All posts by skyebjenner

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for a christmas carol charles dickens book cover

Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
In: A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures (Charles Dickens)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Classics, Ghosts
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1843
5th sentence, 74th page: A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year!

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Synopsis

If I had my way, every idiot who goes around with Merry Christmas on his lips, would be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. Merry Christmas? Bah humbug!’

To bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is just another day. But all that changes when the ghost of his long-dead business partner appears, warning Scrooge to change his ways before it’s too late.

Thoughts

I have watched The Muppet’s Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve since I was in high school. I’ve just never managed to get around to reading the story. Until this year. And now I just can’t believe that I took so damn long to get to it!

A Christmas Carol is a great reminder of everything that Christmas is supposed to be about. Community, spirit, love and caring for one another. It’s a reminder that you should not only keep the spirit over the Christmas period, but also all year long. Giving, caring and treasuring those that you love. And honestly, this year, with everything that has been happening… I’ve kind of needed that reminder and the purity of this story.

I love the lyrical way in which Dickens writes. A Christmas Carol is actually my first ever Charles Dickens story and, again, I’m wondering why it took me so long to pick up his work. It was glorious and easy. Sweet and intriguing. And I loved the way that the words not only tripped off your tongue, but also drew you in so completely.

For those grinches, normal and people who are obsessed with Christmas, this is the perfect novella to read when you just want to feel that spirit of Christmas again. Just like when you were a child…

 <- A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures ReviewThe Chimes Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Pagan Bride by Patricia Grasso

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of scottish romance book cover

Title: The Pagan Bride
Author: Patricia Grasso
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5:  5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Politics, Romance,
Scottish romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Avril could have throttled her brother.

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Synopsis

Avril is on her way to meet the man she married when she was five years-old. Luckily, for her, he might be the man of her dreams, not so luckily, there are deadly politics of play as she holds court with Mary, Queen of the Scots.

Thoughts

I was honestly annoyed at the beginning of this story. Avril was married to a man ten years her senior when she was five years-old. Now, as an adult she is returning to his estate and taking her place as a wife. And he’s quite rude from the very beginning – leaving her waiting, assuming that he gets his “husbandly rights”… he’s kind of a douche. But, he gets better, and even though I don’t actually like him at the end of the story, I do like their relationship.

It took me a little longer than I would have liked to realise that this story featured Queen Mary of the Scots (or something like that), the woman who was imprisoned and executed in England after being one of Henry’s infamous wives (I believe). Even this, I’m not 100% sure of. But I loved the way in which a touch of the “other” (in the form of the Sight), works its way seamlessly into the machinations of a political court that was completely real.

The marrying of real life political intrigue and events with a fantastical romance worked really well here. I loved being able to imagine that this actually did happen way back when… that Avril’s descendants are happy and healthy somewhere in the world.

 <- Highland Heart ReviewWolfish in Sheep’s Clothing Review ->
Image source: Hachette Australia

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for practical magic book cover

Title: Practical Magic
Author: Alice Hoffman
Series: Practical Magic #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect), 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Chic lit, Magic, Romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Scribner
Year: 1995
5th sentence, 74th page: The rings around the moon are now so bright Sally’s convinced everyone in the neighbourhood will be awake before long.

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Synopsis

As children, sisters Gillian and Sally were forever outsiders in their small New England town, teased, taunted and shunned for the sense of magic that seemed to hang in the air around them. All Gillian and Sally ever wanted was to get away.

Years later, tragedy brings the sisters back together. They’ll find that no matter what else may happen, they’ll always have each other.

An enchanting tale of love, forgiveness and family, Practical Magic is one of Alice Hoffman’s best loved novels and the basis of the classic movie.

Thoughts

I literally bought this because I saw the book in a bookstore a few days after I’d watched the movie (I was on a Sandra Bullock binge-watch). Prior to seeing it, I actually had no idea that Practical Magic was even based on a book. This seems to be happening a lot to me at the moment to be fair…

Although I loved this book, I need to start this review with the fact that the book is really nothing like the movie. I was expecting a feel-good, sisterly tale that focused on the strong bond between the two. And this story does do that. But it’s also focusing on the flawed way that we as humans, sisters and family interact with each other. As someone who has a sister, I can tell you, this novel felt far more realistic and non-sugar-coated than the movie. Both are amazing, but this had a completely different flavour and tone than what I was expecting.

Other than the obvious connection between the three generations of sisters and a great, contemporary look at family ties, I really loved this style of writing. As I previously mentioned, it was nothing like I expected. And it really wasn’t anything like what I’ve experienced before. There was something completely unique about the style of writing that drew me in. A sense of darkness and doom that managed to sit within the pages, but not overbear them. Probably mostly due to the excellent use of foreshadowing that Hoffman employs. In most stories you can kind of guess something is going to go wrong (that’s generally the catalyst for the storyline, and who wants to read a story where everything goes right?). Yet, the slight sense of foreshadowing and the wording used in this makes everything all the more sinister and intense. Something that I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed.

