Review: Stained by Cheryl Rainfield

This review is part of the blog tour for Stained by Cheryl Rainfield. I received a copy of Stained via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having read and loved Cheryl Rainfield's novel Scars, I was extremely excited when I was contacted to take part in the tour for Stained. With Scars, which I stumbled upon in a rather roundabout way, I was drawn in immediately, and I was eager to find out whether Stained would have the same type of effect.

Despite knowing I liked Cheryl's writing style, however, Stained also represented a departure in genre for me. While it is still in many ways a contemporary novel, Stained also has suspense and thriller elements. It was very interesting reading something that both delved so deeply into its core characters and moved at a frantic pace, using in-novel timestamps to move everything along.

So, are you curious to find out what I thought of Stained? Read on and I'll share my thoughts. Hopefully I'll also convince you of why you should really sit down and check Stained out, regardless of what genre(s) of fiction you normally settle in with.

There is part of me that wands to skip writing a review all together and just go "Read it! Read it now!". But that would do both me as a reviewer, and this absolutely mind shattering book, a disservice.

The first thing I must tell you all is that while Stained is beautifully written, it is not a book for the faint of heart. Many books about abduction, violence, abuse and rape within YA take place after the trauma to the main character has occurred. We deal with the aftermath, the overwrought emotion, the 'what happens next'.

In Stained we live the experience, which is something that I found very gripping as a reader, but which I am very aware my cause triggers for some people. I'm extremely glad that Cheryl decided to take her book this route, as she is brutally honest and does not romanticize this the way I've seen a few other writers do. This is a journey into the depths of the heart of darkness. There are things that happened in Stained that made my skin crawl. But the important thing here isn't how horrible what happens to Sarah is. What matters is that despite being trapped in this living nightmare, we see a girl with the strength to not only survive, but also have the strength and desire to live by novel's end. (How she gets there and what, exactly, happens along the way? You'll have to read Stained to find that out.)

Stained is both a very tense, emotional novel, and a very meticulous, character driven one. I loved both Sarah and Nick. I think that Sarah is a fantastic main character and I really appreciated the fact that we see both her strengths and weaknesses, and then see these things effect her during her abduction. I think that there is a great deal of challenge in creating a character who can balance having both strength and vulnerability. With Sarah, Cheryl succeeded in striking that balance time and again.

As for Nick? I loved, loved, loved Nick. Nick is not your typical YA hero. He's fat. He's a nerd. He's a little out of the main stream. Yet he is oh so very real, and I loved his feelings for Sarah--both romantically and as a friend. I also really loved how his perspective was used to break up sections of the novel, both to increase and break points of tension, and to give the reader a glimpse of what was going on in the outside world. Further, with the amount that he (and her family) cared for Sarah, the amount they stood to lose if she was not found, my dread increased tenfold. I think that it was vital to show us that Sarah had things to live for, people who loved her. By sharing Nick's perspective, the reader will get that message loud and clear.

The last thing I want to give a nod to is that this is another book I've read this year that has the theme of super heroes being incorporated into showing the progression of a character's awareness of her own self worth. This is an idea that I find really fun and inspiring, and I loved the idea that if Sarah could somehow get out of this mess, she and Nick might be able to make comics together. When things were at their hardest, remembering how much she valued the ideas of her heroic character, Diamond, was one of the things that gave her the strength to keep going... I've never been in the situation Sarah faces in Stained, but as a lover of comics, video games and fantasy novels, I could immediately relate to this aspect of her personality and how it served as both her passion and a method to cope with the challenges in her life.

Stained is the kind of book that I wish everyone would sit down and read. From the beauty of the writing, to the depth of the characters, to the importance of the message, to the absolutely gripping plot... There is so much here that was brilliantly done that it's honestly very hard to get it all into words for you guys without going too far and risking turning this review into a novella.

Just trust me (provided something here didn't flash a warning off in your head)... This is one of the must-read books of 2013 and I'm certain that even as we pass into the new year, it will undoubtedly keep that must read status. Stained is a story of love and loss, hope and despair, sorrow and survival. Above all, it is a story of courage, hope, and the will to live that will stick with you long after the final page has been turned.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository 

Make sure you come back tomorrow! (Oct. 2nd, 2013) I have a great interview with Cheryl and an awesome giveaway you won't want to miss. :D 

Don't miss a stop on the Stained blog tour. For the complete schedule click here!

