Reading on a Theme: Memories Erased, Stolen, and Stored

I've been excited about this post for a long time, ever since I realized there where five memory-related books coming out in almost as many months. Erased memories must be in the air right now. (I just saw Pixar's Inside Out, and it touches on lost memories as well.) I held off for a while on this post so that I could include Adam Silvera's More Happy Than Not, and I'm so glad I did. That book was worth the wait.

The Consequences of Spells:
When Ari's boyfriend Win dies, she goes to the local hekamist and purchases a memory spell. Just like that a year of memories with Win are gone. Like a fairy's blessing or a genie's granted wish, a hekamist's spell tends to twist into unforeseen and unpleasant consequences. The Cost of All Things, about six friends and one summer, almost feels like a case study on this slightly strange world. I loved how everyone's spells were twisted together with layers upon layers of complications--just as layered spells create amplified side-effects. Maggie Lehrman's debut deals with some serious issues--depression, untimely death, lies--in an original and beautifully crafted manner. The Cost of All Things is out May 12, 2015. Review copy from Edelweiss.

The Memory Thief:
Gena is a Mementi, one of a small segment of the population that stores its memories in beads. The Mementi have an uneasy coexistence with the rest of the members of their society. When someone starts stealing memories the whole town might could very well go up in flames. Gena may have the key to solving the mystery, if only she could remember it. Shallee McArthur's debut is kind of a science fiction thriller, with the main characters racing to uncover the criminal. Deeper themes of prejudice, scientific morality, remembering and forgetting, friendship, family, and loyalty, and what gives an individual his or her identity are all carefully balanced with the fast-paced plot. I love the title and how it fits in with the story. The Unhappening of Genesis Lee was out on November 18th, 2014. Review copy from Edelweiss. 

Memories Forgotten and Remembered:
Harper's father invented Memtex, a medical procedure that can "soften" distressing memories. Originally pioneered for sufferers of PTSD, Memtex is now available to the general public. When Harper's horse dies she plunges into a deep depression, and she goes against her father's wishes to cure herself with Memtex. After the procedure Harper does feel better, but she has some new and confusing memories that make her question everything she knows about her family. Remember reminded me a little of Cat Patrick's books, and that is definitely a compliment. I definitely wanted to know what was behind all the strange secrets in Eileen Cook's story. Remember was out February 24th, 2015. Review copy from Edelweiss.

Memory Storage Broken:
Lora's memory key is broken. She keeps seeing memories as if she were still there. In these memories, she discovers there is more to her mom's death than she realized. Lora wants to solve the mystery, but will she be able to before the memory key does permanent damage to her mind and her friendships? Liana Liu has created an interesting mystery in The Memory Key, and I enjoyed trying to work out who was responsible. I also found the memory key itself to be very interesting. It brought up great questions: would it be good to be able to store all of our memories? And what are the consequences of doing so? The Memory Key was out March 3rd, 2015. Review copy from Edelweiss.

In Search of Happiness:
Aaron Soto lives in the Bronx. Life has been even rougher than usual since his father's suicide, but it seems to be getting better thanks to Aaron's great girlfriend and new best friend. Thomas and Aaron's deepening friendship creates tension between Aaron and Genevieve and Aaron and his old friends. As things sour, Aaron starts to think that the Leteo Institute's memory-alteration procedure is the only way that he'll be able to get his happy ending. This book just got better and better with every page. I knew More Happy Than Not was about a gay teenager who would consider a memory procedure in order to alter his sexuality, but, in the end, it was so much richer than I expected. What an impressive and gutsy debut by Adam Silvera.

The Cost of All Things, The Unhappening of Genesis Lee, Remember, and More Happy Than Not reviewed by JoLee.

The Memory Key reviewed by Paige.

Series Salute: His Fair Assassin by Robin LaFevers

In our Series Salutes we bid farewell to a great series with a write-up of the series as a whole.

The main characters in this series have made it into several Reading on a Themes (Girl Assassins (twice) and Girl Spies). Robin LaFevers's series features tough characters in an intriguing setting. Here's a look back at the series as a whole:

My experience with Robin LaFevers's His Fair Assassin trilogy was rather mixed. So many people were raving about Grave Mercy when it came out, and I thought it was just okay. Then I read Dark Triumph and had a much better idea of what all the fuss was about. I loved Sybella's story, and it left me itching to read the final installment. Mortal Heart, however, was more in line with Grave Mercy (some highs, some lows) than Dark Triumph for me. I'm as surprised as anyone to find that I loved Sybella's tale the most. Overall, I'm not sad at all that I stuck with this trilogy. In the end, I think the pay off was well worth it. 
 
