{Review} Pantomime by Laura Lam

Pantomime
Author: Laura Lam
Release Date: February 5, 2012
by, Strange Chemistry
Source: Netgalley
Format: Kindle
Pages: 392

R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilization long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.

But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.{Goodreads}

~Review:
  Quick note: the cover!!! Love. Love. Love it!! I totally want that mask too..major jelousy right here! The circus tent in the back ground...the everything! Really like this cover! Fits the book like a glove! <3

  More serious matters: Pantomime was a book I was much anticipating. The premise just spoke to me saying "You must need this book Jaiden! MUST!!". So, naturally, I just needed to have it! I was a bit confused at first but I quickly caught on with the different time and POVs. Little did I know though that Micah and Gene were more closely linked than I thought....major shocker when I saw how their paths crossed. Really. There was a few things in the book that had me cautious and wary but all in all this book was fantastic! Also, the only real thing I can complain about this book is the lore and history of the world in the book. I wish the author would have gone into further detail explaining the different towns and history and mythology. I was super confused when it came to that. Maybe I missed something but I literally had no clue what made Byssia people Byssia people and who the Couple was and more. I kinda just had to skim those parts and pretend to know I knew.

  Other than those few hiccups like I said...fantastic! The writing style of Laura Lam was so enticing and wonderful. I felt as if every word had its own magic behind it! The circus was most definitely my favorite part of the book. It was described so wonderfully I felt as if I was there and experiencing the circus through Micah's eyes and truly feeling the awe and magic he felt for it. The imagination ran wild in this book. (even though some of it I didn't understand) Then the time...the era this book was set in was beautiful. I love the time of parasols, extravagant dresses, balls, courting, circus entertainment, etc. And again, Laura did it all perfectly. I felt as if I was truly there smelling the smells, seeing the sights, experiencing the protagonists experiences! Laura used words that described the situation, description, and severity of the subject on hand perfectly. She made me use the dictionary but I didn't find it tiring.

  Pantomime was a work of art! The characters were developed just to my liking. There were tons of side characters but you didn't get confused. At first it takes awhile to get to know everyone but not too long. Then of course those characters you end up loving and then the ones you love to hate! Omg. Drystan....I loved him just so you know ;) I also loved Gene's brother Cyril's best friend..and of course Cyril himself. Cyril was so loyal and understanding. He has a big heart and I would love to have a brother like him. Drystan was adorable and handsome and hilarious..he is a clown! ;D  Then that ending! That ending was the best part of the book. It was fast pace, terrible and emotional. I really hope there is a sequel because you can't just end a book like that. I really enjoyed reading Pantomime. It was unique and beautiful. Magic in its self. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fun, mysterious, magical and intriguing read!

~Rating:

4 of 5 stars!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!! :)

~Jaiden 

{Review} Broken by A.E. Rought

Broken
Author: A.E. Rought
Release Date: January 8, 2013
by, Strange Chemistry
Source: Netgalley
Format: Kindle
Pages: 384

Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where a young couple’s undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all.  

A string of suspicious deaths near a small Michigan town ends with a fall that claims the life of Emma Gentry's boyfriend, Daniel. Emma is broken, a hollow shell mechanically moving through her days. She and Daniel had been made for each other, complete only when they were together. Now she restlessly wanders the town in the late Fall gloom, haunting the cemetery and its white-marbled tombs, feeling Daniel everywhere, his spectre in the moonlight and the fog.

When she encounters newcomer Alex Franks, only son of a renowned widowed surgeon, she's intrigued despite herself. He's an enigma, melting into shadows, preferring to keep to himself. But he is as drawn to her as she is to him. He is strangely... familiar. From the way he knows how to open her locker when it sticks, to the nickname she shared only with Daniel, even his hazel eyes with brown flecks are just like Daniel's.