Top 10 Tuesday: Book Turn-Offs

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly book blogging meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is:

Where's the plot, man? 

Does this sound familiar? You are reading a book and it just keeps costing along. There is no structure. You have no freaking clue what the writer is doing or where the book is going. It goes from event A, to event B, to event C with no logical connection. And it's not a mystery novel.

I find this a lot in contemporary, and there are many times I will point this out and pardon it when I'm reviewing that genre. However, I point it out because despite my acceptance of it in contemporary novels, it still drives me batshit crazy. If nothing else, plot builds expectation and anticipation. It's one of the key ways (the others being character and mood) through which an author makes a promise to the reader.

And no, not having a plot does not exempt a writer from making a promise. All writers, of all genres, make promises to their readers through the text of their books whether they realize it or not.

Series that go on forever and decline in quality.

This is more of an adult PNR thing than a YA thing, thank God. It's actually one of the biggest reason I switched gears and went to YA stuff.

I can understand that authors of PNR and urban fantasy spend a lot of time developing the rules, history, species, etc. of their worlds. (Really, I can. This is my genre.) But when each book gets to a point of repetitiveness where I can tell you what chapter certain things are going to happen in within a series, Houston we've got a serious problem! This happens to long running TV series, too. There comes a point where the well runs dry.

I don't necessarily think there's a magic number this happens at. I'm certainly not suggesting that people shouldn't be able to write stories that go longer than a trilogy. But I am saying that it's something where an author needs to watch their step. You want to stay fresh, current and up-to-date. You want to intrigue and surprise readers, making them want to read you again next time with the same passion they wanted to after your first (or whichever of your books) made them want to from the beginning. In other words: don't get lazy.

Rehashing information from previous books in future ones. 

I get it. You want your book to be a "stand alone". But here's the thing: you're writing a series, dude! I can understand a bit of this, if the story can be enriched with a little reminder here and there. But (and this may not be a fair example since it's aimed at kids) I remember reading The Baby Sitters' Club growing up and thinking "OMG, here we go again!" when the Club's history was explained in every single book.

I'm sure I might feel different if I was picking up a series part way in. (I'm kinda neurotic about starting things at their beginning and reading linearly, even in things that can be read out of order.) But as a linear, orderly reader this drives me nuts!

The Evil Cheerleader and Nerd Charming 

Look, I get it. A lot of us who write were nerds, geeks, readers, band people, drama people and pretty much everything else anti-jock / anti-cheer. I'm right there with ya, for the record. Many of us in all of the above lists felt awkward, left out, second class, overlooked, jealous or lonely. Again: sign me up. I never wanted to be "popular" or "cool", but I sure as hell knew I wasn't.

However, our books need not be our platform to seek out vengeance on the jocks and cheerleaders of high school past. The idea that beautiful = bitch and nerd = nice is bullshit. Am I saying "Down with the nerds!". No. But when I see this done over and over and over again it gets old. (And it looks ridiculous and totally cliche.) Something I came to realize when I was writing Sarena, who was *definitely* a "popular girl" in high school, is that she was not sitting there thinking of ways she could put people less pretty / charismatic / etc. then her "in their place". Now, my book is not YA anymore, (she's in college, not HS) but writing her was enlightening.

Two-bit Villains (Hey, Snidley Whiplash!)

I am not a fan of Voldemort. Tom Riddle? Sure. Voldemort? No.

Why? Because for all his supposed persuasiveness and able to get people to band together, I did not feel Voldemort had any depth. Snape? Draco? Both well done. But Voldemort did not work for me.

When it comes to villains, I have always loved the rule that "Even an evil man has a dog that loves him." For a dog to love you, you don't need to do too much. But at the same time, and on the same token, if you abuse a dog long enough it will turn on you. In short: likable characters need flaws, and antagonistic characters need to have some redeeming qualities. It makes--at least in my opinion--for much more engaging and memorable fiction.

I must, of course, offer the fact that I *love* villains who redeem themselves later in a series as rationale for what I'm saying here. (Even though that is not what I'm talking about here.) That's one of my *favorite* things in books, and one of the fastest ways to get me to read something. We all have our literary version of chocolate, or cigarettes, or coffee (or any other addiction). Redemption is mine.

