The Devil's Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis

I read this book a while ago, but I really loved it, so I thought I'd share. It's about Catherine de Medici, who was Queen of France and married to Henri II (King of France). It chronicles her life since childhood to the aftermath of  a very pivotal event.

My Thoughts:

1. She was very interested in astrology and magic and such, and this book takes a wonderful approach to that. They perform rituals and have horoscopes done and everything, and I'm super interested in stuff like that, so I loved this book all the more for Jeanne Kalogridis' approach to the magic of Catherine. 
2. The relationship between Catherine and Henri II was really well executed, in my opinion. I loved them together - just the right amount of adorable with a dash of angst and betrayal. There was this one great moment where Henri comes to Catherine's room after telling her he's over Diane de Poitiers and the Scottish maid of Mary, Queen of Scots that is just so great!
3. Also, Catherine is pretty bad ass, which made me love her. In dealing with the intrigue of the French monarchy, holding her own with Diane de Poitiers, handling the whole Catholic/Protestant thing - she may not always have been right, but she was definitely hard core.
4. There is a lot of history in this book, which I thought was totally awesome. I love France (and Italy), so this was very interesting for me.

Who Should Read It:

• People looking for interesting side of history. Does this ever deliver!
• If you love the whole intrigue/love/betrayal in a 16th century royal court thing (think Showtime's The Borgias) then you'll probably love this book.
• I wouldn't say this is an adult novel, but it certainly doesn't fit the common tropes of a young adult novel. So, if you're looking for something a little more "WOW!", then this is for you!

So, that The Devil's Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis, a totally awesome book which I recommend you all check out! For a list of her other works (which I hope to read eventually), check out her website here.

Soon, I'll be reviewing Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

Die for Me by Amy Plum

This is an amazing book about a 17 year old girl (Kate) who goes to Paris and ends up finding love with Vincent....but, wait! Vincent isn't exactly all he appears to be!

My Thoughts:

1. First, it's set in Paris! I love Paris! Who doesn't love Paris? Yay Paris!
2. Vincent!!! First, he's French (read: super hot!). Second, he's tall, dark and handsome in a dashing, dangerous and charming kind of way. Third, he's really sweet, too and the relationship he has with Kate is almost delicate in its tendernes and I just love it!
3. Originality! In this book, a paranormal romance, the guy is NOT a vampire! Amy Plum has taken a genre that has certainly had a lot of additions of late, and completely revitalized it! Not that I was ever  losing interest in the paranormal teen romance genre, but the stunningly fresh vibe of Amy Plum's debut novel really made it memorable for me!
4. The romance was addicting! This is one of those read-it-in-one-go, breathless-the-whole-time, swept away kind of novels!
5. This book is the first in a trilogy, yet it actually had a conclusion!!! I absolutely loathe books that leave off practically in mid-scene, and this book had the most adorable, wonderful, best-ever ending ever!

Who Should Read It:

• Girls who want a little old-fashioned charm in their literary love life. (Vincent = Amazing!)
• People who love an interesting turn of mythology! Honestly, I was completely surprised, and this is from someone who read a fair amount of paranormal/mythological/fantasy novels. I have never come across anything like this before!
• Just in general, girls looking for a romance novel. This is for you!

All in all, this is a really great book: romantic, engaging, fascinating, perfect. The next book is called Until I Die and is scheduled for May of 2012. For me info and general awesomeness, check out Amy Plum's website, here.

Be sure to stay tuned for my next review, which will be on Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles (and basically the whole Perfect Chemistry series)

This is the third book in Elkeles' bestselling Perfect Chemistry series, about the three Fuentes brothers (Alex, Carlos, Luis) and their love interests (Brittany, Kiara, and Nikki)

My Thoughts:

1. This series has always had its humorous moment, and the third installment was no exception! 
2. It's very engaging - I finished it in about six hours of solid reading!
3. The romantic interactions are always well-written. I loved Brittany/Alex most of all, but the descriptions of Nikki and Luis's feelings are very well executed. Simone Elkeles always has a knack for tastefully doing love scenes, and that continues in this book as well. (Though, if you're like 14 or easily offended, warning: they do it in this book. And they swear a lot too.)
4. I've read reviews that say these books are too formulaic, that they're all the same...I have to disagree. Okay, they're all forbidden love, but there is a reason Romeo and Juliet is the most enduring romance ever: people love forbidden love stories! And I am proudly one of those people!
5. The female characters are relatable. I really indentified with Brittany because she really tries to project this image of having it all, the perfect life, being put together and unflustered but really she's a bit of a mess, just like everybody else. I related to Kiara in that she was a bit of a nerd, without much experience with guys before Carlos. And, while I personally haven't experience this, I thought it was very realistic that Nikki had been hurt before and had difficulty trusting Luis - it made a great novel and I think lots of girls (and guys) can relate to that. Also, Nikki has the "I need to be needed" complex that I have...I'm pretty sure that's a psychological no-no, but I sure as heck enjoyed reading about someone who felt that way too!
6. The guys! I love love love Alex! He is so amazing! My number one out of the whole series! Luis, of course, has his charms and so does Carlos...but Alex is so...Alex. In short, well-written love interests!
7. Accordingly, this book has the other two Fuentes brothers, Alex and Carlos (and Brittany and Kiara, respectively), in it as well. This of course lent itself to some great family interaction as well as a chance to fantasize about Alex. (Oh, don't sanctimoniously act like you don't! If you've read the book, I know you do! )

