The below reviews are intended to be short, and easily understandable to readers of all ages. These reviews are my own personal opinions, and I would welcome different viewpoints. Since most (not all) of my reviews are for Fantasy Books, my reviews are generally based on 3 things:
World Building - Is the world of the book worth spending time in?
Characters - What types of characters are in the book?
Plot - Is there a clear beginning, middle and end?
If there is a particular book that you would like to see reviewed, please visit the Contact Page and let me know.
Check out my newest review below:
Cujo
by Stephen King
Cujo is the story of a dog that goes beyond rabid, and goes on a killing spree. The story takes place in a small town in Maine, in which King does an excellent job bringing to life the “small town” feel. All of the characters in the town, particularly the main families involved, are all wonderfully realized and complex. No one person in this story is perfect, and every single character has flaws. This book explores what it really means to have flaws, to make mistakes, and how one bad decision and can lead to another.
An interesting part of this story, is that you sometimes get the perspective of the dog, Cujo. You can hear what he’s thinking as he interacts with his family, gets bitten by an unknown predator, and ultimately descends into madness. Being an animal person myself I am be biased, but I actually found myself feeling bad for Cujo. He always tried to be a “good boy”, so he did not have any control over the vicious disease that took over him. Watching him be so violent and not being able to control it did make my feel sympathy for him.
Part way through the book, there were some side plots that left me wondering what they were there for. Having finished the book I see now that everything that happens in this book is some sort of a metaphor for what happens at the end. For example, the side story about the Sharp Cereal Man… just like Cujo, it wasn’t his fault either. Again, this book really brings to light how one bad decision can lead to another, and another. When everything that can possibly go wrong does, are we the cause of our own disasters? There is a lot to think about in this simple book about a dog. The ending of this book is quite sad for many different characters, so this is not the book to read if you are looking for a happy ending.
Check out my other Book Reviews below. All reviews are organized by the last name of the author.
Carrie
by Stephen King
Carrie is King’s first published novel. As such, it is sort of a blueprint for a lot of his other stories. It takes place in a small town in Maine, there are various residents who all live these “small town” lives. Like most small towns, it is also full of secrets. One being Carrie, a young girl who finds that she has telekinetic powers. In comic books and movies people who have superpowers are usually attractive, confident, and self assured, but not Carrie. She has little to no friends in school, no social life, and is frequently bullied by her peers both for her physical appearance, and for her social awkwardness.
Carrie is a cautionary tale, especially for those for are mean (“bully”) to others. You never know when one cruel word could push someone over the edge. When Carrie is pushed over the edge, her retribution is swift and horrifying. One has to wonder, would a kind word from a friend have helped to prevent the tragedy that happens at the end of the book?
Even though most young women do not have superpowers (that we know of), it doesn’t hurt to be reminded to always be kind to those around you. You never know what will set someone over the edge, to the point of no return. There is a reason that this book continues to be one of King’s most beloved. It’s timeless message and powerful ending is something that can be understood by readers of all ages
Roadwork
by Richard Bachman (a.k.a. Stephen King)
Roadwork is a short story that tells the tale of a man who is loosing his house due to a new highway being built through his neighborhood. As far as the “Bachman” books go, this one is not my favorite. The main character of the book, Dawes, is not really a likable character. Yes, sometimes you do feel bad for him. Throughout the course of the story he looses his son, his job, his marriage, his home and more. There is a lot of time focused on each of these losses, to try and make you feel like he has no choice but to do the things he does. Additionally, the people that Dawes has to deal with, are often portrayed as greedy, selfish, and uncaring towards his situation. But, it is established early on in the story that Dawes is already mentally unstable, so I don’t believe that there was ever a chance for him to have a happy, normal life, even if there wasn’t a road being built through his house.
For a short story it’s quite long, so we spend a lot of time with this character, and a lot of time watching him make bad choices. He does things that are counter-productive to his happiness so ultimately, it’s not the roadwork that gets Dawes, but not being able to deal with his own life. There are also a couple random things that happen in the story, such as an encounter with a young woman, that really don’t have any bearing on the outcome so I’m not sure why they are there. At the end of the day, Dawes does not go out with the bang that he wanted, but with more of a whisper.
If you are a fan of Stephen King, you should definitely take the time to explore the Bachman Books, but there are other stories that are more interesting and engaging that this one.
Cujo
by Stephen King
Cujo is the story of a dog that goes beyond rabid, and goes on a killing spree. The story takes place in a small town in Maine, in which King does an excellent job bringing to life the “small town” feel. All of the characters in the town, particularly the main families involved, are all wonderfully realized and complex. No one person in this story is perfect, and every single character has flaws. This book explores what it really means to have flaws, to make mistakes, and how one bad decision and can lead to another.
