A Curse So Dark and Lonely

A Curse So Dark
And Lonely
by Brigid Kemmerer

From the publisher:
Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she's pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what's at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

I have to admit that I have taken a break from Young Adult books because I was so tired of the insta-forever-love, incredibly beautiful teenagers, bad language, sexual situations, and on and on. However, I did enjoy this book- whether I had taken enough time off, or it just didn't have as many of the tropes that I hate, I'm not sure. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

This book begins in modern day Washington D.C. with our heroine (who has cerebral palsy but it just affects one leg) standing guard for her brother who is an "enforcer". Things happen and she is whisked away to another world with a prince, a castle, a beast and an evil sorceress. I found the characters very interesting and I liked them (well, except for the evil sorceress, of course). The world building and story telling are gripping. It hooks you from the very beginning and doesn't let you go until you finish and start waiting for the next one in the series. I will admit that I didn't realize this was going to be a series when I started. There was quite a bit of closure at the end, but you can see where a new one will be heading. This book may have one of the most perfect titles ever - it is a very dark and lonely curse our poor prince is suffering through. But this is no Disney prince, he has a lot of faults and growth to achieve. If I can tear students away from graphic novels for 2 seconds, I think they would really like this one.

Areas of concern:
*They somewhat frequently use a phrase that is their cuss word "silver hell", but other than that I think there was one use of the "d" word and nothing else.
*Quite violent. The beast kills many, many people, there is a war with battle scenes, a sadistic sorceress who loves to inflict pain, and also talk of a brother doing violent things to people as an enforcer.
*Sexual content is very low - a couple sleeps together but nothing happens and there is a gay couple. 

Suggested Ages:
Booklist - Grades 7-10
Kirkus Reviews - Ages 12+
School Library Journal - Grades 9+

Dragonfly

Dragonfly
by Julia Golding

From the publisher:
"Princess Taoshira of the Blue Crescent Islands is appalled when she is ordered to marry Prince Ramil of Gerfal. And he's not too pleased, either. She is used to a life of discipline, ritual, and splendor. He is used to hunting and carousing. They hate each other on sight. But both of their countries are under threat from a fearsome warlord, and the only chance of peace is to form an alliance. 

When Tashi and Ram are kidnapped, they fear there's no escape--from their kidnappers or from each other. Can they put aside their differences long enough to survive ambush, unarmed combat, brainwashing, and imprisonment? And will the people they meet on their adventure--including a circus strongman, a daring rebel leader, a sinister master of spies, and the best female fighter they have ever seen--help them or betray them to the enemy? "

I was very surprised by this one. I've had it in the library for 3 years, and available on my Kindle for quite some time, but I just was never very interested. I finally decided to read it and actually loved it! I think it might have been the cover -it never really reached out and grabbed me. But the dragonfly IS a very important part of the book (obviously, since that is the title), so I can see why they used this cover.   And oh my goodness, while writing this I have just noticed that besides the dragonfly, there is the shadow of a girl's face in the background.  So it IS a great cover!  How have I never noticed that before?!

Dragonfly is a fantasy in the manner of The Princess Bride , but without all the tongue-in-cheek humor. Not that there isn't humor in this one, but it is more of a natural humor rather than the wink-wink, nudge-nudge kind of humor. (That makes it sound like I am disparaging The Princess Bride , but I love that book!) In this one we have a princess with very formal etiquette and a strict code of behavior unwillingly betrothed to a prince with very different ways. The two take an instant dislike to each other, and when forced to spend time together away from the palace they are kidnapped by circus performers (including a giant). That is when the action really begins. There are many intense moments where one or both are tortured and their lives are threatened. Through these experiences they grow to appreciate each other and eventually realize they are in love. Then of course they are separated, with each of them thinking the other either dead or enslaved (with an awesome Lord of the Rings-ish cliff jump involved). The road back to each other is also full of intense action and drama. 

One other thing I loved about this one is how the author dealt with the different cultures and religions in the story. It was all done very respectfully and we were just kind of shown the differences. There was good and bad, and faith wavered and then was reaffirmed. The main characters made tremendous growth throughout their ordeal. 