Who Should Read It:

• Fans of Perfect Chemistry and Rules of Attraction! This is a worthy installment to the series!
• People who love the forbidden romance thing!
• Fans of West Side Story - It has gangs, this-side-of-town, that-side-of-town divisions, with a guy and a girl from two different sides getting together. (Well, technically not in Rules of Attraction, but there's still class differences.) Alas, there is not singing or dancing...but you can't have it all, can you?
• People who love guilty pleasure stuff! Like I mentioned, Nikki likes to be needed. And so do I. If you do too, you'll probably like this novel.
• People looking for something a little more down to Earth. There's no paranormal stuff - no vampires, witches, werewolves, zombies or other members of the undead. The characters have real world problems.... Well, theoretical real world problems, if that makes sense. (I.E. I live in a white bread neighborhood with no gangs.)

In short, a great book! I love love love Simone Elkeles so I really recommend Chain Reaction (and Rules of Attraction and Perfect Chemistry if you haven't read those). Stay tuned for a review of Die for Me by Amy Plum!

Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

I read the first novel in this series (Tiger's Curse) in two days, and I'm currently halfway through the second one (Tiger's Quest). This series is to die for! It's about a girl, Kelsey, who ends up temping for a circus, then going to India with this mysterious white tiger...but...the tiger isn't a tiger! He's actually a guy (a prince to be specific), who has been cursed to remain a tiger until the curse is broken by a girl (Kelsey). Romance ensues (of course).

My Thoughts:

1. First off, I loved the idea of a character just up and flying thousands of miles around the world with basically no real deliberation about it. That's the spirit of adventure!
2. The whole thing takes place in India, which is pretty different, so that's cool. There's lots of mythology involved as well, and I really enjoy that.
3. The covers are truly gorgeous! Not only that, but the inside covers have maps of the world with dotted lines and airplanes on them to show where the characters travel! I absolutely love that! It's so classic looking, you know?
4. The romance is great! It's a love triangle between Kelsey and the two tiger brothers Ren and Kishan. And let me tell you, you will not be disappointed! I laughed, I cried, I squealed...it was breathtaking. Both of them are so awesome and you can't help but love them both!
5. The book was so engaging! I sat down to read the first one and maybe 8:00 and the next thing I know it's 12:01 AM and I'm 350 pages in, having not looked up once! I could've sworn it would be like twenty after ten or something, but the book was that engrossing! 
6. It has a really classic vibe to it. Something about it hearkens to epic romances and fairy tales. Perhaps it's the curse and the quests that give this series that vibe, or maybe it has to do with the fact that it's such a sweeping saga. Whatever the case, it's very intoxicating to find in a modern day novel.

Who Should Read It:

•  People interested in a romance that's more than just a romance - Kelsey has a really great adventure as well. 
• People who love mythology/folklore/other cultures - it's very fascinating in that respect, and I think Colleen Houck did a wonderful job of incorporating cultural notes about India into the text: it's the perfect balance of informative and interesting without verging on boring or dry.
• People who have a thing for love triangles (Don't pretend like you don't, everyone does!)

This is an excellent series which I really recommend! They still sell both in the bookstores and the third book in the series, Tiger's Voyage, is due to be released November 1st 2011 so check it out!

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This is probably the greatest contemporary romance I've ever read! I first read it a while ago, but I just finished rereading it, so I thought I'd share my thoughts. It's about a 17/18 year old girl named Anna, and her father sends her to the School of America in Paris. Romance ensues!

