Pivotal Characters

A couple of posts ago when I was reviewing Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, I made the statement that Dimitri is a pivotal character for me.  I felt so strongly attached to him that I feel his fate decides whether or not I will like the rest of the series.  

I was wondering if there were any other books that had characters (not main characters but side characters) whose fate ultimately effected my enjoying the series of not.  I couldn't think of any...so now I turn to you?

Are there any side characters from stand alone novels or series that you felt so connected with that their fate determined how you felt about that novel or series?  If so, what characters?

Review of The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird

Book:  The Betrayal of Maggie Blair
Author:  Elizabeth Laird
Published by:  Houghton Mifflin Books
Pages:  435
Available:  April 18th, 2011

From Goodreads:  In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment—or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door.  Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie must try to save her uncle and his family from the king’s men, even if she has to risk her own life in the process.

Maggie is a young girl who lives with her old, haggard grandmother who is quite outspoken and set in her ways.  When Maggie's grandmother upsets some of the villagers she gets accused of being a witch and unwillingly drags Maggie into the horror of it all.  Maggie escapes with the help of an old friend that gets her safely to her uncles house.  Once again tragedy upsets Maggie's life and she feels the need to set things right.

When I first heard about this novel I assumed it would concentrate on Maggie being accused of being of a witch.  I thought I'd be reading about charms and natural remedies that people often mistook for witchcraft.  Instead, most of this novel revolves around the religious battles that occurred in 17th century Scotland.

This was a wonderfully written depiction of the struggles between church and state.  It's historical accuracy is one of my favorite features.  I loved that fact that I was reading about true events and the lives of the author's ancestors.  This fact made the characters come to life for me and appreciate their stances that much more.

This action-packed, page flipping novel had a new conflict around every corner.  Once one conflict was resolved another popped into place.  Full of deceit, cunning strategy and religious zeal this is a novel is a must read.

I give this novel ★★★★

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this novel from the publishers and NetGalley with no compensation.  This did not affect my opinion or review of the novel in any way.  

Top Ten Tuesday

Today I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is:  Top Ten Authors That Deserve More Recognition

1. Melina Marchetta, I read Jellicoe Road and I fell in love with her writing.  This book was amazing.  If you haven't read it yet...go do it now.  
2. Catherine Gilbert Murdock, she wrote the Dairy Queen trilogy and it's set in Wisconsin!
3. Markus Zusak, both of his novels that I've read have moved me emotionally and in totally different ways.  
4. Alexandra Adornetto, I haven't read any of her novels but you have to give props to a girls who had her first novel published when she was 14 and had her U.S. YA debut at 17.  Man, do I feel like an underachiever next to her.  
5. Mary E. Pearson, I absolutely loved The Adoration of Jenna Fox.  This novel was so original and unlike anything I've ever read.  
6. Jandy Nelson, I adored her 2010 debut, The Sky is Everywhere, and I can't wait to read more from her. 
7. Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian was hilarious and heartbreaking all at once. 
8. Lesley Kagen, amazing adult author and she's from my area.  I've met her a couple of times and even ate at her restaurant.  Plus her books are great mysteries that don't read like the traditional mystery.  
9. Joshilyn Jackson, another amazing adult author.  Her books always keep me on my toes and are wonderfully written.  
10. All of James Patterson's "ghost writers", they do all the work and barely get any credit.

Review of Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Book:  Elsewhere
Author:  Gabrielle Zevin
Published by:  Square Fish
Pages:  277

From Goodreads:  Elsewhere is where fifteen-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she has died. It is a place so like Earth, yet completely different. Here Liz will age backward from the day of her death until she becomes a baby again and returns to Earth. But Liz wants to turn sixteen, not fourteen again. She wants to get her driver’s license. She wants to graduate from high school and go to college. And now that she’s dead, Liz is being forced to live a life she doesn’t want with a grandmother she has only just met. And it is not going well. How can Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward? 

