Dancing With Jesus by Sam Stall

Image Source

Dancing With Jesus was given to me for review by Running Press.

Funny! It's a small board book complete with pictures and moving graphics! Sam Stall describes various dance moves in honor of Jesus and his apostles, with little descriptions describing the story behind the dance move contained in the Bible.

My personal favorites include, The Temptation Tango with Satan, the Lazarus Lurch (love me some zombie moves), and the Judas Hustle. All are silly, fun, and irreverent, which insured my adoration.

I'd recommend this little book for stocking-stuffers, white elephant gifts, or as a gag gift for those who aren't too offended ;)

Thanks to Suzanne Wallace who provided me with this absolutely funny and adorable book!

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

U.S. cover

This book is---hands down---the best book I've read this year. Seraphina combines all the elements of a great fantasy story into one. For me that includes a whole new fantasy world, complete with history, language, culture, but doesn't hit you over the head with it.

Seraphina lives in a world where the Catholic church reigns supreme and dragons roam the Earth. They have eased into an uncertain treaty and are celebrating it's 40th anniversary.

Suspicion and prejudice are present on both sides. Dragons hate emotions and humans feel that dragons are soulless and evil. It's an uneasy truce but one that allows for peace and cooperation.

Seraphina is our heroine. We learn she is half human and half dragon. She is the one who will bring them all together in the wake of treason, assassinations, and the undoing of the treaty.

I loved Hartman's writing. She brings a sense of wonder to this world. The romance isn't heavy-handed. The plot moves along nicely. I really cared about the people, the dragons, and the world. I really haven't read such an engrossing YA fantasy novel since the Harry Potter series.

I really have nothing bad to say. I guess I didn't like the ending as much as I was hoping but that's just being nit-picky.

This is a beautiful and engaging fantasy series and all should read!

*I really like the U.S cover better. Adds to the mystery of the world. I don't like seeing the characters on the cover. Kind of ruins it for me.

U.K. cover

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

I received this from the publisher Quirk Books.

Wow. What a fantastic plot. Scientists have discovered a ginormous asteroid and it's on its way here, to Earth. We only have six months til all hell breaks out. People are going to die and the rest will probably slowly die from freezing temps, starvation, and civil society breaking down. It's the apocalypse with a due date.

Well, instead of waiting for the actual impact to destroy society, most decide to give up early. Governments are breaking down, people are committing suicide, martial law, high prices, drugs, etc. There are a few holdouts like Det. Hank Palace.

He takes a scene to clean up what looks like another suicide, but something doesn't feel right. He sets out to discover what really happened to this guy. Most see it as a waste of time since we're all going to die anyway.

I liked it. Winters does paint a grim picture of humanity; I'd like to think we stave off anarchy a bit longer...but he really asks some big questions about life and what ifs. What are people willing to do to save their families and friends?

It was a bit slow at first but I think he wanted to build his world and his writing portrayed that.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next installment.

Tricked by Kevin Hearne

Source taken from Fantasy Book Critic's website


Tricked is the fourth book in the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. The first three delivered and this one does not disappoint. If you haven't read his first book Hounded do so! These books combine humor, action, and mythology--a fantastic urban fantasy series. This book tackles Navajo mythology and folklore. I love learning about the different cultures and their gods. Fascinating stuff.

He also has an Irish wolfhound Oberon. They are telepathically linked and their conversations are priceless.

The tricked part of the title refers to the main character Atticus owing the trickster god Coyote a huge favor. Mayhem ensues, of course.

We also learn more about Atticus's history. Always a bonus. And we meet a few more gods and goddesses...Loki's daughter Hel!

This series is one of my favorites. Highly recommended. My only complaint would be that this one didn't flow as well as the first three. I felt the plot was a bit weak but it's a minor complaint. Overall, it's a hoot!

