A recommendation from my partner, this novella focuses on a 29 year old woman who, stressed with spiralling credit card debt, is about to jump off a bA recommendation from my partner, this novella focuses on a 29 year old woman who, stressed with spiralling credit card debt, is about to jump off a bridge. Her plans are intercepted by Ah Roa, a woman in white who arrives and tells her she is a magical girl who can save the world. So our protagonist is whisked away into the world of magical girls in modern day Korea.
The setting puts the idea of magical girls into an unexpectedly mundane reality; being a magical girl is a job, with all the pros and cons of any other corporate career path. It's an interesting premise. The characters are interesting but we don't get a lot of time with them to get a deep connection, though I don't think that's what the story is going for. It's short and sweet, a little dive into this idea.
The story is fairly short, so the plot gallops along at a pace and ends soon enough that it doesn't outstay it's welcome. A neat little story....more
I bought this after seeing an Instagram reel of someone pointing out that the cover has a cat with wings on the front. Call me easily influenced, I guI bought this after seeing an Instagram reel of someone pointing out that the cover has a cat with wings on the front. Call me easily influenced, I guess. But I quite like the cozy genre of books that's emerging recently so this cozy fantasy romance seemed worth a shot.
The story begins with reclusive librarian Kiela packing up and fleeing the city; the library is being attacked by revolutionaries who have overthrown the Emperor and are burning down parts of the city. She and Caz (her sentient spider plant assistant) take a boat full of some of the most precious spellbooks in the collection and escape to the only place she can think of - the island of her childhood and family home. There she must try rebuilding her life, keeping hidden the rescued/stolen spellbooks, and deal with the friendliness of the local muscular fisherman who keeps coming round to be helpful.
It's cute. The setting is... well... cozy. Kiela isn't initially a very likable character, as she can be brash and rude, but I generally found her quite appealing in her introverted bookish nature, and she gets a decent amount of growth as the story progresses.
I really enjoyed this. Recommended! There's even cats with wings!...more
Legends & Lattes was a story about seasoned orc adventurer Viv giving up the mercenary life to settle down and open a coffee shop. Bookshops and BonedLegends & Lattes was a story about seasoned orc adventurer Viv giving up the mercenary life to settle down and open a coffee shop. Bookshops and Bonedust is a prequel showing Viv in the early stages of her career, when she makes a rookie mistake in combat and takes a severe leg injury. Her company drop her off (against her will) in the quiet, coastal town of Murk to recover.
I really enjoyed the first book, and this is essentially more of the same. It's cozy, and we're treated to a more youthful and brash version of our protagonist that lets us see glimmers of the character we know she becomes. It's cool to see this side to her, and almost makes me want to go read Legends and Lattes again to see if there's any callbacks to this.
Really great if you enjoyed the first book. It adds more to the universe and fleshes out Viv's story a bit more. I really hope this series continues, I love this world and would absolutely read more....more
I originally came across this book on a Goodreads recommendation list, and then told my partner that this book seemed up their alley. I came across itI originally came across this book on a Goodreads recommendation list, and then told my partner that this book seemed up their alley. I came across it again and repeated the recommendation. They nodded in a "that's nice dear" manner. Then six months later, they were in a bookshop and heard someone else emphatically recommend this, and bought it immediately. My partner then went on to read this in a single day. Is this anecdote relevent to the review? Not really, but I needed this here in posterity to say - Beeb, I was right.
Legends and Lattes is a fantasy novel about an orc named Viv, who has just completed her last job as an adventurer and plans to hang up her sword in favour of opening a coffee shop. It's a quaint premise that follows through with a cozy story that seems quite simple on paper but is beautifully and engagingly told. The world feels rich and the characters have depth, there's some humour sprinkled in too, as well as some tugging of heartstrings.
I can see other reviews of this either appreciating the relaxed pace and gentle story, or else just complaining that nothing happens and it's boring. I fall into the former camp, this is an absolute delight. Totally recommend.
And once again, a reminder, Beeb, I was right....more
Mort and Reaper Man (the first two Discworld books in the Death portion of the series) were books I enjoyed, and intended to continue. Visiting some fMort and Reaper Man (the first two Discworld books in the Death portion of the series) were books I enjoyed, and intended to continue. Visiting some family over Christmas with too few books, I asked my owns-all-the-Discworlds-in-beautiful-hardback-editions brother in law if I could borrow Soul Music and Hogfather, books 3 and 4 in Death respectively. I doubted I could finish 2 in the week I was there. It's Christmas, so Hogfather is the better choice? "But what if I skip the continuity from Soul Music?" "Pfft, you dont have to read them in order", he says. Sure. We'll skip 3 and go straight to 4. Which was fine til I have to Google who Susan is. Sigh.
In 'Hogfather', the titular Hogfather (Discworld's equivalent of Santa, who delivers presents once a year at Hogswatchnight) has... ceased to be. So Death has taken up his mantle for the night of Hogswatch to carry out his duties and make sure the children still believe in the Hogfather, as the power of belief could keep him existing. Meanwhile the unhinged assassin, Mister Teatime (te-ah-tim-eh), has been sent to kill the Hogfather. And Death's granddaughter Susan ends up on a quest to discover what the hell is going on.
It's a good book. Obvious parallels to Christmas make it a good festive reading choice, but I don't think it's so bogged down by it that it couldn't be comfortably read throughout the year (which is always the risk with Christmassy things). It's a fantasy book about the nature of belief in all manners, though I think I would've benefitted from reading Soul Music first....more
Book 9 in the Horrorland series sees 12 year old Boone and his sister Heather heading for a summer at Camp Hither. They're super excited, but on the bBook 9 in the Horrorland series sees 12 year old Boone and his sister Heather heading for a summer at Camp Hither. They're super excited, but on the bus to the camp they encounter a nervous fellow camper named Roddy, who is terrified of the camp and says it's known as 'Camp Slither' because of all the snakes. Pfft, that's just a baseless rumour! [insert foreshadowing here.]
The story is a bit silly, but the action scenes are good, and I know I would've loved this if I'd read it at the intended target age. Boone is a good character.
The 'Enter Horrorland' section launches newbie Boone into the already-established hijinks of the previous volumes. The story progresses a beat or two, and then is left to be resumed in the next volume. To be continued....more
I absolutely adored the first book in this series, 'A Psalm for the Wild-Built' and was so excited to find out there was a second one.
This one picks uI absolutely adored the first book in this series, 'A Psalm for the Wild-Built' and was so excited to find out there was a second one.
This one picks up where the last leaves off; Sibling Dex and robot Mosscap are on their way back from the wilds and preparing to introduce Mosscap to society, so that he can find an answer to the question "what do you need?".
It was wonderful to continue spending time with these characters. Sibling Dex proves to be a quietly troubled person with depth, while Mosscap's child-like enthusiasm often falls away to deep philosophical queries. The interactions with new people are entertaining and interesting, though I feel the story lacks a bit of direction that the first one had. The first had a definite tension that gradually built, which made the ending so euphoric and beautiful. This in comparison tends to amble. Its still an enjoyable amble, but lacks the tightness of the first book.
Still hugely recommend. This series is an absolute delight....more
Book 7 in the Goosebumps Horrorland series sees Michael 'Monster' Munroe playing pranks on his weird, superstitious teacher, Mrs Hardesty. After gettiBook 7 in the Goosebumps Horrorland series sees Michael 'Monster' Munroe playing pranks on his weird, superstitious teacher, Mrs Hardesty. After getting in trouble for a previous prank, he plans retaliation by getting a black cat to leave in her house to scare her. Only, she comes home early, and he ends up witnessing some truly monstrous activity...
So Michael is awful. He has no provocation to prank his teacher except that he thinks she's weird, which just makes him a bully. This is one of the few things that makes me feel too adult to read these; I just cannot understand a mindset where you dislike a teacher so much you'd go to the lengths he does to mess with her. And as the owner of 3 black cats, I didn't appreciate him dragging a poor kitty into his nonsense!
He's just unlikeable and I really struggled to get past that.
In the Enter Horrorland section, he stays the same difficult and argumentative character, only this time it's against some of the protagonists we've come to like from the previous books, which just makes him seem worse. Not a fan....more
Book 6 of the Horrorland series. Abby and Peter live with their grandmother, Grannie Vee, though when Grannie Vee needs to go to hospital, they are seBook 6 of the Horrorland series. Abby and Peter live with their grandmother, Grannie Vee, though when Grannie Vee needs to go to hospital, they are sent to live with their Uncle Jonathan for two weeks in his small village in Vermont. Their Uncle lives in a creepy house on the hill, full of ancient Egyptian artifacts, feared by the locals, and sometimes they can hear strange groaning noises...
This is a good one. Succinct and tight story with a neat arc. Good characters too.
The Enter Horrorland section is starting to tie the previous stories together a bit more, so it's interesting to see that progress....more
My partner and I have a bizarre habit of befriending bookshop workers, and a few weeks ago we met this nice soul who shared our queerness (Same hat? SMy partner and I have a bizarre habit of befriending bookshop workers, and a few weeks ago we met this nice soul who shared our queerness (Same hat? Same hat!) and made some queer-coded recommendations. She told me about this book, and while sci fi isn't my go-to, I somehow trusted their opinion and here we are.
This is set in a future where robots gained sentience and laid down their tools, choosing to reject their intended purpose of servitude and abandon human society. Humans have since learned to live without the metal and oil mechanisation of the past and moved forward with new renewable and considered technologies. In the current time, the robots are almost a fable and no one has seen one in centuries. So when monk Sibling Dex meets one, well, thats the story.
Its very warm and thoughtful. The future it paints is hopeful, but its the underlying theme of what to do when you feel lost, thats what hits hard. Well, actually hits very gently, like a warm blanket being wrapped around your shoulders. Snuggles, if anything. This book is a cuddle in written form. Its so tender and beautiful, I absolutely cannot recommend it highly enough....more
Book 5 in the Goosebumps Horrorland series, and I have to say this has been my least favourite so far.