My Thoughts:

1. First, it takes place in Paris...PARIS! I am a total Francophile, so this may just be me...but I doubt it! I have always wanted to go to France, so I really enjoyed the vicarious trip. Stephanie Perkins is very deft at describing things as they would appear to someone seeing them for the first time, so it was perfect in that respect.
2. Etienne St. Clair. What a name! What a love interest! One, he is technically American, but he was educated for a while in England, so he has a British accent! Two, he's so gorgeous! Three, he is without a doubt the best fictional love interest there has ever been - he's funny, smart, attractive, accented and he has the most endearing personality in the world!
3. The romance! It was the most genuine, sincere teen romance I have ever read! There's angst, but no melodrama, cuteness, but no sappyness...It is phenomenal! The second to last scene, on the roof of the Notre Dame, overlooking Paris, has the most beautiful, charming declaration of love I have ever read (and you know how much I read!)!

Who Should Read It:

• Everyone! It's funny and cute and sweet and cool and the author understands teenage romance and if you are a living, breathing human being you should be reading this book. Know that I am not sponsored by anyone in any way shape or form when I tell you: Go to the bookstore. Buy this book. Read this book. Laugh. Cry. Squeal. Sigh. Love it!

I am so giddy right now, that's how awesome this book is! And guess what? Stephanie Perkins next book, Lola and the Boy Next Door, a companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, is due to be released in 12 days (September 29th)!!! For more info (and general awesomeness) check out Stephanie Perkins' website here. If you want to know what I'll next be reviewing, check out my original blog here, for a list of today's book haul! Au revoir!

Falling for Hamlet, a novel by Michelle Ray

I picked this up at Barnes and Noble over the summer, a few weeks after I'd read Shakespeare's Hamlet (yes, just for fun!). This book is a contemporary retelling of that story from Ophelia's perspective.

 My Thoughts:

1. I was very invested in this novel. It's told in flashbacks as Ophelia is being interviewed by the Danish version of the FBI about what happened to the royal family, so obviously the author decided to radically change Ophelia's fate. So, this lends itself to "Maybe Laertes doesn't stab Hamlet with the poisoned blade after all?" or "What if Polonius wasn't behind that curtain?" etc. etc. It's a good blend of the author's own plot line and the original so you're still engaged, wondering what exactly will happen.
2. If you suspend disbelief just a little bit, Hamlet translates surprisingly well to the modern day. I was expecting Hamlet's father and then Claudius to be heads of a corporation or law firm or something a little more commonplace modern day than a monarchy, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the author stuck with that. First, because no one should mess with Shakespeare, second because it really made the vibes of the novel that much better and third because I have a little thing for royalty (What? Like you didn't get up at 3:00 AM and skip school to watch the royal wedding last April!)
3. The romance between Hamlet and Ophelia. I loved it! It was very angst-ridden, but, done well, I really love that stuff! I am a huge fan of brooding guys, and Michelle Ray's Hamlet was very brooding! Ophelia even says he's brooding when she says "Every girl wants to save a brooding guy, but he was my brooding guy to save." (That's probably indicative of some sort of personality disorder, but, be that as it may, it's sure fun to read about!) I loved, loved, LOVED their relationship! It was so well characterized, too (though a few times I wanted to ring Ophelia's neck!). I even had tears in my eyes during some parts.
4. As an adaptation of Shakespeare, it was no original, of course, but I did like it. I loved the angst-y, dark vibes from the romance and the tragedy of it all ( I am a HUGE fan of tragic endings!). I was not a fan of making  the duel at the end a lacrosse match...I would have preferred fencing, but that's just me!

Who Should Read It:

• People who love angst-y, dark, tragic teen romances! This is unparallelled in that department!
• People who love Hamlet! You just have to read this!
• Honestly, I do recommend this to everyone! One of my friends, Laura, borrowed this from me, and she hasn't read Hamlet, so I'll let you know how she likes it!

That concludes our review of the wonderful Falling for Hamlet, a novel by Michelle Ray; I recommend it to you all!

I'm currently re-reading Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, so look forward to a review on that and then I'll be reading Withering Tights (contemporary adaptation of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights) by Louise Rennison. I needed a little break from thwarted love and everyone dying, so I've placed Anna and the French Kiss, the best book ever, in there!

Juliet by Anne Fortier (Part Two)

I finished this book yesterday, but, as I was preoccupied with writing essays for my european history class, I didn't get to blog about it! So, I'll finish up now!

This book was AMAZING! The love story of the past resolved in epic tragedy (as well it should, being R & J, after all) and the modern day love story was so heartrending and sweet! Not to mention the whole thing takes place in Italy (read: sexy Italian love interest! ...if you're interested in my opinion of the various nationalities of guys, see here and here.)

Who Should Read It:

• Romance fans! Particularly romance fans with little romantic experience who like to live vicariously through novel characters - our heroine is completely new to romance when she gets swept off her feet by Alessandro :)
• Shakespeare fans! The premise that this book is based on the story of the families that Shakespeare based the Capulets and Montagues on is so freaking cool!
• Any who wants a little adventure in their literary lives!

