Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand-year-old demon. That doesn’t exactly help. But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much. Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school.

In the beginning pages Jael is turning 16; and for her birthday, her father has given her a necklace that once belonged to her demon mother. Jael is given this necklace with only one warning: to never wear it. After her very first fight with her father over this necklace, she looks deep into the Gem and can see things in it. The first vision is of her father, downstairs in the kitchen as he is contacting the demon world to relay the message that the necklace has been given to her. Jael becomes deeply hurt and confused as her father has always said that he no longer has contact with the demon world.

After some very interesting things happen at school, she ends up putting the necklace on and things only get weirder. In the description above it states that this book is “steeped in mythology” and I could not agree more. There are several places throughout the story where you will feel like you’re sitting in church being quoted the bible and Catholic beliefs and other mythology.

Throughout the story we also get to see into the underworld and the demon lives and world view. Some of the chapters are from Jael’s point of view and some of them are from people relaying the past through memories or the visions to Jael. She begins to really learn who she is, why they have to move around so much and really begins to see her father with new eyes. I think that the underworld and the demons’ view of our world was really what made the book worthwhile for me.

My favorite paragraph in the book is when her uncle is helping her understand what being a demon means. “Jael”- it still gives her a strange shiver when he says her name. Like she can almost get a sense of the person he believes she’s capable of becoming. A person who deserves an exotic name spoken with reverence. But now he looks a little sad. “If all you ever do is try to avoid pain, you’ll never create something truly worthwhile.” Of course this is only a small part of a very entertaining and best chapter of the book, in my opinion. Misfit has action, interesting creatures, magic and a little romance.

I give Misfit 4 stars. I found the view of the underworld and demons and their relationship to our world very fascinating and intriguing. I do realize that the religious concepts were necessary for this story to be told, but I personally felt it set a very heavy tone to an otherwise very fascinating story.

Misfit – Jon Skovron

Publication date: 1 August, 2011, by Harry N. Abrams

Hardcover, 382 Pages

Luce is not a stranger to loss. Her father and mother died several years ago. She is now cared for by her alcoholic uncle. She is very shy, has no friends and  is anti-social. After one very stormy day, her uncle attempts to rape her and tells her not to come home. Even more confused and depressed than usual, she throws herself into the ocean to drown; instead, she turns into a mermaid.

In her frustration and hate Luce swims hard and fast. She sings out her frustration and in her confusion watches as a boat guides itself into the cliffs. She watches and sings to the people aboard as they all slowly drown. The wreckage is noticed by the other mermaids and she is taken into the tribe as a new member. She is soon taught the laws of the tribe, makes friends and learns the way of the mermaid. As time goes by, more mermaids begin arriving through different circumstances. Soon there is uproar in the tribe, alliances are formed and laws are broken. But will Luce be able to help keep some order in the tribe before too many humans die in their wake?

The change into a mermaid does not happen to all girls; it’s usually the girls that have a dark past  who “change because of what humans do to us.”  They cannot all sing. Some of them have the talent of singing or making other noises immediately, some develop it, and some never do. The leader is chosen by how well they can manipulate their voice and swim the best.

They do not sing to every ship that passes and they do not take down big ships in which they cannot guarantee all aboard who have heard or seen them will die afterwards. They still have to breathe air so spend their time in caves with beach or air space and swimming around.  If their tales leave the water, they experience horrific pain that can end up killing them.

For a story about killer mermaids this one was pretty entertaining. I have to say that I found the main character very depressing throughout most of the story, but she develops and grows some along the way.

Besides the mass murders, this whole tribe concept was really not any different than an all girls high school setting. You have drama, certain rules that must be followed, and a leader. I loved all the characters, Catarina is a strong-headed leader, who eventually bumps heads with Luce. It was like an all girls school drama power-trip most of the book, but I loved it. It was very well written, very entertaining and contained a lot of interesting ideas.

The story is highly reminiscent of the siren tales from Greek mythology (calling/singing to the sailors, leading them to death or confusion).  Lost Voices is a great introduction to this trilogy. It features great characters and world building. It doesn’t  end in a cliffhanger, but with just enough intrigue to make you want to see which characters will show up in the next book.

