Elle Hartford

Should be a 3.5.

I did enjoy the thoughtfulness of the story, particularly at the end. But there was lots of remembering in the narration, which I found myself skipping through. I could relate to the main character, but only tangentially; I probably am not the target audience for the book!

A fun read for Holmes fans – and fans of Houdini! I didn't know much about Houdini myself, but it's clear the author did a lot of research into him and his methods. The mystery itself is a good one, and the characters are interesting. All in all it was a quick and engaging read!

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/

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 volunteer at a secondhand bookstore where we get a lot of volumes from this series, so I figured I'd see what it was all about. The set up, I thought, was very clever: we have a sci-fi setting (robot sidekick, space travel) blended with a lost colony of medieval enthusiasts (sounded basically like a Ren Faire, haha). So the inhabitants of the colony have now forgotten all about the advanced technology they left behind, and now the adventuring astronaut (our main character) and his knowledge come across as magical to them. Hence, warlock. :)

Overall, I liked the setting, which allows the author to play with lots of medieval references. The narration, too, was amusing, often tongue-in-cheek. The portrayal of the female characters doesn't hold up with what I would expect from a book written today; there are two active women in the story, and they fall into very distinct, rather pejorative roles. One's motivation is attributed simply to her unlikable arrogance, and the other's motivation is that she fell in love with the hero . . . for reasons that aren't entirely clear (to a female reader). Descriptions of all women are a bit single-minded. That said–it's a fantasy adventure written decades ago. So, grains of salt must be taken with character portrayals.

The plot is very active and political, and ends up with several character reveals, etc. It was intriguing, definitely, and came together satisfactorily–though occasionally our main character would hash out a new development with his robot just a little too repetitively (leaving me thinking, ‘Yes, but didn't we already know that?'). It ended up being pretty easy to follow, which is good because I don't have much of a head for drama. ;) A couple of explanations came rather suddenly at the end of the story, including one I particularly liked about witches and why everyone was interested in the colony in the first place. But, as a primarily mystery reader these days, perhaps I've become picky about my reveals. :)

Overall, I enjoyed the story and its twists, especially for the creative world-building. If you're into funny, clever fantasy–and especially if you're familiar with that sort of classic, swashbuckling hero adventure from decades past–you'll probably have fun reading it.

Being a bit of an archaeology nerd, I enjoyed the historical themes to the mystery in this one! :) There are plenty of new adventures and some fun new characters. Great for a rainy afternoon!

I agree with some of the other reviewers – these stories are light-hearted takes on Holmesian adventures rather than very literary tales. They're fun, especially for Holmes fans, but perhaps a little obscure for most.

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!

If you're looking for more representation in cozies, as well as detailed and thoughtful world-building, this is the book for you!

I very much enjoyed this paranormal mystery. Even just being with Josie in her day-to-day life running a pet boutique was lots of fun, and I loved discovering more about Arteria Falls and the wonderful world the author has built up. Plus, Josie's humor is sly and amusing, and her friends are supportive and fun.

The mystery itself had some great twists and [slight spoiler] a very ingenious method to it! The final confrontation was pretty intense there for a moment, but I loved the way everything wrapped up. :)

All in all, this was an excellent peek into a new world, and I can't wait to read more!

*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review, and I'm very happy I did!

A really fascinating collection of stories, great to read at a cabin in the woods! ;) There's an introductory note about each author/story which is quite helpful, but sometimes it does give the story away a bit; if you're sensitive about spoilers, maybe read those introductions after reading the stories they pertain to.

Definitely read the Villains series in order! If you're used to mysteries or other series where it doesn't really matter, that isn't the case here.

I'd give 3.5 if I could. (I am a POV snob. I'm sorry, I wasn't always that way! But these days I can't help but get pulled out of the story when narratives randomly switch POV.)

This book was harder to read than I expected, and in part that's because it captures the Queen's turmoil well. (The end killed me, especially as someone who dealt with emotional instability in others growing up.) There's a lot of tension: the story moves slowly at the beginning and the end comes in a rush.

My major complaint was that it's the kind of villain story that passes the blame on to someone else: that is, instead of just portraying the Queen as flawed or as the hero of her own story, she's mostly being manipulated by people more evil than her. It leaves you wondering what the deal is with those people and if they're evil just “because,” which seems antithetical to a villain-as-hero story. Maybe that's just me though. xD

That said I really did feel for the characters, and the imagery was strong. If you're into fairy tale retellings, it's worth taking a look at this one!

Fascinating and informative! Great for a mystery author looking for inspiration :D The illustrations were neat and sometimes a bit gruesome, but that seemed fitting given the content.

