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Cat O’ Nine Tails Review
There may be nine on the cover but this is only the fourth tale of our intrepid redhead adventuress. This time, she’s off exploring the new world. She had been staying with the Avons as her beloved theatre is being rebuilt for the next year but finds it stifling to be a lady. She can’t ride horses or be as mischevius as she wishes when Frank is entertaining polite company. But she’ll soon come to regret her complaints of boredom when she accidentally ends up at the mercy of the British Navy!
But let’s back up a bit. First we experience some of the genteel politics of the upper-class, matchmaking ton where Cat is humilated and Billy is chortling with glee.
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Lisa Papademetriou Interview
Lisa Papademetriou is the author of several lower and middle grade books with genres ranging from realistic fiction (Apartment 1986, Homeroom Diaries) to her fantasy novels, (Dreamway, The, Wizard, the Witch and Two Girls from New Jersey) and more that readers are sure to love and recognize. Here, she kindly took the time to talk about her catalogue and what’s coming next.
1. Some of my favorite books of yours came from the Candy Apple imprint, how did you come to work with them?
Before I was a writer, I was an editor. I worked at several large publishing houses, including Scholastic, so by the time I became a full-time writer, I already knew quite a few editors personally. When Scholastic started Candy Apple, someone recommended me as a writer who could come up with sweet, funny stories. It was just luck that I got hooked up with that line of books!
2. When writing the Accidentally quartet, did you have a clear vision for where all the characters would end up (redeeming Fiona, Amy realizing she may have feelings for preppie Preston, Lucia becoming queen bee, etc.)?No, I didn’t. I had a clear sense of the characters, but I didn’t know where they were going. In the end, they were more complex than I originally planned.
3. Another imprint you worked for was Disney as author of several Disney Fairies books. How did it work when you were one of several. Did you share notes on the universe and characters so it would stay consistent? Were there guidelines?I was actually an editor at Disney Press and did some of the development work on the Fairies series, but most of it was derived from Gail Carson Levine’s book, Fairy Dust and the Quest For the Egg, which was—in turn—based on the fairies in Peter Pan. In a series with several authors, the writers will submit their ideas to the editor, who is in charge of making sure that everything is consistent. We writers read the books that came before ours, of course, so that we know the characters and events. And there are guidelines to keep everyone on track. But part of being a writer for a series with multiple authors is being able to work that way—almost collaboratively.
4. When writing The Homeroom Diaries, did you draw from your own
diaries and memories from high school?Homeroom Diaries was co-written with James Patterson, who came up with a lot of material in the book. That said, some of it was pulled from my own experiences. Many of the moments between the friends were based on feelings and relationships I’ve had. There’s a cafeteria scene in which someone starts a food fight, and another character makes a somewhat self-important speech about not wasting food, and in the middle of the speech, he gets hit in the head with a chilidog. That happened to me. I was the speechmaker, and someone flung an entire loaf of bread at my head.
5. What was it like working with the illustrator to combine Margaret’s
narrative with her doodles?That was so much fun! As I was writing, I came up with ideas for the illustrations and noted them in the manuscript. Almost always, these would come back from the editor with a note to “make funnier”. So I’d try to push the humor as much as possible, until it seemed like it would be a good illustration. But, of course, once the art came back from Keino, it was a whole other level—better than anything I expected.
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Grishaverse: The Demon in the Wood Review
Last year, Bardugo surprised fans with a prequel focusing on everyone’s favorite bad guy, the Darkling aka Aleksander. In graphic novel form! Now I’ll admit I’m not one of his many fans. Don’t get me wrong, he does his part well in being a worthy catalyst, villain, foil etc. But I didn’t fall for his evil is sexy as I did for other fictional villains. Nonetheless, it was an interesting peek into Aleksander’s formative years and a chance to see his good side before he was twisted by his own self-righteousness.
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Grishaverse: Rule of Wolves
Well this was one epic book. Epic, epic all around and why wouldn’t it be as the Grishaverse approches the Age of Saints and end of the Grishaverse for now, according to Bardugo. As for the Age of Saints thing, it turns out Yuri got it right after all. Get ready because this is going to be a long review.