The series is set in a fantastical 15th-century Brittany. Each book in the series stars one of three daughters of St. Mortain, the God of Death. Ismae, Sybella, and Annith trained at his convent to become assassins who fulfill Mortain's wishes. 


Grave Mercy is Ismae's book. Ismae becomes embroiled in the troubles of not-yet-Duchess Anne of Brittany who seeks to keep her country out of the clutches of the French. The series comes out swinging with a great deal of history, court intrigue, and a great cast of supporting characters.

Dark Triumph is Sybella's story, and as the title implies, it's a much darker tale than Ismae's. For me, this was part of the book's appeal. The stakes are high in Grave Mercy, but in Dark Triumph everything is ratcheted up a notch. The political conflict is compounded with very serious personal problems. For Sybella, this situation truly is one of life or death, and she may not escape with her sanity intact. Dark Triumph was my favorite in the series. I loved it a lot.

Mortal Heart is Annith's book. We get hints of Annith's story in the earlier installments. We know, for example, that the Abbess wants her take over the role of seeress. For Annith, who has been itching to leave the convent and use her acquired skills, this is the last straw. She cannot be trapped at the convent forever. So she leaves under the cover of night.
 

What appealed to me most in this series is the mix of history and fantasy. I love a book that makes me want to do a little bit of research, and I enjoyed doing some extra reading on the side about Anne of Brittany. 15th-century Brittany is already a very interesting setting but and the fantastical elements only heightened my enjoyment of the series. LaFevers handles the mix between fact and fiction very well, and I love the alternate history she creates. I knew from history what the fate of Brittany would be, and I was so interested to see how she would guide us to that point. Also, a bunch of strong-willed girls dealing with the social constraints of the 15th-century? Yes, please.

 

My Ten Most Recently Acquired Books

We're back today with another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish's. Today's topic is Ten Recently Acquired Books. I couldn't pass up this one. These books come from a variety of sources: the library (both physically and digitally), Audible, NetGalley, and Edelweiss.

From the Library

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han: Jenny Han's book is the only one on this list that I've already completed. This sequel was definitely on my "must-read" list for the year.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera: Hey, remember last week's Top Ten Tuesday? Well, I finally got this book from the library. I'm only about two chapters in.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik: I checked this book out through the library's digital audio book collection. I'm in the middle of it right now.

From Audible

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas: I'm listening to the entire Throne of Glass series. I love the reader, but my library does have any of these books available on audio. Enter Audible. They have everything.

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean: This is the book club pick for the month. It's about the history of the Periodic Table of Elements. At times I feel like I'm in over my head as I listen to it, but I'm still enjoying it.

Review Copies

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman: I just got this book yesterday. I'm looking forward to including it in a wild west roundup. (Out in September)

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp: I snagged this book on a NetGalley special today. It's sure to be an intense read, as it's about a shooter in a high school. (Out in January)

The Wanderers by Kate Ormand: This book combines circus life with shape shifters. I'm imagining a whole circus-themed post around this one. (Out in September)

Drowning is Inevitable by Shalanda Stanley: I don't say this often, but the cover of this book is what really drew me. I love that script. This is Shalanda Stanley's debut novel, and I'm eager to read it. (Out in September)

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn: I love Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia series, so I was really pumped when I got a review copy of this first book in her new Veronica Speedwell series. It's set in London in 1887. (Out in September)

JoLee's Second Quarter Review

I'm linking up with Janssen of Everyday Reading and Dana of Something Good again to give a quick(ish) recap of last quarter's reading. I read 33 books in April, May, and June. Only 4 audio books this time, but I had the whole month of June off, so that helped. You have already seen many of these books on this blog. Others are slotted for upcoming posts (any guesses what the topics will be), and some you may never see on the blog again.

April

• A Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman (featured here)
  
This sequel to Prisoner of Night and Fog has a "don't go back into the haunted house" quality to it.

• All the Rage by Courtney Summer (featured here)
Summer's books are always gritty and tough.

