Book Review: The Kindling Muse

The Kindling Muse by Chelsea Guy
Addie just wants answers. Little does she know that she is about to receive them.


Amazon Page
GoodReads Page

Author Website

Amazon Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Addie Flamma has normal goals for a sixteen-year-old: graduate from high school at the top of her class and attend the perfect college, despite growing up under less than ideal conditions. As a minor living in foster care, however, Addie wants more than that; she wants to find out who her parents are and why she has been cursed with serious health problems. During the middle of a presentation in chemistry class, Addie suffers a major seizure. In the hospital, she is given a rare African plant extract in her IV drip known to help adolescents with her type of medical conditions. Miraculously cured by the unique plant, only known as “ashes of life,” Addie returns to school and resumes her job at a shelter for the needy. But when she is drawn to a mysterious boy seeking a hot meal, he changes her future with just four words.

My Thoughts:

Since I bought and was given so many books at the Crossroads Conference (SO. MANY.), I decided to try something new. Along with taking notes as I read, I'm just going to read a third of each book. If I like what I read, I'll finish the book. But, unlike before when I almost always finished every review book regardless of initial opinions, now I will move on after roughly 30-35% if I don't want to keep reading.

Unfortunately, the latter was the case for The Kindling Muse. The plot seemed to be going places, and the concept was unique (once the ball finally got rolling). However, characterization was lacking in places and the writing was sub-par overall. Honestly, if I consider the writing style and mechanics outside of the story, it reminds me strongly of Twilight excerpts I've seen online. I suppose as a huge bestseller that's generally knocked-on by writers, that could be a compliment or an insult. I only mean to state it as a fact. Add in the paranormal/supernatural elements that become more and more apparent as the book progresses, and this really does seem to fit the title "The Next Twilight." As I have no interest in Twilight, maybe this is why I didn't care for the book. Obviously, though, The Kindling Muse could find a good market with readers who do enjoy Twilight.

I won't go into an extensive review, considering I only read a third of the book. Suffice it to say I love the concept, but not how it's carried out. Two and a half stars; recommended for Twilight fans.

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for this review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Blog Tour: Teen Read Week {Hybrid Chronicles Review}

What's Left of Me and Once We Were by Kat Zhang
{Books One and Two of the Hybrid Chronicles}

Amazon Page: What's Left of Me
Amazon Page: Once We Were
GoodReads Page: What's Left of Me
GoodReads Page: Once We Were
LibraryThing Page: What's Left of Me
LibraryThing: Once We Were
Author Website

Amazon Summary - What's Left of Me:

What's Left of Me, the first book of the Hybrid Chronicles, is set in an alternate reality where everyone is born with two souls. But one soul is naturally dominant, and in early childhood, the other soul fades away.

That didn't happen for Addie and Eva. Now fifteen, Eva clings to life inside the body she shares with Addie, although she can no longer speak or even move.

Addie does everything she can to hide the presence of her sister soul. Eva's very existence is illegal. If their secret is revealed, it could mean death for both of them.

Amazon Summary - Once We Were:

In this riveting sequel to What's Left of Me, Eva and Addie struggle to share their body as they clash over romance and join the fight for hybrid freedom. With a powerful voice, an intense sibling relationship, and a sweet romance against the odds, this second novel in the Hybrid Chronicles is perfect for fans of Ally Condie, Lauren Oliver, and Scott Westerfeld.

Addie and Eva escaped imprisonment at a horrific psychiatric hospital. Now they should be safe, living among an underground hybrid movement. But safety is starting to feel constricting. Faced with the possibility of being in hiding forever, the girls are eager to help bring about change—now. The answer seems to lie within a splinter group willing to go to extremes for hybrid freedom, but as Addie and Eva fall ever deeper into their plans, what they thought was the solution to their problems just might be the thing that destroys everything—including their bond to each other.

My Thoughts:

These books go so well together, and my opinions on each are so similar, I decided to just write one review for both.

I showed up at the Crossroads Writers' Conference with book money in my pocket. As soon as the sales tables opened up, I made a beeline for that oh-so-familiar cover - and discovered there was another one right beside it! But more about that in a minute.

This concept is so mind-blowing, you can't help but wonder how in the world Kat ever came up with it. The idea of two souls - two people - in every body brings up so many questions. What about love and romance? How does the body decide which soul stays and which goes? Do they really go insane like Addie and Eva are told? I mean, it doesn't seem that hard to believe.

Addie and Eva are very similar girls, but I think Kat still did well at keeping them two distinct characters. Their separate dreams and desires clash, while their sisterhood and their knitted souls hold them together even when they're not getting along. The explanations and coping mechanisms for hybrids are realistic and work well with the story, too.

