Worlds Beneath {blog tour + giveaway!}

I read K. A. Emmons' first book, The Blood Race, after winning it in a giveaway last year, and it was amazing. So naturally, when asked if I would participate in the blog tour for Worlds Beneath, I enthusiastically signed up! Read on for my thoughts on this powerful sequel, followed by a chance to win your own paperback copy of The Blood Race (believe me, this is a journey you want to take).

I used to think that seeing was believing, but now, as I struggle to stay alive below the ravine, I begin to realize that - good or bad - I will see whatever I believe.

“Who are you, Icarus, that the earth opens its mouth to receive your blood?” Sensei’s words were my last thoughts before I fell into the bottomless ravine, plunging toward my own death, and bringing about Hawk’s at the same time. Or so I thought.

I woke up underwater. I awoke in a strange and unfamiliar world, filled with maze-like forest, shadows, and nightmares seemingly as vivid and dangerous as reality. I had no idea who I was, or how I got there - I couldn’t remember anything, until I remembered her: Hawk. The other half of my soul. 
--from Goodreads

Book Review

In a word: powerful. Worlds Beneath picks up right where the first book left off, and it's at least as good - no "soggy middle syndrome" that many trilogies suffer from! It's a gripping, nail-biting story with beautiful prose. I found it to be rather unpredictable, like a puzzle that slowly, haltingly came together. Themes of faith, hope, and finding courage support a beautiful, subtle allegory that contrasts human nature with the seemingly upside-down love of God.

The plot is brilliantly woven and full of vibrant, real characters with wonderful depth and raw emotion. Amid the tense action, thought-provoking dialogue and text often had me slowing down to savor the book. The characters remain much the same as in the first novel, with Hawk still mysterious and yet familiar, though we are given a more complete backstory for some of them. I love it.

Powerful, gripping, thought-provoking, beautiful.

5/5 leaves

About the Author: K. A. Emmons

When she’s not hermiting away in her colorfully-painted home office writing her next science fiction, passionate story-teller and adventurer Kate Emmons is probably on the road for a surf or hiking trip, listening to vinyls, or going for a power run. Emmons’ debut novel The Blood Race is the first book in her YA science fiction/fantasy thriller series. Get connected with Kate on your favorite social platform, and be sure to check out kaemmons.com!

facebook | goodreads | instagram | twitter

Giveaway Time!

If you haven't yet read book one, The Blood Race, and would like a chance to win a paperback copy, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below! Both books are also available for purchase at the following links: The Blood Race and Worlds Beneath.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to Livy for coordinating this awesome blog tour!

top 20-ish books of 2017

This may seem like an odd post for April, seeing as how most everyone else advertised their 2017 favorites in December and January. But I've been putting a lot of time and energy into my editing business over the past few months and let this dear blog fall by the wayside. And since I haven't posted any book reviews in a while, I decided to smoosh all of my favorites from last year into one tidy list. In no particular order, here are my top books of 2017:

Fiction

Little Flower by Ted Oswald
Admittedly, though I gave it a 5/5 rating, all I wrote in my reading journal about this novel was, "Amazing, as usual." Ted Oswald is a gifted writer with a talent for making the reader feel truly present in his stories. This newest novel, set in India, is a gripping story about an elderly nun, a young prostitute, and a murdered man. How is that for attention-grabbing?

There Is a Land by Ted Oswald
Another book by Oswald, this second novel in the Libete Limye Mystery series is told from Libete's point of view but from two different points in time. Both suspenseful and poetic, it brings Haiti and the people who live there to life. (Start with Because We Are.)

Raj by Gita Mehta
Beautiful descriptive wording in this novel makes the story of India's independence interesting and accessible, in addition to the fact that it is told through the perspective of a single protagonist. I loved following Jaya's story, even though it wasn't always happy.

Breed of Giants by Joyce Stranger
This clean, romance-free horse story for adults is a beautiful tribute to Shire horses and the people who keep this draft breed alive even in modern times. (Full review here.)

