One of us is... reading lots of YA! (And in the same book?)

Oh Readers!!! Hi!
I read a book. It was good too, if very predictable.
I don't really know what to say about it to be perfectly honest. This is going to be a most unsatisfying post. Well, here we go!

I read a book told from multiple character POVs this past week, and it was also a debut novel (Another Twofer because I'm a possible cheater)! I read it in a day, because it was interesting enough and not a challenging read. The book is another from the Surrey Teens Read 2019 List! It wasn't the highest on my list, but it was the one the library had available first! Now, I know the way I seem to be writing about this book conveys a flazéda attitude, but I promise I liked the book...as I was reading it! I sped through it, and really wanted to get to the end to see how it resolves itself. It just seems post-reading, I don't feel as strongly about it as I thought I would. 

So flazéda, am I even awake?

I just realized, I still haven't mentioned the book I read! I could edit this post and include the title earlier, but I'd rather just admit I write these posts on the fly with very little pre-planning and carry on! (This doesn't mean I don't give them my full attention: I try my best to make them entertaining and informative/worth discussing-not saying I always succeed, but I always try!) It's very, highly edited, stream of consciousness. Jass? Get on with the title! Woah! Is that you subconscious?

My brain just giving up

The book was was One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, her first novel, and it was a very successful debut novel at that!

My first impression after finishing the book was that it felt very Thirteen Reasons Why. Not that their plot is similar in the details, but just in general: They both deal with a teen death, and secrets being revealed slowly of those who first appear to be one dimensional characters. They both touch on issues of identity, bullying, pressure, family relations, and the complexities and hierarchies of teenaged/high school life. The key difference is, One of Us is Lying is a murder mystery: Five students walk into detention, but only four walk out. The victim? The creator and publisher of a gossip app, who has made a lot of enemies with the information he spreads. The suspects? The Brain, the Princess, the Athlete, and the Criminal. One of them must have done it, as they are seemingly the only ones with the opportunity, but they all claim they're innocent. 

The book actually references the film and labels the characters appropriately

The premise is very good, and the book works really well as a multiple POV story. We get inside each of the characters' heads and learn how they feel, what they're thinking, and the secrets they are keeping. This book borrows bits from other popular teen franchises, but not in  a way that seems like it was "stolen". For example the app is a (more) mean-spirited Gossip Girl type situation. The plot feels similar to 13 Reasons (as mentioned previously), and of course the direct Breakfast Club reference. There is a little bit of a To All the Boys I've Loved Before taste regarding the main romantic subplot, and a few more samplings that I can't quite remember right now. The thing is, it does all work together, and again, doesn't feel plagiarized or taken from. It's just a solid blend of what has become some genre tropes of certain YA.  The problem is...I predicted the whole thing just a few chapters in: I knew who the murderer was, I knew what the "big and dark" secrets being kept were, and I more or less knew how things would turn out. Luckily the book doesn't try to leave you hanging on the secrets, it tells those fairly quickly, but they were pretty obvious. I imagine if you couldn't predict the book, it would be an amazing read that sticks with you. 

The other reason I find this book lacklustre afterwards is that, some of the characters (even with their secrets revealed and internal life shown) are still pretty standard now. The shock wasn't great, and I actually found myself skimming quickly through two of the characters' POV chapters, because I didn't care about them. I already know these characters and how they function from many times before. 

Why I read this book so fast then? I wanted to see if I was right. That was a main reason, but also the author wrote well. The book felt like teenagers, for the most part, and the way the pieces fall into place were cleverly done. I definitely recommend this book to teenagers, as I think they will find a character or two to relate to. It's also an engaging book, and the kids who have read it, agree. Remember, Surrey Teens Read, are chosen with specific criteria, so no surprise students like them! What is a surprise, is why this hasn't been adapted for film/television yet! (I would prefer television, I think more could be done  with content in multiple episodes than 2 hours straight).

And...

Catch you later!

