Long-Distance Book Club: Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Let's face it, this whole blog is kind of like a long-distance book club. Every week I look forward to talking to Paige about what she's reading. When I've read that book too we talk about it more in depth. But sometimes, when we are very lucky, we get to read the same book at the same time. That was the case with Rachel Hartman's Shadow Scale, so we decided to do a little book club post.

Our review stems from our discussion of Shadow Scale. Below the review we've provided a list of questions that you can use to discuss Shadow Scale in your book club, long-distance or otherwise. 

Review of Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman:

 
Paige and I both loved Seraphina, the first in this duology. And when I say that I loved Seraphina, I mean that I loved it in a favorite-book-ever kind of way. Seraphina completely blew my mind. It's a five-star fantasy that is unlike any other. Clearly, I was eager for the sequel.

Shadow Scale begins about three months after the events in Seraphina came to a close. The dragon civil war is waging. Goredd will soon be swept up in the conflict. In conference, Glisselda, Kiggs, and Seraphina determine that Seraphina should venture to the neighboring lands in order to gather up the other half-dragons. There is evidence that the ityasaari (as the half-dragons are known in other lands) can knit their minds together to create a net that can stop even an army of dragons. Seraphina is eager to go as she has dreamed of gathering the dragons together in a physical manifestation of her mind-garden. Thus begins Seraphina's journey. It's a long journey and so much happens along the way that causes Seraphina joy, pain, terror, and much uncertainty.

I loved Shadow Scale. So much. It's a long book and it took me a long time to read it, but when I finished I was so sad that I would be leaving this world behind. I love the intricacies of Rachel Hartman's creation. The other lands are rich and lushly wrought. Many of the characters that Seraphina meets along her way are incredibly interesting. I really liked getting to know the other ityasaari. The bond that was forged between them through shared experiences and sorrows was palpable.

And speaking of half-dragons. Jannoula is one of the most terrifying villains ever. She's headed for the top of my most-terrifying-villains-ever list. But my, is she a match for Seraphina in every way.

I love a fantasy with a fully realized religion, and so I was quite pleased that the Saints played a bigger role in this installment.

Shadow Scale is epic in that it does so much. It has so many settings. So many characters. So much goes terribly wrong. So many things happen to Seraphina and she feels so helpless for much of the novel. There is so much to tie back together at the end. It could be a disaster, but it isn't. It's nearly perfect.

All of this is handled with Rachel Hartman's gorgeous prose. The language in this book is incredible. And, as Paige pointed out, Seraphina has a very lyrical voice that is so fitting for a musician. 

And, at the end of the novel, you get the sense that life will continue for these characters. That we have just seen one story in the whole history of this world. It's nice to know that life there goes on.

Discussion Questions for Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman:

1. Shadow Scale takes place in a number of different countries and locations. Which did you enjoy reading about the most? Why?


2. Shadow Scale is populated with a wide variety of characters. Discuss your favorites and why you liked them.


3.  Rachel Hartman has spoken of the connections between Seraphina's journey and the archetypal Hero's Journey. In what ways does Seraphina's journey follow the pattern of the Hero's Journey? How does it diverge? (For example, one might compare Seraphina's journey with Frodo's journey from The Lord of the Rings.)


4. How does Seraphina's mission, and her feelings about it, change as she proceeds?


5. Jannoula has secured herself a place on my top ten most terrifying villain's list. Why is Jannoula so scary? What makes a terrifying villain? And do you think that Jannoula is redeemable?


6. The dragons are superbly logical beings. What do the dragons believe they gain by removing emotion from their lives? In what ways does relying solely on logic lead them astray? 


7. And speaking of logic, Seraphina speculates that the beginning point of any logical argument may, in fact, be a matter of faith. Do you agree? Are the dragons really less logical than they understand themselves to be?


8. And speaking of dragons, we meet a number of exiled dragons now living in Porphyry in Shadow Scale. Why do these dragons, especially the youth, see the world differently than their fellows? At what point is an exile no longer an exile but a denizen of his adopted land?


9. Why do you think that Seraphina's garden shrinks as she meets more and more of its residents in person?


10. In Shadow Scale we learn much more about the Saints of this world. Discuss the repercussions of learning their true identities. How might this revelation change the world of Goredd and its neighbors?


