Graceling, The Summoning

[silburygirl]

It has been a while since I posted a book review, so I'm going to give you two!

But, first, some tidbits for your amusement:

The Economist weighs in on the Canadian political situation, complete with awesome cartoon.

While CNN provides one of the most terrible photographs of him ever. He really needs to work on that evil overlord smirk

Comments

[harmony_bites]

I hate being nominated in categories with good fics, because it kills my competitive streak.

However, and I know this from Trek where I *was* nominated, it's never whether you win or lose--it's who you lose to. Better to be in good company.

I like Kelley Armstrong. I've been reading and enjoying her latest Women of the Otherworld books, Living With the Dead and enjoying it a lot--but yeah, it's what I call a popcorn book. Interesting fun diversion, but not the kind of thing that causes you to tingle or think deeply.

[silburygirl]

However, and I know this from Trek where I *was* nominated, it's never whether you win or lose--it's who you lose to. Better to be in good company.

I am very deeply aware of that...

I liked the YA Kelley Armstrong quite a lot more than I recall liking Bitten-partly practice, partly better characters, and partly because YA does lend itself to thinking about certain issues which you almost have to weigh in on if you're going to write for that audience. The Summoning was very gut-punchy, though, and very well done. She has serious suspenseful skill (I think I was jumping up and down in place when I was reading it at a few points), and the first person really did serve her well in this one in ways that I don't think it could in an adult novel... Hmm. Shall have to read more of her to make a decent comparison.

[harmony_bites]

Sometimes its just the mix of characters I find. Each of the books in her Otherworld Series focuses on different characters (most anyway, some repeat). I find I don't like the ones focusing on Elena of Bitten but I love Paige--and Hope--and others.

I'll definitely have to try The Summoning

[silburygirl]

I have informed my sister to bring me Dime Store Magic or I will smack her, but I have my doubts that she'll remember... Of course, Kelley Armstrong is one of her favourite authors so I can always bribe her with The Summoning...

Which, I should warn, you may want to wait until the second book in the trilogy comes out to read, because it ends on the most agonising cliffhanger ever...

But go forth and read Graceling, now.