Review : THE RIVERMAN BY AARON STARMER

Title : The Riverman
Author : Aaron Starmer
Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date :  March 18th 2014
Source : Netgalley
Rating :  4.5 /5

AMAZON | BOOKDEPOSITORY

"To sell a book, you need a description on the back. So here's mine: My name is Fiona Loomis. I was born on August 11, 1977. I am recording this message on the morning of October 13, 1989. Today I am thirteen years old. Not a day older. Not a day younger."

Fiona Loomis is Alice, back from Wonderland. She is Lucy, returned from Narnia. She is Coraline, home from the Other World. She is the girl we read about in storybooks, but here's the difference: She is real.

Twelve-year-old Alistair Cleary is her neighbor in a town where everyone knows each other. One afternoon, Fiona shows up at Alistair's doorstep with a strange proposition. She wants him to write her biography. What begins as an odd vanity project gradually turns into a frightening glimpse into a clearly troubled mind. For Fiona tells Alistair a secret. In her basement there's a gateway and it leads to the magical world of Aquavania, the place where stories are born. In Aquavania, there's a creature called the Riverman and he's stealing the souls of children. Fiona's soul could be next.

Alistair has a choice. He can believe her, or he can believe something else...something even more terrifying.





My thoughts

We've all used our imaginations during our childhood ,current children still do and future ones will do the same. As we grow older were confronted with reality and the fantasies , forts build out of pillows and blankets and playing with stuffed animals stops and fades away. Of course authors never lose this marvelous thing. Though some are better then others . The riverman is a tale of the girl who imagined, the boy who wants to believe - beliefs and at the same still remains sceptic and that mysterious evil that steals all .Both real and imaginative .

You should not judge a book by its cover but I do anyway , from time to time and requested The riverman on NG for that sole reason .So glad I got approved. The riverman is about Fiona loomis and Alistair Cleary who were once close friends when they were younger . But now at the age of 12 in 1989 , they have drifted apart like some friends do when growing up. On a particular day in October Fiona needs his help to save Aquavania and stop the Riverman. Ooh , how I like Alistair . In A very skeptic way Alistair listens to her and tries to play along and helps her . He tries to figure it out but can't figure it out if it's real or not and starts to believe , still a skeptic thought remains. The story of Fiona loomis in Aquavania is written anecdotally and in the 3rd person. In this way it does not feel like there was any info dumping and it could be seen as the detachment from Alistair from what Fiona tells him.

Characters

The main characters are Fiona , Alistair and Charlie , who's Alistair best friend. I will mention my thoughts of them briefly.

Alistair is the one I could so relate with. He feels like an outsider and is friend with Charlie not because Charlie is that good of a friend but because it is convenient and Alistair is scared that he will lose that only friend if he demands Charlie to be better friend . When they hang around they only do what interests Charlie and that is playing video games. Alistair has certain maturity to him but you can still see he is still a child. I loved his eye for detail and observation. Also he's a kind kid that gets in though situations in this book but still keeps his head in the mid of it.

I've had some difficulty with Charlie. He's the resident cat lady or rather cat boy and gets bullied because of it but he does not give a kaka about that. I've had sympathy for him but along the way my liking for him changes. A mix between hatred , confusion and sympathy after the things he did and a accident that happened to him . He will be an interesting character to watch in the other two books of this trilogy.

And finally Fiona . She is very mysterious and once you think you know her , she does something unexpected . And this puzzling ambiance of her makes Alistair fall in love with her but at a steady pace. You don't really get to know Fiona at all but only see glimpses of her and this quote explains her perfectly .

She left reminders of herself, but she didn't leave herself, and I was sick of it.

I hope we get to know more of her in future books .

Ok , I was never really scared of the big kahuna . The riverman only appears at the last 30 pages but the tension is creepy and unnerving. I don't know a lot about him but I put him the same class of that of count Olaf.

