The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2012

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 377

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; 52 Books - W8; Women Authors; Seriously Series

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

It was refreshing to read a book set in fey that wasn't focused on Meghan. I'll admit that I was tiring of her by the end of The Iron Fey series. I needed a change to stay interested. Ethan is a great change. We get appearances by Meghan, Ash, and even Puck, but the book is really centered on Ethan and Keirran's journeys. I liked getting to know these two new-ish characters, The book definitely ends on a cliff-hanger, but I'm okay with it. We get a whole new mystery to solve in thus series and I'm on board. I can't wait to see how this all plays out.

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa

Title: Iron Legends (The Iron Fey #1.5, #3.5, #4.5)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2010

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 287

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Women Authors; Seriously Series

While I had read the four main novels in the Iron Fey series, I thought I would pick up this compilation of the short stories. Quick, but enjoyable reading as Kagawa helped to fill in the gaps in-between books.

Winter's Passage
Never make a promise to a faery. They always come to collect. Now Meghan Chase must fulfill her promise to Prince Ash of the Winter Court and embark upon a dangerous journey into the heart of enemy territory—while being pursued by a relentless new foe and guarding her own foolish heart.

This was my least favorite of the stories, if only because Meghan is still so young and naive. I think I knew too much of what comes after to truly enjoy this one.

Summer's Crossing
What can turn enemies into reluctant allies? A call from the Exile Queen, Leanansidhe, ties legendary prankster Puck to his archenemy, Prince Ash, on a journey that may end in betrayal and will set them both on an irreversible path.

My favorite of the stories because it stars Puck. Other than Grimalkin, Puck is the most interesting character in the entire series. I loved reading about his adventures with Ash and Leanansidhe. Great fun!

Iron's Prophecy
Before she ever knew what she might become, Iron Queen Meghan Chase was warned by the oracle that her firstborn child would bring nothing but grief. And even as Meghan and Ash celebrate their long-awaited union, the prophecy stirs.…

A nice bridge between the original Iron Fey series and the new Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series. This actually made me want to read the next series. I have to see what happens to Ethan and Keirran.

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Title: Sharp Objects

Author: Gillian Flynn

Publisher: Broadway Books 2006

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 272

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; Ebook;

Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story—and survive this homecoming.

Sharp Objects was this month's book club selection. I found Flynn's other book Gone Girl to be very interesting. I had heard from many bloggers that this one was also good. So, we gave it a try. And I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. I won't give away the twists and turns, but I will say that I saw most of them coming. The story was a bit contrived and predictable. As to the characters, I hated every single one of them. They all seemed fake or caricatures of real people. At a certain point, I would have loved for everyone to just say what they were thinking. Instead, characters dance around each other in a very frustrating way. Even the horrors didn't seem real because of how characters reacted to them. I just was not impressed at all. It seems that I am all but done with Flynn's work. I think I'll move on to something else...

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Title: The Nanny Diaries

Author: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 2002

Genre: Chick Lit

Pages: 306

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Movies; Rory Gilmore; 52 Books -- W6; Women Authors

Wanted: One young woman to take care of four-year-old boy. Must be cheerful, enthusiastic and selfless--bordering on masochistic. Must relish sixteen-hour shifts with a deliberately nap-deprived preschooler. Must love getting thrown up on, literally and figuratively, by everyone in his family. Must enjoy the delicious anticipation of ridiculously erratic pay. Mostly, must love being treated like fungus found growing out of employers Hermès bag. Those who take it personally need not apply.

Who wouldn't want this job? Struggling to graduate from NYU and afford her microscopic studio apartment, Nanny takes a position caring for the only son of the wealthy X family. She rapidly learns the insane amount of juggling involved to ensure that a Park Avenue wife who doesn't work, cook, clean, or raise her own child has a smooth day.

When the Xs' marriage begins to disintegrate, Nanny ends up involved way beyond the bounds of human decency or good taste. Her tenure with the X family becomes a nearly impossible mission to maintain the mental health of their four-year-old, her own integrity and, most importantly, her sense of humor. Over nine tense months, Mrs. X and Nanny perform the age-old dance of decorum and power as they test the limits of modern-day servitude.

Overall, a fairly disappointing book. I think the problem is that it is just so predictable. I knew exactly how the relationships between Nanny and Mrs. X and Grayer would play out. It feels like this story is just played out. It's just not the book for me. I seem to be on a trend lately of disappointing reads. I hope they get better. At least I am weeding out the not great reads from my bookshelves. Off to Half Price Books to sell some books I go...

