Elle Hartford
So, in what has become a trend for me lately, I picked this up without realizing that it was #3 in a series. Unlike the other books I've reviewed recently, I'd say definitely pick up the other two books first! For the entire first chapter of this one, I was struggling mightily to catch up, and I could not for the life of me figure out why we'd started midway through the action, haha.
That said though only perhaps half of the book is from Abby's perspective (her diary/blog, extremely “voice-y” and funny but also sometimes rocketship-fast and hard to follow). The rest of the book is in close third person following other main characters, and it's much easier to get your bearings.
I don't mean to scare people off–I did enjoy the book–but I did work at it a bit. I also wondered for what purpose our protagonist was so young; maybe because that adds to the humor, perhaps, or for some reason explained in the earlier books? It didn't really strike me as a YA, aside from the very informal voice. Still, there's no denying it's creative and gothically funny!
I picked this up not knowing there were other books set in the same world, and I was able to get into the swing of things just fine! That said, this is a story that is heavy on world-building and amusing details above anything else. The actual formatting of the book is quite fun, with relevant illustrations and ciphers interspersed throughout the story. Overall it was very creative, if a little dense at times!
Definitely an interesting and well-informed perspective, but it wasn't quite what I'd expected in terms of a biography. It skips over and then has to recap Cleopatra's early years, and often spends as much time in a chapter talking about the various men in her life as it does her own actions. The narration is clever, though, and insightful, and definitely provides context!
Just lovely!
It did take me a while to get a feel for Linus, I will admit–I found the intersection between ‘company man' and ‘optimist' and ‘wry humor' a little tough to keep up with at first. However, as soon as he gets to the island, things snap into place. The children are, after their various first impressions, wonderful; and the adults are intriguing. I loved their Saturday adventures and trips into town especially! The dialogue deals often and very directly with issues of prejudice, stereotypes, etc; but it was the relationships between the characters that really left a lasting impression on me. The ending was perfect!
The characters are insightfully drawn and the narrative observations are compelling–but this is not a “feel good” book. Where the Harry Potter series might be ultimately hopeful, this story is ultimately . . . Well, not entirely pessimistic, but pretty close.
I personally didn't find any of the characters to be lovable or even very relatable, but they were very full–to the point where sometimes I couldn't follow all the intricate politics of who was on whose side, etc. At some point I resigned myself to following along just to see how the plot would resolve itself. There were some big twists at the end, and it was not what I expected or hoped for–but it was satisfying in its own way.
Overall I have respect for the work and found it thought-provoking. It was a tough read, but worth it, I think!
I'm used to Nora Roberts' romance trilogies, where we see a set of three siblings/friends each settle down. This is not that–though it was still good.
This series has much more magic in it; the important part of the narrative takes place in a fey realm with dragons. I say “important,” but I actually enjoyed the first half of the book, the “finding myself” part, even more. And I love fantasy! It's just that I turn to Nora Roberts specifically to see the “finding myself” part, and I wasn't totally in the mood for a high-stakes realm-changing battle. I feel bad saying that–after all, an author should be able to tell whatever story they like–but, nonetheless, it was the case for me.
Bottom line, this is looking like a series that will follow one character as she embraces her destiny, leads a war, and continues falling in love with a warrior. It's deeply felt and I love the world building, but to be honest, that's not the storyline I'm into these days. Maybe someday I'll come back to it. ;)
After giving a thorough introduction, the book outlines how people lose connection with their chi, and how to reconnect with it. The philosophy at times is a little repetitive, but there are varied and accessible metaphors.
For my full review, check out my blog:
https://ellehartford.com/book-review-chi/
Make no mistake: “bone houses” means “skeletal zombies.” If I had fully realized that at first glance, I might not have picked it up; I'm not a zombie fan. That said, I love how death and the dead were handled in this book–thoughtfully and practically, without becoming in-your-face gross or scary.
And I loved the characters. That's always the main thing for me. :) Their relationships are steadfast and sweet. The actual quest/mystery of the story was straightforward at first, but developed into something deeply meaningful.
Overall, despite being a total wimp, I found it enchanting and moving!
I actually had not read the first book, and I did find it a little hard to keep the characters straight at first. However, I enjoyed the story even still, and I have so much respect for the research the author has done!
I must also admit that I am not usually such a fan of historical novels–and the author's note makes me think that this is, indeed, more history than fantasy. But I found the time period fascinating, and I liked the varied perspectives we see; I also really enjoyed the simplicity of the narration. It may be the author, even more than the book, that won me over. Either way, it was a very interesting read!
This book is full of banter, fairy tale symbolism, and medieval insults. I found it very entertaining, even though there were pieces of the plot I did not understand/didn't quite agree with, such as . . .
Spoilers ahead!!
. . . I think the main character should have been two characters. One could have the divorce/daughter issues, and the other could have the frog/prince issues. They could be devoted roommates and storytelling partners, perhaps (which would make sense given the money issues Buffy faces!). Basically, I think the story would benefit from less of the “both mom and daughter love the frog” conflict . . . I get that the tension of protecting a child is part of the story, but the stress of everyone needing to be loved by the same people got a little Oedipal, I thought. But I appreciated the recurring dynamic of adult vs. child and motherly relationships. Perhaps LeeVon could be the second main character–his part in the story as it is was amusing, but felt kind of random, and he definitely deserved more.
