Guts and Glory: 'Stalking Jack the Ripper' Review

Stalking Jack the Ripper

Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Murder
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Page Number: 336

Goodreads / Amazon

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. 

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I got an ARC of this book from BFest

Many have heard of the Jack the Ripper case. A horrible person committed these grizzly crimes and was never caught. It's something of a fascination to many. I'm not a huge fan of Jack the Ripper, but I've heard of his murders. It's interesting to see someone's take on the story. After all, he's never been found. 

This is, most definitely, a murder mystery book. How do I know that? Well, other than the obvious 'Jack the Ripper' premise, there's Audrey Rose investigating the murders with the assistance of medical science. It might seem like she's just along for the ride until she starts looking into her family members and even her fellow mentee. With the murder mystery elements, there was tension. It was amazing tension. I was constantly waiting for the next twist. Nothing was truly expected. You were led down many wrong paths with Audrey Rose, and that only strengthened the book's qualities. Masterfully done. 

Mysteries are always fun to read. You continuously go through the process of whodunit. Questions arise and are solved or go unanswered. Jack the Ripper's story is a mystery completely unanswered. No one knows who did it, but this book offered up an interesting explanation. I started guessing the killer only a few pages in. (My suspects were: Thomas because he's sneaky and shy, the father because of opium addiction, and the brother because Nathaniels are always bad thanks to Nathaniel Grey from 'The Infernal Devices'.) I did guess the right person, though. But the tension in the book prevented me from knowing for sure. A+

I haven't read many books with visual elements. Most books are limited to the text and, maybe just maybe, something artsy on the end pages. But this book gives you anatomically correct (Or so I think) drawings of dissections and photographs of important pieces of information. I really liked seeing this. It's unique and truly does make the book stand out. Plus, it gave us visuals to refer to. There was a reason for each image we saw. Whether it was a drawing of a body part or a picture of a sick guy (I won't reveal what he's sick with; it's mildly relevant later on in the book.) My only qualm is that, at times, these pictures appear in awkward places. For example, the sick guy picture isn't relevant to many chapters later. I know this is an ARC, but the pictures could have been spaced out better and/or put closer to relevancy.

The characters didn't really interest me. Both Audrey Rose and Thomas were boring for the most part. For some reason, they just didn't scream 'Look at me'. Audrey Rose isn't really a rebel, even though the author makes her out that way. She's quite a stick in the mud honestly. I felt like she could have been more daring, but she spends a lot of this book quietly doing things. I expected more from her. And Thomas? Sure, he could get cocky at times, but he too was mostly bland if not completely emotionless. He switches between cocky and emotionless, but I felt like it wasn't truly a part of him. In short, I didn't think his constant change of personality was truly representative of his character. He didn't seem like the type of guy to be cocky one moment and shy the next. It didn't work out the way the author wanted it to be. 

While this is a murder mystery book, the mystery didn't feel present. Most times, the story focused on freeing the Uncle instead of following the mystery. I wanted more mystery, more clues. I like solving mysteries. Even though I'm not very good at it. Mysteries are good things. Forces you to use your brains.

History with a Twist: 'My Lady Jane' Review

My Lady Jane

Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical, Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Number: 491 pages

Goodreads / Amazon

The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.

At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane is about to become the Queen of England. 

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History can be written over and over, but history can be boring. That's why people rewrite history. 'What if's can be interesting things. That's why we write them and read them. I don't typically read these books. Why? I'm not a fan of history. It's over and done for me, and that's all that needs to be said. The hype of this book was crazy, though. People were talking about it for a long time. Of course, this leads me to think 'Hey, why not?' After a long drought of books, this was something that people loved. I am a person, and, using logic, I should love it too.
And, yes, I kinda do love it.