Although the ending of King of Scars may have implied the Darkling is a returning threat, he is actually a minor player compared to all the other wolves at Ravka’s door. There’s the Shu who had attempted to murder Nikolai so now they’re stuck with a failed assassin, Myu and Princess Ehi trapped in a corner. So yeah, that marriage alliance is definately not going through.
Fjerda is also nipping at Ravka’s borders as Nina sends more information that she gained staying in General Brum’s home. Information implying that Fjerda is ready to make a full frontal invasion with the true Lantsov heir as their puppet king. Worse still is the wealthy Merchant Council of Kerch will provide no help as to remain neutral in the upcoming war. . . and to be petty because Nikolai’s submersibals weren’t the coup they expected it to be as Nikolai allys himself with the Zemi.
Politics are hard but war is worse and no one wants to face the potential for all out battle especially as Nikolai had promised he’d bring Ravka an era of peace. He also knows that Ravka doesn’t have the money or the man-power to do so but to let the Fjerda’s win would give over Ravka’s Grisha citizens to certain doom. So now, the King and his Triumvante are forced to contemplate new weaponry, long-aim missles and other new technological warfare remiscent of WWI signalling a new age in trench battles and capability of violence. They might be trying to save Ravka but Nikolai is all too aware that their actions today could have long-reaching consequences tomorrow. They might be becoming the bad guys.
As for the characters, Nikolai is at peace with his demon since his trial with the Thornwood but perhaps that demon is releasing something else? While he may have faced his insecurities in the fold, there’s something else growing inside. Admist all these pressures, there’s growing wish for freedom, a break from the secrets, the constantly toeing the line. He had always been driven but he’s starting to have doubts on his chosen path with the constant stress of devotion to a country that eats its own, that fails the people it loves. He begins to wonder if he will ever see his dream of helpin Ravka come true and struggles with the bigger question with whether he is the right person for the job. I loved this deep introspection from him as it provides even more layers to the charming Lantsov bastard prince we’ve seen him portray in the original duology.
He has such strength and ingenuity but seeing him face the realities of politicking and ruling is amazing. I truly applaud Bardugo for how she created such an intense, nuanced depiction of the troubles in being King. Really, seeing all Nikolai has to go through I can’t imagine why anyone would want to do it. Yes, there’s Nikolai’s father and brother who used their position to do what they wanted and didn’t put effort like Nikolai to imrpove the lives of citizens but it still sounds tough. Constant being on your guard because almos everyone wants to kill you for your throne and all your citizens blaming you if things go wrong. So yeah, that pressure is taking its toll on him,
Meanwhile, Zoya continues her development in opening herself to love. She has kept herself so guarded in order to prevent the pain that comes in their line of life, but as the death toll mounts, Zoya is coming to learn that pushing others away doesn’t make the pain hurt any less. She’ll only become the darkling if she’s forever alone. It’s a really great conclusion to Zoya’s arc and realistic too in showing the backslides Zoya experiences and her utter conviction that she’s right (as usual) that prevents her from trying. Plus there’s this one magnificent scene where Nikolai finds out where Zoya goes at night. . . It’s spoilery so I won’t say but it is also super moving. They’re just two lonely hearts in the middle of war, both so insecure but so wanting each other’s light and unwavering strength.
And there is just so much action and uncertainty going on as they fight a war on three fonts, and two layers, one outward, one in secret that I was getting anxious for them. Seriously. For the first time in possibly 15 years, I don’t even remember, I paused halfway through to skimm last page to see if they were alive. I was that worried someone was going to die. I mean someone did but Nikolai and Zoya made it through, that was what I was most concerned about. So when I say Bardugo amps up the suspense, I mean it.
Meanwhile, Nina has found herself in the inner circle of the Brum househld thanks to her friendship/burgeoning feelings for Hanne but it is a lot harder to find information in Brum’s study than you think. He seems to keep his work life pretty separate since it’s not for ladies. But when Hanne volunteers to help Nina by participating in Fjerda’s debutante-like ball, Nina ends up right up front with the sickly Prince Rasmus.
