Another cute, ridiculous, delightfully nonsensical addition to this series.
First off, that cover! This series is killing the cover game.
I liked the Another cute, ridiculous, delightfully nonsensical addition to this series.
First off, that cover! This series is killing the cover game.
I liked the fact that Nine underwent character growth this book. Her constant acerbic comments in the first book started to drag. While they continued into book two, she did soften a bit, especially towards the end.
My biggest frustration is, short of buying a copy off Amazon, I can't get my hands on the next book in the series. I've checked my library, the library district, Audible, and a number of other options. Grr. Give me a shout-out if you know of another way!
All in all, this is a cute and spunky read for kiddos and adults.
What an utterly beautiful book. I've never read a book that strings together sentence after sentence, clause after clause of perfect similes and metapWhat an utterly beautiful book. I've never read a book that strings together sentence after sentence, clause after clause of perfect similes and metaphors. The prose is a necklace of perfect jewels strung one after the other.
For such a short read, I was surprised how long it took to read, but this one is best read slowly so there's time to absorb.
Howl's Moving Castle meets Mrs. Piggle Wiggle meets... David Copperfield? All I know is I'm here for this wacky mash-up and fully plan to continue theHowl's Moving Castle meets Mrs. Piggle Wiggle meets... David Copperfield? All I know is I'm here for this wacky mash-up and fully plan to continue the series.
I saw this cover. I judged the book by it. And I have no regrets.
In a quite sensible frame of mind, I found myself scrolling through the free Audible originals and, through a series of rabbit holes, arrived at ScarlIn a quite sensible frame of mind, I found myself scrolling through the free Audible originals and, through a series of rabbit holes, arrived at Scarlett Johansson's narration of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Time for some nonsense.
The narration was odd in that I didn't care for her normal voice, but when she voice acted for different characters, she did a phenomenal job.
Otherwise, nothing to report other than classic Alice.
Cozy and feel good with a healthy dose of necromancy.
I enjoyed Legends and Lattes, which is the sequel to this book. Viv is injured in battle and endCozy and feel good with a healthy dose of necromancy.
I enjoyed Legends and Lattes, which is the sequel to this book. Viv is injured in battle and ends up in a sleepy little sea coast town, biding her time until her injury heals and she can rejoin her troop. Rather than lattes and bakeries, Viv finds herself reviving a down-on-its-luck bookstore, along with a ratkin who curses like a sailor and shares the shop with the most adorable griffit (think owl puppy) named Pot Roast.
This book includes all things I enjoyed in its predecessor. I expected just one other thing...how Viv discovered coffee in the first place. Does this mean we get another book between the prequel and original/sequel? A presequiginal, if you will?
I'd rate this an R, straight up for all the F bombs from Fern, the ratkin. Otherwise this would be looking at a possible PG.
Legends and Lattes is best classified as a Comfort Food Read and enjoyed with a large mug of hot chocolate. Or a latte.
Travis Baldree combined a feelLegends and Lattes is best classified as a Comfort Food Read and enjoyed with a large mug of hot chocolate. Or a latte.
Travis Baldree combined a feel good story, that likely would have been a weak read at best in a real world setting, with a Dungeons and Dragonsesque world. And it works.
Viv is ready to set aside her mercenary days and open a coffee shop in a bustling city. Only catch is, she's never run a business. Oh, and no one knows what coffee is here.
Great book to read, or listen to, in the nippy fall months or around Christmas. NOT a fan of the romance. That was flat-flat-flat and forced. But it was an exceedingly small part of the story, so I'll live.
I'd rate this a PG-13 for some swearing and adult themes....more
As the Inkworld story progresses, it definitely matures. This story ended with a bitter-sweet flavor and a fairly significant hook to draw the reader As the Inkworld story progresses, it definitely matures. This story ended with a bitter-sweet flavor and a fairly significant hook to draw the reader into book three.
I enjoyed Inkspell as it actually takes place in the book world. That said, I felt that it could have been about 150+ pages shorter. While I love Cornelia Funke's writing, I realized she fell prey to the same mistake in book one which carried into book two. She bounces back and forth between a couple locations over and over. Her characters spend a lot of time captured and released. Captured and escaped. Captured. Not captured. Between the same couple places. It's starts to drag a bit, and I really struggled to plow through the repetitious sections at times.
BUT I love the characters. I love how Meggie is growing and the sweet relationship between her and Farid. And the storyline IS good, albeit a bit buried at times.
I'd rate this a PG-13 for adventure/peril and violence as well as mature themes....more
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a garbage book filled with garbage on the shore of a garbage sea. This is what thBook #1 of 2023's Halloween season.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a garbage book filled with garbage on the shore of a garbage sea. This is what that book should have read like.
Okay, okay. I'm sorry for offending anyone. I hated that book, but found what I expected from that landfill through this book.
Might be for you: If you like hedge-witchy, bubbling cauldron, herbs and potions, delightful spell-casting stories. Found family. Grumpy curmudgeon meets ray of sunshine character. Romance. Hocus Pocus or I Dream of Jeannie. Precocious children. Comedic sibling squabbles. Pure magic.
I'd rate this book an R for a copious number of F bombs (I was actually surprised at the number since this might have had a much bigger audience appeal without about 95% of them), mental health themes (nothing too heavy), some mild adult humor, and one chaste sexual scene.
I SO badly wanted to enjoy this. I so much didn't.
Baba Yaga is one of my favorite literary mythological characters of all time, and her house is equaI SO badly wanted to enjoy this. I so much didn't.
Baba Yaga is one of my favorite literary mythological characters of all time, and her house is equally famous. This should have ticked so many boxes.
My favorite parts of the story are when the house is narrating. Beyond that, the characters are lifeless and dull. I truly couldn't find empathy for them or care about their outcomes. The magic system feels sterile and clinical. The plot plods.
This one bummed me out.
I'd rate this an R for cursing, dark overtones, violence, and other adult themes.
Look at this glorious cover, will you. Lookatit! I love all things Baba Yaga and adore her hut on chicken lBook #2 of the Halloween/fall read season.
Look at this glorious cover, will you. Lookatit! I love all things Baba Yaga and adore her hut on chicken legs.
While I didn't care for the storyline or the main character in particular (she felt whiny even for a child), I did enjoy the whimsy that came from the sentient chicken house. Actually....come to think of it, the house was my favorite character.
Sophie Anderson's interpretation of Baba Yaga is original and creative, but falls short of the image I've cast in my head. I'll take a creepy, evil Yaga that eats children and men. I'll take a hedgewitchy, forest guardian Yaga whose life force is intertwined with the forest. I'll even take a coming-of-age-young-woman- becoming-Yaga. But a Yaga that reminded me of the cricket grandma on Mulan kind of fizzled for me. Not to mention multiple Yagas? Naw, bro. I ain't here for that.
100% this is a personal preference! Slap a chicken leg on a log cabin, and I will read that sucker. I didn't say I expect them all to be to my personal liking.
Anyone else have any Baba Yaga related book reads? I'm looking for suggestions!
Tolkien's short books are bonkers. Like... there's a guy...and he lives in a tall house and wears tall hats. And he has a girabbit. Which is essentialTolkien's short books are bonkers. Like... there's a guy...and he lives in a tall house and wears tall hats. And he has a girabbit. Which is essentially a rabbit with a neck the length of a giraffe. Mr. Bliss finds out at the end of the book he's supposed to have a permit for the girabbit, by the way, and owes a pretty penny. One day Mr. Bliss wakes up and decides he wants to buy a yellow motorcar that also is yellow on the inside with red tires on the outside. Naturally. So he sets out to buy a yellow car and meets a lady with bananas and a guy with cabbages and three talking bears. Pandemonium ensues.
I hate comparing everything to Alice in Wonderland, but Carroll had the corner market on absurd whimsy. This vibed in the same way, but gentler for young children. My understanding is this is a picture book written and illustrated, by Tolkien, for his boys using their toy car and teddy bears as the inspiration.
One day in heaven, I'll run into John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and I will stutter and stammer and blush and cry like a fangirl. And I will tell him that he was my most impactful author, along with C.S. Lewis, and I will scuff my toe along the ground and mumble thank you and continue on my way apologizing for daring to be in his presence.
I am absolutely confident that's probably what will happen.
Patti Callahan has acquired a mastery of retelling bits and pieces of C.S. Lewis's life. This book is no exception. I certainly enjoyed Becoming Mrs. Patti Callahan has acquired a mastery of retelling bits and pieces of C.S. Lewis's life. This book is no exception. I certainly enjoyed Becoming Mrs. Lewis more, but still highly recommend this book for any Lewis/Narnia fans.
Completely whimsical and entertaining. J.K. Rowling at it again teaching the children (and big children) of the world morals through inventive storiesCompletely whimsical and entertaining. J.K. Rowling at it again teaching the children (and big children) of the world morals through inventive stories.
I waffled between a 3 and 4 star, but decided on a 4. I enjoyed it, and this poor woman has received so much hate from bullies trying to cancel her and convince others she doesn't have the right to her own beliefs.
I'd rate this a PG for some mildly violent scenes (like a slaughtered chicken) and consumption of alcohol....more
Short book by J.K. Rowling that manages to capture the essence of classic fairy tales with new stories. This took a short time to read, yet managed toShort book by J.K. Rowling that manages to capture the essence of classic fairy tales with new stories. This took a short time to read, yet managed to be entertaining, new but nostalgic, and witty all at once. I recommend to all HP AND non-HP fans.
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