Plot: It’s 1665 and the black plague is running rampant. Ann Frith’s remote English village seems to be spared from the disease until a stranger visits. Her husband died some time before and she is struggling to care for her children while more and more people get sick. Ann works at the local parish for the priest’s wife. Together, they try their best to save those who are sick. The priest tries to keep the townsfolk’s faith strong while superstition runs rampant. Over the year the plague runs rampant, Ann turns to a healer that uses natural remedies. The townsfolk aren’t so sure of the healer’s remedies. Few trust her remedies and their superstition gets the healer killed. After a year, the plague ran its curse. Someone in town was nursing a grudge and kills the person she felt was responsible for her family’s death. Ann is overcome with guilt. Will they be brought to justice? What will Ann do?
Rating: 3.0 – a good read, a little sad, but good
Opinion: I enjoyed this book. As this book took place during the time of the black plague, I wasn’t sure which characters I could get attached to. I was slightly confused at one of the character’s fate as they hint at it at the beginning. It was one of those ‘what but this is supposed to happen, oh nope never mind, it happened’ moments. I enjoyed learning about life during the black plague time, and what locals did to ‘cure’ and ‘get rid of’ the plague. I’ve heard of the big city doctors, but haven’t really heard of what small towns did, especially if they couldn’t afford the big city doctors or didn’t want to risk the travels. The end strays too far from the original plot for my liking, but it wrapped everything up nicely. Overall this is a good book, and a quick read. It’s a short book so if you’re looking for a quick read, then read this book. It’s a sad book so be prepared for that, too.
Plot: Mary and Kitty Bennett are approaching spinsterhood. Their other three sisters (Lizzy, Jane, and Lydia) have been married off (Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingly, and Mr. Whickam respectively). Mary has applied herself to natural philosophy (what we call science and biology) while Kitty still secretly hopes for a chance for marriage. At a ball, the Bennett family are introduced to Victor Frankenstein and his friend Henry Clarvel. The men are traveling through Europe and making their way to Scotland. Victor and Mary talk for most of the ball, talking and thoroughly enjoying each other’s company, until Victor suddenly disappears. A few weeks later, Victor and Mary meet again. After another engaging conversation, Victor tells Mary of his monstrous creation and what it wants. The creature it turns out has followed Frankenstein to England and is still demanding that Victor make him a companion. Soon after, Kitty takes ill and passes away. Kitty’s body goes missing, Mary suspects Victor, and his creature, had something to do with it. And to top it off, Victor has disappeared again. Will Mary find Victor? What has become of Kitty’s body? Will Frankenstein’s creature have his companion?
Rating: 3.2 – a good read that combines Frankenstein with Pride and Prejudice
Opinion: I enjoyed this book. I thought it was an interesting combination of two well known books. Though, the hopeless romantic in me was hoping for a happier ending. This book changes point of view every chapter. This is one of the few books where I don’t mind where it does this. Usually there’s one point of view, or character, I don’t particularly enjoy reading, but not so in this book. This book is well written, and follows the style of writing of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein. It started out well, but ended up sadder than I was expecting. It started more like a Jane Austin book and ended more like a Mary Shelley book. The back made me think it’d be a happier ending book. Nevertheless, it was still a good book. If you enjoy the classics, then I’d recommend this book.
Plot: Simon Watson was a research librarian in a small town who just lost his job. Now he has no way to save his house that’s slowly crumbling into the ocean he lives above, and that was his childhood home. A book appears on his doorstep on that same day. It tells of a traveling circus, two star crossed lovers, and ‘mermaids.’ All the woman who’ve been ‘mermaids’ have died in the same way, drowning, and on the same day as Simon’s mother. As Simon digs deeper into the story, his fortune telling sister, Enola, comes to visit. Enola becomes increasingly agitated and drawn to the ocean they live next to. Is it because they’re losing their cherished childhood home? Or is there some connection to the mysterious book? Simon is running out of time to find out. As the day draws closer, Simon becomes more and more obsessed with figuring out the connection between the book and his family and trying to save his sister. Will he be sucessful? Will he save his sister and his house? And can he save himself?
Rating: 3.0 – a steady read with a good plot twist here and there
Opinion: This was an interesting read that jumps back and forth in time. I thought it would be a little more whimsical than it really was. It was a little darker than I expected, but still a good read. I got to learn a little more about the times of the traveling circuses and the superstitions surrounding them. I enjoyed learning about circus life, too, in a more modern time. The plot was slow and steady with a few twists and turns. There were one or two points that I should’ve seen coming, but I was paying closer attention to other details of the book’s plot. There were a few times the book got a little tedious to read, but it picked up again. Though it does a good job of holding on to a sense of foreboding. This would be a good book to read if you want a cozy book to read about a small town mystery that jumps back and forth in time, and if you like books with a little suspense.
