Okay, so I'm really late about this, considering how many reviews have been posted on these books, but if you haven't already bought them, um, what are you waiting for?!!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor


1. In one of her posts with writing advice, Maggie Stiefvater said to use one of your favorite books as a textbook of sorts.  I'd choose Daughter of Smoke and Bone because the writing is so.... indescribably beautiful.  (And though I'd study DSB, I don't think I could ever attain the level of awesomeness that is Laini Taylor's writing).

2. HOLY SHIT Laini Taylor!  What is going on in your brain?  (And I mean that in the nicest way possible).  This book has one of the most imaginative worlds I've read in years... and one of the most well-established ones too.  Mad props, Ms. Taylor.

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone also has a very intense romance, one which actually reminds me of paranormal romances...but one which is 1,000 times better than those.  Karou/Akiva have history... and Taylor shows us that all's not fair in love and war...  And that complete opposites can attract... but more of in a collision type of way.  You may think it's "love at first sight" type, but it's more.  So much more.

4. Every character is interesting.  No, really.  Laini Taylor's brilliance shows in her characterizations.  I loved Zuzanna and the dialogue between her and Karou.  So weird, but so funny.  And I loved what Karou does to her ex.  Girl power FTW.  Karou's also definitely flawed but definitely a girl to whom you can relate.  Pretty much loved all the character descriptions and dialogue.

5. Lastly, DSB is a book that does alternate perspectives well.  Not only does they build suspense, but the switches also reveal a slice of the world you hadn't seen.  I loved the parts that took a step back and showed us what the regular world would make of Karou... loved the teasers of Akiva's past... loved ALL OF THIS BOOK.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin


1. With a first chapter like that, who wouldn't be hooked?  (If you haven't read it yet and want me to email you, just let me know; it has been spread via Google Documents to the public).  [Dear God, Michelle Hodkin.  I want your genius.]  Hodkin is an excellent writer--she knows exactly how to create suspense, and though some descriptions were at times dramatic, they fit the story well and added a poetic edge to it.

2. Like I said above for Laini Taylor, HOLY SHIT MICHELLE HODKIN.  Seriously.  An unreliable narrator in YA = pure genius.  I have been interested in this book for so long simply because of that concept.  It lent wonderfully to the thriller edge of the story.  The summary does this book no justice.

3. The supernatural elements.  They were definitely hinted at, but I didn't expect those at all, and I can't wait to see what else Hodkin'll do regarding the powers.  (Also, random, but I wonder what the sequel title will be.  Can it ever live up to the greatness that is The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer?)

4. Noah, romantic interest extraordinaire.  Really, I have no idea why he was being compared to Patch from Hush, Hush.  Yes, they're both arrogant; yes, they both are interested in the MC because she's "different" from other girls.... but in the end, their personalities are completely different.  And though I like Patch (and he made it to my Top Ten YA Crushes), I honestly find Noah more appealing (despite the smoking, which I HATE).

5. The family.  I usually don't care much if a paranormal story doesn't explain about the absence of the parents, but this story hooked me in with its family aspect.  Not really the parents, though.  The brothers.  I loved Mara's relationship with both Daniel and Joseph.  They felt so real and also made me more sympathetic to Mara's situation because I understand that duality of dependence and wanting to protect her brothers.

So now, my question is.... why are you still reading this and not reading these books?!  :).

Release Date: October 24, 2011
(Thanks to Around the World ARC Tours for letting me participate!)
Published by: Houghton Mifflin

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber

Ferris Bueller meets La Femme Nikita in this funny, action-packed young adult novel.


It's prom night, and up till now Perry Stormaire's only worries were finishing his college applications and getting his band its first big gig in the Big Apple.  But when his mother makes him take geeky, quiet Lithuanian exchange student Gobija Zaksauskas to the prom instead, Perry figures the night is going to be a disaster.


He has no idea how right he is.


When Gobi turns out to be a trained assassin on a special mission--five targets by daybreak--Perry's roped into it whether he likes it or not.  Now they're off like a prom dress on a reckless, no-brakes blitz through nighttime Manhattan in his father's red Jag, going eyeball-to-eyeball with Russian mobsters and teen angst, high-velocity bullets and high school bullies, all thanks to the most beautiful girl that ever almost got him killed.


Crammed with car chases, heists, hits, henchmen, eyeliner, and even a bear fight, Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick is a pedal-to-the-floor, rapid-fire thrill ride that will hold you captive to the last page.  And remember, it's not over until "au revoir."

