White Cat by Holly Black
(Curse Workers, #1)
Genre: YA, paranormal
Format: audiobook
Read: 6/1/2012 — 6/5/2012
Links
Holly Black — Website | Twitter
Amazon — Paperback | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Why I Started Reading This Series and Final Verdict
This series had been recommended to me by a number of people. When I got my hands on the audiobook version (for both books 1 and 2 even though I wasn’t overly fond of the narrator), I finally took a chance on it. While I enjoyed the world (it seriously kicks ass), I don’t know if I liked it as much as I could have. I still have not picked up the third book (you’ll notice I listened to both of these books in the summer), but I would definitely like to at some point. I have a feeling I’d like this series better without my apathy toward the narrator affecting my overall enjoyment.
Synopsis
Cassel comes from a family of Curse Workers – people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they’re all criminals. Many become mobsters and con artists. But not Cassel. He hasn’t got magic, so he’s an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail – he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Cassel has carefully built up a facade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his facade starts to crumble when he finds himself sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He’s noticing other disturbing things too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of a huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.
-from Goodreads
My Thoughts on White Cat
I love how seamlessly Holly Black has woven organized crime and magic together. The world in Curse Workers is so real and well-thought out that it is easy to imagine how something like this would play out in real life.
The story itself was a bit twisty turny and it was fabulous. Cassel was an intriguing mixture of both good and bad, and so very fascinating when he is on the con. When he starts to unravel the mystery, just… wow. As Alissa said, it’s intense.
This was a solid start to the series. I will definitely pick up Red Glove, though I will likely not seek out the audiobook.
Audiobook specific: Meh. Not my favorite narrator, and often hard to distinguish between characters.
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Red Glove by Holly Black
(Curse Workers, #2)
Genre: YA, paranormal
Format: audiobook
Read: 7/5/2012 — 7/10/2012
Links
Holly Black – Website | Twitter
Amazon — Paperback | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Synopsis
In Cassel Sharpe’s world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth — he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything — or anyone — into something else.
That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she’s human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila’s been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion-worker mom. And if Lila’s love is as phony as Cassel’s made-up memories, then he can’t believe anything she says or does.
When Cassel’s oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue — crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too — they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can’t trust anyone — least of all, himself?
Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.
-from Goodreads
My Thoughts on Red Glove
Definitely liked the second installment more than the previous. Cassel’s life is starting to get messy. And the messier it gets, the more fascinating it gets. I like that Cassel is both good and not good, and that he is brilliant at the con — for the most part. I like that Cassel actually has friends now, as I think this shows how his character is changing.
As with the previous book, I do love how seamlessly curse work has been woven into mob culture. I think this is one aspect about this series that I really, truly enjoy. Will definitely pick up the next in the series, but not the audiobook this time.
Sarah (saz101) October 8, 2012 at 12:41 am
Oooooh, my Mum’s actually read White Cat, and she lent me her copy AGES ago, but I’ve not had the chance to read it yet, and I’ve been a little ambivelant. The only things I’ve read by Holly are her faery books, Tithe, and the other one that I can’t even remember the name of -___-
ANYWAY, I wasn’t a huge fan. I thought they were OK, but I wanted a little more. BUT. Uh, I don’t even know what I’m talking about?
I’m kind of REALLY looking forward to readng these. Sound AWESOME :D
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 8:53 am
The world is really very unique and fascinating. As I think I said more than once in my reviews, I believe I would have liked this book a lot more if I had read it rather than listened to it. Because yeah… VERY awesome world. VERY AWESOME!
Sarah (saz101) October 8, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Eeeeee! Amanda! You Peen Queen’d! Just for me! *HUGGLES*
I feel so loved! ♥
VERY awesome? I shall read. Totally. Eventually. Damn that the narrator got in the way. I start listening to a sample of Monstrous Beauty on audiobook, and it was SO weird listening to her talk. THe only books I’ve ever listened to are Harry Potter written by Stephen Fry, and, I mean, Stephen Fry is… well… Stephen Fucking Fry O__O
Oh, and another by Bruce Campbell, but it does like a radioplay, and it was SO fun and not really audiobookish at all. ANYWAY.
*waves* HIIIII!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 9:48 pm
I DID! JUST FOR YOU!!!
The world is very cool. I liked it. I would have liked it more without the narrator. And yes, narrators can make or break an audiobook. Thus far my favorite narrators are Luke Daniels and Libba Bray. OMG LIBBA BRAY IS AMAZING!
*waves back*
Sarah (saz101) October 8, 2012 at 9:56 pm
OMG. A BIG ONE? AHAHAHAHA!
