Top 3 Man-Made Characters (Laurie)

I had trouble coming up with the right title for this post because I wasn't quite sure how to describe these characters. For a fantasy reader such as myself, "Non-Human" is way too broad a term because it would bring lots of my favorite fantasy creatures into the mix. And they're not all robots, exactly, since one is a computer system...

Anyway, what I'm trying to get at today are favorite characters who are mechanical or man-made. They aren't even truly alive, but somehow the authors gave them so much personality that they made significant impacts on their respective books and have stayed with me long after I finished reading. Although I don't tend to read a lot of science fiction in general, I had lots of fun coming up with this Top 3 list :) Enjoy!



3. Iko from The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Cinder's lovable android in The Lunar Chronicles just jumps up from the page in every single scene she's in. Bursting with energy and spunk, she never fails to bring comic relief, though her over-the-top flirtatiousness and obsession with fashion did make me roll my eyes a few times. But despite her tendency to be a bit ridiculous, I really appreciated her self-confidence despite androids' low societal status and most of all, her extreme loyalty to Cinder.








2. Hart from the Nyssa Glass series by H.L. Burke

As much as I enjoyed Nyssa's character in this series, it was Hart's first appearance that totally got me hooked. You'd never guess a house's central computer system could have so much personality, but Hart had such a delightful playfulness, complete with shy flirtations and an array of jokes - sometimes funny, sometimes adorably lame. The way he came to care for Nyssa made me absolutely melt. Never before (and probably never again!) have I ever wished I could hug a computer program :)






1. Dominic from The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie E. Reeder

I recently finished The Electrical Menagerie, and Dominic was the inspiration for this entire post! Dominic was so wonderfully robotic, and yet not, that he managed to stand out even amid a cast of fun, intriguing human characters. I loved the way he cared so much for Carthage, his creator / master, but also poked fun at his human absurdities. He had so many fabulous one-liners where his robotic understanding of situations turned into pure comedy. And yet he also shared some of the deepest wisdom in the book, in a scene that may or may not have made me cry... (By the way, be on the lookout for my full review of this book later this summer!)





I have to give an honorable mention to Tegan, the AI in Jebraun Clifford's story "Beyond the Stars, Past the Moons" in the Encircled anthology. He doesn't get a lot of screen time, but he still manages to make an impression with his snarky attitude and memorable quotes!


So now I want to hear from YOU! Who are some of your favorite "man-made" characters? Have you read any of these books?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

Top 3 Most Anticipated Books of 2017 (Jill)

Summer is upon us. My kids are in their last few days of school, and dreams of a relaxing summer vacation are almost a reality.  In an effort to get some serious writing time in June (and hopefully finish a first draft), I'll be establishing a designated reading time for the kiddos. Once I type "The End," I'll join them with a book from my To Be Read pile. While there are quite a few books on my To Be Read list, every month more are added. So I wanted to share my Top 3 Most Anticipated Books for 2017.

3. Ending Fear by Deanna Fugett

I'm not sure what it is about dystopian novels. Maybe it's the fact I can't write them, but I always enjoy reading them. This one deals with the fear that can become an intrinsic part of our personality.
Fear, the heroine, has faced a lot in her young life. But after finding a new, loving family, she's forced to act when her young sister Happy is kidnapped. Throw in floating cities, hoverpods, and a ranch for throwaway children, this book begs to be read as summer winds down. This YA dystopian debut novel is scheduled for a mid-July release.

 2. The  Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber
While Mary Weber's Storm Siren Trilogy was pure fantasy, this book is more science fiction based. Amazon's blurb makes me think of The Hunger Games meets The Lunar Chronicles.
 Sofi's brother Shilo is forced to compete in Earth's Fantasy Fighting arena. When a bomb goes off at the arena, Sofi is the only one who believes he's still alive and was taken to the ice-planet. The bomb has also affected Miguel, Earth's Ambassador to the ice-planet. He's now being blackmailed. Either he helps the blackmailers or loses everything.  This book will be released on June 6.

