"Room" - Emma Donoghue

Published in 2010 by Little Brown Books

It's Jack's 5th birthday and this year Ma has given him a drawing of himself, Old Nick comes in the night and leaves a gift for JAck too, but Ma doesn't want him to have it.  Jack and Ma live in room with all of their friends: wardrobe, bed, stove, bath, and plant.  Because Jack is a big boy now his other birthday gift is learning about "Outside," a place they haven't ever been but Ma would like to see again.

This leads to a daring escape and the emotional troubles of being freed from captivity.  Told by Jack, the first 1/3 of the story drudges on a bit (yes, I get it, you are in a room) but boy oh boy does it pick up after that.

Not many books really get at my insides but this one made me tear up and have strange dreams of captivity.  It was fantastic how Donoghue was able to convey a ton of information through the mind of a 5 year old.

Rating: ****

Quotes:
"Scared is what you're feeling.  Brave is what you're doing"

"Murder in the Palais Royale" - Cara Black

Published in 2010 by Soho Press

I decided to start in the middle of the "Aimee Leduc Investigation" series, because honestly, why do anything the right way.  And I am delightfully pleased!  Since I have been planning for my upcoming trip to France this novel seemed like a perfect introduction to the less seen Paris (in this case, murder and some fun cafes.)  While I was at the Bookswap in the city last week I met author Cara Black and we had a fun and insightful chat about what to see and avoid when in Paris for the day, and afterwards I decided that talking to her had been so fun I might as well give her writing a try.

This was a fabulous idea! Black's main character, Aimee Leduc, is a parisian born and bred.  She has inherited her father's, and grandfather's before that, detective agency which she runs with her best friend Rene.  Black does a great job of weaving ideas from previous books in without making the reader feel confused having not read those books.  And she makes sure to add a little incentive in the last few pages to make the next book seem even more appealing.

Quotes:
" 'Dealing with you, as Commissaire Morbier told me, makes herding feral cats look easy,' Melac said"

Rating: ***

"Johannes Cabal: The Necromancer" - Jonathan L. Howard

Published by Anchor Books in 2010

I picked this book up on a whim as it had some great cover art, thinking that would be as far as the fun would go was my mistake! This turned out to be an unexpectedly good find that blended sci-fi with a little Gothic humor in just the right combination.

The cover quote states that it is "wicked and inventive" and I agree completely.  A carnival comprised of the undead, lead by a necromancer and his vampire brother.  Their goal is to retrieve 100 souls in a years time as a wager with Satan.

The best part is that it isn't until the last page that we learn the true reason for the whole quest and Johannes Cabal's real goal.  Very fun, I will have to read more of the series!

Rating: ***