TLP Reads: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Woop! Another TLP Reads post! I picked up Mind Games by Kiersten White on a complete whim the moment I saw in over at the bargain books section at Chapters. There was no real, official blurb on the book, and I guess the mystery really sucked me in. And man, I was not kidding about the mystery, and this was a really nice surprise.

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Two sisters, bound by impossible choices, are determined to protect each other - no matter the cost.
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Mind Games really throws you for quite the loop in the first few pages. You've got no idea what's going on, where the story is going, or what you're even doing with this book. It's as if the author is seriously playing a mind game on you. But regardless, you have to keep reading to figure out all the mystery and put everything together. And that's the fun part.

Sofia, or Fia as she's referred to in the book, is a nineteen year old assassin, bound by the promise of her sister's safety to the mysterious and powerful Mr. Keane. Her sister Annie is a Seer, someone who can see into the future - yet can never really figure out what it all means. Both sisters are determined to keep the other safe since they lost their parents at a young age, though their whole living situation makes it difficult. Annie can never leave the 'school dormitory' (I'll get to that in a minute), and Fia can't visit her unless she's given permission to. Fia's the puppet, and Annie's the leverage. Messed up, no?

Fia's the type of girl you'd want to have your back. She's super sassy, intuitive and caring - and it helps that she can kick some serious butt too. Despite being the younger sister, she's protective of Annie and, like the teaser suggested, she'd do anything for her. Even if it means killing people to keep her safe. She uses her assets to her advantage, and is unafraid to take risks - provided she doesn't think too much about it. And I love her comebacks. Regardless of who she's speaking to, she's got a witty, snarky remark ready. The minute she's introduced in the book, I loved her.

Annie, or Annabelle, has been blind since she was about four, and the visions didn't come until their parents' accident. But her 'sight' is anything but a gift, since it's what's holding her captive under the watchful eye of Mr. Keane and his minions. Like Fia, Annie is tough and thoughtful, though she lacks the drive and fearlessness that Fia's been taught to survive. Annie's not the lesser of the two, but unlike Fia, she doesn't have a clue as to what's really going on. At least, not until much later.

"I could still keep Annie safe and sound in her room where she sees nothing but fractured visions of life. Maybe she's already seen this, maybe she knows it ended for us the moment this boy helped that puppy and became a person to me. 
That dumb dog has killed us all."
- Fia, pg. 4

There's somewhat of a love triangle going on here too. You've got James Keane, Mr. Keane's son, who seems to be just another pretty face and a good, charming liar. James manages all of Fia's operations, and seems to always have her back despite being quite cocky and secretive. It's insinuated in the first few pages when we meet him how he doesn't like working for his father, and I have to tell you, there's so much more to him than meets the eye. Perhaps he's not all ice cold. Then there's also Adam Denting - sweet and trusting - who was meant to die at the hands of Fia until she changed her mind last minute. There's not much that's revealed about him, except that he's super smart and instantly falls for Fia - despite you know, the whole meant to die thing. With Adam, Fia's got a shot at living a normal life. With James, she finds a comfort only they understand. Obviously, tough choice here for Fia, but all that's on her mind is Annie. Then again, that's not to say that she hasn't thought about kissing either suitor.

The ending, I must say, is what really gets you. At least, for me it did. There was so much already happening with secrets coming out, and with Annie's vision, I was left wondering 'WTF?' as I turned the last few pages. I had even more questions than I did from the start of the novel, but me oh my, it was perfect - at least for the circumstances all the characters found themselves in. The epitome of a bitter sweet ending I must say.

And because of the ending, it's got me hoping that there's a next installment to this story. I just cannot be content with having the ending as is. It's not a total cliffhanger, but it's got enough mystery interlaced within it that's got me wondering what happens next for Fia, Annie and James. Is it obvious I'm all for James Keane? Hah!

Perhaps a little struggle I found with Mind Games was the switch between Fia and Annie's narratives from years ago to present day. I definitely had to make sure that I read the chapter headings to make sure I was reading it from the right perspective! Not that it was difficult to figure out who was speaking, but in order to place the events chronologically on their timeline, you definitely need to be pretty alert on which version of Fia or Annie is telling the story. The somewhat confusing flip between the narratives is definitely something that hindered this story from being a complete thrilling page-turner in my opinion.

Mind Games is a story that highlights the need for sacrificing anything for the people you love when the situation requires it, and how nothing is ever as it seems. Intuition is a vital component to surviving, and as the story unravels, readers begin to really see who's life is more valuable and worth killing for.

If you're in the market for a puzzling yet thrilling story, then I'd say Mind Games should be your next read. It's got the right mix of mystery, family warmth and romance that it hits all the right spots. Mind Games definitely gets your mind running, and maybe you can even learn a few tricks from Fia while you're reading. As to what those lessons are, well, that's up to you.

Happy discovering!

TLP Reads: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

It's absolutely no secret that I'm a huge fan of Rainbow Rowell's (you can check out my other reviews here) so here I am with her latest book Landline - yet another great read that had me tearing up, literally laughing out loud and kicking my feet up in glee. And yes, I'm serious about that last part. I'd originally been eyeing this since last summer but I never got around to picking it up until the Christmas holidays. It's been on my book wish list for so long that man, I can't even begin to describe the immense sense of satisfaction I felt when a copy finally called my bookshelf home. And the even more intense sense of satisfaction I felt after reading it? Damn... 