I loved the secondary characters as well, and thought they were drawn very thoughtfully. Gordoc, the giant, was such a loyal friend and companion - I loved him. All of the friends they made along the way were well-drawn. The villain, Fergox Spearthrower, is incredibly evil and narcissisitic, but hugely entertaining. Really, this book has it all! I'm not sure why it has remained so low-key in my library, but I will definitely be recommending it to one and all. Even recommended for grandpas to read to sick grandsons (although there is some very mild kissing :) ). I really loved it and may have to purchase my own copy just for fun. 

Areas of concern: 
*Quite a bit of violence, but nothing really graphic. 
*I don't remember any bad language.
*Intense life or death moments.
*A couple of characters talk of "bedding".
*Sweet, mild romance with a little kissing and then a honeymoon that ends with a husband suggesting his wife return his shirt to him (she's wearing it at the time).

Suggested Ages (really varied on this one... I think it is fine for 6th graders):

Booklist - Grades 6-9
Kirkus Reviews - Ages 11-13

School Library Journal - Grades 8+

Defy

Defy
by Sara B. Larson

From the publisher:
"Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?"

There were things I loved about this book and things I hated about this book. 

Things I loved: 
*I loved the main character, Alexa! I have read several reviews comparing this book negatively to Throne of Glass , but my problem with that book was that I didn't like the main character, Celaena. In my review of that book, I mentioned that I needed more of Celaena's back story in order to care about her. In Defy , Sara B. Larson gives us a character to root for. We are shown her previous life and why she has been forced to be a fierce warrior. She fights and kills to defend her prince, whose guard she is on. She never glories in the killings. 
*I loved so many of the characters! Alexa's twin brother, who took care of her and protected her. The prince's guard, who shared a wonderful comradery. Lisbet and Jax, and even Tanoori. There were many people to care about in this book. 
*I don't usually appreciate a love triangle, but I really liked both Rylan and Damian, so it was easy to sense Alexa's confusion.
*There was a lot of action and excitement. 
*Secrets, secrets everywhere!

Things I hated: 
*Probably just this one thing, but it is deserving of a whole section. The breeding houses and the continual references to them were very disturbing. There was a whole chapter at the beginning of the book that was so horrific I almost stopped reading. I felt like I needed to take a shower or something to wash the yuckiness off of me. I'm not happy that I have purchased this for my middle school library because that one chapter alone is too intense for middle school.  I read several reviews that called this a "clean read".  Yes, as far as the romance goes, it just involves kissing.  However, references are made throughout the book about all of the rape that goes on to propagate the army. No, no and no. 

There were so many things to love about this book, but I find it hard to recommend because of the violence and the breeding house references. I'm thinking the next book won't have as many concerns for me. I did love the moral at the ending of the book, 

"“True beauty is what lies inside of us, not what the world sees. A beautiful shell that houses a vile soul becomes sullied over time. But an outer shell, imperfect as it may be, that houses a beautiful soul shines with that beauty, radiating it for all who have eyes to see.” 

Areas of concern:
*The above-mentioned rant.
*A couple of the characters are incredibly sadistic, and there is a lot of horrifying violence.
*Kissing while lying in a tent together.
*I don't remember any bad language.

Suggested Ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 12-18

School Library Journal - Grades 8+

The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom

The Hero's Guide to 
Saving the Kingdom
by Christopher Healy

From the publisher:
"Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change.

Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, the princes stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.

Christopher Healy’s Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is a completely original take on the world of fairy tales, the truth about what happens after “happily ever after.” It’s a must-have for middle grade readers who enjoy their fantasy adventures mixed with the humor of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Witty black-and-white drawings by Todd Harris add to the fun."

Well, this is a case of finishing a book right before you leave on vacation and not getting it reviewed until way later. I'll just have to mention my thoughts and feelings on this one since I don't remember the specifics enough. 

This book was recommended to me by my favorite rising 6th grader. She said it is her new favorite series, so I read it and immediately ordered it for our library. It is really funny in kind of a ridiculous way, so I feel like it is the perfect fit for a middle school reader. It was fun to read about things from the heroes point of view instead of the princesses. And these are not your ordinary heroes! Each one is unique and very cleverly drawn. 
To remind myself about the book, I looked up some quotes on Goodreads. Here are some of my favorites:

“Frederic had imagined this moment - him running to Ella with open arms, calling her name - but being as winded as he was, doubled over with his hands on his knees, all he could do was nod in her general direction.” 