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley
Even if you don't typically read graphic novels, I highly recommend this fun, unique fantasy with nods to classic fairy tales. There are two large volumes, but make sure you read the updated edition of the second volume, as the original ends rather abruptly. (Full review here.)

Bronze by B.B. Shepherd
Bronze is an engaging YA horse story with well-written descriptions and mental health themes. Though a bit cliché, I also thought it was very realistic and overall found it to be an addicting, light read. (Full review here.)

Exiles by Jaye L. Knight
This list would be woefully incomplete without Jaye L. Knight's latest book! I love the relationships in Exiles, as well as the introduction of new places and cultures (and really big trees). After a comfortably slow start, this novel is filled with lots of action and some really tense moments. If you haven't read any of the Ilyon Chronicles yet, you definitely should--it's one of my absolute favorites. (Click for reviews of books 1, 1.5, 2, and 3.)

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
One of Kingsolver's many excellent novels, this book contains themes of relationships, conservation, nature, science, rural communities, and church. Nothing has an easy answer, and no one is perfect--life is complex and messy. Everyone has a story. Everything is connected.

The Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
These first two books about the young witch Tiffany Aching are so, so funny! The second novel is a little creepy, and both are surprisingly, subtly wise.

The Dragon Quartet by Marjorie B. Kellogg
This fantasy/sci-fi crossover is both entertaining and relevant. It has compelling characters, interesting cultures and landscapes, a brilliant weaving together of times and places, and settings eerily parallel to our own. And dragons, of course!

The Girl from Everywhere duology by Heidi Heilig
I love all of the characters and relationships in this wonderful mixture of cultures, myths, and history. These books contain plenty of twists and turns and poor decisions and witty conversations, and I highly recommend them.

The Crows of Beara by Julie Christine Johnson
Something of a cross between the movie Leap Year and a Barbara Kingsolver novel, this book contains beautiful Irish landscapes, refreshingly believable characters, and a poetic story. It is a narrative of both people and place, and I love it.

Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
This is a great conclusion to the wonderful Rain Wilds Chronicles, a fantasy quartet that I highly recommend to all dragon lovers. (Full review here. If you haven't read the first three books, start here. And then read book two. And so on.)

Nonfiction

The Freelancer's Bible by Sara Horowitz
With tips on everything from setting up your desk to paying taxes, this truly is The Freelancer's Bible. I read a library copy cover-to-cover, and now I wish I had my own copy. If you are new to freelancing, this book is definitely worth a read.

A Journey with Mark by Marek P. Zabriskie
This is an excellent book for personal study of the Gospel of Mark. Although it is meant to be read at any time of the year, I found that it works very well as a Lenten devotional.

Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown
With a subtitle of "Eat Well on $4 a Day," this cookbook includes everything from shopping tips to suggestions for oatmeal mix-ins to a crustless quiche recipe. I first discovered the free downloadable PDF version and loved it so much that I later purchased the updated paperback. The recipes are simple, practical, and customizable.

Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau
I cannot even begin to tell how much I love this book. It is soul food, brain food, a brutal critique of humanity and beautiful portrait of simplicity with stunning descriptions that lend themselves well to being read aloud.

The Subversive Copyeditor by Carol Fisher Saller
A great resource for beginning copy editors, this little book is informative yet doused with wit. Although mostly about professional relationships, it also contains some tips on technique as well as a helpful section in the back that points to additional useful resources.

Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
This book provides a fascinating, inspiring, remarkably relateable look into C.S. Lewis's youth, from his childhood in Belfast, Ireland, to his studies at Oxford. It's a book to savor. If you're a fan of Lewis, this is definitely a must-read.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
This is a wonderful overview of Pakistan's recent history as well as a compelling story of Malala Yousafzai's incredible experience.

*******

In all, 2017 was an excellent reading year. I could have added a few more books to this list, and I did combine two books into one entry several times. So really, my top books of last year make up about half of what I read, since my grand total was 51 books. Hopefully 2018 will be just as good . . . I'm off to a decent start!

Have you read many good books yet this year? Share your favorites below!