PS. Click on above link for my previous review of the the first three in the series :)

Timeless by Gail Carriger

Image

This is the last book in the Parasol Protectorate series. It makes me a little sad. I've loved watching Alexia and Lord Maccon duke it out in wits over the course of the previous books. Alexia is a hoot and a strong match for her Alpha Wolf husband.

We find out a bit more about Alexia's preternatural state and who her father was. They travel to Egypt and there are muggings, kidnappings, and crazy old vampires out to kill everyone. It's fun and funny, and even a bit tender in spots.

The first half was a bit slow but overall the ending made up for it. It ends well and that makes me happy. And they lived happilish everish after.

I have happy news that Gail Carriger is continuing her series but in a new direction with Lady and Lord Maccon's child Prudence.  Looks like we'll expect the first book in Fall of 2013 or early 2014. Yeah! More Parasol Protectorate fun!!!!!

Contact by Carl Sagan

Image source

Summary: Radio astronomer Ellie discovers an extraterrestrial signal from Vega that includes instructions on how to build an unknown machine.

Carl Sagan really brought his love of science and humanity into his first and last novel. It's a shame that he died so young. How would the world change with the knowledge that we're not alone in the Universe? Do we band together as a global species and do we let or differences annihilate us? Sagan gets very philosophical throughout the book. I feel that the heroine, Ellie, was truly Carl Sagan's voice. He sort of brings all of his ideas into one book. He also explains the science very well so me, as a lay person, can understand.

Sagan shows his weakness in fiction writing here. Sometimes the plot got bogged down by his philosophical points, but overall it was a moving story told with trepidation about our future but with a little hope thrown in at the end.

Like Sagan, I hope we as a species can learn to think globally and not annihilate ourselves so we can truly journey to the stars and make space our backyard.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Source

Amazon.com description: One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, Will Grayson crosses paths with . . . Will Grayson. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, and culminating in epic turns-of-heart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the high school stage. Told in alternating voices from two YA superstars, this collaborative novel features a double helping of the heart and humor that have won them both legions of fans.

Funny, enlightening, exaggerated, painful, and full of heart. Those are my words to describe this excellent novel. You can't help but grow to love both Will Graysons and Tiny, the one who brings them all together.

Source

Here's another cover:

I think it might be from Australia due to the quote from Melina Marcheta, an Australian YA author. I think I like the U.S. cover better, though. It also fits the story better.

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Source

Neil Gaiman takes the African god of mischief and mayhem, Anansi the spider, and takes him and his family into modern day. Neil Gaiman has an obsession with all things mythological, I think. This book is no exception. Fat Charlie (who's not fat) has always been down on his luck and embarrassed by his father all his life. When his father dies, he soon learns that his father was a trickster god and that his unknown brother got all the awesome god powers. His brother Spider comes into life and starts to mess it up even more. Spider moves in and begins to steal his fiancee, his job, etc. Fat Charlie decides to get revenge which ends up messing up things even more.

It's pretty light-hearted, for the most part. But I have a hard time with characters that get oppressed and oppressed for too long. Charlie didn't get redeemed til toward the end. And overall, I just didn't care a lot about the characters.

I love what Neil Gaiman's trying to do with his books. They make for some interesting stories, for sure. But I haven't been able to really get into his books, yet. I'm working on American Gods right now....

I read this for one of my book clubs and used a library copy.

Taft 2012: A Novel By Jason Heller

William Howard Taft pulls a Rip Van Winkle and wakes up 100 years later just in time for the 2012 presidential election.

I really enjoyed the premise behind this. I learned a lot more about President Taft. It was fun to see our country and century through his early twentieth century eyes. I also would love to truly have a legitimate third party in America. I think it really would balance the political spectrum out more.

The one thing I had a hard time with was the flow of the story. It feels like the author had an idea he felt passionately about and then used the story to further this. Thus the characters felt a bit two-dimensional.

But overall, it was a fun read and had a lot of insight. Yeah to Quirk Books for offering another fun story to the mix.

*I received this book from the publisher.

For more information visit the Taft2012 website.