Legacy

Today’s book is Legacy, by Cayla Kluver!

Amazon.com’s plot summary:

Duty-bound to wed her father’s choice in successor to the throne, Princess Alera of Hytanica believes that she is being forced into the worst of all possible fates—a marriage to the arrogant and hot-tempered suitor, Steldor. When a mysterious boy from enemy Cokyri appears bearing secrets and an entirely different view of what's appropriate behavior for a young lady, Alera learns that her private desires threaten to destroy the kingdom. When Narian’s shocking past comes to light, Alera finds herself in a shadowy world of palace intrigue and ancient blood feuds, facing an uncertain future with dwindling options—and must learn to decide between right and wrong all alone. Marked by witty, rapid-fire dialogue and dramatic complexity that belie the writer’s age, Legacy brings a fresh, new sensibility to age-old questions of duty and inheritance and to a young heroine’s quest to find her true voice.

I first read Legacy a little over a year ago, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t love it.  Maybe it was the fact that I read it during finals season and state competitions and the end of the school year, but I just couldn’t get into it.  There were some parts that I really liked, but overall I would have given it a meh.  But in spite of all that, I couldn’t stop thinking about the book.  So when I saw it a bookstore this summer, I thought maybe I should reread it.  Finally, I bought it.  And I loved it.

            The story moves along at a consistent pace—fast enough to keep you riveted, but slow enough to keep you relaxed—a perfect summer read.  The story itself is surprisingly complex, one that must have been carefully plotted by its creator.  While Legacy, the first in a trilogy, doesn’t cry out with action, it has enough to keep the reader interested and promises much more in the next book.  One of the things I enjoyed most was watching the characters grow and change.  My favorite was Alera, watching her mature from a petulant, slightly selfish girl into a strong young woman.  Comparing Alera’s two suitors, Steldor and Narian, was also interesting because, as Kluver said in an interview, they both challenge Alera, though in very different ways.  Watching these two young men change how Alera views things was one of the best parts of the book.  Alera’s various bodyguards were also all unique and I enjoyed getting to know each one of them.

            Another thing I really liked was the relationships between characters in the book.  Alera and her sister, Miranna, were one of my favorite duos; they acted exactly as idealistic sisters should: loving each other, giggling about boys, giving each other advice, and getting into the occasional disagreement.   Alera’s relationships with the various palace guards were entertaining, but to go into examples might give too much away.

            But the book had some weaknesses, too.  Cayla Kluver is very young, and in some spots that showed.  Many things were told and not shown (if you’re familiar with the “show, not tell” adage in writing), and some dialogue and character traits felt forced and unnatural.  The beginning of the book lasted too long, in my opinion, and the ending of the book made all of Legacy feel like one big introduction that could have been condensed and comprised of the first half of another book.  

            But all of these things can be characteristic of a first novel, regardless of the writer’s age, and I have to admire Kluver’s nerve at ending the story the way she did.  And even when the characters felt artificial, they—and the story—always came up with a redeeming quality.  As I said before, action promises to come in the next book. 

            Allegiance, the second book in the Legacy trilogy, is released February 28, 2012 through Harlequin books in paperback.  I can’t wait to read it.

Recommendation: Yes! Girls 12-19 years of age will eat this book up.  Not a guy book.

For information on the author and the books, go to www.caylakluver.com, find Cayla on Facebook, or follow her on twitter (@caylaKL).

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The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, by Aimee Bender, follows nine-year-old Rose Edelstein through her childhood and into adulthood as Rose tries to deal with her gift/curse: when she eats something, she can taste the emotions of the person who made it.  In the lemon cake her cheerful mother made for Rose’s ninth birthday, Rose tastes desperation and deep sadness and soon learns that her family—and many others—hide emotions and feelings that she is suddenly privy to.  As Rose learns more her dysfunctional family, she also comes to realize that even she cannot learn everything through taste alone.

Even though the book may sound a bit like a fantasy, it reads like realistic fiction, and truthfully, that’s what it is.  I really enjoyed most of the book, though about halfway through I got a little bored.  The plot picked up again very quickly, though, and the second half of the books reads much faster than the already enjoyable first half.  The complexity of the characters—especially Rose’s elder brother, Joseph—is fascinating and becomes more so as you delve farther into the book and learn that everyone has their own internal struggles, despite how they appear on the surface.

I think the most interesting parts of the book came at the end, when Rose learns about the motives of those closest to her.  I was surprised by what was revealed about the characters, which made the ending satisfying and I felt that the book was worth reading, as I never would have predicted what happened.  I also learned a lot from it—things I won’t go into as it would give away some of the revelations at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone—it appeals to a wide age-range (probably 15 and up) and while I read it by myself, I would encourage anyone else to read it with someone.  The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is perfect for a book club or even a mother-daughter discussion, as the plot and the characters are so complex and dimensional that they just beg to be talked about.  Actually, I think this book could work very well in an English class, as it contains many of the elements of classic literature.

For more information about the book and the author, check out <www.aimeebender.com>.

“Read. Read a lot. Read even books you don't think you'll like. The wisdom of the whole world is contained in books.”  ~Cassandra Clare