Monday Mix || The End Is Where We Begin

And now for something completely different.

Okay, not so different. But instead of this being a mix based on someone else's novel, this is a mix I made based on one of my novels.

You've probably heard of NaNoWriMo (and if not, where have you been?) but it's an annual writing challenge that asks you to write a 50 000 word novel in 30 days in November. I've participated since 2009 and won every year so far!

Now, I love making mixes right? We've been through that already. So it makes sense that I should make some mixes based on my novels, right?

Some of them get done, some of them don't. But they're still fun.

So let me be self indulgent and post this mix.

A little backstory. Written in 2010, the novel was titled Chaotic Neutral and was about spies and espionage. My synopsis from the NaNoWriMo page went something like this:

Arthur is one of Apogee International's most promising young agents. He's accustomed to the flair and high-risk that comes along with being a spy. And he works overtime to keep Sentinel Operations--Apogee's rival agency--from achieving their goals. While Apogee works to bring about change (usually for the better), Sentinel strives to keep the status quo. And though each organization's methods are more than a little questionable, Arthur's always believed that the end justifies the means.

That is, until his latest assignment goes horribly wrong. Arthur finds himself unfairly demoted to the realm of corporate espionage. And for someone who's used to gun fights and explosions, sitting in a cubicle from 9-to-5 is making him understandably antsy.

Especially when he starts questioning not only his employers methods, but his own skills as an agent. Is he just another agent past his prime, been put out to pasture?

But little does he know, he's about to stumble quite unwittingly onto a secret that threatens to unravel everything he's ever worked for. And he'll discover that the ties that bind Apogee and Sentinel together are more sinister than he could have ever imagined.

Listen on 8tracks

A story of love, lust, espionage and betrayal. Soundtracked by gun fights, transatlantic flights, split lips and running for your life.

(Tracklist after the cut)

Review || Eon by Alison Goodman

Eon (Eon #1) by Alison Goodman ★★★☆☆

Twelve-year-old Eon has been in training for years. His intensive study of Dragon Magic, based on East Asian astrology, involves two kinds of skills: sword-work and magical aptitude. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye--an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.

But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.

When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life.

If you're craving some good fantasy with unique worldbuilding, than do yourself a favour and pick this up immediately.

After having been on my tbr for some time, I picked Eon up on a whim the other night and found myself having to pace myself so I could enjoy it for longer. The world is rich and complex, full of interesting characters and problems. Seasoned fantasy readers will not be put off by the "info dumping" at the beginning--I found it was well balanced with the plot and kept me interested.

Eon(a) is an interesting character. Weighed down by the pressures and expectations of those around her, she struggles to maintain her boyish facade. She has to form alliances and make decisions with very little experience. And she doesn't always choose correctly.

While none of the major plot points or twists were terribly unpredictable, the narrative still held my interest. Court politics and intrigue are something that I'm very much into, and Eon delivered in that regard--especially with the threats simmering just below the surface.

Eon is also host to some refreshingly different characters. Eon's friend Chart is severely physically disabled--and though many of the supporting cast look down upon him or treat him with contempt, Eon considers him a close friend and does much to support him and his mother later in the book. Eon herself has been crippled and pushes herself through obstacle after obstacle to compete on equal standing next to her able bodied peers. (Though, I will admit it was not as much of a barrier as I would've liked. Eon's disability sort of gets lost in all the other plot related shenanigans and then sort of gets deus ex machina-ed away at the end. Which is disappointing.)

Eon's inner circle consists of a eunuch guard and a transwoman advisor. Both characters are compelling in their own right, especially as you learn more about them. There are a lot of gender politics at play here, not surprisingly, considering one of the main conflicts of the book is Eon's identity. I've seen some reviews that take issues with some of Goodman's more heavy handed approach to some of this, and while I don't disagree with some of the criticisms, I still find it refreshing to see a story in which the main character must embrace her femininity in order to succeed.

All in all, a great read. Though, be warned, this is definitely just the set up. Eon is not a book that stands on its own, and if you enjoy it, you'll want to have the sequel Eona close at hand.

