All posts by skyebjenner

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah

Book Review, , ,

Overview

chinese-cinderella

Title: Chinese Cinderella: The Secret Story of an Unwanted Daughter
Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, Non-fiction, True stories
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 1999
5th sentence, 74th page: Big Sister and our two older brothers knew her better than I did.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

‘Tell me what my real mama looked like. I can’t picture her face.’
‘There are no photographs of her,’ said Aunt Baba… ‘Your father ordered all her photographs destroyed.’

When Adeline Yen Mah’s mother died giving birth to her, the family considered Adeline bad luck and she was made to feel unwanted all her life. Chinese Cinderella is the story of her struggle for acceptance and how she overcame the odds to prove her worth.

Thoughts

If you want a happy, cheerful biography that has some mild ups and downs, but in the end is a tale of happiness and love… this isn’t for you. Quite frankly, it’s depressing. But in this brutally honest, depressing tale, there is light, hope and strength. It is a stark reminder that regardless of the horrors of childhood, we can be true to ourselves. Regardless of what others want and expect from us. For some, it is impossible to break them, even though they are bent until they almost snap.

Although this story is horrifying in the abuse and mistreatment, the lack of love from Adeline’s father and step-mother is still offset by the love that her grandparents and aunt show her. The fact that eventually this is removed from her is another travesty in a life that is barely touched by light. However, at no point, is Adeline bitter or resentful, simply saddened. Her reflections of her childhood show a period of great loneliness and fear that plucks at every single heart string.

The story only ends when a brilliant young Adeline is finally able to attend University, and although the epilogue does reveal some of her eventual future, it leaves a lot of her later life open. Although you can feel the pain and isolation through her words, there is a need to know more about her adult life in England. Luckily, there is another book, Falling Leaves, that encompasses more of her life and tale.

<- The Autobiography of Malcolm X ReviewFalling Leaves Review ->
Image source: Wikipedia

An African Love Story by Daphne Sheldrick

Book Review, , ,

Overview

an-african-love-story

Title: An African Love Story
Author: Daphne Sheldrick
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, Conservation, Non-fiction, True stories
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Penguin books
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Water, more precious than gold, had to be rationed, every drop carted from base.
Challenge: 2017 Bookworm Bitches Catch-Up Challenge

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

Daphne Sheldrick, whose family arrived in Africa from Scotland in the 1820s, is the first person ever to have successfully hand-reared newborn elephants. Her deep empathy and understanding, her years of observing Kenya’s rich variety of wildlife, and her pioneering work in perfecting the right husbandry and milk formula have saved countless elephants, rhinos, and other baby animals from certain death.

In this heartwarming and poignant memoir, Daphne shares her amazing relationships with a host of orphans, including her first love, Bushy, a liquid-eyed antelope; Rickey-Tickey-Tavey, the little dwarf mongoose; Gregory Peck, the busy buffalo weaver bird; Huppety, the mischievous zebra; and the majestic elephant Eleanor, with whom Daphne has shared more than forty years of great friendship.

But this is also a magical and heartbreaking human love story between Daphne and David Sheldrick, the famous Tsavo Park warden. It was their deep and passionate love, David’s extraordinary insight into all aspects of nature, and the tragedy of his early death that inspired Daphne’s vast array of achievements, most notably the founding of the world-renowned David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Orphans’ Nursery in Nairobi National Park, where Daphne continues to live and work to this day.

Encompassing not only David and Daphne’s tireless campaign for an end to poaching and for conserving Kenya’s wildlife, but also their ability to engage with the human side of animals and their rearing of the orphans expressly so they can return to the wild, Love, Life, and Elephants is alive with compassion and humor, providing a rare insight into the life of one of the world’s most remarkable women.

Thoughts

There are not enough words in the English language to describe how inspiring and touching this story was. At least to someone who is animal obsessed as I am… Daphne’s life was filled with tragedies and triumphs, mirroring the lives of some of her orphaned charges, and the reflective and honest way in which she looks back at these moments in her life is sweet and endearing, yet eye-opening to the plight of elephants.

Admittedly, I am a large fan of books around conservation efforts, but, where many of them focus on the sometimes incredibly negative impacts of the difficulty in this, the entirety of An African Love Story was positive. Even when talking about the immense slaughters that were carried out in Tsavo National Park, Sheldrick managed to still promote the love she felt for both her family and the land around her. It helped to beautifully offset such a tragic point in the Parks’ history, a horrifying act that is still being carried out today. Introducing us to her orphaned elephants, the many successes and even failures that passed through her hands helped to give a face to such a potent issue in the conservation world. The pictures throughout her story helped to further the emotional connection that all but those of the hardest heart will melt for.

