Under the heading of "Immediately-Run-to-the Nearest-Library/Bookstore/Amazon" are the 1st two books in Laini Taylor's stunning "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" trilogy. The first book was picked up on a whim at Waukesha Public Library where the cover artwork called to me from a display table. "A book about angels? Eh, I'll give it a shot." Soooooo glad I did!. Her characters have amazing dialog, witty observations and have incredibly believable personal growth throughout. Add in an enveloping love story (without all the raunch a flat out sex you get with Laurel K Hamilton, et al - I KNOW what people do behind their closed doors and don't need it spelled out in eye-popping detail!), and you have two winners. The main characters, Karou and Akiva, along with their close family and friends, make the list of people I'd LOVE to invite to dinner! The twists and turns come from out of no where and this is a rare instance where Book 2 is better than Book 1. My ONLY complaint is the 3rd book isn't due for publication until Spring 2014. Sure wish I hadn't gobbled up the last 3rd of "Days of Blood & Starlight" last night like a box of Godiva's I didn't want to share! Wah!
Under the heading "Don't Waste Valuable Reading Time on This" comes "The White Forest" by Adam McOmber. This was another grabbed off the table at the library book. Sounds like a neat premise: Girl with missing friend hears inanimate objects "speak" to her while looking for her friend. Unfortunately as is the case with a lot of books, and movies for that matter, the devil is in the execution. Frankly, I got to the end of this one hoping for an original twist or something that would make me care about any of the characters. Alas, it never happened. Take my word for it, avoid this one.
That's all for now. I'm about to dive in to "Swamplandia" by Karen Russell. Whether it's a "Whoo Hoo" or a "Wah!" we be revealed soon....
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