Monday, April 1, 2019

#AmReading YA

Killing November
Adriana Mather
Series: Killing November, #1
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Mystery
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch comes a thriller set at a secretive boarding school where students are trained to carry on family legacies that have built—and toppled—empires.

November is trapped. At the mysterious Academy Absconditi, a school that’s completely off the grid, there’s no electricity, no internet, and a brutal eye-for-an-eye punishment system. Classes include everything from knife-throwing and poisons to the art of deception. And the other students? All children of the world’s most elite strategists, in training to become assassins, spies, and master manipulators. November Adley doesn’t know why she’s been sent to this place, or the secrets that make up its legacy, but she’ll quickly discover that allies are few in a school where competition is everything. When another student is murdered, all eyes turn to November, who must figure out exactly how she fits in before she is found guilty of the crime…or becomes the killer’s next victim.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Adriana Mather comes a captivating thriller that will leave you breathless.
For centuries, a handful of families have been orchestrating some of the biggest historical events. Welcome to the Academy Absconditi, where the children of these elite families come to train and perfect their skills in things, such as: strategy, mind games, subterfuge, knife throwing, climbing, and sword fighting.

When a "family emergency" arose, November was whisked off to this top secret boarding school in an undisclosed location. Little did she know, this was not your average school. Not only did November hone her skills and learn the secrets of her family while at the Academy, she was also forced to fight for her life.

Well, THAT was an unexpected and fantastic surprise! I had loved both of Mather's previous books, and though this one was quite different, it was equally as fabulous and entertaining as the others.

I was quickly wrapped up in the world of the Academy and the Strategia, who are the ruling families. Their connection to prominent world events and how they manufactured them was the stuff conspiracy theorists' dreams are made of. As always, Mather wove lots of interesting historical tidbits into the story, and I was utterly fascinated by the events she chose, as well as how she blended them seamlessly into this tale.

I also loved going to class with November. What they learned and how they learned it was so interesting, but at the same time, terrifying. The Academy dated back to the 1030s, and still subscribed to many archaic rules of justice. Students were punished by being thrown in the dungeon or having to suffer "an eye for an eye" consequence. There was one scene, which was especially savage. I just couldn't believe the culture of this school.

Yes, the Academy was quite an intriguing place, but it was also a place, where you had to constantly watch your back, as November quickly learned. One of the biggest mysteries, which was solved by the end of the book, was who was trying to kill November and why. I was definitely keeping my eyes wide open as November and the twins, Ash and Layla, attempted to solve the mystery themselves. Lots of action, lots of lying, lots of precarious situations -- Mather really kept me on my toes.

The characters, the action, the alliances, the history, the mystery -- I was onboard for it all. I did not realize this was a series, when I selected this book, however, I am now pretty excited about it, because I am itching to learn all I can about the world of the Strategia.

Tin Heart
Shivaun Plozza
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Jennifer Niven calls emerging talent Shivaun Plozza’s charming second novel, recipient of multiple starred reviews, “swoon-worthy, moving, deep, and funny”! When Marlowe gets a heart transplant and a second chance at life, all she wants to do is to thank her donor’s family. Maybe then she can move on. Maybe then she’ll discover who she is if she’s no longer The Dying Girl.

But with a little brother who dresses like every day is Halloween, a vegan warrior for a mother, and an all-out war with the hot butcher’s apprentice next door, Marlowe’s life is already pretty complicated. And her second chance is about to take an unexpected turn...
Marlowe was born with a congenital heart condition, and after being very ill for many years, she had accepted her imminent death. All that changed one rainy night, when a car accident resulted in the death of another teen, and a new lease on life for Marlowe.

After receiving her new heart, Marlowe wasn't sure, who she was anymore. She had gotten used to being the dying girl without a future, but now she had a second chance. Marlowe spent a good part of the story trying to figure out who she was, but she did so, while dealing with the fact, that she had a future, because her donor didn't. She wanted, no needed, to know more about the donor, and another portion of the story was dedicated to her working through that.

I really felt all the emotional weight of this transplant. Plozzo did a wonderful job conveying the feelings and the inner conflicts Marlowe was battling with. She had to re-integrate into the world around her. She had to make new friends. She had to deal with her feelings of emptiness. She even had to deal with ridiculous twits, who teased her about her transplant (really?). But, everything she faced was a growing experience for her, and grow she did.

Plozzo won me over with this story, but her characters stole my heart. Marlowe was super complicated and dealing with a lot, so I empathized endlessly with her. But, her world was filled with such quirky and wonderful people for me to adore as well. Her mother was so over the top sometimes, but I admired her conviction and her unfailing love for her children. Her brother, Pip, was so, so precious. His love of Project Runway and crazy, inventive costumes was something I started to look forward to. He also loved so fiercely, and saw it as his duty to bring joy to the world. How could I NOT adore this kid.