That’s not to say that the only orphans featured in this story are the victims of the ivory trade – buffaloes, mongooses, antelope and warthogs all make their own special appearances on the page and in Sheldrick’s heart. Each of these short tales of mischievous and mayhem help to instil a love for Kenya and it’s animals that left a yearning in my heart to travel to this astonishing countryside.

<- Among the Pigeons ReviewBorn Free Review ->
Image source: Penguin

On the Prowl by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance & Sunny

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

on-the-prowl

Title: On the Prowl
Author: Patricia Briggs, Karen Chance, Sunny & Eileen Wilks
In: On the Prowl (Patricia Briggs, Karen Chance, Sunny & Eileen Wilks)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Pace: Fast
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Lightning stitched from one black-hung pocket of sky to the next.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs
The werewolf Anna finds a new sense of self when the son of the werewolf king comes to town to quell unrest in the Chicago pack- and inspires a power in Anna that she’s never felt before.

Inhuman by Eileen Wilks
Kai has a secret gift of sensing thoughts and desires. What she senses in her neighbor Nathan could be dangerous. Because he has a secret gift, too, and it’s about to be let loose.

Buying Trouble by Karen Chance
In a New York auction house, a Lord of the Fey crosses paths with a fiery redheaded mage named Claire. But in this strange underground society, the rarity up for sale is Claire herself.

Mona Lisa Betwining by Sunny
Among the children of the moon, Mona Lisa is of Mixed Blood- part Monere, part human, and destined to be alone. Then she meets a man who could be her salvation- or her downfall.

Thoughts

I am absolutely in LOVE with this stunning collection of short stories. The strong women; unabashed way in which these four authors approach a woman’s sensuality and sexuality; and the fantastical worlds which are created through their masterful words create a series of spine-tingling stories that will leave you greatly anticipating just what happens next. Long after the last page has been turned, the characters float through my mind in an antagonising march of potent story-telling and rampant romance.

I’m a sucker for a good romance, and I love it even more when the woman is strong and independent enough to fight for herself, whilst still embracing the love with which they are presented. As a woman, the fine line between succumbing to love while still remaining strong and tough is a difficult one to walk. To create literary characters that embody this in a way that they appeal to a wider audience is immensely difficult, and the authors who contributed to this anthology show their supreme talents in being able to construct these characters.

<- Inhuman Review Alpha & Omega Review ->
Image source: Patricia Briggs

Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

shield-of-winter

Title: Shield of Winter
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #13, Psy-Changeling Season One #13
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: “Study the details of your assigned assets, alert me of any security threats.”

Synopsis

Assassin. Soldier. Arrow. That is who Vasic is, who he will always be. His soul drenched in blood, his conscience heavy with the weight of all he’s done, he exists in the shadows, far from the hope his people can almost touch – if only they do not first drown in the murderous insanity of a lethal contagion. To stop the wave of death, Vasic must complete the simplest and most difficult mission of his life:

If the Psy race is to survive, the empaths must wake…

Having rebuilt her life after medical ‘treatment’ that violated her mind and sought to stifle her abilities, Ivy should run from the black-clad Arrow with eyes of winter frost. But Ivy Jane has never done what she should. Now, she’ll fight for her people, and for this Arrow who stands as her living shield, yet believes he is beyond redemption.

But as the world turns to screaming crimson, even Ivy’s fierce will may not be enough to save Vasic from the cold darkness…

Thoughts

Vasic’s role in the Psy rebellion throughout the series was always a little confusing – he appeared to be on the side of the good guys, but seemed to be working for the bad guys. His short appearances throughout the rest of the novels make it incredibly difficult to pinpoint his motives and alliances. The same can be said for most of the Arrows, their presence throughout the Psy-Changeling series hinting that they may be on the right side, but the very darkness that they carry due to their gifts make that a questionable assumption. Shield of Winter, however, changes all of that.

I tend to get a little frustrated when the Changelings aren’t as present throughout the story – I have a love for wolves and big cats. However, a story that focused almost entirely on the Arrows, Kaleb and the newly acknowledged empaths helped to lesson this frustration. Yes, the Changelings are incredibly tactile and enchanting characters, but the delightful mix of the caring conscientiousness of empaths and the deadly capabilities of a squad of assassins created a story that I look forward to reading again and again and again.

In Vasic’s plight and inability to accept his past, Singh highlights the ways in which we can be systematically and brutally destroyed if we go against our natures. The newly awakened place for the empaths within the world of the Psy is a great echo of this throughout the story. Constantly being told not to follow your instincts can be incredibly debilitating, not admitting their importance and being taught to go directly against them, as Vasic did is a pain that I cannot imagine.

