Retro Friday Review: Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde

Retro Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Angieville and focuses on reviewing books from the past. This can be an old favorite, an under-the-radar book you think deserves more attention, something woefully out of print, etc. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time! Angie includes roundups from participating bloggers in her post every week.

Sadly, I've only participated in Retro Friday once.  But that doesn't mean I don't have older books to talk about!  People talk like we're living in an unprecedented age of vampire novels.  But really, the vampire novel never went out of style after it was invented.  The vampire young adult novel, however, is more popular than ever.  Back when I was in junior high those of us who liked vampires had fewer options.   And one of the most popular options was COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT by Vivian Vande Velde.

I was already familiar with Velde when someone recommended COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT to me.  I liked her books, ever since I read A WELL-TIMED ENCHANTMENT, since she wrote comedic and clever novels about teens and children in extraordinary situations.   There was also a nice thread of feminism running through her works.  As for COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT, I know of know better way to sell it than to tell the premise:

COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT begins with Kerry's late-night quest to retrieve her much younger brother's stuffed bear.  (Anyone who has spent much time with a little kid knows that favored stuffed animals are necessary to get the kid to sleep.)  Thus, Kerry drives herself down to the laundromat, pretty sure it will be closed, but willing to try anyway.  Strangely, it is open but no one is there.

Then the owner and two of his friends return with a bound young man.  They claim that Ethan is a vampire.  Kerry, thoroughly assured that the local laundromat owner is out of his mind, helps Ethan escape.

The next day someone kidnaps Kerry's father and brother, causing her to go to Ethan for help.  Ethan is, of course, a vampire.  And Kerry's about to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Kerry is a terrific heroine.  She's resourceful and brave, and she doesn't put up with vampires mocking her dad's old car.  Ethan is charming bad news and secretive motives.  (Together, they fight crime!  Not really.  But close.)  COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT is structured like an action movie.  Two very different characters meet, then have to work together for one crazy night.  There's suspense, romance, comedy, and piano.

COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT is not a complex book and there is no deep mythology.  That might put some vampire fans off.  But it's a shame to miss out on this one.  If only because it's about a girl who repeatedly rescues dudes in distress.

Teaser Tuesday (2)

This meme is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Grab your current read. Open it (or scroll) to a random page. Post two, non-spoilery sentences along with the title and author. Share!

I'm going to cheat and post three sentences today:

The living world had disappeared. Darkness fell around us, black, weightless, and absolute. We were in the Fold.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Barduco (Advance Review Copy), p. 29

In My Mailbox: A Bunch of Stuff

All of these books were waiting for me when I got home from Houston. My Tumblr followers got a preview of the stack.

SMALL DAMAGES by Beth Kephart
PEOPLE WHO EAT DARKNESS by Richard Lloyd Parry
AUSTENTATIOUS by Alyssa Goodnight
LIFE IS BUT A DREAM by Brian James
RED HOUSE by Mark Haddon
CHOMP by Carl Hiaasen
FATED by Alyson Noel
MY LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE by Natasha Friend
7 CLUES TO WINNING YOU by Kristin Walker
THE TAKEN by Vicki Pettersson
GULLIVER TAKES MANHATTAN by Justin Luke Zirilli
THE SHOEMAKER'S WIFE by Adriana Trigiani

"Waiting On" Wednesday: A Couple of Fairytale Titles

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

I love fairytales, so I'd like to highlight a few fairytale-inspired novels being released soon.

ENCHANTED by Alethea Kontis will be released May 8 by Harcourt Children's Books. Summary from Amazon:

It isn’t easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past—and hers?

THE TREACHERY OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS by Ruth Long releases August 16 from Dial. Summary from Amazon:

A darkly compelling mix of romance, fairy tale, and suspense from a new voice in teen fiction

The trees swallowed her brother whole, and Jenny was there to see it. Now seventeen, she revisits the woods where Tom was taken, resolving to say good-bye at last. Instead, she's lured into the trees, where she finds strange and dangerous creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with secrets of his own. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack's help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where stunning beauty masks some of the most treacherous evils, and she's faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice--and not just her own.

Any books I should add to my list?

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Ghost Flower

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

Michele Jaffe, one of my favorite authors, has a new YA thriller coming out on April 12th. If you've read ROSEBUSH or BAD KITTY, then you know Jaffe is a must read.