11. The ending of Shadow Scale leaves some questions unanswered. We certainly get the sense that life in Goredd goes on. What do you think happens next?  

Shadow Scale was out March 10th, 2015.

Review copy from NetGalley. 

Reading on a Theme: Original Fairy Tales

We love fairy tales in all their iterations. Today we've gathered a group of stories that we're calling original fairy tales. They involve princesses, magic, destinies, and mysteries. They are set in fantastical fairy tale settings, but they have they aren't your traditional fairy tales.

A Magic Castle:
Castle Glower is no ordinary castle. It changes, on a whim. Princess Celie, the castle's youngest occupant spends her time tracking the changes and creating an atlas. Her knowledge of the castle becomes invaluable when the castle stops changing and Celie and her siblings find themselves in great danger. Tuesdays at the Castle is a charming read. The castle is almost a character in itself, and I loved watching it change. Jessica Day George had me on the very first page and didn't let up until the end. Princess Celie is smart, spunky, and the best kind of princess.

 

The One Other:
While spending Christmas with her father and sister in a foreign city where it always snows, Ophelia discovers the Marvelous Boy. He tells her of his destiny to find the One Other who has the power to defeat the Snow Queen. Ophelia helps the Marvelous Boy and uncovers her own destiny in the process. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy has a tangible setting. I could feel the cold and the mystery as I read it. I loved the Marvelous Boy's confidence and faith in his destiny and Ophelia's purity and goodness. I loved that she did everything she could to help the boy. Karen Foxlee has created a haunting world, and I loved this original fairy tale.

Short Stories:
From stories of a princess who knows she's more than a gown, to a girl who saves her entire valley, and on to a princess who changes her dragon; The Ravenous Gown (titled Inner Beauty on Goodreads) is about powerful girls who recognize that their power comes not from being like the boys, but by being girls. Steffani Raff's stories are heartwarming with depth and humor. The Ravenous Gown is the perfect snowy day read. It has the kind of stories that beg to be read with hot cocoa and a cozy blanket. I look forward to reading it aloud to my daughter. Review copy from Familius.

 

Neglected Royals:
The Forgotten Sisters is an absolute delight. Miri is on her way back to Mount Eskel when she is ordered by king to go to Lesser Alva and establish a princess academy where she will prepare three forgotten royal cousins to wed the king of a  hostile neighboring nation. Shannon Hale's story is full of really poignant emotions, and I loved this best about the book. It's also not without its share of high-stakes drama. Soldiers. Pirates. Snakes. Caiman. Bandits. Epic Escapes.  It's all in there plus a new cast of fabulous characters in Astrid, Felissa, and Sus, linder magic, and stalwart Peder. Princess Academy fans couldn't ask for a better finale. I also loved the later applications of Miri's education lessons. As Miri says, "Think of learning as storing up supplies you may need for a harsh winter." The Forgotten Sisters is out February 24th. Review copy from NetGalley.

Threatening Volcanoes:
Elodie, Masteress Meenore, and Count Jonty Um have arrived on Elodie's home island only to learn that the Replica, a magical object that keeps Lahnt safe, has been stolen. Detection commences. Stolen Magic introduces a whole new cast of characters and suspects. Elodie, once again, must deduce, induce, and use her common sense to solve the mystery. Stolen Magic is a cute sequel to Gail Carson Levine's genre-mixing A Tale of Two Castles series, and I, for one, love a good fantastical mystery. This book also reminds me a little of Tamora Pierce's Melting Stones because the crew is working to keep a volcano from exploding, and it is never a bad thing to be reminded of Ms. Pierce's work. Stolen Magic is out April 21st. Review copy from Edelweiss.

Tuesdays in the Castle, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, and The Ravenous Gown  reviewed by Paige.
The Forgotten Sisters and Stolen Magic reviewed by JoLee.

Reading on a Theme: Serial Killers and the Supernatural

If you are in the mood for something a bit spine-tingling, one of these book may be just the thing. Not only are there killers on the loose but there are also creepy supernatural elements that may help our heroes solve the murder (but not without a great deal of terror) or may be contributing to the body count.