The setting

Yes we get to know about Aquavania , it is fantastical and anything you can dream of can happen it but what drew me in the first place starting from page one is the town of Thessaly. I've always loved the small town feeling in books maybe because of the reason that Paramaribo , Suriname has that same atmosphere. Thessaly has that close knit community and even has a Christmas tree with lights that represent every Thessaly originated battle perished soldier. That's really cool is you ask me. This is middle grade book but an amount of darkness is present. There are mentions of sex, trailer parks, drugs , vandalism and even an scene were someone tells about murder that was committed. This book is not for the smaller of the smalls but more for upper middle grade and even an upper YAer or Adult can read it .

A younger person will enjoy the marveling Aquavania and an Adult has an coming of age book to come too. This book tells you about death in some way or an other , that living in a fantasy world or using your imagination is fine and dandy but that you should break from that and be in the present as well. I can't wait for the sequels and hoping to get ahold of Mr starmer previous books. I hope you will enjoy this mysterious , magical , grounded and smart middle grade book that people from different ages will get something out of. I will not easily forget about

Review:Pieces of Us by Margie Gelbwasser

Pieces of Us [add to Goodreads]
by Margie Gelbwasser
Published by Flux
Date publication :March 8th 2012[tomorrow eep]
Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis:Two families. Four teens. A summer full of secrets. 

Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives. 
Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it. 
Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

My thoughts

Cover: The blue sky, the green field , the swing set in motion on a summer day got my attention like that when i first say it last year on a IMM of christi at the story siren.That scene has a huge and important part in this great and touching YA.

Book When i first say it on netgalley i flipped out[ok that’s overdoing it a bit,i was really exited] i requested.Crossing my fingers and toes. BUT i got declined,I requested it again and got declined for the second time.I finally got aprroved.Thank you Flux. I though"need to read this soon".My contanious effort was not for nought.


Before i start this review, this is dark.I was prepared for it but got schocked still.It was meant to be schoking

These teens are f*cked up.I can’t believe the parents did not see their kids were hurting inside.But he that reality .A lot of parents are to buzzy to see or sence whats happening.I have to ad there were great parental figures. The grandpa and ma’s.

Some parts of the synopsis are abit misleading. A summer full of secrets. The story takes place over two years and not one summer.Some people might find the pacing a bit dragging.But in mine opinion it was needed to tell the story

The writing was nice to read and flowed smoothly. In four different pov’s that of Katie,Alex,Julie and Kyle’s.I have not read a other book that's written in 2nd person that i can remember.I loved.Love different pov but their chapters were a bit short at times. That only irked me. Non the less i could connect with them all. I would glad to jump through the pages to comfurt them. Probably there reaction could be’’wtf , who are you’’ lol

All four teens had 360 turn around[for the better or worst] in my opinion and character growth.The katie,julie,kyle and alex i first met were different at the end.katie was a bitch and alex a @shole.But i got to care for them.A huge plus.Kyle and Julie doubted themselves a lot but that changed[i gotta try to doubt myself]I felt connected to Kyle a lot and saw a couple of things of me in him[YA SAVES].I can say the secret that’s come to light liffted and helped with a lot of hurt and pain.And eventually a more grounded love for all of them to each other and close people around them

If you love dark topics , no let me rephrase that like reading about dark topics in contemporary YA.This not a light read.Kinda dark is an understamend.I recently read that book banners are trying to ban it of its language and real heart braking stuff teens encounter.Give it a try.I can't wait to read miss Gelbwasser other book, inconvenient.

thanks to Flux for approving my request of Pieces of Us

this was part of the 2012 contemp challenge hosted by katiesbookblog.com

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The Weeping book tour: interview + review

This is my day on the book tour . I'm so exited for my stop on it

Link  to the schedule 

First the interview and then the review

About this author

O'Dell Hutchison was born in a small rural town in Idaho. After attending college in the Pacific northwest, he found his way to the Houston area in 1997. He currently lives in Katy, TX with his dog, Gia. By day, he is a Business Systems Analyst. In his free time, he tries (and fails) to work out regularly and eat healthy. He also acts and directs at various theaters around Houston.
You can visir him at his website http://otothedell.com/ or stalk her on twitter @otothedell

Now for the intrview

What inspired you to write The Weeping?