List of Likes/Dislikes


1. (+) Perry, the protagonist - Smart kid.  Kind of nerdy/has the "virgin" reputation he hates.  Plays in a band.  Is rather cynical (example: "Human beings are like the screwed-up children of alcoholic parents in that way, picking up the pieces afterward and trying to make up reasons why.")  Funny.  Believable for the most part... and also brave.  A kid who takes his experience from that night and grows from it.
2. (+) Themes to Each Chapter - Each chapter starts with a prompt for a college essay, which I thought was a pretty good way of grounding you in reality though the whole story is a blitzing ride.  It also gave each chapter a nice continuity (though it also reminded me of the ridiculousness; Prom night in May resulting in several dead bodies and other criminal activities in which a senior on the waitlist at Columbia participated.  Hm...)
3. (+/-) Situation with Gobi - I'm still not sure I really understand Gobi's situation.  And how exactly did she have the means to become a trained assassin in such a short time?  And then convince whoever trained her to let her go on a personal mission like that?  Unless no one trained her... in which case, again, how did she do that?  And also, not sure I'd believe that someone would become a trained assassin because of the reason Gobi tells Perry.  Seems like WAY too extreme of a reaction to me.
4. (+) The Writing - Joe Schreiber knows how to capture your attention.  He's good at varying the pacing (some chapters were really short!) and also excels in building suspense and mystery.  I particularly liked how quick the dialogue went and how it was easily readable, how you knew exactly who was speaking because he made each character have their own distinct way of speaking.
5. (+) The Pacing - Only 192 pages long, and boy, do they fly by.  The first few chapters are a little slow, but that's because Schreiber is building up the mystery, creating an image of Gobi that will dissipate as soon as prom begins with two douchebags picking on the foreign exchange student...
6. (--) Unrealistic - Oh my god.  There are so many things in this book that I couldn't deal with.  I know, I know, I should've known better, but still the romance... the fact that Gobi didn't just get rid of Perry and that she actually liked him...  (Why again?  Yes, he was the only nice to her at school, but a trained, 24-year old assassin having feelings for a young high school kid is incredibly creepy.)  The fact that so few people seemed to catch on to what was going on... The fact that Gobi's targets didn't hide after the others started to die... Ah, so many more, but I'll stop now.
7. (+) Exactly as Advertised - But I can't completely fault the book for that; I mean it practically tells you how unrealistic it'll be in the summary... and what I probably ought to comment on is whether or not those scenes were done well... Yes, I think they were.  Torture methods, fights, questions of trust, guns--Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick is a book that gives you exactly what the summary describes in a well-written way, and it's not often that both of those things happen.  If you like the summary, go for the book.  If you don't... maybe not.
8. (--) Not a Full Cast of Characters - Perry, Gobi, and Perry's dad are pretty much the only characters somewhat developed, so if you don't like Perry or Gobi (the dad you are guaranteed to dislike), then you probably won't enjoy reading this novel.  As much as I liked the repartee between Perry & Gobi, I wished there were also other solid characters to lean on.
9. (+) Witty Dialogue & Constant Suspense - Still, the book is solid on witty dialogue and constant suspense.  Pretty much every chapter ends with a cliffhanger of sorts and Gabi and Perry have such great scenes together.  The tension is definitely there and provides great kick to the story (though again...didn't believe the sexual tension part of it.  I mean really?  When a girl pulls a gun on you/has pulled a gun on you, are you going to be attracted to her?  And kiss her?  And care about her when she tells you her sob story?)
10. (+/-) The Cover - the ARC doesn't have a cover, but the image above sort of bothers me.  Yeah, the city lights are all blurred like hectic action in the book, and yeah, you can't see Gobi's face, hinting at her mysteriousness.... but that jacket bothers me.  Stuffing her hands into her pockets bothers me.  It feels more like a cover for someone just discovering the city than for someone who wrecks the city.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick is the fast-paced ride packed with action which it claims to be; if you enjoy that sort of thing and don't mind the ridiculous bent to the story, go for it.  It's a fresh addition to YA contemporary.

A very long time ago, I posted about my top ten pet peeves in YA.  The ones I listed before are still irritating, but now these are recent trends that annoy me.

