The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman

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Summary from GoodReads

The first time his father disappeared, Tucker Feye had just turned thirteen. The Reverend Feye simply climbed on the roof to fix a shingle, let out a scream, and vanished – only to walk up the driveway an hour later, looking older and worn, with a strange girl named Lahlia in tow. In the months that followed, Tucker watched his father grow distant and his once loving mother slide into madness. But then both of his parents disappear. Now in the care of his wild Uncle Kosh, Tucker begins to suspect that the disks of shimmering air he keeps seeing – one right on top of the roof – hold the answer to restoring his family. And when he dares to step into one, he’s launched on a time-twisting journey- from a small Midwestern town to a futuristic hospital run by digitally augmented healers, from the death of an ancient prophet to a forest at the end of time. Inevitably, Tucker’s actions alter the past and future, changing his world forever.

My Review:

For a book that took forever to get actually moving, I was actually surprised at how disappointed I was in The Obsidian Blade. Here’s what my journey through this story looked like.

Confusion: First – a completely strange, utterly alien world was introduced. Fine, that I can deal with. But then it was shoved into a closet and I was thrown into a reality that, honestly, sent me back to the internet to find out what was going on with this books genre classification. It seemed like a typical, young adult, non-science-fiction book. But nope.. after what seemed like forever, I was thrown back into the science fiction realm.

Disbelief: Not only were historical events not sacred (World Trade Center) but religious stories were pulled into the mix and treated with a heavy hand. It’s one thing to express disbelief in the stories that are the foundation of a religion, but using them as a catalyst to make the story seem more interesting? Not cool – especially since it completely felt as if the stories were being used for mere shock value.

I was disappointed in this series, and definitely will not be investigating the rest of the trilogy. The science fiction elements seemed to be implemented merely as an excuse to use past events in a novel, and, as a result, were not very fleshed out in and of themselves. There was virtually no world building, no explanation other than a few vague paragraphs about the diskos, and no resolution of any sort. I understand it’s the first book of a trilogy, but you have to throw your reader a bone, you know? Make the book worth reading now, rather than having to wait.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Emily’s Reading Room

Charlotte’s Library

Irises by Francisco X. Stork

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Summary from GoodReads:

TWO SISTERS: Kate is bound for Stanford and an M.D. — if her family will let her go. Mary wants only to stay home and paint. When their loving but repressive father dies, they must figure out how to support themselves and their mother, who is in a permanent vegetative state, and how to get along in all their uneasy sisterhood.

THREE YOUNG MEN: Then three men sway their lives: Kate’s boyfriend Simon offers to marry her, providing much-needed stability. Mary is drawn to Marcos, though she fears his violent past. And Andy tempts Kate with more than romance, recognizing her ambition because it matches his own.

ONE AGONIZING CHOICE: Kate and Mary each find new possibilities and darknesses in their sudden freedom. But it’s Mama’s life that might divide them for good — the question of *if* she lives, and what’s worth living for.

My Review:

Here’s what I love about Francisco X. Stork: He writes inspirational stories without feeling the need to preach.

I saw it in Marcelo in the Real World, then again in The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, and now… he completely turns away from the male-focused stories and focuses instead on two girls, sisters, ages 16 and 18, and manages to write with such an honest and clear voice I found my heartstrings being tugged at again and again.

While I didn’t love this story as much as I loved Marcelo and Summer, I still found it had honest merit, and I could relate to it. I grew up in a fairly restricted environment, and my sympathies were definitely inclined toward the sisters.. but I also found myself disbelieving some things as well – such as the scenes with the new, young pastor. It just seemed a bit far-fetched and strange to me, and that’s what kept me from overly gushing at this book – but still it had a quiet sort of beauty that made me glad to have read it, and once again I was proven right in my love for Mr. Stork.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Justin’s Book Blog

My Friend Amy

Freeheads by Kerry Nietz

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Summary from GoodReads:

aving escaped the storms of Betelgeuse and the schemes of Jannah’s inhabitants, Sandfly and HardCandy make their way back to Earth. They have a message to deliver. A society to free. And A~A3 is with them. Their mission is simple, and just. What could possibly go wrong?

Unexpectedly, DarkTrench drops into normal space. He is malfunctioning, wounded, and the only people who can fix him are still hundreds of light years away. Sand and Hard scramble for a solution while catastrophe hurtles blindly toward them.

They reach Earth to find a different world, an unexpected domain. One they can no longer connect with.