Wait. Libba Bray does her own audiobooks? :O :O :O
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 9:59 pm
*finger guns*
I don’t know if she does all her books, but she did narrate Beauty Queens and it was AWESOME. I honestly forgot that there was ONE narrator the voices were that good.
Sarah (saz101) October 8, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Oh, now THAT has me curious. If she’s that good a reader, too? Ooooooh… I know Neil Gaiman’s read some of his own (and he’s AMAZING), but… … … I WANNIT O__O
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 10:06 pm
If I remember correctly, she said that she was very into theater in college… it shows–in a very good way.
Sarah (saz101) October 8, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Mmmm, I KNOW i”ve heard you talking about the audiobook before, too. Seriously, I’m VERY wanting to give it a go. I’ll keep an eye out for it :)
Ugh. My cat is sitting next to me giving himself the longest, most lovingly creepy tongue-bath I’ve ever seen and his BREATH SMELLS O__O
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 10:14 pm
O.O Creepy cat.
Though, the boyfriend’s dog will lick herself to the point where she gets the blanket or whatever she’s lying on all wet. O.O
Felicia October 8, 2012 at 8:52 am
A narrator can kill a story :(
Otherwise it does sound like a pretty kick ass world. I will have to add this to my maybe later list!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 8:57 am
Yeah… the narrator wasn’t all that good, and I often had trouble figuring out when the character was thinking/narrating and when he was talking. It was rather annoying. =/ At least the story was good enough to not turn me off completely.
Jenny October 8, 2012 at 10:06 am
I still need to read this series Amanda, I’ve had a ton of bloggers tell me I need to make time for it! Cassel and the world sound amazing, and I’ll be interested to see if you like the third book better when you’re not listening to it. I think having a narrator I don’t care for would keep me from really getting invested in the story.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 10:25 am
I would definitely recommend the books. And yes, narrators can really make or break an audiobook. Unfortunately, Jesse Eisenberg didn’t really do it for me. =/
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 8, 2012 at 10:09 am
Cassel and Lila KILLED me at the end of Red Glove. I’m almost afraid to see what happens to tie up the series because OMG! SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR ALL THE BAD THINGS!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 10:26 am
I KNOW!!!!!! ALL THE BAD THINGS!
Mary @ BookSwarm October 8, 2012 at 11:49 am
I adored the mob aspect and how they use their illegal powers. Sooo bad, those bad guys!! The gloves that everyone had to wear give a creepy vibe to the overall tone of the story.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 12:00 pm
How Holly Black built this world is probably my favorite aspect about these books. :)
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) October 8, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I’ve heard really good things about this series! A bad narrator can really make or break an audiobook, though. :(
I will have to try these out eventually!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Do it! (I just wouldn’t recommend the audiobook.)
Rummanah October 8, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Loved this series! Talk about twisted families, huh? I also loved how the author weaves in magic with an urban setting. It makes it so plausible. I hope you get to read book 3 soon. It was as good as the others. It wraps up some threads but leaves the door open for a spin off series which I really hope happens. I loved these characters and didn’t want to say goodbye just yet!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 3:05 pm
I’m glad to hear that the third book is equally good! I’ll have to work on getting my hands on it soon! :)
Alissa October 8, 2012 at 6:35 pm
I liked Cassel a LOT more than Lila, that’s for sure.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 8, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Jesse Eisenberg narrates this series. As Cassel, meh. I didn’t love Lila, but I didn’t hate her, either. Huh.
Renae @ Respiring Thoughts October 9, 2012 at 11:19 am
I definitely agree with you here. White Cat didn’t wow me much, but I was really impressed by the overall improvement I saw in Red Glove.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 9, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Yes. The Cassel from White Cat and the Cassel from Red Glove were different, and that kind of character growth (in addition to the great world building) is really cool to see. I hope the third book is even better!
Renae @ Respiring Thoughts October 9, 2012 at 1:41 pm
I personally thought that Red Glove was the best in the series, but the Cassel in Black Heart is really awesome—it was the plot that I didn’t like as much in Black Heart that got me.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 9, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Good to know! Thanks! :)
Laura Ashlee October 9, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Aw! You didn’t like Jesse Eisenberg? He was the whole reason I picked up the audiobook. I liked him, but to each their own.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 9, 2012 at 9:59 pm
No. :( I think part of my problem is that I started off listening to audiobooks narrated by Luke Daniels, and no one has ever really measured up to him. Except Libba Bray.
Amy @bookgoonie October 14, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Flipping YEA! I have White Cat on my shelf wanting read.
I hate it when the audiobook robs my possible LOVE for a book. I had that problem with Anna Dressed in Blood.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 15, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Yeah. I wasn’t a fan of the narrator of Anna Dressed in Blood, either. BUT when I listened to it, I had already read the story, so it probably wasn’t as bad as it could have been.