“If you grow up with any kind of sense - which you sometimes make me doubt - you will very likely reach your own conclusions. They will probably be wr“If you grow up with any kind of sense - which you sometimes make me doubt - you will very likely reach your own conclusions. They will probably be wrong. However, since they will be yours, you will feel a little more satisfied with them.”
I picked this book up at a garage sale figuring I'd get to it someday but not sure when. In the classic way of the mood reader, my brain said "now, girl, read it now" and I, learning to listen to such urgings, went for it. Quickly I realized that I had no idea what this book was actually about, PFFT.
It's a classic fantasy, which is exactly what I wanted, so we love to see it. Taran is an absolute buffoon but he's a loveable buffoon, and everyone calling him out on his idiocy was delightful, I laughed a lot. Gurgi is giving Gollum but if Smeagol was in charge all the time. Eilonwy is a QUEEN and we stan. Fflewddur Flam is so fun. The Squad™ is iconic, I had a wonderful time getting to know them.
Perhaps not the most memorable adventure I've ever gone on, but very fun nonetheless. 4 stars!...more
This series became unexpectedly very important to me over the course of 2024, and happily, this was the perfect ending. There are so many threads thatThis series became unexpectedly very important to me over the course of 2024, and happily, this was the perfect ending. There are so many threads that were tied up and questions answered over the course of the book, every character we've had the slightest interest in is present and accounted for, and it's just brilliant. I'd love to have a peek at the planning process for this series, it was so well done. I'm going to miss Sep and the Castle inhabitants very much, but luckily there's a spin-off trilogy. 5 stars. I loved it....more
I want a 5-star read, I come to Joanna Barker. It's just science at this point. Her books work for me, and "A heart is a fragile thing without trust."
I want a 5-star read, I come to Joanna Barker. It's just science at this point. Her books work for me, and I couldn't be more excited about it.
I've been looking forward to Verity's story since meeting her in "A Heart Worth Stealing", and it did not disappoint! She's so fun to follow, capable and confident and irrepressibly kind. She gets herself into situations that I'd never have the guts to get myself into, and I respect that, lol! And Nathaniel? What a gem he is. It's the whole "I don't need protecting." "I know, but I'm still here for you." dynamic for me, it makes me melt every. time.
So yes, unsurprisingly, I loved this book. The mystery was intriguing, the characters were wonderful, the romance was perfect. 10/10 as always, Ms. Barker.
5 stars from me!
**I receieved a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
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me: jack travers is the fictional love of my life ...more
I enjoyed this book for the most part! The ending was... bad... but I wasn't expecting anything fantastic so it's fine, lol. I have more questions thaI enjoyed this book for the most part! The ending was... bad... but I wasn't expecting anything fantastic so it's fine, lol. I have more questions than answers overall with this trilogy, but I don't regret having read it, so we'll take that for the win. 3.5 stars!...more
A solid second installment! The friendship vibes are excellent, I had a lot of fun, and there were a few genuinely surprising moments towards the end!A solid second installment! The friendship vibes are excellent, I had a lot of fun, and there were a few genuinely surprising moments towards the end! 4 stars from me!...more
This was fun! The first few chapters were giving Percy Jackson + zombies, but it kind of lost that fun, quippy quality as the story progressed, and I This was fun! The first few chapters were giving Percy Jackson + zombies, but it kind of lost that fun, quippy quality as the story progressed, and I missed it. I have more questions than answers at the end (what's necessary to make someone a zombie? do they already have to be dead or is the zombie-ness the thing that kills them? how do they know which zombies to kill and which ones to leave alone? how does one even kill a zombie?) but I'm hoping some of these will get answered in the rest of the series, which I'll probably be reading soon. 3.5 stars from me!...more
"Observe what you see, not what you expect to see."
GOSH I love middle-grade adventure stories with historical fantasy vibes and lovely familial relati"Observe what you see, not what you expect to see."
