Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
 
Release Date: September 4th 2012
Pages: 304
Format: E-book/Hardcover
Source: Netgalley/Publisher
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Buy It: Book Depository

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.
Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse?

This was such a weird book, because I managed to absolutely adore it without connecting with the characters at all (except maybe the tiniest bit at the end). I honestly have no idea how that happened, except to say that Fama's enjoyable writing and thrilling plot more than compensated for characters that often felt more like they existed for the story rather than existing, and as a reader I was let in on their story. Somehow, though, that becomes a minor complaint in the scope of what is an incredibly exciting and well-written book.

I really loved how Fama dropped hints throughout Monstrous Beauty, so that as my friend Ambur and I read it together we were constantly speculating about what might happen, or what did happen, or how things would be explained. If you're the kind of reader who pays very close attention to the details, you'll probably see some of the twists coming, but I love that about it– it's not as if events come out of nowhere, Fama lays the groundwork. Even if you are that kind of ultra-observant reader, I'm sure there are still going to be things you don't see coming, because the plot is just incredible.

When it comes down to it, I think that Fama is an incredibly strong story-teller, and the result is that Monstrous Beauty is easy and thrilling to read. By the end I had a little connection to some of the characters, especially Syrenka, but that wasn't what kept me reading: it was the story. It's also a refreshing standalone novel where all the loose ends are tied up; if anything I could have done with a little less tying, especially in the epilogue which felt unnecessary. But I loved the book, so I'm not going to complain.

I loved the underwater world Fama imagined, her monstrous but beautiful mermaids, the way they ate the hearts of men, and the disturbing and violent sea queen. The novel transitions back and forth between two time periods, but they are written in such a distinct way that it wasn't confusing and actually added to the depth and complexity of the story. Despite my disconnect with the characters, I can't help raving about Monstrous Beauty because it's so exciting and fun to read, making it not only an awesome addition to the mermaid genre, but also a great book for anyone looking for riveting mystery with a paranormal twist.

Monstrous Beauty is also available on audiobook from Macmillian Audio. Click here to listen to a clip.

Croak by Gina Damico

Croak (Croak #1) by Gina Damico

Release Date: March 20th 2012
Pages: 311
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Buy It: Book Depository

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort in Croak for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

From the instant I heard about this novel, it made me think of the television show I loved, but lost too soon, Dead Like Me. The fact that I was a huge fan of the show, meant that not only was interested to pick up Croak, but I had fairly high standards for what I wanted out of it as well. If it was just going to rehash what I'd seen on TV, then what was the point?

Luckily, Damico has taken the familiar concept in a totally brand new direction, and besides for the fact that George (from Dead Like Me) and Lex are both teenage grim reapers, the similarities end there. Lucky for Lex, she didn't have to die to become a grim reaper, though she did have to get sent away to the tiny and mysterious town of Croak to live with her over-the-top and scary uncle, appropriately named Mort. Mort's not the only one with a convenient name, Croak is jam-packed with them, everything from a gym named "Dead Weight" to other Grim towns like DeMeyse and Necropolis. Somehow, Damico manages to stop before going overboard, and instead just make the subtle death references really entertaining.

Lex isn't one of those main characters that is instantly likeable– she's violent and rude. Once she gets to Croak, it's not like her love of punching people suddenly makes her somebody I'd want to befriend, but it does seem more understandable given her career of killing people. Plus, fulfilling her destiny does mellow Lex out a bit. Still, I loved her angst and her dark twisted humour. Lex has such a sharp, clear personality, and I felt a connection with her that is hard to achieve in third person point of view, but which Damico executes* flawlessly.

As much as I enjoyed the relationship between Lex and her reaper partner, Driggs, there was one instance near the end that had me rolling my eyes a bit. Their snark was irresistible, and I just kept wanting them to make out already. Saying more about the event I disliked would spoil part of the book, but it involved a photograph and felt like it cheated the authentic development Damico had written thus far.

Croak is also a flat-out hilarious book, which is incredibly refreshing among a sea of paranormals that take themselves too seriously. Croak is a well thought-out and believable world, all the details seem to have been considered, but it's also filled with people who swear and joke and make the novel, despite its fantastical elements, seem completely real. I'm just glad I only have to wait a few months for book number 2, Scorch, due out in September. Croak is a fantastic, hilarious, cleverly brilliant start to a brand new series from a talented debut author and I just hope Damico has plenty of fresh puns stored up because I'll be eagerly awaiting them.

*pun fully intended

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
 
Release Date: March 2nd 2010
Pages: 470
Format: Hardcover
Source: Won
Publisher: Harper Collins
Also by this Author: Delirium; Liesl & Po; Pandemonium
Buy It: Book Depository

A terrible accident takes Samantha Kingston's life. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she relives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

This novel wasn't perfect, but it was incredible. This is the fourth book I've read by Lauren Oliver, and sadly it's the final one she's published (so far, at least). It's also her debut novel, which makes it even more impressive in retrospect.

At first glance, the idea of reliving the same day seven times seems like it would be very repetitive and dull. But by changing tiny actions, Sam alters the course of the day, and ultimately, her life. The way Oliver accomplishes this means that with each new day, the reader learns new, and crucial information about Sam. There was only one of the seven days– when she steals her mom's credit card and spends it with a new group of a gossipy friends– that had me less interested. The main reason for that was the introduction of a whole bunch more characters, that I didn't really have a chance to care about. My other minor peeve with the novel was Oliver's description of eyes, sky blue and grass green, that get re-used (for the same two characters, but still) too often for my own taste.

Otherwise, Before I Fall was an incredible and original novel. From the first scene, Sam isn't a likable main character, but she did grow on me throughout the novel, and while some of her friends (Lindsey) didn't, at least I came to understand them better. I love the way Oliver slips the reader into the mind of the bully, the popular girl, the one that as a reader, I've heard from a whole lot less than the recluse or outcast. Despite everything Sam does, and the growth she undergoes, there were still things I didn't like about her at the end, but that only makes her more human.

As in her other novels, Oliver's writing in Before I Fall is impeccable, with just the right amount of beautiful description, mixed with easy to read text, clear storylines and authentic characters. Even before I picked up this novel, Lauren Oliver was one of my very favourite writers, but this book just reminds me why. Her incredible skill as a writer, her amazing ability to get inside a character's head– and to share those emotions and conflicts on the page– continues to astound me. I keep using the word incredible in this review, because it's what keeps running through my head as I think back at this book, and what will certainly be its lasting impact.

Before I Fall has easily gained a place in the list of my favourite novels, comfortably at home with Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, the book that got me to start reading young adult fiction again. And I'm so glad I did, or I never would have discovered this amazing gem.