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Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it's been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply - but that almost seems besides the point now. Maybe that was always besides the point. Two days before they're supposed to visit Neal's family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can't go. She's a TV writer, and something's come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her - Neal is always a little upset with Georgie - but she doesn't expect him to pack up the kids and go without her. 
When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she's finally done it. If she's ruined everything. That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It's not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she's been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts ... is that what she's supposed to do? Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

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The ending to me was quite predictable from the start, but then again, aren't all love stories like that? So I can't hold that against Landline. It's the cheesy cliche that gets you all giddy and makes you melt with happiness. But it's the kind that we all love. But what I really think made Landline such a great read was the build up to its ending. How everything fit into Georgie and Neal's timeline. How it unravelled and came together for both of them. I recall squeals, fist pumps and big grins going on as I turned the last few pages of this book. 

Another thing that really lent to its amazing narrative was the flip between the past and present. From 18 year old, aspiring comedy writer Georgie who knows what she wants to 40 year old yet is now doubting everything Georgie. The switch between these two versions of Georgie isn't confusing at all, and gives readers a great glimpse as to who she is as a whole. In fact, who she was in college and who she is in present day are pretty much the same - she's still passionate about her work, insanely in love with Neal, and hopeful that all her aspirations can be reached. Well, with a few bumps in the road, she's certainly attained quite a lot of her goals. Married with two kids and a kickass job (literally) as a screenwriter, she's living the dream. Well, almost.

The realization that she's thrown herself too much into her career and forgetting about her family (I wouldn't say neglecting, but she really isn't around as much) is such a pivotal moment for Georgie. And that's what I think makes Georgie such a relatable character. She's someone who's driven, passionate and talented - but she's also someone who has forgotten the things that really matter to her. How many times have we, in general, lost sight of the important things in life because of our strive. Not to say that chasing your dream isn't important, but taking back the things we took for granted can be an even bigger struggle. Georgie, by some yellow telephone teleporting miracle, was able to really see the bigger picture once she took a humongous step back.

Makes me wonder where I can get a rotary telephone like that to store in the back of my closet and take out when circumstances call for it. 

And even though we don't see much of present day Neal in the story, college Neal is another character everyone will love too. Admittedly, I wasn't so sure about his character (as in, present day daddy Neal) when he was first introduced as he came off as a bit insensitive and cold. But my gosh, I regret ever feeling that way. College Neal is pretty much the type of guy we want to have around in our lives - he's talented, witty, supportive and such a great person in general. And once we see just how much he and Georgie went through, I started to feel really sympathetic to his character. It's amazing he's done what he has, and man, you really can't help but get  bit emotional once Neal lays it all out for Georgie - the countless number of times that he does.

"This person on the other end of the line was Neal as he was. Before he was quite hers. When he was still circling the possibility of Georgie. This Neal was harsher. Paler. Had a shorter temper. Bit this Neal hadn't given up on her yet. This Neal still looked at Georgie like she was something brand-new and supernatural. He was still surprised by her, delighted with her. Even now, as frustrated as he was." p. 166

And I cannot write this without mentioning Seth, Georgie's best friend since college and writing partner, who provides so much comic relief throughout this story - both his college and present-self. Like Georgie, he's super witty and talented, and not to mention good looking. It's no wonder he slept around during his college days. But whenever Georgie needed him (or anytime really), he's there providing snarky yet humorous remarks. Present Seth is pretty cool too, and he definitely hasn't lost his sassy and cool demeanor. Perhaps what I loved most about him was how caring and sensitive he was, despite his demeanor. Seth's been there with Georgie through thick and thin, and man, if I didn't love Neal so much, I would be rooting for Georgie and Seth. But no.

Seth never talked about the Saturday-morning girls now, but Georgie assumed the parade marched on.
"Thanks," he said. "For pushing through today. I know that something is seriously fucked up with you."
Georgie unplugged her phone.
"And it's killing me that you won't talk about it," he said. 
"I'm sorry."
"I don't want you to be sorry, Georgie - I want you to be funny."
- pg. 151, Georgie and Seth, present day

The witty one-liners and humourous conversations the characters found themselves in (and I mean all of them, from Georgie to her mother to her daughters Alice and Noomi) really made this story. Despite all the drama and verging-on-tears situations, Rowell really gave readers that sense of hope that things would turn out all right in the end. There was just that right touch of humour that kept me going through this story, and man, it was such a delight reading this.

Landline serves as a great reminder that nothing is more important than family and true love. Being able to know what you want and what you're willing to do for it is an amazing trait, and it sure helps when you've got friends supporting you (or perhaps, taunting you lightly) every step of the way. Rowell definitely gives readers a chance to figure out and reflect on their lives - their past decisions, their future and the realization that even if we could try and change things, we'll always end up wherever we're supposed to. With whomever we're supposed to be with.

Unsurprisingly, I'm giving this two gigantic thumbs up. If I had more thumbs, they'd all be up too. Landline was just such a captivating read that I'm sure anyone who picks this up will love it as much as I do, regardless if you can actually relate to Georgie McCool's situation. Heck, I'm only 20 years old, but I couldn't help but tear up during Georgie's meltdowns and emotional struggles. The characters, the pacing, switching narratives and descriptions are magical and touching. Rowell has done it yet again and tugged at my heart strings, and I love her even more for that.