1. Eyes (or Romantic Interest) Described as 'Gorgeous.'


This makes me want to bang my head against the wall. I HATE THAT WORD.  It's so damn generalized and frankly also insulting to be called something that has no flavor of what you are.  Am I the only one who feels this way?

2. No Ordinary Beauty


Last time I posted about this too, but it was more in the context of few multiracial romantic interests.  Now, I'm just a tad peeved at how often I read about a romantic interest being perfect or tall or lean or strong or buff or having blue or green eyes or etc. etc.  In other words, romantic interests that exist in about... what 10% of the population or something?  I mean, yes, I read books sometimes to take me into a different reality, but sometimes I really want to read about someone I can believe in, someone who is just an ordinary guy/girl but is so awesome that that's what makes him/her beautiful.  (Yes, yes, I'm a romantic.  What can I say?)

3. Restrictions


By which I mean that YA is inevitably geared towards younger children and it sometimes loses its appeal for me.  I think there are things that it would be fascinating to read about in YA but they're... very curbed and censored...  And no, I can't really turn to adult books, because their "non-restriction" often isn't described in a way that appeals to me.  (Please, New Adult.  Can you work?)

4. Girls in Dresses on Covers


Last time I said photoshopped eyes bugged me.  This time it's girls in dresses.  Seriously though, not only are we enforcing this dry-cut image of what a girl should be but we're also trapping protagonists by having them be the same girl.  Yes, that girl in yet another dress.  That girl who has nothing to define her but her fanciful clothing.  Surely there are better ways of representing the story AND the protagonist than this one.

5. Avoiding Issues that Are Unpleasant


Like insecurities.  To me, this makes the protagonist or character more likable.  I believe more in a character who has flaws which are explored in the story than the character who never stops to think about... pimples... weight...makeup... their appearance, their personality, how others perceive them, how they perceive themselves... Richelle Mead's Bloodlines is a great example of a book with a protag. who didn't do this--who felt more real to me than any others I've read about recently. But I truly cannot think of very many stories which actually point this out.  It may be a bit mundane... but I feel like too many authors take an easy way out by having the protags be beautiful or confident enough to not even think on these issues.  I hate that so much.  Everybody, even incredibly confident people, has something that ticks at them whether it be something which seems superficial--like your appearance--or something that's more fundamental to who you are.  And I want to read about that.

6. The Protagonist Who Catches the Romantic Interest's Eye... for No Good Reason.

Seriously this also makes me want to bang my head against the wall.  Too often girls seem to have no personality... or maybe just nothing unique about them.  Is this an author's technique to make it seem more universally applicable, like we can all put ourselves in that situation?  We're not all cut of the same mold!  I actually enjoy reading about someone who has fire. Also, I don't know about you guys, but hey, if I don't know a guy, he doesn't suddenly approach me and beg me to be his boyfriend (same case with no personality girl).

7. Zombies as the New Vampires.

I heard this one recently... I think it was from the True Blood finale?... but ugh, I sincerely hope this doesn't gain popularity.  Zombies are not something I can get on board with, even if you make them "attractive" paranormal creatures (i.e. Die For Me by Amy Plum).  Too often, zombies are just plain gross... and I know that YA has a lot of dark, edgy stuff, but zombies hold zero appeal.  Death walking? Eating brains? Decaying corpses?  Agh.  I'm not that sure why I can stomach blood drinking more than I can stomach that, but please no zombies!

Also... a more generalized version of pet peeve = Why do we even need one creature / type of story to be the new 'trend?'  (But I get the feeling this is something that will never change.)

8. Romance for the Sake of Romance


Yeah, it's weird to hear this coming from me, but some YA includes romance that shouldn't be there, that doesn't work for the story.  I feel like the author only included it because he/she was told that YA can only be successful with it, but that's not true (i.e. read my review of Witchlanders).  Yes, I do enjoy a good romance, but not when it's forced or when it's more integral to the story than it should be.

9. When the Protagonist Does Something Really, Really Stupid


The most classic case of this, in my opinion,  is in Twilight.  Who runs towards a vampire instead of away from one?  At least in Vampire Diaries, Elena (in the t.v. show) runs away from Stefan.  That seems more like a logical response.  One I can identify with, but I'll stop digging at Twilight.  I feel like this happens a lot in paranormal stories... like they're to imitate Twilight (okay, okay, now I'll stop ;p).

10. The Mary-Sue


Because inevitably, we've all read one of those books that makes you ask, "did the author just write this so he/she could have this kind of adventure?"