Random Recs || Sports

This week I decided to recommend a few books that have characters that play sports. This was decidedly more difficult than I'd anticipated, so there are only 2 books on the list this week. But they were both books I really enjoyed, so I feel like that makes up for it!

Books With Characters Who Play Sports

Football
Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) by Kasie West
I feel like this counts, despite the fact that it's not our main character Addison who is playing sports. But both of the important boys in her life (one in each timeline) play football. So it wouldn't be considered a "sports book" by any means, but the sport itself ends up coming into play pretty significantly for the plot. This was also a book that really surprised me--I hadn't expected to like it as much as I did!

Rugby

Winger (Winger #1) by Andrew Smith

When I first was thinking about this theme, Winger was the book that immediately came to mind. Ryan Dean's life pretty much revolves around the rugby team (when it doesn't revolve around his hormones). The sport, culture and relationships amongst team members (and members of other teams at the school) are central to the book and its themes. It's also laugh-out-loud funny and heart-wrenching. A deadly combination.

So, what do you think? Have you read any of these books? Do you have other sports-related recommendations to make? Let's chat in the comments!

Series Marathons

So this past month I did something that I've never done before.

I read an entire trilogy--back to back to back. Three books. In a row. Without stopping.

And more surprising than that, without wanting to stop.

When I only have lukewarm feelings towards a series, I'm more willing to set it aside, let it settle for a while, before coming back to the next book. And that makes sense. I need a little space, but I'll be back. And that's fine.

Previously, when I've finished a book in a series that I'm loving it's simultaneously a series in progress. So while I might be dying for the next book, I'm actually physically incapable of continuing it at the current moment.

So, to actually "marathon" a series is new for me.

Saying I've never done it before is not 100% accurate. Because a number of years ago, I worked my way through David Eddings' Belgariad series in a similar fashion. Buy book 1. Read book 1. Buy book 2. Read book 2. And so on.

But that was when I wasn't doing a ton of reading. Like, the whole 5 book series probably took me 2+ months to complete. Whereas now... Well, 2014 is the weirdest reading year of my life because I am just plowing through books. But even still. Before that I probably could've managed it in a month without trying too hard.

So Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy took me by surprise. I was rounding out the last 50 pages of book 1 when I knew--I just knew--that I needed to get the other books. And to my delight, they were in at my library. So I literally took off about half an hour before closing and raced to the library to sign them out.

Now, The Girl of Fire and Thorns ends with its loose ends more or less tied off. This is one of those cases where I assume only the first book had been picked up and Carson had not yet been optioned for a trilogy. Which was fine. But with things wrapped up, I don't know that I would've picked up The Crown of Embers (book 2) if I hadn't already raced out to acquire it.

My reading just doesn't work like that most of the time. I'm typically satisfied with a tied up ending and I can let things sit. Take a break, have some space, and come back later.

But I had been so frantic before the book was over to continue. So I decided to just go for it and give book 2 a try. And I am so glad I did.

And after that "cliffhanger" ending, I was glad book 3 was handy.

There was something about the experience as a whole, though. Being with these characters for so long, so consistently. I really felt attached to the cast. And I really appreciated all the subtle changes, tie ins and character growth that happened. It was like watching it all unfold as it happened--instead of that start/stop sort of thing that comes with reading a series in pieces.

I guess the big question is: Did I like it enough to do it again?

I don't really know. I think it was an interesting enough experiment (if an unintentional one) that I would certainly give it a try with another series. The major problem being that most of the series I'm ready to start are either unfinished or difficult to access. So we'll see how it plays out in the long run.

But still. Something new and different. And I really quite enjoyed it.

How about you? Are you a series marathoner? Let's chat in the comments!

Bout of Books 10.0

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

I participated in Bout of Books 9.0 in January and had a blast. So I knew right away that I'd be signing up for this round! This is my sign up/goals/updates post, so check this space as next week progresses!