Again, Singh has managed to not only write an amazing paranormal romance and dark fantasy, but she has created a story that makes me constantly think about my own actions and impulses. Something that all truly talented authors are able to do.

<- Secrets at MidnightShards of Hope ->

Image source: Pinterest

Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

night-shift

Title: Secrets at Midnight
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #12.5, Psy-Changeling Season One #12.5
In: Night Shift (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: How could she do anything but adore him?

Synopsis

Bastien Smith is frustrated. A changeling male should be able to track his mate anywhere—through fire and hail, snow and rain. But he keeps finding and losing her scent in the city streets, ever since he first became aware of it two weeks earlier, when the elusive fragrance awakened the leopard within him…

Then Bastien is suddenly confronted with his prey. Kirby is an all-too-human woman who wants Bastien just as much as he wants her. But he can’t deny what his body and senses are telling him: there is a raging chaos inside of Kirby that he doesn’t understand, secrets that whisper awake at midnight and cause her terrible pain. If they’re to have any chance of forever, then he must solve the mystery that is Kirby…

Thoughts

Like a lot of people who believe in true love, I enjoy a nice, sweet paranormal romance. Especially when it’s a short story about falling in love, finding your family and getting your own kind of happy ending. And if it’s characters that have a difficult past and have always struggled to fit in with the rest of the world. Not only is it a reminder of the fact that we can all find our place in the world, but it gives me hope that in spite of your scars, you will find someone that accepts all of them. Kirby is one such heroine – she is terrified of intimacy and struggles to trust, but has a sweet heart and kind demeanour that makes you want to give her a huge hug and bring her into your own family.

Bastien, although a little too overboard and possessive for my tastes, works away at all of these insecurities and shows what true love and support is all about. Singh brilliantly intertwines the lives of these two characters to tell a sweet little tale about finding one’s place in life and embracing happiness when it is thrown at you.

<- Flirtation of FateShield of Winter ->

Image source: Audiobooks

Flirtation of Fate by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

wild-embrace

Title: Flirtation of Fate
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #12.1, Psy-Changeling Season One #12.1
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: It fed their souls, sootheed the animal that was part of their being.

Synopsis

Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries…

Thoughts

There were hints of Kenji and Garnet’s love throughout the last few books, Kiss of Snow especially highlighted their flirtations. But, since it was Singh telling the tale, the simplicity of flirting is the only easy thing about their courtship. It was thoroughly enjoyable to read about two people who seem to have been almost mated for years, but unable to make that final commitment. Slowly discovering just why that is will probably make you shed a tear – you’ve been forewarned.

Combining the entanglement of love and a complicated history with murder ensured that this slightly longer novella was an engaging read from start to finish. I couldn’t even put the story down to eat my dinner, much to my family’s frustration! Russ’ death, the ensuing investigation and the display of how badly love can be soured without acceptance of one another tended to take centre stage to Kenji and Jem’s dance. However, instead of taking away from their story, it only added to it, displaying both characters in a way that made you feel the depth of hurt between them and understand both of their actions. It is so simple to make one character the bad one in a relationship, whilst the other is inherently good, to display them both as loving, yet slightly insecure characters takes the talent that Singh has in bucket loads.

<- Heart of ObsidianSecrets at Midnight ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

heart-of-obsidian

Title: Heart of Obsidian
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #12, Psy-Changeling Season One #12
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: “As most of you will recognize, that was Councilor Kaleb Krychek,” the reporter said out of frame as her camerman scanned for the next teleport.

Synopsis

Step into New York Times Bestseller Nalini Singh’s explosive and shockingly passionate Psy-Changeling world…

A dangerous, volatile rebel, hands stained blood red.

A woman whose very existence has been erased.

A love story so dark, it may shatter the world itself.

A deadly price that must be paid.

The day of reckoning is here.

Thoughts

Kaleb Krychek has been an enigma throughout the series. At the very beginning he seems to be the portent of all that is evil, but then, as the story of the Psy-Changeling world progresses, he seems to become far more ambiguous in his morality. Something that led to no end of confusion and intrigue as I’ve slowly read the series. So discovering more about him and his past, let alone the one person he holds dear was a thoroughly enjoyable journey that I encourage all Singh fans to undertake.

Heart of Obsidian not only finally explains so much about Kaleb and his ultimate goals within the PsyNet, but it also helps to tie up other storylines that had previously so confused me. The overarching role of Santano (who we had the displeasure of meeting in Slave to Sensation) in the lives of both Kaleb and many other Psys was more than a little horrifying, but it was somehow cathartic to finally realise the extent to which his actions impacted others.

