Review: Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash by Malinda Lo


Details: Paperback, 272 pages
Published: October 5th 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: I bought it.
Buy it: The Book Depository

Summary: Cinderella retold

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Review: I wanted this book so much and when I finally got it I was beyond excited. I'm not sure why, but for some reason it ended up sitting on my shelf for over a year before I finally got around to reading it.

All I can say is that I am so glad I bought this book and have now read it because it is amazing.

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately, but as soon as I started reading Ash I was hooked. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I just had to know how it was going to end.

Malinda Lo's writing is beautiful. Sort of magical. It's hard to explain. I felt like a little kid while reading Ash. I don't think any other book I've read has made me feel like that, except for maybe Harry Potter.

I absolutely love all of the characters, especially Ash and Kaisa. Just everything about this book is perfect. I will definitely be buying Huntress, Adaptation, and anything else Lo writes. She is now one of my favourite authors.

If you haven't read Ash yet, what are you waiting for? It's a must read!

My Rating:

Review: Far from Xanadu by Julie Anne Peters

Far from Xanadu by Julie Anne Peters

Details: Paperback, 288 pages
Published: April 1st 2007 by Little, Brown Young Readers
Source: I won it.
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: Every day in Coalton is pretty much the same. Mike pumps iron in the morning, drives her truck to school, plays softball in the afternoon, and fixes the neighbors' plumbing at night. But when an exotic new girl, Xanadu, arrives in the small Kansas town, Mike's world is turned upside down. Xanadu is everything Mike is not--cool, complicated, sexy, and...straight. This heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful novel will speak to anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone just out of reach.

My Review: Julie Anne Peters is probably my favorite author, so needless to say when I found out I won a book of my choice, I picked this one.

Every book I've read by her is even better than the one before it. This one is no different. I devoured it. I just couldn't get enough and in the end, as always with Peters books, I wanted more.

I have fallen for a lot of straight girls in my life and I know how hard it is. Especially when they do the kind of things that Xanadu does. It's torture and never ends well. So I know exactly how Mike feels and what she goes through. I have related to characters before, but never like this.

The writing, as usual, is incredible. It is so easy to read, it just flows and pulls you right in. It's kind of like watching a movie. The characters and the plot are believable and real and I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I needed to know what was going to happen next.

If you've never read anything by Julie Anne Peters, what are you waiting for? They are some of the best books I've ever read. I need to get more of her books and soon.

Please, I am begging you, pick this book up. You will not regret it. In fact, pick up all of her books. You will love them.

Far From Xanadu now has a new title, Pretend You Love Me, and a new cover. I may have to buy it just for the hell of it.

My Rating: 

Review: The Salbine Sisters by Sarah Ettritch

The Salbine Sisters by Sarah Ettritch

Details: Paperback, 288 pages
Published: October 4th 2010 by Norn Publishing
Source: I got it for review
Buy It: The Book Depository

Summary: She gave up everything to become a Salbine Sister, member of a religious order of powerful female mages. But when Maddy nearly dies while trying to draw forth elemental fire, she learns that Salbine has withdrawn from her the gifts every sister works to master. Feeling trapped in an order to which she no longer has any right to belong and believing herself unworthy of the love of Lillian, one of the most powerful mages in the sisterhood, Maddy begs the abbess to let her travel to another monastery to research her condition.

On her journey, Maddy's faith in both herself and Salbine are tested to their limits. When she attempts to draw fire and fails horribly, frightened townsfolk throw Maddy into prison. Fearing that the abbess will never learn her fate and rescue her, Maddy resigns herself to a short and brutal life.

The only bright spot in Maddy's existence is Emmey, the pickpocket with whom she shares a cell. Through her and the steadfast love of Lillian, Maddy learns that Salbine's purpose is not always the same for everyone, and that love and compassion are more valuable than magic.

My Review: The Salbine Sisters is an incredible read. I honestly don't even know where to begin. This is one of the best book I've read so far this year. It is beautifully written, with amazing characters and a fantastic plot. I wish it never had to end. I just couldn't get enough and when I got to the last page I was so sad that there was no more.

I love this book so much and I recommend it to everyone. You have to pick this one up. Please get it. It is a must read. You will love it. I know I will be re-reading this one in the future. Probably more than once.

My Rating: