Tag Archives: Easy Reading

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Frankenstein

Title: Frankenstein
Author: Mary Shelley
Series: Word Cloud Classics
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Easy reading, Gothic
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1818
5th sentence, 74th page: Yet my heart overflowed with kindness and the love of virtue.

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Synopsis

Horror. Romance. Science. A classic tale that would be a fright to miss!

The idea for the story came to the author, Mary Shelley, in a dream she had about a scientist who had created life and was horrified by what he had made. This Gothic-style romance is among the first of true science fiction novels, if not the first. A young scientist named Victor Frankenstein, after going through his own near-death experience, decides to play God and create life in the form of a grotesque creature, which turns into a nightmare. Through his experience, he learns that the gift of life is precious, not disposable. His journey and personal transformation has deeply affected readers.

Thoughts

I’ve never read Frankenstein. I’ve not really spoken to anyone who has. And it was one that I’ve wanted to read for curiosities sake but wasn’t completely desperate to read like some others. All that changed when I started on the first page of this book. I can completely understand why this has stood the test of time and captured so many readers’ imaginations and fascinations.

I really enjoyed how this tale started off with a series of letters that helped to foreshadow what was to come. It highlighted the dark nature of the tale, and the sense of total and utter devastation of Frankenstein as his story unfolded. Even though I knew that this wasn’t going to be a sunshine and roses kind of tale, it still broke my heart a little as the tale unfolded. Not just for Frankenstein, but there was a few moments when I felt genuine sorry for his monster too. Although, not enough to accept the horrors of his actions.

The foreshadowing that is layered throughout this story is brilliantly done. It gives this horrifying sense of dread and an uncomfortable feeling that sits in the pit of your stomach. The commentary on social injustice and assumptions that cause his monster to completely lose his mind just add to that feeling of uncomfortableness. But it’s a good uncomfortable, it acts as a way to open your eyes, even in this modern day that makes you question all of the assumptions that you make about others. And to remind you that sometimes the worst monster in the world is the one of your own creation.

<- Shakespeare’s Sonnets and Other PoemsStrange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde & Other Stories ->

Image source: Amazon

The Blue Pebble by Shirley Kennedy

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Irish RomanceTitle: The Blue Pebble

Author: Shirley Kennedy

In: The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance (Trisha Telep)

Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)

My Bookshelves: Celtic, Easy reading, Magic, Romance

Pace: Slow

Format: Short story

Publisher: Running Press

Year: 2010

5th sentence, 74th page: He gazed around the tiny room and frowned.

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Synopsis

A young, Irish woman granted with a gift moves to England and finds deceit, passion and a whole new life.

Thoughts

This was such a sweet short story. I knew from the very beginning who would end up with who, but there was a moment that still made me doubt it. Which of course made me read through the tale even quicker than I was before.

My family is English, and Irish, and Welsh… and every time I read a story that uses any of these three countries and groups, I feel myself getting swept away. I have never been, and I may never get the chance, but there is something about these settings that seems to speak to me. Or maybe it’s just my obsession with where my family originally came from. Regardless, the setting for The Blue Pebble completely swept me away. It was picturesque, sweet and everything that I wanted in a before-bedtime story.

I enjoyed how this story highlighted the injustices and cruelty of class systems and the judgements that people make. Poor Evleen was forced to contend with this, alongside her growing emotions and insecurities. This is such a sweet tale and one that I will probably pick up every time I feel low and alone.

 <- The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance Review The Ballad of Rosamunde Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews & Meljean Brook

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Overview
Must Love Hellhounds

Title: Must Love Hellhounds
Author: Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews & Meljean Brook
In: Must Love Hellhounds (Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Short story collections
Pace: Fast
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Berkley Books
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: She might control his cock, but nothing else.

Synopsis

Follow paranormal bodyguards Clovache and Batanya into Lucifer’s realm, where they encounter his fearsome four-legged pets in The Britlingens Go to Hell.

Seek out a traitor in the midst of a guild of nonlethal vampire trackers, one intent on eradicating members of the species of bloodsuckers, in Angels’ Judgment.

