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19-year-old Jackson Meyer discovers that he can travel through time, albeit only a few hours and with no effect on his present. This changes however when two mysterious men attack Jackson’s girlfriend, Holly, and Jackson finds himself stuck two years in the past, unable to get back. All Jackson wants is to get back to his own time and save Holly, but he finds that not only have these mysterious “Enemies of Time” are still looking for him, but so is a secret branch of the CIA that seems to include Jackson’s own father.

There’s lots of good stuff in Tempest, including plenty of mysteries, action, and conspiracies. It’s also nice to read a YA novel where the main characters are in college for a change. Jackson is also a pretty likeable narrator, although he starts out a little too perfect-he’s rich, has a beautiful girlfriend, and has superpowers to boot. The relationships of the characters are generally well done overall, such as the relationship between Jackson and his sister.

However, there are a few research errors that bothered me while reading. Time travel is apparently genetic, which is rather ridiculous but not a huge problem if accepted as fantasy. Cross however throws around biology terms with no regard to their meaning; a recessive gene is treated as simply a rarity which is not always the case (the allele for five fingers is recessive to polydactyly in humans, yet is also extremely common). Purely recessive versions of genes will simply not be expressed in the presence of other versions; in the example given in the book a single copy of the time travel gene will be not be expressed at all. An individual is also said to be “evolved,” when in reality evolution as a concept cannot be applied to single organisms. While this may be nitpicking as a biologist, these errors were enough to take me out of the story. There are a couple of other things as well, such as a sailboat having a “center post” rather than a mast. Cross is also obviously not a native New Yorker, as evidenced mainly by a lack of local slang. A native like Jackson would also probably be able to recognize an NYC subway station by design and signage even if teleported randomly into one. Also, a bunch of middle-class white kids would probably not be working in Newark, least of all by themselves. Again, this may be nitpicking but the lack of simple research was enough to disrupt some climactic scenes in the book.

While this review may sound harsh, Tempest makes for a very entertaining read. The older characters and fairly original plot can make for a nice change from the glut of paranormal romance and dystopian novels clogging the young adult section.

A review copy was provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers program

The Year of the Flood begins after the plague from Oryx and Crake has killed off most of humanity. Two seemingly-different women have somehow survived; one, Toby, has barricaded herself inside a luxurious spa while exotic dancer Ren was fortunate to have been in quarantine at the time. Both women, however, share a common history as members of a religious group known as God’s Gardeners, who warned of a “waterless flood” that would wipe out humanity.

Most of the story focuses on Ren’s and Toby’s pasts in the Gardeners, a group briefly mentioned in Oryx and Crake. Atwood includes a sermon from the group’s leader at the beginning of each section, revealing the core tenets of the group, which seeks to reconcile Biblical tradition with modern biology. The Gardeners try to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, a contrast to the exaggerated commercialism surrounding them.

Year of the Flood also shows more of the “pleeblands” mentioned in Oryx and Crake, showing a world in which global warming has gotten out of control, and in which there is no corporate and environmental regulation whatsoever. The messages seem a bit heavy handed and absurd at times, but there is still a good story here.

The novel alternates between Toby’s point of view, and Ren’s, who tells her story in the third person. Both Ren and Toby’s stories intersect with each other, until the two are reunited near the end. The final portions after the plague feel a bit rushed, with the surviving characters finding one another a bit too quickly.

Many questions from the previous book are answered, including the origins of the “Extinctathon” game, and the identity of the people Jimmy encounters at the end of Oryx. New questions are raised as well however, such as Crake’s involvement with the Gardeners. Year of the Flood crosses over with Oryx and Crake in multiple places, although the novel can stand alone. This is still a great read, although the ending seems a bit abrupt; reading Oryx and Crake as well is recommended for a more complete story.

Ex-cop and repo man Nick Reid thought he was on a simple collection for $20 owed on a rented TV. Instead, Percy Dwayne Dubois knocks Nick out with a shovel, and steal’s the 1969 Ranchero Nick borrowed from his landlady. Accompanied by his Sonic-loving friend Desmond, Nick sets out across the Mississippi Delta to retrieve the TV for his hotheaded boss, and to return the Ranchero as promised.