So if you're in the market for a nice inspiring and thoughtful read, I'd definitely suggest you check this one out. Maybe you'll find a little magic within its pages like I did.

And seriously, where can I get me one of those magic rotary telephones?
Happy discovering!

TLP Reads: How (Not) to Find A Boyfriend by Allyson Valentine

Here we go with the first TLP Reads for this February! I spotted How (Not) to Find a Boyfriend at National Bookstore while I was in the Philippines, and truth be told, it wasn't exactly something I was really desperate to buy. But because none of the titles I was looking for were available (which is always a huge bummer), I decided to give this one a go, crossing my fingers that it would be worth my time. Well... it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, let's say. I laughed, I rolled my eyes, I sighed heavily... what do you make of that?

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Nora Fulbright is the most talented new cheerleader at Riverbend High. She may have been a friendless over-achiever in the past, but this year Nora is determined to transform from social larva to full-blown butterfly. But when Adam moves to town and steals Nora's heart with his ultra-smarts, she devises a plan to wow him with her intellect. Every move she makes getting closer to Adam is more complicated, and she quickly loses control of her strategy. Can Nora prove that she's not a complete airhead while keeping her image in check?
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I'll be honest, it took me quite a while to get into this. 20 pages in, I had to stop, put it down and mentally psych myself to finish it. Not that I have anything against cheerleaders. Heck no way - I even dressed up as one many Halloweens ago. That's not what bothered me.

It's that Nora acts like the stereotypical type of girl who is trying so hard to be in the 'in crowd'. In the first 20 pages of this book, you already know that whatever Nora has planned to achieve anything, it'll backfire on her. Like with Lindsay Lohan's character in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen or even Mean Girls (by the way, who else remembers those movies?) This book embodies that type of thing. Not to say that it was horrible, but it wasn't an easy read for someone like me who doesn't like taking other people's crap or 'perfect plans' to get a guy. Just, no. So you know, fair warning, if you're like me, a little bit of perseverance and patience is needed to get half way through this book where it really starts to get good.

Nora Fulbright is supposedly book smart, and uber talented when it comes to cheerleading/gymnastics. She could potentially be enjoying the best of both worlds but no, apparently she goes to a school like the one from High School Musical. You gotta stick to the status quo. So she does her best to downplay her smarts despite her mother pestering her about being too preoccupied with dancing and waving pom poms in the air. It sucks for her. You feel some sympathy for Nora - she's trying to please everyone that's around her.

Nora's love interest Adam Hood is sweet, smart and definitely into Nora. He's pretty hilarious too, especially towards the end of the book. So he gets my vote, no doubt about that. The dynamic between Nora and Adam is pretty nice, and it almost makes up for the stupid things Nora gets herself into. She devises all these plans to get closer to him, not knowing that she doesn't even have to try that hard. Yes, it's the classic case of misunderstandings leading to embarrassing situations. Whether it was all worth it in the end, well, I know I personally wouldn't  go through all that trouble just to get a guy to like me.

But like I said, the book wasn't all that bad. My favourite aspect would have to be the family parts - Nora bonding with her little brother Joshie, and later on her older brother Phil. I loved her interactions with them, and it made me wish I had brothers. Joshie is adorable and super supportive, and Phil is pretty cool with his kickass smarts. Perhaps what really gets you though is the estranged father-bitter daughter dynamic this book also has. I don't want to spoil anything, but those moments are pretty sweet too.

So yes, this book is the epitome of the classic high school drama. And I don't even mean good drama like from Hilary Duff's A Cinderella Story or Bring It On. If there weren't so much drama, maybe I would have loved this book more and given it a massive two thumbs up. The title is an apt description for what this book embodies. THIS IS NOT HOW YOU GO ABOUT GETTING A BOYFRIEND. Granted, it works out for Nora in the end (bless her), but seriously. No one needs to go through this much trouble.

If you're into humourous, and pretty outrageous, girly high-school drama, then I would suggest this for you. It's a nice way of taking a break from all the serious and darker reading material out there, I guess. I wouldn't exactly urge anyone to rush out and buy this, but if you have nothing better to read, well then, give this a go.

Happy discovering!

TLP Reads: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

So I did that thing where I walked into Chapters solely for a cup of some salted caramel latte from Starbucks and walked around, thinking no harm would come out of it, and ended up leaving with a book. Damn. I can't help but be drawn to the teen section, especially the bargain books section - Oh my, they are my downfall. This time round I picked up Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey on a whim, and I'm pleased. Though the fact that there's a massive sticker on the book cover annoys me to no end! Who else is with me?

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Lenzi hears voices. She also sees gravestones, floods, a gorgeous guy with steel gray eyes. She knows she must be going crazy, just like her dad did. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't do anything to help, and the voices just keep getting louder, the visions more intense. But when Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, everything makes sense. Sort of.