Ghost from Old Hollywood:
Willa is the new girl in Hollywood. Famous Last Words opens as she and her mother move into her new director stepfather's mansion. Willa tries her best to adapt to her new life, but the weirdness that has happened to her on a too-regular basis ever since her father's death only get worse in Hollywood. Then Willa realizes her visions are connected to the Hollywood Killer, a serial killer who reenacts famous movie scenes with his dead victims. Katie Alender really delivers with this book. Willa's interactions with her classmates are just as fantastic as the supernatural elements of the story. The ghost scenes are incredibly chilling. And it all ramps up to a nail-biting conclusion. Review copy from NetGalley.

Something Rotten in Ludlow:
Hannah is haunted by the ghost of her dead best friend, Lillian. Lillian died of anorexia, and she's not always the most pleasant ghost to have around, but Hannah misses her best friend, so she takes what she can get. As if that isn't creepy enough, the town of Ludlow is home to a serial killer who preys on young girls, and Hannah starts seeing their ghosts too. At the same time, Hannah keeps encountering Finny Boone, misunderstood bad boy, and they definitely have some zing between them. Brenna Yovanoff's Paper Valentine is a little bit mystery, a little bit ghost story, and a little bit romance. You don't really know who to trust. The ghosts are creepy. The atmosphere is sticky. And Hannah's voice is really strong.

The Seer:
Abigail Rook is the newest assistant to R.F. Jackaby, a detective of sorts who specializes in odd occurrences. Most think Jackaby's weirdness is barely tolerable, but Abigail left home to seek adventure, so this situation suits her fine. The two are on the trail of a serial killer, who Jackaby is convinced is not human. William Ritter's debut novel, Jackaby, is a lot of fun. Yes, there is a serial killer, but there is also a lot of quirk in this story. Jackaby is incredibly funny in a Sherlock Holmesian kind of way. In other words, he is 100% serious about all the weird things he says and does. Abigail is plucky and loveable. I would really like to read about more of the duo's adventures. I can see them becoming a beloved crime-fighting teams.

The Serial Killer's Son:
Jasper "Jazz" Dent is the son of one of the world's most infamous serial killers. It's not easy to keep on with your life after a childhood like he had. Then another  killer moves into Lobo's Nod, and the signs all point to Jazz's dad or maybe Jazz himself. So Jazz starts to hunt the killer himself. After all, his dad trained him to follow in his footsteps. I may be cheating a bit with this one because there's not too much of the supernatural unless you count the way that Jazz's father seems to speak into Jazz's mind. Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killer is gritty and dark. Maybe too dark for most. Jazz's obsession with whether or not he was like his father got a little repetitive for me, but otherwise this book is griping. Review copy from NetGalley.

Rippermania:
When her professor parents take a position in Bristol, Louisiana-native Rory Deveaux starts her senior year at Wexford, a boarding school in London. London is being terrorized by a Jack-the-Ripper copycat. Rory becomes the single eyewitness and one of the few to know about London's secret ghost police. I really enjoyed this book, in part, because Rory is really funny. I actually laughed out loud several times as I was listening to The Name of the Star. (The reader does a nice job with the many different accents, by the way.) Stories like this can get really serious, but Maureen Johnson balances the action, the horror, the intensity, and the everyday perfectly. 


All reviews by JoLee.

Reading on a Theme: Troubled Sisters

Sisters are special. Of course, we would say that. This blog is, after all, run by sisters. But the sisterly relationship can also be very complicated. That's certainly the case with the sisters in this post. Complications and secrets abound.

Keeping her Secrets:
Nell began her life calling herself Nellayla because she always felt connected to Layla, her older sister. Nell's freshman year at City Day is when things get complicated. Everything is good until she begins to hear rumors about her sister. Layla confides in her and she promises to keep her sister's secret, but at what price? I enjoyed Dana Reinhardt's choice of point of view in We Are the Goldens. The whole story is told from Nell's perspective, but she's addressing her sister the whole time. I thought it gave the book an interesting flavor. The ending felt very abrupt to me, I think because the whole story carried a tone of foreboding and I was waiting for something truly tragic to happen. Because of that, I had a hard time putting down We Are the Goldens.

High-stakes Scavenger Hunt:
Leonora (Leo) and Paris live in less-than-ideal circumstances in Las Vegas with their mother and new stepfather. Paris, the vibrant sister, is an artist and a dreamer. Leo, the more practical of the pair, is determined to become a doctor. The two have always relied on one another. Deeply. Emphatically. Which is why Leo panics when her sister disappears from a late-night pie run. Paris has left clues around the city urging Leo to find her and hinting at something more sinister than a late-night prank. Joy Predle creates enough tension to keep the reader on edge.  However, despite my anticipation of the big reveal, I didn't find myself quite as invested in the experience as I would have liked. Everything about it is solid. It's just missing a real "wow." Finding Paris is out April 21st. Review copy from Edelweiss.