There, she initates her own courtly conspiracies, beleiving she can find an ally with Prince Rasmus and if she helps him get to the throne, perhaps bring a safer age for Grisha and a new ally for Ravka. Yeah, things don’t go as plan in that respect as spoilery things happen and she ends up finding out Mattias’ killer! Not only that, but she has been helping her fellow spies bring the common Fjerdan citizens on their side by aiding the idea that grisha are living saints in order to diminish the rabid Grisha hatred Fjerda is known for.
I mentioned before that I was a bit uncertain to Nina’s new relationship with Hanne. Here, I have adjusted to it. It helps that Bardugo brings back some of Nina’s grief of Mattias so he doesn’t feel entirely set aside. Plus it is clear that Hanne has her own secrets and depths that create a different but just as dynamic relationship that boosts Nina up without the slightly icky Nazi-Jew metaphor.
So woo, that’s quite a lot but the book also introduces two additional POVs besides Nikolai, Nina and Zoya’s. The Monk aka Aleksander and Myu. Spoilers under the cut.
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Grishaverse: King of Scars
Three years since the martyrdom of the Sun Summoner, the death of the Darkling and Nikolai’s accesion to the throne Ravka is in deep trouble. Because it’s Ravka, there is always something.
That trouble comes on dark wings on cold nights like the monsters of ancient fairytales. Only that monster is Nikolai’s demon, the curse of the Darkling returning after all these years. It turns out the scars were a sign that the volcra wasn’t truly expunged from Nikolai’s soul and despite chains and sleeping serums, he is escaping more and more often. The kingdom cannot stand if the public finds out their ruler is a monster, not with rumors of his bastard lineage rumbling among ranks, with threats from the Shu and the Fjerd on both borders, with the rumblings of a Darkling cult, they cannot know he is cursed. Nikolai cannot lose his humanity.
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Top 5 Vet Volunteers
Trapped: This one comes first for me because I love deer so the story of Brenna taking care of an injured fawn is just adorable. But what is also interesting is the focus on Brenna’s brother and his growing enviromental radicalism and how far he is willing to go to stop poachers. Anderson presents the pros of such staunch care for the enviroment and its animals while warning not to let it go so far into harming humans in the zeal to protect wild critters.
Fear of Falling: David’s personal problems are just as engaging as his attempts to get over his fears of high-jumping while still seeming like a man about it. His story of trying to gain his Dad’s attention during the uncertainty of his parent’s divorce is a heartfelt as one can see how much he wants to make his Dad pride while also wreastling with his animosity for his Dad leaving the family so easily.
Fight for Life: This first book brings the gang together and tears to my eyes every time as it unveals the cruelty of puppy mills. It does a good job in setting up the premises and the dynamics of the group while Maggie struggles in letting others into the world she feels as a private sanctuary.
Masks: Once again, Anderson presents the complicated world of vetinary research as Sunita discovers when she interns at a local lab. She loves animal so how can she condone the testing done on them? It’s a difficult problem and in an ideal world we wouldn’t have to but as Sunita learns it is necessry to find cures and other medicine for humans and animals. That leaves the rest of the book for her to contemplate where her future path lies if not in vet science?
Helping Hands: This book dives into the abuse of pony ride and other petting zoo animals which I never thought of but wow, this paints a rather graphic picture. Really, the whole series does (so much animal abuse everywhere) but it’s still worthwhile to learn so I appreciate this book being out there to highlight its existance.
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Ranking Secrets of My Hollywood Life
Family Affair: This is number one to me, not only in that we get more insight to Kaitlin’s day to day tv show life. But also for the biggest surprise so far in the book series. Kaitlin and Skylar team up against a bigger enemy. The young upstart, Alexis Holdon who’s sweetheart next door personality hides a scheming diva. What’s more, Calonita does a great job in realistically bringing the tow together, drawing their commonalities as well as peeling away some of Skylar’s pricklier layers. Plus it touches on Kaitlin’s “normal girl” desires as she works on SATs and attempts to get her license, maintaining that thread which will pay off later on in the sixth book.
