Strike the Zither

    

Strike the Zither
By  Joan He

ISBN: 9781250258588
368 Pages
Available in Paperback, Hardcover, Audiobook, and Kindle
Trigger Warning: Violence and Death

Synopsis:

Orphaned at a young age, Zephyr took control of her fate by becoming the realm’s most powerful strategist, serving under a leader whose cause jeopardizes their survival in a war where one must betray or be betrayed.

When Zephyr is forced to infiltrate an enemy camp, she encounters the enigmatic Crow, the only strategist who has ever rivaled Zephyr’s talent. But mastermind though Crow may be, he is no match for Zephyr. She will defy the heavens to win and no one―neither human nor god―can stop her.

Featuring gorgeous map art and black-and-white portraits, Strike the Zither is the first book in Joan He's riveting Kingdom of Three duology that explores human greed and ambition in a war-torn world. Don't miss the epic conclusion in Sound the Gong!

My Thoughts:

Strike the Zither is the first part of a two part fantasy story based loosely on the well known and often adapted Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (often shortened to Three Kingdoms - which is also the designation for era when the story takes place). There are omissions and distinct changes - most notably that most of the main cast is women, where in the original tale, all of the important players were men. The lead character Zephyr is based on Zhuge Liang, and her lordess Xin Ren is based on the hero Liu Bei. I've actually never had the opportunity to read Three Kingdoms, and in fact have only seen one adaptation - the Taiwanese drama K.O.3an Guo (part of the KO One franchise). And I watched that probably 10 years ago, so I don't remember the entire story. If you are familiar with the Three Kingdoms story, you will definitely see similarities in personas and certain happenings, but there are a lot of differences as well. Strike the Zither completely holds up as an independent story and will be just as enjoyable to readers who are not familiar with the Three Kingdoms story.

The main quartet of characters, like those seen in Three Kingdoms, is a trio of swornsisters and their military strategist. Each of these characters has unique personalities, are likable, and you can empathize with them and their motivations. The focal and secondary players of the story are clearly Zephyr and Xin Ren, so you get more background on them than on the other characters. Miasma, the villain of the story, is written to be perfectly detestable, though her strategist Crow is someone I couldn't decide if I loved or loathed.

The author paints a lovely picture of the scenery with her words (and provides a map in the index for context). She describes the action in vivid detail - which is sometimes quite violent, as to be expected in an epic story about war. Much of this story, however, was not what one would expect. Around halfway through, there is a bit of a twist - that I wouldn't dare spoil - and the narrative shifts drastically. As someone who dislikes when books are overly predictable, I absolutely relished the unexpected change.

I stumbled across Strike the Zither at the local library and the cover art is what drew me in first. I've been on a bit of a Xianxia drama binge lately, and this book looked like it would be right up my alley. If I'm being totally honest, the first couple of pages were a little overwhelming to me. It introduced several of characters very fast, and jumped right into the action; so it took a little while to get my bearings and remember who everyone was. It turns out that when you are reading a book instead of watching a show where you can learn faces, that much information up front can be a lot. Once I got a few more pages in, I was invested in the story and really didn't want to put it down. I finished this book in a week, but only because I was busy. This was the type of book that I could usually complete in one sitting.

Overall, Strike the Zither was a delightful read. As mentioned previously, it is the first of a two part series. It doesn't really end on a cliff hanger, but with an incomplete feeling and a bit of last minute suspense. I cannot wait to start the second half. I was really grateful that I did not discover this book before the library had both volumes.

Parent's Guide:

This book has a lot going on, but isn't too complicated. It is a war epic so there is quite a bit of violence, sometimes graphic. I wouldn't advise this for younger or sensitive readers, but it has a good deal of entertainment value for more mature teens.

Cat+Gamer Vol 1-6

  

 

Cat_Gamer Vol 1-6 (Following stats on Vol 1 only)
By  Wataru Nadatani

ISBN: 9781506727417
192 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle/ComiXology
Trigger Warning: soft Mental Health mentions, cartoon violence

Synopsis:

Riko, a twenty-nine-year-old office worker with an obsession for video games, finds her quiet life upended when she takes in a stray cat in this adorable manga series!

