My Rating: 4 Stars A great storyline and imagination with a memorable set of characters. A refreshing novel that I couldn’t put down! Fate Floyd truly believes that the world of books is way better and far more adventurous than hers. Driven by her passion for the fantasy genre, Fate is tricked and sent into a world where not all fairy tales have a happy-ending. Trapped in the Book of Fables, she most find a way to return home in one peace. How to do that? Turn the unfortunate endings to happily-ever-after. How hard can it be? Changing one’s fate is never easy but if you include sorceresses, not very nice fairies and a mysterious male companion, things tend to get a bit more complicated. Having read Chris Colfer’s Land of Stories I was a bit worried that the story would turn out to be in the same line. I was pleasantly surprised and I loved every minute of this incredible story. I loved the reality where this takes place, or, more correctly, realities. Travelling through fairytales is probably what little children want to do, and this story-line just proves that not all fairytales are for children, they also exist to send messages to adults. This world proved to be full of colour even in its most dramatic parts. It’s action-packed and in some occasions fast paced but not always. The story builds up slowly, it’s not rushed. The writing style really helped me get through the big descriptions and more steal moments, it’s absolutely amazing! Fate is a great main character; she’s a badass writer with a huge imagination and energy that are contagious. She is the link between the secondary characters and they all come together very nicely. The good thing is, not only I was able to follow the characters throughout the story, but I also enjoyed reading how they had to work and go around solving problems and rescuing friends in danger, even if in middle it got predictable. Finn, the male lead, didn’t do much for me. I would have appreciated a bit more background story and to see a build-up in his relationship with Fate. For me it happened too fast: she knows him, trusts him even though he burns books (oh the horror!). This is a novel I recommend for all ages and specially for those that like to read something a little bit more on the steady-paced side. I want to thank Original Mix Media Inc and Netgalley for allow me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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My Rating: 5 Stars It took me a while to read it and to write since I was sick and decided to read it in full again after recovering! A brilliant novel, there is no other way to say it. Dark Skull Hall has a bit of everything: emotion, adventure, thrilling moments and heart-stopping confrontations. Decades before a massive war broke out between mages leaving a trail of bodies and destruction in its awake. The book tells us the story of Alyx Egalion, the daughter of a noble that knows nothing of war or mages that has her world turned upside-down. When Alyx learns that she is in fact a mage, she must leave everything behind in order to travel to the distant land of Tregaya where she is to learn her magic at Dark Skull Hall. Alyx soon learns that surviving the trip is a mere child play compared to the life that awaits her inside those medieval hallways. Nothing and no one is what they seem, secrets are waiting to be revealed and keeping the peace is not as easy as one would think. I really enjoyed this universe. I would definitely love to jump into the world of Alyx and Dark Skull Hall (despite the life risks). The setting is great, very creative and fresh. I’m a huge fan of the medieval period and to have a fantasy novel with a touch of that is amazing. The style of writing was what made the story so easy to follow for me. I tend to get lost in the characters and mix them all up but here everything was connected so nicely that it is impossible not to relate to one of the students of Dark Hall. Alyx is a great main character; I could see her evolution from the spoiled girl to someone that stands up to what she believes and her friends. I admire her ability to talk to people and integrate herself in a new world but also not being afraid to speaking her mind and keeping a cold-head in dangerous moments. I really liked the twins Dawn and Finn and Tarrick. As characters they bring light and optimism to the life and the adventures of Alyx but also the protection and the memories from home. Definitely looking forward to the next volume and read more about this amazing universe! I want to thank Lisa Cassidy for sending me a paper version of her great novel in exchange for an honest review! My Rating: 3 Stars A nice middle-grader adventure book. The novel introduces us to an alternative universe where evil travellers in old train cars and the Karmanic Sovereign Legion is in the front line to fight this threat. When Cole’s father dies in a train crash, he doesn’t know that he’s being tossed into a world he didn’t know it existed. When he receives a strange stone called Blue Moon Narthex, Cole travels to the Coreseum with his two companions, Britten and Sasha, where he begins to understand the power of stone and the evil forces that are so kin in having it. The storyline is enjoyable and the idea of Karma matter balancing the good and evil in the world was refreshing to read. The writing style is very engaging and easy to follow. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the story as well as I thought I would as I found a lot of similarities with the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson universes. Though the book takes a different turn after a while, I was disappointed with the lack of details of the period when the story takes place and the overly detailed descriptions of the educational process of the three main characters. I definitely think that this novel is more turned to the middle graders level: magic, mystery, companionship and adventure. Overall, I give three stars for the writing style and the refreshing idea of the narthexes and the Karmanic universe! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Steel Page Press. and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars It was a breath of fresh air to read this fantasy novel that merges magic with dragons. It’s a page-turning, fast-paced adventure that had me glued to my Kindle. In a world ruled by magic, where mages rule supreme, Dragonborn (humans born with dragon blood) were slaughtered for unclear reasons. The novel tells the story of Andie, a 24-year-old with a big secret. Descendent from both magic and dragon blood, Andie most hide her true identity as she starts a new life at Arvall University where she will learn to control her magic. Together with her group of friends, the young sorcerer will learn that the Dragonborn line didn’t die completely and embarks on a journey to discover the truth about her people and herself and to bring justice to the falsely accused and abused. It was very hard to put it down and I ended up reading it in two days. I really liked the descriptions; they’re not very long and together with the great writing style is brought out the magic and the colour of the story. It made me want to jump into this world! I enjoyed reading about Andie and seeing the story in her perspective. I think she’s very well built as a character, she’s mature, logical and I could feel the weight of her secret throughout the story. Her courage, strength of character and her determination to correct all the wrongs that were done to her people were incredible to watch and read. I would have enjoyed it more if the ending didn’t end in a cliffhanger because now I’ll have to wait to see what happens! This storyline shows great promise and I hope that the next volume will not disappoint! It was my first time reading a novel from Ms Howell and I definitely wasn’t disappointed! I want to thank N. M. Howell for the chance to review her novel before it is published in exchange for an honest review. My Rating: 5 Stars Perfection! And now I'm depressing since I read it in one sitting and have to wait for the next volume! A brilliant sequel to Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower in a novel that is more compelling than the first! Prose and Cons is the second book of the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. The main character, Violet Waverly is now the new Caretaker of Charming Books in Cascade Springs, while working at the local university as a professor of Literature and writing her PhD dissertation at the same time. Life is good as Violet and Grandma Daisy prepare for the event of the year, the Cascade Springs Food and Wine Festival. The plan is for the Red Inkers, the writers club, to do a Poe-try reading (reading of works of Edgar Allen Poe) with the historical setting and clothing. When Violet discovers the dead body of Anastasia Faber, one of the writers, in the bookshop all hell breaks loose. When her friend Sadie is accused and all the evidences point to her, Violet takes charge of the case together with the handsome chief of police David Rainwater in order to find the real killer. With the help of the magical bookstore, Emerson the tuxedo cat and Faulkner, the crow, our main character will uncover a big secret and an unexpected visitor will turn Violet's world upside down. A magical novel that I read in a few hours! Impossible to put down, the plot may look simple but it's nothing as such. The characters are so enchanting, so colourful and described in depth that I feel like they are my friends too. I love Violet, her loyalty and her complete faith in her friend Sadie's innocence is a grand part of her strong and stubborn character. I must admit that I was expecting a bit more action with the handsome chief of police, inside I truly believe that David and Violet make the dream couple. It was a delight to read their interactions and I think, reading in between the lines, that David knows more about the secret of the Charming Bookstore than he leads on. The setting is still as bright and colourful as the first time and it gives me the desire to visit Cascade Springs myself. Of course, that visiting the magical bookstore where the perfect book finds you would be a plus! My favourite series of cosy-mystery that I highly recommend! My Rating: 4 Stars One of the reasons I like to browse in my local library is because you never know which little treasure you might find hidden on the shelves. This book was definitely a hidden treasure. I have to admit that the cover was the reason why I grabbed it; I have a thing for old books! This fantasy novel is refreshing and the old-fashioned tale was very engaging. Aurian tells the story of Aurian, a female mage growing from a young age with magic, trained in the art of the sword by an old friend of her dead father, Forral. When she’s sent to the city of Nexis to train her powers, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever as she stumbles into a power fight between humans, Miathan and the Archmage. So the fight begins to the end of the world: a quest to gather the only weapons strong enough to stop Miathan, the Artefacts of Power. The style of writing is beautiful and it was very easy to get into the story. What surprised me in this novel were all the subplots that come together leaving no loose ends. I’m usually not a fan of this type of structure because I tend to get lost in the thread of the story. I was surprised that I still felt connected to the story despite that, it actually made sense and the fact that there are different perspectives and opinions complete the story to the last detail. It’s also great to see the reactions of the several characters to the events. In the end, it’s not possible not to connect to a few characters. Their humanisation is incredible and their descriptions are so well made, I could actually see them as real people. This isn’t a fairy tale though, main characters meet their end like all the others, and everyone is on equal footing, which kept my nerves on the edge! Aurian is a very strong female character in a novel I could feel the power of the feminine, something I really enjoyed reading about. The responsibility that falls on her lap makes her step up her game and her determination and courage are amazing to read. Overall, a very enjoyable and memorable novel! Highly recommend it to the fans of the fantasy genre that would like to read something refreshing! My Rating: 4 Stars This was a burst of colour in my readings! An amazing novel with amazing characters and a story-line that kept me clued to its pages! I could taste the circus life and colours with this brilliant show of imagination! Freeks tells the story of the Gideon Davorin’s Travelling Sideshow, a circus where acts are real magic. Each sideshow presents different wonders, from levitation to necromancy and fortune telling and each member of the carnival has their own set of unique talents. All expect Mara, a young girl that travels with her mother in the circus and, even though she loves her carnival family, dreams of a normal life. That dream seems very far away, still, the circus