Showing posts with label author: wendy delsol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author: wendy delsol. Show all posts

Thursday, September 30, 2010

[ARC Review] Stork by Wendy Delsol

Title: Stork
Author: Wendy Delsol
Publication: 12 October 2010
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Review Copy: ARC, won (Thanks, Rebecca!)
Pages: 355
My Rating:


Blurb from Goodreads:  
Oh baby! A hip heroine discovers that she has the ability to decide who gets pregnant in this witty YA blend of romance and the supernatural.

Sixteen-year-old Katla has just moved from Los Angeles to the sticks of Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, she learns to her horror that she’s a member of an ancient order of women who decide to whom certain babies will be born.

Add to that Wade, the arrogant football star whom Katla regrettably fooled around with, and Jack, a gorgeous farm boy who initially seems to hate her. Soon Katla is having freaky dreams about a crying infant and learns that, as children, she and Jack shared a near-fatal, possibly mystical experience.

Can Katla survive this major life makeover and find a dress for the homecoming dance? Drawing from Norse mythology and inspired by The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, debut author Wendy Delsol conceives an irreverent, highly entertaining novel about embracing change and the (baby) bumps along the way.

My thoughts: 

First off, look at that cover! Simple, but striking. Every element of the cover was made so clear to me once I'd read the novel cover to cover. I love covers that are just MADE for the book. It's not just pretty, it represents the very essence of Stork very well.

Stork won me over by introducing to me a whole different setting, concepts, characters that I had never seen or read about before. Stork is set in Minnesota, which I've only ever heard stuff about from How I Met Your Mother's Marshall Eriksen. Stork is, actually surprisingly (or not surprisingly) about a stork, or rather, a stork society. It's more than that, though. The main character, Katla, doesn't focus all her attention upon her recent discovery of being a Stork. She has a world and a life that she explores; everything is new, everything is scary. She makes friends, she finds love, she nearly dies--three times (slight spoiler if you thought Katla would die)!

The descriptions used are so easy to follow, so well-done that the whole setting - and every action - is vividly described. Delsol definitely has a way with words, and has come up with such a breath of fresh air with Stork.

The characters are interesting. While some of them were a bit eh, I liked Hulda, Jack, I hated Wade, and I disliked Grimilla. Now these names won't mean a thing to you unless you have read it already, but it's clear that this book stirred within me certain emotions towards characters! Which is definitely what an author should aim to do, because without alluring and unique characters that should be cared about, what is it doing on the market?

Now, this novel was a bit slow going at times, but the ending is brilliant. I did not put the book down for at least the last 100 pages. Let's just say that things get very heated, in more ways than one. ;)

Definitely worth a shot! Pick up a copy when you get the chance.

Buy:
Live in Australia?
Fishpond | Readings | Dymocks | Angus & Robertson | Borders | The Nile

Live elsewhere?
Amazon | The Book Depository

More reviews:
Book Crazy | A Books Blog | 25 Hour Books | The Compulsive Reader

I am in no way affiliated with the above sites, nor with Delsol or publisher. I do not receive any money for reviewing or linking.

Learn more about Stork and read more reviews at Goodreads!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (5) STORK BY WENDY DELSOL ;; 2010 YA DEBUT

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
Grab the book you are currently reading and randomly post a couple sentences.

I haven't done one in a while. But since I really like the writing style of my currently-reading, I'm thinking Why the hell not? . . . so let's get on with it!

Here is a teaser for Stork by Wendy Delsol (ARC) -- which is MUCH, MUCH longer than 2 sentences for the very purpose of whetting your appetites; Stork releases in a few weeks' time!
"Jaelle," I call. She can't hear me. "Jaelle, it's me, Kat." No reply. "Jaelle!" My voice increases in volume and intensity, yet Jaelle still does not respond.

She takes a few steps farther into the ring. She approaches one of the stumps, runs her hands along its rough-hewn surface, and lowers herself into the chiseled seat.

She then reaches behind this forest bench and pulls what appears to be an orange cape over her shoulders. She settles it comfortably about her shoulders, so I am at first fooled into thinking that it's a cloak of sorts. As I watch, though, flames lick up the back and onto Jaelle's neck.

She doesn't seem to notice. Terrified for her safety, I call to her: "Jaelle, be careful!" She still doesn't hear me, nor does she appear burned or even aware of the heat. She adjusts the fire cape, seemingly luxuriating in its warmth.

She sits back, crosses her legs languidly, settles her gaze upon the newborn, and falls into a pleasant, sleeplike, sentry of the beautiful child. (pp. 79-80)
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stork by Wendy Delsol
Pages: 355
Release date: 12 October 2010
Genre: fantasy, mystery, romance
Ages: YA, 14+
Amazon | Goodreads


 Hope you enjoy this week's Teaser Tuesday! What are you reading?

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