Her coworkers can’t quite figure her out—she never talks about her personal life, she never works overtime, and she never joins them for happy hour. Is she antisocial? Nope, she’s rushing home to play video games! One day, a stray cat is found in the office parking lot, and before Riko knows it, the cat has moved in with her! Having no experience with pets, Riko uses lessons drawn from video games to guide her in cat care, while her cute companion tries to understand her behavior through a cat's worldview.

My Thoughts:

I stumbled upon the first three volumes of Cat+Gamer at one of the county libraries affiliated with mine while I was wasting time waiting for my car to be repaired. I had never heard of it, but it had a cute cat on the cover and that's usually enough to sell me. Well, let me tell you - it did not disappoint. The story is about Riko, a 29-year-old socially reclusive office worker who lives on a daily schedule that is optimized to efficiently play and clear her adored video games. Riko has no outside of work friends and passes on social gatherings so that she can go straight home and game until bedtime.

Her life changes abruptly when a cat is found in the parking lot at work. The office asks for a volunteer to take it home and nobody else volunteers, so Riko impulsively agrees. She then panics when she realizes that she knows absolutely nothing about caring for a living creature and, in doing what she does best, she starts looking at the situation as though it was one of her video games.

Nothing could go wrong here, right?

 

What follows is a hilarious mix of adorable cat stories and assorted video game comparisons. Every time the cat - now named Musubi - does something new, it is compared to a behavior that Riko recognizes from her gaming experiences. At one point she inadvertently makes a friend, in the form of the shopkeeper at the local pet supply store, whom Riko sees as a great and knowledgeable master. Around volume four, the shopkeeper comes over for a pet play date and suggests that Riko get a second cat to give Musubi a companion. So in comes Soboro, and with her a whole new set of pet experiences.

The art work in these graphic novels is cute and elements of story are relatable to cat owners. Like when Riko shares a photo of Musubi online, which goes somewhat viral, and inspires her to start a social media account for her pet - something many a pet owner is familiar with. This actually leads to funny moments, where coworkers follow the account without realizing that the cats belong to Riko. Other references may be lost on those who aren't familiar with particular games, but the writer did an awesome job of breaking down those references so they would be understood my most readers. Overall, it's a very reader friendly series of books.

I loved all six of the currently available volumes of Cat+Gamer. There are two more volumes out in Japanese, but they have yet to be released in English. Volume seven of the manga is due to be released soon. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on February 25, 2025. The final volume recently got an English release date of August 26, 2025, and is now available for preorder as well. I can't wait.

Parent's Guide:

This book is rated 11+ but is appealing to younger kids due to the fun and relatable content. Cat+Gamer was the category winner of Excelsior Award Blue 2023. The books on the Blue shortlist have been designated as suitable for children aged 11+ (or Key Stage 3 in schools). Cat+Gamer was also the Overall winner of the 2023 Award. Learn more about the Excelsior Awards here.

July/August Reading Selections

This month's reading list is 2 months in one, because I am posting late in the month. The books included are the result of my finally getting a card at the local library and going wild with it. I now have access to Libby AND Hoopla! And Hoopla had Enchanted Ever After, a book that I had been struggling to get my hands on, so it's on the top of the list. After that there is a slew of other books I grabbed when I went to explore. A lot of them are graphic novels. No reason in particular - I just love graphic novels and they had a really good selection. ^.^

This is what my August reading list looks like:

Enchanted Ever After by Shanna Swendson
The Complete ElfQuest Volume 1 by Windy Pini
Star Trek: The Manga Volume 1: Shinsei/Shinsei by Chris Dows
Heartstopper Vol 1-4 by Alice Oseman
Check, Please! Book 1 & 2 by Ngozi Ukazu
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
Loving a Lost Lord by Mary Jo Putney
Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale by Lauren Myracle
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
The Bride was a Boy by Chii
Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra by Kevin Panetta
Spinning by Tillie Walden

I actually got my library card at the very end of June, so there were two late June reads that will covered as well - both short stories in the Enchanted, Inc. series that I didn't even know existed until I found them whilst searching for EEA.