Samantha MacLeod Stops By: An Author Interview

Hello dear readers!

Welcome to my 'Super Special Samantha MacLeod Issue'. Where I, your humble blog host, will interview author Samantha MacLeod on her book The Wolf's Lover!

So lets get right into it, shall we?

Jass: Thanks so much for joining me on my wee blog Samantha! I'm super excited to talk to you about your book, The Wolf's Lover. First of all, are you a pantser or  a planner? Or little bit of both?

Samantha: I’m a total pantser! I never know what’s going to happen in my book until it’s over. Sometimes this is really fun and exciting. Sometimes it’s terrifying!

Jass: I totally agree! I'm a pantser and I'm always both a little nervous and a little revved up at the same time. I wish I were a little more of a plotter sometimes, but I think I'm addicted to the pantser rush at this point! So I have to say, I'm a huge fan of urban fantasy, and am thrilled you happen to be writing it: Your book is a romance urban fantasy, what drew you to this genre?

Samantha: I’ve always been a huge fan of the fantasy genre in all its many incantations, from Tolkien to magic realism. And, to be honest, I have a really hard time writing a “normal” story with no fantastical elements. Even if I’m trying to tackle a difficult theme, like grief or depression or overcoming your past, I’m always thinking, “Yes… but what if I add a dragon?”

Jass: That is an excellent 'But what if'! I think many things could be improved with a dragon or two! Besides what is "normal" anyways right? I'm so glad you like to add a little fantasy (and dragons) into your work, because I love reading it! Speaking of your work...Lets get to the details, what is your book, and what can readers expect from it?

Samantha: My book, The Wolf’s Lover, is an urban fantasy set in Yellowstone. It’s about wildlife biologist Karen McDonald and what happens when the wolf she tranquilizes turns into a man. Along the way, there are lots of forays into Norse mythology, a bit of the end of the world, and (of course) a dragon.

Oh, and it’s free until 2/15! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Jass: Everyone got that right? It's free until the end of the week! I repeat FREE until the end of the week! Dear readers please take advantage of this! I'm definitely intrigued by your combining of norse mythology into your story- That pantheon gets into all sorts of strange to play with! So, with so much to draw from, and tons of possible elements to mix, what was your process in writing this book?

Samantha: I’m usually working on several projects at once. When one project gets overwhelming, I tend to start something new to keep from going nuts. I began The Wolf’s Lover when I was finishing my first novel, The Trickster’s Lover.

Then we moved from Buffalo, New York to Maine. My writing took a backseat to a bunch of real life concerns, and I almost didn’t finish this particular book. If it weren’t for my husband telling me it really was a solid story, I don’t think I ever would have pushed it out into the world.

Jass: Oh wow! Well I'm so glad you got that encouragement, because now it is in the world for others to enjoy! It can be hard balancing life and writing as it is, I can't imagine a big move on top of that! I'm glad you were able to overcome that challenge, was that the most challenging aspect? or were there other things? 

Samantha: For this particular book, the very end was a total mystery up until the day I wrote it. That really terrified me. The hardest part about being a pantser, for me at least, is that sometimes you’re not sure if you can actually pull this one off.

The end of the book did eventually come together. You’d think that might keep me from panicking about writing the next book, but so far, that hasn’t been my experience!

Jass: I have that same fear when I'm writing my plays: Will this finish? Will this make sense? Is this actually a story people care about? The self-doubt is real! But lets forget about the struggles, what brought you the most joy from writing this book? Were there any favourite moments you'd like readers to watch out for? Or favourite characters you enjoyed writing?

Samantha: Oh, there are so many things I loved about writing this book!

I lived in Bozeman, Montana for seven years, and it was just delightful to pull on my experiences to capture that part of the world. Yellowstone National Park is one my my favorite characters in The Wolf’s Lover. I also loved being able to write a book about a successful, independent, female scientist.

And I stole Karen’s graduate students, Zeke and Colin, straight from real life. They were two of my best friends when I lived in Bozeman. I probably owe them both an apology!