 1. Renegades by Marissa Meyer
I loved Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles. I've become a big devotee of this author. Her newest story, Renegades, is about superheroes, humans with extraordinary abilities, who saved their society by establishing peace and order. The only people who aren't happy about that? The villains they ousted. So when a girl who wants vengeance meets a boy who wants justice, loyalties clash.
Since The Incredibles is one of my favorite movies, I'm looking forward to reading this story. It is a stand-alone (you can read about it here) and will be released November 7, 2017.



 What about you? What is on your reading list for the summer? What books are you eagerly waiting for this year? Share with us in the comments below -- and happy reading!

Which are Your Favorite Princesses? (Elizabeth)

Since I really enjoyed combining Top 3 Posts and a Your Turn! post last time, I thought I'd try it again!

Today, we're going to find out which princess is the most popular. If you'd like to see why each of us (me, Erin, and Laura) like the princesses, I'll include links to the coordinating Top 3 post below:

Elizabeth: Mulan, Elsa, Belle
Erin: Fiona, Cimorene, Cinder
Laura: Cinderella, Elsa, Anna


Are there any princesses we missed? Which princesses of yours weren't included in this poll, and how do they inspire you? Which princesses did you vote for and why?

Thank you for participating!
Elizabeth

Favorite Couples from Books (Elizabeth)

When Laurie suggested we list our favorite couples from book, I was thrilled! Romance is right down my alley ;) Here are my favorite couples from literature in no particular order, because they’re all heart-melting.

3. Winter and Jacin

This couple is from Winter by the fabulous Marissa Meyer.

Jacin is everything you’d want in a hero. Slightly brooding, but also playful, and extremely protective. Even when he faces execution, he never fails to protect Winter.

And while Winter’s aunt, Queen Levana, has a heart of ice, Winter has a heart of gold. She gives up her lunar abilities to control people, but consequently loses her sanity with her powers. She has terrifying hallucinations, like blood dripping off the walls, but Jacin is always there to comfort and protect her.

Note: If you’ve already read Winter and would like to see more of Winter and Jacin, read Stars Above.

2. Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester

In a recent blog post of mine on finding your identity, I quoted Jane Eyre and was reminded of what a fantastic story it is.

“What ever I do with its cage, I cannot get at it—the savage, beautiful creature! If I tear, if I rend the slight prison, my outrage will only let the captive loose. Conqueror I might be of the house; but the inmate would escape to heaven before I could call myself possessor of its clay dwelling-place. And it is you, spirit—with will and energy, and purity and virtue—that I want: not alone your brittle frame.”

Calling Jane attractive would be a gross exaggeration, but Mr. Rochester wants her for her spirit, not her “brittle frame.” He sees what no one else can—her inner beauty—and loves her for it.

And Jane is compassionate and merciful, even towards her abusive aunt, and sticks with her principles even when it nearly kills her.

3. Parvin and Hawke

(Slight spoiler alert!)

We see Parvin and Hawke meet in A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes, but we see them grow closer in A Time to Speak.

Hawke holds his relationship with God above all else, which draws him closer to Parvin, since she’s also a very strong believer. Even when it’s hard, Hawke is faithful. I hope to see the same spiritual leadership in my husband one day.

Parvin’s faith and courage drag her into deeper waters, where no one but God can keep her afloat. Her struggles often reflect the struggles I experience, and her example encourages me. She’s the most relatable character I’ve ever read about.

What are some qualities you look for in a spouse? Do you have lists of musts and hopes? How are good romances in literature different from bad ones? What’s the most over-used cliché in romances?

Thanks for reading!

-Elizabeth Newsom

Attributions:

Winter cover: http://lunarchronicles.wikia.com/wiki/File:Winter_Cover.jpg

Jane Eyre: Jane Eyre (2006)

A Time to Die and A Time to Speak (Books 1 and 2 of the Out of Time series) by Nadine Brandes

Top 3 Princesses (Erin)

As much as I love Disney Princesses, I thought it would be fun to think about some other princesses as well. So, here are my Top Three.

3. Princess Fiona:  From Dreamworks’ 2001 film Shrek, Princess Fiona embodies what true love really is. For you younger readers who may have missed the film, you may want to skip the rest of this paragraph in order to avoid plot spoilers! Take my word for it—you should watch the movie!

