The Storyteller

The Storyteller

by Antonia Michaelis

Synopsis:

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?

Award-winning author Antonia Michaelis moves in a bold new direction with her latest novel: a dark, haunting, contemporary story that is part mystery, part romance, and part melodrama.

My thoughts:

I picked up this book because I had previously read Michaelis' Tiger Moon and fell in love with her writing style and storytelling abilities.  So of course when I saw this book I had to try it.  Once again I was simply blown away by the story and the beautiful writing.  Michaelis is a master at keeping the reader guessing.  For the entire book I never knew what to expect next or I would think that I had it all figured out and then my opinions and everything I knew about the characters (or thought I knew) would be turned upside down on me.  I know that sounds frustrating but it never was it just pulled me deeper into the story.  From the very start of the book you know it is going to be a dark tale and as you start reading and getting to know the characters the suspense from the beginning of the book is always there in the back of your mind and you just pray everyone will come through all right.  Anna is a girl who has everything but feels trapped by her inexperience.  Abel is a mystery to pretty much everyone and wants to keep it that way.  When Anna finds a doll in the student center Abel claims it as his and just like that Anna is hooked.  She decides to follow Abel and see what she can find out.  What she finds is not at all what she expected; Abel has a little sister that he is taking care of all by himself.  Anna's curiosity won't let her turn away and she follows the two of them to a cafe where she eavesdrops on Abel as he starts to tell Micha (his little sister) the story of the cliff queen.  Abel is very protective of his sister but Anna is persistent   She gradually becomes involved in their lives - in Abel's attempt to keep his sister with him even though he is a minor and in Micha's questions about their missing mother.  Anna wants to help even as Abel tries to push her away but  she is slowly becoming a main character in the cliff queen's fairy tale.  This book haunted me and I found myself, after having finished it, having trouble sleeping because I couldn't get it out of my head.   I can't say it enough I loved this book but be warned it is dark and you shouldn't expect a happy ending.

Henry VIII Wolfman

Henry VIII Wolfman

by A. E. Moorat

Synopsis:

HENRY VIII: WOLFMAN. DIVORCED. BEHEADED. DIED. MAULED. SAVAGED. SURVIVED. Henry VIII was the best and bloodiest King ever to have sat on the throne of England. This fast-paced, exciting, gory, inventive and just plain gross retelling of his reign will bring to light the real man behind the myth. When it came to his size, Henry VIII was known for being larger-than-life, with a fearsome temper and bloodthirsty reputation to match; more beast than human, some might say... Be dragged kicking and screaming back 500 years into Tudor England.

  

My thoughts: 

First thing I will say is this is not my usual type of book but lately I have found myself eyeing all those classic mash-ups like “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”, “Little Women and the Werewolves”, “Withering Bites”, and so on.  Henry VIII Wolfman is my first mash-up experience and while I can't say that I loved it; I definitely didn't hate it either.  In Moorat’s Tudor England demons are real but a treaty has been signed between them and the humans.  The Arcadians (werewolves) are about to destroy the peace that the treaty offers as they are not satisfied with their lot in life (being the lowest ranking demons and resent by everyone on both sides) and decided to do something about it.  Unfortunately this involves eating Henry’s much longed for baby son and then proceeding to bite Henry himself.  Finding himself turning into a werewolf however doesn't really seem to concern Henry too much especially when he discovers how very taste human flesh can be.  In the meantime members of the Protektorate (including one Jane Seymour), Sir Thomas More, and Cardinal Wolsey are trying to stop the werewolves from building an army to overthrow Henry and take England for themselves. For the most part I found that the story moved very fast but there were two or three parts that slowed right down and I had to push myself through them.  If you are looking for a serious read this is not the book; this story is silly almost bordering on downright ridiculous at times.  Some of the characters (Wolsey in particular) use some very colorful language and employs some interesting problem solving ideas causing some a couple good laughing fits from me.  I think the main reason I didn't enjoy this book more was the violence that was quite graphic in detail.  There is a decent amount of blood and gore to be found in this book to keep horror fans entertained but for me it was a bit much to process and I wouldn't recommend it to someone who wasn't a huge fan.

The Diviners

The Diviners  by  Libby Bray

Synopsis:

Something dark and evil has risen...

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.



My thoughts:  

I loved the voice of Evie.  Her mannerisms, confidence and wit make her a character that is memorable and likeable.  The idea that the main characters --- all future diviners---have unique secret abilities that the reader knows about but the other characters don't helps build the suspense of the story.  Although this is beginning of another series the story itself has an ending that is satisfying.  I am looking forward to the next instalment.