Plot: Tilda Fordwells is recovering from her husband’s sudden death. She moves into the simple house they’d bought together in the Welsh countryside to help. Unusual things start to happen: animals start following her, the electricity shorts out and stays out no matter what Tilda does, and she starts seeing vision of people long dead by the lake. One person she sees looks a lot like her. In the time of the Celts, there lived a shaman names Seren. She was a powerful servant to the prince and lived by the same lake as Tilda does now. Seren had a vision that one day harm would come to the prince. The prince laughs her off even when the danger is rising. In modern times, Tilda’s heart is healing, but she is troubled by the visions that she keeps seeing. There is an archeological dig nearby. Tilda tries to help, but something strange is happening there, too. The strange happenings there seem to be connected to Tilda’s visions. But how? Can the strange happenings stop? Will Seren’s prince heed her warnings? Can everyone escape the impending danger?
Rating: 4.0 – A steady read that switches back and forth between past and present.
Opinion: I enjoyed the combination of fantasy with realistic fiction. The book switches between view points within the book, sometimes within the same chapter. It’s been one of the few books where I don’t mind the switching view points. Paula Brackston is an excellent author when it comes to magic and natural magic, yes like what people practice in real life. I find it good to learn about what others believe. Paula Brackston is good at blending fantasy with reality, as well as adding in historical fiction. I enjoy reading her books they’re great reads and I enjoy learning about history and magic. She always has good plot twists in her books, too. Including this book. If you’re looking for a good blend of realistic fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction, I’d highly recommend this book.
Plot: Lisel Meminger’s on a train ride to her foster parent’s house during WW2. Sadly they stop to bury her brother. There she finds a book and steals it. Though she can’t read it, yet. Her foster father, Hans Huberman, is a kind and gentle man who teaches her how to read it. This starts her love of reading and books. With her friend, Rudy’s, help Lisel begins stealing more books, whether at book burnings, or from the house of rich lady her foster mom, Rosa Huberman, cleans clothes for. Rosa is a strict woman who has a secret soft spot for Hans and Lisel. When she isn’t stealing books, Lisel is playing soccer with some of the boys who live in the neighborhood, including Rudy. Everything becomes infinitely more dangerous when Lisel’s foster parents take in and hide a Jew, Max Vandenburg, in their house. At first, Lisel is very weary of Max. After time, they become friends. Max begins writing a book for her, which they read together. One day, Hans is called to serve in the war. Then Max disappears. Soon the war begins to draw to a close. Bombs begin to drop in Germany, soon they make their way to Berlin, where everyone is living. Will Hans return? Will Max return? And survive? Will Lisel, Rudy, and Rosa survive as well?
Rating: 4.5 – There is a very unique writing style and great narrator.
Opinion: This is one of my favorite books. Even though I read it a long time ago, I still have fond memories of this book. There are parts that still make me laugh, or cry. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize who the narrator is. Markus Zusak is great a writing a snarky narrator, despite the time period. He also knows how to break your heart with his writing. This book is written in a very unique way. The narrator is constantly breaking the fourth wall to tell you random tidbits about the characters, himself, or German words. The narrator also gives you spoilers, but I was surprisingly okay with them. If you’re looking for a great WW2 book, with a great narrator, and snarky, dry humor, I’d highly recommend this book. This book has also been made into a movie. As usual, I prefer the book. There’s so much you miss out on because the lack of snark from the narrator.
Plot: Screwtape is a demon sending letters to his nephew, Wormword. Wormword is a novice demon who is trying to convince a new Christian man to stray away from Christianity. Screwtape is constantly sending him letters to help him convince Wormword’s human to stray. The letters consist of trying to convince the human to stay via pride, choosing between heroism or cowardice, losing interest in his usual activities, becoming stuck up, looking down on others, etc. Screwtape is constantly telling Wormword how to fix situations that Wormwood is screwing up. The more letters you read, the closer Wormwood’s human is becoming a full fledged Christian is becoming. Screwtape becomes increasing frustrated and has to explain more and more conniving ways to sneak into the human heart and lead them astray. But will Wormwood succeed in turning the human away from Christianity?
C.S. Lewis adds a little bonus content at the end of the story. He adds a toast from Wormwood at the demon’s college for training demons astray. It tells of how humans need sneakier ways of getting humans astray and how much weaker humans are when they are convinced.