June Reads:
Paint the Town Red and Criminal Enchantment by Shanna Swendson

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.)

Learn French With Alice In Wonderland

Learn French With Alice In Wonderland
By  French Hacking

ISBN: 9798480774283
173 Pages
Available in Paperback and Hardcover

Synopsis:

Do you want to learn French without it feeling like studying? Do you want to learn French with a fun, familiar, and nostalgic story from your childhood?

Enjoy this timeless classic full of fantastical tales and ridiculous riddles. Originally published in 1865 by Lewis Caroll, this magical story is about a young girl who disappears down a rabbit hole into a whimsical world of nonsense and mockery.

This is a bilingual French/English book. On the left side of the page is the text in French and beside it on the right is the English translation. This allows you to read more and waste less time flicking the pages of a dictionary. As well as learning new words and broadening your vocabulary, you’ll learn phrases in context that you can use in real life.

French Hacking has translated, uniquely formatted and re-created the images of Alice in Wonderland to give French learners the most enjoyable experience.

Relive the story of little Alice and the fantastic creatures she encounters along her epic journey down the rabbit hole, this time in French! Meet unforgettable characters like the White Rabbit (le Lapin Blanc), the Cheshire Cat (le Chat du Cheshire), the Mad Hatter (le Chapelier), and the Queen of Hearts (la Reine de Cœur).

Learning French doesn't only have to be about grammar and verb tenses. Take your French to the next level by reading. Reading books in French is proven to be one of the fastest ways to reach fluency. It actively involves the visual cortex in the learning process that makes vocabulary more memorable, as well as being a lot more fun!

My Thoughts:

Learn French With Alice in Wonderland is a cute way to learn French with a story that most the world is familiar with. On some of the pages there is original artwork, which is colorful and fits the feel of the book. The format of the book itself is not intimidating, which is a plus in books designed to help you learn/ The text in the book is broken up into clear paragraphs so that one can read a little at a time, and the translations are right next to the story for the reader to compare or reference.

The French translations are accurate and easy to follow. Some bits have translations that don't match up because instead of doing a literal translation, they added a traditional French rhyme. I wish that, for the sake of learning the language, they would have chosen to use a literal translation in these spots - or at the least would have added notes with an English translation of the French rhyme used - seeing as the point of the book is to use the two sets of text to learn the opposite language. It seems pointless if the words on one side of the page don't mean the words on the other side.

That being said, books like this are a clever idea and this one is really well done. I have actually never once read Alice in Wonderland, so I wish that I had been given access to the full story, rather than a three chapter preview - but what I read was great. If you are learning French (or English as a native French speaker) then this book is definitely worth checking out.

I received a complimentary preview copy of the first 3 chapters of Learn French With Alice in Wonderland via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Parent's Guide:

This is a great option for kids! Alice in Wonderland has long been considered a kid's book, and immersion is a great way for kids to learn foreign languages, so Learn French With Alice in Wonderland is a great option for teaching your children a second language.

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.

Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun
By  Stephanie Meyer

ISBN: 9780316707046
658 Pages
Available in Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, and on Kindle

Synopsis:

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger? 

My Thoughts:

I'm going to be completely honest. I went into this book with very low expectations. It's not that I dislike the genre or the series. Just that, having already read Twilight, I kind of felt like "been there, done that."  Already knowing how the story in Twilight goes, most people who aren't Twilight series super fans probably would approach this book the same way, thinking that there isn't much to add to the story. But that's not true, and is an unfair assessment. 