Movie:

The movie is fairly true to the book which of course bored me. I just didn't really connect to any of the characters. It's not a bad movie, just a tired storyline and stereotypical characters. The movie may appeal to some, but I just didn't find myself wanting to see it again.

Tithe by Holly Black

Title: Tithe (Modern Tale of Faerie #1)

Author: Holly Black

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 2002

Genre: YA Paranormal (Fey)

Pages: 340

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Women Author; 52 Books - W6; Top 100 YA Novels; Read Your Freebies

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

The entire time I was reading this, I just kept thinking "I've read this before." I haven't read this actual book, bit I've read so many YA stories just like it that the storyline was just incredibly familiar. I was pretty bored. I think I could have liked this book, but I've just read too much of this genre. I was going to include this series in my Seriously Series Reading Challenge. Since i am nixing this series, I will not include it and substitute a different series for the challenge.

Modern Tale of Faerie (DNFed series)

#1 Tithe
#2 Valiant
#3 Ironside

Roaring Midnight by Colleen Gleason

Title: Roaring Midnight

Author: Colleen Gleason

Publisher: Avid Press 2013

Genre: Paranormal (Vampires)

Pages: 232

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Women Authors; Well-Rounded Reader -- Paranormal Romance; What's in a Name -- Reference to time

Macey Gardella is a typical young woman of the Roaring Twenties: she works a job, has her own flat, and loves to dance the Charleston. But when a mysterious man named Sebastian Vioget informs her she belongs to a family of vampire hunters, Macey is stunned and disbelieving.
Yet, strange and frightening things begin to happen, and when Macey comes face-to-face with one of the fanged creatures, she has no choice but to believe Sebastian. And when she learns his own soul depends on her willingness to carry forth the family legacy and hunt the undead, Macey capitulates and joins the fight.
As she begins to learn about her new life, Macey meets the handsome newspaper reporter known as Grady--who seems to know more about vampires than he should. When he begins to ask too many questions, she has to juggle her strong attraction to him with the need for secrecy.

I picked this up because of the strength of the first Gardella series. I loved reading about Victoria, Max, and Sebastian's adventures. This volume doesn't quite live up to the first ones, but I did enjoy reading it. I loved the setting: 1920s Chicago. The gangsters, the speakeasies, and the flappers all added a lovely atmosphere for the novel. I loved the Sebastian and Wayren as they were great characters from the first series. However, I an not completely sold on Macey and the other newcomers. Macey is a bit too childish, at least in this first book. I would like her have a bit more sense of the world. I mean she lives in gangster era Chicago. You would think she would know not to wander the streets alone after dark. I am also not a huge fan of Chas and Grady. They just seem to be very flat characters right now. I hope that as the series progresses the character also grow and change. Otherwise, I might just have to give this series up...

Gardella Vampire Chronicles:

Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale

Title: Lessons in French

Author: Laura Kinsale

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2010

Genre: Historical romance

Pages: 446

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Well Rounded Reader -- Historical Romance; TBR Pile; Women Author; 52 Books -- W5; Lucky No. 14 -- Bargain All the Way

Trevelyan and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure, until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and, in a furious frenzy, drives Trevelyan away in disgrace. Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyan returns. Callie discovers that he can still make her blood race and fill her life with excitement, but he can't give her the one thing she wants more than anything—himself.
For Trevelyan, Callie is a spark of light in a world of darkness and deceit. Before he can bear to say his last goodbyes, he's determined to sweep her into one last, fateful adventure, just for the two of them.
Started out a bit slow for my tastes, but got really good towards the end. This book is a nice mix between a fluffy romance, a mystery, and an adventure story. We get a couple of twists and turns that threw me for a couple of pages. They were interesting twists that added to the fun of the story. The characters are good, although I wished to see a stronger female lead. Callie was a bit to much of a wilting flower until the last 100 pages or so. Trevelyan was the stereotypical rogue male lead, but I still really liked him. One of the best characters was Trevelyan's mother the Duchess. She was interesting and always knew more than she let on. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Lessons in French. I will have to add Kinsale to my authors to watch for at clearance sales list.