He tells Lenzi that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to lost souls and help them move on - and that he has been her Protector for centuries. But instead of embracing her abilities, Lenzi struggles between her life as the girlfriend of a sexy musician and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. Yet time is running out; a malevolent spirit has been trying to destroy Lenzi for ages, and he will surely kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon. Her choices are clear: Destiny or normalcy. Alden or Zak. Life or death.

(from book-sleeve)

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 I love anything that's got the whole reincarnation aspect mixed in with some supernatural to it. So I definitely couldn't help myself with this book. There's something about Shattered Souls that feels like a cross between Fallen by Lauren Kate and Meridian by Amber Kizer (pick these two books up if you haven't already, they're pretty awesome!) And I think the mix between the two elements worked really well in this story! It's mystery and action packed, and of course, the romance part just naturally flows. Props to Lindsey for this well-written fantasy novel - and her debut too! Warning though, there may be moments where either you stop reading and collect yourself due to mild frustration or glee. 

 There's quite a lot of mystery interlaced with the narrative, in that main character Lenzi has no clue what's going on around her. Bless her. She's gone through her fair share of misfortune and to be thrown into the paranormal world is probably the last thing she needs. She just wants normal, and you can't blame her. Her dad heard voices, and died and it seems like Lenzi might be going down the same path - until she meets Alden who tells her the whole truth. What I love about her is humour throughout all this! Even though she doubts herself and resigns to doing origami or singing with her musician boyfriend at first, she manages to keep her wits, joke around and accept (almost) everything that comes with her new job. Not going to lie, I had a few moments where I wanted to knock some sense into Lenzi, but most of the time I was internally screaming 'Atta girl!'

And I do have to mention Rose - Lenzi's past life self. Rose is the hardcore, kick-ass Speaker who takes her job seriously, a far cry from Lenzi. But as the story unravels, so does Rose's life before she died. And man, I would've loved to have been friends with her. She falls under the whole 'tough exterior but secretly a passionate softy' character, and again, it just works! Plus, her 19th Century self was pretty sassy too, so she gets an extra brownie point.

And oh, I just have to include this:
"I opened the door for him without speaking, afraid of saying something stupid. I was jealous. The problem was that the other woman was me."
- Lenzi, Chapter 9 (context: Alden has just showed her some past memories)
This had me laughing. Hard. And she says something along those lines again later on, which had me giggling once again. My roommates love me.

I love how the narrative moves between the past and present Lenzi here and there, so we really see that big change in her character's demeanor. My favourite parts have definitely got to be the flashbacks, where in Lenzi allows Alden's soul (as well as Maddie'd and Race's, two other Protectors we meet) to enter her body and show her long forgotten memories. Be it pleasant or terrifying ones, I loved them all. It sounds absolutely creepy, but I really, really enjoyed them! It's as if readers are experiencing and learning from the past too. Definitely an interesting and captivating way of learning about the different reincarnated characters in the story. 

Now, Alden and Zak. Well' let's talk about Zak first. When he's first introduced in the story, you know right away he's the kind of guy you'd be proud to have as your boyfriend - caring, supportive and to be blunt, hot. He's a guitarist who sings (and writes!) songs to his girlfriend too, so what girl would not swoon? He's perfectly unperfect in a way. But in all honesty, in any other story I'd be all over it but in this one, it didn't sit right with me. Like Lenzi, he's got quite the rough life, so they do seem like the perfect pair but it all goes awry and fuzzy moments before Lenzi even meets Alden. And from there it all goes downhill for the two - not in a super catastrophic 'I Hate You' type of way, but it just runs its course. That being said, you can really tell Zak loves Lenzi, so it was totally justified Zak did the things he did. And even though I wasn't head over heels for him, I did feel sorry for him. A guy like Zak deserves a happy ending, no?

So if it wasn't obvious enough, I am Team Alden for the win. The moment where he and Lenzi meet had me laughing, and the early interactions between the two pretty much had me responding in the same way. Even though the whole 'dealing with dead' topic is quite dark and serious, something about the two made it seem humorous - in the beginning anyway. Like Zak, Alden's supportive and caring, but in another way that Lenzi/Rose also needs. After all, he's meant to protect her from all the bad and scary ghosts threatening to hurt and kill her. And he's witty too. To be completely honest, he gives off the whole Edward Cullen vibe (minus the sparkling, watch-you-sleep vampire aspect) in the way that he's old (well, reincarnated, but still), devoted and fearless. Essentially, he's perfect. He'd do anything for Lenzi/Rose *hint, hint* and who wouldn't fall for him too?

"I love the school uniform. You have great legs."
"Shut up!" I gasped. "I thought you were an old man!"
"Old soul. Young man. Big difference."
- Alden & Lenzi, Chapter 16
Come on, it's funny! 

The only real problem for me was the ending. Well, parts of it anyway. I don't want to spoil anything, but something that happens towards the end just didn't sit right with me. It felt too quick and random, and though it lends to the whole redemption part of the story, it could've been dealt with better. Or maybe just never happened. And the circumstances they happen in? Way too convenient. It may just be me, but if you've already read Shattered Souls, you may know which part I'm talking about.

And then there's Smith, a malevolent spirit who's out to kill Lenzi. Oh my god, his character creeped me out so bad! Though the moments we have with him are quite intense, we never hear from him again. Why does this bother me? It means that the story isn't finished and Lindsey's writing a sequel - there's another book. Yes, I do want to know what happens, but I don't know if I can handle the anxiety of trying to get the next installment in this series. Darn it. 