Of course, each new plan only makes things more complicated, and Nick and Desmond reluctantly end up with more and more colorful characters in their party. Nick is an enjoyable narrator and a likeable character, despite is violent actions as he takes the law into his own hands.

Ranchero is a fun quick read with a great sense of humor. The story is action packed, funny, and gives a very clear picture of the Delta and its people, although some characters do play into a lot of southern stereotypes. This is a different kind of crime novel that is definitely worth a look. Be forewarned, Desmond’s constant Sonic stops may give you a craving.

A review copy was provided through the Goodreads.com First Reads program.

Johnny Truant receives a late night call from his friend, Lude. A strange old blind man in Lude’s building, known only as Zampano, has died; the old man’s apartment is a bizarre scene filled with tape measures and fragments of an even weirder manuscript. Johnny soon finds himself compelled to transcribe and edit the old man’s work-a treatise on a film that does not appear to exist, and which is slowly driving Johnny mad…

The bulk of the novel consists of “The Navidson Record,” Zampano’s academic study on a purportedly famous documentary film that even Johnny admits may not exist. The film follows famed photographer Will Navidson, who seeks to record the experiences of his family’s move to an old house in Virginia. The focus soon shifts, however, as Navidson discovers a small anomaly of the house-the inside is slightly bigger than the outside. Shortly afterward, the entrance a mysterious corridor appears in the living room, in what is seemingly an outside wall. The film soon shifts to the exploration of a possibly infinite space, filled with pitch-black walls, shifting corridors, and staircase that may be deeper than the earth itself.

The faux-academic style can be a bit dry at times, as “Zampano” makes large digressions into the nature of labyrinths, mythology, and echoes. However, his admittedly “freshman” writing style contains plenty of dialogue and suspense, and the details of the house are wonderfully creepy. There are copious footnotes scattered throughout the text, many fictional, and a great deal bizarre in and of themselves.

Johnny’s story is largely told throughout these footnotes, as he often interrupts with humorous observations on “The Navidson Record” and its inconsistencies. Many of his notes are very stream-of-consciousness, and some of Johnny’s tales of sex and drugs can be too much of a distraction at times. Most are well done however, especially the later footnotes that show his descent into madness.

Danielewski plays with the text layout almost constantly; a notable chapter on labyrinths sends the reader into a literal maze of footnotes. When Navidson enters the black hallways of his house, the text shifts and changes along with the house itself. Some the textual oddities even extend as far as the cover and copyright page.

Also included are a number of photographs, drawings, collages, and poems to accompany the story. The book is also riddled with codes and puzzles to solve if the reader wishes to dig deeper.

Creepy, bizarre, and even funny at times, House and Leaves is a fantastic read. The book may be difficult at times, but the reward is an excellent, unique, and satisfying reading experience.

A serial killer is loose in London, abducting young women and setting their corpses on fire. DC Maeve Kerrigan and her colleagues have been on the trail of the “Burning Man,” but their efforts have so far proven fruitless. A fifth victim has just been found; however, the crime scene doesn’t exactly fit with the other victims, leading Maeve to investigate a possible second killer.

The Burning opens with a young woman leaving a nightclub; when she is picked up by a strange man it is almost certain that she is the next victim. However, the young woman surprisingly ends up stabbing her abductor instead, and it soon becomes apparent that this man is not the actual serial killer. What begins as a stereotypical opening serves instead as an introduction to the protagonist, Maeve, as her hopes of having caught her killer are quickly dashed with the discovery of a fifth victim.

The focus of the novel is not on the main burning man case, but on Maeve’s investigation into the newest victim, Rebecca Haworth. Maeve is the narrator for most of the story, is a very likeable, well developed protagonist. At the end of each chapter, the POV switches to that of Louise, Rebecca’s best friend. These asides are the ones major flaw of the novel, and are largely skippable until the last couple of chapters.

The Burningis a very enjoyable crime novel with realistic characters, and I look forward to Jane Casey’s next offering.

A review copy was provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers program.

Le Cirque des Reves is a mysterious traveling carnival that arrives unannounced, and opens only at night. Ostensibly the brainchild of artist Chandresh Christophe Lefevre, the circus features seemingly endless tents filled with performers, rides, and indoor landscapes for patrons to explore. Many find the circus magical because it actually is; Le Cirque has secretly been chosen as venue for a private competition between two magicians, who have bound their students into a mysterious test of magical methods. One student, Celia, performs in plain sight as an illusionist, while her rival, Marco, works behind the scenes as Lefevre’s assistant.