This is a fun continuation of the first book, Parnassus on Wheels. However, it was first written over a hundred years ago, and it does show its age (anti-German sentiment particularly). That aside, this was a more complex adventure than the first book, with some new characters and a mystery to solve. Another fun evening of reading!

The writing style was interesting and had a sort of lovely simplicity, I thought, and the ending was satisfying. A good read for a rainy afternoon!

Absolutely lovely sentiment and drawings–straightforward and charming, too! Wonderful food for thought (and heart and soul).

Just finished my advance copy–I'm running behind in my reading schedule, but once I started this lovely adventure, I couldn't put it down!

The fall/Halloween vibes are strong in this story, and I am totally here for it. ;) Hazel's investigation quickly leads her to clues regarding a buried treasure on a historic estate. It's a sort of Nancy Drew meets Indiana Jones mystery, which I absolutely adored (and which is perfect given some Halloween costumes that come up at the end!). There were plenty of intriguing suspects and I was guessing until right up at the end. But everything fell into place after that!

As always with this series, my favorite part of the book was simply hanging out with Hazel and her friends in their delightful town. And her pets!! Too cute for words!! (I actually have a three-legged kitty with the same dietary restrictions as a certain pup, so reading about Hazel's new adoptees felt like a warm hug!) Plus, of course, there's all the wonderful candle scents (seasonally appropriate, naturally) that make reading about Hazel's business a real pleasure.

Overall, I loved this book, and I was thrilled to discover that the next installment in the series is already in the works. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to fans of witchy/paranormal mysteries, cozies with a modern and inclusive feel, anyone who loves Nancy Drew's hijinks or historical treasures–the list goes on and on!

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.

Enola is an interesting heroine, for sure! That said, the book is a bit different from the show in how it portrays characters and how quickly the plot moves.

Love fairy tale retellings, and Cameron Dokey's are always interesting and fun! This may be one of my favorites from her. I really enjoyed the twist on the old story, and (spoiler) I totally saw it coming with the hawk! ;)

I absolutely loved falling into this world and watching Viv's coffee shop grow! It was so charming to see how each improvement mirrored (or improved upon!) some convenience we would recognize in our own world. :) My only complaint is that it's advertised as “low stakes,” but by the end I was so invested in Viv and her friends that it didn't feel low stakes at all to me! But that's more a compliment than anything else, haha. I would 100% recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy, fantastical break!

I read the whole series years ago and have been going back through it. I thought the first book was my favorite, but this one definitely gave it a run for its money! You don't have to read them in order, but it is really satisfying to see the character growth when you do. :) Love the dynamic between Brenna and Shawn, and the way they come together!

I had read this so long ago and recently rediscovered it. It was even better than I remembered! I personally find Jude very relatable, and I love the interplay of fairy tale and daily life. Lovely!

I dropped in mid-series to read this book, because the title intrigued me. I found it easy to catch up, and took an immediate liking to Lady Emily. Overall it was very atmospheric and fascinating, and a great mystery for fans of both Barbera Peters and Agatha Christie!

I will say though–I did call the solution to the murder. ;) It was very well done and all the pieces fit together, so it was satisfying anyway!

I also loved the historic storyline. That was the really twisty plot, I think, and it was so interesting to guess how it would contribute to the more modern one!

Sherlock Holmes meets World War One, through the eyes of a feminist nurse. There was so much I loved about this book!

To be honest, I picked this up and read it purely because of Holmes–I never usually seek out fiction set during the world wars; I prefer my history a bit older. :) But this book was very well done–the history felt very realistic and very respectful, and scary without ever being too terribly awful (I'm a wimp, so that was important, haha). The narrator was pretty awesome, and though her colleagues at the hospital were kind of the worst, I did like the way things came together in that regard.

The only reason I didn't give this five stars–THIS IS A SLIGHT SPOILER: the mystery itself was pretty straightforward. It was satisfying, but I was able to call the one big twist, and the characters themselves repeatedly said “hum, what if it's xxx?” and then they ended up being right/very close to right, without any other real suspect having been provided.

But that said, I did still enjoy the book! :)

I looked this up on a recommendation from a friend, and was intrigued. Some of the language and characterization is not what we would use today, but the word play is whimsical and fun, and the interactions between Cinderella and the Prince feel real and sentimental. I must say too that in this version the father is alive, and my heart just broke for him–he's a sweet, lost character, also a victim of the stepmother's abuse.

I have a theory–totally unproven, and I've only done the most cursory of research–but still, I have a theory that this book helped inform the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Instances of unique language and the fairy godmother backstory are the same, and some of Cinderella's dialogue with the Prince feels similar. I only happened to notice it because I saw the musical recently. ;)