A Bookworm's Book Reviews

Once a Queen – Sarah Arthur

Title: Once a Queen

Author: Sarah Arthur

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Plot: Eva Joyce is a teenager who gets to spend the summer at her grandmother’s English manor. It’s a very sudden invite from her grandmother as Eva’s never talked to her or received a letter or card. Her mother hardly talks about her mom either. During the day, Eva’s free to wander the manor and starts to befriend the staff that work there. Freddie is the only kid her age there so they become fast friends. He wants to tell her about the manor’s past but the adults say it’s not his business. Eva’s mom and grandmother won’t say anything either. So Eva has to do figure out everything. There seems to be a connection to a mysterious other world but what is it? Can Eva find the answers? Or will the adults keep hiding the answers?

Rating: 3.7 – a fun Narnia style book

Opinion: This was an interesting book. It kept me interested but I felt like it was for people younger than me. There were parts where it felt like the characters were blocked at every turn and there was nothing for them to do. It was a little annoying that the characters wouldn’t share information that could’ve made the story move along better. I did enjoy the Narnia like aspects of the story and liked how the author made it her own. Overall, this was an interesting story. I highly recommend it to younger readers who enjoy fantasy.

The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch

This is book 1 of The Gentlemen Bastard series.

Title: The Lies of Locke Lamora

Author: Scott Lynch

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Locke Lamora grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in Camorr. As an orphan, he got picked up by a their maker gang. Then traded to a ‘priest’s’ gang for being too smart for his own good. The priest, called Chains, is the ‘Blind Priest’ for the god of outcasts. He teaches Locke and a few other kids how to outsmart the upper class rich folk. Soon, Locke is taking over some missions until he proves himself worthy to be a part of the Gentlemen Bastards. Soon he may be over his head when the Gray King comes onto the scene in Camorr. He’s bound and determined to take over the Capa’s position of power. Will the Gray King’s coup be a success? Or can Locke and the Gentlemen Bastards stop him?

Rating: 3.5 – a different side of high fantasy

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I enjoyed the world building the author did. It didn’t overwhelm me with information about the world. The information about the world and characters was spread out nicely. Though some of the info did feel a little jumbled at first. But it all came together in the end. The author wrote it in such a way that made it all make sense in the end. It threw me off for most of the book. I liked the characters. They were well written. Though I do feel like Locke was able to con and talk himself out of any and all situations. It made all of the obstacles that he faced seem too easy to overcome. The book felt a little drawn out because of all the little challenges and details in the book. While I enjoyed the book, I couldn’t really get into it. It takes a lot of concentration and not the easiest read. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a fantasy thievery book.

The Circus Train – Amita Parikh

Title: The Circus Train

Author: Amita Parikh

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Lena Papadapoulos is the daughter of famous circus illusionist, Theo Papadapoulos. She lives on the train traveling across Europe but has never fit in or had an act of her own. So she’s never really fit in. Then she finds a boy, Alexandre, passed out in one of the train carriages. She convinces Horace, the circus ringmaster, to let him stay. Horace reluctantly lets him stay and train under Theo. Lena and Alexandre grow up together and grow closer. But then Horace sells Theo, Lena, and Alexandre out to the Nazi’s. Lena escapes. Theo and Alexandre are send to a ghetto that’s ment for entering the Nazi officers. How can Lena live without the only home she’s ever known? Can Theo and Alexandre escape the camp? Will the three ever reunite? Or will something far worse happen?

Rating: 4.3 – a different side of WW2

Opinion: This was a great book. I liked that this book takes place during WW2, but it’s not the main point of the book. It’s more about the relationships and family during WW2. Yes some of the characters get sent to a ghetto, but it’s not the main storyline and doesn’t take over the main point of the story. It was nice to read a hopeful story about WW2. I enjoyed learning about the treatments for polio during this time period. I didn’t even know there were cures/treatments for polio. I thought people got it, if they survived, they lived with the after effects of the disease. I’m glad everyone got their happy ending. I would’ve been happy with the almost ending, but was happy with the way the author ended it. It made sense that the book ended the way it did. This book had a sweet childhood friendship story. I liked how the author grew the relationships throughout the book. It made it feel more relatable. Overall, this was a very good book. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves historical fiction.

A Redbird Christmas – Fannie Flagg

Title: A Redbird Christmas

Author: Fannie Flagg

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Plot: Oswald Campbell has just received news that he might not have long to live. His doctor recommends he move somewhere in the south. But Oswald’s never left Chicago before. He finds a pamphlet about a winter home in Lost River, Alabama. It’s out of business but a local finds him a place to stay. So Oswald packs his bags and leaves. There he receives a warm welcome from the tight knit community at Lost River. He slowly joins the community as they rally around the town’s grocery store bird, a cardinal Jack, and Patsy, a girl who’s been taken in by the community. When Patsy needs surgery, can the Lost River community raise enough money to help? Or will Patsy not be able to get it?