And then, there was the butcher's son, Leo. You have to understand, Marlowe's mother owned a vegan store and they were staunch vegans - no gluten, no sugar, no meat, NOTHING! There is even a point where the mother says, "Honey, if you had brought home a conservative I'd be less disappointed." So, the fact that Marlowe and Leo develop a friendship and a romance was quite humorous, but you know what? I loved him. There was nothing cute about their meet-cute, but you could see the sparks, the banter was terribly fun, and seeing them realize they had more in common then they thought was very sweet.

Overall: A heartwarming, and often hilarious, look at one young woman's journey from dying-girl to her true self, which tugged at my heartstrings and left me with a smile on my face.

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

Which class would your prefer and why:
knife throwing or ropes
Let us know in the comments!

30 comments:

  1. I really loved Shivaun Ploza's debut book. I mean she's Aussie so it's no wonder that I loved it. I'm happy that this seems to be equally amazing. It sounds like a story with a lot of heart.

    I hadn't heard of Killing November, but woah! Sounds epic!

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    1. I want to read Frankie. I have to see if it was published in the US, because I want an electronic version, if I buy it.

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  2. Killing November sounds great! I hadn't heard of it until now but I might have to check it out.
    Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

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    1. I liked Mather's previous books, so I keep my eyes open for more. I wouldn't say the pubs were screaming about it, which is a shame, because it was excellent.

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  3. I hadn't heard of either of these, but they each sound fantastic in very different ways!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. I think I heard of Tin Heart from Becky (Fool's Ingenuity), and then I was lucky enough to win the book in a giveaway. Mather I have read before, and really enjoyed her Witch books. I am happy I found both books, because they were almost perfect reads for me.

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  4. Wow Sam, I want to read Killing November! I saw it at work but passed because I didn't like the author's debut. I may have to circle back and see if it's still available!

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    1. I liked the Witch books. This story is really different, but still blended in all those bits of history, which I found interesting.

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  5. Killing November sounds intense!

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    1. It definitely had intense parts, but also some nice, normal teen parts too. It was a good blend, which always works for me.

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  6. Killing November sounds even better than I thought it would. I'm very excited to get my hands on a copy of that one. Tin Heart sounds great too!

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    1. I enjoyed the way Mather melded the action/intrigue/teen drama together.

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  7. Tin Heart sounds really good - sounds like Marlowe has quite the journey!

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    1. It was fun, but also emotional, when you think of what Marlowe is trying to work through. I enjoyed it a lot.

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  8. Wow! These both sound great. Killing November sounds rather exciting. Tin Heart sounds emotional. My cousin's wife needed a transplant. Unfortunately, when she got it she didn't survive the recovery. The waiting and worrying are hard to deal with and I can imagine that after is a huge adjustment.

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    1. They were both great for me. November was way more action packed then my normal reading, and I was really absorbed by it all - the story, the mystery, all of it. I never knew anyone, who received a heart. It has to be devastating to wait and then it doesn't work out.

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  9. these are both new to me titles. I like the sound of Killing November thought, the academy and everything sounds exciting.

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    1. The academy was quite an interesting place. The rules there were crazy!

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  10. I really like the sound of Tin Heart. I can't imagine living as Marlowe had - accepting death at a young age as inevitable. And I like the sound of the cast of characters. I love that they were so unique instead of just cookie cutter. Great review, Sam!

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    1. I really liked Tin Heart. I am going to get the author's debut, because I enjoyed it so much. I am all about the characters in a book, and Plozza really gave me some great ones in that book.

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  11. Such different YA reads but both sound so interesting! I have to say Tin Heart sounds more up my street but Killing November had me intrigued. I kind of want to read to see if it's as good as you say.

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    1. You know I found Tin Heart because of you. I think you added it on GR and it made me look into it more, and then I won a giveaway for the book.

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  12. What a pair of very different books -- but amazing in different ways. Your review of Killing November actually blew all my preconceptions of the book awya. I am definitely going to have to give this a try. And Tin Heart, my goodness. How wonderful and hopeful it is -- and Leo lol! Her mother's comment made me laugh!

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    1. I didn't know what to expect from November, but since I liked Mather's previous work, I took a chance and was really glad I did.

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  13. I have an ARC of Tin Heart! So Happy to hear it's good! Heart transplant is really an emotional topic. Sounds like Marlowe had to go through a lot!

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    1. It was an interesting angle, and there were so many great characters

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  14. Killing November sounds so amazing! I would love to read it. The school intrigues me, and it must be such a mind twister to always have to stay on top of everything there, and all the competition. Agh, I am so intrigued. The second books synopsis confused me because it started off by talking about Jennifer Niven but I was like... this isn't her book? I hate when synopses does that, as if the author's own fame isn't another so they have to focus on a bigger author first. But the book sounds just lovely and it must be such an adjustment to have accepted your fate but then have your whole reality change.

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    1. It seems important for newer authors to get those blurbs from established ones. Regardless, Plozza's book was wonderful! I am hardly seeing anyone talking about Killing November, which is sad, because it was great.

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  15. Awesome reviews! I am so looking forward to reading Killing November! It sounds like an amazing book.

    Mary

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    1. I like Mathers' books, and I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this one, as it's not my normal kind of read.

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