Review: Lost Voices

Title: Lost Voices
Author: Sarah Porter
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Find it on: Amazon | Goodreads
I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley to review.The publication date for Lost Voices is July 4, 2011.

Description:

Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of her grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid.

A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce's own remarkable singing talent makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However, her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?

The first book in a trilogy, Lost Voices is a captivating and wildly original tale about finding a voice, the healing power of friendship, and the strength it takes to forgive. 

My Review:

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. Luce has no one. Her parents are both dead and her uncle is an abusive alcoholic. How lonely and depressing that would be! I couldn't wait to see what would happen to her.

After she is left on the cliffs by the ocean, she just gives up. She doesn't want to go back to the only thing she has: a life with her horrible uncle. She falls off the cliff and transforms into a mermaid, leaving her humanity behind.

This is the part I expected her life to change and for things to start looking better for Luce. However, that wasn't really the case. Being a mermaid isn't as wonderful as it would seem. She finds other mermaids, but is still pretty alone.

I don't want to give too much away, but I felt like the story didn't really go anywhere and that there were too many unanswered questions. This is going to be part of a series, so I'm hoping that these questions will be answered. I know that not all stories can be positive, but I really do hope that Luce ends up in a better situation.

Overall, I liked Luce's story, but I'm not sure I loved it. I would definitely give the second book in the series a chance before deciding how I feel about it as a whole. There is a lot built up in this book that could culminate into something great. I hope it does!

My New Bookshelf!

I'm so excited! I finally got a bookshelf. My books have been sitting in stacks in my room. This is so much prettier! I thought I'd share it with you. :) You can click on the pictures to them larger.

I have it in alphabetical order by author. I have lots more books, but I only wanted the novels on there (no travel guides or whatever).

The whole thing

The Top Shelf

Second Shelf

Third Shelf

Fourth Shelf

The bottom shelf has some of my husbands books and a couple stacks of my mom's VC Andrews books that I need to return to her. 

Some of the other things on my shelf:

Yay! I love seeing all of my books displayed now. I'm going to need another one soon at the rate I've been going.

Thanks for looking! Do you have your bookshelf posted? If so, leave me a link and I'll go check it out!

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren. It's a fun way to share what books we got for the week.

I got quite a few books this week! Exciting! 

Fallen From Grace | M.J. Putney (Amazon | Goodreads)

This book is free on Amazon for the kindle. It's a bonus story to The Dark Mirror. It was Allarde's story before he met Victoria. I read it this week and liked it.

Then, I went to Powells (otherwise known as The City of Books), and bought lots of books. I can usually find used books in great condition or great sale priced books there. This was my first trip to the big Powells in downtown Portland. It was huge! A book lovers paradise.

The Poison Eaters | Holly Black (Amazon | Goodreads)

Holly Black is going to be in town this month for a signing, so I had to pick up a few of her books! I really like this cover. 

 

White Cat | Holly Black (Amazon | Goodreads)

I have been wanting this one for a while! Holly coming to town was the perfect excuse to buy it. 

 The Dead Tossed Waves | Carrie Ryan (Amazon | Goodreads)

This is the only book I payed full price for this week. I LOVED the Forest of Hands and Teeth and can't wait to read this one.

This Lullaby | Sarah Dessen (Amazon | Goodreads)

This was on sale and I've heard good things about Sarah Dessen, so I picked this up. It's on sale for super cheap on amazon right now!

 

The Luxe | Anna Godberson (Amazon | Goodreads)

This is another one that I've heard good things about that I found at a great price and picked up.

Radiance | Alyson Noel (Amazon | Goodreads)

This book is so pretty! I love how the pages have the torn edge look (no idea what that's called).

Then I found a couple books at Borders for only $4 each. Yay! 

 

Hush, Hush | Rebecca Fitzpatrick (Amazon | Goodreads)

I've been wanting to read this one for so long. Yay for $4!

Spells | Aprilynne Pike (Amazon | Goodreads)

She's coming in June, so I need a book for her to sign! Wings (the first book) is actually free for the kindle right now (I still need to read it). I actually like the other cover a lot better, but I haven't seen it anywhere.

Oh! and I got a super cute kids book to review from NetGalley:

I Am Tama, Lucky Cat | Wendy Henrichs (Amazon | Goodreads) 

Anyone on NetGalley can download and review this one. It's really cute! I'll review it later. 

Review: The Vespertine

Title: The Vespertine
Author:  Saundra Mitchell
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Find it on Goodreads
Find it on Amazon

Description: 

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future.

Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

My Review:

The Vespertine is written so eloquently! An example (and one of my favorite parts of the book):

"Clasping the balcony rail, I lifted my face to the wind again. It carried the cold, stony scent of fresh water. All my life, the ocean had surrounded me, saltily pushing me to the west. This spring's sweetness offered to carry me away, off to cold, clear lands that I had yet begun to imagine. Eyes closed, I pressed forward a bit more, parting my lips to catch a taste of that promise."

 Just lovely. I was hooked on her writing from the very first sentence.

One of my favorite parts about this story was all of the Victorian era details - the parties, the courting rituals, and the dresses. Most of all the dresses! I don't know how an author can manage to write about dresses so well that you want to dress up in one yourself, but Mitchell has managed to do just that!

I really enjoyed the storyline, and it went a bit deeper than I was first expecting. Amelia doesn't exactly conform to society's expectations, but things are going well for her. Then, all of a sudden things become chaotic. The last few chapters had me so tense waiting to see what would happen!

I really like the love connection in this story. I do wish that there would have been more details exchanged between them and more of a build up, but I liked their story nonetheless.

I do have to add that I love the cover of this book. It's so pretty! It's one of the things that first drew me in.

I want more! I want more of Mitchell's writing, more Victorian details, and more Amelia! I am sad that there will be no more novels written from Amelia's point of view, but I'm glad that there will be a companion novel. I will be waiting impatiently for it!

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend The Vespertine!

I received this e-book in trade for an honest review