They are stranded, hopelessly separated beneath a wasteland of death and a planet of rules. Debuggers amidst a cloistered community.

Ultimately, Sandfly is alone, and Earth’s freedom relies on him and his newfound faith. But does his mission even matter anymore?

He’s a misfit, and a throwback. A symbol for all that’s evil.
Perhaps he’s the last freehead?

My Review:

This book sealed the deal for me – I’m officially a Kerry Nietz fangirl. When I was first introduced to A Star Curiously Singing for the 2010 INSPY awards I was .. concerned. I’d never been a big science fiction (hard core sci-fi that is) fan, but I gave it a chance and was thoroughly hooked by this original, fantastic story.

Then came The Superlative Stream, and once again I was dragged into HardCandy, DarkTrench, and Sandfly’s world. And once again, I had to face disappointment and the book came to an end. So when I got a chance to read Freeheads I was giddy. However, school made huge demands on me.

So I put it aside and I read it over spring break – no, actually.. I devoured it over spring break. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning reading Freeheads and loved every single moment of it. There was so much character development that happened over the span of the previous books and everything just came together well in this finale. Plus… I love returning home moments, and I think, considering how he wrote this book, Kerry Nietz might just share that love.

This is a great trilogy, and it’s so hard to just review one book without talking about the other two. I’ve talked them up to my friends and highly recommend you give them a shot. Just remember – it’s speculative fiction, and what else is more fun than reading a “what if”?

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

The Bookish Mama

Laurie Here

Comeback Love by Peter Golden

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Summary from GoodReads:

More than thirty-five years ago, Gordon Meyers, an aspiring writer with a low number in the draft lottery, packed his belongings and reluctantly drove away, leaving behind Glenna Rising, the sexy, sharp-witted med student he couldn’t imagine living without.

Now, decades later, Gordon is a former globe-trotting consultant with a grown son, an ex-wife, and an overwhelming desire to see Glenna again. Though she’s stunned when Gordon walks into her Manhattan office, Glenna agrees to accompany him for a drink. As the two head out into the snow-swept city, they rediscover the passion that once drew them together—before it tore them apart. And as the evening unfolds, Gordon will finally reveal the true reason for his return. . . .

My Review:

I am conflicted about this book. I really, really wanted to love it because I love stories that involve second chances and taking risks. But as much as I love those, I was discouraged because I felt as if Comeback Love flirted with the potential for a really good story and just fell a little bit short.

That’s not to say it wasn’t good story, because it was. It was just hugely ambitious and all of the back and forth, historic events, life-changing events and roller-coaster emotions made me feel as if I was caught in a churning washing machine and put through the ringer by the end of the story.

For me, the best part of the story was the beginning – when the promise was so strong and kept my attention, when the anticipation began to build. The opening scenes had me almost trembling with anticipation (I’m a book nerd like that) so I think I may have built my expectations up just too high. That said, the premise was an ambitious one, and I think if it had just been a little less grandiose it would have worked.

Still, I’d recommend this book just because there were moments that it did work, and work well. It’s a great picture of a real relationship, in all its flaws and glory.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

The Bookish Mama

Laurie Here

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

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Summary from GoodReads:

When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. He’s also a washed-up child prodigy with ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a passion for anagrams, and an overweight, Judge Judy-obsessed best friend. Colin’s on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which will predict the future of all relationships, transform him from a fading prodigy into a true genius, and finally win him the girl. Letting expectations go and allowing love in are at the heart of Colin’s hilarious quest to find his missing piece and avenge dumpees everywhere

My Review:

I am not a math lover – but I loved nearly everything in this book (Including the math, nerdy appendix).

Here’s what I’ve come to love about John Green. He makes nerd look AMAZINGLY COOL. And I have to give him props for that. He also makes the most amazing heroes out of kids that.. well, they aren’t exactly easy hero material.

An Abundance of Katherines is about Colin, a boy prodigy who dates only girls named Katherine, loves anagrams, and is pretty scared of not becoming a genius … kinda. Basically, he wants to make his mark in the world, something I think everyone can agree with.

So after completing high school he sets out on a journey with his Muslim friend (who, by the way.. hilarious – yet again. Love the sidekicks in Green’s books).

I cannot express how much this book tickled me, even with all of the math and the footnotes, which.. I admit, I kind of glazed over at times (with permission of the author of course!).