The world is actually just an alternate reality - still with the same television, cars, schools, museums, etc. - rather than a full-blown new dystopian realm. However, the taste of dystopia is certainly not lacking. The oppressive government, swirling character emotions, and absolutely horrid secrets that come to light all aid this book in holding its weight next to classics like The Giver or bestsellers like The Hunger Games.

I'd really, really love to rave about these books more, but I'm afraid I'll have to hold back for fear of spoilers. Basically, five stars and go buy them now!

Crossroads Conference: My Favorite Speakers (Or: Totally Awesome Lunch Table I'm Still Sure I Imagined)

As I mentioned before, I won a ticket to the Crossroads Writing Conference! (Pause here for that crazy statement to sink in.) Therefore, I spent last weekend having a lot of fun and a lot more secret inner going-crazy that I was meeting a bunch of famous book-deal-and-agent-having writers all in two days. (Also, I spent last weekend not sharing the next episode of my adventures with Rykel. Again, sorry! Working on that... anyway.)

It was my first conference, located about thirty minutes from where I live, and totally awesome. I ate lunch on Saturday using this little $10 voucher thing that came with my ticket, at a little Mexican place that makes ah-maz-ing cheesy beef nachos.

Oh, did I forget to mention - I ate lunch with the best speakers? All of them?!

There's Lauren Morril, the newest star on the young adult book scene... and also the woman who ran the entire conference this year.

Her reading at the Author's Avenue was perfect with the vocal inflections. I might actually like hearing her narrate an audiobook, and I'm a pretty picky listener. She was super nice to little, young me. Her clothing choices were so chic. (Plus she was wearing jeans the first time I saw her. Even though I didn't know who she was until after she changed into something nicer, that definitely helped me relax a bit. Person in charge of conference wearing the one thing internet said not to wear = Okay so maybe I won't screw everything up today.)

Next: Kat Zhang! *cue squeals*

Okay, so I was going to save this for last, but not happening. I met Kat Zhang! I discussed writing with Kat Zhang! I bought her books and had them signed and ate lunch with Kat Zhang!

Yeah, she was basically my entire focus for the conference when I first found out I was going. Maybe because she was the only speaker I'd even heard of before. Maybe because I've been following her personal blog since before her first draft was even completed. Maybe because she's just an awesome writing genius who would totally equate to John Green if John Green wrote dystopian.

Whatever. Kat Zhang, folks.

Then there was the one that surprised me. I had no idea who this guy was, and the conference website forget to post his bio. Humph. But I thought he seemed really cool during the YA discussion panel before lunch, and I knew he was really cool after eating lunch with him. (Yes, I actually ate lunch with everyone mentioned in this post, except Jackson and Carrie. We'll discuss that later. Back to AJ.)

His name is AJ Hartley. He writes about five different genres (I think?) including middle grade fantasy-adventure, and the first book he ever liked was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Doesn't get much better than that.

His entire session on "Writing in Multiple Genres" in a nutshell: "I write in a bunch of genres. You do too? Great, how fun! Your agent will love you *sarcasm* And good luck marketing. Then again, there's always online shopping! Okay, now question and answer time." Obviously, there was more than that, but I boiled it down a bit.

Delilah Dawson was also at lunch. She was pretty and funny, but I didn't really click with her. Maybe because her books *ahem* put the steam into steampunk. Let's say I was not to be found at any of her sessions. Anyway, moving on.

Cat Scully, who I did not get a photo with (sad face), writes YA horror I would probably never read. However, she's a talented artist, and just a funny person who was nice to talk to. If I wasn't saving all my money for books, I would've bought her three collectible bookmarks with art from her friend's book. They looked totally killer.

Has anybody here seen New Girl? I admit, I haven't, but from Pinterest, it looks like my kind of show. The final member of this star-studded lunch table was David Iserson, who does have one young adult novel out, but is mostly stationed in the world of television writing. He wrote New Girl and is now slaving away on the scripts for next season's Mad Men. I may have never seen any of his stuff, but I have most definitely heard of those shows. Very impressive man! (Also, really funny and down to earth, so there's that.)

Finally, there were two people who were not at lunch with us, but who still made my list of favorite speakers. First, we have Carrie Howland. She's a literary agent who basically embodies what I imagined the ladies at Books & Such to be. I mean, she's not a Christian, but it was still pretty cool. Anyway, she's a really nice person and not at all the snarky, intimidating woman I feared.

Very blurry image of Jackson and me. Sorry excuse for a phone camera + bad lighting = not the best of photos.

Last but not least is Jackson Pearce. She writes fairy tale retellings, and I was (almost) as excited to meet her as I was Kat Zhang after reading up on her around the 'net. I went to her session on young adult fiction... that turned out to be about query letters. I was bummed - for about a minute. I spent the next half an hour laughing my head off at all the crazy stuff Jackson would see in query letters when she read the slush pile at an agency.

Good times.