Once in a while I get stuck in a rut and feel like all the YA novels start to feel the same.  Elsewhere broke that rut for me; this novel was refreshingly original.  The world that Zevin created was thrilling, imaginative, and pure genius.  The afterlife is something that I think about once in a while, but I always have a hard time imagining what it would be like.  It was never something I got a clear and concise vision of, but I always hoped it would be a place with no worries and only happiness.  Zevin's created afterlife was something I could never have imagined myself, but was fun to read about.

As much as I like the originality of this novel, the characters fell a little flat for me.  There wasn't much depth to these characters and I didn't fell as if I knew them or was attached to them at the end of the novel.  I did, however, love the animals in this story.  If you are a dog-lover, like me, you'll love Zevin's fun twist on our canine friends.  I only wish this part of the novel was true in real life.  

There wasn't a true plot line in this story.  There were a few small conflicts and resolutions but not an overall one.  It was more the story about Liz's afterlife experience in Elsewhere.  While some found the action lacking, I enjoyed the simple day-to-day life of Liz and her friends while they navigated the afterlife.  

Once again, I want to comment on how original this novel was.  If you are looking for something totally different and out of the 'usual' pattern of YA novels, this is your book.  I'd give this novel  ★★★ and 1/2   

Review of Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Book:  Cryer's Cross
Author:  Lisa McMann
Published by:  Simon Pulse
Pages:  256

From Goodreads:  The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic....Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

Are you ready for a psychological thriller that will keep you up at night?  Well...this is the book.  I'm not much of a horror reader but this book en-captured me from page one.  I fell right into Kendall's mind and felt jittery and obsessive and wanted to solve the mystery right along with her.  This novel kept me on my toes and I never quite knew what was going to happen.

McMann did a great job creating this creepy, enclosed small town.  I was constantly not trusting any of it's residents thinking they could possible be the kidnapper.  While I did like her writing, I'm not sure about the actual plot line of the story.  I don't want to give any spoilers but the premises behind the kidnapping was a little weird and unbelievable.

I did, however, love the characters.  Kendall was an amazing character who handled the disappearance of her boyfriend and the new additions to the town very well for a person with OCD.  I loved how determined and spunky she was. I also really liked Jacian .  He was defiant and passionate and made of yumminess.

Overall, even with the strange plot, I still enjoyed this novel.  I'd give it ★★★★ 
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now 

Follow My Blog Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View.

           My answer to this week's Follow Friday question:

Q. Inspired by the inane twitter trend of #100FACTSABOUT ME, give us five book related silly facts about you.

1. 1.  When I start a book, I have to finish it no matter if i like it or not.  
2. 2. I never peak at the last chapter or page, but I do have a tendency to look ahead on the page I'm reading by accident.
3. 3.  I have to have my books in ALPHABETICAL order on my bookshelves.
4. 4.  I have books all over the house and in every room, even the bathroom for when I decide to take a bath.
5. 5.  When I get super emotional over a book I have to call my mom or talk to a friend about it asap!

Review of Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Book:  Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2)
Author:  Richelle Mead
Published by:  Razorbill
Pages:  327


From Goodreads:  It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians—including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks… This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory. But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…

This novel picks up right where the first novel ended.  Like the Vampire Academy, this one was packed with action, but definitely had a more serious tone.

I really felt like Rose grew a lot as a character.  She was still snarky and defensive, but she was more thoughtful and less action driven.  I loved the interactions she had with her mother.  These seemed so rael and heartfelt, even through the sarcastic comments.  Rose definitely had a lot of different emotions to deal with in the book and I think she handled them wonderfully (well maybe not wonderfully, but at least a lot better than I would have).

Another character I really ended up liking more was Christian.  I didn't really think much of him in the first novel, but this time he stood out.  I think he's fierce and caring and an all around great guy.

And, of course I can't go without commenting on Dimiri...*sigh.*  He can be my personal guardian and protector any day!

One of the things that bothered me though was that I felt like the plot was more predictable in this novel and I saw it coming right away.  Even with the predictable plot the ending had me in tears, but they were worth it.

Overall I give this novel  ★★★★