September Reading Goals

I'm behind on my reading goal, so I have an ambitious list for the month as I try to catch up. This month's reading list includes mostly books picked up from a trip to the local library, plus a few catch up review requests.  My priority is to finish Enchanted Ever After. Finishing the Enchanted, Inc. series has been a task because the last book was impossible to find! I finally found a copy, thanks to my new library's Hoopla account, but when I got 80% finished reading it, the checkout expired and I had exceeded my allowance for the month. So I have been waiting 2 weeks to finish the last few pages. So frustrating! Once I finish that, there are a few more old reads to finish that I hope to finally complete, and then several new library finds.

This is what my September reading list looks like:

Enchanted Ever After by Shanna Swendson (FINALLY)
The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite
Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
Vic Boyo Doofus Detective: Double Murders are Twice as Bad by Milo James Fowler
The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor
Never Less Than a Lady by Mary Jo Putney
A Storybook Hero by Shanna Swendson
It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
The Curse of Cain by Theophilus Monroe

And if I get to it, this further volume from another series that I have started:

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite

There are still reviews incoming for my August reads as well. Still; getting situated in the new house and trying to get everything for my business established in a new state (plus prepping for a festival at the end of the month) means that I have quite a backlog to post. I will get them all posted as soon as I can. I had ambitiously set up a goal of 2-3 posts a week before the move, and once things get balanced out, I hope to get back to that. Which means that there are a lot of posts coming! Please be patient and check back.

And, as always, I am open to and love discussion, so I invite you to grab a book and read along!

Kiss and Spell

Kiss and Spell (Enchanted, Inc. #7)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9781986978866
202 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

Book 7 in the Enchanted, Inc. Series. With great power comes great danger… When a freak accident leaves Katie Chandler with magical powers, it seems like a wish come true for the former magical immune. But it also means she’s vulnerable to magic, just when the dangerous Elf Lord is cooking up another scheme in his bid for power. Anyone who gets in his way disappears—including Katie and her wizard boyfriend, Owen Palmer. Now Katie’s under a spell that obscures her true identity, living a life right out of a romantic comedy movie in a Hollywood set version of New York. Will she be able to find her true Mr. Right in time to break the spell with a kiss and warn everyone, or will she be trapped forever, unaware of the doom facing her world?

My Thoughts:

Kiss and Spell opens with Katie exploring her newfound magical abilities and how they will affect her role at MSI. But before she even has a chance to take everything in and find a new routine, the whole world is turned upside down in many ways, and so much is happening. You don't get much time with this volume to get your bearings before everything goes off the rails, but it is in the best way.

Despite how much I have enjoyed the previous books, there has been a noticeable repetition. There are only so many times and so many ways to spin when powers bounce around, evil wizards interfere, and dates are disastrous. I was looking for and hoping for something fresh. Kiss and Spell absolutely delivered. Putting Katie and Owen in a new setting was genius. It was great seeing them interacting in a different way. I would read an entire book about AU coffeeshop bookstore Katie and Owen. No, seriously.

The stage set in this book allows for some great moments of humor, including plenty of spot on criticisms of romance movies. Which you wouldn't necessarily expect in a borderline romance novel. But it worked brilliantly. It also gives you an opportunity to better get to know some of the characters introduced in the last book - though, sadly you also don't get as much time with some favorites from previous books. 

While it was possibly the most out of this world (do you see what I did there?) storyline yet, it was also a most endearing one. Of  all of the Enchanted, Inc. books that I have read so far, Kiss and Spell is possibly my favorite. 

Parent's Guide:

This book is pretty easy to read and the story is fun. There is fighting, but it is almost all of the magical variety. This book is definitely teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter:

One! It was a subtle one about 80% of the way into the book, but Katie herself identified it for the reference it was. 

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan

 

Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan Vol 1 & 2
By  Gaku Kuze

ISBN: 9781646511143 & 9781646511402
272 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle/ComiXology
Trigger Warning: Depression, Suicide, Mental Health Topics 

Synopsis:

How did the cynical Uramichi end up hosting a TV show for small children? And how long is the studio going to let him keep teaching the kids the sorrow and exhaustion of life instead of, say, the ABCs? This dark comedy manga started as a webcomic and became a bestseller across Japan -- with an anime coming soon!

Uramichi is a 31-year-old host on a kids' show who leads exercise routines and teaches life lessons colored by one main theme: Adulthood sucks. Alongside mascots played by a couple of bushy-tailed twentysomethings and a singing duo whose music embodies the notion of being kicked while you're down, Uramichi wades through the misery of working life, one sardonic comment at a time...

V2 - While grappling with unexpected overtime, unreasonable working conditions, and unflattering costumes, URAMICHI makes the acquaintance of other jaded professionals working deep behind the scenes. Digital strategist SAITO and merchandising whiz HANBEI almost seem like kindred spirits, but their respective bad attitude and worse temper keep the doors to URAMICHI's fragile heart firmly shut. There must be someone out there who understands... right?

My Thoughts:

I stumbled upon the first two volumes of Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan at my local library and didn't know what to expect. I had seen a friend mention the impending anime series on social media a few days beforehand, so I decided to give the manga a shot. The best description for what I found contained within the pages was "twisted." The story is about Uramichi, a 31-year-old retired gymnast who passes his days as the host of a children's show. Uramichi is the quintessential pessimist, and clearly has a lot of mental and emotional baggage, which is seen in his interactions with the kids and his peers.

His peers being four other performers who work on stage with Uramichi, and who round out the cast of main characters. These coworkers each have their own share of quirks and traumas as well. Because of this, the characters all mesh well together and tell an interesting and funny set of stories.

Funny and dark. The Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan series is definitely what would be considered dark humor. The characters clearly care about the kids that they are working with, but at are frequently sarcastic and go on about pain, depression, and job burnout. If you are sensitive to mental health issues, this may not be the series for you. However, if you are one of those people who likes to laugh through the pain then you will enjoy it.

The art work in these graphic novels is really clean and the story is not too complicated to follow. At some points there is a bit much going on within the pages, but it's all a part of the glorious chaos that makes the story work. One thing that I did like about this series is that there is a glossary in each volume where they cover Japanese terms used in the book that readers may not be familiar with.

As twisted as the story was, I loved Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan. There are currently only two volumes available and, as previously mentioned, an anime which aired during the summer of 2021 (available on Funimation). Volume three of the manga has been announced and has cover art. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on February 1, 2022. I can't wait.

Parent's Guide:

This book is rated 16+ due to content that is somewhat dark. It covers some deep topics like depression, and is probably not for kids. Mature older teens may enjoy it, depending on how twisted their sense of humor is.

No Quest for the Wicked

No Quest for the Wicked (Enchanted, Inc. #6)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9781986981125
317 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

A Questing We Will Go

Now that the Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc. team has defeated the nefarious Spellworks, the only “competition” in town, Katie Chandler doesn’t have much to do as director of marketing, and she’s starting to question her role at MSI. Her boyfriend Owen Palmer, on the other hand, is in hog heaven, translating an ancient and powerful magical manuscript.

But then he finds that the cryptic text describing the location of an enchanted gem known as the Eye of the Moon has radically changed. This deadly stone gives its holder enhanced power over others and a craving for more power. It once caused a terrible war before it was safely hidden and then lost – and now it seems to be in New York and set in an elven brooch that renders its wearer invulnerable. Whoever has this brooch could take over the world.

Katie and Owen must find it before anyone else does, and they’re not the only ones searching. They’ll need all the help they can get, including Katie’s visiting grandmother. But who can they trust when their allies fall under its spell? Not to mention the new enemies who are deadlier than anything they’ve faced before.

My Thoughts:

No Quest for the Wicked, the 6th entry in the Enchanted, Inc. series, opens with Katie and Owen settling into their new roles at MSI. Spellworks has finally been defeated and things appear to be calming down a bit. Owen is without his powers and finds himself facing great scrutiny from the magical community after the reveal of his lineage. He is keeping himself occupied with something that, to him, is a dream assignment - translating the Ephemera, an ancient text so powerful that nobody with magic is allowed near it. Katie, on the other hand, is restless, not feeling sure of her current position in the company as marketing director. 

You get to see a lot of fun character interaction in this volume. Katie's beloved grandmother comes into town from Texas and brings along her own brand of chaos. I absolutely love the exchanges between the Granny and Merlin! Readers also get to learn more about the more feral nature sprites that Granny introduced us all to in Don't Hex With Texas. This book also brings back Mimi, Katie's erstwhile boss from the firm she was at before she came to work at MSI. Mimi lands a major role in No Quest for the Wicked, as she finds herself newly engaged and in possession of the Eye of the Moon, a "One Ring" style powerful magical artifact that everyone wants to get their hands on .

Most notably, No Quest for the Wicked gives us an opportunity to see into the world of the Elves, who have really only been mentioned in passing up to this point. We get to learn more about Elven culture and politics, and how they fit in to the magical world that has been created. And their role is somewhat surprising.

The plot in this book is a bit all over the place. There is a LOT going on - Owen is walking on eggshells trying to convince everyone that he is not out for world domination, everyone is hunting for the Eye of the Moon, and nobody can quite trust anyone else. It is quite exhausting at times. That's not to say it is bad, just that it is complicated. Yet somehow, despite everything that is going on, I find this to be the least memorable storyline of the entire series. It's like the magical world's Eclipse. (Seriously, does anyone remember what happened in that book? Because I don't.)

On the relationship front, Katie and Owen's seems to have all but stalled out. There is still the obligatory amount of blushing, but now they are together and things have mellowed some, yet there is nothing happening. After how much the first books in the series focused on Katie's relationships and desires, it kinda feels like a betrayal. I wasn't expecting anything hot and heavy. Just something to show that they actually still care about one another. Because at this point I'm really not sure. The words may be there but the chemistry is fleeting.

Overall, No Quest for the Wicked is an okay story, but it doesn't hold up to previous volumes in the series. It wasn't bad enough to keep me from reading the next book in the series, but it was somewhat of a let down when compared to it's predecessors.

Parent's Guide:

This book is very easy to read and the story is fun. It has the standard bits of fantasy violence, but nothing too extreme. The setting is real world relatable for older kids. This book is definitely teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter:

And still none. :*(

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

Much Ado About Magic

Much Ado About Magic (Enchanted, Inc. #5)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9781986979122
292 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

To Do: Manage Magical Mayhem, Save the Company, Save the World

Katie Chandler is back in New York and at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc. – and just in time. The city’s in the grip of a magical crime wave from spells that wizarding whiz Owen Palmer thinks look awfully familiar, and the rogue firm Spellworks is raising its profile in the magical world by selling protective amulets. It’s Katie’s job as the new director of marketing for MSI to fight this battle of public perception while Owen and the other wizards try to uncover what’s really going on.