The synopsis on Amazon:

Eve, a runaway, finds a new job at a coffee shop on the outskirts of Tuscon. When she's approached by two wealthy teens who claim she bears an uncanny resemblance to their missing cousin Aurora, her life takes a turn for the dark and mysterious. Drawn into a scheme to win Aurora's inheritance, Eve finds herself impersonating the girl, who disappeared three years ago on the night her best friend Elizabeth died. But when Liza's ghost begins to haunt Eve, doing harm to the people close to her under the guise of "protecting" her, Eve finds herself in a nightmare maze of lies and deception that leads her to question even her own identity. She realizes her only chance is to uncover the truth about what happened the night Liza died, and to find Liza's killer - before she's next.

This teen thriller by Michele Jaffe will keep readers turning pages well into the night.

In My Mailbox (On My Porch, More Accurately)

Early in the week I noticed that A ROYAL MESS by Tyne O'Connell was on sale for the Kindle. It looked cute, but was clearly the second in a series. I looked up the first one, A ROYAL MATCH, and found that the paperback was both on sale and eligible for a 4-for-3 promotion. So I searched other eligible bargain books and decided to buy KLEPTO by Jenny Pollack and ALMOST FABULOUS and TOTALLY FABULOUS by Michelle Radford. Considering A ROYAL MESS and A ROYAL MATCH were originally published as four books, I bought seven books for less than ten dollars.

Then I got a package from Penguin! It included GILT by debut author Katherine Longshore. Historical fiction isn't really my thing, but GILT looks super swoony and I have a weak spot for King Henry VIII. (I blame CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY and Hampton Court.) There was also SOULBOUND, the first book in Heather Brewer's new series Legacy of Tril. I enjoyed The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, so I am excited for this one. But you know what's even more exciting?

BITTERBLUE.

Yep, I have BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore on my bookshelf. I might've gone crazy with joy for a few minutes when I opened the package. (But don't ask anything. My lips are sealed.)

I still had some Barnes & Noble giftcards left from Christmas, so I decided a visit to the bookstore was in order. I ended up at the 2-for-3 table. I decided on SWAMPLANDIA! by Karen Russell and A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD by Jennifer Egan because I keep hearing awesome things about both. I completed the deal with HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer, an old favorite.

What's in your mailbox this week?

"Waiting On" Wednesday: This One Doesn't Even Have a Cover Yet

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme began by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

Christa Desir announced on February 1st that her graphic, short, dark, soul-rending novel TRAINWRECK will be available sometime in Fall 2013 from SimonPulse. This one looks like it will break my heart, but I still want to read it.

Eighteen-year old Ben Baptiste decides not to go to the party with his girlfriend, Ani. He’s not there when two strangers pour her drinks and brag about the upcoming “ride.” He misses her table dance, her announcement of a plan to hook up with half the guys in the room, and finding her passed out three hours later with no memory of the night.

But when doctors surgically remove a lighter left inside Ani, he's there. When whispers of "Firecrotch" and "Manhole" follow Ani down the school halls, he's there. When Ani begs him to make her forget, but then cries as he whispers, "I love you," he's there. And when his best friend tells him Ani's messing around with other guys, he is there.

Ben doesn't know how to fix Ani. But he is there.

In My Mailbox (I Don't Number)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. Bloggers share books they've received for review, bought, won it contests, etc.

This week I took a trip down to the used bookstore and bought myself some clearance books.

I bought SHADOW'S EDGE, the second in the Night Angel trilogy, by Brent Weeks. I bought the ebook of THE WAY OF SHADOWS while it was on sale and enjoyed it, despite finding the ending somewhat rushed and messy. I still wanted to keep reading!

I found a great old copy of Dodie Smith's 101 DALMATIONS. If you've only seen the Disney movie(s), do yourself a favor and read this one. (Also, read I CAPTURE THE CASTLE. Scratch that, read anything by Dodie Smith. She's grand.)


There was also a copy of AKATA WITCH for only a dollar! Nnedi Okorafor seems like a real It Girl of SF literature right now - I keep hearing her name. AKATA WITCH is her YA debut (I believe) and it's been getting a lot of hype. I was really excited by this find.

I also bought a few single-issue comics: Birds of Prey #10 by Gail Simone; Batman Streets of Gotham #14 by Paul Dini; Batgirl #19 and 20 by Brian Q. Miller; and Robin III: Cry of the Huntress #3 and #6 by Chuck Dixon.

I received a copy of FRESHMAN YEAR AND OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS by Meredith Zeitlin to review. I think this one looks super cute!

