THE MINIATURIST by Jessie Burton

3.5 out of 5

Eighteen-year-old Nella has just recently become the wife of renowned Amsterdam merchant Johannes Brandt. Arriving in Amsterdam on a brisk autumn day in 1686, Nella is eager to start their new lives together and impress her family back home with what she has gained. However, with a less than cold reception from her sister-in-law and an absentee husband, Nella begins to fear that she will have nothing to show for such an advantageous marriage.

Eager to win Johannes’ love and entice him into their marriage bed for the first time, Nella surprises him at his offices. What she finds there shocks her and shakes her to her core. In one moment Nella’s entire world comes crashing down, and the Brandts’ with it. What Nella had thought had been an advantageous marriage for her was an advantageous marriage for everybody else as well, from the servants of the Brandt household to Johannes himself. With the pieces of their lives coming apart at the seams, Nella must quickly learn the duties of a merchant’s wife and support her new family, even if they do not feel much like family at all.

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I picked this book up from the library because it was getting a lot of hype online. With positive expectations set, the reading experience was slightly underwhelming but The Miniaturist still served as enjoyable for a light, quick read. The writing was very elegant and smooth, and it was not a difficult read by any standard, which is sometimes (and was, in this case) a good thing.

That being said, I enjoyed the characters but felt as if a lot of the relationship development between Nella and Johannes was happening behind closed doors. They spend hardly any time together at all but suddenly Nella becomes very fond of him. That seemed slightly unrealistic to me. I was also able to figure out the entire plot fairly quickly, which added to the underwhelming feeling and lack of surprise as events unfolded. I found it difficult to become invested in the fates of certain characters, such as Johannes or Toot, because they were not in the book all that much, and Marin, because she is cast in such a dislikable light for most of the novel. Finally, I was let down with how the book wrapped up, and the fact that the miniaturist is largely forgotten. Yes, we discover who they are through another character, but at one point it was suggested that there was someone hiding out in their house (there was a reference to someone hiding in the shadows) but this is never resolved. It felt like a missed opportunity for added depth to the novel.

As I said, this book was enjoyable for something to read before going to bed where I did not have to think all that much. If you are interested in reading it, I would suggest renting it from your local library, just in case you are disappointed.

-Ember Book Reviews

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ROOK by Sharon Cameron

5 out of 5

[For the sake of time, I will temporarily be omitting the synopses on my book reviews, as I am trying to balance school with book reviewing and, considering the wealth of places where book synopses can be found online, do not think it worthwhile at this point in time. If anyone has any objection to this, please let me know, and I will try my best to give brief plot overviews.]

First of all, this book is so elegantly written. The various perspectives are interestingly handled, with each character only getting what page time is absolutely necessary to tell their part of the story, which I appreciated. I love that we are taken back to the time of the French Revolution, but it’s a dystopic version of it. That is incredibly unique, and the references to our current culture as “ancient” are fascinating. The action was also incredible, and this book is a true page-turner.

My only disappointment came with the love story. In and of itself, it was great. However, I was severely disappointed with the lack of a love scene. (See my post on sex in YA.) It led right up to it, but cut off right before anything happened, and it’s anyone’s guess whether or not their love was consummated or not. It was annoying, to say the least, and I felt it to be a waste of time.

Even still, Rook is currently tied with Legacy of Kings for my favourite historical fantasy novel of the year, though Legacy may be edging it out just slightly. In both novels, the landscape is absolutely spectacular, and I could get lost in Rook’s world over and over again.

-Ember Book Reviews

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VOICE OF GODS by Eleanor Herman

4 out of 5

Voice of Gods, the prequel to Eleanor Herman’s first novel in the Blood of Gods and Royals series, tells the story of three women who are catalysts in this fictional rendition of Alexander the Great’s legacy. There is Helen, the young oracle who detests her fate and feels so lonely despite the voices that crowd her mind; Ada, Helen’s friend and sister to the incestuous king and queen of Caria, who fears she may be destined to live the same life that the king and queen chose; and Myrtale, saddled with an abusive stepmother and the love for someone that she can never have, vows to gain power so that she can make people miserable in the same way power wielded over her has made her miserable. Together the stories of these three women—two of them factual, one of them not—weave together in much the same way as the threads of the Furies’ loom to propel the reader forwards through the events leading up to the heart-stopping Legacy of Kings and also raise new questions for the books to follow. Free to download on any device, Voice of Gods is definitely worth the read as we eagerly await the release of Legacy of Kings, Book 1 in Herman’s new series.