What Katie doesn’t realize is that her idea to stage a showcase for MSI’s magical achievements is playing right into a devious plot more than three decades in the making. Now Katie has to do damage control that has nothing to do with marketing. To save the magical world, she’ll have to prove who the real enemy is, and doing that will require digging deeper into Owen’s mysterious past than he wants anyone to go. If she fails, she not only stands to lose a magical war, but she could also lose the man she loves.

My Thoughts:

Much Ado About Magic, the 5th entry in the Enchanted, Inc. series, finds Katie and Owen back in New York City at MSI and once again facing off against Spellworks, the rogue spell company that is selling curses and dark charms all over the region. The competition has upped their game and is now selling both the curses and charms to protect against the curses, in an effort to make it appear as though they have the answers to everyone's problems. Katie gets assigned as MSI's new marketing director and is planning a big event to improve the company's image and win back their customers.

There are a lot of new characters in this book, including a whole marketing department of personalities. I particularly enjoyed the character of Perdita, Katie's new elf assistant. Not only because she is funny AF, but also because I think this is the first actual named and backstoried elf in the series. We knew elves existed - they have been mentioned in passing - but we had not actually met one yet. Now we have and she is hilarious and a nutcase. So far departed from the usual image of elves in fantasy works. 

Much Ado About Magic finally wraps up the core plotline that has been around since Enchanted, Inc., resolving the mess started by Phelan Idris. This volume is a bit tamer than it's predecessors, but is still interesting. Katie gets a much bigger set of responsibilities. Sure, she is always the focus anyways, due to being the main character and the unicorn magical immune, but this time she gets to use actual learned abilities and prove that she is useful beyond her immunity. There are plenty of jokes the whole scene with the honeymoon suite was a complete riot! , but also plenty of emotions. Poor Owen gets put through the ringer and I felt so bad for him - especially when his parentage is revealed and used as a weapon to create distrust and the company suffers for it. And then, to top it all off he loses his powers .

There are some nice romantic moments between Katie and Owen in Much Ado About Magic. Their relationship is still progressing slower than molasses in winter, but there are some touching moments. The ending is particularly sweet. Owen seems to be taking his loss in stride and Katie still makes a point to say that she wouldn't have him any other way. And of course there is still plenty of blushing along the way...

Parent's Guide:

Like the rest of the series so far, Much Ado About Magic is a cheery read with plenty of laughs. It has the expected amount of childish name calling and fantasy violence, but nothing too severe. Older kids who like magical settings and sarcasm will enjoy it. This book is teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter:

Still none. :(

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

 

Don't Hex with Texas

 

Don't Hex With Texas (Enchanted, Inc. #4)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9780345492937
292 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

Everything’s bigger in Texas—including romance, magic, and danger!

Katie Chandler has fled fast-paced Manhattan and returned home to a simpler life, working at her family’s feed-and-seed store in Cobb, Texas. In a painfully selfless gesture, Katie had left the sexy wizard Owen Palmer to battle his demons in the magical realm–after all, Katie just seemed to attract evil, which only made Owen’s job a lot harder. But now it seems that trouble has followed her home: Despite the fact that Merlin, Katie’s old boss at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has assured her that Cobb is free of enchantment, (magically speaking), Katie begins to notice curious phenomena.

Cobb is being plagued by a series of inexplicable petty crimes and other devilish mischief, and after her experiences in Manhattan, Katie knows “unauthorized magic” when she sees it. As this new darkness strikes deep in the heart of Texas, Owen appears (literally) to investigate. Now Katie’s friends and family must show the bad guys why it’s bad luck to hex with Texas, while Katie and Owen combine their strengths like never before to uncover a sinister plot before evil takes root in the Lone Star State.

My Thoughts:

Book four of the Enchanted, Inc. series opens on Katie back with family in her hometown of Cobb, Texas, where she fled to at the end of Damsel Under Stress. Which was super cruel, after we spent 2 books waiting for Katie and Owen to finally get together.

If I'm being totally honest, I was really nervous going into this volume from the Enchanted, Inc. series. I have lived in Texas almost all of my life and I tend to find that when it is mentioned in books - especially as a focal point - that stereotypes abound. Which gets old pretty fast. So I approached Don't Hex With Texas with a fair degree of trepidation. There are definitely a few stereotypes, but it does not fall victim to a lot of the tropes that plague books written by authors who "did research" and do not live in the area.

The change of scene gave an opportunity for fresh story with new faces. But it also meant that we did not get to see faces that we have all come to love, like Rod, Sam, and Merlin. Most interestingly, it gave us the opportunity to meet the rest of Katie's family (having already met mom and dad in Once Upon Stilettos), all of which were unique and likeable - with the possible exception of one sister in law. Isn't that always the case? 😅 The best character out of this bunch had to be Katie's grandmother, who believed in "the old ways" and was thought to be a total lunatic by most of the family. Knowing what we, the reader, know about their world? The joke's on them.

The plot centralizes around magic starting to appear in their very nonmagical town and Katie, as the only local who should know about magic, being forced to investigate. When she discovers the root of the problem, a particular shady wizard who I didn't really expect to pop up in this volume and reports back to NYC, the decision is made to bring in the big guns and Owen shows up on her doorstep.

