If you didn’t already know about Lemuria’s Intern program, it’s the best. I LOVE our interns! We pick 9-12 high schoolers every summer to work in the store, learn the ins and outs of the book business from our end, and of course, play with books. It’s such a nice change of pace to have these kids in here that are just as excited about Lemuria as we are. This year, Lizzie and Meg, two of last year’s interns turned amazing booksellers, hand picked our interns. They collected applications, interviewed 15 kids and picked the ones they felt would get the most out of this opportunity. One of those bright kids was Mary Brooks. Mary Brooks just finished her stint here at Lemuria, but before she left, she could not stop talking about Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes, so I asked her to write us a little review of it:

“Even in the darkest and most cruel person, there is still a kernel of good. And within the most perfect champion, there is darkness. The question is, will one give in to the dark or the light? It’s something we decide with every choice we make, every day that we exist.”

After first reading this quote from Falling Kingdoms, one has to admit that this book certainly seems at least worth a quick looking-over. This quick look-over for me lead to all-out curiosity, and an impulse to read the first chapter that I find completely understandable. Even in the first chapter, it is evident that this book has something for all types of readers. From romance and secrecy, to magic and swordplay, even the stingiest of readers can find something that prompts them to continue.

Set within three kingdoms, and told from numerous viewpoints, the plot of Falling Kingdoms weaves a story that connects all of these characters in critical ways. Jonas, a poor winemaker’s son, directly contrasts with Magnus, the son of the cruel king of Limeros. Cleo, the princess of Auranos, leads a life of privilege and comfort, while Lucia, the adopted sister of Magnus, discovers a powerful ability. Two of the kingdoms that make up the setting of this novel, Limeros and Paelsia, are becoming weaker as time goes by. The ever-increasing loss of resources has made these kingdoms more desperate, and the wealth and beauty of the third kingdom, Auranos, serves as an even bigger temptation.

However, there is another game being played behind the scenes. The Watchers, powerful beings who live in paradise and are forever young, continue to look for three objects that were stolen from them. Because if these objects are found by the wrong people, it could mean the destruction of all of Mytica.

“What might not be evil to you could be evil to someone else. Knowing this makes us powerful even without magic.”

Hold on tight, and enjoy the ride, because once you start this book, there is no stopping. I am really looking forward to finding out where this story goes in the next installment, Rebel Spring, out December 3rd!

This blog entry was written by Mary Brooks Thigpen.

Before you make any snap judgements about this book like I did, let me tell you that at the height of my frustration thinking that this was just another “Katniss book”, the point of view and narrator changed. Just when I thought that I was going to have to endure the tough-girl, kickass act for 450 pages, her chapters end and a male voice begins to tell his own post-apocalyptic tale. All in all there are four different narrators jumping in and out of the whole story, three of them are male. Hallelujah, you guys. Hallelujah. I’m glad that there are girls in these worlds that are tough and can defend themselves, but a little male perspective is more than welcome in a female-flooded YA market. I will gladly put this book into the hands of girls and guys. I will not, however, tell you who the male narrators are. That is the secret weapon that Yancey pulls out in the end, not only the what of the story, but the who. Cassie’s hard edges are softened by her fellow storytellers and the characters intersect beautifully at just the right time. The story finishes so differently than it began: with companionship in a world that has taught you that you cannot trust anyone.

Turns out I was wrong about this one. Hats off to you, Mr. Yancey.

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey, Putnam, $18.99

Grisham fans, put your hands in the air and say hallelujah! The fourth installment in his addictive series chronicling the adventures of Theodore Boone, kid detective, is out and ready to be gobbled up just in time for that trip to the beach. Theo is back in Theodore Boone: The Activist and something smells rotten in the state of Strattenburg. The city is divided over the hot political and environmental issue of the new bypass being put up around the city and Theo soon realizes that he has once again gotten himself entangled in something much bigger than himself. Once he gets the smallest hint that something might be wrong he goes full force kid lawyer and the general adventuring and shenanigans that we’ve come to expect from this clever boy ensue.

Now, this is technically a young adult book, so what a great summertime/graduation/you’re the best kid ever gift! Here’s the thing though– if you’re a grown up and a Grisham fan I had better not catch you sheepishly putting this book back on the shelf because you’re ashamed to read a kid’s book. Never be ashamed of reading a well told story! NEVA. This is a fun read for Grisham fans young and old, and all of our copies are signed, so they make great gifts too!