Woohoo!  Now, if you count my previous post on Pet Peeves in YA, I'm up to 20 :D.  I welcome any and all opinions, even if I said I hate the word 'gorgeous' and you love it.  So, what do you think?  What are your pet peeves?

Release Date: September 13, 2011
Published by: Harper Teen

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, overbearing family she works for. Once the ship they’re sailing on reaches the United States, she’ll strike out on her own. Then she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets....

Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves are real and they’re stalking him—and now Tess, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.

Featuring the opulent backdrop of the Titanic, Fateful’s publication is poised to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the ship’s doomed maiden voyage. It is sure to be a hit among Titanic buffs and fans of paranormal romance alike.


Ten Likes/Dislikes:


1. (+) Tess, the protagonist - Practical, smart, fiery, determined, strong.  A great perspective to read.  I LOVED that she was a servant--not that I enjoyed seeing her be treated badly or anything but just how often do you read a story from that kind of perspective?  Historical romance & history itself are often written from the perspective of the victor, the rich, etc. etc.  It was incredibly refreshing to have that other take on the story and one that was so heart-breaking.  You'll really empathize with Tess.  Plus, her reactions were always realistic, which is a nice touch for a paranormal world.
2. (+) World-building - More than just one world to build -- Gray had to establish both the paranormal world and the historical world, and on both counts, she succeeded.  I never once doubted that Tess was on the Titanic; Gray adds a lot of details that make the ship seem like an authentic setting.  I also enjoyed her werewolf world.  I want to know more about the Brotherhood--how did wolves become this way?  I think there was a mention of it but I want more and I want to know how such... misogynistic opinions came to exist.
3. (+) Relationships - Every relationship felt complex and well-developed .... LOVED MYRIAM.  Ahem, and that's not just 'cause she's Lebanese ;p.  It's mostly because the friendship between Tess and Myriam became authentic after only a few days... In general, I loved how Gray used all the pasts between the characters to form these dynamic situations layered with such incredible tension.
4. (+) The Villains - Just as in her Evernight series, Gray has created two sets of villains.. a couple close to Tess and one newly met.  One set was incredibly realistic - there are some people who are that nasty and elitist - and the other set?  Well, that's just the paranormal.  Regardless, though, both posed a great threat to Tess that made me believe in the danger inherent to every moment she was on and off board the ship.
5. (+) The Romance - Because even though it was intense and had some elements of paranormal romance that I don't like--i.e. references to their obvious connection--it still had me sold.  I love their deep-seated belief in each other and the way they admired each other's strengths and weaknesses.  More importantly, I understood why they ended up together, why they were attracted to each other to begin with.  Gray is a master at spinning romance.
6. (+) Accuracy - I mentioned this in both the protag. and world-building sections, but really it deserves its own section.  The details of servitude and Tess's relationship with her employers, with the other passengers, even what happened when the RMS Titanic crashed--everything was vivid and done so well that I feel like Claudia Gray deserves extra props for her research.
7. (+) The Ending - Was not expecting that to happen... and yet... it was wonderful!  I can't say anymore because I don't want to spoil it for you guys... Still, let me just say that Claudia Gray is brilliant!  There.  :).
8. (+) The Writing - The attire and dialogue and emphasis on class were all historically accurate not to mention the descriptions of the world as seen through Tess's eyes.  In general, the writing was really fluid and evocative of a tragedy just waiting to happen.
9. (+/-) the Pacing - The pacing was sort of neither here nor there.  At one point, I had to put the book down to go to class, but even when class finished, I wasn't really thinking about it because I hadn't gotten a place that I absolutely needed to read, you know?  The pacing seemed constant throughout, and even when the Titanic crashed, I still didn't feel the urgency.  Though... I think that may be due to the fact that I already knew that was going to happen...
10. (+) The Cover - It's even prettier when printed.  It's on shiny paper that really makes the cover look like a dream, which is almost what the story feels like... werewolves on the Titanic.... Also, the use of so much blue really captures the tragic edge to the book.

Wonderful.  This is by far Claudia's Gray's best work yet.  I hope you guys give it a shot.

Release Date: September 5, 2011
Published by: Poppy

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Inspired by Aristophanes' play Lysistrata, critically acclaimed author of The Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) Kody Keplinger adds her own trademark humor in this fresh take on modern teenage romance, rivalry and sexuality.

Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Lissa, the Protagonist - Smart, funny, caring, neurotic--overanalyzes so many things and circles typos in books and raps her knuckles when she's nervous.  Lissa is a strong female protagonist who is easy identify with, and in fact, I was on her side pretty much the whole time, even when she starts to get a tad unreasonable at the end because her emotions were always real.  She felt like somebody I'd actually know and like in real life.
2. (+) The Idea - Because really?  Doesn't this book summary capture your attention right away?  A sex strike?  A football/soccer rivalry within a school?  I mean, sure, people mostly give more weight football games, but for there to be a rivalry within the school... And the idea is done well.  The reason for the rivalry is set up nicely and I love how Keplinger connected it to Lissa.  I've never read Lysistrata, but this book makes me want to at least check it out.  (Also would like to add that though it's a 'sex strike,' not every girl is having sex in this story.  That was one of the things that had bothered me about the idea but Keplinger found a way around it.)
3. (+) Family - I know that a lot of people get upset about YA never really including parents or families.  Not so the case here.  Lissa is who she is because of what's happened to her family.  And it was really touching to see her level of concern and care.  I loved the relationships she had with both her father and brother.
4. (+) The Romance - Cash is adorable.  At first, I was kind of pissed with him too--I mean Lissa had the right idea.  You find out his reasons later... but Cash's behavior in the past really contrasts with his flirty behavior.... But he grows on you the way he grows on Lissa.  And I love how he blushes and is cheesy but knows what he wants and isn't a jerk like Randy (really good technique to contrast douche Randy against this sweet & romantic guy--makes you fall more for Cash).  In general, it was a nice and refreshing take on YA romance.
5. (+) Friendships/the Other Characters - Chloe and Lissa's friendship is a great addition to the story.  In general, I thought all the characters were actually people I went to high school with.  They felt real.  And the only one I disliked was Randy, but I think that's okay/intended.  I especially, though, loved the way the girls banded together with their sleepovers and how their friendships strengthen all from this "strike."
6. (+) The Writing - You know what they say... when the writing is so seamless, you don't even notice how many pages you've read, how much it's drawn you into the story.  Kody Keplinger is really talented.
7. (+/-) Pacing - Pacing was pretty decent once the story picked up, but it seemed like it took too long for Lissa to organize the strike.  I was waiting for that moment and the consequences of it to develop sooner than it had.
8. (+/-) A tad unrealistic - Okay, since this is a contemporary, I feel like everything should have an edge of realism, yeah?  Well, some things like the shirts scene--when the girls gasp because the boys take off their shirts--some of those felt unrealistic.  I mean, maybe they could've squeezed each others hands but gasping?  It seems so damn dramatic that I cannot actually picture that.  That's a nitpick perhaps, but there were other things too.  Like the fact that Lissa stopped speaking to her best friend Ellen due to the football/soccer rivalry.  I can understand maybe friendship fading when both girls get boyfriends and stop spending time with each other, but the rivalry?  I mean really?  If you're good friends, why wouldn't you just meet on the side if you were afraid of making the rivalry worse?  And based on the way Ellen and Lissa interact, I never got the feeling that they were anything but good friends.  There was more, but I don't want to keep telling you specific things about the story/spoil it; you should read it for yourself ;p.
9. (+) The Ending - Perfect ending.  Everything was tied up nicely and Lissa grew as a character.  I especially like the last line about learning--really appropriate for the work and, I think, the teenage years as a whole.
10. (--) The Cover - I'm going to nitpick on this... but one, I don't like the mascara--it seems at odds with the black paint, which I'm sure was the effect they were going for--the whole boy vs. girl deal--but it just looks weird to me.  And when I close my eyes and reopen them, focusing on the cover again, there are four things that grab my attention.  The title, her eyes, her lips, and then that birthmark at the bottom.  And really, it's not nice of me to nitpick on the birthmark, but considering the level of photo editing they did, you'd think they would've gotten rid of something distracting like that... I don't know.  To me, the cover felt kind of sloppy and not at all worthy of the greatness within the pages.

I liked The Duff and Shut Out.... so I'm coming to the conclusion that you could give me any Kody Keplinger book and I'd enjoy it :).  I hope the rest of you will as well!

Next review will either be Fateful by Claudia Gray or Circle Nine by Anne Heltzel.