The story in Don't Hex With Texas seems to move slow, even when compared to other volumes in this series. Despite this, the plot is not lacking. There are plenty of twists and turns and keeps you interested. There are also some really funny parts, like Owen running around in a borrowed LARP costume cloak and literally every interaction with Katie's grandmother. There are some pretty predictable moments like when it is revealed that Katie's older brother is the wizard causing chaos all over town. Also plenty of surprising moments like the fact that his wife was not involved and put him in his place for it. Also, that one of the other brothers is immune too and knew something was going on and just never bothered to say anything.

Don't Hex With Texas wasn't my favorite book in the series, but it still ranked slightly above Damsel Under Stress. It was funny and interesting, but I missed the fast paced NYC scene and this one was just too slow paced for me. Not enough to deter me from continuing with the series though.

Parent's Guide:

As with the other books in the Enchanted, Inc. series, Don't Hex with Texas is relatively safe in themes, with little more than some fantasy violence. This book does contain a few criminal acts (thefts) but the error of ways is seen and attempts at reparation are made. The themes may be too much for the youngest readers, but in general this book is teen friendly and entertaining.

The Oz Counter:

NONE! And again I have to say that I was shocked. This series is so centralized to magic. And this time they were in the South, closer to Kansas. Home of scarecrows and farms. I mean come on, she went home. There totally could have been a "no place like home" joke! But nope. I fully expected at least one reference. I was failed.

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

Damsel Under Stress

 

Damsel Under Stress (Enchanted, Inc. #3)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9780345492920
320 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

To-do: Stop the bad guys. Rescue the wizard. Find the perfect outfit for New Year's Eve.

At last, Owen Palmer, the dreamboat wizard at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has conjured up the courage to get Katie Chandler under the mistletoe at the office holiday party. But just when it looks like Katie has found her prince, in pops her inept fairy godmother, Ethelinda, to throw a wand into the works. Ethelinda's timing couldn’t be worse. A plot hatched by MSI's rogue ex-employees, Idris and his evil fairy gal pal Ari, threatens to expose the company's secrets - and the very existence of magic itself. Even worse, it could also mean the end of Katie's happily-ever-after. Now Katie and Owen must work side by side (but alas, not cheek to cheek) to thwart the villains' plans. Braving black-magic-wielding sorceresses, subway-dwelling dragons, lovelorn frog princes, and even the dreaded trip to meet Owen's parents at Christmas, Katie and her beau are in a battle to beat Idris at his own sinister game. All mischief and matters of the heart will come to a head at a big New Year's Eve gala, when the crystal ball will drop, champagne will pour, and Katie will find herself truly spellbound.

My Thoughts:

Katie and Owen are finally together, and it only took 3 books to get there! I wanted to be excited for them, but every turn in Damsel Under Stress felt like it was trying to make a point that they should not be together after all. It was all so confusing, and frustrating. But I still rooted for them. And wanted to absolutely strangle Ethelinda. 

Ethelinda. Let's talk about Ethelinda. Damsel Under Stress introduces Ethelinda as Katie's wayward, well-intentioned but utterly inept fairy godmother. She walks around looking like an absolute disaster, yet carries a chip on her shoulder thanks to her most successful mentee/charge - the actual Cinderella. Riding on the memory of this career high, she thinks that she knows what is best for everyone and she causes a lot of trouble because of it - trouble for others that Katie finds herself having to fix, and quite serious trouble for Katie herself. I feel like her description is supposed to endear her to the reader, but she just annoyed me.

Another new face, or rather a set of new faces, introduced in Damsel Under Stress is that of Owen's foster parents. In contrast to that of the fairy godmother, these interactions are truly charming. His parents have distinct personalities and give you a bit more insight on why Owen is how he is. James and Gloria are extremely likeable characters. Even when Gloria is being harsh, you can tell it is coming from a place of love. You also get to meet Owen's cat Loony, who is just the most precious thing ever and makes you love Owen that much more.

Plot wise, this one has a bit more going on than the last two. Idris and Ari are up to their usual shenanigans, but no longer coordinated, which causes even more chaos. Especially when Ari's interference causes Katie to start to exhibit magical abilities (which she doesn't tell people about in a timely fashion because she obviously didn't learn her lesson the last time around...). Then things get crazy with the addition of a couple of frog princes, some (sometimes froggy) corporate intrigue, a subway tunnel full of dragons - which of course Owen tames and starts treating like they are no different than his cat Loony, because he is just that precious - and a life altering interaction with Katie's roommates. Inexplicably, even with all of this going on, the pace seems slow at times - but that is probably for the best so you can take it all in. 

Of all of the Enchanted, Inc. books that I have read so far, Damsel Under Stress is probably my least favorite. It's not a bad book, and it is funny. I just didn't like it as much as the previous ones - mostly because Ethelinda just annoyed me that much. Also, the ending will just gut you. I was glad that I had immediate access to the next book. I can't imagine what it was like for those who read this book before book four was published.

Parent's Guide:

Like it's predecessors, Damsel Under Stress is relatively easy to read and the story is fun. There is romance but no sex. A little cussing. As always. there is fighting, but it is almost all of the magical variety. This book is decently teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter:

 Two. And they were solid, aware, and intentional ones too.