“Once upon a time,

an angel lay dying in the mist.

And a devil knelt over him and smiled.”

Now, can you honestly tell me that doesn’t sound like a wonderfully delicious read?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone, the first installment of the series, is one of my favorite Young Adult books. The author, Laini Taylor, has done an incredible job mixing rich, beautiful description with today’s modern––American––sense of humor.

The characters are edgy, tough, and do all sorts of crazy, mythological things you or I couldn’t even begin to imagine (on our own, anyway), let alone try––like a girl flying through the streets without any form of device, cords, or lever.

And how did this story come to be? Well, one day this wonderful woman decided to write this incredible story, and then…

“…something [started] to take shape,

out of magic and will. Smoke and bone.”

The story begins with a girl, her name is Karou––which means “hope.”

Now, she isn’t exactly your typical teenage girl, even if you could look past the hamsas tattooed to her palms, the blue hair is kind of hard to ignore.

But where is this strange girl from? Who knows….

Where could you possibly find her?

Prague, and that’s where the majority of the story takes place.

Karou is not the only unique creature in this book. There is, of course, Zuzana––Karou’s best friend––who is know for her absurd commentary, but even stranger is Karou’s family. Now, I know what you must be thinking, “my family’s pretty strange too”––maybe you even have a crazy Uncle Al, but trust me, your family has got nothing on Karou’s.

Because I seriously doubt that any of you humans out there were raised by Chimera. That’s right, I said CHIMERA––as in super-awesome, super-crazy, mythological beasts that you KNOW you want to read about.

But I’m getting off subject….

And Chimera aren’t the only magical creatures in existence either. There are also Seraphs. Of course, these two beings don’t live in our average human world, nor do they get along. Ongoing war plagues the two species––it has for their entire existence––and now it has seeped into our human world (or more correctly, Karou’s).

Now, there is far more to the story, but I’d hate to give away all Karou’s secrets. Just one more thing before you rush to Lemuria to by this book––because let’s be honest, you’re already looking for your car keys––there is another really important character I should mention. His name is Akiva, and he is a Seraph. I’m sure you know where this is going. Yes, the plot contains a love story. Totally unexpected, I know, but this is a YA series, what did you expect?! But it’s all right, I myself have a crush on Akiva, so don’t worry.

Now, it has been a few months since I have read this book.

So please excuse me if some of my school girl giddiness has escaped my writing––trust me, it has not vanished.

I only hope I have made this book sound like it was worth reading. Because it most certainly is.

Remember that time that I was super obnoxious and kept nagging you guys about coming to events? Well, I’m sticking to my guns on this. Later this week we will be having an event for the release of Melissa Meyer’s book Scarlet (the second in The Lunar Chronicles, a futuristic series that takes on some old school Grimm’s fairy tales). We are so excited about this, and just to show you how much we as Lemurians actually love the books we sell to you, I’ll turn this over to Lizzie so she can tell you about the first fantastic book in Meyer’s series, Cinder. Lizzie is one of our favorite Oz-lings who works so hard side by side with us to bring you guys books that we think you’ll love. (And arguably has the best hair this side of the Mississippi)

As a reader, I know how skeptical a new and unknown book can make you feel. Will it be good? Is it worth my time? And let’s face it, this especially holds true with young-adult novels. I’ll admit it. There are a lot of young-adult novels published that shouldn’t have seen the light of day. I myself  am an incredibly picky reader. I also speak my mind, so you can trust me to give you an honest opinion, with that in mind let’s talk about Cinder by Marissa Meyer.

Hmmm…. Where to begin? I guess I’ll just dive right in and tell you what I think. Cinder. Is. A. Super. Fun. Read. I mean it! It really is. The story definitely sounds a little strange at first. Cinder is a robotic, futuristic Cinderella growing up in New Bejing where a nasty incurable plague is sweeping through the Earth. This first installment in The Lunar Chronicles has everything you expect to see in the Cinderella story: an evil stepmother, a down on her luck orphan, a handsome and charming prince, and of course, a ball. But where Meyer really makes this story have staying power is the addition of the Lunar people. In this new world, people have colonized the moon, except now they consider it the planet Luna. And living up there has changed them in basic ways that really spice up this story and make sure you are never quite sure which way it could go. I’m not saying it’s some great American classic or anything, but it is something that will make you want to curl up on the couch with some blankets and keep reading until you finish. At least, that’s what I did. All because there are no long, boring lulls. Cinder is quick paced, exciting, and easy to read.