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

Title: High Fidelity

Author: Nick Hornby

Publisher: Riverhead Books 1995

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 323

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New Authors; Monthly Motif -- January Around the World; Book to Movie; Rory Gilmore Challenge

Rob is a pop music junkie who runs his own semi-failing record store. His girlfriend, Laura, has just left him for the guy upstairs, and Rob is both miserable and relieved. After all, could he have spent his life with someone who has a bad record collection? Rob seeks refuge in the company of the offbeat clerks at his store, who endlessly review their top five films (Reservoir Dogs...); top five Elvis Costello songs ("Alison"...); top five episodes of Cheers (the one where Woody sang his stupid song to Kelly...). Rob tries dating a singer whose rendition of "Baby, I Love Your Way" makes him cry. But maybe it's just that he's always wanted to sleep with someone who has a record contract. Then he sees Laura again. And Rob begins to think (awful as it sounds) that life as an episode of thirtysomething, with all the kids and marriages and barbecues and k.d. lang CD's that this implies, might not be so bad.

This is one of J's favorite books. He's been bugging me to read this for years now. I finally got around to it. And I really did like the book. My favorite aspect is the writing style. Hornby writes as though Rob (the main character) is sitting across from you in some pub telling you his story. There's an easy-ness to the writing that I just loved. As to the characters, Rob reminded me so much of J. I can see why he really likes this book. It's almost part of his life story. Laura is a bit of a flat character, but that's okay. The story isn't about the romance between Rob and Laura. The story is about Rob's life now and his dreams and aspirations. I really enjoyed getting to know Rob and his quirky sense of life.

Movie:

The movie is one of the truest adaptations of a novel that I've ever seen. I really really like this movie. It retains the conversational style of the novel. It retains the quirky characters -- great casting, especially Jack Black as Barry. They make minor changes (like some of the bands mentioned). They make one major change (London to Chicago). But those changes don't bother me at all. The changes don't make a negative impact on the story. Great movie. Great music. Great characters.

A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

Title: A Room with a View

Author: E.M. Forster

Genre: Classics

Pages: 204

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Book to Movie; Back to the Classics -- 20th Century Classic; 1001 Books; Rory Gilmore

British social comedy examines a young heroine's struggle against strait-laced Victorian attitudes as she rejects the man her family has encouraged her to marry and chooses, instead, a socially unsuitable fellow she met on holiday in Italy. Classic exploration of passion, human nature and social convention.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this novel. I had heard that it was a great social commentary piece. I had heard that it had great characters. I guess I can see those things. However, throughout most of the book I was just bored. Guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Movie:

Loved the actor choices for this novel. Loved the locations. Thought it was a very good adaptation of the novel. But, like the novel I was bored throughout most of the movie. This will not be on my rewatch list.

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

Title: The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

Author: Barack Obama

Publisher: Crown 2006

Genre: Memoir / Political Science

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; U.S. Presidents; ebook; 52 Books -- W4

The Audacity of Hope is Barack Obama’s call for a different brand of politics—a politics for those weary of bitter partisanshipand alienated by the “endless clash of armies” we see in congress and on the campaign trail; a politics rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” He explores those forces—from the fear of losing to the perpetual need to raise money to the power of the media—that can stifle even the best-intentioned politician. He also writes, with surprising intimacy and self-deprecating humor, about settling in as a senator, seeking to balance the demands of public service and family life, and his own deepening religious commitment.

I'll tell you up front that I voted for Obama twice. I'm not an ardent fan, but I definitely liked him better than what the other offered. That being said, I went into this book with a desire to know more about his thoughts before becoming President. It was interesting reading it with the knowledge of what he's done since 2008. Overall I really enjoyed reading the book. I agree with Obama on many political and cultural issues. This country is artificially divided. We do hold many of the same values and yet the media and politicians would have us think that every neighbor is our enemy. The other parts that I took issue with were those that dealt with religion. I definitely have some disagreements with Obama on that topic. Thankfully his Presidential leadership has kept the separation of church and state intact.

Shambling with the Stars by Jesse Petersen

Title: Shambling with the Stars (Living with the Dead #3.5)

Author: Jesse Petersen

Publisher: Orbit 2011

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 34

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Women Authors; Seriously Series; 52 Books - W3

Avery Andrews is her name and directing celebrity telethons after tragedies is her game. But the Northwestern Zombie Outbreak isn't your average tragedy... and once the infection spreads to the studio, Avery and her crew will have to worry about staying alive, not ratings.

A cute little zombie story to add to my Living with the Dead series. I was super excited to snap this one up on Kindle for cheap. Unfortunately, it is so short, I just couldn't give it 5 stars. I did really love it. The characters were fun. The storyline had a ton of potential. It just wasn't enough to really make me love it.