 <- Nightbird ReviewThe Probable Future Review ->
Image source: Simon & Schuster

Let the Night In by Sandra Kasturi

Book Review, ,
Overview
Evolve

Title: Let the Night In
Author: Sandra Kasturi
In: Evolve (Nancy Kilpatrick)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Poetry, Vampires
Pace: Slow
Format: Poem
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Hush – he lays you, bitten, down.

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Synopsis

A poem about the secrets in the night and the vampires that live there.

Thoughts

Every now and then it is nice to read a good little poem. And this one fit that bill – it was only four stanzas, and the language utilised is quite evocative. At least, it made me think of shadows whispering along moonlit nights and avenues. Nights where the monsters roam.

This is a nice, simple way to start of the Evolve collection of vampirific short stories. It has all of the darkness and intricacy of a vampire on the prowl, with the sense of mystery and lyricality that I’m beginning to associate with the subgenre.

 <- Evolve ReviewLearning Curve Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Wolves of the Witchwood by Kate Forsyth

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for wolves of the witchwood book cover

Title: Wolves of the Witchwood
Author: Kate Forsyth
Series: The Impossible Quest #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Adventure, Australian authors, Easy reading, Medieval fantasy
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: Tom blinked and his vision swam.

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Synopsis

I know every hidden path through these woods. Trust me. There is no griffin in this forest.

Hunted by Lord Mortlake, Tom, Quinn, Elanor and Sebastian flee for cover. The unicorn leads them into the darkness of the Witchwood where the wolves howl. Can Wilda the witch be trusted?

Danger surrounds, but there’s not time to lose. The four unlikely heroes must find the griffin, dragon and sea serpent before it’s too late.

Thoughts

After finding the unicorn, the four young heroes on their impossible quest set off to find a Griffin. I love the mixture of fantasy and growing up that are intertwined in this journey. Even though this is only the second book in the series, the four children have already begun to accept each other for their strengths and flaws – the bickering has already almost stopped.

Something about this story that I love is the fact that the main characters who bicker and fight are the two boys – the girls (who, let’s be honest) are often cast into the “bitchy” roles towards one another don’t have any of these issues. Actually they quietly and quickly accept each other from the very beginning.

Wolves of the Witchwood, for an adult, is an incredibly easy, breezy and simple read. I spent a few nights reading it before bed when I needed to switch off, but was too tired to actually concentrate on anything. It’s the perfect addition to your shelf for those people who like a quick, easy read. Or the perfect addition to a children’s shelf.

 <- Escape from Wolfhaven Castle ReviewThe Beast of Blackmoor Bog Review ->
Image source: Kobo

Ayama and the Thorn Wood by Leigh Bardugo

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for the language of thorns book cover

Title: Ayama and the Thorn Wood
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Language of Thorns (Leigh Bardugo)
In: Grishaverse Companion
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fairy tales, Fantasy, Illustrated
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Imprint
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: And what a brave girl to attempt such a task.

Synopsis

Ayama’s sister is beautiful, and she is often forgotten. Until the day that the King needs a messenger to go and negotiate with his beast of a son… then her entire world is changed.

Thoughts

Most stories, fairy tales, really anything that I read features a pretty girl. She is gifted by grace, beauty, kindness, yadda, yadda, yadda. But not so with this reimagined fairy tale story. This is all about the ugly (and somewhat forgotten) ugly sister.

Ayama isn’t beautiful, her voice sounds horrible, and even her parents are kind of freaked out by her. She’s a lot more like everyone else in the world, and it’s kind of nice to read about someone who isn’t beautiful. But she does have all of the characteristics that I have become used to in a lead girl in a fairy tale. Ayama is kind, and humble. She has a strong moral and ethical compass. And she isn’t afraid to love. Everything that a young girl should actually aspire to be.

Although there is a major point throughout the story of the difference in perceptions and acceptance of siblings, this isn’t actually seen to cause a rift between the two siblings. The sisters still love each other and treat each other with respect, even when the parents are a little lacking in this. Normally I would expect a level of bitterness throughout, and it was incredibly refreshing to not come across this.

<- The Language of ThornsThe Too-Clever Fox ->

Image source: The Grishaverse Wiki

Halloween in Atlantis by Alyssa Day

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for halloween in atlantis book cover

Title: Halloween in Atlantis
Author: Alyssa Day
Series: Poseidon’s Warriors #0.1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Alyssa Day
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: Not wanting to think about the day she’d leave Atlantis and go back to Chicago.