Bronze (The Glister Journals #1)

It's been a while since my last book review, so I'm doubly excited to write a post about B. B. Shepherd's first novel, Bronze! If you like young adult books, horses, novels with mental health themes, or all of the above, I highly recommend The Glister Journals. Bronze is being re-released next week with a brand new cover, and you definitely want to pre-order a copy! I admittedly didn’t get much done the week I read it because it's so hard to put down. Check out the Glister Journals website for excerpts from the book, reviews, and links for pre-ordering.

In many ways, Allison Anderson is like most girls. In others, she's very different. The differences aren't immediately obvious but have caused misunderstandings and avoidance from others in the past. Starting high school in a new town, she expects the same experiences—until she meets the Calderas.

David Caldera, charismatic son of a local rancher, adopts Allison into his social circle. He and other new friends introduce her to their world of horses and extreme sports. Along with a lost horse she befriends, they help her to trust, gain confidence, and venture beyond her previously isolated world. She also falls helplessly but hopefully in love.

Navigating through confusing emotions, over-protective parents, and jealous classmates is difficult, but Allison's overriding fear is losing the people she's grown to love. To prove her determination to keep up, she enters a race—a dangerous decision that could cost her everything.

(from the author’s website)

Bronze is an engaging story with well-written descriptions. Though a bit cliché, I also thought it was very realistic, and overall found it to be an addicting, light (though long—604 pages!) read. I had a really hard time putting it down . . . and leaving it down.

It’s obvious that B. B. Shepherd knows horses, as all of the horse scenes are very well written. I also appreciated that the prevalent riding style is Western, as many YA horse books center around English riding. My only complaint in this area is that the horses lacked much individual personality.

As for the human characters, well, let’s make a list!

• Allison is a likeable, very relatable protagonist. I loved reading her mental processes, emotions, and interactions—I felt like I was walking around in her skin. Her social awkwardness is palpable and very realistic. Bonus: she wears glasses.
• Allison’s parents are, happily, neither absent nor villains.
• Robin is a good friend and a likeable character. She accepts Allison for who she is, and I love that. I hope we get more of her story in the sequels.
• Dave is kind, outgoing, adorable, and impossible not to like, but with somewhat mysterious intentions. He’s also very protective of those he loves.
• Chris is a more mature, reserved version of Dave—almost a Mr. Darcy to his Mr. Bingley.
• Melanie is a complete mystery, a potentially very good friend, and unfortunately extremely flat.
• Matthew threatens to create an annoying love triangle, though is otherwise seemingly benign and a good friend.

Despite the fact that the blurb says Allison’s new friends “help her to trust, gain confidence, and venture beyond her previously isolated world,” this is not a fix-the-shy-person story so much as a narrative of Allison’s journey. She develops throughout the novel, but her personality remains essentially the same, and I love that.

A huge thank you to B. B. Shepherd for sending me a free copy of Bronze in exchange for my honest review!

I’d give it 4.5 leaves, but darn, I don’t have a graphic for that. ;)

Pre-order Bronze here or check out the website for more info!
(And don't forget to add it on Goodreads!)

devouring and savoring {mini book reviews}

Earlier this month, I set my Goodreads goal to a humble 36 books, my intent being to read two novels and one work of nonfiction each month, and to savor every book. Evidently, I'm much better at devouring novels--though I seem to be savoring my current nonfiction book quite well, which I am still only partway through. I somehow managed to read six novels in the month of January, and since I loved nearly all of them, I wanted to share some brief thoughts on each one, in case you might enjoy them, too. (You may notice that I have only five listed here--I also read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but I plan to dedicate an entire post to reviewing the HP series later on.)



Blood of Dragons (Rain Wilds #4)
by Robin Hobb




This is a great conclusion to a great series. (If you haven't read the first three books, start here. And then read book two. And so on.) Lives are saved, lives are taken, and people learn to stand up for themselves, as well as for each other. I loved watching the characters grow and change and become themselves throughout this series. Blood of Dragons has fewer cliffhanger chapter endings and slightly less (non-graphic) sexual content than the previous three books, but it is still there. I highly recommend The Rain Wilds Chronicles!