Midnight Sun was an unexpected delight. Seeing things from the other party's perspective gives a whole set of adventures that coincide with the first book but feel new. You see what happened when Edward took the long weekend right after meeting Bella, and while the Cullens are away hunting. Most importantly, you get to see a whole different adventure in Edward and Carlisle's trek to Phoenix chasing James and rescuing Bella.

It's also allows you to better get to know the personalities of the vampire characters via their thoughts. In the first Twilight books, you only get a vague sense of who Jasper and Emmet are, but in this book you have the opportunity to know them better through their brotherly interactions at home and at school with Edward. You are given more insight into Rosalie's motivations and her dislike of Bella. And, of course, there is so much more detail on why Edward does the things he does. 

Having not have read Twilight in quite some time, at moments this book had me going "ah ha!" as things clicked into place, and at other moments had me wanting to go back and cross reference because I saw something so completely new in my mind that I did not remember it happening in the original story, though surely it did. Which is why I say that, despite the fact that this is in a way a retelling, it is still original enough of a story to be quite enjoyable. 

Like the rest of the series, I did feel that some of the writing could have used refining, but it wasn't so much of a distraction to take away from the story. The repeated references to pomegranate seeds definitely got obnoxious after a while, and it could have done with less of that. But overall it was a decent book. 

TW: While not gone into in detail, this book has mentions of rape and sexual assault.

Parent's Guide:

Like Twilight before it, Midnight Sun does have quite a bit of violence - more than it's predecessor if you count in Edward's many thoughts and daydreams - and some minor sex topics. Nothing too out there, and nothing that is bothersome unless you are really bothered by the idea of violent thoughts. Barring that, it's an okay teen read. 

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.)

Dragon's Pupils - The Sword Guest

Dragon's Pupils - The Sword Guest
by Martin Chu Shui

ISBN: 9781921578472
300 Pages

Available in Paperback and on Kindle


Synopsis:

Liz is a half Australian and half Chinese girl growing up in Australia. her primary focus in life is environmental issues, particularly watching her friend’s handsome brother, who is an environmental activist. When, on the eve of her fourteenth birthday, a catastrophic accident sets thousands of ancient monsters loose, Liz's world changes forever. Suddenly Liz finds herself wishing she had paid more attention to her father's numerous ancient Chinese stories, as she finds that she must learn many new skills and call on all of her Chinese heritage to prevent the monsters from destroying Earth. Aided by her twin brother Henry and her best friend Sue, Liz sets out to discover why the monsters exist and how to stop them. Can she learn enough about a world she has ignored to stop the monsters in time?

My Thoughts:

I want to start off by saying this: The Sword Guest is an exciting and original story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it once I got into it.

The narration in The Sword Guest is abundant with cultural lore. I love seeing the various ancient Chinese stories that bring forth images of the Great Wall and days long gone. There is plenty of action to keep you entertained as well. The battle scenes are descriptive without going so far as to be overbearing. The varieties of monsters and villains and the interactions with them are interesting. I found myself surprised when vampires came into the story, but liked the way that they were written. It was a refreshing change to the more human vampires portrayed in so many novels today.  

The characters are well all developed, each having their own desires and dreams. Most importantly, they were likable. Focusing on the main three characters Liz, Henry, and Sue - I found myself at moments questioning the believability of their actions. Not their "super hero" actions - this is a book after all - but rather their everyday, "normal" actions. There was something about the way these fourteen year old children were running around, sometimes without parental consent, at potentially dangerous environmental rallies and protests, that irked at me a little. Even when they asked for consent, it was no big deal, like it was an every day occurrence. I loved that they were impassioned about their cause, but it still felt a little too farfetched. However, saying this, I have never been to Australia and I do not know the cultural differences. Children are raised differently across the world, and it is very possible that this is what the writer experienced growing up in Australia.

This book was written to target an adult market or a teen / young adult market, and it will be much better received in the youth department. The action and story is there, but many adults may find it hard to relate to heroes in their early teens. 