The closer they become, though, the more something inside her screams there's something very wrong with Alex Franks. And when Emma stumbles across a grotesque and terrifying menagerie of mangled but living animals within the walls of the Franks' estate, creatures she surely knows must have died from their injuries, she knows.{Goodreads}

 ~Review:
  Ok....look at that cover...its gorgeous you guys! I know, I know...I start off like this 9 times out of 10 but hey! You have to give credit when credits are due....and this is due...And it totally has meaning to the story. I love the color scheme and the font and ya the whole thing is just unique and lovely!

  Now, on to the review actually for the book and not the cover. At first I was confused and I blame the synopsis. I hate the synopsis for only one reason. It gives way too much away and then you end up focusing on that one piece of information and it ruins the element of surprise....it ruins the building plot. Wait, I forgot to mention the part I mean? Oh! *slaps forehead* silly me! I mean the very beginning and I quote..."Imagine a modern spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where a young couple’s undying love and the grief of a father pushed beyond sanity could spell the destruction of them all. " I think they should totally delete that part. Mentioning that this book is a modern spin on Frankenstein completely ruins the book and the readers mind/thoughts going into this book.

  For one...when the story actually develops into a rendition of Frankenstein...I already saw it coming. There was no gasping and horror for me. Two...I was so focused on the Frankenstein part that I was pointing out things that related to Frankenstein and I was unable to just sit back and enjoy the developing plot. Ya, so...I hate that part of the synopsis and I wish they would have never put it on there. I wish I could have read this book over again with no knowledge of its relation to Frankenstein.

  Anyways!!! Other than my little rant on the synopsis...this book was good...no. It was better than good. It was great! I loved this book a lot. I was very pleasantly surprised. In fact, I have been "pleasantly surprised" with a lot of books lately. I don't know if it is because I don't read the synopsis right before and so I have forgotten what the book is about or cus I have become more untrustworthy in some ways. I don't know. This book wasn't at all what I was expecting. It chilled me more than I thought it would. I knew it was going to be semi-creepy because of the whole Frankenstein thing but I didn't think it would have this creepy fog hovering over it the entire book. It was like having those gloomy thunderstorm clouds with the lightening cackling every now and then. It gave me goosebumps I will admit. It also had my heart squeezing and flipping.

  If it wasn't for Frankenstein's gloomy storm hovering over the pages then I would have taken it as any other contemporary read. A girl loses her love to a tragic accident and along comes a boy who fixes her heart. Again any other mending-the-broken-heart contemporary book except...this was no ordinary contemporary book. It was so much more. Again this book would have been so much more fun if I hadn't known it was a modern spin on Frankenstein. I would have loved playing the guessing game. It would have added to the mystery, suspense, and creep factor. This book was all sorts of amazing. It totally peaked my interest in gothic novels and movies...the old ones. I want the originals baby! ;)

  Now, let me talk about Alex for a moment shall I? I mean, what kinda fictional-boy-obsessor would I be if I didn't set aside a paragraph to talk about the love interest?? Ok, so Alex is plain out gorgeous you guys! Tall, lean, hazel eyes, dark hair with natural highlights. He has scars and a wicked rumor about his past following him around like a ghost. He is mysterious, bad-boy-repped and a total charmer! And did I mention he was totally and completely smexy!? O my. I fell for Alex hard not only for his looks but his heart and words. Again, total charmer and complete eye candy. The makes of a perfect boy. His past is terrible and his father worse. He would do anything for Emma and looks at her as if she is a dream come true every..single...time. *swoon!*

  This book is very much well written. Rought has one heck of a writing hand. She damn well knows what she is doing, wants to do and how to fulfill that all to us readers. She had me feeling the creep factor, love factor, sick factor, every factor in this book. Haunting, emotional, and beautiful...those are the words that come to mind when thinking of Broken. I really did enjoy this book. Started off a bit slow but it didn't take long to get me hooked! Happy with the way it ended! ^-^ Sad too though... :( Dudes, that ending was crazy! I totally recommend this to anyone who loves gothic novels. Then to those who enjoy romance with the paranormal/gothic twist. SO good! All I got to say! Rought has officially made a fan out of me and I will be looking forward to future books from her! :D

~Rating:

4 of 5 stars!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! :D

<3 Jaiden