I think I'd have to choose Jake from the Halo trilogy by Alexandra Adornetto.  When I bought Halo, it was mostly because 1. The cover is very pretty and 2. Ms. Adornetto/Grace is a young writer, and I wanted to see her writing level.  I actually think she's a great writer... but I hate the idea of the series.  Also, Halo went so slowly for me and the co-dependency of Beth & Xavier makes me think of Twilight all over again... only less realistic.  And then, when you have the demon, who, by the way, isn't really all that evil and doesn't seem very dangerous, prance in and attempt to break up Beth & Xavier, well, yeah, I'm going to root for him. I rooted for him in Hades too (though I'm not sure why I bought that book since I didn't really enjoy Halo). 

I can't really think of other YA books that have a villain who's more awesome than the protagonist and I don't read enough adult novels to think of one off the top of my head there.

What about you?

Yeah, yeah, it's not Wednesday anymore, but I promise to be more on top of this later ;p.  Anyways, the header of my blog says that it's about a quirky girl on writing and reading (despite the name of my blog, ha!), and yet have I truly posted anything about writing? Not unless you count my discussion posts, What's More Important: the Beginning, Middle, or End of a Book? and Five Things I've Found in Romance Novels Which Should Be Applied to YA. 

OHMAHGAWDS, what have I done?!

So today I thought I'd talk about something which has been on my mind for a couple of weeks now:  Submission and the fundamental need for critique partners.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend confessed that he was scared because the only two people he had shown his novel to were me and another friend of his (from a writing website), and suddenly he was submitting it to four other people for critique. As soon as he sent it out, he told me he wished he hadn't done that, they weren't going to like it, etc. etc.

I felt bad... but then I also wondered and asked him:  If you can't submit your story to critiquers who legitimately want to help you improve and who are nice people, how will you submit it for publication?  Because that's the goal he's aiming for and is ultimately a much harder step to take.

I wanted to help him... but I didn't know what to say since submission doesn't scare me anymore.  In fact, I've lost count of how many people I've now shared my novel with--maybe 20+?--and I've had eight different drafts of it too?  Well, something like that.  But I know there are usually two reasons why people don't like submitting things for critique: they're afraid of having their idea stolen & they're afraid that their idea will be found lacking.

The idea that someone might plagiarize my story doesn't scare me -- there's only one person who has the power to shape that novel into what it should be, and that's me, the writer.  Even if people plagiarized my idea, they wouldn't know what edits I'd make, what themes are important to the story, etc. etc..  Maybe that's naive or too idealistic of me, but I think it's better to feel that way than to constantly worry about something over which I have little control.

As to the idea that my story disappoint others... Well, the only person who could again make me feel that way... is me.  I didn't always think like that, but about a year or two ago, I had asked two of my friends from college to take a look at my novel and give me a "harsh critique."  And harsh it was.  Comments like "Cactus? Does she have an extremely hairy, unshaven back? Is she growing horns? Small, numerous horns everywhere, that prickle her back?" (because I used 'prickly'), EWWWW. NO. WTF? Is she a fucking cannibal? (because I said she bit her nails so hard she drew blood), I thought her breasts were the ones making the promises to passerby (because she had been bent over, and I hadn't realized that would probably be a revealing position), and Dear Christina, There's this thing called subtlety adorned the page. Needless to say, I was pretty hurt by some of them.  I had asked for harshness--like something an editor might give me--but instead I had... almost a mocking tone.  I didn't think an editor would be so unprofessional about a critique.  Actually, it was more like an in-between: picking up lots of details but in a direct way that bespoke of our personal relationship, like they were trying joke with me about my story.

But I know my friends. If I told them that it (and their sarcasm) had felt like a mocking jeer, they would've been appalled and vehemently denied that as their intention. And yet that didn't stop me from not wanting to submit to them or really anyone again. I started doubting myself... But then, something miraculous happened a few weeks later.  I looked back at the critique and ignored the tone.  I took their advice and moved on.  Basically, the problem had less to do with the way they critiqued and more to do with me and how deeply attached I had become to my story.  I don't think it was a bad thing that I was attached to my story that much; I just think it masked the potential of the story.  It prevented me from improving and made me focus on the wrong thing. And because of my friends, I was able to step back and stop being frightened by submission. I could control the way I perceived each submission.

Critique partners can help you hone your craft... but they can also help you learn the right amount of attachment to your story.  I love my ideas, but when it comes to suggestions on my writing and whatnot, I now feel better equipped to evaluate their critiques with a level head, something that's invaluable to and appropriate for the story.  And more importantly, I can submit my novel without any regret.