Fantasy heroines must always kick ass. 

I'm not arguing that a heroine should not be accountable for the happy (or not) ending she receives by book's end. We will get to that. What I'm talking about here is this idea that heroines, especially in genres like fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal romance, need to be this tough, kick ass now and take names later kinda gals.

Don't get me wrong. This kind of character can (and does) work. They are even very popular. What makes this a problem is that it can get to a point where other types of characters, with other skills, personality types (outside of hard-nosed ass kickers), and other ways of completing a story do not get the chance to have their stories told. Maybe, just *maybe*, I'm over sensitive to this since it would be physically impossible for me to *be* that kind of character? Or maybe it's because my patience is as long as a brand new ball of yarn and I like things like humor, forgiveness and compassion in heroines? (Why all the jaded-ness, seriously? Some of the chicks I find in these books need a therapist!)

I think a lot of it comes back to writers wanting to be up to date. To us wanting to prove that we don't need to be "saved by a man" and that if "they can do it, we can too". And both of those statements are true. I'm *not* defending characters who don't play the lead role in their own story. What I am suggesting is that there are other, equally important (and interesting) ways that things can potentially be resolved. (Heck, even having a more 'up' and less 'snarky' sense of humor in an ass kicker would be a welcome change now and then.)

Characters who cheat after they are involved with their love interest / Characters who cheat so they can be with their love interest. 

Want a book to get tossed against the wall in under ten seconds? This is the most surefire way to make that happen. Forget that last line I just wrote about redemption. I hate, loathe and detest cheating with the fire of a thousand suns. I think everyone has something in books that just flat out pisses them off. Cheating is my thing. And the scale of it does not matter. I dropped hearts from Anna and the French Kiss for it. I DNF'd Splintered (even though it was recommended by Marie, who's opinion I deeply value and still trust.) because of it, and it made me like The Vincent Boys far less than The Vincent Brothers. I've gotten smart enough to know that if I can see there's gonna be cheating in a book, I'm best not to read it. Because it totally makes me see red and it throws my objectivity straight out the window.

Heroes who are jackasses until the second-to-last page.

Remember how I said I like villains and redemption and all that jazz? Yeah, well I like it because it's tough to pull off. And when that goes wrong, it goes really wrong, people. See, there's this thing called character growth and if a book doesn't have it, I'm probably gonna stop reading the book. Because as much as I love a cool plot, that plot doesn't mean squat if the characters it's happening to are people I care about.

Now, you probably know my blog is "the blog that rates in hearts". Meaning: I read a *lot* of romance. Like, a lot, a lot. From that, you can probably guess that I love happy endings. And I do. But what I don't love is when we take one jackass bad boy, put him with a mousy girl, let him abuse her verbally, emotionally, stalk her, etc. for 90% of the book and then have said *moron* decide he loves her.

No. Just no. No, no, no, no, no. That enough no's for ya?

Bad boys are like violins. When written (played) write they're beautiful, but when they're messed up they have all the appeal of a cat trying to claw its way down a chalk board. Not pretty.

Cliffhanger endings and Craptacular series middle books

Okay, I'm *cheating* a little here, but I feel these two things sorta go hand-in-hand. Authors: you have never been Tolkien, you are not Tolkien, and you will never be Tolkien. Please, for the love of readers everywhere, quit writing books that don't have an ending. It's frustrating!

I understand if a story needs several books to be told. I'm writing a series myself. But I think it's just lazy when things just abruptly stop on a dime, like the novel I've been reading for 8 to 10 hours is a weekly TV special where I'll only have to write a few days to find out what happens next. In trade publishing authors generally release a book a year. And to put it blunt? I don't want to wait a year to find out if a love interest is dead or not (just as an example, and it's not from any one specific book).

I'm all for leaving things open. But make sure there is some form of a complete story for me to read or I'm going to be annoyed--not anxious to get your next book!

As for the Craptacular Middle Syndrome... All I can say is what's up with that? Is it the second book jinx? Is it just me? Or does anyone else ever feel like just skipping the second books of trilogies until the third come out so the damn things will make sense? I get it: it's the middle. Things are in flux. But again: if I'm buying your book, I want a book. Not just a random chunk of story. Beginning, middle, end. This is basic stuff here, people! :O

Who's story is this, anyway? 