Rating: 4.0 – this was a great read, thought provoking
Opinion: This was a good read, though dense. It was an eye opener for me. C.S. Lewis was good at portraying how demons try to sneak into our lives. I enjoyed learning about the different ways they sneak into your heart. I’ve always had a general idea, but now I know more of the ways they use the simplest idea to get in past your defenses. I just wish I could have focused better. The book, although short, is dense. I had a hard time concentrating on it for long times. Though, the chapters (separated by letters) are short, they are still thought provoking. I am glad I read it and look forward to reading it when I feel like I can read it more in depth. I enjoyed C.S. Lewis’s creativity in approaching the subject. It’s been a long time since I’ve had quotes from a book stick out in my mind and this book had a few. I will cherish this book for a long time. This book is a great read, if you give yourself the time to read it without distractions. If you are looking for a thought provoking book, read this book.
Plot: The Amazing Arden is a up and coming magician. Her most famous trick is sawing a man in half. But one night her trick goes too far and ends up in a jail. Officer Virigil Holt is bound and determined to get her story straight and regain some of his honor. He learns of Arden’s past. From her humble beginnings as a servant with her single mother. At first she befriends a boy, Ray. Slowly Ray begins manipulating and hurting her. After he hurts her, he ‘heals’ her. After some time of this, Arden fleas. But Ray seems to find her every time she tries to settle down. Then she finds Adelaide Herrman, a master magician. She takes Arden under her wing. Then Arden goes off on her own and gets an agent, Clyde. The two fall in love, but the two are very similar have a falling out. Then Ray captures her and forces Arden to do whatever he wishes. Will Arden ever be free of Ray? Will her and Clyde reunite? Is Arden guilty or innocent?
Rating: 3.8 – This was an interesting read. It was a slow and steady read, but there was enough going on to keep me going.
Opinion: I enjoyed this book. It was a good balance of historical fiction and mystery. It was an interesting read because you started at the end and went back and forth from the past to the present. The air of mystery was good and not discouraging. There is even an air of magic in the book, the magic is slight and only two of the characters have the ‘healing’ ability. The book was a slow and steady read but still very entertaining. There is also a slow and steady build towards the end of the book, leading back up to the moment the book started at. It is a good read for anyone who wants a historical fiction laced with mystery and magic.
Author: 1-4 Ted Dekker, 5-6 Ted Dekker and Kaci Hill
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Plot: Chosen (Book 1) – Four new leaders are chosen to help lead the Forest Guard, they are the youngest chosen at sixteen and seventeen; Silvie, Darsal, Billos, and Johnis. The Forest Guard protects The Circle from The Horde. Johnis is considered an outsider, more a lover than a fighter. No one expects him to do well. But he was chosen for a reason. He was chosen by the Roush, messengers for Elyon (their god) to find the seven Lost Books of History. He was meant to lead the other three to find the books. The quest begins and they’re lead into the desert in search of the books. But they find the Shataiki, evil bats who serve Teelah (their satan) Will they find a book?Will they escape the Shataiki?
Infidel (Book 2) – They return home, heroes. Admist the celebration, Johnis learns that his mother may not be dead. This leads him on a mad quest to find her. Johnis will do whatever he can to find her. But it leads him, and many others into a trap that the Horde have set up. Johnis is now in deep trouble with the other leaders of the Forest Guard. He must be punished. But Johnis escapes to search for her mother. Against her better judgement, Silvie comes with. Together they search for her mother, who’s been captured by the Horde. But soon Johnis must chose between Silvie and his mother. Who will he chose? Or will he be able to save them both?
Renegade (Book 3) – Billos has disappeared into one of the Books of History. There he meets Marsuveus Black in the city of Paradise, Colorado. Black shows Billos that he has powers in this new city to make things appear at the snap of his fingers. He says that Billos can use this powers to find the other Books of History. But in order to get the books, Billos must get rid of anyone in his way. While Billos is searching for the book, Silvie, Johnis, and Darsal are searching for him. They find a way to go into the books as well. Billos has gone crazy with his powers. The other three try to knock some sense into him. Black turns on all of them. But is it too late? Will Black have the books? Will they be able to escape? Will they save the books?
Chaos (Book 4) – Johnis, Silve, and Darsal are transported into another world, what the reader would call our world, along with a new friend. Silvie and Johnis are transported to Las Vegas. They try to figure out how to navigate the new world, others are also watching and waiting. Silvie and Johnis are found by their new friend. Their friend tells them that she’s found some of the other Books of History. All they need to do is find one more and their quest is complete. But others are searching for it, too. Will they find it in time? Who are the others searching for the book? Where is Darsal? Will everyone be able to return home?