I spend a lot of time working at a local theatre here in Houston, and I am thoroughly convinced there is a ghost there. Many people have seen a man standing on the catwalk during rehearsals or performances, and I have experienced lights and other electronic equipment turning off and on by itself. My good friend, and stage manager, Susie and I went so far as to go ghost hunting on a few occasions using the Ghost Radar app on my iPhone. On more than one occasion the ghost told us his name is Frank. After one particularly intense night of ghost hunting (a chair rocking by itself, lights turning on and off and a piano playing) I had more than enough material for a book.

Who is the artist[s], fanboying here! Lol

Travis Pennington did the cover art. Isn’t it great? He perfectly captured so much of the book.

What was your favorite scene[s] to write in The Weeping

Some of my favorite scenes ended up not making it into the book. The book went in so many different directions while I was writing it, so when I revised it, a lot of it got cut. I think one of my favorite scenes that is still in the book is when Heath sees Molly on the beach and she morphs into Catherine. It came out of nowhere and it really freaked me out. Another favorite was the final showdown. I rewrote that scene dozens of times, getting it just right.

What got you in to reading and at what age , what sort of books did you like reading as a child?

I was reading before I went to kindergarten. I’ve always loved books. As a kid, I especially liked anything by Beverly Cleary, Roald Dahl and Judy Blume. I also read a lot of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books.

Do you have a set routine when you are writing? Are you a plotter or just write what the characters feel like to saying? [to me all characters are like real people]

When I wrote The Weeping I started with a basic idea and just went with it. I rewrote it three times until I was happy with it. In earlier versions, Catherine was Molly, and I ended up hating it. In another version Catherine was driving Heath to kill all these people, and I didn’t like that version either. It was too much of a downer, and way too psycho. I finally sat down and plotted it all out, and changed quite a bit of the story. I was much happier with the finished product. I am currently working on another book and I have plotted out key scenes to keep myself on track, but a majority of it is just my characters taking me on their journey.

Have you any other books in the making at the moment?
Yes, I’m currently working on another novel, which was initially meant to be a standalone book, but about halfway through I realized I had way too much material, so it will more than likely be a two or three book series. This one is another paranormal thriller, but told from a girl’s point of view, and it’s especially creepy. Stay tuned!

Any song[s] that fit perfectly with the weeping scenes /characters or the book itself?
I had quite a few songs that I came across while writing that really seemed to fit the tone of the book. Some of them are “Haunted” by Poe, “Hysteria” by Muse, “Forever” by Firelight and “It’s all Over but the Crying” by Garbage. I have an entire playlist which will be revealed later on in the tour. :)

Why should we read the weeping?

Good question. I think if you are a fan of ghost stories with a few scares and an interesting twist, you should definitely check it out. In my opinion, the book is moderately creepy, though I had a few people read it who aren’t into creepy books at all and they said it really scared them. I also had friends who read it that said it didn’t scare them at all, but they did like the mystery aspect. I guess I’ll let you decide.

This or that segment

Vanilla or chocolate

Definitely chocolate

summer or winter:

I live in Texas. I despise summer. Winter all the way.

Xmas or Halloween:

I love both. The weeks between Halloween and New Years makes me so happy. I think I would have to go with Halloween, simply because it marks the beginning of the Holiday season.

Vampires, faeries or zombies

I hate faeries. (Now that I say that I’ll probably be pummeled by an army of fae in my sleep.) I just don’t see the point of faeries, so it would have to be between vampires and zombies. Zombies scare the ever-living crap out of me. Like, serious stomach-dropping, pee in my pants fear. I used to want to be a vampire. I’d just need to get over that whole drinking blood thing.

Thanks for having me!