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While not on the scale of Legacy of Kings [which I reviewed here], I enjoyed this novella and prequel to Legacy. Voice of Gods starts off with the narrative largely in Ada’s perspective, and her character development is slow, which made it difficult to get into. However, there is lots of physical action happening, which was somewhat interesting; my only complaint is that it was difficult to follow along at times, in part because of the slow character development, but also because so much was happening in such a short space.

Character development is much more progressive when it comes to Helen and Myrtale, characters who are also in Legacy of Kings. The storyline here is also much more interesting. However, when it comes to Myrtale’s storyline, it can be a bit confusing because there are minor parts where it is not quite linear. One minute she seems to want one thing and the next that changes. It felt a little scattered to me at times.

For a while it was also unclear what the purpose of introducing Ada as a separate narrative was, but it is more evident towards the end. However, I think less time could have been spent with her in the beginning. The narrative should have shifted to Helen and Myrtale faster, as it is much more interesting and points the reader in the direction of the main storyline. I didn’t understand the need for so much focus on Ada’s perspective early on. This being said, once the narrative shifts away from Ada, the narrative voice more closely resembles the one I grew to love in Legacy of Kings. I am very pleased with the questions this prequel raises that are significant to the plot of Legacy of Kings and its sequel(s). Voice of Gods thickens the suspense of Legacy of Kings really well and I’m even more excited for the second book in the series to come out in 2016!

-Ember Book Reviews xxoo

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ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins

4 ½ out of 5

When Anna is sent to the School of America in Paris, she doesn’t expect it to be the time of her life. She’s homesick and she is, quite literally, the only new student to be attending that year. Everyone already has their group of friends, and Anna, who doesn’t even speak French, knows she’ll have a hard time fitting in.

But when Meredith brings Anna into her group of friends, things start to change. Anna meets Josh, Rashmi, and the stunningly handsome Étienne St. Clair—an American boy with a British accent who lives in Paris and has a French first name. This group of friends, and Étienne especially, introduce Anna to Paris and, with the help of a little Canadian flag pin, help her to feel less like a foreigner and more at home. The problem? Étienne is taken.

The first of three novels that take place at the School of America, Anna and the French Kiss is an exciting story of travel and discovery, and a good introduction to Stephanie Perkins’s trilogy.

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I’ll be honest—I read Isla and the Happily Ever After (Book 3) first and thought it was better [review here]. In comparison, Anna lacked the same level of steaminess and I longed for more one-on-one time between Étienne and Anna. Even still, I thought this was a really great love story and an excellent way to start off the trilogy. For those who read this book first, I’m sure they will have no complaints and enjoy the build up to the third and final novel.

Two things I loved: I loved how Anna’s dad was essentially Nicholas Sparks. It cracked me up because everything Perkins was saying about him is so true! She actually writes a really interesting commentary deeper into the book about how the character of Anna’s dad is cashing in on stories of tragedy when there are people out there who are actually living it. I guess that that’s true for most fictional stories, but I think there’s a right and wrong way to do it, and it really got me thinking. I also loved how vividly Perkins creates Paris for the reader. This book is such a great travel story. I just wish the characters had left the school more often and experienced lesser-known facets of Parisian and French culture.

As a side note, Étienne reminded me of my own boyfriend a bit, minus some of the less savoury aspects, which I think helped me to like it.

All in all, I really hope you guys liked this review and check out this book for yourselves! It was a really enjoyable read.

-Ember Book Reviews xxoo

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LEGACY OF KINGS by Eleanor Herman & FREE Prequel!

5 out of 5

[ARC provided to me in PDF format in exchange for an honest review in my work as a VIP Trendsetter for Paper Lantern Lit. You can view their website here.]

Alexander – The crippled prince regent who wants nothing more than to prove himself to his father and his people.

Cynane – The daughter of King Philip II, the half-sister of Alexander, Cynane is sick of being expected to sit idly by and is determined to not let the same fate that befell her mother befall her as well.

Kat – A feisty peasant girl who will not be at peace until she has travelled to the royal palace and avenged her mother’s murder.

Jacob – A peasant boy chosen to participate in the Blood Tournament, Jacob needs to win so that he can provide the life to Kat that she deserves. Only, things take a dark turn when Jacob suspects that Kat doesn’t want that life after all.

Zo – Lovesick and forced into a diplomatic marriage that she does not want, Zo runs away from the comforts of her palace life in search of the Persian warrior she loves so much. But something else finds her before she finds him.