But hey, Shattered Souls as a whole was pretty darn good. Shattered Souls pretty easy to read, and there's enough tension and mystery, with the occasional humorous break, within the pages that keeps you reading to the end. Overall, it's got great characters, a compelling narrative and a good romance/action ratio, so I'd definitely recommend this. If you're into the concept of reincarnation and the paranormal, do give this a go. I do realize Shattered Souls won't exactly be to everyone's fantasy genre tastes, but I do give this two thumbs up. And if it's on sale (like mine was when I picked it up), the more reason to check it out.

Found any good reads this month?
Happy discovering!

TLP Reads: The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

So, you really shouldn't be all that surprised by now that quite a lot of my summer features will include book reviews. My university work load can get pretty daunting at times, so it's really only this time of year that I get the chance to sit down and lose myself in the world of books - fictional ones, that is. That being said, here's another installment of TLP Reads! I'd actually had The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd lying around for awhile (probably a year or so) and never really got a chance to start it, and when I spotted it on the bookshelf yesterday, I thought, why not?

Note: I did try to write a short review, but alas, that didn't happen. So fair warning. 

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For sixteen-year old Juliet Moreau, life hasn't exactly been a walk in the park ever since the scandal that changed her life 10 years ago. Barely making ends meet as a maid, Juliet seizes the opportunity to leave her life in London once she finds out that her genius of a father is still alive and continuing his supposedly gruesome work on a remote island. The accusations never were proven true, and Juliet is determined to find out the truth. Together with her father's assistant, and her childhood friend, Montgomery and castaway Edward with a shady past, Juliet makes the journey to her only family left, only to have her whole life rocked by the truth behind her father's exile to the island. Although she knows that what he is doing is wrong and against the very nature of existence, she can't help but marvel at his success - leaving Juliet to wonder whether she has a little of his maddening genius in her own blood. With the island falling into chaos and distress, Juliet is determined to leave her island prison before she falls victim herself, either to the Beast or her own father.

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What did I tell you? Brilliantly written period settings have definitely grown on me this summer, and The Madman's Daughter is no exception. Of course, the story does mainly take place on a remote island where the locals aren't exactly human, but the way in which the characters carry themselves and speak are true to the time period where horse carriages, lavish gowns, telegrams and brothels were a thing. I'm fifty-fifty on wanting to see this novel made into a film adaptation. Note: fifty-fifty - as much as I would love to see this on the big screen, I'm iffy when it comes to writers and directors putting their own, somewhat unnecessary, spin on already well-crafted written pieces. Why can't they just leave them be?

Now I can't write this review without telling you what it is Juliet's father does, so here it is - he experiments on animals, and has finally managed to make animals resemble and behave like humans, although not perfectly. They are the inhabitants of the island, and work as servants, carrying out every one of Juliet's father's orders as if he were their God. Technically, this wasn't a secret, as it is hinted in the first half and made prominent throughout the latter half of the novel.

Juliet Moreau's character has quickly become one of my favourite fictional heroines, with her quick-wit, compassion, spirit and boldness. Having gone through quite a devastating childhood and falling from her high-society pedestal, she finds herself struggling to keep herself out of the streets as a maid at a prestigious university. In the dark of the night, she sweeps and cleans, all while trying to avoid the advances of Dr. Hastings. She sounds somewhat like a weak and timid girl, but in reality, she's anything but. Juliet is a fighter and survivor, so when she runs into Montgomery and forces him to tell the truth of her father's whereabouts, Juliet believes that she finally has a chance to turn her life around. And during her time on the island, I love how Juliet is able to maintain that headstrong attitude, and how she grows as she comes to face certain challenges. You could almost think of her as a Victorian Katniss Everdeen, minus the bow and arrow and instead of trying to survive in a dystopian world, she's trying to escape the world she knows.

And of course, we can't have a story like this without a love triangle! There's Montgomery, her childhood friend who taught her everything she knows medically, who she considers a big part of her past life, and possible future. Raised and trained by Juliet's father, Montgomery is every bit the son he wished he had - only he is far more compassionate, thoughtful and intelligent than they thought. Not so much like the servant boy Juliet's father sometimes views him as. The growing attraction between Montgomery and Juliet is undeniable - so much so that you wished the ending didn't end that way. Now we have Edward, secretive and shady, yet protective and focused on getting Juliet out of the island. He's quite pushy, which did annoy me at times and made me want to scream "Leave Juliet alone!" but for reasons that I shall not mention as it would give away so much - albeit I did figure out certain aspects to his character half way through reading. Still, there are moments where you can't help but root for him. Don't worry though - the love triangle isn't the central part of the story, though it is expertly laced into certain situations the characters throw themselves in. Kudos to Shepherd for that.

As for Juliet's father? (who I can't recall the name of, if they did call him by name in the story) I both loved and hated him. I loved him in the way Juliet did - for his outrageous success in doing what he did and being able to further advance his capabilities. Hated him for his insensitivity and cold-heartedness towards everything, even Juliet. All I really do have to say about him, is that he got what he deserved in the end, genius or not.