Highly recommended for teenagers who think that being cool means you have to conform to a certain mold, and for adults who want to read a fun, interesting novel.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Fictitious Delicious

Mostly Reading YA

Make It Stay by Joan Frank

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Summary from GoodReads:

In the tree-nestled Northern California town of Mira Flores, writer Rachel (“an aging typist with an unprofitable hobby”) and her Scottish husband Neil prepare dinner for a familiar “crew” of guests – among them Neil’s best friend, the burly, handsome Mike Spender, an irrepressible heodnist – and Mike’s wife Tilda Krall, a hard-bitten figure who carries her dark unknowability like an accusation.

Mike and Tilda have produced an enchanting daughter, Addie – who will also appear, unexpectedly, that night. As they ready the meal, Rae begs Neil to retell her the strange, twisted story of the Spenders – to include Mike’s secret life, and what happened once Tilda learned of it. Neil and Rae cannot guess how the shock waves from that story will threaten to destroy their own marriage – after a mysterious catastrophe propels all five individuals into uncharted realities.

Recounting three love stories, Make It Stay explores the vision of an era – and how perception expands, as mortal limits draw near.

My Review:

Make It Stay is a short, compact tale told through the recounting of stories between a husband and a wife.

Neil and Rachel are married – they met later in life than is the “norm”, and Neil comes with the “baggage” of friendship in the form of Mike and Tilda.

Mike is a larger than life character – vibrant, colorful, filled with character. The reader is introduced to him through Neil’s eyes, as the story between Mike and Tilda is told to Rachel.

So not only does Mike and Tilda’s relationship tie in to Neil and Rachel’s, then there is the addition of Addie (Mike and Tilda’s daughter) and her husband.

I found the description of this book to be somewhat misleading. I went into it expecting a sort of around the table story-telling session, but instead got a bit of a hokey retelling in the form of a story within a story (it’s hard to put into words, just felt a bit like a gimmick). The summary also promises three romance stories – but Addie’s was hardly present, and the two characters in that relationship were flat and one-dimensional.

The characters of Mike, Tilda and Rachel really carry the story. Even Neil I found to be a bit predictable and boring – but the story is worth reading just for those main three characters. It gave me quite a bit to think about – about friendship, legacies left behind, and the fleeting span of life.

About the Author

• Information regarding Joan Frank:
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First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung

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Summary from GoodReads:

From a childhood survivor of the brutal Pol Pot regime comes an unforgettable narrative of tragedy and spiritual triumph. 8-page photo insert.

My Review:

I was blown away by the story contained in this book.

To give you some idea of context – I was born in 1976. The year I was born Loung Ung was five years old and living in Phenom Penh, Cambodia. Her life was relatively good (although nothing like mine here in the States). Her prize possession was a red dress. She had six siblings, and a father and mother who loved her.

Then the Civil War taking place in Cambodia stepped in and became personal for Loung and her family (and millions of other Cambodians). 1/4th of the population was killed – but that’s something we’re not taught about here. So thank goodness that there are books out there that record the story so those who died are not forgotten.

While I was being fussed and cooed over, Loung was dealing with starvation, attempted rape, the murders of those close to her, and illnesses which were ravaging her body. She was being trained in combat, her mind filled with fear, and forced to leave her family and adapt to conditions which I pull back in revulsion to think of. And she tells her whole story – crystal clear – in First They Killed My Father.

This is such a charged memoir. It’s hard to recommend because the read is so tough, but I couldn’t put it down. I think you’ll find the only critique (or at least the only one I have) is that the story is told in a bit of a sing-song simplistic way, but it doesn’t distract from the power of the story itself.

About the Author

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An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

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Summary from GoodReads:

named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. He’s also a washed-up child prodigy with ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a passion for anagrams, and an overweight, Judge Judy-obsessed best friend. Colin’s on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which will predict the future of all relationships, transform him from a fading prodigy into a true genius, and finally win him the girl. Letting expectations go and allowing love in are at the heart of Colin’s hilarious quest to find his missing piece and avenge dumpees everywhere

My Review:

I am not a math lover – but I loved nearly everything in this book (Including the math, nerdy appendix).

Here’s what I’ve come to love about John Green. He makes nerd look AMAZINGLY COOL. And I have to give him props for that. He also makes the most amazing heroes out of kids that.. well, they aren’t exactly easy hero material.

AN Abundance of Katherine’s is about Colin, a boy prodigy who dates only girls named Katherine, loves anagrams, and is pretty scared of not becoming a genius … kinda. Basically, he wants to make his mark in the world, something I think everyone can agree with.