Jass: That's amazing! I'm so glad you were able to put things you love and experienced into the book. I know as a reader, I enjoy something more when I can tell the writer was fully into what they were doing. It's like their pleasure, of writing, goes straight into the reader via the book. I suspect it probably has something to do with, when you love something, you want to work on it and put in that detail and connection...or I'm just talking out of nowhere! I have a tendency to blather on! Well Samantha, we've talked about struggles, and successes, so lets talk about surprises! What was the biggest surprise when writing this book? 

Samantha: One of my favorite characters in the book ended up being Karen’s ex-husband, Barry f’ing Richardson. He starts off as such a caricature but, when Karen is desperate, Barry is there to help.

It was important to me to give as realistic a portrayal of divorce as I possibly could. When you have a serious relationship with a person, I think your connection to them remains, even if the relationship ends. Ideally, that means you’d still band together to stop the end of the world, even if you didn’t make a great team as husband and wife. (See? I add fantasy to everything. I can’t stop myself!)

Jass: I love that! I can already tell from how you surprised yourself, and what you wanted to convey, that Barry is a developed character, not just an 'ex' cliche. Which is wonderful, because I personally get tired of the "bitchy ex-wife" or "douchey ex-husband" trope. Some people split amicably because they still like each other, but don't fit together in a certain type of relationship, and neither is the "bad" person.  I also love that the stakes are as high as saving the world. I mean if something is going to make you put your differences aside, I hope this is it! Also, what a sell to read this book! Who doesn't want to read about the fate of the world and how it (hopefully) survives? But because we don't want to give away spoilers (get the book!), lets switch gears to what happened post writing: What was it like publishing your book? Challenges? Successes? Etc.

Samantha: This book came out a year ago, February of 2018. It was my second independently published novel, and readers really liked it. Tina Williams of A Reader’s Review Blog named it one of her top books of 2018, which is such an honor. To celebrate the first anniversary of its publication, I thought I’d offer The Wolf’s Lover for free for a week.

Jass: What a lovely thing to do! Congratulations on the anniversary of your book, and I hope it continues to be successful. I can tell you put a lot of heart into it, and plus it has a dragon! Thank you again for talking about your novel with me! Before we say adieu, do you have any advice for people who want to write in this genre, or in general?

Samantha: Some of the best writing advice I’ve ever read comes from Stephen King, and I’d say it’s doubly true in the romance and fantasy fields. Don’t be ashamed of what you write. I spent thirteen years not writing anything because I was ashamed that none of my ideas were serious or literary. I’m much happier now that I’ve given myself permission to write books with gods and dragons.

And you know what? People like to read books with gods and dragons. :)

Jass: Yes they do! Or at least I do, and in case you haven't heard...Jass Reads Books! One more time, thank you so much Samantha MacLeod for agreeing to this interview. I super appreciate it, and I believe my readers do to! Please dear readers get her book (and it's companion The Trickster's Lover). The book has everything: Fantasy, gods, dragons, shifters, and science! All things great!

Find Samantha's book at:

Amazon US Canada UK
And to learn more about Samantha and her books visit here.

For more interviews, check out my post with the wonderful Jessica Jarman and Bronwyn Green here!

A Puzzling Novel

Welcome back dear readers! I can't believe it's February already! Can you believe how January flew? Neither can I, because January was two fast weeks, and then two incredibly slow weeks. It's like the buzz of New Year's lasts for a bit, and them BAM! Mid-January hits, and you've already broken your resolutions (but hopefully not, you can do it!), it's way colder than December, and everything goes back to normal...but it's too normal after so much cultural excitement. Even if you don't celebrate, it's everywhere (Woo commercialism!) so it's hard to escape the energy. Then along comes February with it's short month, and here we are!

So long resolutions, it's been fun.