What do you think? Do you get the submission jitters? Would you want a harsh critique?

Release Date: August 30, 2011
Published by: Tor Teen

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.


Ten Likes/Dislikes:

1. (+) Cas, the protagonist - Snarky, sarcastic, smart, strong (don't know if I would've lasted as long as he did without having friends to rely on).  Has good intentions and is good at what he does.  Cas was a fun YA male protagonist to read.
2. (+) World-Building - When I read the summary, I thought the supernatural element would focus more on ghosts... Basically, I thought it'd be something I had already read before... but this wasn't at all.  I don't want to ruin the surprise for you guys so I'll just say that what makes Anna Anna is a very interesting magic that I'd like to know more about :).
3. (+) Horror Aspect - Horror movies scare the hell out of me so I steer clear of them... but horror novels?  Not as scary.  And though I may not read a lot of horror novels, I still thought the horror aspect to Anna was tastefully done.  There is a good deal of violence, but the descriptions there weren't overdone.  The book has the spooky theme without being cheesy (or just plain gross) about it.
4. (+) Twists and Turns - Definitely wasn't expecting that explanation for why things were the way they were... though I do think that part of it was kind of unrealistic--what the (side) villains did; do such cruel people even exist?... but that didn't really detract from the whole feel of the book.  Altogether loved the suspense and the surprising twists and turns that Blake threw at me.
5. (+/-) The Romance - the only thing I didn't like about the romance was that the reason why Anna saves Cas wasn't fully explored.  It was briefly mentioned... but since it's a major point and hell it's even mentioned in the summary, I thought it'd be something more.  Something less like paranormal novels and their insta-love deal; this isn't insta-love but without a good explanation for why crazy, psychopath ghost does not kill intruder... well, I'm left a bit dissatisfied.  Besides that, though, I thought the romance was pretty cute and well developed.  I didn't necessarily believe in the whole love part of it, but their relationship was growing in an odd way that I found rather charming.
6. (+) The Writing - the writing was pretty seamless and fluid... didn't notice any hiccups in it, didn't have a problem falling into Cas's world.
7. (--) The Pacing - Pacing is an entirely different matter.  I thought the first chapter was unnecessary... and i thought it took way too long to finally meet Anna (75 PAGES).  I understand that horror probably needs some suspense before the main action in order for it to be good... but it felt like the reason for the delay was trivial, that it was obviously just delaying the inevitable.  Cas's research simply went on for too long.  I would've much rather had more scenes with Anna or just skipped right to it.
8. (+) Use of Stereotypes - A lot of the times, I don't like it when authors use stereotypes... It feels like a cop-out for creating real characters, but I liked the way it was done in Anna.  For instance, Carmel is the queen bee, but Blake doesn't try to change it around to make Carmel some paragon--the queen bee who reforms and whatnot.  Carmel felt real because of her reactions and the way they were not only consistent with what what you'd expect of that stereotype but also the way they made her... her.  She was a developed character despite the stereotype.  The same goes with the other characters.
9. (+) The Ending - Again, didn't really see that coming, but I do love the way Anna is open for a sequel though it still feels like a complete novel.  (AKA my favorite types of endings.)
10. (+) The Cover - I've loved this cover ever since I first saw it.  It does have a sort of comic book feel to it, but I think that works, especially for YA Horror.  But what's best, I think, is that it's black and white with the occasional twinge of red; that brings great contrast... and that which is emphasized in black--Anna's hair, a good symbol of her otherwordliness--looks amazing.  It's a good representation of what's inside.

Three cheers for Anna Dressed in Blood.  A great YA Horror novel with plenty of twists and turns that'll keep you turning the pages for more.

If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose?  Why and to what?

I can think two series right off the bat.  First would be Harry Potter.  I would eliminate the epilogue because it just didn't feel right.  All of JK Rowling's other books had open endings; why did Deathly Hallows have to spell out every single detail?!  I liked that line about having too much trouble in a life, or whatever it was Harry said at the end of the last chapter... Blah.  Second ending I'd change is The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.  I don't know about you guys, but I really liked the way City of Glass had ended and am not all that happy about where the series is headed now, even if Clare planned it that way.  (And yet, I'll continue to buy and read the books because I like her writing so much -sigh-.)

What about you?