The Lady Janies crafted a unique take on the story of Jane Grey. I have never read anything about her. I know more about Roman emperors than English monarchs, and I don't know a lot about Roman emperors (I used to, though. I was in Latin for three years.) With my lack of knowledge, I soldiered through this book. Thankfully, the authors supplied us with tidbits of history here and there. I know this isn't a completely accurate depiction of history, (After all, there are no shapeshifters...or are there?) but the story continued to be enjoyable. The alternate world this book takes place in is strange and unique. Many customs do stay the same, but there are major changes that make this world stand out.
I do hope we see more books set in this alternate world. I'd love to see how these shapeshifters work in real life.

Most books are written without any involvement of the authors, but this book had hilarious commentary from the authors. Their comments were throughout the entire book, and it made it every enjoyable. I learned about the invention of the modern pen and pencil and lots about the standards of society through these three ladies. I laughed out loud at their commentary at times.
Also, their hilarity seeped into the characters. G(ifford) had lots of snarky remarks, and Jane had her good share as well. (I mention them in this order since I last remember laughing at G's comments, not Jane's.) These characters were witty and sassy. But I'll talk about that in a second.

The main character Jane was sassy. But let's not forget Gracie who was a fireball too. I loved the fierce girls. They stood up for themselves and didn't take anyone's nagging. I imagine that people will brandish this book when girls ask for role models. Jane would be an amazing role model; she promotes literacy and bravery and love and compassion. Who doesn't love that? Gracie was tough and rough around the edges, but she still held her chin high. We didn't get a lot of her character because she did come at the end. Yet, she is a well-written and developed character even if she isn't one of the main characters. Both these girls were stars in their own right.
Not to say that the guys weren't done well either. The two main guys are funny. Edward is a bit of a stick in the mud, but, again, I'll address that later. G was quite a character. He was snarky and hide his feelings. I would typically fall for this type of character if I hadn't already approved of Jane and G's relationship (Which was adorable.) The split perspective of the book was done well. We got to know each of the characters. Even if some of us (Ehem me) didn't like all of them.

Although the book is titled 'My Lady Jane', two of the three main characters were guys. (Not that I have a problem with that.) I do have a minor problem with Edward the King of England. He was a bit of a sexist (Or...he was a sexist.) The reality is that men back then were sexist, and women were treated as lessers. It's the sad truth. I do understand that was how men thought, but Edward could have lessened the harsh words. A ruler of a kingdom is a good one if they are just and fair. You shouldn't judge on their gender. It's rude. Admittedly, he began to change his ways after meeting the foxy Gracie (I mean that literally.) Thank goodness for that change or I'd hate him.

I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I laughed at the commentary and marveled in the unique world. The characters were fascinating, female and male alike. While I could do without Edward's sexist thoughts, it's something that was common in the time period and, therefore, mildly understandable.
Truly, this book is good for anyone looking for a good laugh or a new spin on the tale of Lady Jane Grey.

Did you read this book? If so, what did you think? Did you like Jane? How about G? And Edward? 

Not Too Into 'Into the Dim'

Into the Dim

Author: Janet B Taylor

Goodreads / Amazon

When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing. 

Books with hype are the worst. Why? Because they have unnaturally high standards. And, to me at least, they are only half as interesting as people make them out to be.
This book was one of those hyped books. Of course, there are a lot of hyped books of 2016. But in the winter months, this was one of those hyped books.
So I felt disappointed because I just thought it was meh.

Likes:

• Admittedly, Bran was kinda funny...and kinda cute. His quips were quite well thought out. It was pretty obvious that he was smart. But the quick turn around betrayals just grated on my nerves. He really wasn't putting himself in a good light. But the care he had for his brother kinda explained why. Honestly, I don't think cute and funny guys like Bran fall for quirky but genius girls like Hope. At least...that's what I think.
• I felt like the author had really researched her time period. Not that I know much about 12th century England. But the characters seemed quite accurate. Not that we know exactly what Eleanor might do. I also felt like the research for all the useless facts Hope knew about other things were well-researched too. Not that I know about those things either.