Living with the Dead

#1 Married with Zombies
#2 Flip This Zombie
#3 Eat, Slay, Love
#3.5 Shambling with the Stars
#4 The Zombie Whisperer

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton's Children 2012

Genre: YA Contemporary

Pages: 337

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: US of YA; NPR Teen; Books to Movies; ebook; New Author

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.
Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Our first book club selection of 2014! I have heard absolutely amazing things about this book. That's why I put it up for consideration for our January club selection. The reality of the book didn't live up to all the expectations. It's a good book. I might even say it's a great book. But, I think it's a great book for someone else. I think if I had read this when I was 16 it would have been great. As I am now 31, it's just a good book. The love story seemed a bit too teenagey for me. I wanted a bit more depth to the romance. The sections about life and death are really what kept me sucked into the book. Gus and Hazel's look at life was interesting and thought-provoking. I especially loved the eulogies at Augustus's pre-funeral. I would love to be remembered that way instead of some empty platitudes about living a good life. I would love the real me to appear at my funeral. Overall, I think TFiOS is a really really good book. I just couldn't give it 5 stars.

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain

Title: Medium Raw

Author: Anthony Bourdain

Publisher: HarperCollins 2010

Genre: Memoir; Food

Pages: 308

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; ebook; 52 Books - W2

Medium Raw marks the return of the inimitable Anthony Bourdain, author of the blockbuster bestseller Kitchen Confidential and three-time Emmy Award-nominated host of No Reservations on TV’s Travel Channel. Bourdain calls his book, “A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook,” and he is at his entertaining best as he takes aim at some of the biggest names in the foodie world, including David Chang, Alice Waters, the Top Chef winners and losers, and many more. If Hunter S. Thompson had written a book about the restaurant business, it could have been Medium Raw.

I read Kitchen Confidential last year, and I have to say that I enjoyed this one more infinitely more. I think my main issue with KC was that at times it was so technical. Because I do not have a background in cooking, there are terms and techniques that I just don't know. I had to stop periodically to look something up to truly understand what Bourdain was discussing. This book is a lot more friendly to the average reader. We are treated to the personal views of Bourdain as they relate to the food industry. I loved his chapters about the Food Network and its stars. I loved the chapters highlighting specific chefs. And I really loved the chapters where he discussed his own transitioning thoughts and ideas. It was a nice companion to his No Reservations television series. Very enjoyable read!

In the Company of Secrets by Judith Miller

First book of 2014... Let's get this party started!

Title: In the Company of Secrets (Postcards from Pullman #1)

Author: Judith Miller

Publisher: Bethany House 2007

Genre: Christian fiction

Pages: 386

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Key Word - Secrets; ebook; Women Authors; 52 Books -- W1; Read Your Freebies

The truth could cost her everything....
Olivia Mott didn't intend to lie. Somehow, it just happened. And wasn't it all Lady Charlotte's fault anyway?
Now Olivia's position as assistant chef at Pullman's elegant Hotel Florence is dependent upon her keeping her secrets. And sometimes lies have a way of leading to other lies. Should Olivia admit her real past and accept the consequences or keep quiet in order to preserve her comfortable new circumstances?
Deception seems to be part of everyday life in the company town of Pullman, Illinois, where the grand Pullman Palace Car is manufactured. Samuel Howard, Olivia's friend and the town manager, seems to think everything is fine, but Olivia observes something quite different. Could it be that Olivia is not the only one harboring secrets?

Hmmm... This is one of those free books that I happened to pick up on Kindle. So glad I did not actually pay for this book. I was thoroughly bored the entire time I was reading. The characters are not very entertaining. The plotline is very predictable. The sermons are seemingly out of place and awkward. The ending is a complete "cliffhanger" but we all know how the story will end. I can't believe I actually finished this one, but I did. So, first book of the year completed. Not starting on a high note. Hope things get better...

Postcards from Pullman (DNFed series)

In the Company of Secrets
Whisper Along the Rails
An Uncertain Dream

Sandition by Jane Austen

Title: Sandition

Author: Jane Austen

Genre: Classics

Pages: 320

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Jane Austen; 52 Books -- W52

How I Got It: iBooks free download

Sanditon might have been Austen’s greatest novel had she lived to finish it. Its subject matter astonishes: here is Austen observing the birth pangs of the culture of commerce, as her country-bred heroine, a foolish baronet, a family of hypochondriacs, and a mysterious West Indian heiress collide against the background hum of real-estate development at a seaside resort.

