don’t think Marsh would have betrayed them that easily, especially after going through the effort of trying to blend in with the Ministry. Perhaps they have a spy on the crew? I hate to say this but maybe Sazed, Breeze, or Spook?

What do you think the crew will do now that they no longer have Kelsier to lead them?

Courtney: Things are once again up in the air it seems. Without Kelsier’s passion for the job the others will lack focus. However, since they all loved Kelsier so much I don’t think they will completely abandon the mission. And again, I feel like Kelsier will have had a plan that included this possibility and some way of informing them. He wouldn’t die without some way for his plans to go forward, he was too smart for that. 

Saloni: While Kelsier’s death wasn’t as noble as it could have been, I think his death will spur the skaa and the rest of the crewmembers to take action and avenge Kelsier. His death will serve to push everyone else over the edge, hopefully furthering his plan.

Why do you think Elend is so interested in skaa? Do you think it’s more than curiosity?

Courtney: Elend has shown extreme interest in skaa where other nobility just ignore them. He isn’t even bothered by the fact that Vin is skaa (he even seems rather intrigued by the possibility that he’s falling in love with a skaa woman). Where this curiosity stems from I’m not sure, but I think it’s more than just the idle curiosity of a bored lord. He has to have reasons for his interest in them. 

Saloni: There’s something quite interesting about Elend. He seems very disinterested in the lives of other nobility but is very interested in skaa life. I agree that it probably stems more than from simple curiosity, what it is exactly I’m not sure. Perhaps something to do with his childhood/ past? A theory is that perhaps he actually was skaa from birth and somehow ended up as the heir to the largest noble house.

Do you think that the Lord Ruler’s overwhelming power (even when a Smoker is present) is simply because he’s stronger or because something else is aiding him?

Courtney: The end of this section is the first time we’ve actually seen the Lord Ruler (through Vin’s eyes). I’m not sure if it’s that he’s extremely powerful on his own and can thus break through a copper cloud or if there is some other explanation for his extreme display of allomantic strength. I also think the fact that he wears so much metal has to be important somehow. 

Saloni: I would say that something is most definitely aiding him. Everyone has a weakness, and I don’t think the Lord Ruler is any different, especially since he wasn’t always like this. His power is linked to something, perhaps a rare metal supply like the Eleventh metal? Since we’ve gotten to see bits and pieces of his past, we can tell that there’s a Before and an After, now we just have to find out what’s separating these two.

Paladin~Sally Slater | Review

Title: Paladin
Author: Sally Slater
Genre: YA Fantasy
Length: 386 Pages
Release: May 2015
My Rating: 5/5 Stars

I received a copy of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Review

If you love fantasy novels and young adult then you are sure to enjoy this. Paladin is the story of Sam, a woman who wants desperately to be a warrior, Braeden, a half demon who seeks redemption for his sins, and Tristan, their skilled trainer with a dark past. Together they set out on a journey to kill demons and gather information to report back to the Paladins. 

This is a really well written story with a well developed world and a nice blend of characters. It's fast paced, throwing you right into the heart of the story from the very beginning. One of the things that keeps the story fresh and flowing is the alternating perspectives between our three main characters. 

The story is also rather humorous. Sam is a woman pretending to be a man so she can train with the Paladins. As I'm sure you can imagine, this gets her into some very interesting situations. This, along with the friendly banter between the three companions, keeps the narrative rather light even in the darkest moments. The three characters play really well off of each other. 

I love character driven stories and this one certainly has some strong characters that kept me interested. Sam is cocky, sassy, talented, and nearly fearless. This combination doesn't necessarily sound the most appealing, but she is an extremely likable main protagonist. Braeden is loyal, brave, caring, misunderstood, and fun. He has a tortured past and an uncertain future. He is probably my favorite character. Tristan is arrogant, cocky, skilled, and kind. He has demons that haunt his memories and isn't always the most likable, but he's still interesting.

There is a bit of romance in the story, but it's never particularly over the top. I actually really like the way it's handled and resolved without forcing Sam to give up her identity and independence. It's cute, fun, dangerous, and doesn't take away from the story, which is what I'm always worried about when any kind of romance is introduced in these kinds of stories. The overall plot was predictable at times and I was able to guess many of the key revelations that came at the end, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story. 