There are so many ways this can go horribly wrong. I can think of two main ones, though. Either (a) the heroine of a novel does not have any real part in resolving a novel's climax, even though she's been narrating it for the past 300+ pages, or (b) the resolution of a novel has nothing to do with anything that has been shown to the reader up to that point. (This is generally called Deus Ex Mechana, or God from the Box; it's when the cavalry comes, rather than the hero(es) having to solve their own problems.

Endings, for me, are the hardest part of writing and this is actually a BIG part of the reason why. Finding the ending the fits the story and characters I have created, and making certain I present it in a way where the reader will feel no other resolution would have fit, is a big challenge. Especially when there are multiple characters involved in the ending, where I am concerned people won't necessarily "get" how important my heroine was to it's outcome.

In simplest terms, an ending must fit naturally into the story it's placed into. But that is far easier said than done.

So, what are your bookish turn-offs / pet peeves? What will make you stop reading? Toss a book across a room? Roll your eyes? I'd love to know, so feel free to leave a comment or link me to your Top 10 Tuesday. :) 

Kat's Fall TBR Pile!

Well, now that Sealer's Promise is finally nearing its end, I'll have time to READ! (Imagine that!) I wanted to do the Top 10 Tuesday topic about Fall TBR a while ago but I was knee deep in doing the re-write, so that wasn't possible. But now that I'm only a couple chapters out, I finally have time to sit down and list what I want to read between now and mid December. Ready to see what you'll likely get reviews for between now and Christmas? Read on! :)

The Devil's Tattoo
by Nicole R. Taylor

An overnight music sensation. A hot rock star (or four), some trust issues and two bands on tour. Have I listed enough variables to create an interesting premise yet? :D I don't sign up for a lot of tours, but The Devil's Tattoo seemed like something I'll love so I'm looking forward to sitting down with my kindle and diving in. 

Crown of Midnight
by Sarah J. Maas

I absolutely adored Throne of Glass, so waiting to read this--especially waiting after it came in the mail!--has been torture. Will we see more of Celaena and Choal together? What does Dorian think of this? And what new secrets and perils will we face during this journey into the realm of Adarlan? I can't wait to find out! 

Wild Cards
by Simone Elkeles

Having read and loved Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry trilogy early on in my time as a blogger, I have eagerly awaited her next series for quite a while. Wild Cards sounds like a totally awesome contemporary read which will give her other books a run for their place on my favorites list. I have been counting the days for this book for a while now. :) 

The Burning Sky
by Sherry Thomas

Magic elixers? Check. An evil Bane? Check. A PRINCE?! Triple check. And the reviews I've read are giving major praise to the romance in this one, which is always a welcome thing to see. This is a new to me author, and I only found out it's historical after I bought it, but I still can't wait to read it. There is just too much "Read me now!" going on here for me to ignore. 

If You Leave
by Courtney Cole

Can the absolute awesome-sauce that is If You Stay be topped, or even matched? I must know, and I downloaded If You Leave onto my kindle the day it released. I've been (not so patiently) waiting to read it since. Now, as soon as I finish 2.5 chapters, I *can*!!! Maddy had her flaws in Pax and Mila's story, but I'm anxious to see her get an HEA and to see *how* she'll get that. 

The Mephisto Mark
by Trinity Faegen

How did I miss the release date for this? Have I really been sleeping under that big a rock? With that outta the way... Holy crap, this is Phoenix's book! Woo! I absolutely must read this. This guy has been breaking my heart from the beginning of the series and I *must* see how he will get a happy ending. The glimpse we got of Mariah in the last book has me intrigued by her, too. I need this now, dammit!

Finding It
by Cora Carmack

I totally loved Losing It and I really enjoyed Faking It. So reading Finding It is just common sense. I really liked Kelsey, despite the fact that our personalities would clash in real life. I think I can say this much about my enthusiasm: it's not going to be dull reading about her adventures to find love. Plus, she's over in Europe. That certainly can't hurt, right? (I love books that are set in places I haven't been.) Another book that will likely be a day one purchase.