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

Captain Bartholomew Quasar: Starfaring Adventures

 

Captain Bartholomew Quasar: Starfaring Adventures (Captain's Log Book 2)
By  Milo James Fowler

ISBN: 9781541361386
167 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

Meet Captain Quasar, a cross between James T. Kirk and Dudley Do-Right - except in Quasar's case, things seldom ever go right....

Join Captain Bartholomew Quasar and the crew of the Effervescent Magnitude in this hilarious collection of short stories as they confront bands of nefarious space pirates, cantankerous bandits, exotic aliens, devious powers of persuasion, mysterious ghosts from the past, deep space identity crises, a runaway hyper-speed train, an insidious computer virus, and a villain with the fastest thumbs in the quadrant.

My Thoughts:

I'm just going to come out and say it - Captain Bartholomew Quasar: Starfaring Adventures  is a riot. When I started listening to this I did not know what to expect. Is it supposed to be comedy? I hope so. Because I found it hilarious. It's a little bit Star Trek and a little bit Star Wars, with some cheesy western thrown in for good measure. Are space westerns a thing? If not, they should be. Yeah, I know Firefly exists. But it's not quite a true space western.

When the book started playing (because I was listening to the audiobook), right away I noted that the writer has a thing for extremely long names. The captain is Bartholomew Quasar and his ship is the Effervescent Magnitude. Many of the planets have really long names too. It made me wonder if he was aiming for a target character count. I was worried that the book would become too wordy. But those concerns were alleviated really fast when the humor kicked in. The book is a collection of short stories, some of which are actually only a few lines long. And in the end, the name of the ship is quite fitting, and the story behind the captain's name is ridiculous, but not in a bad way. 

The synopsis for Captain Bartholomew Quasar: Starfaring Adventures describes Captain Quasar's character as a cross between James T. Kirk and Dudley Do-Right. While listening to these stories I definitely got the James Kirk vibe. But there was someone else, more prevalent, and I just could not place it. That is, until the first time I heard the description of his uniform jacket, and that's when it clicked in my mind. Quasar is about 40% Kirk and 60% Zap Brannigan. You know, from Futurama? He's got that obliviously arrogant womanizer persona nailed. Despite that, he is an extremely likable character.

The other characters are equally entertaining and likeable. Like Quasar, the first officer is another human - an Asian woman named Commander Won - who he likes to affectionately call "Number Won", much to her chagrin. She is the straight counterpoint to Quasar's insanity and it works so well. The third significant human crewman is Bill, the janitor turned bumbling Chief Engineer. While technically more of a background character, for some reason I thought he was hilarious. Maybe because my hubby is a comp tech named Bill... The final crewman of note is his helmsman, a large multiple armed sloth-like alien that is very much a throwback to the Wookie right hand man of Han Solo. 

The stories in Captain Bartholomew Quasar: Starfaring Adventures take place in a sector of space millions of miles from Earth and involve exploring, negotiating with sometimes hostile alien races, a touch of flirting, and a lot of goofy antics. Some stories may fall a bit flat, but most of them will make you laugh. If you are a fan of Firefly, Galaxy Quest, or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, then this book is right up your alley.

I do want to take a moment to address the narration - because as I said, I was listening to the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by  E. M. Carberry, and his storytelling makes the book as much as the writing does. He has a unique voice that draws you in and makes you want to listen, which is key in audiobook narration. Oddly, at times it was a little reminiscent of George Takei. Maybe it was intentional because he was trying to give Won an accent, or maybe he didn't even realize it. I just noticed it because my brain was already in a Trek mindset. It just came out at the weirdest times and caught me off guard.

I received a complimentary audiobook copy of Captain Bartholomew Quasar: Starfaring Adventures from the author, Milo James Fowler, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions stated are mine. The book is currently available available on Amazon.

Parent's Guide:

Captain Bartholomew Quasar: Starfaring Adventures may have some minor adult themes, but really, most of it is written in a way that the worst stuff would go over the head of someone innocent - much like writing in modern sitcoms and family shows. I feel that this could be a safe and fun read for teens who like things about space adventuring.

Best Laid Plans

Sometimes you make plans and sometimes those plans don't work out how you intend. Take my weekend for example. This weekend I went out and did Antique Alley - a 3 day bazaar / trade show and my first vendor event in like 18 months. It didn't go as well as I would have hoped. But more notably, it really threw a wrench in my posting schedule.

I typically pre-set my posts. I will make a "shell" post, with graphics and book details and then go in and add the meaty bits (typically labelled as the "My Thoughts" segments) after I am done reading the book, but before the post goes live. But this past weekend that didn't happen, and I had two posts go up missing a significant part of the post. One post was only an image.

Oops.

When I got to the market location on Thursday night, I discovered that I had no internet signal where I was, so I was unable to upload the information I had for Friday's review of The Lawrence Browne Affair. Later, when I got somewhere with wi-fi and dug out my laptop to do so, a surge from the power strip I plugged it into fried something. So I am now down a laptop. One that also had my Monday review of Once Upon Stilettos on it. Which meant that the post for that went up blank as well.

I got back home late Monday and had to re-write both of those entries. So the good news is that they are now corrected. The bad news is that I am still down a laptop that I probably can't afford to fix any time soon, and that there were other pending reviews on it that I now have to re-write.

R.I.P Laptop by TheEditorMLP on DeviantArt

Which is why there was no review today. I shuffled my last few scheduled posts for the month so that I have time to correct them. So review posting should resume as normal on Friday.