The circus is definitely the star here, as Celia’s and Marco’s creations make it a wonderfully imaginative setting. There is a seemingly endless labyrinth of puzzle-like rooms, a towering maze of fluffy clouds, and even a menagerie of paper animals. Morgenstern’s creations are fantastically descriptive, and titular circus would indeed be an awesome place to visit.

The story focuses not only on how the contest affects Celia and Marco, but also on those unwittingly caught up in the “game.” A secondary plot focuses on Bailey, a boy who falls in love with both the circus and one of its performers. The two stories converge at the end, and the payoff is overall pretty satisfying.

There are also short interludes told in the second person, documenting the reader’s own tour through the circus. While there is a nice twist to these in the end, oftentimes they seem redundant as Bailey especially seems to encounter many of the same things. The romance aspect is also a bit forced; the reader is told Celia and Marco love each other, but the relationship doesn’t seem that developed.

The Night Circus is certainly worth visiting, especially for fans of magical realism.

A review copy was provided by the publisher.

The Monstromologistpresents itself as the purported diary of William James Henry, former apprentice to “monstrumologist” Dr. Pellinore Warthrop. Will Henry’s story begins on a dark night in 1888, when a grave robber delivers the corpse of one the Anthropophagi, headless, man-eating monsters based on the mythical cannibals known as “Blemmys.” However, these monsters are not native to New England, and it is up to Warthrop and 12-year-old Will to investigate and eliminate the infestation.

In Will Henry’s world, Anthropophagi and other monsters are animals with no supernatural origin, although they are no less horrifying. Yancey does not shy away from the gory details when describing monster attacks, festering diseases. The novel even opens with a detailed description of a monster dissection.

The writing is wonderfully atmospheric, with the settings coming straight out of a Victorian gothic novel. Warthrop and Will’s investigations take them from dark basement laboratories, to graveyards at night, a dank asylum, and claustrophobic tunnels. The Monstrumologist is a fantastic horror story, although some may be turned off from the gore.

The book design itself even features bizzare anatomical drawings on the endpapers, with engravings of surgical tools within the pages of the text. Unfortunately, the book also reflects a recent trend of YA hardcovers being of a lesser quality than those of “adult” titles. The pages of the book are glued directly to a flimsy spine, which annoying bent in multiple parts as I was reading. The book also lacks a decorative “headband” near the edges, which detracts aesthetically from an otherwise nice book design.

The Dog Who Came in From the Cold is not so much a novel than a collection of intersecting stories, each involving the inhabitants of Corduroy Mansions, a London apartment house. The titular dog is Freddie de La Hay, a Pimlico terrier both in breed and residency. After a visit to his master from an old acquaintance, Freddie finds himself reluctantly “spying” for MI6 by way of a bugged dog collar.

Other residents include Caroline, who is contemplating her relationship with quiet, sensitive James. Caroline finds herself consulting psychiatrist Berthea Snark, who is trying to protect her naive brother Terrence from some unscrupulous “friends.” Meanwhile, literary agent Rupert Porter (who should be residing in the Notting Hill flat of his partner, Barbara Ragg, rather than Corduroy Mansions), is dealing with an eccentric client who claims to have interviewed a yeti.

The writing is very stream of consciousness in a good way, with characters musing humorously on topics ranging from Latin conjugations to homeopathic remedies. The overall novel can feel a bit disjointed, as the author often jumps from plot to plot very abruptly, although the unique characters and plotlines make the stories easy to pick up again.

While there may not be a traditional plot, The Dog Who Came in From the Cold makes for an enjoyable light read, full of quirky characters and humorous reflections on life and relationships.

A finished copy was provided through the Goodreads.com First Reads program.

Jaffy Brown is living a life of squalor on the streets of nineteenth century London, when a close a close encounter with a tiger changes his life forever. The tiger belongs to Mr. Jamrach, an exotic animal trader, who offers young Jaffy a job caring with his animals. It is at jamrach’s that Jaffy meets his rival and best friend, Tim Linver.