Dislikes:

• I seriously doubt that homeschooled, seemingly-unathletic Hope could do all the flips and jumps she did. She was portrayed as meek and shy in the beginning but somehow gained all the confidence in the world by the end. Highly unlikely? I think so! She slashed and stabbed and jumped and rolled. Since when has Hope ever mentioned exercise? Horse back riding doesn't count here. She magically learned parkour in the few days/weeks between arriving at the manor and leaving for the past. Without Phoebe and Collum, she'd probably be dead.
• The dueling 'families' made me a little annoyed. This idea reminded me too much of Romeo and Juliet for me to like the romance. Also, these two barely knew each other. It was basically another Romeo and Juliet fated star-crossed lovers romance. And...man, do I hate that. The romance was supposed to be hot and one of those 'I feel like I know you' things, but it was barely touched upon. To me, Hope wasn't used to flirting and fell for the first flirt. One of those 'I was isolated but now I'm not' things.
• The cliffhanger ending made me cry in horror. Oh how I hate cliffhangers. I might just continue a series because of a cliffhanger. Even if I didn't feel starstruck. And this is one of those instances. I have no compelling need to continue the series...except for the epic cliffhanger. I WANT MORE.

Take On Challenges 'Wolf By Wolf'

Wolf by Wolf

Author: Ryan Graudin

Goodreads / Amazon

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor's ball.

Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin's brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

City of Wolves

A town of racing and Axis Powers. A dictator rules with an iron fist. The persecution of non-Aryans is at an all time high. Motorcycles cut through the terror and incite supposed peace. Death and the spilling of blood is the catalyst to a rebellion. But will the blood be spilled?

"I just loved Yael. Her backstory was great. It fueled her fire quite nicely. And she struggled internally and externally. She had the struggle of identity. And I felt like that was one of the best parts about reading things in Yael's perspective. She had her five wolves and her past of needles and pain. She was hardened because of what happened to her. But she still was a child. It was fascinating to see the differences between what she was taught to do and what she wanted to do. Her alliances had reasons to exist. She looked at certain things with her brain and others with her heart. But, all in all, she was a complex character. She was well-developed. I was rooting for her even though she killed and hurt. She felt guilt and remorse like a real person. Yael could be someone I know. Minus the skin shifting, of course. She felt so real.

"The plot was just so amazing. Action and motorcycle races. Not that I'm into motorcycles or anything. It was just very exciting. How low will people stoop to to get their win? It resonated with me. My school is tough. People will do anything to get the grades they want. It's cutthroat honestly. That's a milder version of what's happening in the race. Not to mention all the near-death experiences. Plus, the flashbacks were cool. They weren't distracting or anything. They were interesting. We learned about Yael and who molded her into her current person. Not physically, okay...maybe a little physically. But mentally and emotionally.

"Oh my god. That ending. I'm definitely going to read the second book. You can't leave me hanging like it. I wanted to know what's going to happen. What's the rebellion going to do? How is the rebellion going to fare? Not only that, but what happened between Luka and Adele? And what does that mean for Yael? And what will happen to Luka? What will happen to Felix? I have questions I need answers to."

I Walk On Earth Disappointed: 'Walk on Earth a Stranger'

Walk on Earth a Stranger
Rae Carson

Amazon / Goodreads

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.
Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.
She also has a secret.
Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.
When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.
The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

After reading the revenge story 'Vengeance Road', I can't look at Westerns the same

 again. Which sucks for this book since it's also a Western about a cross-dressing girl. To interest me, it had to surpass my prior Western read. (Since 'Vengeance Road' is my baseline for Western stories. I got get around much.)

I sorta-not-really liked Leah. I admired her strength and determination but disliked her emotions about Jefferson. She was brave. She was smart. I admired that. I always do. For a protagonist, she had some admirable qualities. And they weren't taking backseat to things like good looks or charm. That's partly to her male-persona Lee. People thought she was male, and they acted accordingly.
On the other hand, her feelings for Jefferson were annoying. She had no interest before. Why now? There was no reason for it. I wanted her to be that one heroine who doesn't fall for her best friend. That's all I ask. But no, Leah had to do it too.

