Feral Fridays: Short Stories & Novellas

I haven't participated in Feral Fridays before, but I love reading what the girls over at Book Nerd Reviews have to say on Fridays, so I thought I'd put in my own opinion. This is a fun meme where we discuss different topics and get the chance to rant away.

This week we're talking about what we think of short stories, novellas, and novel extras.

Novellas have easily become one of my favourite part of new series. A lot of authors have been joining in on this trend. It's the perfect opportunity for them to explore their characters and settings with more depth than the novels allow. Usually these novellas are told through the perspective of a secondary character, or act as deleted scenes from the novels. It gives the readers a chance to see some behind the scenes action, learn more about their favourite characters, and get even more excited for the next book in the series. They are a nice little tidbit that doesn't cost much, or is sometimes free, that make the wait for the next novel a little more bearable.

My first experience with novellas was the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent. In between the last three books, Vincent took the opportunity to get us pumped by releasing short stories, without any spoilers, written from the point of view of characters we hadn't had a chance to hear much from. Some of these were characters I loved, like Tod (Reaper), and others were less likeable characters, like Sophie (Never to Sleep), who became more likeable after experiencing the story through their eyes. Many more authors followed this trend. Julie Kagawa released a couple of stories from The Iron Fey world, allowing us readers into the minds of both Puck and Ash (before Ash got his own novel). Sophie Jordan gave us a look at Az's life in Breathless, set in the world, and Veronica Rossi made me fall in love with Roar and Liv even more in the Under the Never Sky novella, Roar and Liv. Lauren Oliver gave her supporting characters the spotlight in her Delirium Stories, giving Annabel, Hana, and Raven their chance to add to the story. Tahereh Mafi showed us that Warner wasn't as bad as we all thought he was in Destroy Me. Then of course there is Veronica Roth, who is coming out with a collection of short stories told by Four, giving us a first hand look at his history and life.
Firelight

The great part about these novellas is that they tend to add something to the overall story. You don't miss anything by not reading them, but when the author references them subtly in the novel, you pick up on it. It's a fun little extra that gives you a chance to learn more about characters that don't control the story. When you are used to seeing everything from one character's perspective, it's nice to get to know those who are helping that character get to their goal, and find out what their own end goals are.

I love forward to novellas almost as much as I look forward to the next novel in the series. They can make you care about someone you thought you disliked, or just let you swoon over a nice little romance scene that didn't make it into the novels. Either way, I think they are a great extra to series and I'd love to see more of them.

Are you a fan of novellas? Do you read them? Let me know!

Review: Breathless & Annabel

As I've mentioned before, I love novellas, especially ones that advance a story I already love. Here are two recent ones I read:

 Breathless
Author: Sophie Jordan
Published: December 4, 2012
100 pages (ebook)
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

For Az, it's supposed to be a fun summer vacation with her family. Nothing complicated. Just a quick trip to test the waters as she prepares for a year on her own. That all changes when she rescues a drowning girl and meets Tate—the most gorgeous human boy she's ever seen. Tate throws her heart, her plans, and her life into upheaval, but the closer she gets to him, the harder it is to hide the secret of what she is. With no hope for a future together, the last thing that can ever happen . . . is love.

Az, a character we didn't really get a chance to know, gets the spotlight in this Firelight novella. Though I'm sure when this story is supposed to take place or where in the plot it fits it, I loved it anyway. Jacinda is a distant character, though her name does come up as Az falls deeper into danger when she meets Tate and cant seem to stop herself from being with him. She thinks of Jacinda as someone who would never put her pride at risk (which makes me think this happens before Firelight) 

Az is a water draki, feeling most at home when she's deep underwater. Swimming one day, she gets stuck at the bottom when a group of kids come to the pond and start to swim. Risking being caught, she saves one of Tate's friends, thus throwing their lives together in a way she never imagined. A much shorter and not nearly as dangerous love story as Jacinda's, Az too finds herself drawn to the human world and willing to risk everything to be with the one she loves. The 100 pages don't give us a chance to see big differences between Az and Jacinda, but I love Az and would love to read more about her.

Jordan, who is also a romance novelist, creates scenes realistic enough to be believable, yet writes them like a fantasy. Her words curl around each other and she makes you fall in love with every character. Her boys are dreamy and her girls are cautious yet willing to take that leap. You can see the romance skills in her young adult work and it fits perfectly, sending chills up your spine as you wait for them to kiss, the anticipation killing you. She's taken two worlds and turned them into something magical.

