Review: Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Title: Dairy Queen
Author: Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Narrator: Natalie Moore
Published: May 23, 2006  (first published April 30, 2006)
Publisher: Listening Library
Series: Dairy Queen #1
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Length: 6 hours and 7 minutes
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 4.5 stars
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“Everyone I looked at, their whole lives, did exactly what they were supposed to do without even questioning it, without even wondering if they could do something different.”
― Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Dairy Queen

Synopsis
When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.
Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But, D. J. can’t help admitting, maybe he’s right.

When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.
Stuff like why her best friend, Amber, isn’t so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Why her mom has two jobs and a big secret. Why her college-football-star brothers won’t even call home. Why her dad would go ballistic if she tried out for the high school football team herself. And why Brian is so, so out of her league.

When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.
Welcome to the summer that fifteen-year-old D. J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk, and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
When I picked up Dairy Queen, I wasn’t expecting it to be a new favorite. Since this book has a lot to do with football and dairy farming, subjects I have very little interest in and know absolutely nothing about, I went into Dairy Queen skeptical but also hopeful that it would take me by surprise given all of the positive feedback it received. And lo and behold, Dairy Queen ended up being a delightful read, filled with wholesome, heart-warming scenes while at the same time fraught with so much tension and emotional feels.

Review: The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

Title: The Girl with All the Gifts
Author: M.R. Carey
Published: June 19, 2014
Publisher: Orbit
Genre: Young Adult Post-Apocalyptic, Horror
Pages: 460
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 4.5 stars
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“you can't save people from the world. There's nowhere else to take them.”
― M.R. Carey, The Girl with All the Gifts

Synopsis
NOT EVERY GIFT IS A BLESSING

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class.

When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite. But they don't laugh.

Melanie is a very special girl.

Emotionally charged and gripping from beginning to end, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS is the most powerful and affecting thriller you will read this year. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
I’ve been looking forward to reading The Girl with All the Gifts for some time, knowing that I would love it. Everything about it, from the intriguing, unclear synopsis to the stunning cover, had me wanting it immediately. I’m not usually into zombie books, with the exception of some like This Is Not a Test, but The Girl with All the Gifts is another book that focuses more on the development of the characters than it does the hungries (what the zombies are called in this book). Yes, we’re given plenty of information about the hungries and the infliction from a scientific standpoint, which I found fascinating, and we see some hungry attacks, but there’s so much more to this book than pure, raw fear and bloody gore. It’s a harrowing tale that plucks your heartstrings, and fills you up with raw emotion.

Review: Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier

Title: Heart's Blood
Author: Juliet Marillier
Published: October 2, 2009
Publisher: Roc
Genre: Adult Fantasy, Retelling
Pages: 398
Source: Gift
Rating: 4.5 stars
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“Even in that time of utter darkness, somewhere deep inside me the memory of love and goodness had stayed alive.”
― Juliet Marillier, Heart's Blood

Synopsis
Whistling Tor is a place of secrets and mystery. Surrounded by a wooded hill, and unknown presences, the crumbling fortress is owned by a chieftain whose name is spoken throughout the district in tones of revulsion and bitterness. A curse lies over Anluan's family and his people; those woods hold a perilous force whose every whisper threatens doom.

For young scribe Caitrin it is a safe haven. This place where nobody else is prepared to go seems exactly what she needs, for Caitrin is fleeing her own demons. As Caitrin comes to know Anluan and his home in more depth she realizes that it is only through her love and determination that the curse can be broken and Anluan and his people set free. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts
Since I read my first Juliet Marillier book, Shadowfell, I have yet to be disappointed in a single book that she has written. There is something magical about her writing style as the words seem to come to life on the pages. Heart's Blood was no exception, and I was once again impressed by Marillier's writing skill.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young Book Review

Title: Blood Red Road 
Author: Moira Young
Published: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Series: Dust Lands Trilogy #1
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Pages: 459
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4.5 stars
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“I never knew that missin somebody could hurt, I says. But it does. Deep inside. Like it's in my bones. We ain't never bin apart till now. Never. I dunno how to be without him. It's like... I ain't nuthin.” 
― Moira Young, Blood Red Road

Synopsis
Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization. (Goodreads)

The Book 
I loved, loved, LOVED this book! Did you hear I loved this book? Because I did! This was a hidden gem. I discovered it on someone's blog, and I had never heard of it before. I'm so happy I came across it!

This book defines the word dystopia. This dystopia has cage fighting, a band of women freedom fighters, and flipping huge man-eating worms that come out at night from underground with huge claws! It even had bad grammar! If that's not a dystopian world, I don't know what is! The bad grammar actually worked because no one's speech was flawless, and it didn't bother me. It was more authentic. Saba's adventures are wild and, well, adventurous. She isn't always saved in the nick of time. She doesn't have any magical wishes or a knight in shining armor. She does have a crow though. I love Nero! 

Saba is fierce. She is kickass! In the absence of her twin brother, she discovers she's a force to be reckoned with. While Jack saves her a couple of times, she also saves him. And she fights like a pro. All of the women in this book are amazing! I almost wanted to scream girlpower! a couple of times. No lie. The Free Hawks are just as fearsome and vicious as Saba, but they become fast friends of Saba's and loyal to the death. I loved them all! Even Epona who made me think of Link's horse from Legend of Zelda. I kept expecting to hear her neigh. Even Saba's little sister Emmi earned my respect with her bravery and devotion. 

As for the romance, I loved Jack! At first, he comes off as the stereotypical, bad boy. But he really isn't. He shows a sweeter side, and he isn't an a**hole which is refreshing. Plus, he actually lets Saba do her own thing! When she wants to save someone's skin or go off on an adventure, he doesn't pull her back and say let me do it, I'll protect you. He encourages her! He might join her, but he doesn't try to stop her. Holy crap! They work together. Jack complements Saba's tough, prickly attitude. Though she did start to annoy me after awhile because she can be so awful to Jack. But he keeps coming back, with a smirk on his face, like some masochist. He even sings to her, but I do like the song he sings, even though she's clueless it's about her.

So if I loved this book so much, why did I give it a 4.5? First off, I missed having quotation marks. There were none. It was a different approach and I didn't like it. Sometimes, I had to backtrack and figure out if Saba was thinking or speaking. But the main reason was because the ending was a little too predictable and just not as amazing as the rest of the book. But while this is a part of a series, the ending could have been a real ending. It wrapped up very nicely, if predictably, and provided some closure. So, that's a definite plus!

I cannot wait for the sequel Rebel Heart coming out October 30th! 

Happy reading,

Courtney