Robby Schwartz writes comic books, and particulaBook 5 in the Goosebumps Horrorland series, and I have to say this has been my least favourite so far.
Robby Schwartz writes comic books, and particularly likes writing villains. Dr Maniac is one of his creations, and suddenly, there are signs that he could be real...
Okay, spoilers below: The entire story is a comic. You go through the weirdness of Dr Maniac and The Purple Rage becoming real, and kids going missing, without it being clear what's really happening or why. Then it comes to a head, big climax, and bam, none of it is real. The whole book was a comic written by Robbie, and none of it actually happened. For a story I wasn't really into, to find out none of it was real (it was all a dream!) just felt needlessly pointless and hollow.
The Enter Horrorland section continues that narrative, but that's about the only thing of value to this one. ...more
Horrorland book 4 tells the story of Carly-Beth, a young girl who owns an ugly green Halloween mask; she previously wore the mask, and it stuck to herHorrorland book 4 tells the story of Carly-Beth, a young girl who owns an ugly green Halloween mask; she previously wore the mask, and it stuck to her face and made her evil. After defeating the mask in events before this book, she stored it away in a box in the basement. It's nearly Halloween again, and while working at the daycare at Tumbledown Farms, she is told the story of the farm's haunted stables, where a stableboy wearing a scary mask frightened the horses to death. Scary mask? Where have we heard that before?
This is probably the creepiest book in the series so far. There's something deeply unsettling about the descriptions of masks being stuck to faces, even when you know this is a children's book.
The Enter Horrorland section continues that weaving narrative, though again, this section is now suffering from middle-child syndrome, where there is some plot, but no real beginning or end, making reviewing it quite difficult.
Good series continuing. The audiobook quality continues to be excellent....more
The third book in the Goosebumps Horrorland series, this follows the same format as the previous; 3/4 a new story, final 1/4 being a continuation of tThe third book in the Goosebumps Horrorland series, this follows the same format as the previous; 3/4 a new story, final 1/4 being a continuation of the 'Enter Horrorland' story.
Talented swimmer and science-nerd Matt is preparing for a swim meet later in the week, and his annoying neighbour Bradley is being more of a nuisance than usual. Stealing his clothes, copying his homework, and using his laptop to order some unknown... dangerous... specimens...
I didnt enjoy this one as much as the other two I've read. Bradley is just so annoying, its a really frustrating listen.
The Enter Horrorland section is good, though suffers from being a middle section of a longer arc, with no clear beginning and no clear ending.
Still enjoying this series as a whole, just not my favourite....more
Second in the Goosebumps 'Horrorland' spin-off series, Creep from the Deep follows tue same format as the previous; 3/4 of the book is a new story, foSecond in the Goosebumps 'Horrorland' spin-off series, Creep from the Deep follows tue same format as the previous; 3/4 of the book is a new story, followed by 1/4 of the book in Horrorland.
The main story is about Billy and his sister Sheena, who are on a trip with their marine biologist uncle Doctor D., on a search for a lost pirate ship. It's a quick-paced story, full of thrills, danger, and zombie pirates. I enjoyed this a lot!
The Horrorland section has Billy and Sheena win a free week at the park, where they quickly meet Britney and Molly from the first book, who are right where we left them at the end of their story. Its good to see this story have some clear continuity, and encourages me that these segments will all flow together nicely as the series progresses....more
I enjoyed the original Horrorland-set Goosebumps book, "A Day in Horrorland", and only later realised there was a whole spin-off Goosebumps series setI enjoyed the original Horrorland-set Goosebumps book, "A Day in Horrorland", and only later realised there was a whole spin-off Goosebumps series set in Horrorland. This is the first in that series.
Britney Crosby's life has just been interrupted by the arrival of her trouble-making cousin Ethan, who has come to live with her family. He's brought a ventriloquist dummy he calls Mr Badboy with him, who appears to have a mind of it's own...
This arc takes up about 3/4 of the book, and is a neat little story. The dummy is a recurring Goosebumps character, so while I personally am not familiar with it, it'll be recognisable to fans of the series.
The last quarter of the book is a seemingly separate story of Britney's family getting free week-long passes to Horrorland itself. They arrive, being scared along the way and lulled into a false sense of security that none of the scares are real. This story then ends on a spooky cliffhanger, quite abruptly before it really gets started, leaving the book overall feeling unfinished. I did a quick google, and it seems the first 10 books of the Horrorland series follow this pattern; a main story, then ending on a trip to Horrorland introduction piece. The 11th book apparently weaves all these Horrorland sections together and the full story is told then, which is cool and all, but a lot to get through before any pay-off for that narrative.
A good story, short and sweet. The audiobook version is very good, with atmospheric music and sound effects. Though the American narrator fails at the brief moments she needs to do a British accent, which comes out Australian. Otherwise a good listen! ...more
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