Mini-reviews: Red At Night by Katie McGarry and The Snake Charm by Laura Lam

Today sees the return of my mini-reviews! Mini-reviews used to be a regular thing on Fluttering Butterflies but I haven't written any in awhile. As I recently read two short novellas/short stories by two of my favourite recent authors I thought that it would make sense to review both in the same post.  They are both very different but very interesting at the same time.

Red At Night by Katie McGarry

I really enjoy Katie McGarry stories.  I think she has a great skill for bringing her readers really interesting characters who have great relationships with each other.  Red At Night is no exception to this. It tells the story of Stella and Jonah, two teenagers who meet at the cemetery and forge this connection despite leading very different lives.

What I liked about this short story is that within a very short period of time I felt very emotional about both Stella's story and also about Jonah's.  Stella has dyed hair and has been bullied for years because she doesn't have much money and is just generally different to the other students at school. Whereas Jonah is popular at school and leads a privileged life where it's more possible to take things for granted. When Stella and Jonah meet at the beginning of this novella, it is in the cemetery after Jonah experiences this life-altering car accident and begins to question the direction he's taking in life.

While I would have liked to have explored more about these characters and their experiences and lives and friends and family before Red At Night, I do also appreciate that most things are resolved by the end. I thought this novella was hopeful and emotional and it re-confirmed my love of Katie McGarry's skill as a writer.

The Snake Charm by Laura Lam

When I first head about Laura Lam's decision to self-publish a collection of Vestigial Tales, I was incredibly excited. I love the world she created in Pantomime and Shadowplay. I loved the characters and Vestige and I couldn't wait to read more and find out every bit of new information about this world that I could...

And The Snake Charm did not disappoint. This story focuses on Drystan, the White Clown, before Micah Grey shows up at RH Ragona's Circus of Magic. It tells this story of unrest amongst the clowns and how Drystan finds himself in the middle of this fight between one of the other clowns and Bil, the ringmaster involving an incredibly powerful piece of Vestige.

I think what The Snake Charm does so well is that not only does it show us the dangers and consequences that come with owning this particular piece of Vestige but it also gives a bit fuller of a back story to a really well-loved character.  Drystan has always been one of my favourite characters from Pantomime and Shadowplay and I loved that he gets the full spotlight in this novella.  It was fun to see his role in the circus a little better and to see his perspective on some of the other key players in the circus before Micah Grey shows up.

I thought The Snake Charm was a wonderful addition to this world.  It was a fun adventure and I can't wait to read the other Vestigial Tales, The Fisherman's Net, The Tarot Reader and The Card Sharp.

The City's Son by Tom Pollock: The Book I Wish I'd Written by Bryony Pearce #YALCreadathon

As part of the #YALCreadathon I have the great pleasure of hosting this wonderful guest post by the lovely Bryony Pearce who is the author of YA novels Angel's Fury and The Weight of Souls.  She has written this fantastic post about another UKYA book and author, The City's Son by Tom Pollock.

It's a fantastic recommendation, thank you Bryony!  To find out more about The Weight of Souls or Bryony Pearce, do check out the following links and note in your diary that Bryony will be holding a workshop on starting to write on the Saturday at YALC between 12:30 and 1:15! 

Bryony Pearce ... Bryony on Twitter ... Bryony on Facebook

The City's Son by Tom Pollock: The Book I Wish I'd Written 

by Bryony Pearce

I lived in London for six years and I have a great many memories of the city, some good, some not so good (ask me about that tube journey I had, stood beneath a fat man who dripped sweat onto my face). When I wrote The Weight of Souls I decided to set the book in London partly because, to me, it is a city of so many faces. It is full of magical nooks and crannies, cosmopolitan, light, fun, inspirational, educational but also incredibly dark, overwhelming and dangerous. Everywhere you go in London you can see something that makes you stop and just look, from the people, to the transport, to the architecture, London just doesn’t let up.

So when I had the chance to visit London and see a friend, Kim Curran, speaking at Blackwells Bookshop with some other authors (Tanya Byrne, Laure Eve and Tom Pollock) I leaped at the chance to go.

While browsing the books for sale I was drawn to one with a unique cover: a hard back enclosed in pale cream paper with a red design that showed the London skyline. Drawn, I picked it up and carried it with me without even looking inside. The book had heft, it felt pregnant in my hands and to my eye it had elegance and beauty. I was excited to hear the author speak.

The City's Son by Tom Pollock

To be honest, I don’t remember what Tom Pollock spoke about, but I do remember that he read from his book and at that moment I was instantly gripped. His language is lyrical, fresh and thrilling. To this day I recall the part of the passage he read that made me sit up in excitement (see below). It was the way the words fit together, the poetry of the images, the sense that in the very first few page, Tom Pollock had created a version of London dangerous and electrifying; alive in a different way to the London we know.