I highly recommend this to any and all young adult fantasy fans. It's a fast paced and fun read. 

Tuesday Talks | Do you request ARCs?

To find out more about this discussion group visit Tuesday Talks on goodreads. It was created by Janie and Janelle and we always have a lot of fun, so you should check it out.

Do You Request ARCs?

Up until I started blogging and booktubing and became very active on goodreads (only about 8 months ago), I had never considered requesting ARCs. I didn't really know how it was done or what to expect. On goodreads though, you can find loads of authors searching for people to read eARCs of their books. About November of last year I started reviewing for authors and this year I started using NetGalley a lot.  I've read and reviewed close to 100 books in that time. 

As far as requesting ARCs, other than eARCs I haven't requested very many from authors or publishers. I don't really feel that my blog has enough traffic to be considered for the bigger publishers and I also understand that for self publishing authors and smaller publishing houses, physical copies can get really expensive. I have had a few physical copy ARCs to review though and it's a lot of fun. 

I do request eARCs a lot. Too many, in fact. I've even gotten approved and given ARCs for titles I never expected to be accepted for. It's a lot of fun being one of the first people to read a book. I just find it really enjoyable. Obviously there are pros and cons to ARCs and requesting them, which you can read about in last weeks discussion. 

Personally I request ARCs, mostly in digital form, and will likely continue to do so. It's fun, you get a free book, and you can find some great stuff that way. So what about you? Do you request ARCs?

Song of Summer~Laura Lee Anderson | Review

Title: Song of Summer
Author: Laura Lee Anderson
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 250 Pages
Release: July 2015
My Rating: 5/5 Stars

I received an ARC of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Review

I have been fascinated by deaf culture and American Sign Language (ASL) for some time now and when I found this book I knew I had to read it. The conflicting backgrounds of the two main characters was intriguing and it sounded like a lot of fun. It was. 

Robin and Carter are from two different worlds. She's a country girl. He's a city boy. She's a musician. He's an artist. She's hearing. He's deaf. But when they meet and she tries to communicate with him and recognizes some of his signs, the two begin an unlikely relationship that has everyone around them questioning what, exactly, is happening.

The story is told in first person alternating perspectives between Robin and Carter. This is a great narrative style and for this story it works superbly. We get to see inside the head of Robin and Carter which allows the reader a glimpse at what each is thinking not only of the other, but of the differences in the way they view the world. The portions with Carter were beautiful and I think (not being deaf, although I have deaf friends) that the way a deaf individual reacts to things was depicted really well. You get to see that he's just a normal guy who lacks hearing. It's not a disease and there is nothing wrong with him, some people just don't have functioning hearing. 

The relationship in this was really cute. Robin and Carter were adorable together, even though they definitely had their differences. Their love might have been a bit too insta-love, but I didn't find it overly annoying like I generally would. The presentation has something to do with that. 

The world of the deaf and the world of the hearing definitely clashed in this story. You get to see both sides of the issue, with Carter among hearing people and feeling lost and then with Robin among the deaf and feeling lost. At least Robin could catch glimpses of meaning, based on her understanding of sign, whereas Carter could not unless he was able to read lips. Their communication through writing was really sweet. 

Robin was really my only issue with this novel. While I did enjoy her character, she had some issues that really bothered me. She was too immature in many instances. Maybe it wasn't totally unrealistic, but the things she would blow up over were a bit extreme. I felt like she took issues she was having with Carter and his inability to hear (particularly her music) was too far and I just found her overly frustrating. Still, I feel like she learned some valuable lessons by the end. 

The supporting characters were a lot of fun and a great touch to the story. The women that Robin worked with in the diner were hilarious. I loved their working relationship. Jenni, Robin's best friends, was fun and supportive. Barry, a childhood friend of Carter's, developed really well throughout the story and I found myself really connecting to him as the novel progressed. Carter's family was great and I really enjoyed Robin's parents as well. There were a few characters that were particularly annoying, but in most cases quite realistic. 

This novel was just a lot of fun and if you enjoy this genre then go read this. You won't be sorry that you did. 

Mistborn: The Final Empire Discussion #3

It's time for another discussion on The Final Empire, the first novel in Brandon Sanderson's high fantasy series Mistborn. Saloni, from MyFantabulousBookshelf, and I are buddy reading and discussing this series, so please discuss along with us!  Warning: Minor Spoilers Ahead.