Annabel
Author: Lauren Oliver
Published: December 26, 2012
50 pages (ebook)
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Lena Halloway's mother, Annabel, supposedly committed suicide when Lena was only six years old. That's the lie that Lena grew up believing, but the truth is very different. As a rebellious teenager, Annabel ran away from home and straight into the man she knew she was destined to marry. The world was different then—the regulations not as stringent, the cure only a decade old. Fast forward to the present, and Annabel is consigned to a dirty prison cell, where she nurtures her hope of escape and scratches one word over and over into the walls: Love.

But Annabel, like Lena, is a fighter. Through chapters that alternate between her past and present, Annabel reveals the story behind her failed cures, her marriage, the births of her children, her imprisonment, and, ultimately, her daring escape.

The world Oliver has created in Delirium is one of the best dystopian worlds I've seen yet. Love is considered a disease, people get cures for it, and those who escape the cure live wild and free to love. Lena is happy for the cure until she meets Alex and suddenly getting cured of love doesn't make sense to her. Her mother, Annabel, has always been a mystery to her. Having thought all her life that she had committed suicide when Lena was a child, she never expects to find out that she lives, let alone has escaped the cure and is now living in the Wilds. Annabel tells the story of Lena's mom in the same format as Pandemonium. We alternate between the present, her locked in the Crypts daring an escape, and the past, when she was a young uncured girl falling in love. 

Oliver's writing is perfection. I get swept up into her stories and forget about everything around me. I read this in one sitting, craving more. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for Requiem and this novella thrilled me just as much as a full novel of hers does. Her prose is beautiful and she uses her words with love, carving out a word where love is forbidden yet so alive in the eyes of our narrators. The ending of this gave me a lot of hope for the finale and I can't wait to get sucked into that novel as well. Raven, another novella is coming out soon and I have no doubt that will be amazing as well.

Review: Hidden

Hidden
Author: Sophie Jordan
Published: September 11, 2012
272 Pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning...

The thrilling finale to the Firelight series doesn't stop for a second. It picks up right where Vanish left off. Jacinda has escaped the hunters but Miram, Cassian's sister, is still being held captive. Jacinda decides the only way to make things right is to get her out of there and that means getting captured herself. But once in the enemy compound, where she knows her dad has once been, she fears that it may be harder to get out than she first thought.

Life is pretty complicated for Jacinda. Not only is she a draki, a descendant of dragons, but she has been bonded with Cassian even though her heart belongs to Will, the human hunter. She has already made her choice, it is forever Will, but she can't seem to find the strength to let go of her pride and live a normal life with him. Cassian's emotions flow through her like her own and she knows how he feels about her. Her inner dilemma stays on the back burner as she tries to rescue as many draki as possible and get out of the compound alive. 

The action is non-stop. From the first sentence, we'll pulled into the fight. As Jacinda is trying to find her dad and save Miram, she's also trying to figure out where her loyalties lie. Will doesn't let her off easy either. He tests her whenever he can and I think this is an important aspect to his character. I know some people may find him pushy, but he knows she loves him and he's trying to show her that she's more than her pride. She's wanted to escape that place since she was young, but with Cassian in her head and more information about her father being discovered, she can't find the means to do it. It's nice that Will isn't just a pushover love interest that just stands in the background and waits to be kissed. He is a strong character and I admire everything he does for Jacinda. 

Tamra steals the show. She has developed the most over the three books. She tried to fit in with the pride but feared she never could. When they moved to the real world, she fit in perfectly but soon discovered that she was a draki, a very powerful draki, and suddenly she didn't fit in anywhere. When she meets Deaghan, a primal draki, she seems to see new hope for her future. Their love story is quiet, but it's as important as Jacinda and Will's because it seems like Tamra has been through more than any other character has in this series. I'm very glad she got her happy ending. 

Uncreative cover aside, the story held its own and satisfied me as the conclusion to a series that has kept me breathless from the beginning.

“And I realize I’m both my strongest and weakest with him.  And I guess that’s love.  When you’re at your most vulnerable”

Novellas: A Perfect Companion

Novellas have to easily be my favourite extras to a series. They give the author a chance to dive back into their world in a new way. Most of the time the novellas are told from a different viewpoint and it gives us, the readers, the chance to see into the minds of other characters we love. It also makes the year long wait for the next instalment a bit more bearable.

Here are some of my favourite short stories. (All have been read in E book format as that is usually the only way they are available.)

Reaper by Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers): Told from Tod's point of view and taking place before the actual series starts, we get the back story that changes everything. This was the turning point for me where my love for Tod became too much to hide.

Hana by Lauren Oliver (Delirium): Who wouldn't want to know what went through Lena's best friend Hana's mind during Delirium? Hana has been excited or the cure, desperate to stop the disease, but she soon discovers how intriguing love can be. Hana's adventures are just as intense as Lena's and we get to see another side to this emotional story.

Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey): As much as I love Ash, Puck's story was so much fun to read. His quirks and puns make him so loveable and it's certainly interesting in this guy's head.