 

For the rest of you: Remember how Fiona is waiting for a handsome knight to rescue her, and is totally unprepared to deal with Shrek, an uncouth ogre from a swamp? As often happens in movies, Fiona falls in love with Shrek and isn’t very excited to meet the prince she is supposed to marry. Eventually Shrek proclaims his love for Fiona. To Shrek’s surprise, true love’s kiss reveals Fiona is also an ogre. The movie turns Disney princess stereotypes on their heads. Instead of idolizing the beautiful girls with tiny waists, tiny feet, and perfect skin, we see Princess Fiona finding happily ever after with green skin, a plump figure, and wiggly ears. It’s refreshing to see a movie challenge us to be ourselves, instead of making us feel like we’ll never measure up. 

2. Princess Cimorene: In case you missed it, Dealing with Dragons, the first in Patricia C. Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles is a funny look at what happens when a princess volunteers to be captured by a dragon. Cimorene spends half her time chasing off unwanted knights intent on rescuing her and she spends the rest of her time cooking cherries jubilee, practicing magic spells, cataloguing treasures and deciphering ancient books. Of course, when Cimorene’s dragon, Kazul, falls ill, she has more to do than organize the storerooms. Cimorene’s quick wit, bravery, and determination to be her own kind of princess are endearing and make her one of my favorites. 

1. Cinder: I know, I know. You are all going to be sick of me talking about Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicles. However, when thinking about my favorite princesses, I couldn’t leave her out. The best mechanic in the city, and a cyborg to boot, Cinder is smart, resourceful, and caring. Saddled with a prosthetic foot and hand in a society where cyborgs are second-rate, Cinder is self-conscious, but never hesitates to help others. As the series progresses, she is constantly in a position to rescue those around her. She makes hard choices, always at her own expense. More comfortable with a smudge of grease across her face than in a fancy dress, Cinder is the kind of princess I would want to be. 

Attributions:

http://shrek.wikia.com/wiki/Special:Images 

http://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Book-One-Lunar-Chronicles/dp/1250007208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461705694&sr=8-1&keywords=cinder

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_16?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=dealing+with+dragons&sprefix=dealing+with+dra%2Caps%2C398&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Adealing+with+dragons 

So Many Books--How to Choose? (Erin)

Hello!

 Laurie and I were just saying how much we like the “What We’re Reading” category. I like seeing everyone’s recommendations, but my “To Read” list is getting quite long. Since I usually have three or four books going at once, it’s hard for me to narrow my choices this week.

I have to say, I am enjoying The Lunar Chronicles immensely. At my house, with three of us reading them, I’ve had to wait my turn, but I just finished Cress and can’t wait to start the last book, Winter. Sophisticated, imaginative and unusual, Marissa Meyer’s combination of fairy tales, moon colonization, cyborgs and romance turns out to be a winning mix. So far, the books haven’t contained any uncomfortable material, either, which is a huge plus.

The other series I am currently enjoying is Stephen Lawhead’s Bright Empires quintet. Lawhead is one of my all-time favorite fantasy authors. His unique way of blending modern England with a wide variety of ancient settings is fascinating. In the Bright Empires series, Lawhead, with his impeccable research skills, transports us to Egyptian pyramids and tombs, Prague coffee-houses, and even prehistoric forests, via ley lines, which allow travelers to jump courses into alternate pasts and futures. Lawhead’s assumption that his readers are intelligent and can keep up with all of his twists, surprises and “science” is refreshing. Lawhead’s characters are also compelling. I am always intrigued to see the changes his characters undergo from the first to the last book in the series.

I can’t wait to finish both series! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know if you have read any of these books. What do you like best about them? If you haven’t read them, which are you most interested in, and why?

   Thanks for visiting!

Erin 

Attributions:

http://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Book-One-Lunar-Chronicles/dp/1250007208/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456858929&sr=1-1&keywords=lunar+chronicles+box+set

http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Empires-Collection-Spirit-Shadow-ebook/dp/B00PWOHCRS/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456858637&sr=1-2&keywords=the+skin+map+by+stephen+lawhead