I also agreed to be the blogger correspondant for the Dallas stop of the Breathless Reads tour. I received the books for the tour last Saturday, but I'm throwing them in this weeks collection anyway. They include: LEGEND by Marie Lu, BLOODROSE by Andrea Cremer, A MILLION SUNS by Beth Revis, and BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood. I will be posting reviews of these books as the event approaches. The event is February 23rd at the Barnes and Noble in Stonebriar Mall, Frisco. I've been to an event at this B&N before and it's a nice space. I hope to see some of ya'll there!

Coming next week:
-The debut of a new Monday feature
-A review of CHOPSTICKS by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral
-More!

The Opposite of In My Mailbox

I bought two books this week: the Oprah's Book Collection edition of A TALE OF TWO CITIES/GREAT EXPECTATIONS and S. M. Stirling's A TAINT IN THE BLOOD. I also received a big box of books to review for TGTBTU. I'm not writing all those down, but I will tell you I am currently reading MAGIC SLAYS by Ilona Andrews.



When putting together my box, Sybil called me. She tries to tailor the boxes to the reviewers, since it's in everybody's best interests for the reviewers to like the books. She asked me about Lyn Benedict and I said I'd never heard of her. Then I went home and saw GHOSTS & ECHOES on my bookshelf. I'd bought it for a dollar at my dad's Borders before it went out of business.



Then, I was talking to my mom about Sarah Pekkanen after she read my copy of SKIPPING A BEAT. She mentioned OPPOSITE OF ME, which I've never read. She pointed out that the library has two copies, which I already knew. But then, when reorganizing part of my room today, I noticed OPPOSITE OF ME in a stack of books.

I have reached the point when I no longer remember what books I own.  In some ways, I can't believe it took so long.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Superhero edition!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme began by Jill of Breaking the Spine.



AFTER THE GOLDEN AGE by Carrie Vaughn comes out April 12 - less than a week from now! I love superheroes and I enjoy Vaughn's work, so it's a bit of a no-brainer that I'm waiting for this one.



Coming out the same day is WAR, POLITICS, AND SUPERHEROES: Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and Film by Marc Dipaulo. This one is more expensive since it's an academic book, but it sounds cool.



On May 1, Garth Nix's new book comes out. TROUBLETWISTS is co-written with Sean Williams, another Australian author. It's not quite a superhero story, but close.

The blurb:

A spectacular new middle-grade fantasy series from NYT bestselling authors Garth Nix and Sean Williams, in which two twins find that they must act as wards against a threatening evil.

The Evil has been trying to break into our dimension and dominate the earth for centuries. Unbeknownst to most of us, there are Wardens all over the globe, who protect humanity from the Evil that asserts itself at the Portals, which are the only places through which the Evil may pass into our world.


Jaide and Jack Shield don't know that the world is under attack. They don't know that their dad and their Grandma X, who they move in with, are Wardens, or that they themselves are troubletwisters, young Wardens just coming into their powers.

ETA: I am definitely not waiting on WICKED PRETTY THINGS. Cleolinda's update on the kerfluffle will link you to all you need to know.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Crafty Classics

This meme was started by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

I first heard about this news at the awesome Angieville. Jillian Tamaki revealed on Monday that she had been commissioned to do three covers for Penguin Threads Deluxe Classics.

I am a huge fan of Penguin Classics. The scholarship is always top-notch and the prices are affordable. The various deluxe classics lines are gorgeous. I've not made it a secret that I am not a fan of trade paperbacks. I don't like the trim size as much and feel like the uptick in price is not always accompanied by an uptick in quality. But Penguin has been putting gorgeous covers, French flaps, and other fancy things on their deluxe classics editions to make them worth the price.



EMMA by Jane Austen will be released October 25.  This will be Penguin's first standalone edition of the matchmaking classic.  (Is the multicolored hair not gorgeous?)



THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett will be available the same day. 2011 is THE SECRET GARDEN's centennial. I am definitely buying these two, as I don't own a copy of either but love both.



Anna Sewell's BLACK BEAUTY will also be released on October 25, with a new introduction by Jane Smiley. I've never read BLACK BEAUTY, but I may buy it to complete the set.

And do click on the link to Tamaki's site! The designs wrap around, so you'll want to see the backcovers and flaps.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Finally!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme started by Jill of Breaking the Spine.



EONA is almost here! It comes out April 19. I enjoyed EON and disliked having to wait more than a year for the sequel.