My Goals

• Read 3-4 books
• Read every day
• Queue reviews for books completed
• Participate in a few challenges
• Participate in at least one Twitter chat

Probable reads:

Updates after the jump!

Monday Mix || No Beginning & No End

Okay, you got me. I don't just read a lot of books--I read a lot of fanfic too. And I mean a lot. There was a period through high school and university where I read fanfic exclusively.

Sorry not sorry.

If you think I have a lot of feelings about my ships, you don't even want to know how I feel about alternate universes (AUs for those familiar with the term). There's just something about picking up your favourite characters and plopping them down in a completely different scenario. It's a fun thought experiment.

And, unsurprisingly, one of my favourite fanfic tropes.

So have another Enjolras/Grantaire mix. (I swear this is it for these two after this!)

This one's a modern reincarnation mix. Still sorry not sorry.

Listen on 8tracks

(Tracklist, etc after the cut)

Review || Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips ★★☆☆☆

Being a Greek god is not all it once was. Yes, the twelve gods of Olympus are alive and well in the twenty-first century, but they are crammed together in a London townhouse--and none too happy about it. And they've had to get day jobs: Artemis as a dog-walker, Apollo as a TV psychic, Aphrodite as a phone sex operator, Dionysus as a DJ.

Even more disturbingly, their powers are waning, and even turning mortals into trees--a favorite pastime of Apollo's--is sapping their vital reserves of strength.

Soon, what begins as a minor squabble between Aphrodite and Apollo escalates into an epic battle of wills. Two perplexed humans, Alice and Neil, who are caught in the crossfire, must fear not only for their own lives, but for the survival of humankind. Nothing less than a true act of heroism is needed-but can these two decidedly ordinary people replicate the feats of the mythical heroes and save the world?

I don't know, this just kind of fell flat for me.

A neat concept weighted down by mediocre delivery and a kind of incohesive plot. Despite all the trickery, mischief and revenge going on I felt oddly detached from the whole thing. And what's worse is that I never really found myself enjoying the book.

At under 300 pages, by the time things really got rolling plot-wise I figured I might as well continue to plow through for lack of anything else to do. And truthfully, I made myself go back to it numerous times, reading it in fits and starts. Because I knew if I let it sit too long, I probably wouldn't go back at all.

Which, all in all, is a real shame. Because I adore mythology. And there were glimmers of really interesting story in here. The slow decay and boredom of the gods. The twisted familial relationships. The thoughtless need for revenge.

But it all just sort of stumbled on into mediocrity. Hence, the 2 star rating of "it was okay".

I wouldn't bother with this one. If you're looking for something along these lines with a hell of a lot more depth, I'd go for Neil Gaiman's American Gods. It's definitely going to make you put in a lot more effort than this breezy read... but it'll be worth it.

April Book Haul

I swear I didn't mean to buy so many books in the month of April. It just happened.

I haven't really been keeping track of my bookish acquisitions on this blog, because it hasn't normally been more than the occasional purchase here or there combined with some library books.

But in April I bought 10 books. And 4 graphic novels. In the span of less than 14 days. Oops?

On April 16th I had to travel out of town for a badminton tournament. And the destination in question had a Chapters. (My city does not, much to my ever-present frustration.) So obviously I worked in time for a trip.

I ended up picking up 5 books, and god knows I would've bought more, but I knew I had to place some kind of limit on myself. So I decided that I would only buy books that I knew I couldn't get from my public library.

You can click on any of the books to see what they're all about on Goodreads.

But needless to say, I was pretty proud of myself.

Then, just over a week later was Comic Expo. Again, leading me out of town and again to a place with Chapters. (Though this time, I went to an Indigo store instead, but same difference.)

I got a little carried away again. Though, to be fair, again most of these are not books that my public library has. So.

And this was before Expo had even started!

While on the grounds, I had quite the shopping list of graphic novels, but only managed to find 4 of them.

But wait! I'm not finished yet. (Almost though.)

I bought a copy of The Last Unicorn just to get it signed, because obviously. And I'd actually remembered to bring my copy of World War Z to the Expo for Max Brooks to sign.