The review

The Weeping
by O'Dell Hutchison

Published by  H, C & B Publishing

Date Publication:  March 6th 2012

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis: Twenty years ago, Catherine Whitley was the victim of a horrible crime. Betrayed by her friends, including the boy she loved, she was left to die when the Rock Harbor Opera House caught fire, taking a disturbing secret with her to her grave. 
Seventeen-year-old Heath Ingram was driving the night his Jeep careened off the road, killing three of his closest friends. Once a popular, outgoing athlete, Heath now suffers from severe depression and crippling anxiety. His parents decide to send him to stay with his uncle in Rock Harbor, Oregon for the summer, praying that by getting away he will be able to put this awful tragedy behind him. 
When Heath starts working at the newly renovated Rock Harbor Opera House, he meets Molly, a young dancer who awakens in him a desire to start over and move on. But, when he begins having visions of a half-burned girl in a white dress, he starts to think he may be slipping even further over the edge. 
As the apparent hauntings become more intense, Heath begins to fear for his safety. With the help of his friend Josie, Heath discovers an unsettling secret that ties the mysterious girl to both their families. When two of their friends die unexpectedly, Josie and Heath realize that something, or someone, is after the children of those who wronged Catherine, and they are next

My thoughts:


Cover: LOVE the red hue and life line on the bottom and eeriness of the cover. I imagined the main characters how it's pictured.

Book:  When I saw the sign up. The cover immediately drew me in.I thought to my self"I have to read it and glad i did.

The prologue was rocking and intense. RAD.The writing was easy to follow and loved reading further and further till i finished . ^-^

I immediately loved Heath [hot/lol pun/ being heath is always next to hot lol/Love male protaganist. The male Pov, maybe cause i'm a dude and sometimes girls whiny voices annoy me. He felt like a real teen

I liked marry very much.Liked her character. Her being.[trying to be philosophical again. HUGE FAIL lol] To me characters are people, creatures most of the time 


The ending was great. A perfect ending for a good book. Sometimes the pacing was meh at moments. But i still liked it. If you love mysteries, thrillers maybe a bit spooky even. Give it a try






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Review: Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

Liesl and Po
by Lauren Oliver

Published by  HarperCollins

Date Publication: October 4th 2011

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis: Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.
Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

My thoughts

Cover:It's a decent one.Like the gold cover.Bummer that was the only likable thing for me.

Book:It never was on my wishlist.I got a hint from Booksake[check them out, there awesome book reviewers] that it was a free read at Harpercollins.com. Not a complete disappointment for me. I still wanted to know what Liesl and Po would encounter on their travels.I never bash an author.This review includes my honest opinions.

This middle grade has gotten a lot of hype and was not that interested.It was a free read.Nothing to loose.Liesl and po is sad and dreary read.That was not a problem for me


But the bland writing and worldbuilding and characters were the reason for the two star rating. I felt no connection to the characters except bundle a cat-dog like shadow creature and it does not even talk or a lot of ''screen time''

from the official website. i do have to say great art for a middle grade


Liesl and Po was not for me and I'm now less likely to read deleruim and pandemonium.Don't let me deter you to read liesl and po.You may love it


The trailer


One of my favorite trailers /sad it was not for me

Link to whole song

Legend of the Inero Dragon Book Tour: Review

MY 2nd day on the tour is here[belated //shame on you roro]. The complete schedule is posted here and is hosted by Patricia @http://www.patriciasparticularity.com

 Link to the review of bookis is here   Legend of the Oceina Dragon

Legend of the Inero Dragon
by J.F. Jenkins
Published Astraea Press 

Date Publication:  January 16th 2012 

Rating: almost 4/5 [3.8]

Synopsis: Twin brothers Jason and Matthias Inero are the favorite sons of the great dragon lord of fire. More often than not they get whatever they want. Matt wants to do great things for his people while Jason wants to go off and explore the world. Both can have what they desire, but not until they take a bride and enter into adulthood. 
Enter Kat and Gwen, two girls from very different backgrounds. Kat is happy to leave her home when the royal guard comes to bring her to loving arms of her childhood sweetheart, Matt. Gwen on the other hand is livid to be taken from her farm only to be thrust into Jason's life, and he's not to thrilled with the idea either. They have one year to find happiness with each other, or else they will be placed at the mercy of the ruthless dragon lord Lynx. Favorite or not, dragon law must be obeyed. 
As their nation begins to prepare for war against a neighboring tribe, the brothers find themselves as key components in the battle plans. A dark prophet has had a vision of Inero victory, but at what cost? Both must decide where their loyalties lie and what they're willing to sacrifice – including each other – to achieve their goals 

My thoughts

Cover: I think it's Gwen and Jason.Love the fire pictured on the cover.The fire of Inero

Book:The sequel was way better than the first.It's a companion novel you could say but still book two in a series.From the point of view of the enemy!?. The Inero

Two borthers, twin brothers.
Gwen is taken from her loving family
Kat is happy to been taken away from here's
There lives intermingle.Some are strangers to each others.Some not. Are the Inero really the enemy or something darker ,crueler and evil??