Another element I loved about The Madman's Daughter is Shepherd's attention to detail when it came to describing the physical appearances of the islanders such as Balthazar and Caesar - their eyes, skin (err, fur for some of them), motions, etc. were so vividly written that my mind went nuts imagining how creatures like them would look like in real life. Hence why I'd love to see a film adaptation. Imagine this gracing the big screen:

"Beside me was a slanting-eyed, bald woman with oddly translucent skin that seemed to reflect sunlight. She splayed my hand with four smooth, strong fingers... The woman hissed, revealing a snake's forked tongue."

My only downside to this book? The parts in which Juliet found herself lost in the juggle, and I admittedly got lost too. I couldn't exactly tell what was happening, and that frustrated me to no end. Perhaps it was just me, but those moments did have me put the book down to try and make sense of what was happening first before continuing on with the story. But that downside is purely minor to all the positive things I found with this book - the story, characters, descriptions of the islanders and atmosphere are unique and greatly written, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the next book. Yes, I only found out too, that this was the first of a trilogy.

The whole 'being able to make animals resemble and behave like humans' did throw me off a bit before reading, but it was definitely this element of the story that captivated me throughout. Admittedly, this book has opened my mind to scientific things like so, and I'm welcoming anymore books circling around the same theme to my personal library. To be able to carry out such a feat, well, you must truly be a mad genius! And Juliet's father is exactly that, with the aid of trusty, 'devastatingly handsome' and equally brilliant, Montgomery. Is it obvious I'm Team Montgomery all the way?

If dark and beautifully written fantasy novels cleverly interweaved with romantic and family conflicts are your thing, I'd definitely suggest you check out The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd! It too, is a great breather from the typical fantasy novels out there, and you won't be disappointed with all the mystery and adventure the story captures you in. Perhaps you'll find yourself getting a little 'mad' too.
Happy discovering!

TLP Reads: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Here we go with another TLP Reads! I Picked up The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski during our layover in Singapore - I actually grabbed the first book that caught my eye while we were at Times, as my dad was rushing me a bit! I know, I know, never judge a book by its cover, but I could not resist. How pretty does it look? I didn't even get a chance to read the blurb, but I am definitely, very happy with my purchase.

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As a general's daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, Kestrel has two choices: join the military as her father wishes or get married.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in Arin, a young slave up for auction. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him - and for a sensational price that sets the society gossips talking. It's not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
(Taken from the back cover)

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*Squeal!* I'm in love with almost everything about this book! I swear, there's something about almost-fictional period settings in new worlds that have been captivating me this summer (Hint: you can expect more of those in the next few days). The descriptions of lavish homes, society events and horse-drawn carriages make me want to almost go back in time and live in that era. If only it were possible!

I love the whole concept of the Winner's Curse economically speaking, and how it's cleverly interweaved into this new world story of secrets, loyalty, forbidden romance and deadly games.

Protagonist Kestrel is a feisty, determined soul set on doing whatever she pleases, however is mindful of her decisions when it comes to pleasing her general father. She's instinctive and tactical, which again, isn't surprising as she's been raised in a community that thrives under war. As she heavily resists the choices that her father gives her, she finds solace in her music (which the Valorians strongly look down upon) and games of chance. I admit, there were times were I rolled my eyes towards her thoughts, but that is explainably due to her naivety towards the reality of the situations she puts herself in.

Now, Arin. Dear 'slave' Arin, a fierce Herrani loyalist who has intelligently placed himself in the general's home as a spy determined to free his people from the hold of the Valorians. I wasn't exactly a fan of his character in the beginning, but as we uncover more of his story and witness the slight change in his responsibilities, he grew on me. Rutkoski doesn't hide Arin's true identity and motives from readers, which makes the story more thrilling as both he and Kestrel must weight their sense of duty to their people against their growing feelings for each other.

I definitely liked the well-crafted and dynamic bond between Arin and Kestrel - they're not sappy love-struck teenagers who believe that "it's us against the world", which is a great breather from most fantasy novels *ahem* you know which ones I'm talking about. The whole master/slave paradigm is very prominent on their minds, especially Kestrel's, which is quite unique to her character and I love that. The moments where they both have their guards down and are able to share their stories (albeit, still withholding a few personal details) are touching, and I'm looking forward to more in the sequel.

 Kestrel's father - General Trajan - is a strong secondary character, and I'm hoping to see more of him in the sequel. He's the stereotypical father-turned-general who struggle to fulfill both his duties to his country and daughter. The father-daughter moments are endearing with their rarity, and you feel quite sympathetic towards Kestrel when General Trajan's fatherly attention can dissipate with a flick of the wrist.

Although the story does heavily revolve around the forbidden romance between Valorian Kestrel and Herrani slave Arin (which is quite Romeo & Juliet), Rutkoski touches upon the whole enslavement and rebellion theme which becomes more prominent towards the latter half of the book. And it's this half that I absolutely fell in love with. There was so much more Rutkoski offered to readers towards the end - more insight into the Herrani's history, more action and struggle and more romantic conflicts. It's just a matter of weeding through that first half to get to the really great stuff (not that you know, the first half wasn't good or anything.)