An interesting part of this story, is that you sometimes get the perspective of the dog, Cujo. You can hear what he’s thinking as he interacts with his family, gets bitten by an unknown predator, and ultimately descends into madness. Being an animal person myself I am be biased, but I actually found myself feeling bad for Cujo. He always tried to be a “good boy”, so he did not have any control over the vicious disease that took over him. Watching him be so violent and not being able to control it did make my feel sympathy for him.
Part way through the book, there were some side plots that left me wondering what they were there for. Having finished the book I see now that everything that happens in this book is some sort of a metaphor for what happens at the end. For example, the side story about the Sharp Cereal Man… just like Cujo, it wasn’t his fault either. Again, this book really brings to light how one bad decision can lead to another, and another. When everything that can possibly go wrong does, are we the cause of our own disasters? There is a lot to think about in this simple book about a dog. The ending of this book is quite sad for many different characters, so this is not the book to read if you are looking for a happy ending.
A Great and Terrible Beauty
by Libba Bray
A Great and Terrible Beauty is the story of Gemma Doyle, a young girl growing up in Victorian era England. Most of the book takes place at Spence Academy, a boarding school that Gemma is sent to in order to learn manners, and all other types of things in order to do what young ladies in her generation were expected to do… become the perfect wife. The school is both wonderfully realized, and mysterious at the same time. What seems like a normal school, quickly dissolves into many different mysteries to be solved.
For Gemma, she is an outsider coming into this school, both due to her family’s social standing, and her lack of refinement. All of the characters in this world, from Gemma’s schoolmates, to the teachers and beyond, are deep and complex characters. Some characters may seem one way at first, but as the story goes on and information is revealed, more layers of these characters are revealed. You may find yourself falling in love with characters who at first seemed villainous, but are so beautifully real, you can’t help but connect with them.
There are so many surprises in this book, that it’s hard to speak of the plot without giving anything away. At it’s core, this is a story of power…. the power between men and woman of that time, the power of money and society, the power of believing in yourself, and of course, actual supernatural powers. Once you dive into this book, you will not be able to put it down. I love this book so much that I continue to read anything and everything that Libba Bray puts out. If you have not read this series yet, what are you waiting for? Trust me, you will love it!
Etiquette & Espionage
by Gail Carriger
If you are familiar with Gail Carriger, then Etiquette & Espionage will be a familiar romp into the same world. This book and series take place in a time before events in some of her other books. You do not have to have read any of Carriger’s other books before starting this series. In fact, this is actually a great jumping off point to dive into this world.
The story centers around a young girl named Sophronia, who doesn’t quite fit in with her family, or with “polite” society. When her family tries to send her to a finishing school, she actually ends up in a “Spy” school. The school itself floats, which is a really unusual idea. It allows the story to take place in a confined space, so we don’t have to spend too much time exploring and explaining different people places and things.
The supporting cast of characters - the teachers and other students at the school - are very surface level. The book is short, and the story moves quickly, so there is not a lot of room to learn more personal information about a lot of the secondary characters. We only see them through Sophronia’s eyes, so if she doesn’t learn more about her classmates, then neither will we.
There are some questions that were left unanswered at the end of the book, items in the plot that are not fully explained. Clearly this is setting up a sequel, but I do wish some things were a little more wrapped up before the end. Either way, I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series.
Curtsies & Conspiracies
by Gail Carriger
Curtsies and Conspiracies is the sequel to Etiquette and Espionage. This book picks up exactly where the previous book left off. This book dives even further into Sophronia’s steam punk spy school world. There is so much more context provided to the various characters and groups in this world. As a good sequel should, the world is expanded, new characters are introduced, and previous surface level characters are provided with new layers and depth. Again, if you are familiar with any of Carriger’s other series, you will be pleasantly surprised at one particularly exciting cameo.
In this volume, Sophronia finds herself with new challenges that will test her skills both as a spy, and as a friend. There are new relationships that are explored, as well as new locations. Sophronia continues to struggle not just with being a spy, but with being a lady, and what that really means for her future in the current society.
This is a fantastic expansion of this world. The mysteries that were left unanswered in the previous book are wrapped up more completely here. Overall, this series continues to be a short, easy, incredibly fun series to read. Also, any story that uses the word “discombobulated”, is A+ in my book!
Lady Midnight
by Cassandra Clare
Lady Midnight is the first volume in The Dark Artifices series, which is the third series Clare has written about the world of Shadowhunters. At a minimum, I strongly suggest that you read “The Mortal Instruments” series before reading this one. There are many references to recent events in this world that you will not have the references or context for, if you did not read the previous series. Lady Midnight is a great expansion on Shadowhunter lore. Again, having a base knowledge of the Shadowhunter world in important, so that you can fully appreciate the deep dive into areas not fully explored in previous books. For example, more history on the “parabatai” bond is explored in a fascinating new way that brings obstacles for the main characters to overcome. There are also new locations that are explored such as the Los Angeles Institute, the Shadow Market, and the Wild Hunt.