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Grishaverse: Crooked Kingdom Review
The Crows had been left in dire straits but just a few weeks later, new plans are in place and Kaz is sure that not only will be able to get the original windfall that Van Eck had promised them, but retrieve Inej from his Van Eck’s hiding place, save Grisha refugees and get Kuwei the hell out of Ketterdam. I enjoyed how Bardugo quickly dispenses an overdrawn save Inej mission instead having Inej try to save herself alongside the Crows devising their own plan.
Which is a good thing, with the whole gang together again the bigger guns can start rolling. What are those bigger guns? There is more than one player in this game and that player is able to outsmart Kaz just as easily as Kaz outwits Jan Van Eck. Yes, I’m talking about the man who ruined Kaz’s life-Pekka Rollins.
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Grishaverse: Six of Crows Review
I know Six of Crows is highly-regarded and I’m pleased to see that it lived up to its hype. After all the premise is centered around a Oceans 8-esque heist that seems impossible to accomplish but will yield so many rewards if they succeed. And certain death if they fail.
The goal is to retrieve Shu scientist, Bo Yul-Bayur from the impentrable Frjerda palace and prison, White Island. Preferably alive as he is the creator of jurda parem formula-a drug that amplifies Grisha’s powers to do the impossible, making them even more powerful weapons hopelessly addicted after the first taste.
The crew consists of six as you might guess from the title. Kaz, the merciless, confident con man, the Bastard of the Barrell whose expertise is on impossible heist. Inej, a spider and holder of secrets and blackmail hoping to accumulate enough to leave her debts. Mattias, a witch-hunter who is torn between duty to his country and the promise of a pardon. Nina, a grisha yearning to return back to Ravka to help the Second Army. Jesper, one of Kaz’s right hands and handy with a pistol but a loser at the card tables. Finally, Wylan, former rich boy, willing hostage and demolitions expert.
Before I get into the plot, let’s talk about the main city full of dirt underneath its surface that these characters call home or hell.
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Top 5 Little House books
Flashback time! My mom may have bought me the entire Little House series before I was born (I think? It’s just been in my room for a very loooong time) but this summer I finally read them. Read read them, not skimmed. So now I’m sharing the top 5.
1. Little House on the Prarie: When I think of Little House on the Prarie, I think of this. Not just the cover though that’s a big part but just the adventures they go on as well as the trials from flooding to wild animals to the difficulties of creating their own log cabin. It’s rustic and really a whole different lifestyle from now and Wilder really brings you back to the time period.
2. The Long Winter: This felt like a more action-oriented plot rather than just a series of stories from the location they are settled in at the moment. The story takes a section of time, just one winter, aka the long winter where the harsh weather keeps the town inside for months to near starvation. Though you know it will end with them all living, Wilder does keep you on the edge of your seat as things get more dire. Plus seeing Alamazo save the day is just awesome.
3. On the Banks of Plum Creek: This was just fun as it has some of Wilder’s more memorable memories like Pa getting lost in the blizzard, the introduction of boastful Nellie Olsen and Laura’s revenge and Laura going to school for the first time.
4. These Happy Golden Years: This one is the most romantic. . . Well not really. It’s sort of a historical time capsule showing the differences in courting between Laura and Alamazo which seems to be filled with silent communication and carriage rides. Really, Laura doesn’t even realize her feelings of jealousy towards Nellie and then the marriage proposal just happens. I don’t know, I guess that’s just how things were back then. But it’s interesting to see the differences in time.
5. Farmer Boy: I’ll admit some parts of this are boring. So much farming information but it gives a comprehensive overview of all the work that goes toward farming, raising cattle, and ice-block transportation. It shows how boys were raised back then and the expectations for them which Wilder makes clear that working from the land is the best, more honest work than getting educated for banking. Plus it had a patriotic country-fair Fourth of July that sounded such fun to be there. Truly a forgotten time period.
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Rachel Reads & Reviews 