Review: Love and Other Unknown Variables

Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charlie Hanson has plans. He is a senior at Brighton School of Mathematics and Science with plans to attend MIT. His life goal is to find the answers to the universe’s unanswered questions. These plans suddenly veer off course when he sees a tattoo on a girl’s neck. It turns out that Charlotte is the sister of Charlie’s new English teacher. She convinces him to plan a prank that requires the participation of the entire classroom. Why is Charlotte encouraging Charlie? Will this plan affect his future plans?

Love and Other Unknown Variables is a quirky story that will be enjoyed by readers young and not so young. The story is told through the eyes of a socially stunted math nerd and the references to specialty mathematical terms are easily digested. I loved the “voice” of Charlie in that he was an outsider that was still accepted by most of the students in his class. He could have been the nerd everyone ignored, but instead he leads the charge into a plan against the teacher. Alexander has created a wonderful story that male and female readers will all enjoy reading.


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Review: A Song for Ella Grey

A Song for Ella Grey by David Almond
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ella Grey is gone. She has left behind friends and the love of her life. Claire is Ella’s best friend. She must tell the story in fits and starts so that she (and the reader) may understand. Ella’s love for Orpheus was quick and complete. Nothing in her short life had prepared her for the depth of their love, yet when her life is suddenly cut short all who are left behind believe they are at fault.

A Song for Ella Grey is a story that leaves a lot to be desired. I usually don’t mind a story that jumps around, yet this book was not enhanced by the storytelling format. Readers who are looking for a relaxing read that can be quickly finished without a lasting impression will be happy, but those who want just a little more meat will feel as if something is missing. This should not be moved to the top of a TBR pile, but it would be a good choice when a simple escape is needed.


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Review: Frozen

Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The planet is now covered in ice. There is only one season … cold. In New Vegas a blackjack dealer, Natasha Kestal, wants to leave. She has heard of a place called The Blue, yet it seems too good to be true. Can there really be a place where the sun still shines and the waters are warm? Rumor has it that those who bear the mark are not persecuted there. She will do anything to not hide who or what she really is. Through a series of events she is able to book passage to The Blue with a group of mercenaries who don’t really believe her. Everyone has secrets to hide. Can they trust each other enough to get to paradise?

Frozen is the first book in the Heart of Dread series. The post-apocalyptic world building is effortlessly weaved into the story so that the reader will not feel as if it is an additional element. Although the characters are not extremely deep, de la Cruz has written relationships and struggles into the storyline to enable a series that will be enjoyed and pursued. Frozen does contain elements of magic and the supernatural, but it is pleasantly different from the author’s other series. Readers who pick this up because of the author should not have any regrets of the time spent reading it.


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Review: The Diamond Thief

The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rémy Brunel has many skills. Her skills on the trapeze are not to be rivaled and her ability to detect the value of jewels has enabled her to become a successful jewel thief. Her troupe is in Victorian London and her next assignment is to steal one of the world’s most precious diamonds. She believes she has pulled off the caper when it turns out that she was outwitted by another. She is now on a mission to steal it back, but can she complete this assignment without her usual support? Detective Thaddeus Rec also wants to find the diamond. Especially since his superiors believe he is the real thief.

The Diamond Thief is the first book in a new series. The characters are richly described and the scenes in and around Victorian London will please readers of adventures and historical fiction. Gosling is able to create characters with depth and a series of events that are believable without adding a ton of pages. The Diamond Thief can quickly be devoured by an excited reader or it can be slowly consumed by those who like to pace themselves. This was a pleasant read and I look forward to reading the second book, The Ruby Airship, due to be released in February 2015.


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Review: Witchrise

Witchrise by Victoria Lamb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Meg Lytton is a Tudor witch that has inherited her mother’s magical wand, a magical ring named Invictus and a spellbook. Even as she is trying to discover the extent of her powers, Marcus Dent is haunting her dreams and it seems that he will do anything to take her powers for his own. Meg has made many friends that are willing to help her in the looming battle, yet in the end she may lose the man she is secretly betrothed to. Alejandro has secrets of his own and the twists and turns of fate are constantly mixing up events.

Witchrise is the third book in The Tudor Witch Trilogy. Although the series is called a trilogy, readers will finish this book and be expecting more stories to come. Lamb has created a cast of characters that readers will enjoy exploring and if there are more books I will be adding them to my reading list. Even though I expect there to be more stories in this Tudor world, readers will at least be satisfied with Meg’s romantic attachments. Will Meg choose Alejandro or another suitor? Will Marcus Dent be beaten or will he continue to taunt the Tudor witches? Readers must get to the end of this volume to find out the answers.


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Review: Unmarked

Unmarked by Kami Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kennedy Waters is at her boarding school wondering about Jared. She has survived a demon attack and is questioning why the other Legion members have not come for her. She has been monitoring the reports of missing girls and can’t help but recognize the connection they have with her physical characteristics. When Alara, Priest and Jared finally show up for her, Kennedy doesn’t take too long to join their quest to find the demon she accidentally set free. Will Kennedy finally know why she has been left Unmarked? Will the secrets of her own family be enough to help the Legion or will these mysteries be its downfall?

Unmarked is the second book in The Legion series. The story picks up a few days after the ending of the last book and the events that transpire move quickly and with purpose. Readers will easily be refreshed on the earlier events and the story does not dedicate too much time for those who need additional nudges. Garcia’s second book in The Legion series was much more enjoyable than the first. This is saying a lot when many second books are only setting up for the third. Readers will create bonds with these characters and feel their uncertainty and pain with each discovery. Unmarked is a satisfying read that leaves the reader with just enough unanswered questions to be anticipating the next volume.


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Review: Skink - No Surrender

Skink--No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Malley is scheduled to leave for boarding school when she lies to her parents and runs away with a guy she met online. Malley is Richard’s only cousin. He understands the trouble Malley is in and is determined to bring her home. Then Richard literally stumbles across Skink while looking for turtle nests on the beach. Skink may be the ex-governor of Florida, but with his homeless appearance and missing eye he certainly looks like a crazy guy. This unlikely pair sets out to find Malley and they won’t let anything stop them from reaching their goal.

Although Skink – No Surrender is the seventh book in the Skink series, readers can jump right into this story and enjoy the thrill ride without feeling as if they are missing another part of the story. I don’t believe many readers would expect all of the quirky adventures to take place outside of a book or movie, yet the escape found within the pages of Skink – No Surrender is satisfying and entertaining. Hiaasen has created another quick read that can be enjoyed by many age groups since it does not include a lot of strong language or sexual content.


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