Turkey Tales & Giveaway: Natasha from Wicked Little Pixie

Happy Thanksgiving!  Everyday this week, some of my favorite bloggers will be sharing some of their worst reads with us in the first Turkey Tales event. 

I did my first ever guest blog for the final blogger in our Turkey Tales event for her annual The Thirteen Wicked Days of Christmas event.  I’m talking about the delightfully dishy Natasha from Wicked Little Pixie.   Although we fall on opposite sides of the Twilight debate (I so did not need to know the extent of Twilight merchandizing that exists), we almost always agree on the books we hate.  Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments for another chance at the giveaway.  See below.  

by Natasha from Wicked Little Pixie

You know how it starts out; the book has so much promise, you’re excited to read it. Then all hell breaks loose & you have no idea what happened. Where did that train derail in my head?!My turkey read was a first in a few ways, one it was the first YA that freaked me out (so not in a good way) and two, the first time I had an author comment on a negative review.

Lets jump right into it shall we? Hope you have your flack jackets on….

Cat the Vamp follows 18 year old Catherine (Cat) Taylor through finding out she is a vampire after her grandmother’s death and moving to a castle to “learn” the ways of a vampire. What I liked about Christina Martine’s take on vampires is that they can go out in the sun and the only difference they have from humans is that they are born with less energy which requires them to drink small amounts of blood. Cat ends up meeting Morgan, who she has been dreaming about and finds out he’s also a vampire.

Okay, so great idea right? Yeah…

I was not happy with this book, for a young adult novel it just didn’t sit well with me. A few times I actually felt disturbed by some of the things that happened and thought to myself, I wouldn’t want my nieces reading this at all. I do believe this book should come with a warning and maybe should be targeted at much older young adults.

And that my friends, is when it all went downhill….

There is a scene where Cat and her boyfriend Morgan, cut their names into each other’s flesh with a razor blade and drink from the wounds, when another character (Amber) finds out, she thinks it’s “cool”. Cutting is a BIG problem with YA’s right now, so I don’t make light of things like that. There are constant mentions to smoking cigarettes and drinking, though these characters are 18 they act like 15 year olds.

There’s a scene where Cat drinks a lot of Morgan’s blood and he faints, both characters again make light of the situation. Cat and Morgan also have unprotected sex, there is little mention other than Cat is happy when she gets her period and isn’t pregnant. There are plenty sex scenes, which again I do not feel is appropriate for a YA novel.

I am so not a prude, honestly! But whoa, this was just a bit too much for me. I still am horrified and I read this in February! *shudders*

At one point, “high” on blood they attack a human blood donor. When their Teacher River finds out, there are little consequences to Cat and Morgan for their actions. Once again, they attack another person and escape for a few days. And again, little consequences for their actions even if they are getting completely out of control. For a “school” that’s supposed to be teaching them, they seem to do more hanging out and partying then anything else.

When Cat is told by her parents she is a vampire, she accepts it right away, no outburst or questions asked. That to me seemed an odd reaction for a teenager to have, especially when they drop her off at this castle and she basically has no other contact with them.

So I gave it 1.5 out of 5 stars. Thinking about it now, I can’t believe I kept reading. Like I said my first low star review AND the first time an author commented on a negative review. I have to tell you my first reaction to the author commenting on my blog was stomach rendering acid reflux tinged with guilt. Why do we always feel so guilty when we write a review that’s not positive?

After reading the authors comment, I was not a happy camper. She came and tried to justify the things I did not like in the book. I’m sorry; I didn’t like your book. It was the first time I took notes whilst reviewing a book, I had three pages!! I can’t love everything, I wish I could.

Since then I have learned a lot about reviewing, we can’t love every book & we shouldn’t feel guilty about it! So what?! We reviewers read A LOT; it’s not feasible that we love every single book that we read. I also know, it’s not wise to debate an author about a book you didn’t enjoy. I just refuse to respond to any author who is angry because I didn’t like their book.

But please don’t tell me your fantasy novel is educating kids. It did educate me; it was a book I wouldn’t want my future children going anywhere near.

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Thanks so much Natasha!  And check back tomorrow for the giveaway winners announcement.

Giveaway

5 winners will get to pick 1 of the books from the list below that I’m truly thankful for this year:

5/5 bat reviews: Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews Soulless by Gail Carriger Double Cross by Carolyn Crane The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting Nightshade by Andrea Cremer Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel The Greyfriar by Clay & Susan Griffith City of Ghosts by Stacia Kane Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning Hunted By The Others by Jess Haines

You can comment once a day on each Turkey Tales post (any post with the Turkey Tales graphic) for up to six entries.  On Nov 26th, I’ll add up the entries and choose five winners to pick one of the 5 bat! Reviewed titles above to win. 

Giveaway Guidelines

1. Open Internationally (wherever The Book Depository ships)
2. Leave a comment that includes:
   1. Tell Natasha what you think about her Turkey Tale choice
   2. A way to contact you if you win
3. Winners will be announced on Nov 26th