• The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathyrn Holmes  (featured here)
  A good survival book.

• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (audio) (featured here)
Finally joining the Throne of Glass party.  

• Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (book club)
My first Sanderson. I know. 

• The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows (featured here)
A dethroned queen, a spy, a stuck-up prince, a handsome guard, a masked vigilante.

• Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby (featured here)
  
Return to Me with teenagers. And surfing.

• Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff (featured here)
A great debut about a teen whose best friend commits suicide.

• Love, Lucas by Chantele Sedgwick (featured here)
  
A girl mourns the death of her brother. And surfing. 

 

May

• The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury (audio) (featured here)
What an interesting fantasy setting. And the audio version is great. Loved the reader.

• Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge (featured here)
Best Red Riding Hood retelling I've ever read. I gave it 5-stars.

•  The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris (featured here)
 Love romances that navigate that tricky bridge from friends to more-than-friends.

• Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos
I loved this Project Runway-inspired dystopia.

• Made You Up by Francesca Zappia (featured here)
The beautiful cover houses an equally lovely interior.

• Illusionarium by Heather Dixon (featured here)
It was worth the 4-year wait for Dixon's second novel.

• An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (audio) (featured here)
Loved the dark and violent Ancient Rome-inspired setting.

• Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (featured here)
A stunning book about mental illness.

• Maphead by Ken Jennings (audio) (book club)
After finishing this book I started playing geography trivia games. 

• Time's Edge by Rysa Walker (audio) (featured here)
Wow. So intense. I am on pins and needles waiting for book 3.

• Tiny, Pretty Thing by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton (featured here)
I have mixed feeling about this one. So cutthroat and lots of classic ballet stereotypes.

• Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater
  
Picked this up at BEA and read it before I read any others.

• 84 Ribbons by Paddy Eger (featured here)
The life of a ballerina in 1957. Compelling plot but stilted dialog. Still, I kind of want to know what happens next.

 

June

• Phantom's Dance by Lesa Howard (featured here)
The Phantom of the Opera in a ballet setting works really well. 

• The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West (featured here)
Every Kasie West novel is an absolute delight.

• Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone (featured here)
  
This book had me silently wiping away tears.

• The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman
A world where spells can solve your problems but not without side effects.

• Remember by Eileen Cook
Truly some of the worst parents in all of YA.

• The Edge of Forever by Melissa E. Hurst (featured here)
This time travel novel has some pacing issues, but I liked the futuristic Denver setting.

• The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (audio) (book club)
The story of the rowing team that won in the Olympics in 1936 is 5-stars good. 

• Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider (featured here)
Extraordinary Means is extraordinarily beautiful.

• The Night We Said Yes by Lauren Gibaldi (featured here)
Disappointed by this one. I thought it was kind of boring.

• Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway (featured here)
Absolute perfection. A kidnapped boy returns home. The girl next door. And surfing.

• 99 Days by Katie Cotugno (featured here)
A summer with the two boys she hoped to never see again.

Reading on a Theme: They Meet Again

This Reading on a Theme was a lot of fun to put together. I completed these books in true Reading on a Theme fashion, reading one right after another. Besides featuring reunited characters, they are all books about older YA characters who are getting ready for college (and, of course, One & Only is New Adult and takes place in a college setting).

I was in the mood for some great contemporary YA, and these books did not disappoint. If you've been hearing all sorts of wonderful things about Emmy & Oliver and Extraordinary Means, I am here to tell you that you have not been deceived.

Ella and Matt:
The Night We Said Yes has a great premise. Exactly a year after Matt and Ella met and six months after Matt left, he returns and the two run into each other at a party. The book then tells the story in alternating chapters of the night Matt and Ella met and the night they met again. So, I was a little disappointed with this book. It think it had a lot of potential, and I loved the idea of telling the two stories simultaneously, but, in practice, it became rather repetitive and dull. I did like Ella's friends quite a lot. And Lauren Gibaldi definitely struck gold in the cover department. I love the silhouettes and the handwritten script. The Night We Said Yes is out June 16th, 2015. Review copy from Edelweiss. 