4/5 leaves

Breed of Giants

by Joyce Stranger

Despite my small stature, I am hopelessly attracted to large things--books, trees, horses. . . . So there was no question when I found this small (ironically) novel about the largest horse breed as to whether I would buy it. It exceeded my expectations. Breed of Giants is a beautiful tribute to Shire horses and the people who keep this draft breed alive even in modern times. This clean, romance-free horse story for adults (yes, you read that right--feel free to do a happy dance) includes animal perspectives, such as that of Brock the badger, without anthropomorphizing, and the human characters are colorful yet realistic.

5/5 leaves

Castle Waiting (Volume I)

by Linda Medley

This serendipitous library find is perhaps the first graphic novel I've ever read. An omnibus, it attracted me with its immense size, green spine, and intriguing title. Inside, it contains a fun fantasy with nods to classic fairy tales, and yet the story itself is entirely unique. The equally unique characters are easy to empathize with--I can hardly begin to pick a favorite. Though I wouldn't categorize this book as religious fiction, Peace, being a nun, has a Christian theme to her tale. This squeaky-clean graphic novel does have a few mature scenes that might go over the heads of younger readers.

5/5 leaves

The Namesake

by Jhumpa Lahiri

I enjoyed reading about the (fictional) experience of an Indian immigrant in the U.S.--the cultural contrasts, the very real emotions, the methods of coping in a place that is not home, the themes of family and loneliness. Ashima's story drew me into this novel, her unique perspective dominating the beginning. However, the book quickly switches to her son's point-of-view and remains there for most of the book, and I found his character bland and almost boring. I enjoyed the overarching story, and the ending was very good, but I just didn't click with the main protagonist.

2.5/5 leaves

Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2)

by Rachel Hartman

This second book in the Seraphina duology about humans, dragons, and half-dragons, and their struggle to coexist--or not---is brilliantly and artfully woven together. Pieces fell into place as part of schemes I couldn't have imagined, though it all made perfect sense. There were also many grey areas; I found myself asking, Is the antagonist was really a villain, or a tragic victim of circumstance? Although I didn't at all like how the love-triangle was "solved," the ending of this novel was simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful.

4/5 leaves

(almost) success! {bookshelf love}

I almost completed my reading challenge before Christmas! I gave myself 14 weeks to read these 10 books, from September 19 to December 25, and I read nine of them--which, honestly, is more than I had expected to finish. Unfortunately, I've only written one review so far, so all titles except The Unexpected Dragon link to Goodreads.

Airs Beneath the Moon by Toby Bishop
The Unexpected Dragon by Mary Brown
Falling from Horses by Molly Gloss
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

City of Dragons by Robin Hobb

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

*******

Did you participate in any reading challenges in 2016? How did you do? What are your reading goals this year?

good fantasy, bad fantasy {mini reviews}

This time around, my mini review theme is fantasy--and, coincidentally, both authors are very familiar with horses, which shines through in their books! Unfortunately, though the first book was very, very good, the second was, well, let's just say not-so-great.

Inherited Danger (World of Godsland #2)
by Brian Rathbone

I am in love with this series!

Inherited Danger picks up almost exactly where the first book, The Call of the Herald, left off. Although the story itself is just as amazing, the writing isn't quite as smooth.

Catrin's powers begin to make more sense, but there's still some mystery surrounding them--is Istra really a god or simply a name given to an inexplicable phenomenon?

The well-developed side characters add a lot of color. Barnabas is odd yet very likeable, and it's hard to tell which side--if any--Prios is on! Nat's story, sporadically included, makes very little sense, though hopefully this will be fleshed out in the next book, as his visions can be prophetic.

My complaint? I don't have the third book (or the fifth, sixth, eighth, or ninth . . . ).

Check out my review of book one!

The Stonegate Sword
by Harry James Fox

At first glance, The Stonegate Sword is a typical medieval fantasy novel. But the setting? North America in the future. Despite beautiful, well-written descriptions of the unique setting and the author's obvious knowledge of horses, this book had quiet a few flaws.

