Schrödinger's Bookshelf » Romance

Queen of the Dead, by Stacey Kade (Hyperion, 2011)

Michael M. Jones — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:07:40 +0000

Will is a Goth who sees ghosts. Alona is a cheerleader who met an early demise. They’ve forged an awkward relationship built on opposites attracting and cooperation, which serves them well as they help other ghosts gain closure. But now there’s a new girl mucking things up, and she introduces Will to an entire society of ghost whisperers. While they provide him with insight into his abilities, they don’t seem all that altruistic. Meanwhile, Alona becomes trapped in the body of a comatose friend, a fate worse than death. It’s time for them both to figure out what they really want. This charming romantic comedy has surprising depths, and plenty of soul.

The Girl in the Steel Corset, by Kady Cross (Harlequin Teen, 2011)

Michael M. Jones — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:00:13 +0000

Finlay Jayne is a young woman with a secret: a dark side which exhibits a violent streak and superhuman strength. On the run from a previous employer, she’s rescued by Duke Griffin King, who, like his friends, possesses unusual powers. Even as they try to understand Finlay’s true nature, the small group struggles with internal turmoil and external threats, locked into a game of wits with the insidious Mechanist. In this quirky, exciting vision of an alternate Victorian England, automatons and dirigibles mix with superpowers and teen drama. With its comic book elements, steampunk trappings and romance sensibilities, this playful adventure marks the start of a fun new series.

Huntress, by Malinda Lo (Little, Brown, 2011)

Michael M. Jones — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:42:34 +0000

The Kingdom has been in upheaval for years, plagued by bizarre weather, failing crops, and unnatural creatures. An emissary from the Fae invites human representatives to meet with their Queen, to restore the balance. Among those who are chosen are Kaede, daughter of the Chancellor, and Taisin, a powerful sage-in-training. The perils of the road are many, and slowly the two girls fall for one another, a bond which proves life-saving when they confront the true threat to two kingdoms. This gorgeous fantasy combines heart-pounding adventure and gentle romance. Filled with lush imagery and lovely words, it’s a genuine treat.

Shadow Walkers, by Brent Hartinger (Flux, 2011)

Michael M. Jones — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:13:09 +0000

As a gay teenager living with his little brother and grandparents on an island community of only 4,000, Zach feels like an outsider, relying on the Internet for peace of mind and interaction with the outside world. When he’s grounded for forgetting to take out the trash, and denied Internet privileges, his desperation for diversion leads him to attempt astral projection. After he tries and fails, he puts the whole thing out of mind, even though the woman at the New Age store totally swore the special incense she gave him would help next time. And then Zach’s little brother, Gilbert, goes missing, and Zach once again tries to astral project in the hopes of finding him. This time, it works. In the astral realm, Zach can track his brother and his kidnappers, but can he find a way to alert the police before something bad happens? Luckily, in the process, he runs into Emory, another astral projector who’s much better at it … and apparently into Zach as well. Together, they can try to save Gilbert and give one another strength and comfort. That is, if the dark creatures stalking the astral plane don’t get them first.

There’s a lot of raw emotion and adolescent fervor woven into the pages of this relatively short roller coaster of a tale. Zach comes off as pretty high-strung, especially once the subplot regarding his little brother kicks into gear and he gets caught up in the tension of the moment. He and Emory hit it off with genuine chemistry, although something about the pacing seems a little off, even rushed. One can chalk it up to the excitement and adrenaline of the situation, but it still feels like they needed more time before reaching the depths of connection that they did. I’ll be honest: I never really bought into the astral projection element as a compelling factor in the story. As a metaphor for escaping one’s bounds and limitations, it’s dead-on perfect and applicable to the characters. At the same time, it fails to capture me as a reader. Certainly, the logic in which Zach decides to use astral projection, which he doesn’t even believe is real and has never successfully accomplished before, as a tool for finding his missing brother, requires a certain leap of faith on the reader’s part, lest the whole thing collapse. Of course it works, and of course the only other person he meets on the astral plane who isn’t trying to kill him, turns out to cute, gay, single, and of the right age. This is a good book, and I’m thrilled to see a YA paranormal featuring a gay teen and a hint of romance, but as a paranormal story goes, it never quite gels. I think it could have benefited from expansion; with a more leisurely plot, a less frantic atmosphere, and a less pressing deadline, this could have been great instead of good. It’s still a nice change of pace, and maybe we’ll get to see these characters again under less intense circumstances, and get to know them better.

Blood Feud, by Alyxandra Harvey (Walker and Company, 2010)

Michael M. Jones — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:54:32 +0000

The vampire queen is dead, long live the new vampire queen. Helena Drake may be in charge following a brief, messy struggle, but the troubles aren’t over yet. The evil Lord Montmartre is still out there, and still eying the throne, and still determined to take it by kidnapping and wedding Helena’s daughter, Solange Drake. Luckily, the Drakes have Isabeau St. Croix, a resourceful young woman who survived the French Revolution before being transformed into a vampire and buried for centuries, on their side. Isabeau, now a fierce warrior known as a Hound, will do anything to protect her allies, especially if it means getting her revenge on the man who entombed her for two hundred years. With the dashing Logan Drake at her side, Isabeau must help foil the best-laid plans of Montmartre and his allies. And if Logan and Isabeau fall for one another along the way, well, no one’s about to object.

Alyxandra Harvey’s attention to detail, and ability to create complex, sympathetic characters, are what separate this book out from others of its ilk. In the small but growing field of “vampire princess books,” it’s characters like Isabeau and Logan, with their easy chemistry and genuine relationship, and supporting characters like Lucy (the token human and sassy stealer of scenes) who sell the story and make it shine. This is one series I always enjoy visiting.