If you visited hoping to read my Friday or Monday post, please check them again. They are now properly posted. I would love to discuss these books and hear your opinions in the comments!

Once Upon Stilettos

Once Upon Stilettos (Enchanted, Inc. #2)

By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9780345481276

320 Pages

Available in Paperback, and on Audiobook and Kindle

Synopsis:

Click your heels three times and say,

“There’s no place like Bloomies!”

Katie Chandler’s life is pure magic–literally. As an executive assistant at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., she’s seen more than her share of fantastical occurrences. A mere Manhattan mortal, Katie is no wizard, but she’s a wiz at exposing “hokum” pocus, cloaked lies, and deceptive enchantments. And she’s fallen under the all-too-human spell of attraction to Owen, a hunky wizard and coworker. Owen, however, is preoccupied. Someone has broken into his office and disrupted top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job. CEO Merlin (yes, the Merlin) taps Katie and her special ability to uncover the magical mole.

Keeping her feelings in check while sleuthing alongside Owen, Katie is shocked to discover that her immunity to magic is waning, putting her in grave danger. Soon she’s surrendering to the charms and enchantments of everyone and everything around her, including a killer pair of red stilettos. Katie must now conjure up her natural instincts to get to the bottom of the break-in, regain her power, and win the wizard of her dreams.

My Thoughts:

After reading the first book in the Enchanted, Inc. series, I was addicted and could not wait to read the next installment. I needed to know what was going to happen to Katie and Owen! (And Ethan, I guess...) I immediately checked out a digital copy on my local library's app and started reading. I liked that the writer made a point to do a recap of information on important characters and plot points as they came up. It's definitely better to start with the first book, but even if you had not read that one, you would not be completely lost.

Once Upon Stilettos opens up with the girls shopping and immediately points out the titular red stiletto shoes - also seen on the cover - so you are given the feeling that they will be an important plot device. I suppose that you never know - some books name themselves after one random word or phrase mentioned once in the 600 pages *cough*Twilight*cough*. But I understood that they were going to be significant. (I mean, they were mentioned in the synopsis too, so....) With the weight of focus on those shoes, I would have been confused by the fact that they are left and not mentioned again for many chapters, were it not for the fact that the first book utilized the same slow intro method before it got to the main course. This serves to give you time to get to feel the characters and the world. The writer is good at what she does.

And having time to get to know the characters is important because, as might be expected of any chic-lit book, Once Upon Stilettos is largely about platonic and romantic relationships - Katie's differing relationships with  Ethan, Owen, Merlin, and Rod, as well as her other coworkers, her family, and her roommates. And of course the relationships between Trix and Pippin, and most confusingly Trix and Ethan - I didn't get that at all. I mean, I DID, but also, it was weird how she was SO attached to Pippin and then just dropped him like a hot rock and stopped trying as soon as Ethan expressed interest .

At its core though, Once Upon Stilettos is all about mystery. There is a spy within the company, and it's up to Katie to figure out who it is. I love a good mystery. I have made no secret of that. So it was fun to watch all the clues and try to solve it - which I did well before Katie did. Go figure. I was relatively sure of my suspicions when Ari kept trying to keep Trix and Pippin apart for no discernable reason and knew I had a lock on the culprit when Ari was casually reading the book of love spells that she secretly "borrowed" from Owen's books .

Then there is the second mystery, which is that Katie appears to be losing her immunity. The why (and even the who) of this one was obvious to me, thanks to a bit of FORESHADOWING, though the exact how took a little longer. Once several other parts clicked, it made more sense. This book is actually a good example for the fun and effectiveness of foreshadowing, as it utilizes the literary device multiple times.

Honestly, I felt like Once Upon Stilettos wasn't as strong as the first book. The pace was okay, maybe a little slow. I think that maybe at times there was just too much going on? You were being pulled a lot of ways, trying to keep up with Katie's relationship and dating troubles, immunity issues, family drama, apartment problems, etc. It was just a lot to keep straight and I think that maybe it had an affect on the delivery of the main story. It's wasn't bad by any stretch, just busy at times. Overall, this book was another fun read and I plan to keep reading the series. 

Parent's Guide:

Like the first volume in the series, this book is very easy to read and the story is fun. There are points that focus on sexuality and attraction, and one scene that borders on assault. Some of the humor is environment based and will probably go over the head of the younger teens, but in general this book is upper teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter: Three! Four if you count the included synopsis. After the surprising lack of references in the first book, I didn't know what to expect, but this one redeemed the series. Of course the references were regarding the shoes because the symbolism there is obvious, despite the fact that the shoes really were more tied to another folk tale. But I love a good pair of ruby slippers. 

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

My Dad Is a Russian Spy

 

My Dad Is a Russian Spy
By Candy Berg, Illustrated by Isabela Flores de Moura

ISBN: 9781614339304
33 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Synopsis:

A young girl decides her dad is a Russian spy. Follow the clues to see if you come to the same conclusion!

Breakout author Candy Berg has something for kids and parents alike in My Dad Is a Russian Spy.

Enjoy your family reading time and practice some spycraft yourself with every re-read.

My Thoughts:

My Dad Is a Russian Spy is a charming little kids book that follows a little girl who believes that her dad may be more than what he appears to be. To be specific, she suspects that he is, in fact, a Russian spy. The story is clever and will definitely speak to kids who love mystery, as it plays up to the concept of kids with overactive imaginations and the childlike love for discovering things and having adventures.