And because we're talking R & J, I've compiled a list of the top 4 best movie adaptations of Romeo and Juliet, in my opinion. These are listed in no particular order.

1. Romeo and Juliet (1968 - Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting): This one is a classic! It's sweet and sad and beautifully rendered and everything it should be. Plus, the main love theme, composed by Nino Rota, is SO wonderful!
2. William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (1996 - Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio): This one is awesome too! It's got the original dialogue BUT it's set modern day...it is without a doubt the most original film I've ever seen - you have to see it to get it. But, while it has its funny moments, I cry more here than I did during the '68 version....also, I love Leo!
3. West Side Story (1961 - Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer): It's a musical! What more do you want!
4. Gnomeo & Juliet (2011 - Emily Blunt and James McAvoy): Okay, this is anthropomorphic lawn ornaments doing Shakespeare, now what more do you want? The cutest, sweetest, funniest animated film I have ever seen. AND *spoiler alert* it had a happy ending. I was even inspired to vow that, should I ever own a home, I will so put a bronze statue of the Bard in my yard, unashamedly at that. I don't care how old you are or whether you've ever read the play: watch this movie!

And that concludes me tangentially pontificating on my favorite adaptations of Shakespeare. In that vein, stay tuned for a review of Falling for Hamlet, a novel by Michelle Ray. And yes, it is what you think it is. Don't judge me - I know I'm a nerd, you know I'm a nerd, but you don't know me, thus I am not really "out" as a nerd (look at me, breaking the fourth wall!). 'Til then!

Juliet by Anne Fortier (Part One)

I haven't yet finished this book, but I really wanted to share it with you, so I'll review on the ending of it later.

It's about this woman (Julie/Guilietta) who travels to Italy after discovering that she is the descendant of the actual historical family upon which Shakespeare based the Capulets, there, she meets this man (Alessandro)who seems to hate her, but we shall see if that changes (read: I think he's the love interest), and tries to uncover the truth of the family legends.

Why I Love This Book:

1. It has an epigraph to each chapter from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet at the beginning of each chapter. If you've been reading my original blog (here), you'll know how much I love R & J! So, that, and the fact that the whole story is basically a discussion of the facts behind that, makes me just love this book!
2. It's sort of like two books (and romances) in one: our main character is travelling about Italy, trying to figure out Alessandro etc. AND she is reading these ancient manuscripts that depict the tale that R & J is based on. So, whole chapters are about the romance of Romeo and Guilietta in the Middle Ages, which is awesome!
3. The style is just great. The diction is very elevated and the way in which things are phrased is very interesting. It's almost like Fortier is trying the give her contemporary novel a Shakespearean feel (which, considering the subject matter, is so cool). One of my friends thought that it sounded pompous, but this was the same friend who pronounced Guilietta as "Gwill-e-etta" and "Ghoul-e-etta". I really apprectiate the style, but I tend to genuinely love classic novels like those of Jane Austen, so I may be biased.

In short, so far, it's an awesome book and I highly recommend it if you love romance, Shakespeare, history, and wonderful diction!

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

This series includes City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, and City of Fallen Angels. City of Heavenly Fire and City of Lost Souls are upcoming additions to the pair of trilogies that make up this series.

I really loved this book series! It's no Harry Potter (of course, nothing is), but it is definitely my favorite book series in a long time. The plot centers around Clary, her relationship with Jace, and her entry into the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders (warlocks, vampires, werewolves etc.)

Reasons why this book is excellent:

1. It has everything! It's definitely got romance, but it's not the only element of the book (which would make it so sappy); it has action, adventure, and mystery as well.
2. The writing style is wonderful! I love Cassandra Clare! The description are very vivid, which I believe contributes to the realism of this novel (which, for me, is very important in a fantasy novel). 
3. The main character is great. If I don't like the main character, I have difficultly enjoying a book at all., but I loved Clary! She's cool, but not tool cool as to be unrelatable.
4. The guys are great too! Jace is by far the best love interest I've read about in a long time. He's the perfect hero, really: attractive, snarky, brooding, just awesome. 
5. It's so angsty. I love angst in my teen paranormal romance, and I am unashamed of that. And you should be unashamed too. 
6. There were some pretty humorous moments, which is a rare delight in such a dark, angsty book. 

Who should read it:

• Everyone! It is an absolutely wonderful series and I laughed and cried and just fell in love with this book!
• It is a little dark and angsty, like I mentioned, so if you're not into that, you might not enjoy this book.

In short, I award ten stars to an absolutely epic book series! READ IT!

Look forward to my next review, which will be of the prequel series to this series, The Infernal Devices, also by Cassandra Clare.

If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to check out my original blog, which is a more general one, here