One of the two POV characters is included only intermittently, and even at the last page his part in the story was unclear. Donald of Fisher, on the other hand, is a pacifist lore-man who becomes a man of war. Besides my dislike for this (poorly executed) transition, I found Don to be a rather bland character.

Oh, and there is no plot. After about halfway through, the book became a political, violent, boring, medieval military novel and I couldn't wait to be done with it.

I reviewed this book for OnlineBookClub. Click here to view the full review.

*******

Have you read any amazing fantasy novels recently? Please share! I'm always happy to find good fantasy books (though my TBR would rather I didn't . . . )!

a trot around the globe {mini reviews}

It's funny how the books I choose to write mini reviews for often have a theme. This time, all three books are set in different countries: Iceland, India, and Russia. I actually wrote full reviews of the first two for OnlineBookClub.org, so click on the titles if you'd like to view those (the third simply links to Goodreads)!

Goodbye Bombay
by Gry Finsnes

I had high hopes for this novel about an expat in India, but unfortunately, it fell short. Although the story was actually very captivating, I disliked the protagonist, Christine, who seemed quite irrational and self-centered. And I'm so very tired of affairs and broken marriages! What about healthy relationships? Can we read about those for a change? To her credit, Fisnes does include vivid, colorful imagery and tantalizing descriptions of food, and Christine has two kind, loyal friends whom I adored. If you like romance, you may enjoy this one more than I did!

3/5 leaves

The Silver Arrow
by Ieda Jonasdottir Herman

When considered as a middle-grade novel (despite the teenaged protagonists), this is an enjoyable read with a fun adventure. I really appreciated the unique Icelandic setting, and I loved the possibility of Hidden Folk and Finna's unwavering belief in them even when others scoffed at her. Unfortunately, the book has quite a few flaws, starting with the rushed first chapter and the unnatural dialogue throughout. And an unexpected twist launches the story into absurd, unrealistic nonsense. The combination of Icelandic folklore, aliens, and Norse gods is an interesting concept, but poorly executed.

2/5 leaves

Egg and Spoon
by Gregory Maguire

Adventure. Mayhem. Magic. This delightful fairytale full of Russian folklore and hilarity falls on the younger end of the young adult spectrum, but it's very fun. It's a beautiful weaving of lives, and each has their own story--there is so much growth and depth in so many different characters! Baba Yaga, of course, is a wonderfully fun character. There is definitely more to her than meets the eye! And what an impossibly beautiful ending. Egg and Spoon includes a good old fashioned "moral of the story," but one of the best I've ever read in a fairytale. In fact, I pulled several nuggets of truth from this book. Among them: "Live your life," spread the wealth, everything is connected (and one missing piece affects the whole puzzle), and family is important.

4/5 leaves

rural life {mini reviews}

I read quite a few books in the past two months, and I still haven't posted all of the reviews! So here are a few, which, coincidentally, all share the theme of farms and rural life. The first is a YA, the second adult fiction, and the third nonfiction. None of them, sadly, involve dragons, although there are horses in the second one listed, so we will forgive that novel for its lack of flying reptiles. And I like farming, so there is that, too. Enjoy!


Holding Up the Earth
by Dianne E. Gray

This beautiful novel weaves together seamlessly the lives of five girls, belonging to very different generations, tied together by a farm and, more specifically, a meadow. Some of the gripping, emotional stories are told through letters or journals, which sometimes felt unrealistically detailed. But those details do add much-appreciated color. Hope, the main character, is very relatable, as are the other four girls, for that matter.

4/5 leaves

Riding Lessons
by Sara Gruen

I found the premise of this novel interesting -- a horse book with family issues and a dash of romance -- but for almost the entire novel, Annemarie, the main character, acts like an insufferable child. There are no moments (until the end) where she behaves like an adult, which makes her very difficult to relate to. All of her decisions were rash and irrational. By the end, though, she seems a decent human being, and I almost want to read the next book -- mostly to follow the supporting characters (Dan, Eva, Mutti...).

