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!

10. Hana/ Niederworld/ Scenic Route/ Bridge

Hana

Author: Lauren Oliver

Published: February 28, 2012

ebook: 144 pages

5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

The summer before they're supposed to be cured of the ability to love, best friends Lena and Hana begin to drift apart. While Lena shies away from underground music and parties with boys, Hana jumps at her last chance to experience the forbidden. For her, the summer is full of wild music, dancing—and even her first kiss.

But on the surface, Hana must be a model of perfect behavior. She meets her approved match, Fred Hargrove, and glimpses the safe, comfortable life she’ll have with him once they marry. As the date for her cure draws ever closer, Hana desperately misses Lena, wonders how it feels to truly be in love, and is simultaneously terrified of rebelling and of falling into line.

The Delirium world caught me at first glance and never let go. In a world where love is a disease and there is a cure for it, a young girl who can't wait for the cure finds herself falling head over heels the summer before her procedure. This is life isn't it? We don't know what love is like and from a distance it looks like it could be a terrible thing. One minute you're happy, the next you are huddled in a ball trying to forget the world around you. Maybe a live without love would be better... right? Lena figures out that a life without love is no life at all and Hana is about to experience something similiar. Both girls get a taste of love the last summer before their procedures. Hana takes place during the same time as Delirium and tells us Hana's side to the story.

Hana is a very sweet girl. I related to her right off the bat. She was adventurous and eager to live a bigger life than what was set out for her. She spends her summer sneaking out and going to co-ed parties. There she meets a boy who may change her life. She falls into secret keeping and curfew breaking and experiences life for the first time. Can you go back to the life you used to know once you've seen the other side? Just like Lena, Hana knows this is impossible. Too much of this story relates to our life here and now. Yes, there is no government curing us of love, but there are some people who may want to be cured. Love kills you when you have it and when you don't. But I for one, just like Lena and Hana wouldn't trade that for the world.

Entralled: Paranormal Diversions

Author: Edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong

Published: September 20, 2011

443 Pages

5 Gold Stars (from what I read)

(summary from Goodreads)

"Enthralled" is a collection of 14 original teen paranormal short stories from some of today's bestselling YA talent, united with the common theme of road trips.

I only read a few of the stories in this collection, so here are my short reviews for these lovely short stories.

Niederworld

Author: Rachel Vincent

I am a huge fan of the Soul Screamers universe, so whenever I hear that there is a short story involving some of the characters from the series, I must immediately read it! In this particular one, Emma and Sabine go on a mini road trip and stop in a small town called Niederworld, which is mostly populated by Harpies. Sabine is there to get some answers but it may not be as easy as she thinks it will be. I've never been a fan of Sabine, I mean, who is? But after reading this story, I kinda of like her. I've forever been Team Kaylee and Nash since I first picked up My Soul To Take, so when Sabine came in the picture and threatened that, I wanted her head on a platter. A lot has happened since that first day she showed up at school and after reading this story and Fearless (a short story involving Sabine and Nash before Kaylee) I've grown to kind of like her. In fact, I've even given her permission to have Nash (not that she needs it since she would take him anyway) She loves him and she always will. He is the only person who really understands her. Vincent wrote Sabine so well that I started to like her. I'm glad I read this before going into Before I Wake, because I'm sure it'll change my opinion on that entire book.

Scenic Route

Author: Carrie Ryan

Ryan's world of zombies intrigues me completely. The Forest of Hands and Teeth pulled me into a world where nothing may exist outside if a small village overrun by zombies. The world is no longer what it used to be and dreams are just that... dreams. Ryan introduces another set of characters in this short story, two sisters living on a hill trying to survive. They plan out trips that they know they will never get to take. They dream of a world without the monsters, without fear. When a stranger shows up at their door, their lives take a turn for the worse and things may never be the same. Zombie books and movies show us what's at the heart of humanity - fear and anger but also courage and faith. These come out when live is stripped down to the core, when survival is the only care in the world. Ryan captures these emotions and actions perfectly in every one of her books, showing us that even when we are surrounded by death, you can still live, you can still survive.

Bridge

Author: Jeri Smith-Ready

This was a unique story to read. It read like a poem and it's from the point of view of Logan, Aura's dead boyfriend from the Shade series. He's a musician so there are a lot of references to music, which is both fitting and poetic. His brother blames himself for Logan's death and Logan is trying to convince him not to kill himself. The hard part is that he is a ghost and his brother cannot hear him. This story was easy to read and heartbreaking until the end. It was hard to think about Logan in the regular books, knowing he was dead and would never get to live his dream of becoming a musician, but it's even harder listening to him speak in his own voice, watching his brother struggle and not being able to do anything about it. Smith-Ready knows how to tug on a heartstring and let go at just the right second. I for one cannot wait until the final book in the series, Shine, even though I'm sure Logan won't be in it much. At least we know he's doing okay now.