Rating: 3.7 – a sweet Christmas story

Opinion: This was a sweet story. I liked how the whole town rallied around Patsy and Jack. Though I thought the story was going to revolve more around Oswald. But his story was a part of the town’s story, so that made sense. I enjoyed how the characters kept Patsy’s hopes up after what happened to Jack. It was a clever idea and how they played it out when Patsy got back from the hospital. It was as action heavy as I’m used to reading. The book had a slow, meandering plot. There were a few characters introduced at once which took me a minute to get used to who was who. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy book to get me in the Christmas spirit. I’d recommend this book for anyone who wants a cute Christmas story.

The Wild Huntress – Emily Lloyd-Jones

Title: The Wild Huntress

Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Branwen is a commoner with a magical gift. She can see magical creatures. She uses her abilities to find and hunt magical creatures, or humans who’ve gone missing in magical land. But she’s short on money to take care of her ailing mother. Gwydion is a prince who can control plants. He’s considered the least powerful magic user in his family. He wants to make sure his kingdom stays safe. He asks Branwen for help in the Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt is a challenge for the best of two other kingdom’s hunters. Both humans and magical creatures can enter. There are few rules and anyone or any thin can be hunted. Branwen only agrees to join when Gwydion promises to find care and money for her mother. They find a way to sneak into the Wild Hunt. Once in the Hunt, they join forces with monster raised, but human prince Pryderi. Can they find a way to work together and win the Wild Hunt? Or will someone else hunt them first?

Rating: 4.3 – a different style of fantasy

Opinion: I really enjoyed this book. The world building was really well done and believable. The map at the beginning really aided the credibility of the world. The book was based off Welsh mythology. The magical creatures also were based off Welsh mythology. Which made it more believable. The magic in the book was well written. There were clear and defined rules about what the magic could or couldn’t do. I liked that the magic had a cost. The main characters had good reasons for doing what they did. They were really well written and relatable. The one thing I wished the book would’ve done was put a pronunciation guide for the characters and creatures, as the names were Welsh. The ending of the book seemed abrupt. It almost made it seem like there was going to be the start of a series. But the book ended everything nicely though. One fun little note was that this is a local author for me and she graduated from the same college as me. Overall, this was a very good book. It was an easy and quick read but still a good read. I highly recommend this book for any fantasy lovers.

The Scholomance #1 – Naomi Novik

Title: book 1 – A Deadly Education

Author: Naomi Novik

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Plot: Galedriel, El for short, is an outcast at Scholomance, a school for magic. Everyone expects her to be a Malificer, a wizard who used mala (bad energy) instead of mana (good energy). El’s determined to prove everyone at school wrong. Though she might make an exception for Orion Lake. Orion is the school’s white knight, determined to save the other students from the creatures that try to sneak into the school. El doesn’t need saving. So she tries to stay close to him to find the opportunity to get rid of him. Orion in turn tries to befriend her now matter how rude El is. She slowly starts befriending other students. Then she finds a book with a spell to stop the monster from coming into the school. El starts asking for help. She starts wanting to help. But will her help be enough to save the students? Or will the monsters break in?

Rating: 3.5 – a different take on magic use

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I enjoyed the magic system the author used. There were good rules and limits on the magic. I liked that there were two different types of energy sources for the wizards to use. And that one had bigger consequences than the other. Something I found a little annoying was that there was some high school like drama. Though it takes place in high school so I’ll give the author that. I’m not sure if I missed this while reading but the main character tend to use more British slang but use American school education levels. It’s something that bothered me a little. Overall this was a good book. I’d recommend it for young adults who love fantasy.

The Mark of the King – Jocelyn Green

Title: The Mark of the King

Author: Jocelyn Green

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Julianne Chevelier is a midwife in 1720 Paris, France. She’s accused and branded a murderer after one of her mothers dies in childbirth. Soon after she’s imprisoned, the king calls for people willing to help colonize Louisiana. They’re promised a good life. Julianne jumps at the chance to join. She’s partnered with another convict and forced to marry. When they arrive in Louisiana, nothing is as promised. The colonists are forced to make their own way and their own homes. While on a scouting mission, Julianne’s husband is killed. Now she’s forced to find her own way. But she has help along the way. Officer Jean-Paul Girard offers his hand in marriage. She reluctantly accepts. But things get complicated when her brother appears from the dead. He promises help, too. But is it too good to be true? Who is truly going to help Julianne? Her brother? Or her husband?