Tess and Dylan:
Tess McMann met Dylan at a summer science program, and well, the chemistry was instantaneous. Then, she walked away. Two years later, Tess transfers to Canton, and there's Dylan, in her same program, as attractive and kind as before. But now Dylan has a girlfriend, and she's Tess's sister. The sister who doesn't know Tess even exists. The sister who doesn't know her father has a second family. Being with Dylan means breaking all the rules. I love Diana Peterfreund's Secret Society Girl series, and it's so fun to see her writing about college students again (Viv Daniels is Diana's New Adult/ Romance pseudonym.) I love how Tess and Dylan are such serious science students. They are definitely a couple to cheer for.

Emmy and Oliver:
When he was seven Oliver was kidnapped by his father. Now, ten years later, he's back. Robin Benway's new novel, starring neighbors and childhood best friends, deals with serious issues. Oliver's kidnapping impacted all of the characters in the book profoundly. Oliver, especially has a lot to deal with, but Benway navigates his complicated feelings so well. And despite all the serious stuff, this book is funny. I love Emmy's sense of humor, and her interactions with her parents are particularly great. The romance between Emmy and Oliver is sweet and honest, and, for a reader, nothing is more satisfying. Emmy & Oliver is out June 23rd, 2015, and I think it will be the big YA contemporary of the summer. Review copy from Edelweiss.

Molly and Gabe ... and Patrick:
Molly's tangled romance with two brothers, Patrick and Gabe, had her fleeing to boarding school where she hid from the boys and the family she'd hurt. Now she's back, and she has to survive 99 days in a hometown that's turned against her. Worst of all, she has to face Gabe and Patrick all over again. I really liked Katie Cotugno's messy book, and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Molly's situation and the mistakes she makes. Beyond the romance, I enjoyed Molly's business mind and was happy to see her have some success in other areas of her life. I so appreciated the book's true-to-life ending. Also, did you see Epic Reads' hilarious, Signs You're Living with a YA Parent? That's this book. To a T. 99 Days was out April 21st, 2015. Review copy from Edelweiss.

Sadie and Lane:
Extraordinary Means is extraordinarily beautiful, and one of my favorites of the year, so far. The book is set in an alternate reality with a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis. At Latham House, a sanatorium for teenagers, Lane and Sadie, who first met at summer camp when they were thirteen, meet again. This book is about their group of friends, who are paradoxically vibrant and full-of-life even as they are dying. With an intriguing setting and fantastic writing, Robyn Schneider presents issues of living and dying, disease, contagion, love in face of tragedy, and deep friendship so well, but, most of all, she tells a compelling story about beautiful characters. Extraordinary Means was out May 26th, 2015. Review copy from Edelweiss.


Have you read any of these books? What are your favorite books about reunited characters?

 All reviews by JoLee.

Ten Hyped Books I Haven't Read ... yet

We are doing The Broke and the Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday again this week. Today's topic is Ten Hyped Books I Haven't Read. I have heard so many good things about all of these books. And, while some are higher priorities than others, I have nothing against reading any of them.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: Doesn't it seem like everyone has been raving about this book? Confession: I'm a little late to the Sarah J. Maas party. I didn't read Throne of Glass until this year. I'm now on Heir of Fire and enjoying it pretty well, but I'm not sure I'll ever be a Maas superfan. However, I see myself reading this one in the future because I have a Beauty and the Beast post in the works.

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson: This one got the Printz award last year, and if that's not hype I don't know what is. Also, lots of trusted friends loved this one. I hope I get a chance to read it someday.

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios: It seems like everyone loves this one. They liked Exquisite Captive a lot too. I haven't read that one either, but I am definitely open to reading something by Heather Demetrios.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: This one just might be the YA debut of the year, and I haven't read it.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera: Another highly hyped debut, Adam was even on Epic Reads' Tea Time. I tried so hard to get an advanced copy of this book and failed at every venture. So, I'm waiting to get it from the library, and the processing is taking forever.

The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh: I was going to let this highly hyped retelling of 1001 Arabian Nights pass me by, but I've seen so many absolutely glowing reviews that I don't know that I can do that anymore.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio: I feel like the only person who hasn't read this book. My book club discussed it on a day that I was out of town, so I just didn't read it, and I probably should have.

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen: I included Saint Anything on this list because it's Sarah Dessen's newest book, and I've been seeing it everywhere, but (confession time) I could have put any of her books on this list because I have read none of them. Yeah. And this is a YA book blog.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson: There is a group of Brandon Sanderson lovers in my book club, and they talk about Brandon Sanderson every time we get together. The only reason I've read anything by Sanderson is because one of them chose Warbreaker for her book club pick.