The threat of Pure Psy and their ability to perform the most atrocious of acts under the banner of belief was also an astoundingly strong theme throughout this novel. Not only was the ability of these individuals to commit massacres at incredible levels enough to make me cringe and shiver at the thought, it sent a potent message – even under the banner of belief, acts of murder and genocide are not acceptable. Although this is purely fictional, the message is resounding in our everyday lives and the ways in which people are able to attack others under the guise of religion.

<- Partners in PersuasionFlirtation of Fate ->

Image source: Pinterest

Partners in Persuasion by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

wild-embrace

Title: Partners in Persuasion
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #11.5, Psy-Changeling Season One #11.5
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: And now she didn’t protest when he wrapped his own hand around her nape and held her tight as they kissed.

Synopsis

Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him…

Thoughts

The idea of a more dominant female that was so beautifully explored in Play of Passion comes to full fruition in this great short story. Not to mention the way in which the cross pack relationships that Riley and Mercy began seem to filter through and bloom within Partners in Persuasion. Not only does this short story have the same tantalising and spine-tingling romance that characterises the Psy-Changeling series, it also displays the filtering through of the expanded acceptance between the two bonded changeling groups.

As someone who ultimately had to make the first move, I really appreciated that Singh was able to write so wonderfully of Dezi’s playful stalking of Felix. Although I know that it is rare even in everyday life, not to mention a peculiarity in most stories, the idea of the female being the aggressor in the relationship and courtship was a welcome one. Felix’s ability to accept this and return her overtures of courtship was even more tantalising. Although the roles of courtship that we tend to traditionally assign to a gender within the relationship were reversed, both Dezi and Felix were able to acknowledge each other’s femininity and masculinity respectively.

<- Tangle of NeedHeart of Obsidian ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

wild-embrace

Title: Wild Embrace
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling Companion, Psy-Changeling Season One Companion
In: Wild Embrace (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Short story collections
Pace: Medium
Format: Collection
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: “If you were like Avril, you would not be Tazi.”

Synopsis

The “alpha author of paranormal romance”* presents a stunningly sensual collection of four all-new Psy-Changeling novellas, in which taboos are broken, boundaries are crossed, and instincts prove irresistible…

Echo of Silence 
In a deep-sea station, Tazia Nerif has found her life’s work as an engineer, keeping things running smoothly. But she wants nothing more than to break down the barrier of silence between her and her telekinetic Psy station commander…

Dorian 
A changeling who can never shift lives a life of quiet frustration—until he learns how to let his leopard come out and play…

Partners in Persuasion 
Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him…

Flirtation of Fate 
Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries…

Thoughts

This collection of short stories was kind of intense. Unlike Wild Invitation, every story in this collection had a slightly twistier and more emotionally potent tale. Except for the first short story, Echo of Silence, the tales all connected intimately into the characters that I have fallen in love with in the Psy-Changeling world. Again and again I am flummoxed by Singh’s ability to make me connect so deeply with a new character every time I break the spine of one of her stories.

Although it’s not necessary to read Wild Embrace alongside the main Psy-Changeling novels, I would recommend the attempt. They just add a little more to the tale and let you know what is happening to some of the secondary characters between the epic battwlles that are beginning to characterise this hard-hitting series.

<- Wild InvitationBeat of Temptation ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

the-demigod-files

Title: The Demigod Files
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Companion
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Mythology, Urban Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin Books
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Uh-huh,’ said another Athena guy, clearly unimpressed.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

IF YOU’RE READING THIS BOOK, YOUR LIFE IS ABOUT TO GET A LOT MORE DANGEROUS.

In these top-secret files, Rick Riordan, Camp Half-Blood’s senior scribe, gives you an inside look at the world of demigods that NO regular human child is allowed to see.

These highly classified archives include three of Percy Jackson’s most perilous adventures, a Spotter’s Guide to Monsters, a Who’s Who in Greek mythology, Percy’s Summer Camp report and much more.

SO IF YOU’RE ARMED WITH THIS BOOK, YOU’LL HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO KEEP YOU ALIVE IN YOUR TRAINING. YOU OWN ADVENTURES HAVE JUST BEGUN…

Thoughts

This is a really nice companion book to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It is a little quirky and different in its layout, but it really brings the world of Camp Half-blood to life. Interviews, short stories and profiles all morph together to create this short and lively book that are well worth reading if you have become as obsessed with the writings of Rick Riordan as I have.

Although this book was written between The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian, it isn’t strictly necessary to read it then. However, if you want to understand who Bob is and what happened to him in The Heroes of Olympus series, then it is definitely worth reading one of the shorts within this collection.

<- The Greek Heroes Review The Demigod Diaries Review ->
Image source: Puffin Books Australia