Let me guess, right now you’re probably thinking: “Can I trust this random girl I don’t know and listen to her advice? It is her job, after all, as a bookseller to try and make this book sound like something I would want to buy. How can I know that she’s telling me the truth?” Well, guess what, you can. Because if I were just trying to blindly sell you this book I would say something like, “it’s amazing and has great reviews… best book ever”, and blah blah blah. But I’m not.  I’m not going to tell you it’s the best book ever. Cinder won’t bring you to tears or make you question life and its many uncertainties or anything like that. Want to know why? Because that’s NOT WHAT IT’S FOR. It’s not meant to affect you in any deep, personal way, but it will make you laugh and smile. Maybe, even, a little, girlish giggle will escape your lips.

There are a lot of different methods used to pick out a new book. One of my favorite quotes from an unknown author says, “Choosing a book is a lot like finding a date. Sometimes your eyes connect from across the room and there’s an instant spark. Sometimes a friend tells you all about them and sets you up, and sometimes it’s an entirely aesthetic choice that may or may not be a total disaster. Sometimes it’s hard to describe exactly how you ended up hand in hand but there you are.” Cinder is definitely worth a first date. For sure.

And maybe some of you out there have already found this book on your own, or had a friend tell you about it, but for those of you who haven’t read this book yet, please let me be the friend who tells you it’s a really fun book that you should read. Come on. Give it a chance.

And then come meet Marissa Meyer this Thursday, February 7th at 5:00 here at the bookstore. You won’t regret it.

You know that book that just grabs you right away? That even when you aren’t reading it, said book tickles at your thoughts and demands that you go back to it as soon as possible? That is exactly how it felt to read the young adult book Just One Day by Gayle Forman. It’s one of those books that perfect for the weather we are having now because it is engrossing.

Just out of high school, Allyson parents have given her a summer trip in Europe equipped with a clutchy tour guide/guardian. The entire trip, the rest of her cohorts have been having a ball, but Allyson just never seems to get into the fun. That is until the last day of the trip and a accidental run in with Willem, the laid-back gorgeous Dutch actor who invites her to a “guerrilla Shakespeare” production of Twelfth Night. When the night ends, Allyson feels as though that is the end of their story, but fate isn’t finished. The two find each other in the breakfast car the next morning on the train and decide to take fate’s nudging to heart: They jump the next train to Paris and spend just one day in the city of love. Of course, you already know what happens: they fall in love.

But that is where this story stops being predictable and begins its journey through Allyson internal journey to who she is and who she could be. After their day in Paris, Allyson wakes up alone. Willem has left without a hint of a goodbye. I can’t really tell you more because, well, then I would have told you the whole book, but I will say, this book kept me guessing and hoping for these two characters to find their way back to each other. It is such a fun ride. And better yet, the companion novel, Just One Year, will be out this year and tell Willem’s story.

It’s one of those weird things about being a bookseller. Timepiece by Myra McEntire, which just came out June 2012, was one of my favorite reads of last November 2011. Weird right? We booksellers often read so far in advance, and Timepiece was one of those books I could not wait to read. I so vividly remember huddling in my kitchen, cooking dinner and reading Timepiece, too engrossed in this second installment of the Hourglass series to even go turn the heat on in my house.

Hourglass, Myra’s debut book, grabbed my attention with its stunning cover and its rave reviews, one of which hailed it as “Doctor Who for the YA market” (yes, Joe, I know I’m a nerd). I was hooked. And while Hourglass is a great introduction to a fascinating world, it was Timepiece that made me fall in love with it. This is one of those series that you are not going to want to miss.

You can tell just by talking to Myra that she is passionate about what she does. I have already had a very intriguing twitter conversation about her series with her and it was so much fun! I cannot wait to have her here at Lemuria on Tuesday, September 18th at 4:00. I will definitely be grilling her on the next installment, which was just bought by Egmont earlier this year. Swing by, grab a couple of excellent books, and meet Myra McEntire!