Friday Favorites #1

Like the vast majority of book bloggers I could never pick just one favorite book.  However I do have quite a few favorite books!  These are books that I reread quite often and turn to when I’m having a bad day.   So here at BookGirl’s BookNook on the last Friday of every month I'll be talking about my favorite books.

September’s Friday Favorite:

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

I found this book a few years ago; I can’t remember the exact day.  I was shopping in B&N and just randomly picked up Sunshine.  I love Robin McKinley’s books and I love a good vampire story so I’m sure that those were two major reasons why this book appealed to me.   I devoured the book.  I read it in about two hours.  Now, when I’m having a bad day this is the book that I turn to.  This is one of those books that I won’t let people borrow because I need to know it’s here for me to read anytime I want!  For Christmas last year I received a hard cover copy of Sunshine because my paperback edition was falling apart because I’d read it so many times.  The magic, the vampires, the demons, and the baking combined with characters that I would like to know have combined to provide readers with one of the best books I’ve ever read!  

Tell me about your favorite books.

The Night Circus - Review

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern


 Synopsis: “The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. “Within these nocturnal black-and-white-striped tents awaits an utterly unique experience, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stare in wonderment as the tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and become deliciously tipsy from the scents of caramel and cinnamon that waft through the air.
 “Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves.
 "Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is under way – a contest between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in a “game” to which they have been irrevocably bound by their mercurial masters. Unbeknownst to the players, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will.”

Review: The Night Circus exceeded all of my expectations. I picked up this novel on a whim. The beautiful cover first grabbed my attention but it was when I read the description on the dustcover that I knew this book had to go home with me. I’m obsessed with the romantic idealism of the circus, so the idea of a circus that’s only open at night and filled with illusion and magic grabbed my attention.
     I bought it a week ago but hadn’t had a chance to read it until today. I stayed home from class with the flu and spent the day reading The Night Circus. I quickly forgot that I was sick and read the book straight through. Morgenstern has a beautiful way with words that I have rarely seen and her prose flows like the illusion and magic of Le Cirque des Rêves. The forbidden romance between Celia and Marco stirred my soul and quickened my imagination. This is a lovely first novel which I hope is the first of many.

Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN: 978-0385534635

If you like this book you may want to read:

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (ISBN: 978-0553384840) Read my review here.

Abarat by Clive Barker (ISBN: 978-0062094100)

Mechanique by Genevieve Valentine (ISBN: 978-1607012535) Read my Review here.

Blood Magic - Review

Title: Blood Magic
Author: Tessa Gratton


Synopsis: “It starts off simply. Draw a circle… place a dead leaf in the center… sprinkle some salt… recite a little Latin… add a drop of blood…
“Maybe that last part isn’t exactly simple. Yet somehow if feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotely right since her parents’ horrific deaths. She’s willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family- even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep… and spill some blood.
“The book isn’t the only recent arrival in Silla’s life. There’s Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She’s not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together, Silla realizes that this may not be Nick’s first encounter with blood magic. Brought together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick can’t deny the dark presence lurking nearby – waiting to reclaim the book and all its power.”



Review: I have mixed feelings about Blood Magic. First, I thought that part of it was predictable. About halfway through the novel I had figured out who the “bad guy” was and I could easily tell who Gratton wanted us to think the “bad guy” was. Nick’s issues with his new stepmother were highly cliché and therefore, boring. Also, Silla’s interest in Nick felt rather forced. Both of her parents have just died, her life is in an upheaval. I need a stronger reason for their relationship than “OMG He saw me do magic and he’s really hot” for this to be believable. My last complaint, and this is a purely personal complaint, is that the sections that were letters from Silla’s Dad are in a font that is supposed to look more like true handwriting and these were really hard to read. I ended up with a wicked headache even though I was wearing my reading glasses.
Thus said, even though it was kind of predictable and I kept telling myself: “You know what’s going on and who did it. Why don’t you go watch some tv instead?” I read Blood Magic in two sittings and had trouble putting it down. It took me little while to figure out why. But I had an epiphany while I was eating breakfast this morning (a cheddar and broccoli omelet with whole wheat toast and coffee); it was probably an effect of the coffee waking up my brain. So here it is. I really liked the story. I love the idea of magic being something in the blood of a person. And I couldn’t figure out everything. The story about who Silla’s Dad really was caught me by surprise, and Silla’s use of imaginary masks to hide behind amused me. . Even though parts of it were predictable, and I got a headache from the silly handwriting font, I found the story engrossing and enjoyable.

Publisher: Random House
ISBN:978-0375867330

If you like this book you may want to read:



Other by Karen Kincy (ISBN: 978-0738719191)Read my review here.



Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan (ISBN: 978-0142409862)

Hounded - Review

Title: Hounded
Author: Kevin Hearne
Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles #01


Synopsis: “Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old – when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.
“Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power – plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish – to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.”



Review: This was an enjoyable read. Atticus is smart, sweet, sarcastic and sexy. I want his dog Oberon, who is a simple and loyal friend. In Hounded Atticus uses his wits and his charming personality to defeat a powerful enemy, proving that it’s not always greater strength that prevails. I loved the fact that Atticus owned his own shop. I dream of owning my own store someday and I enjoy reading about characters who own their own small shops. I kept wishing that Hearne would tell us more about Third Eye Books and Herbs because I thought it was fascinating!