Here's the (spoilery) back blurb:

Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon's army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona's power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the selfstyled "Emperor" Sethon. Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power-and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans. . . .

EONA, with its pulse-pounding drama and romance, its unforgettable fight scenes, and its surprises, is the conclusion to an epic only Alison Goodman could create.

In My Mailbox (From My Used Bookstore)

I did find book six of the Codex Alera, which was one of the two I was missing. They didn't have book five, however.



FIRST LORD'S FURY by Jim Butcher

I also bought:



THE ACCIDENTAL SORCERER by K. E. Mills

This one looked fun. I don't know anything about the author or series. Orbit is a good imprint, however.



TREASON'S SHORE by Sherwood Smith

This is the fourth and final Inda novel. I'm excited to see how this involved series ends! It's a much slower type of fantasy than the Codex Alera, but very rewarding. Three cheers for fantastical politics!



MONSTROUS REGIMENT by Terry Pratchett

C'mon, it's Pratchett! I bought a UK edition. My local UBS always seem to have oodles of UK editions. Usually they're priced to compensate for the exchange rate, but this one wasn't. . . . almost makes up for the extra cost of the venti mass market. (You can't sell me on the ventis. I may not like trade paperbacks, but they're elegant and comfortable. As ebooks are becoming more popular, the functionality of the physical object should not be ignored.)



FROSTBITTEN by Kelley Armstrong

This series is not numbered. This series was just rereleased with new covers. It took me a minute or two to determine whether I already owned this book.



PHENOMENAL GIRL 5 by A. J. Menden

This one came from the short-lived Shomi imprint. It looks like the first book in a series that never happened. Fortunately, romances tend to stand alone well. I bought this due to my weakness for superheroes.

(If you like superheroes, you should enter my Barry Lyga contest! This is also the last day to enter to win FALLING UNDER by Gwen Hayes.)

In My Mailbox (Out of My Pocketbook)

I told ya'll I'd share about my STAPLE! 2011 loot.

First, I couldn't resist buying a small painting of an owl in mint and chocolate colors. I didn't get the name of the artist at the time, but luckily had a program. It's by Nation of Amanda and it's so cute I'm not showing it to ya'll.

I bought AMERICANS UK #1 because it was cheap and the creator was nice. I like the premise - the sci-fi adventures of a rock band whose drummer is from the future, sent to stop the bassist and guitarist from being murdered. (He fails.) Turned out to not really be my thing. That happens.



Josh Lesnick gave away free copies of GIRLY #1 and 2. He's moving and wanted to get rid of them, plus they're about to come out in a new edition. I remembered reading the beginning of GIRLY long ago, so I'm looking forward to catching up. (Note: GIRLY probably counts as 18+. Haven't read much yet, but I have a feeling.) Lesnick's art style is rough but charming.

I bought a special edition of THE LESS THAN EPIC ADVENTURES OF TJ AND AMAL Chapters 1-13 by E. K. Weaver. It's about two guys who go on a road trip together and eventually fall in love. I read this one online, so I was happy to support the author. (Note: Nothing objectionable in this book, but the comic is 18+ as of Chapter 15.) Weaver's art is incredible. Her expressions are very nuanced and she has a terrific sense of timing.

NOBIGOCHU: The Worm Pup is a small volume, illustrated by Cristina Benovides (cbenav@leadpointcomics.com) and co-written by Greg Gutierrez. There aren't many words; most of the story is done through the adorable yet violent watercolor illustrations. It's a post-apocalyptic short featuring mutant creatures. Talking to Cristina, I couldn't help but recommend THE HUNGER GAMES.



Jill Thompson was one of the guests of honor and as her site bio says "is the most well-known, female comicbook artist working in the comics industry today." I bought THE SCARY GODMOTHER to give to my niece and nephew. It's a good choice, since she wrote it for her niece. This is another watercolor work. (I'm a big fan of watercolors. What can I say?)



I bought books #1-3 of Colleen AF Venable's series Guinea Pig: Pet Shop Private Eye, illustrated by Stephanie Yue. I absolutely love guinea pigs (and other cute little animals), so I couldn't pass this one by. I also intend to give these to my niece and nephew. Venable was super-duper nice, so ya'll should check her stuff out.

I don't remember what books I received this week since I traveled to Austin, but right before I left my review copy of FLYING BLIND by Deborah Cooke showed up. It's too nifty not to show off.