Heph – As Alexander’s best friend, Heph’s past makes his position in the palace a precarious one. Pride is his weakness, along with women. When things take an unexpected turn in the Blood Tournament, he begins to doubt Alex’s friendship and his own place in the world.

Olympias – If she had been given the choice, she would have chosen a different life for herself—one with the immortal man she loves and one that leaves her free to worship the snakes. But she did not have a choice, and for that she has become bitter, seeking revenge on anyone who crosses her path.

In Eleanor Herman’s Legacy of Kings, the tales of seven characters—some factual and some fictional—intertwine to create an engrossing epic on the scale of The Iliad and Odyssey. Not in years has something so spectacular graced the publishing world, and readers both young and old will truly delight in perusing its pages. Fans of Game of Thrones and the Starcrossed trilogy by Josephine Angelini are sure to love this brilliant new novel featuring the rise of Alexander the Great and the books to follow. Legacy of Kings is truly such an amazing read.

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Let me start off by saying that this book is amazing. I think it’s pretty clear based on my synopsis how in love with this book I am. I don’t think I’ve reviewed a book yet that I was this excited about, so I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you and encouraging you to buy this book at your earliest opportunity!

The world-building in this book is awesome, though at times I did wish for a tiny bit more description of the actual setting rather than the characters’ movements and thoughts. That being said, Legacy of Kings is like a travel guide through the ancient Mediterranean. I genuinely hope that the printed version comes with a map detailing the different characters’ journeys throughout the Mediterranean because it is just so fascinating to me, and I hope to all of you as well.

As I’ve said before, I’m normally not a fan of books that switch points of view, but I loved it in this book. I think it works so well because the book is told from a third-person perspective. It felt to me very much like reading The Odyssey in terms of narrative voice, which, of course, is enormously appropriate and awesome given the context of the novel.

This novel was filled with so many interesting facts and legends, as well as tidbits about the various mythologies from the periods surrounding that time (the mid to late-300s BC). Not only was the book fun to read, but I learned something as well. As a history nerd who has studied this time period many times throughout university, I really enjoyed the more historical aspects of the novel.

There were many pleasant surprises throughout the book that make it hard to guess what will happen next or how it will end. My only complaint is that Zo doesn’t have much of a role or storyline. Hopefully her journey has something to do with Book 2 (to be released September 2016). I also don’t like love triangles, so hopefully that doesn’t happen in Book 2, but it looks like it might…

As I’ve said, I absolutely loved this book and I think everyone needs to buy it/borrow it the minute it comes out on August 25^th, 2015. If you like Game of Thrones or the Starcrossed trilogy by Josephine Angelini (which I posted about here), then you are going to absolutely die for this book. It truly is that amazing. My favourite read of 2015 so far, and it may just take the cake on that.

Please read this book and let me know what you think in the comments below. I’d love to get in touch with any of you guys and have a chat about the books we love!

-Ember Book Reviews xxoo

P.S. Is it a coincidence that there is a little person referred to as “the Tyrrhian” in the novel? Game of Thrones, anybody?

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Pre-order this book and email ehermanlegacy@gmail.com with proof of purchase to receive a pre-order reward! Details here.

Or, wait until August 25th and check out your local indie bookstore or library. 🙂

WILDFLOWER HILL by Kimberley Freeman

5 out of 5

A young woman named Beattie in pre-depression-era Scotland finds that the result of her passionate affair with Henry, a married man, is that she becomes pregnant and her entire life begins to fall apart. Unable to secure a divorce, she and her lover run away to Tasmania where they attempt to raise their daughter while pretending to be husband and wife. But soon their passionate affair becomes a bitter war as Henry gambles their way into deeper and deeper debt and succumbs to drinking. Beattie tries to do what is best for their daughter by running away with her, but soon Henry catches up with them. His wife has come into an inheritance and wants to take him back, and he wants Lucy—their daughter—with him. As a single mother working to let her daughter thrive, rumours begin to swirl as to Beattie’s morality and she finds herself battling more than just her ex-lover and his wife over her daughter’s love: an entire town has turned against her and everything that she holds dear.

Nearly eighty years later, Emma Blaxland-Hunter is not only the granddaughter of an Australian fashion tycoon but is a famous prima ballerina as well. That is, until she falls down the stairs after practise one evening and permanently wrecks her knee so that she will never be able to dance again. Abandoned by her boyfriend for another woman and now having an injury that dashes all of her dreams, Emma is forced to return to the one place she has been avoiding for so many years: home. While there, her grandmother’s lawyer informs her that she has been left with a huge property, Wildflower Hill, and it was her grandmother’s wish that Emma visit it. Reluctantly Emma goes, but while there she uncovers more than just empty rooms and boxes accumulating dust. She finds a secret past, pictures of a young woman—clearly her grandmother—with a child that Emma doesn’t recognize as having been her grandmother’s own. Yet, the story keeps unfolding, and after finding a cross in the garden clearly marking a man named Charlie’s grave, Emma realizes that there was more to her grandmother’s life than it may have seemed.