2/5 leaves

The Hills is Lonely
by Lillian Beckwith

This is a hilarious portrait of a small, quaint, Scottish island village in all of its quirkiness. I wonder how many of the stories really are true, and to what extent -- they were all just so funny! Unfortunately, the author seemed to lack much respect for the people who live in the village, as they're all portrayed as being rather backwards. And I could have done with a dose of seriousness now and again as well as some form of a plot.

3/5 leaves

*******

Have you ever continued a series simply to follow the supporting characters? And what do you think -- does nonfiction require a plot?

bookshelf love update {mini reviews}

I went into this reading challenge expecting to have a pile of unread books at the end, but miraculously, I've been reading an average of two books per week! Which means I have a fair chance of devouring all 12 books by March 22. Here's the list:

The Hills is Lonely by Lillian Beckwith

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

Holding Up the Earth by Dianne E. Gray

Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen

Flying Changes by Sara Gruen

Grace at Low Tide by Beth Webb Hart

Blessed are the Meek by Zofia Kossak-Szczucka

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce
Wolf Speaker by Tamora Pierce

Valley of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams

If you'd like to join me in the Bookshelf Love reading challenge, jump on over to the introductory post. And in case you missed it, you can view more details about my personal Bookshelf Love challenge here.

I have reviews planned (but not necessarily written...) for all four of the books I've already read as part of this challenge so far, but for now, here are the first two: Wild Magic and Wolf Speaker by Tamora Pierce. Judging by Goodreads, I somehow managed to get my hands on the least attractive covers. The upside: they match.

Wild Magic (The Immortals #1)
by Tamora Pierce

Young Daine's knack with horses gets her a job helping the royal horsemistress drive a herd of ponies to Tortall. Soon it becomes clear that Daine's talent, as much as she struggles to hide it, is downright magical. Horses and other animals not only obey, but listen to her words. Daine, though, will have to learn to trust humans before she can come to terms with her powers, her past, and herself.
(from the back cover)




This was such a fun read! It's fast-paced without feeling rushed, and I found Daine easy to relate with. I enjoyed watching her friendships develop (Numair and Onua are wonderful characters), though some of the minor characters were difficult to keep straight at times. And due to the lack of quotation marks when Daine converses with animals, on a few occasions I wasn't entirely sure who said what. Speaking of animals, I love Daine's special abilities. It was so much fun seeing her relationships with different creatures and how she grew into her abilities throughout the book.

4/5 leaves

Wolf-Speaker (The Immortals #2)
by Tamora Pierce

When humans start cutting down trees an digging holes in peaceful Dunlath Valley, the wolves know that something is wrong. They send a messenger to the only human who will listen -- Daine, a fourteen-year-old girl with the unpredictable power of wild magic. Daine and her closest companions heed the wolves' cry for help. But the challenge they are about to face in the valley is greater than they can possibly imagine... (from the back cover)





I enjoyed this book every bit as much as the first one, and perhaps more -- it seemed better written, with the dialogue easier to follow and the characters easier to keep straight. It also included wonderful morals (you guys know I'm a sucker for good morals), fun new characters (many of them four-legged, but a few of the two-legged variety as well), and a dragon (everyone likes dragons, yes? of course they do.).

4/5 leaves

mini book reviews: dragons, Ireland, and YA

The Dragon Keeper (Rain Wild Chronicles #1) 
by Robin Hobb

Too much time has passed since the powerful dragon Tintaglia helped the people of the Trader cities stave off an invasion of their enemies. The Traders have forgotten their promises, weary of the labor and expense of tending earthbound dragons who were hatched weak and deformed by a river turned toxic. If neglected, the creatures will rampage--or die--so it is decreed that they must move farther upriver...