In City’s Son Pollock creates an alternate London where trains have souls, street lights come alive, cemetery statues have terrible secrets and a great battle is going on all around us, unseen. The heroes suffer, fight and love on an epic scale inseparable from the city of London itself.

This book is the book I wish I had written. It is beautiful and terrible, inspiring and thought-provoking, the protagonists stay on with you and you will never look at the city the same way again.

REVIEW: Shadowplay by Laura Lam

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Pantomime. I thought it had amazing characters and a wonderful fantasy setting and I was always going to be excited to read the sequel. However, I did put off reading Shadowplay by Laura Lam for a very long time because I was slightly worried that my expectations might be slightly too high for any book to live up to.

Now that I've finally read this book I can happily say that I absolutely loved it. Everything that I loved about Pantomime is apparent in Shadowplay apart from the back and forth with the timeline.  Fabulous characters, mystery, a magical setting, a wonderful fantasy world, and great relationships. 

Shadowplay takes place immediately after the explosive events of Pantomime and Micah and Drystan, the white clown, find themselves with a desperate need for refuge. For this, they throw themselves at the mercy of Drystan's old magician friend, Jasper Maske, and soon they become more invested in Jasper's life and troubles and get more involved in magic and illusion. 

Because it has been a while since I read this book I will leave you with this brief list: Things I love about Shadowplay:

I really loved the circus setting in Pantomime. (Every one did, right?) But I also really loved all of the detail and training and history involved in turning Drystan, Micah, and new character, Cyan, into illusionists in Shadowplay.  I really did enjoy every single detail of this journey that were all on.  I loved the bit of mystery surrounding Jasper Maske and his mirrors and everything he was working on. My heart really went out to him when learning of his past and the reason he can no longer perform magic in front of an audience and because of my emotional connection to him, I really wanted things to work out in his favour.

I also absolutely loved Ellada as the fantasy setting of both books.  There is a bit of mystery surrounding this shady man who appears to be following Micah and Drystan and I found it really interesting to see them wandering about collecting clues. Also, there is a great deal of information regarding Penglass in this book which was very satisfying.

I've been pretty outspoken about my love for Micah Grey as a character and I really stand by that.  I think he's a great and well-developed character and he really grows into himself in this book.  Part of that is because of him learning new skills as an illusionist, part of that is down to the amazing relationships he has in his life.  I am very fond of his relationship with his brother that we are able to see briefly in this book and his budding friendship with Cyan was quite nice to see as well. And part of his growth in confidence is down to the information (sometimes misleading and vague!) that he gets regarding how and why he is so very special.  I can't wait to read more about this aspect of Micah's story.

And finally, we have the slow burn romantic relationship between Micah and Drystan.  This has to be a slow burn, as Micah is still grieving for Aenea, but even during Pantomime I was rooting for Micah and Drystan.  It seems to take them both a pretty long time to be okay with their relationship progressing but it felt very natural when it did happen. I want them to have a happily ever after!

All in all, Shadowplay was everything I wanted it to be. Fascinating and mysterious and magical.  I do need more Micah Grey in my life.

REVIEW: The Holders by Julianna Scott

As soon as I heard about The Holders by Julianna Scott, I became very excited to read it.  I love the idea of Ireland as a setting, with the folklore and history that comes with that.  And I especially love the idea of a story that deals with people who have special powers. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for an X-Men type storyline! The Holders also has some secrets, a romance and some father-daughter issues and I was expecting to love it beyond words. 

I find myself now, as I'm sitting down to write this, struggling to identify where or what I found myself being disappointed with.  I enjoyed the characters and the storyline but found myself holding back emotionally.  Perhaps that will change as I continue to read this series...

At the start of The Holders, we are introduced to teenager, Becca, and her little brother, Ryland.  Becca is fiercely protective of Ryland and she refuses to let anyone take him away for testing or heavy medication to limit his ability to hear voices.  But these two newcomers claim to be able to help Ryland to use and enhance his abilities rather than squash it in order to become 'normal' like other medical professionals have recommended.  And despite a lot of mistrust on Becca's part, she agrees to Ryland flying off to this special school in Ireland on the condition that Becca goes with him. 

At St. Brigid's, Becca and Ryland became more aware of how special Ryland is and their connection to The Holders, a race of people born with special powers.  But together with this change of scenery and all this new and staggering information, Becca is also forced into facing the father who abandoned their family so many years ago and she is also trying to come to terms with where Becca would like her own future and prospects to look like, especially with the growing attraction she feels towards Alex, one of the people who came to track down Ryland. 

I really liked reading about the Holders and especially Alex's ability.  There was plenty of surprising twists that happen concerning the prophecy of Ryland and what he respresents for the Holders.  I really liked the relationship that forms between Alex and Becca very much, they're a bit tentative and unsure at the start and I love how miscommunication and assumptions on each other's parts seem to hold them apart. 