When an associate of Jamrach’s plans a voyage to capture an exotic “dragon,” Jaffy jumps at the opportunity. Although enchanted at first with life on board a whaling ship, Jaffy finds himself homesick even before the crew reaches the island of the dragon. When the ship encounters a disaster, Jaffy, Tim, and their shipmates must face a horrifying fight to survive on the open ocean.

Jamrachs’ Menagerie can be considered a story in multiple parts. The first part of the novel deals with Jaffy’s childhood in London, while the second part is an adventure story aboard the whaling ship. The third part of the novel is an often horrific and gruesome tale of survival at sea.

It took a little while to get used to Jaffy’s voice at the beginning. The writing is partly stream-of-consciousness, which is really effective in the later parts of the novel. Jaffy’s hunger and mindset while adrift comes across very strongly through the text. Some of Jaffy’s shipmates are underdeveloped anf hard to keep track of, and some of the survival scenes can be rather gruesome. However, Jamrach’s Menagerie is very well written and is overall an excellent read.

A review copy was provided by the publisher.

Among the streets and alleys of Barcelona lies a mysterious, maze-like library known as the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Traditionally, a visitor chooses one book as his or her own to protect. When he is first brought to the Cemetery at the age of ten by his father, a bookseller, Daniel Sempere chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Julián Carax as his own. Daniel, enthralled by the book, soon discovers that his copy is the last in existence; a mysterious figure has been systematically burning all of Carax’s works, a figure who appears to be Carax’s fictional devil come to life.

The Shadow of the Wind is as much about Daniel’s coming of age as it is about the mystery of Julián Carax and his books. As Daniel digs deeper into the life of the enigmatic Carax, the more his own story comes to mirror that of the author’s. Like Carax, Daniel finds himself in a forbidden relationship with his best friend’s sister, as well in the crosshairs of the sadistic Inspector Fumero.

The novel begins somewhat slowly, largely dealing with Daniel’s loves and relationships. Later, as his story intersects more with Carax’s, Daniel enters a darker Barcelona of dank alleys, crumbling mansions, and a dank sanatorium. The lives Zafón’s characters intersect in an almost Dickensian manner, with people from Daniel’s present serving as links to Carax’s past.

It is through these intersecting characters that Julián Carax’s story is told. Both past and present stories are excellent, although the often large chunks of flashback sometimes disrupt present events. The Shadow of the Wind is simply a great read, and is definitely worth the hype.

Jay Erlich is a physician with a loving wife and two successful kids; his brother Charlie, however, is a mentally disturbed former hippie and a ward of the state. When Charlie’s son and Jays’ nephew, Evan, seemingly commits suicide, Jay flies out to California to help out his brother. Charlie insists Evan could not have jumped to his death; as Jay looks into his Nephew’s death, he realizes Charlie may in fact be right.

Eyes Wide Open is a bit uneven, with the first third of the novel essentially serving as a cathartic experience for the author following a similar family tragedy. Jay spends these initial chapters uncovering a series of mistakes by Evan’s caregivers that led to a mentally disturbed young man being released early and allowed to go for a walk on his own. Most of the novel, however, is devoted to a part of Charlie’s past that may be coming back to haunt him. While Jay focused on his education, Charlie became a vagrant musician and child of the sixties, eventually settling on a ranch led by a Charles Manson-like figure. Although Charlie evidently had nothing to do with the gruesome murders, it seems former followers may be tormenting him, starting with Evan’s death.

There is a good story here, but it is unfortunately hampered by the writing. Gross falls into the common thriller trope. Sentence fragments are suspenseful. And jerky. They build tension. Annoy readers.

Important points should also be set aside for emphasis.

The author also feels the need to reiterate important facts repeatedly throughout the story, as though the reader is incapable of keeping track of them on her own. There are also redundant portions of redundancy, such as when a sheriff character learns of an important discovery about a suspect; this character then proceeds to repeat the details to Jay about two chapters later almost word for word. Such repetition is unnecessary and often holds the story back.

Eyes Wide Open is a different kind of thriller and can be very good at times, but the awkward writing leads to a limited recommendation.

A review copy provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers program.