There was one notable thing that confused me while reading this story - the use of parentheses. In most books, a reader will come across a phrase or word that they do not understand, and they will have to look it up. There are several words in The Sword Guest that may have that effect on readers. Yet, I noticed on some of the simpler ones, there is an explanation within the writing, in parentheses. To me, this is seen as an editorial note, and it is distracting because it pulls you out of the story. As I read, the use of parentheses cropped up a few times, either defining a phrase or giving a background explanation of something occurring. It just seemed to me like there had to be a better way to put that information in there that would not bring the reader so abruptly out of the narration.

Aside from the parentheses, the biggest issue I had with The Sword Guest was the number of spelling and grammar errors - the first one as early on as two pages into the story. I came to discover that there were several such errors throughout the book. Now, I don't see this as all the fault of the writer. Writing a book is a long and arduous process, and a writer needs to have a good support system of editors and proofreaders behind them. This book was in need of a little more editing before publication. With a bit of polish, it would be perfect.

A while back, I was contacted by the writer and given a free copy of The Sword Guest in exchange for a fair and honest review. To be honest, when I was approached to review the book, I agreed knowing very little about it. I don't even recall if I read the synopsis first. I made a claim that I would review anything, and I planned to stick to it. I am really glad that I got to read this book though, because it had all of the elements of a good book - interesting characters, good background and lots of lore, a few surprises, and plenty of momentum. I am definitely looking forward to more from this writer.

Parent's Guide:

The Sword Guest is an ideal fantasy novel for young readers. The writing is not too difficult, but also not so simplistic that it gets boring. It has plenty of things to keep them entertained, as well as reminders to be environmentally conscious. I would highly recommend this book to preteens and teens - particularly those who enjoyed novels like those in the Goosebumps series. It does not use foul language, however,  there are a number of violent encounters, some of which are graphic. I would advise parental discretion based on the age of the child and how easily they are affected by visual imagery.

Magyk

Magyk

by Angie Sage

ISBN: 9780060577315
576 Pages
Available in Paperback, Hardcover, and on Kindle and Audible

Synopsis:

The seventh son of the seventh son, named Septimus Heap, is declared dead and taken away by a midwife on the night of his birth. On his way home that very night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, discovers a bundle in the snow which contains a baby girl with violet eyes. He brings her home and the Heap family raises her as one of their own. But there are many questions to be answered. Who is this mysterious baby? What really happened to their son Septimus?

My Thoughts:

Magyk is a colorful read, full of fantasy and whimsy. The author describes everything in such a detailed manner that you could almost see the tiny room that the Heaps spend their days in, or close your eyes and navigate your way along the city walls.

The characters are unique and full of personality. They each have their own kooky traits that make them feel a little more real. You find yourself being drawn into their world, empathizing with them as they face trials and willing them to succeed.

With the lore, it reminded me, in a way, of Harry Potter. It had a similar wizard and non-wizard conflict and epic battle with an evil wizard feeling. One big and notable difference is that, Harry Potter lived in an imaginary world within our real world, while the Heaps live in a completely original world. Now, I am not saying that Magyk is just like Harry Potter - it is, by far, a different story, and one with it's own merits. However, if you are a fan of such works as the Harry Potter series, you will most likely enjoy this book.

It did seem to me at times that the writer had a touch of ADD. The story would be going smoothly about some event that was occurring, and then would, all of a sudden, shoot off on a wild tangent. Not about something un-related, mind you. They would mention something in the path of the narration, and then go off into a three to four paragraph of the description of the particular item. It didn't feel out of place, just strange. Afterward, they would go back into the narration of the story, and it flowed okay, so it wasn't really a big deal.

This next bit is something that gave me a giggle. I joked to someone that you could tell the writer was a woman because she had a shoe fetish. Not really, but it did seem as though she had an obsession for this one pair of purple shoes. They were mentioned several times, and it was never a casual mention. Every time they were brought up, you were given more information about the materials, the origins, even the emotions they had. From what I could tell, they were not even integral to the story in any way. Perhaps they have more meaning further down the line though.