According to the information provided by the publisher, My Dad Is a Russian Spy is targeted at kids between the ages of 5 and 14. I feel like, for all ages in that window, there are some things that work and others that do not. For a pre-teen or young teen who reads on level, this book seems like it would be too simplistic. It would be an easy silly read, but at 184 words in the entire story, the word count is really low for an age group that should be reading chapter books. For a younger child, say 5-8, the word count is okay, but some of the words and concepts are probably significantly beyond comprehension. I understand adding new words to vocabulary, but words like "surveillance" and "interrogation" are a bit advanced for young readers and would require explanation. A parent could be reading rather than the child, but sill, would the child understand? Some of the phrases used fit into that category as well, like mention of a "safe house" or a "sleeper agent". There are adults who couldn't even tell you what a "dead drop" is. Does that phrase really belong in a book designed for a 5 year old?

Let's talk art. Because the truth is that the art can make or break a kids' book. The art in this book is done in a lovely watercolor. It is vibrant and very intricate, while at the same time not overwhelming in detail. The full page illustrations are definitely appealing to the eyes and would draw in the reader.

The accompanying text is a simple bold type Serif font. Honestly, I wish that more writers and publishers would get in the habit of using San Serif style fonts, as they are easier for those of us with dyslexia to follow. (And yes, I understand the irony that most of my blog is in a Serif font. For the longest time I could not figure out how to change the font without going into html coding. Now that I know how, I am working on it, but it has to be done post by post and I am doing it slowly as I have free time.) I will say, the font used has decent kerning (spacing) and is a decent size, so it was easy to read on my computer screen. I cannot speak for the Kindle format because the ARC did not load correctly in my Kindle app - the words did not appear in the pages where they should have.

My overall takeaway is that My Dad Is a Russian Spy is a cute book with a lot of potential for kids who love mystery, but it could have used a bit more polish to make sure that it was age appropriate in concepts and vocabulary.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of My Dad Is a Russian Spy from Entrada Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Parent's Guide:

My Dad Is a Russian Spy is by definition a children's book, but I stand by what I say above. I feel like the pictures would be appealing, but the ideas would go over the heads of the youngest and it would be too easy of a read for the older. Perhaps it would sit best with those around 7-8, but with most kids past that point, you may run the risk of them seeing it as a "baby book".

Devil on Her Shoulder

 

Devil on Her Shoulder (Volume 1: The Bruja Is Missing!)
By Cédric Mayen, Art by Sandra Cardona

ISBN: 9791032812310
49 Pages
Available on Kindle & Comixology

Synopsis:

Hell and damnation! The Bruja is missing! When the most powerful witch alive disappears without a trace, Norah, her 17-year-old niece, decides to investigate. But upon entering her aunt's manor, she interrupts a summoning ritual and finds herself face to face with the devil... Or half of him, anyway, as he has been cut in two and is now stuck in a pentagram. Unable to return to Hell without Norah's help, Lucifer agrees to assist her in finding the Bruja—a devilish task when you're the most feared and hated being on the planet!

My Thoughts:

For starters, I just have to say that the art in Devil on Her Shoulder is stunning. The artist is extremely talented and the pictures are colorful, creative, and downright beautiful. The imagery used is mature but at the same time somewhat cutesy. It has a little bit of a Hayao Miyazaki Spirited Away vibe. But at the same time, the demons kind of make me think of  Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas.

The text style compliments the art very well. My only complaint was that it was a bit difficult to read on my tablet screen, but that could merely be the limitations of the Net Galley app and my device, which has a narrow 7 inch screen. In print format or on a large screen Kindle or a full computer screen, I doubt it would be as much of an issue.

The characters have moments where they are most serious, but also share a good deal of sarcasm and witty banter, which delivers quite a few laughs. The lead characters are all quite likeable. Yes, even the devil! The situation he has found himself in, while serious, is also pretty comical and his semi-frequent shapeshifting is fun. (Even if his Ryan Gosling isn't quite convincing...)

The overall story is original, clever, and inviting. Once I started reading Devil on Her Shoulder, I did not want to put it down and I was sad when I came to the end - which was a total cliffhanger! I can't wait for volume two to be released. I will absolutely be following this series.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of Devil on Her Shoulder from NetGalley and publisher EuropeComics in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Parent's Guide:

Devil on Her Shoulder is a relatively easy read, and with the lead character being a teen I feel like it is relatable to younger teen readers. Obviously, it discusses heaven and hell and has a great deal to do with fictionalized witchcraft, so if those things are an issue than that is something to consider. But there are no images that are risqué, gruesome, or severely off-putting. I think this is a great option for teens.

Enchanted, Inc.

Enchanted, Inc. (Enchanted, Inc. #1)
By  Shanna Swendson

ISBN: 9780345481252
308 Pages
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

Katie Chandler had always heard that New York is a weird and wonderful place, but this small-town Texas gal had no idea how weird until she moved there. Everywhere she goes, she sees something worth gawking at and Katie is afraid she’s a little too normal to make a splash in the big city. Working for an ogre of a boss doesn’t help.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, Katie gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that tricks of the trade to the magic community. For MSI, Katie’s ordinariness is an asset. Lacking any bit of magic, she can easily spot a fake spell, catch hidden clauses in competitor’s contracts, and detect magically disguised intruders. Suddenly, average Katie is very special indeed.