Find out why the giant three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades has left the underworld for the real world – and whose scent he’s following – in Magic Mourns.

Embark on a perilous search for the kidnapped niece of a powerful vampire alongside her blind – and damn sexy – companion and a hellhound in Blind Spot.

Thoughts

I feel so much love for this collection. Not only does it feature two of my already loved series, but it has introduced me to two more that I just have to get my hands on. The fact that all four novellas also feature a hellhound of some description… well, it just made me all the happier. And giddier. And just in general thoroughly enjoying this collection.

Although there was a great common thread throughout these four novellas, the styles and tales were completely different. I liked that they might all be paranormal fantasy, and they all had something to do with hell and demons, but they didn’t actually have all that much else in common with each other. I both loved and hated the fact that each of these tales is also part of a greater series – loved it because I have more books to fill my shelves now. Hated it because I can’t really afford to be purchasing said books.

 <- The Britlingens Go to HellBlind Spot ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
The Sword of Summer

Title: Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer
Author: Rick Riordan
Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Mythology, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: He nodded and smiled.

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Synopsis

MY NAME IS MAGNUS CHASE. I’M ORPHANED AND LIVING ROUGH ON THE STREETS OF BOSTON. AND THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET MUCH WORSE.

My day started out normally enough. I was sleeping under a bridge when some guy kicked me awake and said, ‘They’re after you.’ Next thing I know, I’m reunited with my obnoxious uncle, who casually informs me that my long-lost father is a Norse god.

Nothing normal about that. And it turns out the gods of Asgard are preparing ofr war. Apparently, if I can’t find the sword my father lost two thousand years ago, there will be doom. Doomsday, to be precise.

A fire giant atatcking the city?
Immortal warriors hacking each other to pieces?
Unkillable wolves with glowing eyes?
It’s all coming up.

But first I’m going to die.
This is the story of how my life goes downhill from there…

Thoughts

I keep meaning to read this (which is kind of the story of my life), but I just haven’t found the time to pick it up as of yet. Until I needed to complete it for a reading challenge, and this gave me a beautiful excuse to drown myself, yet again in the world and writing of Magnus Chase. You would have thought that the name Chase would have clued me in on the relationship to Annabeth and Percy. But it took Annabeth’s actual appearance to make me understand… and then finally start grinning with joy.

I love how Magnus is a homeless child, with a bad two years and a mother that he has fond memories of. He has a completely different background to anyone else I’ve met so far in Riordan’s worlds and I found that this, once again, outsider was a great insight into the difficulties of a rough past. As the novel unfolds, you find out more and more of Magnus’ life on the streets, and his pre-street life with his mother. The slow unfolding and release of memories throughout help to really build his character and give a great structure to the battles that he not only faces in this book, but those I’m sure he is about to face in future stories.

I am vaguely familiar with the Norse Pantheon, enough so that I know the names of the major gods. So I was completely expecting Magnus to be the son of Odin or Thor, two of the most famous Norse Gods. He isn’t. And his father was completely unexpected, but so much more exciting in the discovery. I can’t wait to see how the son of a Norse God will develop further. Although I might have to dig out some of my books on mythology to find the tales behind this modern adaptation.

<- 9 from the Nine WorldsThe Hammer of Thor ->

Image source: Amazon UK

Rookwood and Mrs. King by Lilith Saintcrow

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Dark and Stormy KnightsTitle: Rookwood and Mrs. King
Author: Lilith Saintcrow
In: Dark and Stormy Knights (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Rookwood coughed twice, rackingly.

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Synopsis

Rookwood is almost one of the undead. And he finally has the bait to set his trap, but is he the one really being lured to his end?

Thoughts

This was a really fun detective / vampire / I’m-not-sure-what story. Actually, although this was a vampire tale, I’m not really sure where else this fits into the scheme of genres. Or really into my shelf in general. I suppose the fact that it is in Dark and Stormy Knights – a collection of dark fantasy stories kind of helps me put it into context.