Sixteen year old Gaia Stone serves as a midwife, sending her first three deliveries each month into the care of the walled city in the Enclave. On the night of her first delivery, Gaia returns home to find her parents arrested by soldiers of the Enclave. Like her mother, Gaia has always dutifully served the Enclave without question; now she finds herself sneaking into the forbidden walls of the Enclave to rescue her parents and to discover the truth behind their imprisonments.

Birthmarked is set in the early 2400s, on an arid Earth that has been devastated by climate change. The citizens of the enclave have found ways to live in relative luxury with ample food and electricity. Gaia’s family are residents of Wharfton, a settlement of refugees that has risen up around the walled Enclave. The citizens of Wharfton live a comparatively medieval lifestyle, and are dependent on the walled city for most of their resources.

Gaia’s small world is very well developed and grounded in reality, and characters must deal with real issues that would arise in the apocalyptic setting. The primary focus is on the difficulties of the limited population in the Enclave; genetic disorders are becoming increasingly common as Enclave residents do not mix with the people of Wharfton. The ruling Protectorate sees the baby quota as a means of increasing genetic diversity, and imposes near tyrannical reproductive laws on the people of the walled city. The book also explores issues such as incest, abortion, and parenting rights in a manner that works well with the overall story.

The book starts out somewhat slow, but quickly picks up following Gaia’s entry into the Enclave. Unfortunately, there are numerous typos and grammatical errors that were evidently missed by the editor. While these errors don’t detract from the quality of the story, they can occasionally disrupt the flow of the text.

Birthmarked is excellent read with strong characters and a well developed setting. Like most YA novels, this is the first in a series, but most of the story elements are addressed and the ending doesn’t leave too much hanging. This is a great read overall that will leave you wanting the next installment.

In 16th century England, a group of noted Elizabethan scholars gathered in secret to discuss potentially heretical ideas; this group is known to modern historians as the “School of Night.” 400 years later, Henry Cavendish and his friend Alonzo Wax sought to create such a philosophical school of their own. Years later, Alonzo is dead and has named disgraced academic Henry the executor of his affairs. On the day of Alonzo’s funeral, Henry is approached by noted book collector Bernard Styles regarding an old letter that had been “borrowed” by Alonzo. This letter is purportedly written to Thomas Harriot, a lesser known member of the School of Night, and may just contain the location of a valuable treasure…

The School of Night contains all the elements of the modern historical thriller. There’s a lost treasure, secret codes, murders, and prominent historical figures. What sets Bayard’s novel apart, however, is the story of Thomas Harriot that is told throughout the novel.

Less is known about Harriot as compared to his colleagues Walter Raleigh and Christopher Marlowe, but his numerous achievements are revealed both in the present story and in sections set in early 1600s England. These past chapters are largely a love story, in which Harriot shares his knowledge of optics with learned servant girl Margaret Crookenshanks. As Harriot and Margaret’s love story unfolds, it also brings to light Harriot’s scientific achievements. The historical sections are very well done, and are some of the most interesting parts of the novel.

The present-day characters are admittedly less intriguing than some of the past character, although they are well developed. The romance between Henry and femme fatale Clarissa Dale simply pales to Thomas and Margaret’s. The “thriller” sections also move a bit slow in parts, and much of the search for clues is a bit dull due to the characters having ready access to the internet and Google. Finally, there’s also the strange addition of Clarissa’s purported visions, which don’t really fit with the rest of the novel and are never really explained.

Although it does have flaws, The School of Night is an interesting read about an interesting historical figure.

A review copy was provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers program.

Fifteen-year-old Ty has spent his entire life living underwater. After the sea rose up and the coasts collapsed underwater, land “topside” has become scarce. Ty’s family is part of new generation of homesteaders who have settled on the ocean floor, farming fish and kelp. When a gang of outlaws begins raiding homesteads, Ty sets out to save his way of life before the government puts an end to the undersea Benthic Territory.

Dark Life is very plot driven, and wastes no time getting into the action. The story begins as Ty investigates a seemingly abandoned sub, where he finds both a splatter of blood and a girl from the surface, Gemma. The beginning is a bit awkward, as the author throws out a lot of terminology all at once. Ty is also a bit too quick to trust Gemma, who claims she’s only looking for her prospector brother, but luckily his trust is not misplaced. Both Ty and Gemma are strong characters, and grow on the reader very quickly.