The family stories was great. I truly did like them. I prefer family stories to romance. The bond. The trust. As they say, blood is thicker than water. You can't trade your family like you do with boyfriends or girlfriends. You're stuck with them. The love between the families and in them really made me smile. They were a tight-knit group. Loving and caring. Friendly.

With a story about the strenuous journey to California, you'd think the plot would have bandits or robbers or kidnappers. Nope. You got more of a family story than a journey. I'd prefer a journey story. As much as I like having family and friends in a story, I like action and massive explosions better.

Because of that, I was bored. I was hoping for a raid or a robbery. I was hoping for someone to take the kids or the women. (I have a fanciful imagination.) I didn't get that. There were more people with cholera and measles than raids. (And that's including the brothers swooping in and stealing someone's stuff.)
Also, where is the gold mining? Leah has the power to find gold. Why didn't she put it to use? I mean, she did, but it was that one off occasion. I felt like she needed to get to California and use it.
And the halfhearted ending with that final meeting with H-man? No. More fireworks, please. More action. More threats. And the ending was so rushed. It just poof! appeared. I wanted more buildup or more tension.
I walk on earth disappointed. 

Rating:

3/5

Unveiling the Tour: 'Return Once More' by Trisha Leigh

Return Once More (The Historians #1)

by Trisha Leigh 

Release Date: 09/29/15

Bloomsbury Spark

Summary from Goodreads:

If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even though you will never meet— would you?

Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually settling a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting your one true love.

If you could save your one true love from an untimely death, would you be able to resist?

Sixteen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and she can’t resist a peek at her long-dead soul mate in Ancient Egypt. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could destroy more than just her new romance.

Or would you have the strength to watch him die?

But when Kaia notices a fellow classmate snooping around in a time where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers could threaten the entire universe. If her experience has taught her anything, to changing history means facing the consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it— in a race across time to save her only chance at a future.

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A few lanterns lit the interior of the rickety wooden building. It smelled of animals and hay, of spicy earth and poop. Between the lanterns, the last beams of setting sun pierced the cracks in the ancient wood, combining with the warmth spilling through my body and casting the whole moment in a surreal glow.

“Why must you leave, Kaia? We don’t have long. I had hoped we would spend these days together. I promise to behave.” His voice was soft, coaxing.

In another lifetime, another past or present or future, I would have done anything he’d asked. And I wouldn’t have wanted him to behave.

“Do you think I’m insane? Not right?” I tapped my head, unsure if the translation came through correctly when a Greek word that wouldn’t quite fit into English fell from my lips.

He frowned and reached out, setting his hands on my hips. His long fingers wound around my back, pressing lightly through the thin fabric and weakening my knees. This molecular compatibility thing wreaked havoc on my basic motor function. And with keeping down dinner.

“I do not know what to think of you, Kaia. You are clearly something different. The things you say, they do not seem possible. And yet…”

“And yet?” I pressed.

“And yet they feel not only possible, but true. If a man cannot trust one’s heart, then what can he trust?”

My chest filled with happiness and I grinned up at him, struggling to breathe. “Your heart says you can trust me?”

“My heart seems to know you, even if I do not. Yet.”

About the Author

Trisha Leigh is a product of the Midwest, which means it’s pop, not soda, garage sales, not tag sales, and you guys as opposed to y’all. Most of the time. She’s been writing seriously for five years now, and has published 4 young adult novels and 4 new adult novels (under her pen name Lyla Payne). Her favorite things, in no particular order, include: reading, Game of Thrones, Hershey’s kisses, reading, her dogs (Yoda and Jilly), summer, movies,  reading, Jude Law, coffee, and rewatching WB series from the 90’s-00’s.

Her family is made up of farmers and/or almost rock stars from Iowa, people who numerous, loud, full of love, and the kind of people that make the world better. Trisha tries her best to honor them, and the lessons they’ve taught, through characters and stories—made up, of course, but true enough in their way.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Extra! Extra! Josephine Montfort Solves the Case in 'These Shallow Graves'

These Shallow Graves
Jennifer Donnelly  

Goodreads / Amazon

Set in gilded age New York, These Shallow Graves follows the story of Josephine Montfort, an American aristocrat. Jo lives a life of old-money ease. Not much is expected of her other than to look good and marry well. But when her father dies due to an accidental gunshot, the gilding on Jo’s world starts to tarnish. With the help of a handsome and brash reporter, and a young medical student who moonlights in the city morgue, Jo uncovers the truth behind her father’s death and learns that if you’re going to bury the past, you’d better bury it deep.