I liked the idea that the bait is acting as bait. The convoluted way in which this works, and the grotesque things that follow were actually a lot of fun. I’m almost disappointed that this isn’t actually part of a greater series. Yet, the idea that Rookwood and Mrs. King get to walk off into the sunset and their not-so-happily-ever-after is thoroughly enjoyable and made me have a bit of a smile at the end.

 <- Shifting Star Review God’s Creatures Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Romantic Poets by William Blake, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, George Gordon Byron, William Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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Overview
The Romantic Poets

Title: The Romantic Poets
Author: William Blake, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, George Gordon Byron, William Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Series: Word Cloud Classics
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Easy reading, Poetry
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: With rocks, and stones, and trees.

Synopsis

omanticism gained traction in the late 1700s as writers moved away from the intellectualism of the Enlightenment and toward more emotional and natural themes. The major works of the movement’s five most famous poets — William Wordsworth, George Gordon Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake, and John Keats — are represented in this handsome Word Cloud Classics volume, The Romantic Poets. One of the largest and most influential artistic movements in history, Romanticism valued intuition and pastoralism, and its themes are well represented in the verse of its stars.

Thoughts

There’s something wonderfully soothing about reading poetry. It is relaxing, and lyrical and although it often isn’t as amazingly descriptive, it is a great way to soar through the literary world.

I had forgotten the joys of romanticism. And the ways in which it has completely changed and informed much of the literature that I love and enjoy today.

There’s not much that I can really say about this collection. I will probably pick it up and read parts and writers from time to time to get my poetry fix. This is probably the only time I’ll actually read it cover to cover. There was just something so enjoyable about this first time though…

<- The Wizard of OzJane Eyre ->

Image source: Rainbow Resources

A Mere Formality by Ilona Andrews

Book Review, ,
Overview
A Mere Formality

Title: A Mere Formality
Author: Ilona Andrews
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Science fiction
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Ilona Andrews
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: He pushed past the Duke and drew her outside.

Synopsis

Warning: this story is one big dirty joke. There is no actual sex, but there is a lot discussion about it. It was written on a dare. Someone told us that we couldn’t write a short story around one particular phrase, and we did. So I recommend this for people 18+. Because you know, we wouldn’t want to corrupt your minors.

Thoughts

You know that a short story is going to be good when there is a smut warning at the very beginning. And when it’s going to be science fiction. And just generally when it is written by Ilona Andrews. Which this was amazing. And fun, and not at all what I would have expected from the title and cover of this short story.

A Mere Formality reminded me a little of the world building in Clean Sweep – the idea of universal and planetary politics playing against one another. And the idea that there are a multitude of groups who all have their own agendas, well, it’s familiar to us, but far more fun when the different parties have fur and weird, alien rituals.

Although there is a smut warning at the beginning of this, the smut is not what I was expecting. At all. And at first I was like, huh. But then I loved it. And laughed, and just had a great time enjoying this tale. Definitely worth going and reading it from Andrews’ website. Something I’m a little disappointed that it took me so long to get into such a tale.

 <- Small MagicsOf Swine and Roses ->

Image source: Ilona Andrews

Gold, Babies and the Brothers Muldoon by Derek Landy

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

Gold, Babies and the Brothers MuldoonTitle: Gold, Babies and the Brothers Muldoon
Author: Derek Landy
In: Armageddon Outta Here (Derek Landy)
Series: Skulduggery Pleasant #2.5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: “Ok,” Valkyrie interrupted, “I get it.

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Synopsis

Midnight. Valkyrie Cain approaches an old, ramshackle church to make a delicate deal with a trio of ugly, hairy goblins. To her absolute non-surprise, the goblins have no intention of honouring that deal- but not to worry. Skulduggery Pleasant is standing by to deliver a surprise of their own.

