Review: Paper Valentine

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Release Date ~ January 8, 2013
Razorbill ~ Penguin
ISBN13: 9781595145994
ARC received from Penguin Canada 

Goodreads Synopsis:

The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.
For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.
With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.


Paper Valentine is the book that has absolutely convinced me that Brenna Yovanoff is one of my new favourite authors. She has such a way with words, and you just know she's going to be awesome with such a fabulous first name (hehe)!

She has this rare talent to capture so much ambience with her words - from creepy, to ethereal, to utterly romantic. And I appreciate that she puts so much thought into her stories, giving them plenty of layers to peel back.

1. Creepy plot (complete with ghosts):
   
   I like some of my books to be creepy, and creepy is one thing that Brenna writes so well. I was impressed with how much of the story was grounded in reality; girls going missing and turning up dead? That's real life and it is horrifying. A little bit of a paranormal twist, enhances the creepiness factor rather than detracting from it.
   
2. Struggling with grief:
   
   One of my favourite aspects of Paper Valentine was how Hannah struggles with Lillian's death. She becomes increasingly aware of how complicated and messy their friendship was, and she's honest with herself about that. She struggles to balance the good memories with the bad ones, and trying to reconcile the little girl she once knew with the hurting teen her friend was at her death. This pain is very honest and real, and I appreciate how complex Brenna made their friendship and Hannah's grief.
   
3. Complicated characters:
   
   Each character has their own flaws, their own struggles, and yet manage to stand out on their own as independent and life-like characters. I like how well this was done with Hannah and Lillian, as well as additional secondary characters like Finny and Hannah's sister. They can remind you so much of people you know, in both good and bad ways, and its a strength for the story. 

I simply adore Brenna's writing, because there really is something hauntingly poetic about it. I loved following along with the mystery, although I was admittedly a bit disappointed with the big reveal. I like a lot of build up in my mystery plots, but they really need to deliver at the end too. It wasn't enough to ruin the story for me, but it was a bit of a let down by the end. I recognize, however, that the main purpose of the story isn't so much about who the killer is or why he's killing girls as much as it is about relationships and grief. 

I highly recommend this read for anyone looking for something a bit different from the standard YA fare. I like that we're seeing more mysteries and thrillers, especially when they're as well done as Paper Valentine. 

The Space Between

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Penguin ~ Razorbill
ISBN13: 9781595143396

4/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?
Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.
This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

What do you do when you don't fit in at all? When you can't be the person you're expected to be?

I had no idea what to expect from this book, in regards to its subject matter, plot, and even writing style. But sometimes those are the best books to read - ones that surprise you!

1. Hell and demons like you've never seen them before:
   Daphne is a demoness, and an utterly fascinating one at that. She is nothing like she's supposed to be, or like you'd expect. Methodical, reserved, and deserpately lonely. But she just doesn't fit in her home of Pandemonium. She is too good, too thoughtful, and too much of a disappointment to her mother, Lilith. But there is such a quiet yet solid strength in her that makes her this pure, ideal sort of heroine. And all of the demons and fallen angels in Pandemonium aren't quite like what you'd expect from them; this isn't a story about black and white, but all the gray in between.
2. Unpredictable twists:
   If you're like me, you probably read enough to find the majority of books somewhat predictable. And that isn't always a bad thing, even if it is a little repetative at times. But I honestly had no idea how this book was going to turn out, and how the characters would react to their circumstances. And Truman- he was NOTHING, nothing like who I thought he'd be at the beginning. And he is so different and realistic from those other YA boys out there (not that I don't love them, but sometimes you just need something new).
3. Brenna Yovanoff's writing:
   Guys, you need to read it just for her writing and ability to immerse you in a story using written words. This was my first time reading one of her books (I have a copy of The Replacement, just haven't read it yet!) and I was so impressed with her. It's like she puts you in a trance and injects you directly into her world.

I'm not sure if it's weird to say this book about demons and hell left me enchanted, but it did. I hightly recommend this to people looking for something unique in the YA world.

The mythology this is based on is impressive as well, and I could honestly just read a book on the legends and world Brenna based her book on. There is SO MUCH there, and I would have loved further explanations of Pandemonium and the history of these angels and demons.

One thing I found odd (and this might just be me) was how it was written from two POVs; Daphne's and Truman's. But what was different about it was that Daphne spoke in the first person while Truman's POV was told in third person. It can be kind of a jarring switch, but as I recently read another book which used this method, I wonder if there was a reasonf or it that I'm simply missing.

Plus, all of us Brennas need to stick together.

ARC received from Penguin Canada in exchange for my honest review; no other compensation was received.