Note: I got this book as an eARC from NetGalley.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! 
Josephine Montfort's discovery of the secrets in the Van Houten Shipping Company!

The who?
Josephine Montfort and her mysterious Oscar Edwards.

The what?
Solving a crime for the ages.

The how?
Using reporter-ing and awesomeness. (And lots and lots of cash.)

And now...our main event! An interview with Wren.

Was the mystery solved?
Yes. Obviously.

Was the last plot twists unexpected?
Sorta. I started guessing it was him near the last plot twist. Not saying who, though.

Did the romance annoy you (as many do)?
I felt like it could have been done better. There was some chemistry between the two, but it wasn't anything too convincing. It did seem rushed too. I just didn't enjoy it...

Was Josephine Montfort interesting?
Her character was complex. But I felt as if she was a little...how do you say...brave and foolish and kinda airheaded. She was stuck in this cycle of 'what would they think of me'. I kinda hated that, but it was her life. She couldn't help that. Her personality was explosive, though. And that was pretty interesting.

This book was set in New York City. Thoughts?
Well, I adore NYC. ADORE it. I liked the fact that it was set in NYC. In an earlier time, of course. I don't read historical a lot, so that really opened up a whole new world for me.

Was it captivating?
Mhm. (That's a yes.)

Would you recommend it?
To the people who don't typically read mysteries, yes. The typical mystery reader might be a bit disappointed. Not that I would know since I read sci-fi and fantasy a lot more than mysteries. 

Rating:

3/5

Review: 'A Thousand Nights' by EK Johnston

A Thousand Nights

EK Johnston 

Goodreads / Amazon

Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he will want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.

And so she is taken in her sister's place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin's court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time.But the first sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.

Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.

Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster.

NOTE: I got this book off NetGalley.

The Big Picture: 

I felt extremely conflicted about rating this book. I loved the unnamed main character. Her love of her family and her determination to save her people were amazing qualities that endeared her to me. The descriptions of the world were engaging and exciting. I felt like I was part of the world.
But. The writing style wasn't something I liked. It was evasive. It never said things straight. The language was complicated and hard to understand at times. And the beginning was slow. It was hard to get into the story.

The Dirty Details: 

The writing style wasn't a style I liked. It was a little evasive. The descriptions weren't obvious. The words danced around you. It was very vivid, though. The descriptions you got described beautiful clothing and fascinating smells. What it lacked in being direct, it made up in vividness.
The language was complicated. It was hard to understand at times. The phrase aren't common today. I had to think about the meaning at times.

The main character was brave. I loved her spirit. Her bravery and overwhelming love of her family was impressive. I thought she was an endearing girl. She was brave and magical. Qualities that I enjoy in characters. Her love for her family made me like her even more.
And even though we didn't get names, I felt close to the characters. I felt a connection to the sister who loved her sister enough to make her into a living smallgod. I felt a connection to the hopeful mother of Lo-Melkhiin who believed her good son still existed. I felt a connection to our main character with her love and determination and bravery. The author did well. She made me feel for them.

I loved the world and the culture. It was extremely fascinating. Dishdashahs. The makeup and the hair. I really want to look at the author's Pinterest board!
Even though I know nothing of the culture, I can tell the author did her research. She told the story with lots of references to the culture. I really got a great peek at the culture in that part of the world.

The plot was a little slow, but it picked up the pace as the book went on. The beginning was mostly introducing the world.
The middle had some boring introduction to the main character's life in the qasr. It was mostly a lot of talking and dressing up. Meh. Not interested.
There wasn't any action until the end. That annoyed me. And the action was short-lived. It didn't last long enough.

Rating:

3/5