Rating: 4.3 – a sweet historical fiction

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I enjoyed learning how Louisiana was settled. You hear more about the British colonies and less about the French colonies. It was interesting to learn about their relations with the natives. It didn’t surprise me that both the English and French pit the native tribes against each other for their own gain. I did like that there were people on both sides that cared about the natives. I liked the sweet and romance in the book. It was nice to see faith woven into the book, too. I wished that there was a little more explanation with the French words. Overall, this was a good book. It kept me interested in the story and wondering how it was going to end. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction.

Flesh and False Gods #2 – Chloe Gong

Immortal Longings is book 1 in this series

Title: Vilest Things

Author: Chloe Gong

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Calla is trying to adjust to palace life now that she’s a princess again. Anton jumped into the new king’s, August, body. He keeps Calla close as an adviser, in case she tries something. When Otta Avia wakes from her yasiu sickness, she tells an incredible tale. The crown that’s given power to the kings of San-Er is fake. The real one is in the border provinces. Now San-Er is in chaos. The people start rioting. Royalty wants a chance at being king. Calla and Anton decide to work together to try to find the crown first. But the guards are loyal to August and Otta. They’ll try to help them get to the crown before Calla and Anton. Who will get the crown? Will anyone be worthy of it? Or will everything be destroyed in the mad grab for power?

Rating: 4.0 – a good continuation of a different type of fantasy

Opinion: This was a good book. It took me a little to get into it, cause it started with more plotting and scheming than I like. The plot also took a little bit to get going. Once it did, it was a really good book. It builds off the first book really well and expands on what’s known from the first one. The characters continue to grow and develop well. Their stories change and they learn from their mistakes. I enjoyed seeing how the system of ‘jumping’ and ‘qi’ got expanded in this book. I thought it was a unique idea that not a lot of authors did and the author kept it interesting in the second one. I figured toward the end of the book that there’d be a third book coming out. There was too much left to wrap up and not enough pages left. It made me nervous. I looked it up and there’s a third one coming out. So, now I’ve got to wait for the conclusion. Overall, this was a great book, and sequel. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a different take on a dystopian fantasy.

Murtagh – Christopher Paolini

Title: Murtagh

Author: Christopher Paolini

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Murtagh is still an outsider after all that’s happened after the war to defeat Galbatorix. Most of Alegaësia don’t trust him, even though most of what he did was under torture. So he spends his days tracking down leads of a mysterious group that wear a bird skull magical charm. Murtagh finds a solid lead that leads him into the most remote part of Alegaësia. There he meets Bachel, a mysterious witch of great power. She tries to convince him to join her and her followers cause. Murtagh can see the idea in part, but isn’t fully convinced of their ideology. When he tries to leave, Bachel takes him captive. Can Murtagh find a way to break free? Or will Bachel find her way to make her ideas a reality?

Rating: 3.5 – a good continuation of the Inheritance Cycle

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I like the addition to the Inheritance Cycle (Eragon series). Part of me wished that I’d read at least part of that series again cause it’s been so long since I’ve read it. But there was enough recap spread throughout this book that I remembered the important parts from the original series. This book did feel a little repetitive. There were a few similar repeated phrases and themes in the book. The story also felt very drawn out. I wanted to poke the plot with a stick and make it do something. I did enjoy Murtagh’s journey of self discovery, though. Overall I did enjoy the book, but I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was shorter.

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau – Jamie Jo Wright

Title: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau

Author: Jamie Jo Wright

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery

Plot: Cleo is trying to run away from her past. She’s taken a job at Castle Moreau in Needle Point, Wisconsin. The owner, Deacon Tremblay, is paying her in cash in order to help keep everything anonymous as they both need to be. Cleo’s job is to help Deacon’s grandmother, Virgie, go through her things that Virgie’s collected over the years. Virgie resists, saying ‘she’ll find out.’ Cleo is hesitant but continues to help. Then she learns about the disappearances that are linked to the castle. The disappearances have been going on since the castle’s beginnings. On top of that, someone is putting clues from the most recent disappearance around Cleo’s things. Who’s behind the disappearances? Is there a connection between to the most recent disappearance and the ones from the castle’s origins?

Rating: 4.0 – a good historical fiction mystery

Opinion: This was an interesting book. I enjoyed the mystery. I liked that it combined the superhero mystery and combined it with fake local legend. I looked up the castle and city and saw they don’t actually exist. It would’ve been fun to visit. I liked how the author brought the story from the past and present together. I enjoyed the twist in the book. It was nice to see a sense of realism in a spooky mystery. I wasn’t expecting religion to be a part of the story. It wasn’t a prominent part of the story but the characters still had talked about it in a positive way. Overall, this was a great book with a great blend of mystery, spookiness, local legends, and history. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good historical mystery.