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Synopsis

Halloween in Atlantis, a novelette of Poseidon’s Warriors

A Halloween treat from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Alyssa Day.
Now that Atlantis has finally risen to take its place on the world stage, the Atlantean warriors are having to face some new and interesting dangers — like Halloween parties.

Arrogant warrior Liam doesn’t understand the beautiful, bubbly human whose entire function in life appears to be to plan parties, but he can’t seem to keep away from her, either. Jamie, who considers herself to be completely unflappable–the hallmark of a great event planner–doesn’t understand why the far-too-serious Atlantean manages to get under her skin with every single encounter. Even if he is the sexiest man she has ever seen.

When the two of them are thrown together to solve a mystery surrounding the queen’s stolen jewels, sparks fly, secrets are revealed, and Halloween has never been hotter.

Thoughts

I didn’t actually realise that this novella takes place after the actions in Warriors of Poseidon until I was almost halfway through. I’m not really sure why it took me this long to figure it out, but I digress… it was still wonderfully fun, and luckily for me, didn’t give away much of the activities and plot throughout the rest of the Warriors of Poseidon series.

I’m an Australian, so I don’t really celebrate Halloween. I also don’t really get the whole hype about it. Which made it kind of fun to read a story that featured a Halloween celebration as the backdrop. Certainly a festive season that I’ve never partaken in, and one that both fascinates and disinterests me. I especially enjoyed the ways in which the Halloween party was used to create an escape avenue through fancy dress.

I love the paranormal romance throughout Alyssa Day’s stories. It is sweet, quaint and quick. But it also makes sense, and doesn’t feel like a horribly conceived, but badly written character development. I like that the relationships throughout feel natural.

 <- Heart of Atlantis ReviewChristmas in Atlantis Review ->
Image source: Kobo

Dear Prudence by Steven Savile

Book Review, ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Dear Prudence
Author: Steven Savile
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Sunlight and a crucifix.

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Synopsis

Miller needs to leave a note for his wife Prudence. But it takes him a little while to figure out exactly what he wants to say.

Thoughts

This story is just damned uncomfortable. To the point that I don’t even know how to shelf it – it was kind of funny, but mostly just… well…. Uncomfortable.

As the title suggests, this short story is effectively a letter to Prudence. Actually, it’s a series of different drafts that go into very graphic details about how and what Mike wants to do to Prudence (hence the uncomfortable part). There is a lot of background and reflection that has been shoved into a few pages. Which makes it both better and intensely more not-okay.

 <- An Evening with Al Gore ReviewA Good Psycho is Hard to Find Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Wild Hearts in Atlantis by Alyssa Day

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for wild hearts in atlantis book cover

Title: Wild Hearts in Atlantis
Author: Alyssa Day
Series: Warriors of Poseidon #1.5
In: Wild Thing (Marjorie Liu, Maggie Shayne, Alyssa Day & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: “I know of your so-called gift,” he sneered.

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Synopsis

Get swept away by the passions that rise out of the unfathomable depths of the lost city of Atlantis…

Thoughts

I loved Bastien’s romance. It features shapeshifters, passion and temptation. There’s also this great idea that although Riley and Conlan’s romance is the first in the series, Bastien met his soulmate a long time before Conlan did. It just took longer for the two to connect and find their way to each other.

I loved the sense of intrigue and intensity throughout this story. Other than the leading romance (which does take up most of this novella), there is a conspiracy theory, a race against time and an alliance to make. It was a lot to cram into a novella. But it was thoroughly enjoyable! There’s nothing like upping the stakes to increase the passion and lust in a paranormal romance…

As a finish to the Wild Thing anthology, this was a fun ending, as a next instalment in the Warriors of Poseidon series, it helped to keep me engaged within the series. It makes me wonder what is going to happen next.

 <- Atlantis Rising ReviewAtlantis Awakening Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Anachronist’s Cookbook by Catherynne M. Valente

Book Review, , ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk

Title: The Anachronist’s Cookbook
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Feminism, Steampunk
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: It is No Crime to destroy the Devil!

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Synopsis

Jane Sallow is taken into custody for the paraphenalia that she is distributing. But as the story unfolds, a strong message is given to the Baliffs who have trapped her.

Thoughts

The flow of this is not even remotely what I’m used to, or what I expected. Jane’s story is told, but it is also partnered with the wording in her fliers. Quick, pithy sentences that get the point across – mostly about feministic values such as equality. Or at least, that was what I got out of this story.

There is a sense of Jane being the messiah and the one to teach others to better their ways. Although, this was kind of hard to get at – because the storyline is jumpy, kind of complex and just generally a lot of fun.

Although this short story didn’t have the same intensity of steampunk as the rest in this collection so far, it did have the themes and messages that I’m becoming used to.

 <- The Armature of Flight ReviewNumismatics in the Reigns of Naranh and Viu Review ->
Image source: Amazon