Antigoddess
by Kendare Blake

Feathers growing under someone's skin? A fever that can eat a man's flesh? And that shit is happening to the Greek Gods? Yeah, you bet I'm right there. I grabbed this a couple weeks ago (how could I not?!?!) and it's been testing my resolve to get my writing done before I open it up. (Maybe I should set it on my table during these last couple pesky chapters?) I totally loved Anna Dressed In Blood, and I love Greek Mythology--and seeing what people can do to it. So yeah. I have to read this. 

Shooting Scars
by Karina Halle

Earlier this year I read Sins & Needles and On Every Street and totally loved both. Karina Halle has a way of writing characters that are fascinating shades of gray--you cannot predict what they will do from one moment to the next, but you are taken so deeply into who they are that you want them to succeed regardless. After the way Sins & Needles ended (OMG) the fact I haven't opened this and started reading is shocking. I'm really looking forward to it! 

Elsker
by S.T. Bende

Norse mythology? Going away to university on another continent? Loves books? Winds up dating a Norse God? Has visions that might be able to stop Ragnorok? Ummm... Yeah. To say this grabbed my attention would be a massive understatement. Another book that's been sitting on my kindle and waiting for me to have time to read. I read and really liked the sample for this, and I'm honestly very eager to open it up and read the whole thing. 

Have you thought about what you're going to read this fall? Are we reading any of the same things? Feel free to let me know in the comments, or link me to a post you've made about it. 

Book Blitz: the Courtlight series by Terah Edun

Today I'm thrilled to be part of the book blitz for the Courtlight series by Terah Edun. I decided to take part in this blitz because of the stunning covers and interesting series premise. Curious what the Courtlight series is all about? Read on and find out. Oh, and there's a giveaway, too. :)

(Summaries provided by Xpresso Book Tours)

Book One:

Sworn To Raise
by Terah Edun

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the kingdom. But beneath her kingdom’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

Are you intrigued? Add it on Goodreads! 

Or... Buy It Now!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Book Two:

Sworn To Transfer

by Terah Edun

Eighteen-year-old companion trainee Ciardis Weathervane has won the friendship of the royal heir and saved his claim to the throne. Yet her interference in the inheritance rights leaves more harm done than good. With the death of the Princess Heir, the Ameles forest - the home of the kith, is dying.

The inhabitants of the forest, magic-wielding non-humans, are defiant. They have not forgotten their long struggles nor are they content to watch as the last of their lands perish. As humans begin to die in gruesome deaths, the Emperor dispatches the royal heir to the forests with the solution to the kith concerns.

With enemies closing ranks in Sandrin, Ciardis can little afford to leave the city’s nest of vipers to take on a new task. But she’s given no choice when her loyalty to the crown and courts are called into question.

To keep the Companions’ Guild happy and the favor of the Imperial Court, Ciardis will be tested in frightening new ways, especially when she’s faced with an obstacle that could risk the lives of her friends and the family she never thought she had.

This second novel continues the story of Ciardis Weathervane from Sworn To Raise.

Ready to read more? Add it on Goodreads!

Or... Buy It Now! 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About The Author:

Terah Edun is an international development professional and author/lover of all things Young Adult Fantasy fiction. She is a native Georgian, adoptive Washingtonian, unrepentant expat currently living in South Sudan, brilliant dreamer, lover of dogs and not-so-closet geek. Her first novel, Red Madrassa, was released on November 8th and her second novel, Sworn to Raise, comes out in April 2013.

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

So, has the Courtlight series caught your interest? Have you read the first book? Maybe even the second? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment. :)

As always, thanks go to Xpresso Book Tours for having me along. :)

Waiting On Wednesday (Sept. 25th)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine. We all get together to show each other books we can't wait to get our hands on.

This week's can't-wait-to-read-it selection is:

Finding It
by Cora Carmack
Oct. 1st, 2013

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life...or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

After reading and loving both Losing It and Faking It, I suppose it only stands to reason that I'm totally dying to read Finding It. I thought that Kelsey was a pretty awesome friend to Bliss and I missed her in Faking It. I'm really excited to see how her travels have gone... and, of course, to see her find love! Odds are high this'll be a day one purchase for me because I absolutely can't wait to read it! :) 

Has Finding It grabbed your attention? Add it on GoodReads! 

So, what book are you anxiously awaiting this week? Leave a comment or link me to your WoW! :)