The moment I picked it up, it reminded me of Chocolat. And that comparison holds true–although there's more & darker backstory in this tale, for sure. There's also a lot of “head-hopping,” switching points of view, sometimes to side characters only tangentially related to the plot. Because of that and all the backstory, I had a hard time getting into the story at first. After that, though, I was able to settle in and enjoy how everything turned out.
This little anthology was written by an Egyptologist known for her work on Tutankhamun. She presents each story with a brief introduction and little line drawings of relevant deities or ancient Egyptian art. While her insights are helpful to understanding the context of each story, it is true that some previous knowledge of Egyptology is beneficial!
Check out my full review here:
https://ellehartford.com/book-review-egyptian-legends/
I actually hadn't read any of the other books in the series, but I was able to pick this one up just fine. The author gave a very thoughtful note at the beginning about historical context, and it seemed to me the world was very carefully drawn. That said, it did take some time before the action really started, and even longer before the murder. And then the wrap-up was a bit abrupt. Nonetheless, I enjoyed our narrator very much, and this was a fun vacation read!
Such a fun trip to a Scottish town! I loved this start to the series. Fiona is a sweet MC, and her immediate chemistry with a certain someone added a lot of interest to the story. :) The actual action happens in such a short period of time–I found myself feeling a bit bad for her, she must have been so tired, haha–but it wraps up satisfactorily and leaves lots of room for growth in the next books.
The premise of the book is a fun one, but the actual plot does drag in places . . . I read the extended version and it felt . . . Well, indulgent. And certainly there are readers who would enjoy that extra indulgence! I think philosophically my views differ from the author's, so I didn't take to all the extra scenes as readily. My theory is you will adore this book if you tend toward pessimism/nihilism/”everything is meaningless” (the main character does try to die repeatedly, and the main mythology is Norse, after all). I personally am more on the curious/hopeful/universal love end of the spectrum, so I found it rang a bit hollow. That said, I also know a lot about mythology already, so I anticipated some of the twists ahead of time. I still liked seeing how they were retold, but it wasn't perhaps as “fresh” for me as it feels for others. Overall I did like the premise and the main character, but I maybe should have read an edited version!
I love this series, and this book didn't disappoint!
You don't need to have read the previous books–in fact, it had been a while since I read the last one, and I had to remember a lot of details. It's still worth it to read the previous ones, though, if you get the chance. ;)
The drama is pretty high in this one, especially on the relationship front, but–slight spoiler!!–it turns out well. The Thanksgiving theme is quite fun, and the mystery itself started out ever-so-slightly frustrating–I caught on to one large red herring that seemed forgotten–but turned out twisty and satisfactory. I'm looking forward to the next book!
Looking through others' reviews, I definitely read an updated (though still “dated,” compared to today's standards!) text. The introduction of Rishi and Rai in this version was different than the earlier version, and I think it made more sense (in addition to being less problematic). From there, the story was engaging. There were, of course, some cringey bits . . . But that often comes with reading a book decades old! If you're reading with kids, those discrepancies can make for good discussion points. Overall I enjoyed the adventure, although it's perhaps not my favorite Nancy Drew so far. :)
I was so excited to see what adventure would be behind the infamous “giant rat,” and overall, this book did not disappoint. The author clearly put thought into it, and the solving of the mystery was quite daring.
The atmosphere is very reminiscent of Hound of the Baskervilles, that is, suspenseful and a bit eerie. I definitely was on the edge of my seat at times. That said–the end, I thought, was just a trifle overdone; but I can see why, since the affair of the giant rat has such a mystique about it. And of course like many Holmes adventures, both original and pastiche, the women's roles are very limited. It's no surprise, just something that as a female reader I can't help but notice.
All things considered, I do love the “Further Adventures” series; it contains my favorite “modern” Holmes novels, for sure. And this adventure lived up to its name!
This was such a fun and compelling read!!
Josie's adventures are just getting better and better. If you just picked up the series, you could start here, but it is definitely worth it to check out the earlier books too. Either way, this one was so satisfying because we get to see how Josie's friends have evolved and grown closer–and, of course, how one particular friend becomes closer than ever. ;)
Throughout the book, Josie's investigation is suspenseful and at times laugh-out-loud funny. Josie is gutsy and resourceful, and even though she goes out on a limb often, her risks are always carefully calculated. So, while I was sometimes worried for her, I never felt like she was doing anything ridiculous or silly. Her friends provide awesome support, and the cast of suspects is very intriguing (I especially enjoyed meeting the aunt, haha). There's also a meta-mystery going on through all books in the series so far and we get a big, interesting development toward the end of this story that made me look forward to the next installment all the more!
Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this book to cozy readers, vampire lovers, and anyone who enjoys a creative and absorbing world. I know I will be back for more! :)