She quickly learns that office politics are even more complicated when your new boss is a real ogre, and you have a crush on the sexy, shy, ultra powerful head of the R&D department, who is so busy fighting an evil competitor threatening to sell black magic on the street that he seems barely to notice Katie. Now it’s up to Katie to pull off the impossible: save the world and–hopefully–live happily ever after.

My Thoughts:

In this first volume of the Enchanted, Inc. series, we are introduced to a fictionalized version of New York where humans live alongside various magical creatures, completely oblivious to their existence.  That is, unless the human in question happens to be the rare wizard, or even more rare magical immune -  which allows them to see past the spells that the magical folk use to hide themselves on a daily basis. The lead character of the series, Katie, happens to be one of these immunes and this book chronicles her abrupt introduction into the magical world and all the wonders and dangers that it has to offer.

Books pertaining to magic are a dime a dozen, but the concept of magical immunes feels fresh and new, which gives this book the impact it needs to stand out. Another thing that makes the books appealing is that the world itself is relatable. Instead of inventing a whole new magical world as the book's setting, Enchanted, Inc. is centered in life around New York City as a New Yorker would know it, and it uses plenty of real world magical history constructs - such as Merlin - and fairy tale references that fans of magical lore are already familiar with. 

The characters are likable (except those who are meant not to be) and the central characters are well developed, with just the right amount of back story to make them interesting but not give everything away up front. This allows the reader to get invested in said characters and to want to continue and follow their journeys. The background characters are a little more one note, but they ARE background characters. I will say though, it's a wonder the pages of the book haven't turned red from the amount of times that the lead male, Owen, is described as blushing...

The plot is likewise intriguing and keeps you glued to the page. It is also quite humorous, with plenty of jokes, relatable cultural references, and comedic situations. It is easy to empathize with the story. In the real world, most adults have experienced at least one nightmare work scenario and could only dream that they were able to magic away the problem. I know that I have.

I will say that Enchanted, Inc. is definitely a product of it's time. There are comments and labels that are not as acceptable today to the more woke crowd - such as a touch of misogyny, shaming, and the use of a word that is now seen as a slur against the Romani tribe. None of anything contained within the pages is too extreme and we have learned since to do better, and that is what matters most.

Before starting this series, I honestly wasn't super familiar with books classified as "chick-lit". I am definitely more of a historical fiction and high fantasy type of girl. But I found Enchanted, Inc. to be quite enjoyable and intend to finish the series.

Parent's Guide:

This book is very easy to read and the story is fun. BUT - it does mention sex a couple of times - the first one being barely 3 pages in. So if that is a concern it should be noted. But otherwise, this book is definitely teen friendly in complexity and entertainment value.

The Oz Counter:

ZERO! And I have to say that I was shocked. I mean, I know not every book will have something, but for a modern book about magic, I fully expected at least one reference. 

(The Oz Counter is explained in the "Anatomy of a PBG Review" link at the top of the page.)

Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller: The Child Custody Battle That Turned a Kingdom Upside Down

Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller: The Child Custody Battle That Turned a Kingdom Upside Down
by  Adlai Miller-Bonbour

ISBN: 9780805960242
774 Pages
Available in Paperback

Synopsis:

In this compelling novel we pick up the Rumpelstiltskin story after the Queen guessed his name and avoided giving him her baby. But the legendary elf-genius doesn't give up and sues the Queen for breach of contract. She then was jailed for "disrespecting the king" (he felt her not telling him who produced the gold made him, the mighty monarch look ridiculous) and the King also planned to force Rumpelstiltskin to reveal the formula for making gold. At stake in this "Trial of the Millennium" is not only the custody of a royal baby but a country's future. Will the despot king get the baby and Rumpelstiltskin's gold formula or can the Queen and Rumpelstiltskin join forces to stop this tyrant?

My Thoughts:

When I first received my copy of Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller in the mail, I regarded it with trepidation. The massive 765 page story was quite larger than I had expected, and I became concerned about the content. Then I cracked it open. Gasp! Small font and no pictures! What on earth was I to do? The answer was obvious - dive in!

Dorrance Publishing's Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller is a witty - and wordy - account of the events that happened after the fairy tale ended, when the miller's daughter turned queen foiled Rumpelstiltskin's attempt to take her first born child. If you are looking for an interesting and detailed new perspective on an old story, then you are in the right place. However, if you are looking for a simple or light read, look somewhere else.

On one side, the story is clever and well told. On the other side, there are quite a number of large words and complex concepts. If you graduated in the top of your class and aced your SATs, this is perfect for you. If you didn't, it will probably send you running for a dictionary at least once. The author pegs it in the introduction - vanity. The story is to be written in the perspective of a prince, someone who grew up with everything, all the best education had to offer. So the writing style fits. To me, it seemed perfectly like something a highly educated business analyst turned writer would create, an intelligently funny story, with a little bit of his own vanity showing in the language.

I received a complimentary copy of Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team, in exchange for a fair and honest review. I do believe that since then they have ended the Book Review Team program.

Parent's Guide:

As previously stated, Rumpelstiltskin vs. Miller is an extremely complicated book, with lots of high level words and adult concepts. While it is based on a traditional folk tale that is often shared with children, this is by no means a children's book. At best, I would recommend this book to upper level teens who like sarcasm and wit.