It's a very interesting premise and an exciting start to the series.  I can't quite pinpoint any faults with it, other than I didn't fully feel it in parts.  Still, I'm very much looking forward to reading more!

An Introduction to R. H. Ragona's Circus of Magic by Laura Lam

Today, I have an amazing guest post from Laura Lam, the author of the absolutely fantastic Pantomime, the story that has taken a firm hold over my heart over the past few months.  I read this book awhile back and it is a story filled with such wonderfully created characters that I have been unable to stop thinking about it for months.

One of my favourite aspects of Pantomime is of course, the circus!  And Laura is here today to give a brief introduction to some of the main cast of circus performers and acts. I really hope you enjoy!

And if you'd like to know more about Laura Lam or Pantomime, please do visit the following websites:

Laura Lam ... Laura on Twitter ... Laura on Facebook ... Laura on Goodreads ...  Laura on Pinterest

An Introduction to R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic

by Laura Lam

Pantomime is set in what claims to be the most magical circus in all of Ellada. It includes an oddball cast of characters and acts.

Management:

R.H. Ragona, the Ringmaster. His real name is Bil, but it doesn’t have the same ring to it as R.H. He’s the head honcho of the circus, and he’s built it up from nothing. He’s a man that can change from jovial to sinister in a moment, so people try not to get on the wrong side of him.

Frit, the administration. She’s Bil’s wife, and balances the books and keeps the place running behind the scenes.

Performers:

Micah Grey, the aerialist’s apprentice. The newest member of the circus. He has to prove himself, and that includes doing the less savoury tasks of the circus in addition to his training. He stands out at first— no one believes he’s actually been on the streets for very long.

Aenea, an aerialist. She trains Micah, as well as performing the finale –the tightrope and the trapeze.

Arik, an aerialist. The other person who trains Micah. He’s getting a little older and is hoping to retire from the circus soon, with Micah as his replacement.

The tumblers. There’s a group of tumblers from Kymri, and they open the circus every night.

The clowns. They provide the comic relief in between circus acts. Some of them are nasty pieces of work, such as Jive, the red clown.

Drystan, the white clown. The leader of the clowns is one of the few clowns to be kind to Micah, although he’s very curious in where he might have come from.

Karla & Tym, the animal keepers. Karla performs as an equestrienne, but together, this husband and wife team look after all of the animals of the circus.

Nina, the snakecharmer. Mesmerizes the audience in one of the smaller tents.

The Workers:

They tend to keep to themselves, finding the performers to be too full of airs. The workers include men like Rag & Dirik.

The Freakshow:

One of the side attractions is the freakshow tent, attached to the menagerie, which has an albino alligator, large cats, and horses. Some of the “freaks” on display are:

Bethany, the bearded woman.

Madame Limond, the four-legged woman.

Karg, the strongman.

Mr. Tin, the small man.

The Tattooed Man.

Poussin, the Human Chicken.

Juliet, the Leopard Lady of Linde.

All of these characters may seem like oddballs at first. Some of them might come across as cruel, especially to Micah, because they’re wary of strangers. They live in this isolated society that lets in the city folk, the rubes, to entertain them, but they never really interact with them. The circus is a community of close-knit people, and they must remain so for the circus to work. They trust their health, their safety, and their very lives to each other.

I’ll leave you with the barker’s cry of R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic:

“Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Currs and skags! Step into the world as you’ve never seen it! Discover the skills, the mystery, and the magic of R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic, the Best Circus in Ellada! There are the fabled felines of Linde and their fearless trainers! Men and women eat fire, stand upon a galloping horse, and contort into knots like rubber! Watch them fly through the air! This is the show you have always been waiting for, so step right up!”

– Barker’s cry of R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic

Doesn't it sound magical? Which character is your favourite or which character are you most looking forward to meeting?

REVIEW: Pantomime by Laura Lam

Pantomime by Laura Lam was one of my favourite reads of all of 2012.  Reading the book was exciting and surprising and magical and emotional! So naturally, it's been very difficult to sit down and type out this review.  Not only because it is a book that I loved so wholly and completely and therefore I feel pressurised because I feel like no matter what I write, it won't really convey my feelings about the book well enough, but also because there is quite a large SECRET within its pages and it is hard to talk fully about the beauty of Pantomime without revealing that big twist in the storyline. 

I shall do my best though.  Pantomime is the story of two main characters, Micah and Gene, and the setting is this fantasy-Victorian England as best as I can picture it.  Gene is this wealthy girl who is under a lot of pressure from her family to fit in with society's expectations of how a female should act and behave.  And those sort of guidelines and rules kind of chafe with Gene who likes to run about and climb trees and act decidely unladylike. I especially, especially loved Gene's relationship with her brother.  But there's also some incredibly interesting bits that hint of magic.  Gene is a lovely character, and I thought her to be utterly sweet as she tries to manage society balls and the like.