If you remember last blog post, I didn't know what I was going to be reading for this post beforehand. This left me searching for a book, so I decided to choose a category that the books on my pile don't fit into. I figured since I didn't know what to tackle, I might as well check something off that I would have to search for later anyways! Dear Readers, I present to you your first twofer category! The book I read crossed off not one, but TWO! challenges!!! Since there doesn't seem to be any rules about doubling up, I'm allowing myself this: Show some love for a book revolving around a puzzle or game, AND a book featuring an amateur detective.

And what novel fits into these two challenges you may be asking? Well let me tell you! It was A Clue for the Puzzle Lady by Parnell Hall!

So I'm going to be super honest, I liked the book enough, but there's a reason it took some time to get this post out there...and it's that every time I put the book down, it took me some time to pick it up again. Don't get me wrong, it reads fast: It's got quick pacing, short chapters, and there is some action in each little bit. I just didn't feel that burning desire to finish it asap. That being said, I think I would probably watch the crap out of it, if it was a Sunday afternoon TV show.

The novel stars two women: Cora Felton, and her niece Sherry Carter. Cora is a little old lady with an alcohol problem that loves mysteries. She is known as the puzzle lady, as she has a crossword puzzle that is printed in various newspapers across the (American) nation. The catch though, is she is terrible at crossword puzzles and it's actually her niece who creates them. Why? Because of marketability. Sherry is young (I got the impression she's early 20s) and wasn't taken seriously when she tried to sell her crosswords, but Cora is photogenic and appears a kindly old woman. I guess it's not hard to believe she would sit at home pouring over puzzles. Funnily enough, she is the one who is regularly out late at the bar. I liked this aspect of the novel as it subtly demonstrated glass ceilings people face. Sherry is perceived as "can't be smart because she's an attractive young woman", so she doesn't get any jobs. However, her same work is instantly picked up locally, and then nationally, when it is branded differently from a different source.

You tell them Tina!

Sherry and Cora have recently moved into a new, small, town from New York, so Sherry could escape her abusive ex-husband. I was worried when this part came up in the book, but it was handled decently. Sherry suffers genuine PTSD throughout the novel, while struggling to be "rational and logical" about her feelings. She is terrified of her ex discovering where she moved to, and this actually plays a large role in the novel. Not that she has this anxiety, that's just accepted, but rather why the murder needs to be solved without placing attention on her aunt, and by extension her. It creates an obstacle, without diminishing the character as just a one note "battered woman", like many crime procedurals do.

Wait, did I say solve and murder? I sure did, because this novel is a murder mystery! The reason Cora is brought in, is to help solve it with her crossword expertise. The cops find a clue in the victim's pocket, and it looks like the description of a crossword clue. They realize they have the "Puzzle Lady" living amongst them, so why not use her expertise. Cora dismisses the clue as nothing, partly because she believes it's nothing and partly because she hates crosswords! She is excited to solve a murder though, as she loves mysteries. So she gets herself involved, and  does figure it all out (Spoilers!).

I am shocked!

What do I want to talk about with this book? The obsession with women's murders. There is some sick perversion with dwelling over the death of (young) women. Particularly if they are attractive, and mostly when they are also "white". This struck out in this book, because yes, the two victims are pretty women, and also because me reading this coincided with Netflix's "Ted Bundy" documentary release. Which seriously, f@#$ Ted Bundy. There are some great articles on how there is this flocking to stories about brutalized victims (like this one here). The sicker, the more coverage. This book is aware of this as one character actually remarks, "If it was a rape it would have been different, but a runaway who got hit on the head..." This is in response to the first murder victim, after being identified, has people lose interest in her story because she was an outsider who was only bludgeoned to death! This is not sensational enough to tell stories! How sick is that?

Me reading too much truth

I mean seriously, lets think about this: A murder in a small town where nothing happens, becomes less interesting in a few days because it wasn't sexual and more sadistic in nature. I'm just going to leave this post with the question "Why?"

Join me next blog post for a special edition: I will be interviewing an author about their new book!
Until next time!