Thymara, an unschooled forest girl, and Alise, wife of an unloving and wealthy Trader, are among the disparate group entrusted with escorting the dragons to their new home. And on an extraordinary odyssey with no promise of return, many lessons will be learned...
(from the back cover)

This novel was every bit as wonderful as its beautiful, simple cover suggests. The narrative seemed a little detached, at times -- I didn't relate well to many of the characters -- but I loved Thymara and Alise, and reading the novel from multiple perspectives (yes, it alternated between more than two) was fascinating and surprisingly easy to follow. And goodness, what a unique plot! If the front cover didn't convince me to buy this book, the back certainly did! You may or may not have seen my flailing on Goodreads over the discovery that The Dragon Keeper is one of 16 books set in the same world, with characters that overlap here and there... I will definitely be reading more of Robin Hobb!

4/5 leaves

Only the River Runs Free (The Galway Chronicles #1) 
by Bodie and Brock Thoene

It was four o'clock on the afternoon of December 24, 1841, in the village of Ballynockanor, County of Galaway, Province of Connaught, Ireland. It was after mass on the first day of Advent that the old woman, Mad Molly Fahey, had told Father O'Bannon (as well as ever farmer, farmer's wife, and child) that a great miracle was coming to visit the poor of Ballynockanor....

When a stranger crosses the river and enters the village on Christmas eve, Molly proclaims that he is the herald of freedom and change. Is this quiet man the spark that will stoke the fires of Irish nationalism and bring freedom in a troubled time? Or will he bring the destruction of an entire way of life?
(from the back cover)

I really enjoyed learning more about Ireland's history -- specifically, the tension between Catholics and Protestants -- through this novel. Bodie and Brock Thoene have a wonderful talent for painting vivid characters that help bring a story to life. However, Only the River Runs Free has a strong emphasis on politics, and I found it a bit boring in places. Although I enjoyed it overall, I might stick with the Thoenes' biblical fiction in the future (The A.D. Chronicles is amazing).

3/5 leaves

Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) 

by Kristen Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight -- she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

(from Goodreads)

I have some mixed feelings about this one. The first three chapters consisted mostly of info-dumping, and I was afraid I'd embarked on a very long, boring journey. But it got better! Katsa fleshed out and became human and relatable, humor reared its fuzzy blue head, violence was questioned, tension built, bad things happened, happy things ensued... In the end, I think it's safe to say I really really liked it. I love Katsa and Po and Raffin. And I'm really enjoying the sequel, Bitterblue, so far.

A caution, though: There is one paragraph of sexual content, and the overall morals regarding sex are a bit questionable, which is especially disappointing in light of the wonderful morals surrounding killing. I'd almost label Graceling New Adult rather than YA, due to the content.

4/5 leaves

November cakes {book-inspired baking}

When I finished reading The Scorpio Races in August, I noted that I could "almost... taste the sticky-sweetness of November cakes." Well, now I can say that I have tasted the sticky-sweetness of November cakes. And they are delicious!

Maggie Stiefvater tortures her readers for 409 pages with tantalizing descriptions of these little hand cakes, and then kindly adds a recipe in the back of the book (yay!). But, naturally, I had to wait until November to try it! So, how did they turn out? What does a November cake actually look like? << Good luck figuring that one out; while I love baking, I struggle immensely with taking flattering pictures of my food.

I was a little skeptical when I finished mixing the dough and it seemed... thin. And sticky. But I followed the recipe to a T and let it rise as-is, thinking maybe it would magically be ok in an hour. Nope. I dumped it on the table to roll it out, and it sort of oozed into a doughy puddle. So I scraped it all back into the bowl and added more flour.

Tip: if your dough seems more like batter than the bread dough it's supposed to resemble, add more flour. If it doesn't look right, it probably isn't.

In the end, I still didn't add enough flour, apparently, because there weren't a lot of "nooks and crannies" for the glaze to settle into. But they were delicious and sticky and caramel-y nonetheless.

So, before you run out of November this year, go read The Scorpio Races (if you haven't already; if you have, it's definitely worth a re-read!) and then bake yourself some November cakes. They take a bit of time and effort, but believe me, they're worth it.

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Have you ever made a book-inspired recipe? If so, what was it? And the all-important question: Have you read The Scorpio Races? (Hint: There are two correct answers here -- "yes" and "not yet." :) )