“Once you've been squashed by a giant, a troll doesn't even seem nearly as heavy.” 

“Get him now?" Duncan asked. He looked at the sword in his hand. Unsure of what he should do, he tossed the weapon at the giant. The sword flipped through the air a couple of times and landed softly on the grass only a few feet away.
"That was the most pathetic thing I've ever seen," said Gustav.
Duncan stepped forward to retrieve his sword, tripped over his belt, hit his head on a rock, and knocked himself out cold.
"I spoke too soon," said Gustav. "That was the most pathetic thing I've ever seen.” 

This book is extremely humorous, and is at times irreverent, wacky, ridiculous and quirky. A romp through fairy tales that pokes fun at some of our favorites and helps us see them in a different way. It would make a great movie, but for now use it as a family or class read-aloud, or for a grin and giggle for yourself.

Areas of concern:
Some fairy tale violence and an evil witch who is really very funny. So pretty much no areas of concern on this one.

Suggested ages:

Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-12

School Library Journal - Grades 4-6

The Burning Sky

The Burning Sky
by Sherry Thomas

From the publisher:
"It all began with a ruined elixir and a bolt of lightning.

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's been told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the most powerful tyrant and mage the world has ever known. This would be a suicide task for anyone, let alone a reluctant sixteen-year-old girl with no training.

Guided by his mother's visions and committed to avenging his family, Prince Titus has sworn to protect Iolanthe even as he prepares her for their battle with the Bane. But he makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the tyrant closing in, Titus must choose between his mission—and her life.

The Burning Sky—the first book in the Elemental Trilogy—is an electrifying and unforgettable novel of intrigue and adventure."

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this book. Some parts felt very slow, but then there were also very exciting parts. I didn't feel like I had any kind of a relationship with the characters for quite some time, but I ended up really liking them. So, while I didn't get sucked into this, or couldn't put it down, I did quite like it. And I think I will actually read the next book in the series before I forget what happened. 

Will middle school students like it? Two of my biggest readers had very differing views on it. A 7th grader is quite obsessed by them, but a 6th grader returned it unfinished because she couldn't get into it. I think if they stick with it they will really like it. There are some really cool plot devices, like a book that the characters can actually go into and learn how to use and control their magic by being thrust into fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty. There is the She's the Man vibe that is very fun - having a girl dressing as a boy and attending a boy's school. There are cool magical creatures and awesome, powerful magic that is used. There is a handsome prince, a powerful girl who doesn't even know her power, and an evil villain. There is a love/hate/love relationship that is a sweet romance. All these things add up to greatness, so why didn't I want to hug this book when I finished? I'm really not that sure. But read it for yourself, because it may add up to greatness for you.

Areas of concern:
The main character uses a word that I'm assuming is a cuss word for her world, but isn't one for us.
There are some "wand" jokes and innuendos.
Since the main character is dressed up as a boy and has a very close relationship with the handsome prince, some bullies at the school refer to her as "Bumboy". 
Some mild kissing.

Suggested Ages:

Booklist - Grades 8-11

Kirkus Reviews - Ages 12+

School Library Journal - Grades 9+

Just Ella

Just Ellaby Annette K. Larsen

From the publisher:
"Ariella was only looking for a distraction, something to break up the monotony of palace life. What she found was a young man willing to overlook her title and show her a new and vibrant way of life. But when her growing feelings for Gavin spiral out of control and clash with the expectations of her station, she will discover that the consequences of her curiosity are far more severe than she'd imagined.

"I watched in helpless horror as two guards hauled Gavin to his feet and dragged him from the room. My voice was frozen, unable to protest as another guard took hold of my arm, leading me upstairs. From the confines of my room, I stared into the darkness beyond my window, hoping to catch one more glimpse of Gavin. He was gone, and I wondered if he would have been better off if he had never met me.""