Instead of reading one of the continuations or completions of the novel by another author, I stuck to Austen's fragment. I was really getting into the story of the little seaside town of Sanditon and its quirky residents. I wish that Austen would have continued, the novel holds such promise. We have a mysterious character, a few potential romances, a grand scheme, and all the usual meddling neighbors. Really a fun little read...

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

Title: Vanity Fair

Author: William Makepeace Thackeray

Genre: Classics 1847

Pages: 912

Rating: 3/5 stars Movie: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Classics -- 19th Century; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading; Rory Gilmore (Perpetual); 1001 Books (Perpetual)

How I Got It: I own it!

Scorned for her lack of money and breeding, Becky must use all her wit, charm and considerable sex appeal to escape her drab destiny as a governess. From London’s ballrooms to the battlefields of Waterloo, the bewitching Becky works her wiles on a gallery of memorable characters, including her lecherous employer, Sir Pitt, his rich sister, Miss Crawley, and Pitt’s dashing son, Rawdon, the first of Becky’s misguided sexual entanglements.
Filled with hilarious dialogue and superb characterizations, Vanity Fair is a richly entertaining comedy that asks the reader, “Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? or, having it, is satisfied?”

Hmmm... I thought i would like this book more than I actually did. The story is good. The characters are good. But I guess I just don't really like Thackeray's writing style. There's something about the prose that annoyed me throughout the book. Still, I would recommend this novel to those who already have a love of the 19th century classics.

Movie:

The movie was much more enjoyable than the book, probably because I didn't have to be annoyed by the writing style. I loved this lengthy adaptation. Reese Witherspoon is great as Becky Sharp, although I think she's nicer in the movie than the book. Romola Garai is great as the meek Amelia. And I so love Rhys Ifans as Dobbins. Overall, a few changes from the novel, but I still really liked it.

Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest

Title: Tanglefoot (Clockwork Century #1.5)

Author: Cherie Priest

Publisher: A Tor Book 2011

Genre: Steampunk; Zombie

Pages: 34

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading; 52 Books - W51

How I Got It: I own it!

Stonewall Jackson survived Chancellorsville. England broke the Union’s naval blockade, and formally recognized the Confederate States of America. Atlanta never burned. It is 1880. The American Civil War has raged for nearly two decades, driving technology in strange and terrible directions. Combat dirigibles skulk across the sky and armored vehicles crawl along the land. Military scientists twist the laws of man and nature, and barter their souls for weapons powered by light, fire, and steam. But life struggles forward for soldiers and ordinary citizens. The fractured nation is dotted with stricken towns and epic scenes of devastation–some manmade, and some more mysterious. In the western territories cities are swallowed by gas and walled away to rot while the frontiers are strip-mined for resources. On the borders between North and South, spies scour and scheme, and smugglers build economies more stable than their governments. This is the Clockwork Century. It is dark here, and different.

This was a creepy creepy little story. I was expecting a steampunk adventure like Boneshaker. Instead, I got a steampunk horror story. This one definitely pushed my creep out buttons. It involved something that looks human, but isn't human. Holy crap! Nice little story, but I really would have liked more...

Clockwork Century

#1 Boneshaker
#1.1 Clementine
#1.2 Tanglefoot
#2 Dreadnought
#2.5 The Living Dead 2
#3 Ganymede
#4 The Inexplicables
#5 Fiddlesticks
#6 Jacaranda

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Title: Boneshaker (Clockwork Century #1)

Author: Cherie Priest

Publisher: A Tor Book 2009

Genre: Steampunk; Zombie

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

Maternal love faces formidable challenges in this stellar steampunk tale. In an alternate 1880s America, mad inventor Leviticus Blue is blamed for destroying Civil War–era Seattle. When Zeke Wilkes, Blue's son, goes into the walled wreck of a city to clear his father's name, Zeke's mother, Briar Wilkes, follows him in an airship, determined to rescue her son from the toxic gas that turns people into zombies (called rotters and described in gut-churning detail). When Briar learns that Seattle still has a mad inventor, Dr. Minnericht, who eerily resembles her dead husband, a simple rescue quickly turns into a thrilling race to save Zeke from the man who may be his father. Intelligent, exceptionally well written and showcasing a phenomenal strong female protagonist who embodies the complexities inherent in motherhood, this yarn is a must-read for the discerning steampunk fan.

I had heard mixed things about this series, but I found that I really enjoyed the story of Briar and Zeke and their journey inside the wall. Somehow I didn't realize that each book in the series is set in the same world, but doesn't follow the exact same characters. My understanding is that characters overlap. Once I understood how the story was structured, I liked this one even better. I was afraid that there just wasn't enough story of Briar and Zeke to continue for six books and a novella. Thankfully that is not the case.