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima: I've been meaning to read Chima's Seven Realm's Series for years. Years. All my friends love these books.


Which of these books should I move to the top of my TBR pile?

Reading on a Theme: YA Time Travel Novels

So am I the only one who's noticed that time travel is always some shade of blue? Okay, okay, I can think of a few time travel novels without blue covers. But the vast majority? Blue. (More Blue time travel novels here.) And, in case you're not convinced about the blue time travel theme yet, be on the lookout for another time travel post this fall. (Spoiler: lots of blue)

A Race through American History:
With the second installment in The Chronos Files Rysa Walker's series is suddenly vying for a spot at the top of my "favorite time travel series ever" list. In Time's Edge Kate continues to race through time collecting the keys from stranded Chronos members. One wrong move and the Cyrists will know exactly what she's up to. This second in the series really ramps up the intensity, and I had a hard time ripping myself away from it. The time travel shenanigans in this book are fabulous. Rysa Walker exploits time travel to its full potential. The morality of letting bad things happen is fully explored, and some serious mistakes have to be undone. I also really enjoy how rooted in American history The Chronos Files are. I'm so excited for book three! 

Messages from Her Future Self:
Abby lives in Brighton, a seemingly perfect utopia where everyone works together for the greater good. On her eighteenth birthday, Abby, like all residents, meets with her 38-year-old self who has traveled back in time to give her younger selves some advice. Abby leaves her meeting disappointed with how her life will turn out. She then meets a boy who also claims to have met her future self, but his version of the future is very different. Which future self should Abby trust? Glitch started out very promising. Brenda Pandos's dystopian setting is creepy and interesting, and I especially loved the Date of Death devices. However, once Abby left for the wilderness, my interest really plummeted. It's no secret that I have a hard time with wasteland wanderings. This book is a "died in the wilderness" I'm afraid. Review copy from NetGalley.

A Summer Camp Do-over:
Zoe, Tali, Luce, and Joy went their separate ways after their last summer at Camp Okahatchee. Two years later, Joy organizes a reunion night that transports them back to their final year at camp and gives them a chance to rekindle their friendships and get to know themselves a little better. I love the concept behind Proof of Forever. The main characters needed each other, and I was glad to see them get the chance to be close friends again. I felt nervous most of the book, however, because I didn't see how their week in the past could possibly end well. And, I'll admit, they were a little casual in their sexual relations for my taste. That said, I think Lexa Hillyer did a great job. It takes a deft hand to pull off time travel and a deft hand she has. Copy from BEA.

Solving a Murder from the Past:
Bridger's father is dead, yet he manages to make contact with his son during one of his time travel training missions. His message to Bridger: Save Alora. Bridger has no idea who Alora is, but if it's important enough for his father to practically return from the grave to deliver the message, saving her must be worth risking everything. He leaves the academy and illegally shifts to 2013 when Alora lived. The Edge of Forever is part time travel novel, part contemporary thriller, and part futuristic dystopia. The combination of genres works pretty well, and I liked the dual narrative and southern setting. Melissa E. Hurst's debut novel does suffer a bit from pacing issues. It starts with a bang and has a heart-stopping conclusion but lags a bit in the middle. The Edge of Forever is out June 2nd, 2015. Review copy from Edelweiss.

Inheriting the Time Travel Gene:
With Sapphire Blue, I'm cheating a bit so that I can stick with the blue-cover theme. (The first in the series, Ruby Red, has a bright red cover.) Gwyneth Shepard comes from a family of time travelers, and at sixteen she discovers that she has inherited the time travel gene. Gwyneth is suddenly catapulted into a strange world of secrets and mysteries with rogue time travelers, chronographs, creepy counts, and hijackers. Plus Gwyneth is traveling back to the London of the past, and there are fabulous outfits, a dashing and pompous fellow time-traveler, and ghosts. Gwyneth is a really intriguing character, Gideon has potential, and the mystery of the circle closing had me hooked. Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red Trilogy is great time-traveling fun.

Time's Edge, Glitch, The Edge of Forever, and Sapphire Blue reviewed by JoLee.
The Proof of Forever reviewed by Paige.

P.S. More time travel.