Review: Enchantée by Gita Trelease

Title: Enchantée
Series: Enchantée #1
Author: Gita Trelease
Format: Paperback ARC
Pub. Date: February 5th 2019
Source: Goodreads First Reads/Flatiron Books


Book Description:

Love.
Magic.
Revolution.

When smallpox kills her parents, seventeen-year-old Camille Durbonne must find a way to provide for her frail sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on petty magic--la magie ordinaire--Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy the food and medicine they need. But when the coins won't hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family's savings, Camille must pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

With the dark magic she learned from her mother, Camille transforms herself into 'the Baroness de la Fontaine' and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for la magie. Her resentment of the rich at odds with the allure of glamour and excess, Camille is astonished to find that her would-be suitor Lazare, a handsome young inventor whom she thought shared her dreams of liberty, is also living a double life.

As the Baroness de la Fontaine, Camille gambles at cards and flirts, desperate to maintain her place at court and keep herself and her sister off the streets. But la magie has its costs. When a scheming courtier blackmails her and Lazare's affections shift, Camille loses control of her secrets. Then revolution erupts, and she must choose--love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, reality or la magie--before Paris burns.

Bestselling author of Caraval Stephanie Garber calls Enchantée "a lit firework crackling with treacherous magic, decadent romance, and disguises that take on lives of their own--deliciously addictive!" Gita Trelease's lush, imaginative debut fantasy is perfect for anyone looking for immersive magic in the world of Sofia Copola's Marie Antoinette.

Review:

★★★★

Three and a half stars, rounded up.

What a good story. At the very base of it all, Gita Trelease is simply a talented story weaver.

This story had a lot going on. There's something in this book for everyone- French history, magic, revolution, fairy tale elements, romance, steampunk elements, betrayal, POC, LGBT, gambling, family, fashion, royalty. There's a lot to take in. Sometimes it seems like a bit too much at times, but it's nevertheless entertaining.

Something that Trelease does very well is "show" instead of "tell". She uses all five senses to conjure up such vivid imagery, especially when the lead character is in Versailles. What colors the candles glowed, how the pastries smelled, what sort of music played in the background. It's very easy to get swept up in the fantastical, yet somehow real, world of beaded dresses, powdered wigs, and Rococo symphonies. It would easily make a fantastic movie with the detailed imagery at play here.

The characters are pretty well developed, and I liked the lead, Camille, very much. She is pretty bad ass and makes sacrifices- even ones that arguably are "bad guy" decisions- for the ones she loves, and she owns it. She cares very passionately but isn't perfect and makes mistakes and learns from them. She encourages her sister and tries her best to protect her family, even the unlikable ones. The characters that you don't like, you don't like for a good reason, and the ones you love you cheer for. The love is very slow burning, but I adored Lazare, and I appreciated that he was of half-French, half-Indian descent. He struggled with his identity and it was an interesting plot to follow. He's not quite as he seems, both regal and an adventurer, honor-bound and humble. I was drawn to him as Camille was. I also appreciated the LGBT representation, albeit slight.

I think that the world building was fantastic, but a little bit misprioritized. The author does a magnificent job of building the world of Paris and Versailles, of revolution and royalty. However.... those things are real. I know what Paris was like, I've studied history, and I've read other books set here. What I wish had more backstory and detail was "la magie" or, the magic that some of the characters know. That's not common or assumed knowledge, and I wish a little more time was spent flushing out the magic components and history.

I think the pacing was a little off in spots too. Don't get me wrong- this book was incredibly entertaining, and overall I found it enjoyable. But clocking in at just under 500 pages, this isn't a quick read. Parts felt extremely slow, while others seemed rush. The "bad guy" plot didn't really gain steam until 3/4 of the way though, and it was a bit "foiled again, Batman!" when it arrived.

Another thing that sort of bugged me was that the French words aren't italicized or indicated at all. I speak French, so for me it didn't matter too much. But I can see that being an issue if I did not. Granted, there is a glossary of French words in the back, and my copy is an unfinished ARC, so perhaps this is not an issue in the finished copy.

All in all, this book is intriguing. If you're drawn into the likes of stories like Les Mis or Beauty and the Beast, then this book is more up your alleys. The historical components seem well researched and well blended with elements of magic, although I wish there was a little more magic throughout. The characters are the type you'll feel connected to, and with Trelease's skill at painting a textual picture you'll find yourself swept away to Marie Antoinette's court alongside magicians, gamblers, and aristocrats. While I might have had some issues with this book, I would definitely be interested in reading the sequel when it comes out in the future.