settles in the small town of Caudy, Louisiana and Mara meets Gabe. But something is amiss. Something is set in getting rid of the Freek sideshow and will stop at nothing to have that wish fulfilled. What or who is it? When members of the carnival are attacked and one disappears, Mara must make the choice to stay and fight or run away while discovering that “normal” isn’t really her thing. Where to begin? The mystery plot was very well thought and beautifully written. The mix between mystery and supernatural in the circus setting was perfect. The mystery plot left me glued to the pages. The style of writing was very good, easy to follow and the descriptions were very well made, especially for the characters and the different settings of the story. The unexpected twists are the bit of pepper that the story needed to become even more addictive. The protagonist, Mara is a great character and I loved her way of thinking and seeing things. She’s impulsive but acts with her heart and the way she built the relationships with the rest of the members of the carnival is heart-warming and it definitely creates a sense of union. With Gabe on the other hand, I thought their romance was a bit rushed, I would have liked to see more build-up of their relationship and how their perspective of each other changed when they got to know each other better. Still, they make a cute couple. I’m not a fan of romance, but since in the novel the romance doesn’t take the front stage, I was still able to enjoy it. A very enjoyable read that I recommend to the fans of the carnival world, the supernatural and mystery! Thank you NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Griffin, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars First of all, I have to say I'm a huge fan of Mr Rick Riordan's work and style. I've read quite a few of his books and the feeling never really changes. The Sword of Summer is the first book of the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard collection and it was absolutely brilliant! Fast-paced adventure filled with twists and a lot of humour... I mean buckets of humour! About the story: Meet Magnus Chase, a troubled boy that lives in the streets after the mysterious death of his mother. Growing up not knowing who is the father was, imagine his surprise when one of the people that he has been avoiding finds him and tells him his dad is Norse god. Magnus life takes a big and fatal turn that will take him on a quest beyond the world of the living and into the world of Viking myths and legends. His mission? To prevent Ragnarok, the end of days. Guided by a prophecy, together with his three friends Magnus most travel the Nine Worlds in search of a weapon that has the power to change the course of destiny. Easy right? Oh, did I forget to mention the giants, fire-giants, trolls, resentful gods? A great start for this series. There is nothing not to like, the characters, the settings, the plot and don't even get me started on the humorous conversations and chapter titles. I really liked Magnus as a character. His spirit, his ability to face his fears, his loyalty, his courage and of course his sarcasm make him an epic hero that I want to read more of. Sam, the main female protagonist is incredible. She is a force of nature, not afraid to speak her mind and to follow her instincts. Despite being set aside for her lineage, Sam doesn't let others opinion bring her down. The rest of the team Blitzen the dwarf and Hearth the elf complete the picture and add the spice to the story. With this group it really shows that you can't be good at everything, you're not perfect and that's okay because you are unique and you have friends that will always have your back. Their friendship is incredible and I could feel the strong bond between them right from the start. Is this like Percy Jackson? No. Percy and Magnus are two very different characters with two very different destinies. The second book is all ready to go on my Reading List and I can't wait to get my hands on those pages! Highly recommend it! Some of my favourite quotes: “I told my new friends that I was allergic to dismemberment. They just laughed and herded me toward the combat arena. This is why I don’t like making new friends.” “The thing about talking swords…it’s hard to tell when they’re kidding. They have no facial expressions. Or faces.” “No, Satan would be a schlub next to this guy. This guy is like Satan’s fashion consultant.” “I don't expend my energy trying to fight the change of seasons. I focus on making sure the days I have, and the season I oversee, are as joyful, rich, and plentiful as possible.” The Witch's Book of Shadows: The Craft, Lore & Magick of the Witch's Grimoire by Jason Mankey15/11/2016 My Rating: 4 Stars Great book! I was really surprised with the style of writing, it's very personal and I could feel that this is an important part of Mr Jason Mankeys' life. The research and the knowledge, not only the one that comes from books but also the knowledge that comes with life experiences, transpires in this wonderful guide through magic and history. In all, I enjoyed reading it and I learned a lot. From the different types of Book of Shadows, how to create and personalise your own, the history, the symbols, just makes me want to own this book and re-read it because there are so many things to be understood and studied. An addiction to any that enjoy Magic, Book of Shadows and want to understand it better. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Llewellyn Publications, and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book. My Rating: 5 Stars The Copper Gauntlet is the second book of the Magisterium collection and it was just as good as the first one! It was impossible to put down from beginning to end as we go deeper into the story and the characters. Callum never thought things would get to the point where he actually counts the days to return to the Magisterium for his Copper year. But nothing would prepare him for events that make him choose between saving someone he holds dear and revealing the truth. The action never stops in this novel and right from the first chapter things get heated. Callum, Tamara and Aaron become closer than ever and it's amazing to see how their relationships become stronger at each passing adventure. It was also a pleasant surprise to see and get to know other characters much like arrogant Jasper and sweet Celia. Adventure, suspense and a lot of new discoveries will keep you glued to its pages! |
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