How do you think Vin has changed as an individual so far?

Courtney: Vin’s character development is slow and steady. Sometimes this can be annoying because she seems stuck on things that to me as a reader don’t seem like things she should care about. However, I think this slow development of her personality is fitting for a character that started out in her position. She transforms right before the reader’s eyes, page by page. As an individual she’s very conflicted; switching between Vin and Valette, never sure who she really is, but I think this will help her determine her place. Eventually. It might just be a while before we get there.    

Saloni: I can’t really tell if Vin has progressed from the beginning of the book or not. As Vin, though she lived in fear, she has established a personality for herself. However as an individual, as part of Kelsier’s crew, she’s subjected to constant change in character from Valette to Vin. And though she’s a more skilled mistborn and a happier person, the only growth I’ve really seen in her is her becoming more trusting. Unfortunately that trust may betray her when it comes to Lord Elend, who knows?

With so many of his men dead, how do you think Kelsier is going to proceed with his rebellion?

Courtney: Kelsier seems determined to carry the plan, or something like it, forward no matter what. I’m not sure that it’s possible at this point to completely recruit a new army; it was hard enough getting the first one. I also don’t feel like we, as readers, completely understand what’s going on in Kelsier’s mind and what his plans really are. He’s very vague at times, even his thoughts that we’re privy to are often held in check somewhat, so I’m guessing he has a plan. Or if not a plan then, then a thought. A crazy thought.  

Saloni: Recruit more skaa soldiers and try again? After the unexpected slaughter Kelsier’s determination seems even more strengthened, so I don’t think he’ll give up until he reaches his goal, no matter the costs. Maybe now Kelsier will buckle down on more of the politics and try to wreck the nobility from the inside, rather than spend effort rebuilding his army.

Anymore thoughts on Lord Elend?

Courtney: Ah, Elend. It’s hard not to fall in love with Elend, at least for me. We’ve definitely gotten more of his story and know him a bit better now. He seems sincere and I feel like Vin trusting him, even though she doesn’t trust easily, is a good sign. Either that or a very, very bad sign. I’m sure there is more of him to come.  

Saloni: I love him and I can’t stop loving him. He’s witty, he’s intelligent, he’s funny, he’s everything a Lord should be. I can see why Vin is falling for him because so am I. I definitely sense some type of twist with him coming up, but I can’t decide what it is. Since Kelsier and his gang are highly suspicious of Lord Elend, him actually turning out to be associated with the Lord Ruler almost seems too predictable. But him actually being a good guy and working with Kelsier and Vin seems too good to be true. The likelihood of his death seems to be getting higher and higher.  

Do you think the new information regarding the “magic” of the keepers (Sazed) will affect the mission? If so, how?

Courtney: I’m not sure this new knowledge about Feruchemy will have a huge impact on the overall mission that Kelsier is on, but I do feel that it will play a role. It’s already been used to save Vin’s life and other uses have been mentioned. Sazed will be in need of these special skills before the conclusion, I believe. How this will come about or in what way they will be used, I’m not entirely sure.     

Saloni: I don’t think it will play a crucial role in the plot directly itself. But, as Courtney said, I think he’ll be needed to keep the plot from falling apart. I think the Keepers will be used as a form of backup, in case something happens to the Mistborns. Since their reserves are so limited, it would be difficult to have them be engaged in the actual fighting.

Now that we know the contents of the book Sazed and Vin found, do you think this will help or hinder the crew?

Courtney: The fact that they now have a record penned by the Lord Ruler himself seems significant. What they’ve read (and what we’ve been reading as our chapter headings the entire book) doesn’t seem life altering, but it gives a new perspective. The crew now has an idea of the man that the Lord Ruler was before the ascension, before he became the Lord Ruler. And the changes are extreme. How this will help or hinder their plan is up in the air, but something in those pages is important.  

Saloni: I honestly think it will serve to hinder the crew since it gives a different, softer perspective on the Lord Ruler. Throughout the entire book we’ve only known the Lord Ruler as this brutal tyrant who, we agree, should be put down. But as the book progresses and we get to read bits and pieces of his life before, he becomes more humanized, which might make him harder to kill, especially if Kelsier and his crew start sympathizing with him.