Thank you to Goodreads First Reads/Flatiron Books who gave me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Review: Doodling in French by Anna Corba

Title: Doodling in French: How to Draw with Joie de Vivre
Author: Anna Corba
Format: Hardcover, 144 pages
Pub. Date: January 25th 2012
Source: Gift from Lisa


Book Description:

Take a trip to Paris, without leaving your own backyard! Learn to create line drawings of all things quintessentially French with this charming volume filled with easy-to-follow exercises. Casual doodles will take on a Parisian je ne sais quoi as you render the majestic tiers of the Eiffel Tower, sketch the playful outlines of a fleur-de-lys, or learn to draw the perfect croissant. Sure to delight Francophiles and lovers of vintage ephemera alike, Anna Corba's evocative collages provide an alluring backdrop to her drawing instructions. In a gorgeous little package as pretty as a French pastry, including decorative blank pages in back that tear out so readers can doodle their own masterpieces, this sweet book is an ideal gift for anyone longing for la belle vie.

Review:

★★★★

This is such an adorable little book.

It's worth noting that I am one of the least artistic people on the planet. Even my stick figures are wonky at best. I've never taken the time to practice, and well, I'm just not good at it. But I do love to doodle, and I am often lured in by designs and imagery of French things. So, I think this book was perfectly made to be right up my alley.

The drawings are divvied up here by where they can be found, such as a cafe or a living room or a park. Each design has really easy to follow steps on how to achieve the desired sketch. Even I could follow them! The end results are darling and it made me feel like I could actually draw, even though sister, that is definitely not the case.

If you already have a talent for drawing, this is probably going to be too easy for you. But if you're like me and you just like to sketch and doodle without any real skills to speak of, this book is a good way to learn a little something more impressive.

HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN! Mini College Review: Snowpiercer: The Escape by Jacques Lob

Title: Snowpiercer: The Escape
Series: Transperceneige #1
Author: Jacques Lob
Illustrator: Jacques Lob
Format: Paperback, 110 pages
Pub. Date: June 10th 2014
Source: Amazon


Book Description:

Snowpiercer is the enthralling and thought-provoking post-apocalyptic graphic novel that inspired the critically acclaimed movie starring Chris Evans (Captain America, Fantastic Four). Originally published in French, this marks the first time that Snowpiercer will be available in English.

In a harsh, uncompromisingly cold future where Earth has succumbed to treacherously low temperatures, the last remaining members of humanity travel on a train while the outside world remains encased in ice.

The surviving community are not without a social hierarchy; those that travel at the front of the train live in relative luxury whilst those unfortunate enough to be at the rear remain clustered like cattle in claustrophobic darkness. Yet, things are about to change aboard the train as passengers become disgruntled...
The movie Snowpiercer, due for release in 2014, is directed by Joon-ho Bong (The Host) and is already causing a stir with parallels to 1984 and Animal Farm.

Review:

★★★

This is a book that I had to read for my apocalyptic fiction course in college.

One thing I liked about my literature courses is that it forced me to read books that I'd normally never pick up for myself, or that I'd never heard even heard of. This is one of those titles.

Translated from French, this is a dystopian, post-apocalyptic graphic novel. I adored the concept: the world has gone to hell in a handbasket, and the way to save humanity is thanks to the inventor of the Snowpiercer train. This train houses all of humanity and it never stops: ever. If it stops, they'll freeze and die. Like all dystopian novels, there's a hierarchy. The very front cars of the train are for the rich and the elite, and it gets worse as you go farther along. The back is terrible, full of violence, and no one really cares about them. They're not allowed to travel upward in the train.

Except for the protagonist, of course, who gets fed up with the upper crust of the train, and takes matters into his own hand.

The actual writing leaves a lot to be desired. It's awkward and choppy, and it doesn't always make the best of sense. I'm not sure how much of this is due to the author, and how much of it is caused by the translation. The characters aren't as developed as they could be, and because of the jagged nature of the writing, the pace is off. Sometimes it's boring and slow, other times it's crazy fast.

The artwork was okay, but not to my taste. It's typical "old school" style comic art, which is boring. Especially with all the white space, because, the world is full of snow.

It's worth a read though, and even if you don't decide to read it, you should check out the movie Snowpiercer. It's not without its flaws, but it was entertaining and worth a go.

Review: Wicka by Christy Deveaux

Title: Wicka: The Chronicles of Elizabeth Blake
Author: Christy Deveaux
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: May 28th 2014
Source: Mother Daughter Book Reviews


Book Description via Goodreads:

“While mourning the loss of a mother figure, Elizabeth Blake, a smart but socially introverted seventeen-year-old girl from Ann Arbor, Michigan, enrolls in an international school in the south of France to finish her final year of high school. Here she meets her true love, finds out that she is a witch from an ancient family, and discovers that her life is in danger.

Meanwhile, the Elders—the most powerful coven of witches in the world—have been tracking Elizabeth since her birth. According to an ancient legend, a battle led by “One barely born existing to lead” will cause the downfall of the Elders. Fearing that Elizabeth is the heir to this legend, the Elders try to destroy her before she can fulfill the prophecy.

With the help of her new friends, Elizabeth must travel to Greece to try and prove to the Elders that she is not a threat and to ask for their permission to exist in peace.

With the prospect of having to leave each other once the school year ends and return to their homes on opposite sides of the world, Elizabeth and her new love have to find a way to stay together. However, a rival love interest discovers their plan and causes the Elders to act against Elizabeth. As time runs out, Elizabeth must learn to use the powers she possesses to protect herself and the people she loves most.