So after completing high school he sets out on a journey with his Muslim friend (who, by the way.. hilarious – yet again. Love the sidekicks in Green’s books).

I cannot express how much this book tickled me, even with all of the math and the footnotes, which.. I admit, I kind of glazed over at times (with permission of the author of course!).

Highly recommended for teenagers who think that being cool means you have to conform to a certain mold, and for adults who want to read a fun, interesting novel.

Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!

Fictitious Delicious

Mostly Reading YA

Wide Open by Deborah Coates

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Summary from GoodReads:

When Sergeant Hallie Michaels comes back to South Dakota from Afghanistan on ten days’ compassionate leave, her sister Dell’s ghost is waiting at the airport to greet her.

The sheriff says that Dell’s death was suicide, but Hallie doesn’t believe it. Something happened or Dell’s ghost wouldn’t still be hanging around. Friends and family, mourning Dell’s loss, think Hallie’s letting her grief interfere with her judgment.

The one person who seems willing to listen is the deputy sheriff, Boyd Davies, who shows up everywhere and helps when he doesn’t have to.

As Hallie asks more questions, she attracts new ghosts, women who disappeared without a trace.  Soon, someone’s trying to beat her up, burn down her father’s ranch, and stop her investigation.

Hallie’s going to need Boyd, her friends, and all the ghosts she can find to defeat an enemy who has an unimaginable ancient power at his command.

My Review:

Lately, I haven’t been as into urban fantasy as I was in past years, but when I was approached with a request to check out Wide Open, I admit to being fascinated by not only the synopsis, but also the gorgeous cover. I’ve admitted it many times – a good cover can suck me in.

Deborah Coates had a fascinating idea for this book – the presence of lingering ghosts, the mystery of an unsolved murder of a sister of the protagonist, and other supernatural elements all can combine for an electrifying, fascinating story… but there was almost too much.

As I was reading, I found myself getting distracted, wondering if maybe there was too much. Don’t get me wrong, I was entertained – as long as I didn’t stop to think too hard. But I do stop to think when I read, and there just wasn’t enough of an explanation for what was happening.

It’s a fine line – that line that separates the real from the supernatural. It’s a hard one to walk because I understand that, as an author, you don’t want to reveal too much so holes aren’t poked into your story, but yet.. there still has to be something to make the story believable in its unbelievably (if that makes sense?). I think that Coates tried to do this – but the end felt rushed and unsettling, with a focus shifting toward another aspect of the story rather than the strangely large paranormal aspect.

I’d recommend Wide Open as a story that is entertaining as surface pleasure, but don’t go into it expecting for everything to be fully explained or, like me, you’ll end up a bit disappointed.

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Wicked Little Pixie

Book Equals

Whatever You Love by Louise Doughty

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Summary from GoodReads:

Longlisted for the Orange Prize and Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award, Louise Doughty’s hauntingly beautiful investigation of love, loss, and revenge is a literary page-turner that will linger in your mind far after the cover closes. When a hit-and-run car crash claims Laura’s daughter Betty, her life is turned upside down. But when the courts rule the death an accident, the lines dividing justice from punishment will blur as Laura embarks on her own quest for vengeance. Sure to captivate fans of Antoinette van Heugten and Sophie Hannah, as well as readers of Doughty’s previous books Fires in the Dark and A Novel in a Year, among others, Whatever You Love is a poignant psychological story in which life’s greatest questions hang in the balance.

My Review:

This was a tough book for me. Filled with hauntingly beautiful descriptions, and gut-wrenching emotions, Whatever You Love tells the hard story of loss and picking up the pieces afterward.

Louise Doughty kept me guessing – even when the most horrific of events had passed (at the beginning of the book, no less), the story kept moving and twisting and turning in ways I could not predict. I sympathized with Laura and felt every bit of anger, despair, and desperation was not only warranted – but also necessary for her to deal with the injustice of what happened to her daughter.

Through and though, this story is filled with heavy, intense subject matter. There wasn’t a single moment in which I felt as if it let up – and that is the only real complaint I had. There was so much despair, and I desperately needed just a ray of hope, something that I felt wasn’t provided. So consider that my word of warning, this is not the book you want to read if you tend to go to the dark places easily and have a rough time coming out.

About the Author

• Information regarding Louise Doughty:
• Website

For more reviews on Whatever You Love by Louise Doughty, please follow the book tour.