Family secrets and the unyielding power of love—that is what you will find in Kimberley Freeman’s breathtaking novel Wildflower Hill about two young women trying to make their ways in life throughout two very different eras, and what it means to be strong.

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I can’t say it simply enough: this book was amazing. It’s been a while since I’ve found myself so attached to a story and a set of characters, but I truly craved this book anytime I was away from it. It made sleeping a nightmare, to be honest.

I usually dislike it when books flip back and forth between past and present storylines. I’m not sure why, as in some cases it does improve the depth of the plot and characters. That was definitely the case with Wildflower Hill. I loved that the story flipped back and forth between past and present, especially because Freeman seemed to understand that one thread was more interesting than the other and so devoted more time to that one. As I said, it improved the depth of the characters and story and was so, so interesting.

The writing was extremely elegant. For those who read my blog regularly, you may have noticed that a complaint I’ve had recently was that I’ve been having trouble finding adult books for young women my age (21), but the writing in this book was perfect for anyone of any age. I honestly enjoyed it so much, no matter who the character being examined was. Young or old, man or woman, I was able to relate to everybody. The writing style was so spot-on.

Something that surprised me with this book, and that told me I was totally in love with it, was that I wasn’t annoyed by the characters’ flaws. Sometimes I find that the characters’ flaws are so over-done that I find myself rolling my eyes at them. But I actually found myself getting defensive for the characters even when they were beating themselves up over their not-so-ideal traits. The characters were written in such a complete way that I forgave their flaws because they felt so human to me: nobody is perfect, and so I accepted these characters as not being so and felt for them in a way that I would a friend. There was honestly an incredible amount of intricacy to the characters; I can’t even get over it. They felt like fully formed people that I could easily walk up to on the street

I also liked the vein of truth that ran throughout this novel. The happy endings that you expect don’t always happen. You have to make your own instead, and I loved that message.

My only wish is that we’d had more: that more characters were explored, that the ending hadn’t ever come. Of course, this can’t be done in just one novel. I hope that Freeman writes more to do with this set of characters and storyline. I want to know what happened to Lucy in Scotland, what happened after the ending. I just can’t get enough!

One thing is for sure: I absolutely have a new favourite author in the adult fiction genre!

-Ember Book Reviews xxoo

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ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Stephanie Perkins

5 out of 5

*Spoiler Alert*

Not since The Fault in Our Stars by John Green has a book left me feeling so emotionally drained, in a good way. Perkins’ writing is so intense that the reader is forced to ride Isla’s roller coaster of emotions as she struggles to discover herself through love and heartbreak.

When I first started Isla and the Happily Ever After, I wanted to give it 4/5 stars. But the middle and the ending influenced my entire experience of this book, blocking out the beginning and its occasional silly bits almost entirely. The beginning, I realized, was just getting me to the best parts. Beginnings don’t have to be perfect, or 5-star worthy, to make the whole experience completely and utterly worth it.

At first, I thought the love story was unrealistic because of Isla’s infatuation with her love interest, Josh. The problem with crushes, in YA contemporary as much as in real life, is that sometimes emotions and ideals can get projected onto the character’s crush and the person turns out not to be who the MC expected. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill is a prime, though incredibly sweet, example of this. It seemed like this was going to be the plot of Isla and the Happily Ever After and my thoughts were, “Not again…” But I was wrong. Perkins greatly exceeded my expectations in writing about young love. The characters are mature, their attitudes towards their relationships and sexuality are healthy, and all-in-all it is a highly refreshing read. There are a few too-good-to-be-true moments that made me cringe a little bit, but that is more than made up for when Isla’s world comes crashing down.

I loved that the happily-ever-after doesn’t come when Prince Charming tracks her down with nothing but a shoe, or when he saves her from a gigantic octopus that’s keeping her trapped in a whirlpool at the bottom of the ocean (though The Little Mermaid is my favourite Disney movie ever). Isla takes the time to figure out who she is and what she wants as an independent young woman, and it is THEN that she ends up with the handsome prince. I think this book projects a great message for young women and I was highly inspired by Isla’s character.

-Ember Book Reviews xxoo

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