I was slightly disappointed with Hounded, but only because this book reminded me a lot of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. That was a good thing and a bad thing. I love the Dresden Files, but when you read as much as I do you’re always on the lookout for something different. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about a smart and sexy hero and loves being drawn into the lives of characters in a witty and well-written novel.

Publisher: Del Rey

ISBN: 978-0345522474

If you like this book you may want to read:



Storm Front by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files book #01 – ISBN: 978-0451457813)



Hexed by Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid book #02 – ISBN: 978-0345522498)

Mechanique - Review

Title: Mechanique
Author: Genevieve Valentine
Series: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti


Synopsis: “Outside any city still standing, the Mechanical Circus Tresaulti sets up its tents. Crowds pack the benches to gawk at the brass-and-copper troupe and their impossible feats: Ayar the Strong Man, the acrobatic Grimaldi Brothers, fearless Elena and her aerialists who perform on living trapezes. War is everywhere, but while the Circus is performing, the world is magic.
“That magic is no accident: Boss builds her circus from the bones out, molding a mechanical company that will survive the unforgiving landscape.
“But even a careful ringmaster can make mistakes.
“Two of Tresaulti’s performers are trapped in a secret stand-off that threatens to tear the Circus apart, just as the war lands on their doorstep. Now they must fight a war on two fronts: one from the outside, and a more dangerous one from within…”

Review: I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book. I’ll admit it, I bought Mechanique because the cover and the title intrigued me and I had a 30% off coupon for Borders. After getting it home I assumed, after briefly skimming the synopsis on the back cover, that Mechanique was going to be a steampunk novel about a travelling circus. Boy was I wrong! I guess I should have read the synopsis a bit closer. I started the book at 530pm, after I got home from work. I had assumed that it would be easy to put it down to make dinner and go to bed early since I had to be up early the next day. No. Everyone has been told by a teacher at some point in their life to never assume. This is what that teacher was taking about. I ended up ordering pizza for dinner and staying up until after midnight because I could not put this book down.
This story about a dystopian world in which magic and the mechanical seem to coexist fascinated me. At first Valentine’s writing grated on my nerves. The tenses were constantly changing and every page had approximately three parenthetical statements. However after the first few chapters I realized that it seemed as if these “flaws” were intended to throw the reader for a loop, quite like a real circus. Valentine is a ringmaster and this novel is her circus.
Don’t make the mistake of believing this to be a steampunk novel about a circus. It’s so much more.

Trying to stay away from spoilers I believe I can say that Boss fixes people that are broken. She changes them into something else, something more or less than human. In a world surrounded by war she creates her own community, her own army, of misfits. Her characters become real people that I felt for. Valentine has created a world that sucks you in and refuses to let you go.

Publisher: Prime Books
ISBN: 978-1607012535

If you like this book you may want to read:



Eternity Road by Jack McDevitt (ISBN: 978-0061054273)



The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (ISBN: 978-1597801584)

The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt (ISBN: 978-0765360229) See my review of this novel here.

Reading Now

I think Science Fiction is my favorite genre. It's also the genre that I'm the most critical of. Every time that I pick up a science fiction novel it's with a sense of excitement as well as trepidation.

So, this is what I'm reading now. A Science Fiction novel titled Leviathan Wakes. It has a whopping 592 pages and a good heft to it. With 3 days off from work this week I should be able to get through it in no time.

But, I'm wondering what genres everyone else prefers. And do you find yourself being the most critical of your favorite genre?

Deadline - Review

Title: Deadline
Author: Mira Grant
Series: The Newsflesh Trilogy #2

Synopsis: “Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn’t seem as fun when you’ve lost as much as he has.
“But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news – he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.
“Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun”


Review: I know that after reading Feed I said I wasn’t sure I wanted to read the rest of the series. Grant’s writing is so vivid and so intense that for weeks I was sure zombies were going to jump out of every shadow. After awhile the aftereffects of reading Feed passed and I was no longer scared. I preordered Deadline, sure that there was no way it could be as great as Feed but willing to try it nonetheless.
So here it is. I love this book. I love this series. I love Mira Grant (who is actually a pseudonym for Seanan McGuire, so I therefore love Seanan McGuire). I read Deadline in about three hours. I couldn’t put it down and carried it around with me. I read while making coffee. I read while brushing my teeth. I read while feeding the cat.
Deadline is told from Shaun’s point of view. Poor Shaun no longer delights in the simple pleasures like poking dead things with sticks or getting almost killed by flesh eating zombies. We quickly discover that George isn’t entirely gone, a part of her lingers. Shaun searches for the reasons behind why she was killed and discovers a conspiracy deeper than he had imagined (there are several revelations that blew my mind) which leads to a surprising ending.
I can’t wait for the third book in this series. I want it ASAP. Writing like this deserves an audience. Go get Deadline and read it now!


Publisher: Orbit
ISBN: 978-0316081061

Before you read this book you should really check out:



Feed by Mira Grant (The Newsflesh Trilogy #1)See my review here.

If you like this book you may want to read:



The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (ISBN: 978-0385736824)



Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire (ISBN: 978-0756405717)