Kat Falls borrows liberally from the American pioneer movement; the underwater settlements are founded on a variation of the historical Homestead Act. The undersea world of the “Dark Life” is filled with miners, outlaws, trading posts, and saloons. In many ways, Dark Life is a story of the American West with an underwater setting.

The plot focuses on the mystery of the bloodied sub, and the origins of the notorious Seablite Gang. It’s a very addictive read, but the story takes a slight turn for the absurd in the latter half of the novel after Ty reveals he has a “Dark Gift.” Evidently, the water pressure at high depths can affect human development, leading to kids developing superpowers. Ty can not only use his hearing as a kind of sonar, but can also send out various “clicks” like a dolphin. It’s scientifically impossible, and requires a huge suspension of disbelief that may turn off older readers.

However, if the reader is willing to go with the idea, Dark Life is a very fun action-mystery novel. Just turn off your brain, dive in, and enjoy.

A finished copy was provided through the goodreads.com First Reads program.

Katniss Everdeen has been rescued from the Quarter Quell, and finds herself taken to the mysterious District 13. A rebellion against the Capital has begun, but Katniss finds herself distracted by the destruction of her home in District 12, as well as Peeta’s capture and possible torture. Once again, Katniss finds herself used as propaganda, this time by the rebels as their symbolic “Mockingjay.” But are District 13′s leaders any better than those in the Capital?

Mockingjay is a much different story than The Hunger Games, or Catching Fire. While the first two books are more focused on the action in the titular Games, Mockingjay is much more introspective. The book largely focuses on how Katniss copes with the death and destruction around her, which is done very believably. She’s obviously broken by her experiences, and fears she herself may be just as ruthless as the Capital.

District 13 is a dystopia unto itself, an underground city where nearly everything is controlled. Citizens are stamped with daily schedules, and abuse of rations is considered criminal. While it is implied that President Coin, the leader of 13, is just as controlling as her Counterpart Snow, neither her character nor district seemed fully developed.

This is a war story, and every character is affected by the rebellion, either as a solider or through loss. There are multiple battle scenes throughout the book, and most are realistically horrifying. However, the final battle against the Capital nears absurdity with massive deaths in quick succession resulting from automated traps. Some major side characters get caught up in the mass slaughter, and their deaths seem simply “cheap.”

The final epilogue feels a bit like an afterthought, serving mainly to provide closure to the Katniss-Peeta-Gale love triangle; although it takes place years later, the epilogue never really shows how things have truly changed as a result of the rebellion. Although it may not satisfy the expectations of all readers, Mockingjay is just as addictive as the first two novels in the series.

By 2013 a new Great Depression has hit the United States, and New York City has been hit hard. A network of illegal underground clubs has sprung up across the city, hotbeds of sex and drugs moving from abandoned restaurant to abandoned restaurant. Deeply immersed in the world of these "speaks" is Renny, a young photographer and drug dealer whose supply network operates out of a covert network of taxicabs.

On the other side of the law, NYPD Detective Santiago is part of an experimental police unit using taxis as undercover police cars. When cabbies start to turn up murdered, the investigation indicates a possible connection with illegal drugs and underground nightclubs. As Santiago investigates, he is equally disturbed by his mysterious new partner, who may not be who he claims.

Rivers of Goldis a mixed bag, full of many good ideas that never seem to go anywhere. Dunn has obviously done his research and his setting is fully realized; unfortunately, his new depression era is never explored in depth, with only passing mentions of Hoovervilles and abandoned buildings. Consequently, the novel starts out extremely slow, with tons of scene setting but no real plot pickup until about halfway through the novel.

Renny, one of the major characters, is also thoroughly unlikeable, coming off as a know-it-all, rude misogynist who views women simply as sex-objects with letters instead of names. He's not so much a villain as (noted even by other characters) an annoyance.

Santiago is much more sympathetic, and his story is also much more interesting. Again, Dunn wastes his opportunity, and provides little detail into Santiago's investigations into both the murders and his partner. There seems to be too much revelation and too little actual "detection;" one wishes Dunn focused more on this side of the story rather than wasting time on Renny's antics.

The story is very well written, and has great one-liners, but there's too many problems to recommend. Dunn has an interesting concept, and explores some real issues facing modern cab drivers, but all the ideas seem to get lost amongst themselves.

A finished copy was provided through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.