And to contrast Gene's lifestyle and circumstances quite dramatically, we have Micah Grey, a poor beggar who joins the circus in order to survive.  He manages to fall under the care of a kindly aerialist Arik and his assistant, Aenea.  Life in the circus isn't easy for Micah, as he has to deal with pretty harsh hazing.  But I lapped up every single detail of circus life that Laura Lam throws at us, from the clowns and the aerialist work, to the animals tamers and just the atmosphere that is created with every performance.  I really loved every detail.  And it felt like within this circus filled with freaks and strangeness, that everyone could find a place to belong.  I love that. 

And of course, both Gene and Micah have very large secrets that they are concealing and in unravelling those secrets and the way in which these two storylines overlap and converge, there is such beauty and magic - I actually audibly gasped when I finally realised just what I had read.  I don't want to spoil anything for you, but really, it's worth reading to discover the secret for yourself.  And further incentive, of course, comes from this amazing new world that has been created and the meeting of some of the most amazing characters ever, from Micah and Gene to Aenea and Drystan, the kindly Arik and the morally dubious Ragona, the ringmaster! 

There's magic, and circus life, there's confusion and secrets and the sweetness of falling in love.  Pantomime is really one of the best books I've read of recent time and I urge you to read it sooner rather than later!

What I've Been Reading Lately

I don't normally do posts like 'What I've Been Reading Lately' but I thought I would do it these week because it occurs to me that it's very unlikely that you'll see reviews of what I've been reading lately any time soon. 

This is because I have become absolutely RUBBISH at writing reviews.  I'm just in one of those phases where I can hardly bear to sit in front of my computer because it just reminds me how BEHIND I am.  Behind in writing reviews, behind in responding to comments, behind in responding to emails and behind in catching up with all my favourite blogs.  And all that *behind-ness* makes me very unhappy.  So instead of being very unhappy, I just don't sit at my computer at all.

And by not sitting at the computer, I'm getting more behind in all of these things and it's horrible, vicious circle. But what can I do, eh?  It's just not the right time.  But maybe in a few days it will be, maybe next week, I'm not really sure.  Until then, I still have dozens of other reviews I need to write, so this lot will keep getting pushed further and further down the list.  So may as well talk about them now!

All of last week as well as being computer-phobic, I have also been in one of my semi-regular reading slumps.  I picked up lots of good books (The Diviners by Libba Bray, Black Spring by Alison Croggon, The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan and Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery) and all of those books, though I was (am still am!) excited to read/re-read failed to keep my interest.  My mind wandered, I couldn't concentrate.  It was mostly to do with me thinking I *should* read these books, either because they are review books or for some other reason.  And feeling like I *should* do something, of course, makes me *not* want to do it. 

So I put these books down and tried something very different.  I went through my massive TBR piles and tried to find a book that I *want* to read for no other reason than to enjoy reading it, to be caught up in someone else's story and to fall in love with its characters.  So over the weekend, I read the entire Diary of a Crush series by Sarra Manning.

And they were brilliant.  I'd heard such wonderful things already about toxic art boy, Dylan.   I knew that I'd probably end up with a small crush, but I really wasn't expecting the pain in my heart that this up and down relationship between Dylan and Edie would be. OH MY GOD, THE PAIN.  The two of them are such moody people, obviously perfect for each other, but holy hell, did it take them ages to work things out.  Loved every minute of it though.  The Diary of a Crush series was perfect reading material in order to banish my reading slump!  And I now also want to go to Paris, visit lots of art galleries and take a long road trip. 

Then, because I figured a romantic contemporary is just what I needed, I picked up Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler.  I'd been putting off reading this book for awhile because sometimes I'm a little strange (UNDERSTATEMENT!) and like to read non-series books by the same author in publication order.  And I haven't read Sarah Ockler's first two books.  But who cares, right?  (Me, I care.)

I wanted a book about cupcakes and hockey and figure skating.  So I dove right in.  And again, it made my heart happy to read this book about a girl who's trying to figure out what's important in her life - she's figuring out what things, whether it be friends, family, figure skating, cupcakes, boys or hockey are worth fighting for. 
It's an adorable story and I'm glad that I read it. 

And what am I reading now, you ask?  Today, I picked up Pantomime by Laura Lam.  It's a Strange Chemistry title and I hear they are plenty of SECRETS.  There's also magic and circuses and everyone who's read it already raves about it.  I'm EXCITED. And I like having that excitement back when it comes to reading and discovering new stories. 

So hit me with it. What are you reading lately?