Review:

★★★

I love a good witchcraft story, especially when the main character is from Michigan. While this book wasn't one of my favorites, it was a solid read that I think a lot of people will enjoy.

The story is one that is a quick read. There's a fairly complex plot, and the pacing is really well done. The writing is done well enough where it leaves you wanting to know more, making it a book that's easy to read in one go. I liked the main character well enough. I think that she was relatable, which is a little weird to say about a teen age witch, but there you go. She was a believable high school age girl, and her emotions and thoughts were well conveyed. I wish that at the beginning, however, more information was played out in "live time" instead of being filled in by background information by the main character. It felt almost like I was reading a book already in progress.

I liked the setting of the book as well. I enjoy a boarding school-esque setting. I have no idea why. Possibly because my parents always threatened me with one and it backfired when I asked them to send me, haha. Elizabeth moves from Ann Arbor, Michigan to finish her school in France, and I really enjoyed the change of scenery.

What set me off a bit from this book is that it ultimately felt familiar to me. The female lead with powers in a new school setting reminded me a lot of the House of Night books. The powerful coven/society of foreign beings keeping an eye on a special female character reminded me of the Vulturi in the Twilight series. That's not entirely a bad thing; I enjoyed both of those series well enough. But the comparisons definitely entered my mind while reading the book.

That said, I think those comparisons will help a lot of people to enjoy this book. It has a lot going for it over all. Witches, foreign travel, murder, romance, secret societies, magic, relatable female lead. I liked this book well enough, and if you are a fan of witchcraft, HON, Twilight, or young adult fantasy and romance, this might be a book that you would enjoy.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: My Paris Kitchen

Title: My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories
Author: David Lebovitz
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: April 8th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Ten Speed Press

★★★★

Four stars.

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My Paris Kitchen is equal parts cookbook and personal experience about living and cooking in France. Admittedly, I was more interested in the recipes than the stories at first, but that quickly changed. The way that David Lebovitz writes both about French life and food makes his passion clear, and it made me want to get on a plane immediately to go visit some of these places for myself and to eat some of these tasty treats.

Thankfully, the recipes in this book make the last desire a reality. This book includes a ton of delicious sounding recipes, most of which I'm eager to try. Each recipe comes with a story and tips on how to create it to perfection. There are also a decent amount of pictures to entice you into giving these dishes a whirl. The collection of recipes is divided by course, so it's easy to find what recipe you're in need of most.

Some of the ingredients in these recipes can be kind of hard to find in a standard American store, but Lebovitz has already thought of that. He offers variations, or ingredients you can swap for others, to make a different but just as delicious meal from My Paris Kitchen. A few of the recipes that I'm most eager to try are the Cheese, Bacon, and Arugula Souffle, Parisian Gnocchi, and Steak with Mustard Butter and French Fries.

This book is a great guide to French cuisine, and is one that I'd cook from often, having a love of all things French myself. Be advised though, that some of the techniques and recipes here are a bit complex, so if you're a total kitchen newbie, this might not be the best first step. But if you're no stranger to the kitchen, this is a book I'd definitely recommend both for the story weaving, and the recipes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ten Speed Press for my chance to read this.

Review: Frenchie: New Bistro Cooking

Title: Frenchie: New Bistro Cooking
Author: Greg Marchand
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: April 8th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Artisan Books

★★★★★

Five stars.

Frenchie: New Bistro Cooking is a collection of recipes from French chef Greg Marchand. Raised in an orphanage and shaped by the culinary arts and food, Marchand worked all over the world in places like London and Spain before opening his own restaurant: Frenchie. Within this cookbook, he shares with you some of the most vibrant recipes with twists of flavor that represent not only his style, but reflect the steps he took along the way.

This book has the recipes divided by season, which I think is a great way to organize. It allows for maximizing the freshest, most available ingredients and to properly plan meals accordingly.

I'll talk about the recipes themselves in a moment, but I'd like to take a minute to talk about the images found in this collection. The photography is stunning. This cookbook is worth getting, even just to admire the pictures- and there are a lot of them. Of course, the recipes sound delicious and I think you should read it in its entirety, but I had to say it.

And then there's the recipes themselves. Chef Marchand offers helpful tips throughout the course of the book to help the home cook. Something that I appreciated in this assortment of recipes is that each recipe includes a wine pairing, and the back of the book contains sources on where to get each bottle. This makes it a lot easier to track down the perfect complement. The included recipes span from salads to desserts and everything in between. The recipes that I'm most eager to try are Chocolate and Passion Fruit Pots de Creme with Lychees and Candied Ginger, Wild Garlic Broth with Fresh Crabmeat, and Pork Braised in Milk with Marinated Fennel.

This is a great book for people looking to add an air of sophistication or that want to step their cooking. This is a bright collection that would be great to have handy in any kitchen. Thanks to Netgalley & Artisan Books for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.