Overall, Magyk is an entertaining read. The plot is very well developed. I was a little sad that I guessed the big plot twist before the end - in fact, I knew it from the setup. I don't blame this on the writing though. I blame it on the fact that I grew up reading Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew, and that I love watching Detective Conan. It's just how my mind is programmed to work. The same thing happened with a few of the other books I read right after this one. Darn my inquisitive mind.

Despite figuring out the end before I got there, I absolutely loved Magyk. It was an interesting story that kept the reader's attention from beginning to end, and I am eager to continue the series.

Parent's Guide:

Magyk is an excellent fantasy novels for young readers. I would highly recommend this book to preteens and teens - particularly those who enjoyed novels like those in the Harry Potter series. It does not use foul language. There is a small number of violent encounters, none of which are graphic or gory. Magyk is a nice, safe read for young ones.

Dreaming Anastasia

Dreaming Anastasia: A Novel of Love, Magic, and the Power of Dreams
by Joy Preble

ISBN: 9781402218170
310 Pages

Available in Paperback and on Kindle


Synopsis:
Anne has dreams that she is another person, in another place, in another time. The dreams are not only real - they are also terrifying. She tries to ignore them, but then even more unusual things begin to happen to her. A handsome stranger, a boy who appears to be Anne's age, approaches her and offers to explain everything. He claims that Anne is the person he has been seeking for a long time, and that only she can help him to rescue the Grand Duchess Anastasia from the clutches of the evil witch Baba Yaga.

My Thoughts:
Being a fan of Anastasia lore, I had high hopes for this book. Fortunately, it did not let me down. The writing is somewhat simplistic - which is suitable for a young adult book, but at the same time, the content is high in detail and vivid imagery. Dreaming Anastasia is well developed and creative. It covers the same topics as many books that have come before it, but from a new angle. the story is dark and has many sad moments, but it has humorous points as well.  

I did have a few qualms with Dreaming Anastasia. The biggest one was this: I do not care for books written in the present tense. The wording is often awkward and errors can happen easily. There were one or two points where in my head I just went "ugh" over how something was phrased. Despite this, I still could not stop reading.

I also found the focus on sex a little disturbing for a young adult targeted book. The fact that it was discussed so casually - and frequently - was, to me, not age appropriate. But I suppose times are changing, and I am a little behind. The fact that Tess outwardly expressed her guilt over doing what she had done and was trying to keep her friend from making the same mistakes was a redeeming factor - at least it was not glorifying the act at a young age. 

There are several grammatical errors - mostly with spelling, but nothing that takes away from the enjoyability of the story as a whole. The ideas and concepts were still valid, and have the potential to make readers want to learn more about the subjects covered. For a first novel, Joy Preble did a great job. With a little more editing and polish, it could have been perfect.

Once I started reading, I did not want to put it down until I was finished. To me, this is the sign of a good book. From start to finish, the book took about 5 hours to read. I did not complete it all in one sitting, though I would have if I could.

Overall, Dreaming Anastasia is an excellent read.

Parent's Guide:
By dialogue and situations, you can tell that Dreaming Anastasia is targeted at the high school crowd. Would you would want your 14 year old daughter reading it? I would have to say it is a parent's call on this one. As I previously mentioned, this book talks frequently about sex. So, if you feel comfortable with your child's level of maturity and understanding of these concepts, then by all means let them read it. But if you do not - proceed with caution.

The Oz Counter: 3! Did you spot them?

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

April Reading Selections - Let's Discuss!

A new blog is a perfect opportunity for a new start, so I decided that I wanted to start with some fresh reads. After a quick trip to the local library, I have decided on my reading list for April.

Dreaming Anastasia by  Joy Preble
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet
The Goddess is in the Details by Deborah Blake
Magyk by Angie Sage
The Light Inside the Dark by John Tarrant
 
I am excited to start reading. Reviews will be posted over the next month. so remember to check back. And, as previously stated, I am always open to discussion, so I invite you to grab a book and read along!