This book mainly centers around Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn Family. Emma’s parents have recently died, and she now lives with the Blackthorns at the LA Institute. The Blackthorn family comprises of Uncle Arthur who supposedly runs the institute, and 7 siblings, making it a little difficult to really get to know everyone in the family. We don’t spend a lot of time with the younger Blackthorns, and therefore don’t get to know them that well.
At it’s core, this book is a murder mystery. Emma and the Blackthorns race against time to try and find out who is committing murders around LA, and why. If you are a fan of the ShadowHunter world, then Lady Midnight will be a wonderful next chapter in your reading journey. You will definitely want to keep reading and find out what happens to Emma, the Blackthorn famliy, and their friends.
Lord of Shadows
by Cassandra Clare
Lord of Shadows is the 2nd book in The Dark Artifices series, and it picks up directly where Lady Midnight left off. So, Emma, Julian Blackthorn, and their family and friends have solved the mystery of the murders from the previous book. This opens up a whole new set of issues and even greater obstacles that they will need to overcome in order to finally be safe.
There are so many surprises in this book! There are surprises with the plot, with certain characters that we previously did not get to know that well, there is so so much packed into this one book. There’s action, there’s romance, there’s humor…. fairy kings, warlocks and forbidden romances, etc. If you like the fantasy genre at all, there is something in this book for you.
I’ve read a lot of books in my life, so it’s not often that I’m super surprised by a book, but WOW, this book has one of the most shocking endings I’ve read in a long time. This is one of the few times that I would actually recommend not flipping to the back of the book. This may be my favorite Shadowhunter novel so far, so do yourself a favor and pick up Lady Midnight and Lord of Shadows as soon as possible.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
by Suzanne Collins
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the prequel to Suzanne Collins “Hunger Games” series. The story follows young Coriolanus Snow as a young mentor in the 10th Annual Hunger Games. For those familiar with the Hunger Games series, there are many references to people, places and things that will be familiar to you. If you have not read the previous series, then many of these references will be lost on you, therefore it might be a good idea to read the original series first.
Choosing Snow as the main character for this book was a bold choice. If you are new to this series then you may be shocked by some of his decisions and actions. If you already know how Snow ends up later on, than it is difficult to feel any sort of empathy or compassion for him. Regardless of your feelings towards this complicated character, I do feel that this book provides some great context, that allow us to better understand who and why he is. It was also great to spend more time in the world of the Hunger Games, specifically the Capitol, and learn more about what life there is like. Although, because of when this book takes place, the Capitol looks and feels very different compared to what you may have seen in the main series of books and/or movies. This version of the Capitol is still re-building and has not yet become the shiny extravagantly rich city that it appears to be later on.
This book is very easy to read. Almost every chapter ends on a mini cliff hanger that demands you continue on and read the next chapter. You will be surprised how fast you read this book, in order to find out what happens next. The story is full of twists and unexpected turns. Because the story is only told from one point of view, it will leave you questioning whether certain events actually happened as they appeared.
Ultimately, this book is a must read for every Hunger Games fan. If you are not a fan yet, then this could be a great jumping in point. I hope that this is not our last visit to the world of Panem, and the Hunger Games.
Inkheart
by Cornelia Funke
We’ve all wanted to dive into the world of a book, but what if the world in the book came back out? While classified as a book for “Young Readers”, Inkheart actually contains some pretty dark material. There is fire, violence, and even death, which may make the story too intense for younger readers. That being said, it is also a great adventure story with great characters, and real stakes.
The story centers around 12 year old Meggie, and her adventures with her father. Unlike most Young Adult books, Meggie is pretty much the only kid in the book. All of the other supporting characters are adults. It’s great to see a story centered around a young girl who is intelligent, brave, and well-read. But, we do not really get any insight into how Meggie thinks or feels about being a girl. In fact, her being a girl isn’t really mentioned or talked about at all. There isn’t some grand lesson that she needs to learn, or personal obstacle to overcome in order to grow, she is just a young girl on an adventure. On one hand that’s great, on the other hand there is a missed opportunity to use a young girl’s perspective as she grows up around these stories.
One of the book’s supporting characters is a marten, which is close enough to a ferret to be an instant classic for me! If you want to read a simple, dark adventure tale then I would recommend it. If you are looking for something to share with your children, then just make sure that you are prepared to help them understand the violence and death in the story.