As for this volume, it started off a bit slow, but once the action started, it never stopped until the last pages. While the rotters were a good villain, they stayed mostly in the background. We quickly learn that the living inhabitants of the walled city are much more dangerous. I loved the simultaneous paths of Briar and Zeke. I loved when they eventually interacted with the same colorful characters. I was rooting for their success throughout the entire book. Overall, it was a very satisfying steampunk adventure novel. I've got the novella on tap for my next read!

Clockwork Century:

#1 Boneshaker
#1.1 Clementine
#1.2 Tanglefoot
#2 Dreadnought
#2.5 The Living Dead 2
#3 Ganymede
#4 The Inexplicables
#5 Fiddlesticks
#6 Jacaranda

More Nerdy Nonfiction Mini Reviews

I don't really have a lot to say about these two books, so I thought I would just do a mini review post.

Title: Universal Rights Down to Earth

Author: Richard Thompson Ford

Publisher: Norton and Company 2012

Genre: Nonfiction -- Government

Pages: 160

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nerdy Nonfiction - Government; Fall into Reading

In Universal Rights Down to Earth, acclaimed author and legal expert Richard Thompson Ford reveals how attempts to apply “universal” human rights principles to specific cultures can hinder humanitarian causes and sometimes even worsen conditions for citizens. In certain regions, human rights ideals clash with the limits of institutional capabilities or civic culture; elsewhere, rights enforcement leads to further human rights violations. And in some countries, offending regimes use human rights commitments to distract attention from or justify their other abuses. Ford explores how our haste to identify every ideal as a universal right devalues rights as a whole, so that even the most important protections—such as that against torture—become negotiable.

Interesting topic, but it felt a bit dense in parts. More lecture than an enjoying read. Only for fans of political theory.

Title: Final Jeopardy

Author: Stephen Baker

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2011

Genre: Nonfiction - Technologhy

Pages: 288

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nerdy Nonfiction - Technology; Fall into Reading

Final Jeopardy traces the arc of Watson’s “life,” from its birth in the IBM labs to its big night on the podium. We meet Hollywood moguls and Jeopardy! masters, genius computer programmers and ambitious scientists, including Watson’s eccentric creator, David Ferrucci. We gain access to Ferrucci’s War Room, where the IBM team works tirelessly to boost Watson’s speed to the buzzer, improve its performance in “train wreck” categories (such as “Books in Español”), and fix glitches like the speech defect Watson developed during its testing phase, when it started adding a d to words ending in n (“What is Pakistand?”).

Really enjoyed reading about the story of Watson. It didn't delve too much into the software, but maybe that's a good thing for non-tech nerds like me. Fascinating story...

Nerdy Nonfiction Quick Reviews

Title: Inside the Creative Studio

Author: Cate Coulacos Prato

Publisher: Interweave 2012

Genre: Home; Crafts

Pages: 160

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Nerdy Nonfiction -- Home; 52 Books -- W50

The professional artists and crafters of Studios Magazine give you the tools to create your own one-of-a-kind artistic environment in this best-of compilation. Learn how to find space in your home, whittle down your stash, maximize your storage and organization possibilities, and manage your stash of supplies and equipment to keep your work space functional and fun to work in. Experts will also show you how to repurpose furniture, integrate recyclables, and showcase vintage items to establish a space with purpose and personality. You will spend less time struggling with your studio, or lack thereof, and more time actually creating in your unique space.

Lots of great ideas for organizing your creative space. My space isn't completely out of control, but I would love to reorganize it this coming year (on my big to do list!). This book helped me start thinking about what I want... I see a trip to Ikea in my future for early next year.

Title: B is for Baby: 26 Projects from A to Z

Author: Suzonne Stirling

Publisher: Taunton Press 2006

Genre: Crafts

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Nerdy Nonfiction -- Crafts

B is for Baby honors the age-old tradition of crafting with a mix of vintage and modern-style projects for all women who buy baby gifts who want to give something meaningful and handmade. In a unique A to Z presentation, the projects are aimed at a variety of skill levels and budgets. Every letter is represented with a main project and many variations, and all have concise step-by-step directions, photos and templates.

Why do I always pick these craft books up? Oh right, I love looking at the pictures. To be fair, there are some very cute projects in this book. Most of them just aren't my style (lots of pastels and cutesy things) and there was only two projects I even contemplated doing. Cute book for super crafters, just not really my style.