After the Accident:
Despite their differences, Nick (short for Nicole) and Dara have always been especially close sisters. That is until a horrible accident changes things. Now everyone is tiptoeing around Nick, and Dara won't speak to her. Lauren Oliver always wins me over with her writing. She knows how to use words to their full potential. Vanishing Girls is a psychological thriller and, as with all psychological thrillers, it's best to go in without too much forewarning. I was absolutely compelled to finish Vanishing Girls. I had to know if my suspicions were correct. I had to know what was so unsettling about Nick and Dara's relationship. I had to know what was going on with Parker. Vanishing Girls is out March 10th, 2015. Review copy from Edelweiss.

Two Generations of Trouble:
Rio and her twin sister, Bay, live in the underwater colony of Atlantia. Rio has always dreamed of going to live Above, but after the girls' mother died, she promised Bay she would stay Below with her. On the anniversary of the Divide, Bay chooses to go to the Above and Rio is forced to trust her mother's estranged sister, Maire, to understand Bay's betrayal. Ally Condie created such an interesting setting in Atlantia. The religion was well thought out and gave great color to the story. I liked that it wasn't a world without magic; there are sirens with the power to control people with their voices. The book started out a little slow for me, partially because I kept expecting Bay would narrate portions, but the whole thing is told by Rio. I did get into the story and enjoyed it.

Two Sisters. One Boy:
Allyson and Sydney Tate exist in a somewhat uneasy truce. Allyson is the perfect daughter. Sydney is rebellious and whip-smart. The arrival of Graham, the new neighbor, puts Allyson and Sydney back into each others' orbits. Neither can resist Graham. Allyson sees Graham with innocent eyes, but Sydney is suspicious of the newcomer. I read this haunting, psychological thriller in one sitting. As the reader gets deeper into the story it's evident that there is something not only off with Graham but also with the girls, and I needed to know. Enough clues are laid along the way to keep the reader interested without revealing too much too soon. Twisted Fate is out January 20th. Review copy from Edelweiss.

We Are the Goldens and Atlantia reviewed by Paige.

Finding Paris, Vanishing Girls, and Twisted Fate reviewed by JoLee.

Series Salute: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Series Salute is a new series we are starting here at Intellectual Recreation. When we finish a great series we bid farewell with a write-up of the series as a whole.

I'm so excited to bring you our first Series Salute featuring the incomparable Shannon Hale's Princess Academy series.

 
Series Summary

This middle-grade series follows Miri, a girl from the remote Mount Eskel. In the first book she attends a princess academy, learns a little about the magic of the linder stone, and learns a lot about herself. In subsequent books Miri travels to other regions of the country of Danland. She continues her schooling at the Queens College, gets involved in a revolution, becomes a teacher, and tries to stop a war.

I love this series, and I know that Paige does too. Miri is a solid, strong character. I loved her more with every book. The series has a great cast of endearing supporting characters, as well. Pick this series up even if princesses are not really your thing. Miri is not a princess, and there is plenty of adventure and high-stake drama. There's also a bit of a romance. The writing is also excellent. This is one of my favorite middle-grade series.
 

Mini-Reviews of Princess Academy and Palace of Stone

The 2006 Newbery Honor Princess Academy was actually the very first book by Shannon Hale that I ever read. Miri and many of the other girls of her village are taken to a princess academy when the priests of their country divine that the next princess will come from that village. I loved reading about Miri's world and how the academy opened her eyes to learning, helped her understand herself and gain a deeper appreciation of her home and its customs. My reading of Princess Academy actually set me on a Shannon Hale streak, and I read five more of her books (all she had published at that point) within as many months.

After several years, in 2012, Shannon Hale published a sequel to Princess Academy. In Palace of Stone, Miri and several of her fellow princess academy graduates travel to the capital. There is much unrest in the city, and Miri gets swept up in the fervor of the revolutionaries. Palace of Stone is about how new locations and new situations can change a person. Miri spends a lot of time thinking about who she really is. A great deal of the story is wrapped up in the revolution and the intellectuals who serve as its leaders. The revolutionary leaders tend to use logic to support their actions without considering ethics or morality, and Miri struggles with this. Palace of Stone would be a great way to introduce children to the shortcomings of logic and the fallacy of "the ends justify the means." 

