• About Me
• My Policies
• Authors
• Books Read
• My Videos

Thu, September 13, 2012

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron Review

The Dark Unwinding
By Sharon Cameron
Publication date: Sept. 1, 2012
Scholastic Press, 318 pages
Source: Publisher

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman’s inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle’s world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

— Goodreads.com description

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron was a nice surprise. In the past, steampunk novels have been a snoozefest for me…I just can’t get past the long descriptions of machinery. Not my thing.

This novel is quite different – much more of a quirky story about family and sanity…with just a touch of steampunk. So, if that’s not your thing, don’t be turned off. Truly, I’m not sure this book should even be called steampunk at all…but that’s a longer discussion we won’t get into.

Now, I enjoyed it, but is it a super fast and engaging read? Not really. It definitely dragged in parts, and I can see why it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

Still, for me, the wide cast of characters was what made The Dark Unwinding. From the maid to the cook to the lawyer, the town in this book is filled with people who are equal parts eccentric and endearing…by the end, I’d come to feel fondly toward them all.

You can tell Cameron put a lot of thought and love into this book, and I’ll definitely be checking out more of her work in the future!

Wed, May 16, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday – Eve and Adam and More

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine to shine a spotlight on upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Eve and Adam
By Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant
304 pages
Feiwel & Friends, to be released Oct. 2, 2012

Sixteen-year-old Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother, EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure, Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster than physically possible.

While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like Evening, he’s never questioned anything… until now. Solo drops hints to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it. Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world completely.

— Goodreads.com description

Lies! Conspiracy! This one seems like it’ll be such a thriller…

Over You
By Emma McLaughlin and Nicolas Kraus
304 pages
HarperTeen, to be released Aug. 2012

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.

Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even.

— Goodreads.com description

I loved McLaughlin and Kraus’ The Nanny Diaries when I first read it years ago, and I’m excited they’re giving YA a shot. I think their smart and humorous writing will make Max a standout character for me this year. Fingers crossed!

The Dark Unwinding
By Sharon Cameron
352 pages
Scholastic Press, to be released Sept. 2012

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman’s inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle’s world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.

— Goodreads.com description

I haven’t had a lot of luck in the past with steampunk novels, yet…I’m willing to give them another chance. And the description on this one definitely won me over!