Never To Sleep by Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers): Okay, I just love everything Rachel Vincent writes and she has made me like evil Sophie. She gets a real taste of what Kaylee goes through on a regular basis and it helps her understand her cousin a little better. There was no way I could hate her after reading her story.







And a few that I can't wait to read:

Breathless by Sophie Jordan (Firelight) A love story about Az, Jacinda's best friend, involving her falling in love with a human? Um, yes please!

Roar And Liv by Veronica Rossi (Under The Never Sky): Back stories are my favourite. You get to learn so much about characters and see them in a whole new light. I can't wait to read the love story between two of the minor characters in Under The Never Sky.

Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me): Even though I'm not a huge fan of Warner, I'm still curious to hear his story.

The Legacies by Pittacus Lore (Lorien Legacies): Though I still haven't picked up The Rise Of Nine, I'm still very interested in this series and would love to read about the other legacies.

Top Ten Tuesday: Rewind

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly featured hosted by The Book and the Bookish where each week there is a different Top Ten list for all of us to get giddy over. This week is rewind week, where we pick one of the past topics that we missed or wanted to try again. 

Top Ten Series I Haven't Finished 

1. Matched series by Ally Condie: I read Matched quite awhile ago and I really liked it, but I've owned Crossed since it came out and I have yet to read it. I plan to finish this series eventually because I do want to know what happens next!

2. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore: The Power Of Nine came out two months but I've been holding off on buying it. Not sure why because I love this series. 

3. Firelight by Sophie Jordan: I just bought the final book, Hidden, and it's right at the top of my to-read pile. I can't wait to see how Jacinda's journey will end!

4. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare: I've read the first two in this series and have City Of Glass on my book shelf. I'm not fully committed to this series. I like it enough that I'll watch the movie and I'll finsih the series, but it hasn't reached me like many other books have. But who knows, there's still a lot to read by Clare.

5. The Body Finder by Kimberley Derting: I read the first one and thought the idea behind the series was interesting and unique. I had planned on picking up the other two but something stopped me. I'm not sure I'll finish this series because I have a feeling the other two books will be exactly the same. I could most definitely be wrong though.

6. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter: After reading the back of The Goddess Interrupted, I didn't like where the story was planning on going so I didn't buy the book and probably never will. I didn't like The Goddess Test enough to finish the series.

7. Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake: This is another series where I want to read the next book but just haven't picked it up yet. I think it's because there are so many other books I want to read before it and I'm waiting until it's close to the top of my pile before I spend the money on it. But I plan on picking up Anna Girl Of Nightmares.

8. Bewitching by Alex Flinn: I'm only including this because technically I think it's the sequel to Beastly? At least according to Goodreads it is. Beastly is one of my favourites and Alex Flinn is a great writer. I've read all her other fairy tale retellings so this is on my list of to reads.

9. The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice: I read Interview With A Vampire in college and I absolutely loved it! I've been meaning to read the rest of this series because it will forever be the best vampire series (I know this after only reading one!) Rice proves she's the Queen of Vampires and I'd love to dive back into that world.

10. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: I'm sure why I stopped reading after The Order Of The Phoenix but I own all seven books and eventually I will finish Harry's story. 

The List Gets Longer

So I picked up some new books this weekend. I've been looking forward to two of them for awhile now, and have only just discovered the others. All four are getting priority over the ones I already own (I know, my list is never going to go down if I just keep buying new books) Anyway, here are my next To-Reads:

Hidden (Firelight #3)
Sophie Jordan

Firelight is one of my favourite series and I've been waiting for the final instalment for a year. I finally picked it up (couldn't find it in any store) so this is getting read asap!

In Honor
Jessi Kirby

I read the Goodreads description for this book so long ago and I finally found it in a store. It looks like it will be heartbreaking and beautiful and I can't wait to find out. I'm a huge fan of road trip stories, so I have a feeling I'll like this a lot.

Saving June
Hannah Harrington

After reading Speechless, I knew I had to read Harrington's debut novel. The premise sounds haunting and once again it's a road trip story, so that adds to the beauty of the novel. Both this and In Honor deal with death, so I know I may not be able to read them right after one another, but we'll see. I hope they are both as powerful as I think they will be.

Speak
Laurie Halse Anderson

Now, I've read a lot of reviews for Speechless and most every one of them compares it to this book. So I think I need to read this one. It came first, it deals with bullying and mean girls, and I've enjoyed every other book I've read with this concept. One of my favourite authors, Courtney Summers, writes amazing books about bullying and mean girls, so I want to see what else is out there dealing with those issues.






There's no doubt this list will be longer before I even finish these four books, but I just wanted to give you a taste of what I'm reading now. Has anyone read any of these? Thoughts and opinions are always welcome!