Full Review of The Forgotten Sisters

The third and final addition to the Princess Academy series came out just last month. It is an absolute delight.
 
Miri is on her way back to Mount Eskel when she receives a summons from the king. The neighboring kingdom of Stora is threatening invasion but may be placated with a royal Danlandian bride. Miri is to go to the swamps of Lesser Alva and establish a princess academy there where she will prepare three forgotten royal cousins to wed a king.

Conditions in the swamp are, well, pretty bleak. The girls, Astrid, Felissa, and Sus, are completely wild and not at all interested in courtly affairs or book learning. In fact, they don't have time for any of that nonsense. They are too busy just getting by. Miri, now stuck in the swamp with the sisters, must make this work somehow.

The Forgotten Sisters is full of really poignant emotions. And I loved this best about the book. Miri is miserable in the swamp and fiercely misses Peder and Marda, but then she begins to love the girls and understand their lives. This transition is communicated so eloquently. Astrid, Felissa, and Sus are fabulous additions to the series. Fully developed and every bit as likeable and unique as any of the girls from Mount Eskel.

The Forgotten Sisters is also not without its share of high-stakes drama. Soldiers. Pirates. Snakes. Caiman. The Chief Delegate. Bandits. Epic Escapes. You get the picture. It's all in there.

Miri's linder magic continues to develop in the most intriguing ways. Linder helps her unravel these sisters' secrets. Peder is stalwart and fabulous as ever. And I just loved Miri's educational lessons and how they came to matter in late chapters. As Miri says, "Think of learning as storing up supplies you may need for a harsh winter."

The Forgotten Sisters is out February 24th. 

Review copy from NetGalley.

Connections: Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Let's talk about Laura Ruby's new book, Bone Gap, and how exquisitely lovely it is. Oh my, I just can hardly even handle this book. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking, "This is so, so beautiful." The writing is glorious. Read it.

In some ways I think that it's best to go into Bone Gap knowing very little. The power of the tale and its beauty were more overwhelming for me because I didn't know what to expect. That said, I almost didn't pick it up because the blurb sounds pretty standard. So, if this write-up convinces anyone to read Bone Gap that was going to pass it by due to its perhaps less-than-inspiring blurb, I will consider my job done.  And, if I've already convinced you, wait to read what follows until after you've finished the book. If you aren't yet convinced, keep reading.

Bone Gap takes place in a small town in Illinois. It's about two brothers who have been abandoned by their mother. It's about a girl who is kidnapped. It's about the boy who saw her taken but can't describe her kidnapper. It's about how no one believes him. It's about how abandoned these boys feel. It's about a boy and girl and how they see each other.

Bone Gap made me feel that swelling, tingling sensation that you get when you are reading something truly amazing. I loved the characters. I loved the mystery. I loved the strangeness. I loved the atmosphere and the mood of the book. And, most of all, I loved the writing.

The best way that I can think to describe Bone Gap is that it's as if someone melted together The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, The Vanishing Season, and The Ocean at the End of the Lane stirred them up and then poured out a glittering, new work of art. The language in Laura Ruby's book is every bit as lovely as those novels. And, as with those books, Bone Gap teeters between reality and the otherworldly. There's just a hint, just a glimpse, of magic to these tales, and it's that slight otherworldliness that makes them so utterly captivating.

Although those three books were really the closest to Bone Gap in terms of feel and style, for me, I also came up with a few other connections:

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender and Bone Gap: Family, magic realism, a tight-knit community, and a criminal.

Say What You Will and Bone Gap: A boy with an undiagnosed condition and an "unattractive" girl.

Homecoming and Bone Gap: Children abandoned by their mother.

The Vanishing Season and Bone Gap: A small town, a blooming friendship, a deep devotion, first love, missing girls.

The Secret Life of Bees and Bone Gap: Bees and their keepers.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane and Bone Gap: The slippage from one world to another.

 
I'm so glad that I gave Bone Gap a chance. I think it has a good chance of being one of my top reads of the year.

Bone Gap is out March 3rd. Review copy from Edelweiss.