Max Brooks is freaking hilarious, by the way. My friend and I were trying to figure out what to say to him while we were in line and he was totally eavesdropping on us. Both our inscriptions have something to do with what he overheard in our conversation.

If you can't read mine, it say, "Ohmygod I can't believe I'm meeting you! OMG! OMG!"

After he signed it, he handed it back to me and said, "There now we're both really excited to have met each other." It was super awesome.

So. That was my April. I figured it warranted a post.

Have you read any of these? What did you pick up this month? Let's chat in the comments!

April Wrap Up & May TBR

So, as per usual, things this month did not go according to plan. But I feel like that's okay because it's pretty much a given, right? And also, I read 9 books this month. Whaaaaat.

BOOKS READ

Murder of Crows (The Others #2) by Anne Bishop
Hawkeye: Little Hits (vol 2) by Matt Fraction
Soft Apocalypse by Will McIntosh
Soulless by Christopher Golden
Arranged by Catherine McKenzie
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
Eon (Eon #1) by Alison Goodman
The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1) by Rae Carson
The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2) by Rae Carson

(The links go to my review, if applicable, and to Goodreads if not.)

CHALLENGE UPDATES

GOODREADS: 34/50 [+9]

ALPHABET: 17/26 [+2]

SERIES: 4 complete [+1]; 7 ongoing [+2]

NOTABLE POSTS

Reading Moods
Top 10 Tuesday || Characters I Adore
Random Recs || First Books
Monday Mix || Even If No One Understands

MAY TBR
FROM THE LIBRARY:
Dreams of Gods & Monsters (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #3) by Laini Taylor

FROM MY BOOKSHELF:
Uglies (Uglies #1) by Scott Westerfeld
172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

With the exception of the Laini Taylor book (which is still on order at my public library and I am first in the queue and I might scream if I don't get my hands on this book ASAP) I am sort of putting myself on a library ban.

Let me explain. I was out of town a few times in April and on two of those occassions I went to Chapters and bought a ridiculous number of books. Like, I acquired 10 books on two trips. And then I went to Comic Expo and bought a pile of graphic novels. And the space on my bookshelf is actually becoming an issue again. So. I feel like I need to make a serious dent in my physical collection before I move on.

I also did something interesting this month where I basically marathoned a trilogy from start to finish. I'd never done that before really. And I think after I post a series review I'll probably be making a post on the marathon aspect as well. It was intriguing and I have some thoughts!

So yeah. How did your April go? My calendar has freed up again, so I can't wait to get my blogging back to semi-normal. Let me know what you read and we can chat in the comments!

Random Recs || 3 Word Titles

And we're back again.

This time we're going to talk about:

Books With 3 Word Titles

Let's give this a go, hey? (I have no idea where the royal "we" is coming from, just roll with it.)

Contemporary
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The peace is shattered so easily, and Forman turns the world upside down with such ease it's almost as if you're in the car with Mia as it crashes. Brilliantly crafted and expertly executed, get ready to ugly cry.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Like all the best mysteries, this book compels you to turn the pages to find out why. You already know Hannah is dead at the beginning of this book, but you need to find out why. And how does everyone on her list play a role in her death?

Fantasy
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This one is more magical realism then fantasy, but oh man, it has all the lush descriptive prose you'd expect from fantasy. Though the story is slow moving, you'll hardly notice because you'll be too captivated by Morgenstern's cinematic descriptions.

Search for Senna by KA Applegate
The first book in the 12 book Everworld series, this book also offers a dose of magical realism--with a side of parallel worlds. Imagine being sucked into another world where every mythological creature and god really existed. Now imagine trying to survive. Oh yeah, and just to make it difficult, your consciousness is split between this world and the "real" world. Good luck!

Historical Fiction
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Another lush, vivid world here. Gruen brings the circus life of the 20s to life, creating a cast of characters (both human and not) that you'll love, hate and everything in between.


What do you think? Have you read these? Any others to recommend? Let's chat in the comments!