Sarah Porter—Lost Voices
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published July 4th 2011 by Harcourt Children’s Books

ISBN 0547482507 (ISBN13: 9780547482507)

We follow the story of Moon, a solitary Raksura who has developed into manhood not knowing where he came from or even what type of people he belongs to. He is described as a shifter, one that can change from a flying creature into a walking creature. Orphaned at a young age, he has been moving between groundling camps in which he never fits, and to whom he can never reveal his true self. He lives in constant fear that if a groundling sees him shift into is Raksura form, he will be confused with the enemies of all creatures, the Fell.

One day, a flying creature like himself rescues him from a deathly situation and takes him to a floating island until he can heal. Moon and the rescuer take this time to ask each other questions about where they come from and who they are.

Stone, the Raksura who has rescued him, explains that they live in a place called the Three Worlds. There are several types of creatures living in this world, consisting of groundlings, skylings and sea creatures. Some of them are obviously interchangeable and have the ability to shift into another form. Moon decides that he will travel back with Stone to see people like himself, learn about where he may have come from, and the possibilies that his future holds.

Each step of the way they must be smarter, faster and stronger than the Fell that are taking over the world. The Fell are slowly destroying the other creatures to defy their own devastation. All the creatures in this world are experiencing sickness and low breeding numbers. But the Fell have some advantages the other creatures don’t have, and they have set their eyes on the Raksura to salvage their dire situation.

The writing is very descriptive and, overall, very vivid. There are so many levels and nuances within each type of species that it did take me quite a bit of the book to start to grasp the roles they play in their societies. Both the Fell and the Raksura had different levels of rankings in which some could shift and some couldn’t. But the twist of adding the rare shifters in as well made the book more fantastical and really envelops you in the story. The repetitive descriptions of the people throughout the story helped as well. There is so much adventure, world building and action that–literally before you know it–the story is over and leaves you yearning for more.

By the end of the book you are fighting for the happy ending, you come to understand all of the creatures, their plight and their need to grow in number and survive. How they can work for or against each other and the overall message–that we all need to find a place to belong.

The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells
ISBN 978-1-59780-216-1
Published by Night Shade Books, March 15, 2011
Paperback, 300 pages

‘Merricat’, said Connie,’ would you like a cup of tea?’ ‘Oh no’, said Merricat, ‘you’ll poison me’. ‘Merricat’, said Connie, ‘would you like to go to sleep? Down in the bone yard ten feet deep!‘

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is the haunting story of Mary Katherine Blackwood, her Uncle Julian who is on the cusp of death, and her sister Constance, who cares for them and the house. They are the only people left residing in the old Blackwood home. Merricat, as she is called, is not allowed to do the dishes or the cooking; but, she is the only one who is sent into town to get the groceries. And this is where the story begins.

We see a solemn Merricat, dreading her trip into town for food and necessities. All the while, she is wishing them all dead and mentally picturing awful things happening to the people in the town as she passes them by. She plans the least conspicuous way of completing her shopping and getting back home in peace. As many times in the past, however, she is harassed by the men with badgering questions, and stared at and whispered about by the women. On her way home, kids follow her, chanting “Merricat’, said Connie, ‘would you like a cup of tea?’ ‘Oh no’, said Merricat, ‘you’ll poison me’. ‘Merricat,’ said Connie, ‘would you like to go to sleep? Down by the bone yard ten feet deep!”. Merricat does make it home in one piece, and is met by Constance at the edge of the garden (as she will go no further).

The story continues with its melancholy theme and we hear, through the ramblings of old Uncle Julian, the story of how they came to be so lonely, living quietly and contentedly with no company. Uncle Julian reminisces about the house which was once full of people,until four of them were tragically poisoned by arsenic in the sugar bowl. Uncle Julian was the only one of the four who survived. Constance had been put on trial but was acquitted of the crimes. But the deaths never seem to be able to escape those left.

The story eventually takes off when cousin Charles shows up on their doorstep, causing strife in their otherwise content and sombre house. This starts a domino effect of events that, once experienced, the family can never fully recover from.

Shirley Jackson is a master storyteller. Her writing can draw you in completely. This story is full of superstitions, paranoia, and anxiety, portrayed through Merricat. You cannot disagree with the fact that this is truly one of the classics–a fantastic mix of gothic and horror that most of us love. And at less that 150 pages, it is a fast and fascinating read.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle — Shirley Jackson

Published 09/11/2009, by Penguin Books

Paperback, 158 pages

ISBN 13: 9780141191454

ISBN 10: 0141191457