Inkspell
by Cornelia Funke
Like the previous book, this book asks the question of what would happen if we were actually able to go into your favorite book? Every reader and writer wants to disappear into their favorite story but in reality, what would that actually look like? The world inside of the Inkheart book is both beautiful, and dangerous. When Meggie and her family find themselves stuck in Inkheart, they find that life there is not what they were expecting. Just like any world, there are good things and bad, good people and bad. The world of Inkheart is wonderfully realized, but it does seem like the story is more focused on the plot and concept, rather than the characters.
Once again, Meggie continues to be one of the only children in the story, even in the new Inkheart world. There is some small exploration of a romance between her and the one other young character in the story, a boy named Farid who was plucked from a different book. Like all the romantic relationships in this book, their romance is very light and innocent and not a lot of time is spent exploring it. Again, there is much more focus on violence and death, and not the relationships between the characters. There are some very strong hints at certain characters relationships that I would have liked to see explored more. The characters in this story spend a lot of time trying to change things. Fenoglio tries to change his own story, Meggie tires to change things to get back home, and even her parents try and change their circumstances. Everything they do only seems to make things worse which begs the question, should you really try to change your own story?
On the surface level this is another fun adventure story, but there are some really thoughtful questions here that might be over a younger reader’s head. I personally found that these deep questions made the book more exciting that the previous volume.
Caraval
by Stephanie Garber
Caraval is the story of Scarlet, a young girl living with her little sister Donatella (“Tella” for short), on a small island with a physically abusive father. Scarlet longs to escape her life, to take her sister and run off to Caraval, a carnival where magic appears real, and dreams can come true. Just when she has excepted her fate, tickets to Caraval suddenly arrive in the hands of a handsome, roguish young man named Julian. When Scarlet’s sister is kidnapped at Caraval, she must navigate various mysteries and mind games to save her life. The deeper into Caraval she gets, the more she questions what’s real.
Caraval is a thrilling reading experience. At it’s heart it is a mystery, and every time you think you have something figured out, the story will pull the rug out from under you. Like Scarlet, you will be left wondering what’s real. Because of this, I even had a hard time excepting that everything at the end of the book was actually true.
My only teeny tiny issue, is that I would have liked to see Scarlet make some bold choices for her own happiness, not just for her sister. After everything she goes through - abusive father, selfish sister, cruel Caraval Master - I don’t feel that she’s 100% happy at the end of the book. Her sister does not seem to think about anyone else other than herself, and I hope that Scarlet will realize this in future books. That being said, I am 100% sure that I will be reading the next book to see what fate has in store for these sisters.
Three Sisters, Three Queens
by Philipa Gregorry
If you are at all familiar with the reign of the Tudors, and specifically Henry the VIII, then this book will contain a lot of familiar material. Having said that, Three Sisters, Three Queens does bring a unique female perspective not only to the reign of Henry VIII, but of life in England during this time. Gregory has already written other books regarding women around Henry the VIII, but the perspective in this one stands on it’s own.
For example, Katharine of Aragon in particular is usually depicted as a tragic figure in most stories. Here, she is shown to be not tragic, but a victim of her own ambition. Katharine and other the women in this story are not all one thing - not all good, not all bad. So it makes us ask the question, did she get what she deserved?
Relationships between women are always interesting, and while this is fiction, it feels like peaking into the private lives of these 3 specific women, who at one point were all in positions of power. Although I think that they all come to realize that none of them really have any power at all. All of them are all just trying to survive in a world ruled by men. Sometimes that means supporting your sisters, and sometimes that means supporting yourself, even if that means hurting someone that you love.
If you like Philippa Gregory’s other stories, then this is a great one to add to your collection. If you haven’t read her before, then this book is a great place to start.
Fire & Blood
by George R. R. Martin
Well this book was not what I expected. Fire & Blood actually reads more like a text-book, than a novel. There is very little dialogue in the book, and no traditional plot. Instead, the book is a series of descriptions of historical events, people and places. The chapters are extremely long, with no natural breaks. The history described in this book only covers about 100 years of Targaryen rule. From the conquering of Aegon the First, to the rule of Aegon the 3rd, the events in this book end about 100 years before any of the events in A Games of Thrones. Therefore, the history in this book has little impact on the more current events in the books/Tv show.
This book is full of fantastic information about the history of Targaryen rule in Westeros. The amount of time it probably took to outline this royal family over the years, plus their allies and foes, is impressive. If you are already familiar with “A Song of Ice & Fire” or the Games of Thrones TV series, then you will be sure to recognize the names of many great houses that play a part in various events through the book. So if you are a history buff, then this book may be for you. But if not, there are so many names and places that you will most likely forget them as soon as you put the book down.
The artwork in the book is beautiful. My only compliant is that I wish there was more of it. Overall the book was a bit of a disappointment for me, although if there is another book released on the rest of the Targaryen rule, then I would probably would not be able to resist adding it to my collection.