Any thoughts on who, or what, is acting as Lord Renoux’s imposter?   

Courtney: Vin is constantly amazed by how well the imposter that is Lord Renoux plays his part. While he is not out and about in the larger societal gatherings that she attends, he does attend to matters with the lesser nobles, never breaking character. This seems important. There have been several mentions of methods of impersonation that cannot easily be detected, most notably by the elder Lord Venture. So my guess would be that something is wearing his skin. Again, this seems like it will be very important later on and I’m interested in finding out exactly what is going on there. 

Saloni: For a couple of chapters I really thought that Kelsier himself was pretending to be Lord Renoux, but that is obviously not the case. I honestly have no idea who/what is acting as Lord Renoux’s imposter. It may be another magical being, perhaps someone who can transcend physical bodies?

Mistborn: The Final Empire Part Two Discussion

Here we are again with another discussion about The Final Empire, the first book in the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. This summer, Saloni, from MyFantabulousBookshelf, and I are reading this trilogy and sharing our thoughts with you. Please join in on the discussions if you have read the book or are currently reading it. Warning: There may be minor spoilers ahead.

What do you think of Elend so far? Any predictions for him?

Courtney: I really enjoy Elend’s laid back attitude. It’s hard to tell at this point if that is all just an act and he’s trying to use Vin or if he really is just an unsocial reader who may be slightly interested in her. After only one real interaction with him it’s hard to say where I think his loyalties will lie. But he’s so funny. I want him to be good.  

Saloni: I’m suspicious because I already like Lord Elend which usually means one of two things. He’s either working for the Lord Ruler and just talking to Vin to gain information, faking his charm, or he’s going to die. I sincerely hope he’s one of the good guys, but I can tell that Brandon Sanderson is all about unpredictability so the I think the chances of Elend being “good” are fairly low.

Do you think Vin’s father will have any significant part in the plot?

Courtney:  I’m not sure that he will play a major role in the novel, but I think who he is and the fact that he’s Vin’s father with have consequences. We still don’t really know how important he is in society, but I’m guessing his role will affect events somehow. I’m expecting something to come out that. And the fact that Vin’s brother wanted her to see him and know what he looks like has to mean something.

Saloni: I really don’t think Sanderson would introduce a character or even mention him/her if we were never going to see them again. I don’t know how much of a part he’ll play in the actual plot itself, but I think his existence will somehow affect how the plot will turn out.

What do you think is the significance of the book Sazed brought back?

Courtney: I think that the book will have more significance than you would expect. It came from the palace, which means that it’s somehow connected to the Lord Ruler. Translating it will be the tricky part, but I think once they do it will have some kind of record either by or about the Lord Ruler. Not sure what the significance of that will be, but I think it will mean something.

Saloni: To be completely honest, I actually ended up somehow skipping over the few mentions of the book. But after rereading it, I still have little to no idea what it could hold. At this point it could honestly be anything from an insignificant reading book to a guide on how to beat the Lord Ruler. Maybe it has crucial information about the eleventh metal. There are so many things that the book could hold.

After what happened in the palace, do you think that Kelsier was betrayed the first time?

Courtney: The palace scene really affirms one thing in my mind: the crew (and thus the reader) don’t know enough about what the Lord Ruler can do. His power seems far stronger than they thought it was. The first time around, Kelsier wouldn’t have been able to feel the Lord Ruler’s Allomancy (since he was not yet Mistborn), so perhaps it has something to do with this extreme power that Vin seems to sense near the palace. It’s hard to say if Kelsier was betrayed or if this power somehow alerts the Lord Ruler to their break in. Or it might have something to do with the chamber itself, we still don’t know what is in there. I think this will definitely be explored more as the story progresses.  

Saloni: This book seems to have a lot of contradictory themes of trust and betrayal. While it is possible that the Inquisitors just happen to be there, it seems more likely that someone alerted the palace. I really hope that it wasn’t someone from the crew, but for some reason I’m mildly suspicious of Sazed. He had found Vin near the palace, which means he was in the area. As of now he’s the only likely candidate to betray them. He continually is telling Kelsier how crazy his plans are, but maybe it’s not because he’s concerned about the safety and wellbeing of the crew, but rather so Kelsier doesn’t get too close to the Lord Ruler.