All tagged Megan Whalen Turner
Recommendation Roundup: Dec. 2013 & Jan. 2014
I combined December and January's recommendation posts due to our year-end List of Awesome compilation. We have a ton of very mixed books to recommend this time--I think the only one we all read was Jennifer Lynn Barnes' super-fun thriller The Naturals, which our book club read in January.
I had a particularly good run of books over the last couple months, including that I got to read a super-early copy of Lisa Schroeder's lovely new novel, The Bridge from Me to You, which was special to me for a number of reasons (disclosure: including this), but particularly because it reminded me so much of growing up in small town Oregon.
I was also excited to discover Maureen McGowan's action-packed post-apocalyptic thriller series (Deviants and Compliance), which is a whole lot of fun--especially on audio. And, if you're looking for a charming adult novel about the suckitude of adulting, I have to point you to You Had Me at Hello--it was a bestseller in the U.K. for a reason, let me tell you.
AND! One one final note, I was thrilled to read another super-early copy of a much-anticipated book, Gabrielle Zevin's The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, which I adored. If you like Zevin's novels, you'll love this one, trust me.
Obviously, Sandra discovered the awesomeness of Sarah Addison Allen this month--hooray for another convert! And I peer-pressured Laura into reading more Liza Palmer, as one does...
Onward to the recommendations!
{Book Matchmaker} Unah Wants a Dash of Magic, Adventure and Romance
Today’s book matchmaker victim participant is Unah, who likes a bit of everything, but especially likes young adult fiction with adventure, romance and magic.
We’ve got a mix of suggestions from all the CEFS contributors, drawing on a bunch of different genres. But first, Unah’s responses to our very scientific questionaire.
YA or Adult: YA
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery/Thriller, Magical Realism, Steampunk
Narrative Style: First Person, Multiple POV, Graphic Novel or Graphic Elements, Present Tense, Past Tense, Male POV, Main Character or Narrator, Female POV, Main Character or Narrator
Swoon Factor: 3
Gross Out Factor: 2
Fluff Factor: 2
Smut Factor: 4
Likes: The Lost Hero, Percy Jackson, Wild Magic, Sabriel, Lireal, Abhorsen, Keys to the Kingdom, Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices, I am Number Four, Power of Six
Dislikes: Stories with no plot (not Twilight *cough*)
The Recommendations!
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
…somehow, even in the worst of times, the tiniest fragments of good survive. It was the grip in which one held those fragments that counted.
Laura recommends Melina Marchetta’s fantasy series as an outstanding mix of all the qualities Unah likes. And, because it’s Melina Marchetta, the character development is second to none.