The major downside? The ending. (Warning: minor spoiler ahead!) It just seemed way too convenient and easy for the brewing war between the Valorians and Herrani to just be eased off by simple conversation. I mean, hello! Enslaved Herrani were rebelling and taking back what was theirs, tensions were rising, people were dying and this is how it's resolved? It's not really just the end of the book where that happens - although it really was that ending that frustrated me. I was expecting so much more in the end, and it was a bit of a let down. I'm hoping it all picks up again in the next book.

That being said, the juxtaposing heart-racing action and mellow, heartwarming moments were amazingly written, and I can't wait for the next installment in this trilogy. Kudos to Rutkoski for grabbing my interest into yet another series!

I can't exactly classify The Winner's Curse as a fantasy novel, but it definitely does have that mysterious, adventurous flair to it that I love about that genre. I didn't even mind Rutkoski's attention to the small details that sort of dragged the story a bit, as her nicely-spun phrases and wit definitely kept me wanting more. I am definitely gutted that the sequel to The Winner's Curse won't be released until next year or so (The Winner's Curse just released March of this year), but you can expect that I will be patiently waiting for my next adventure through the Valorian empire/Herrani rebellion struggle and  Kestrel/Arin fix.

If light fantasy and forbidden romances are your thing, do check out the first novel in The Winner's Trilogy! I'd also definitely recommend this to you if you want a break from the usual vampire, werewolf, warlock, fantasy novels.

Happy discovering!

TLP Reads: Summer with My Sister

Here we go with yet another book discovery! (and I promise you, this one won't be as long as the mini essay I wrote about Fangirl) I snagged Summer with My Sister by Lucy Diamond in a Fahasa bookstore while in Ho Chi Minh City, and boy am I glad I picked this one up!

Summer with My Sister is about two women who re-discover what it is like to have, and be, a sister - while also finding themselves - all in one summer.
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Sisters Polly and Clare Berry could not be more different - the former is a high-flier living the life in her glamorous apartment in London, and the latter a single mom of two, barely making ends meet in a rundown cottage in Elderchurch. However, Polly's life takes an unexpected turn and with nowhere left to go, she's got no choice but to move back to Elderchurch - a decision that neither of them are happy with. Except of course, their parents. The polar opposite sisters find themselves living under one roof, and with secrets unravelling, it's sure to be an interesting and memorable summer for the two. Perhaps Polly and Clare are more alike than they realised...
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Summer with My Sister is, yet again,  another light and easy read. I'm definitely liking these kinds of books for the summer time and I gotta say, this may be one of my favourite summer reads. Granted, these characters are in their thirties, so I found it a tad bit difficult to relate to their situations, but I couldn't help but laugh, tear up and sometimes even fume along with the sisters.

The novel mainly centers around the theme of family, which is really sweet. Diamond showcases how the bond between sisters (well, family members really) is always there despite years of drifting apart and how it's from moving on from the past together that people can learn to fully live their lives. Haha, it sounds so dramatic and cliche, but I swear, that's really how it is. 

While Polly is the headstrong, determined older sister who won't let anything stand in the way of her ambition, Clare is more timid and cautious when it comes to everything - money, family and love. Both sisters have gone through a fair amount of rough patches in their lives, so it's understandable why they've both become the people they are. But despite having different personalities and skill sets, it's really endearing when you reach the moments in the book where they lean on each other for support. Those moments had me wishing I had a sister.

Again, just a little snippet of one of my favourite moments in Summer with My Sister. No surprise, it's one of the moments between Polly and Clare's two kids, Leila and Alex. Another thing I love about this book is how present Clare's kids are. While in other novels kids are just referred to, Diamond definitely makes it a point to have Leila and Alex heard amongst all the adult drama.

I have to admit, I did connect more with Clare than Polly, and it's mainly because I felt more sympathy for her character. I mean, she's got two kids to feed and her ex-husband Steve is more focused on trying to look like the better parent than actually helping out financially. But that doesn't mean that I love Polly any less. She did, after all, get the rug pulled from underneath her without warning.

Mind you, both Polly and Clare have been unlucky in love - Polly never really having the time due to her focus on work (and, ahem, past experiences) and Clare recovering from her divorce with a man who left her for a hairdresser he met online. That is, until this summer when they both get another shot at finding their 'happily ever afters'. And I gotta say, both their love interests had me feeling quite giddy - lucky sisters!

And oh, I can't not mention their father Graham, who provides so much comedic relief in this story. He has got to be one of my all time favourite fictional dads! He's optimistic and humorous, but also quite concerned and defensive when it comes to his family, particularly his two daughters. And of course, he's the classic grandfather to his grandkids, which makes him all the more loveable.

One great bonus of this book is not the story itself, but the home-made beauty product recipes and summer cocktail recipes that Diamond includes in the back of the book. The home-made beauty product recipes do link in with Clare's storyline, so look out for those when you grab your copy. I'm looking forward to trying my hand out at making the soothing foot balm.

Another thing - the story does take place in the UK. Of course I do have some knowledge of British culture (I did go to a British international school where my teachers were British) but nonetheless, a few of the references to some British TV shows and shops did leave me a bit stumped. Just a heads up. 

So yes, despite the characters being more than 10 years older than me and their situations quite alien, I freaking loved this book. I'd definitely suggest this read for any woman looking for something light and fun, especially to anyone who has a sister! For teenagers, you can see this as a sort of guide to the world of adulthood, so yes, you should read this too.