GOSH I love middle-grade adventure stories with historical fantasy vibes and lovely familial relationships and interesting world-building and fun side characters and 12-year-olds doing things I could literally never do but they can because they're fantasy MCs. ...more
What a pleasant surprise! The atmosphere was fantastic, the magic system intriguing, and I truly wanted Kat to succeed the whole time. It's *4.5 stars
What a pleasant surprise! The atmosphere was fantastic, the magic system intriguing, and I truly wanted Kat to succeed the whole time. It's giving "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" meets "The Emerald Atlas" with spooky vibes that were genuinely chilling at times. I had a great time reading it, and I'm very intrigued to see what the sequel has in store!...more
I've said it before, I'll say it again: I freakin' love Cressida Cowell books. Her stories feel like home, despite me being well into my teens and tweI've said it before, I'll say it again: I freakin' love Cressida Cowell books. Her stories feel like home, despite me being well into my teens and twenties before I read them. They feel so cozy in a chaotic way (or perhaps, chaotic in a cozy way) and they bring me so much joy.
This one was no exception. It's ridiculous and silly and yet heartfelt and warm, as all her books are. Horizabel and K2 and Theo and Mabel were precious, I want to wrap them all in warm blankets and tuck them somewhere safe. They're busy saving the world, so I won't, but I want to.
5 stars from me, again. Definitely one I'm going to be revisiting in the future, and I can't wait to see what the next installment has in store....more
my first journey into the High Republic was a success! I really enjoyed this! Star Wars audiobooks with the added music and sound effects are very funmy first journey into the High Republic was a success! I really enjoyed this! Star Wars audiobooks with the added music and sound effects are very fun, it really makes for an immersive experience. The characters are loveable, the plot is intriguing, I had a great time, and I can't wait to read more! 4 stars from me!...more
I feel like a fake Sheila Turnage fan because Mo and Dale are two of my favorite characters ever and I didn't know this existed until several months aI feel like a fake Sheila Turnage fan because Mo and Dale are two of my favorite characters ever and I didn't know this existed until several months after it was published. Who am I?
Good news - I loved this. Which, obviously, I hoped I would. I'm just glad to know that Turnage continues to prove her prowess at making me laugh and cry in the same book because the friendships are too pure and I would die for these kids. The Dime Novel Kids are precious and deserve the entire world. The mystery was intriguing, and the historical elements are woven in so seamlessly. I feel like I learned something, which is the best when reading his-fic.
Five stars from me. I'd happily read more adventures with Stick, Neb, and Rain, though I don't know if we'll get any more.
Fact: change rarely shows up the same way twice. It might stroll up comfortable as old boots, and take a seat on the porch. It might attack from the deep of the sea or the dark of the heart and slam your world hard enough to wobble your stars. No matter how it shows, you can count on this: It never leaves until it's done....more
This was so much fun! Full of riddles, mysteries, and pop culture references that kept me smiling the whole way through. Graysen is a great middle-graThis was so much fun! Full of riddles, mysteries, and pop culture references that kept me smiling the whole way through. Graysen is a great middle-grade protagonist, and I can definitely see myself recommending this to younger readers! Four stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**...more
now, I recognize that I am not in the target audience for this, and to be fair, overall it had a fun mystery. but I can honestly say I don't think a bnow, I recognize that I am not in the target audience for this, and to be fair, overall it had a fun mystery. but I can honestly say I don't think a book has ever made me physically cringe quite as much as this one. it really felt like the author did the bare minimum of research on ttrpgs and their slang and everyone involved was like "yeah, that's good enough".
"wow! somebody must have critted their slight-of-hand check to break in here with all this security!" like NO DENNIS. PEOPLE DON'T SAY THAT OUT LOUD. (sidenote, i have no idea how to spell critted... crit-ed... crit'd... help i listened to the audiobook)
anyhow it was a fun halloween-y time, so there's that. 3 stars from me....more
moral of the story, kids: don't eat someone else's cupcake. it could be poisoned. you never know.
this was fun! there were 7 uses of the word "poppycocmoral of the story, kids: don't eat someone else's cupcake. it could be poisoned. you never know.
this was fun! there were 7 uses of the word "poppycock" which is... a lot of uses of "poppycock". also I get the feeling that the author is either a big fan of hot tubs or completely hates them, just based on the sheer amount of times it's mentioned how much "adults love hot tubs". the twists were pretty predictable, but I am totally not in the target age range for the book, so I can forgive it. 10-year-old me would have adored the whole reading experience. 20-something me laughed a lot so for that alone I give it 3 stars!...more
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