I'm sure the girls in middle school will love this book. It has a heroine who has a mind of her own and tries to live her life the way she thinks is right, but still shows respect and deference to her family; it has a hero who helps our heroine to become a better person and is always there to protect her; it has a repulsive prince. The perfect formula for a fairy tale/princess type of story. I liked that the story spanned a couple of years so we could see the growth in the characters and their r...moreI'm sure the girls in middle school will love this book. It has a heroine who has a mind of her own and tries to live her life the way she thinks is right, but still shows respect and deference to her family; it has a hero who helps our heroine to become a better person and is always there to protect her; it has a repulsive prince. The perfect formula for a fairy tale/princess type of story. I liked that the story spanned a couple of years so we could see the growth in the characters and their relationship. I LOVED that there was no bad language or inappropriate situations. Areas of concern: Mild violence during a kidnapping; some kissing.

Of Poseidon

Of Poseidon
by Anna Banks

From the publisher:
"Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom...

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance."

Reviews on this book seem to be very polarized.  People either love it or hate it and I can see both sides of the issue.  When I read it with my would-middle-schoolers-like-it-eyes, I find it fun and romantic.  When I read it with my mother-of-three-daughters-eyes, I find it kind of sick and creepy.  

Would-middle-schoolers-like-it-eyes:
It is very Twilight-y, except with Syrena (merpeople) instead of vampires.  Very romantic with a cute, funny and spunky heroine, and a hero who is gorgeous and wants to be with her all the time and protect her.  There is an amusing twin sister (with a cute guy also chasing her) who keeps messing things up for our main couple.  So yes, I believe middle-school girls will LOVE this book.

Mother-of-three-daughters-eyes:
The hero is a stalker who is described by the heroine as having "serial-killer eyes".  She realizes he is acting like an abuser, but still goes along with him.  He is completely controlling and insanely jealous and wishes that instead of falling in love with Emma he would have found a sweet-tempered Syrena "who would take care of him, who would do whatever he asked, who would never argue with him". Yikes! And yet, pretty much all of those things could have been said about  Twilight  as well.  For some reason I just found Galen a little creepier than Edward.  Perhaps because for most of the book, his intention was to turn Emma over to his brother to be his mate. 


So, is it a fun, romantic read?  Yes.  Would I ever want my daughter in any of the relationships portrayed in this book?  No.  

Areas of concern:
The *a* word is put on the end of other words (jack, mean, smart) around 7 times.  One use of the *h* word.  A couple of intense kisses.  Unhealthy relationships as discussed above.

Suggested ages:
Kirkus Reviews - Ages 12+
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 13+

Poison

Poison
by Bridget Zinn

From the publisher:
"Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon."

This was a fun, enjoyable book. It is a little different from all the other YA books out there, which was nice. It had a strong start, then had some slow parts, but ended very well - if a little too easily. There were a couple of awesome twists at the end that were really fun. Once again, I love a spunky heroine, and who doesn't like a cute little pig? There were definitely flaws in the book, but overall it was very entertaining.

Areas of concern:  1 *h* word, 1 *d* word, a couple of sweet kisses.  Overall it was a very clean book.

Suggested ages:
Kirkus Reviews-  Ages 11-14
Publisher's Review-  Ages 12-18

The Selection

The Selection
by Kiera Cass

From the publisher:
"For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined."

This was a really fun, light and fluffy read. Kind of like The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor TV show.  What a fun premise!  There were some things that irritated me (particularly the poor world-building), but it still kept my interest and was very enjoyable. The last section was kind of disappointing, the love-triangle felt rather forced, and sometimes America did silly things that bugged me, yet I still really liked it.  My middle-schoolers LOVE this book, although one of them mentioned to me that it looked like the girl on the cover was smelling her armpit, and now that is all I see when I look at it!

Areas of concern:  Around 5 uses of the "d" word.  Some kissing.   A little bit of implied violence.  Overall a very clean read.

Suggested ages:
Publishers Weekly - Ages 13+
School Library Journal - Grades 8+

The False Prince

The False Prince
by Jennifer A. Nielsen

From the publisher:
"THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats."

I really enjoyed this book, and I think middle-schoolers will gobble it up. It had a great plot, fun and interesting characters, action, adventure, and humor. I liked the main character, Sage, and cared what happened to him. And I loved that the book actually had an ending of sorts. It will definitely go on, but you're not left up in the air about important things.  A fun, fun read.

No language or sexual situations.  Some violence - a teenager is killed in front of other teenagers, another boy is put in a dungeon and beaten.

Suggested age:
School Library Journal - Grades 5-8
Publisher's Weekly - Ages 8-14