Things, however, don’t go exactly according to plan. Not least because the goblins have a sister. A very big, very strong sister. Who might just have a TINY crush on one of our heroes…

Thoughts

Trolls and goblins are always interesting, and disgusting, and a good misadventure for any books’ or series’ heroes. Which is where the Brothers Muldoon fit into this tale – they are disgusting and entertaining. They are a good counterbalance to the babies which Valkyrie and Skulduggery are trying to rescue. And the combination of evil cunning and sheer stupidity made me giggle all throughout this short story.

At the opening of this story I thought that this was just about Valkyrie and a solo mission. It was kind of an exciting idea, but what I love most is the witty repartee between the two leads, so it was also a little disappointing. But then Skulduggery bursts through the ceiling, gets trapped by a potential wife and general chaos ensues. Which leaves me not in the least bit disappointed, and very much entertained.

 <- Playing with Fire Review The Faceless One Review ->
Image source: Skulduggery Pleasant Wiki

Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Playing with FireTitle: Playing with Fire
Author: Derek Landy
Series: Skulduggery Pleasant #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “I’m afraid I can, and I have.”

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Synopsis

“Valkyrie Cain looked down at her own dead body, cold and unmoving. She kept expecting to see it breathe. But it just lay in the boot, a thing, a corpse with her face…”

With Serpine dead, the world is safe once more. At least, that’s what Valkyrie and Skulduggery think, until the notorious Baron Vengeous makes a bloody escape from prison, and dead bodies and vampires start showing up all over Ireland.

With Baron Vengeous after the deadly armour of Lord Vile, and pretty much everyone out to kill Valkyrie, the daring detective duo face their biggest challenge yet. But what if the greatest threat to Valkyrie is just a little closer to home…?

Thoughts

Skulduggery Pleasant is the kind of series that I can pick up and put down whenever I feel like something light and kind of sarcastic. This week, that’s exactly what I felt like. So I picked up Playing with Fire. And I read it in just over a day. Actually, the bulk of the book get read in one night. While I was watching Pride and Prejudice. A little bit of an odd combination, but it worked really well…

There are two things that I love about Landy’s writing and Skulduggery Pleasant series. The first is the fact that the main character is a thirteen-year-old girl. I don’t find many action-type books that are aimed at a young audience, potentially male, that has a young girl as the lead. Especially when said series is written by a man. Valkyrie might be the sidekick to the magic-wielding skeleton detective, but the storyline tends to centre on her, rather than him. And I love it. It’s so important to have a strong, female lead and one that young girls can look up to. We’re not pretty little wallflowers after all.

The second thing I love is the sarcastic wit and the dialogue. I find it hard to find a book that will generally make me laugh. Actually, I find it hard to find anything comedic that I enjoy. It has to be witty and clever. And generally it has to be sarcastic and a little dark. All of which this style of writing manages to accomplish. The dry, droll, sense of humour is exactly what I love and, although the storyline is good, it’s really the sarcastic wit with which it is carried forward that makes me read the story so quickly and vehemently.

 <- The Lost Art of World Domination Review Gold, Babies and the Brothers Muldoon Review ->
Image source: Thirst for Fiction

Even a Rabbit Will Bite by Rachel Caine

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Dark and Stormy KnightsTitle: Even a Rabbit Will Bite
Author: Rachel Caine
In: Dark and Stormy Knights (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dragons, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: I checked every day, but it was pro forma, the work of thirty seconds, and then I went on with my life, such as it was.

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Synopsis

Two aging enemies are forced to face off one last time… but will they be able to triumph over the past?

Thoughts

I didn’t know what to expect from this story – especially when the heading is Even a Rabbit Will Bite. Actually, I was expecting a killer rabbit, like the one in Monty Python. But I didn’t get that… I got something SO much better. Which left me with the happy feelings at the end of the tale.

This is a story about a decrepit old dragon slayer, and the only dragon left in the world – also decrepit, old and cranky. They both understand that eventually there will be a fight to the death, but they also want to live out their lives in peace. This juxtaposition builds slowly until the final conclusion, which is actually kind of beautifully poetic and sweet… in a killing, battle to the death kind of way…

 <- The Beacon Review Dark Lady Review ->
Image source: Goodreads