The world building was not as confusing as book 1. Maybe because i already experienced it.

We're in the Inero Nation, Inero territory. Things are done differently here. Not as democratic as Oceina.

its narrated by for people. Gwen, Kat, Jason and Matt. But its a brother book. Jason and Matt's story. There lives from knowing each other till now.


Book two is a reversal of book 1. Everything from their POV. You are probably thinking would we not read the same dang thing over again?? NO. Definitively not .New inside stuff are known, are discovered. Have come to light. Stuff.

The ending was awesome. All i'm saying there is something dark and evil and somethuing light and good. Is the something that's light and good really good??

Sorry if i'm so cryptic and mysterious. Bwha ha ha. I can't seem to write this review without spoilers but glad i succeeded. I can't wait for book three in this series. The last one i think. Hoping it releases this spring

I was given a review copy by the author


  a song that fits perfectly with this book and does generate a atmosphere

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Review: Legend of the Oceina Dragon by J.F Jenkins

The Dragons Saga: Legend of the Oceina Dragon
by J.F. Jenkins
Published    Astraea Press
Date Publication:  February 22nd 2011

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis:  Darien Oceina is the youngest son of the Great Dragon Lord of the Water. For years he¹s loved and cherished Tai Dawson from afar. Tai is a simple, ordinary girl who doesn¹t even know Darien exists. On his eighteenth birthday, he chooses her as his wife. But there’s one problem: She thinks his choice means she¹s going to be offered as a sacrifice to the Dragon Lord, but instead, she’s forced to move to his home, far away, to give up her life and be his bride. 
When she first sees Darien after the ceremony, she doesn’t expect to feel anything but hatred toward him. The two are struggling with the complications of a new marriage when their nation is attacked by a rival dragon species. Together they learn to love one another while they struggle to stay one step ahead in a game where the prize is their survival. 

My thoughts

Cover: I'm loving it. Yes it is not published by a big publisher and maye the cover is cover abusted out there, but this is exactly how I pictured Tai and Darien. On of my new beloved fictional couples

Book: I signed up for the tour of book two after i found i could read book 1. I took a leap of faith.I could have hated these books.Happy to have read it.

Once upon a time the Great Lord created dragons to protect mankind. 4 types of dragons. 4 different elements

We see Tai, a young lady, around 18 years of age living on a small island in Oceina territory.Wondering why dragons are following her since the age of 13 ish or at least she thinks they are following her in daily routine of life.Her mom tells her that she's been chosen as a sacrifice to the grear oceina dragon. Sacrifices are not uncommon. But is this really a sacrifice?

The writing was easy to follow and not too simplistic like a certain book i read this year.The world building was good but got confused a bit. It is a modern world.They have cell phones but the writing gave me old world, Medieval feel.

It has a dual narration . Tai and Darien POV. But this darien's story.

Darien around the same age as Tai in years. Not human years. He's a dragon, the youngest son of the Oceina lord and touched.What do you think that is?? Water is his element. The element of Oceina. Very kind but the oddball in the family. Members of the family despise him for what he's done. It was not his fault. His birth

Tai was not a kick butting girl. Just a normal girl in and a wall flower in her eyes and can't seem to understand why Darien sees in her.I quite liked her bit bitchy towards Darien but she falls for Darien in the end.

The romance was great. It was real.I was happy they supported each other in the end. It was more adult than YA . New adult.

Felt the loss , the pain of losing a loved one. Politically involved.Enemy caused. A neighboring tribe, a different species. The Inero, FIRE. But are they the real enemy

I quite liked it. Love shifters, love dragons, LOVE dragon shifters.I immediately began reading book two

I was given a review copy by the author


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