Wasn't kidding about this being such light summer read - have fun reading it by the pool!

If you ever have the time, definitely check out Summer with My Sister by Lucy Diamond. It's endearing and touching, and if you have a sister, you may just want to hug her as soon as you finish reading it.

Happy discovering!

TLP Reads: Fangirl

Another break from blogging about my discoveries here in Phnom Penh. This time, my adventure whilst reading Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I picked this one up while at the Changi Airport in Singapore during my six hour layover from Philippines to Phnom Penh. 

Fair warning: this is a lengthy, wordy post. Apologies.

Fangirl is a story depicting a timid yet talented writer's struggles as she transitions from an innocent high-schooler to a bold university freshmen. 

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The main character, Cath, has lived her whole life in the shadow of her identical twin sister Wren, who wants nothing more than to be free and experience a life without Cath constantly following her around. Where better than university where you can meet boys, party and 'find yourself'? However Cath has other plans, preferring to lock herself up in her dorm room, which she shares with a complete stranger, and write fanfiction about her beloved Simon and Baz. But as life unfolds and she meets new people, Cath is forced to decide whether to open herself up to new experiences (perhaps, love?) or to continue living in the shell she's been hiding in all her life.

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It's been quite a while since I've read a coming-of-age book as this, and I'm really glad I picked this one up. It was a really great breather, what with my tendency to pick up fantasy novels. The situations that Cath is thrown into rings true to life - family issues, university difficulties, social anxiety and first love. Who hasn't gone through any of these? And the way that she reacts to each of them is not far from how people would try to deal. There's definitely a lot of twists and turns that keep you reading on to the last page.

The thing I really liked the most about Fangirl was how Rowell touched upon fanfiction and its dedicated writers - people of all ages who want nothing more than to write the what-ifs, spin-offs and keep the spirit of their respective fan bases alive. I'm not going to lie, I've read quite a number of fanfiction but have never ventured into writing one myself. Kudos to those who have - I definitely admire your creativity and dedication to the art of fanfiction.

Note: The Simon Snow series depicted in Fangirl seemed so real I thought it existed in real life. Google however, told me that it wasn't. Apparently, it's a fictional fantasy series meant to symbolise all the actual series that people have gotten crazy over. Think Harry Potter, Twilight, the Vampire Diaries, the Hunger Games.

Another great element of this book is the concept of family. Cath and Wren's father Arthur plays a huge role in this novel, and the bond between the three is very admirable. I don't want to spoil anything as the whole theme of family is pretty central to the book, but let's just say that the parts with Arthur (or all three of the family members) had me tearing up and wanting to hug my parents.

(Yes, I'm cheesy and sentimental at times. Don't judge.)

Now, to say I loved the characters is a bit of an understatement.

Cath goes by the alias Magicath in her stories about the Simon Snow series, and she's definitely loved by her fans in the world of fanfiction. It's really funny, and perhaps an accurate portrayal, how obsessed Cath is with the series - she's constantly thinking about the characters and the situations from the books. So much so that it can get her into trouble at times and garner strange looks. But she couldn't care less what other people think.

Cath is definitely someone who some teenagers can relate to - she has an idea of who she is as a person, but struggles to defend it. Which is why she is so likeable. Granted, there were a few times I was a tad bit frustrated with Cath, but those were mainly due to me having had experience in the same problems and now knowing how to not deal with them. But most of the time, I couldn't help but laugh, tear up and smile along with Cath. 

Her twin sister Wren however, well, sometimes she had me wanting to tear her hair out and knock some sense into her. Nonetheless, she is a great presentation of the other end of the spectrum of university freshmen - the party goers who can sometimes take it too far. The complete opposite to Cath. And yet I can't help but love her despite not being able to relate to her character. There's just something about Wren.

And of course, I can't not mention the characters of Reagan and Levi who I love immensely. Reagan is Cath's upperclassman roommate who starts off distant but later on becomes someone Cath can turn to. She's a tough chick who knows what she's doing. And Levi... how I would yearn to have my own Levi. Charming, lanky and goofy. His optimism and happy-go-lucky attitude is so infectious through the pages of the book you can't help but love AND be a tad annoyed of him. 

Here's a little sneak peek of one of my favourite parts in the book. Yes, I'm a sucker for these kind of moments. 

 I will be very honest and say that I definitely connected with this book in a way I didn't think I would. Not to sound cliche here, but I could definitely identify with Cath - in terms of her struggle to break away from all things familiar, her tendency to be alone and her apprehensiveness to open up. I went through all those things when I moved to Ottawa for university so I can't help but be a little biased in this review. It was almost like reliving my freshmen experience. But anyone who reads Fangirl will definitely admire Cath's decisions and perhaps be even a little proud of her accomplishments. 

I would definitely suggest this for any teen looking for a good coming-of-age book. Sure, there may be some who'll roll their eyes and scoff at Cath's apprehensiveness but the transition from high school to university is a big one, and Fangirl does a great job presenting one of the possible, realistic directions it can take.

The last page of Fangirl has this little comic strip of one of the scenarios Cath finds herself in, which is just too cute!

Check it out if you ever have the time. Fangirl is a great, light read from start to finish.

Happy discovering!