Lunatic (Book 5) – Johnis, Silvie, and Darsal, have returned home. But it’s been five years in their home world. Thomas and the circle have disappeared. Their forest has been taken over by the Horde. In their haste to escape, and keep the books hidden, Johnis and Silvie go in a different direction from Darsal. Darsal gets captured. Johnis and Silvie get lost in the desert. Johnis starts hearing a voice and follows it, despite Silvie’s protests and Johnis’s better judgment. It leads them to a being who can help them defeat the Horde. But at what cost? What will happen to Darsal?
Elyon (Book 6) – The gran finale. The medallion has been found. Johnis is still under Shaeda’s influence, and she’s taking more and more control. The deal has been made between Johnis and Sucrow. But that deal is shaky at best. Sucrow and Marak also have an uneasy treaty. Darsal is a slave to a Horde general, Marak. They have a way to enslave the Shaitaki, the medallion. But who will have that privilege? Will Johnis be free of Shaeda’s influence? What will happen if Sucrow succeed?
Rating: 3.0 – Off to a good start but became episodic.
Opinion: This is a good series, not amazing, but good enough to keep reading. Towards the third book, it began to feel episodic. Someone gets captured, someone else loses their book, or the bad guys take it, etc. The fourth ends well enough. The heroes save what they’re searching for, and the worlds. They get to go home. Hurray good has won!The fourth has a slight cliffhanger, but the ending doesn’t necessarily leave you wanting more. I could’ve been done with the series then. Books five and six are about their return home. They’re not tied to the first four very well. But they do leave the series on a happier ending. If you want to see what happens when they return home, then read those two. If you’re okay with how the first four ended, then you’re okay stopping. Overall these were good books, meant for someone a little younger than me, maybe high school or college. Middle school if the kid is okay with battles and some frightening images. If you’re looking for an easy read series, a gift for your book reading kid, then go for it.
Plot: Elsa Schmidt is a pretty girl living in Germany during WW2. The only problem is that she’s Jewish. Her father smuggles her and family out of Germany via currier. They go separately and reunite in Switzerland. To lessen her suspicion while travel, her mother hand makes her a swastika. Elsa’s courier is Markus Spielman. He has a hard heart and a hidden past. Can he put it aside to help Elsa escape? When they do escape, will anyone else meet them there? Elsa arrives first. While there she sees the struggle of others trying to make to safety. She begs Markus to let her help others escape to freedom. He reluctantly agrees. They get separated when Markus gets called away on anther mission. Will she be successful in helping? What if she gets caught? Will her and Markus ever be reunited? Will everyone survive the war? Who will not?
Rating: 4.5 – It’s a unique side of WW2. Accurate with some sappy romance, but not distracting.
Opinion: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Though it’s been a while since I’ve read it, I only have positive memories of it. The only thing that threw me for a loop was that the point of view suddenly changed. I loved the whole story. It was a part of history you don’t hear much about, the underground movement of WW2. Though I wasn’t surprised that it happened, just sad that I didn’t learn more about it sooner. This book is excellent and written by a local author, one of my high school’s history teacher. I’ve leant this book to some of my friends and they’ve all enjoyed it, too. It’s an easy read, but an excellent read.
Plot: A golem, a clay creature, named Chava is created by a rabbi as a companion for a man traveling to New York City. The man dies on the journey and Chava is left without a master. A local NYC rabbi takes her in. Chava wanders NYC and finds a job in a bakery. Ahmad is a jinni, a spirit made of fire and air, trapped in a copper flask and released, though still connected to the flask, by a local metal worker. Ahmad and Chava become unlikely friends. Both learn how to live among humans. Both learn they are connected, and hunted. Who is hunting them? Why? Will they survive? How are they connected?
Rating: 4.0 – Good story, fantasy based on Jewish and Arabic myths and set in 1899 NYC with a bit of magic thrown in. Good views of a life of immigrants and wealthy.
Rating: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had a great combination of fantasy and historical fiction. I also enjoyed the facts that the fantasy is based on mythology, and not European mythology either. Though the plot is a little slow, it gives a little more depth into the lives of different classes and peoples in NYC at the turn of the 20th century. The book has some great plot twists, too. And there were great changes in character importance, too. I thought this was a great book. It has a great blend of historical fiction and mythology based fantasy. Helene Wecker did a great job in her debut book.
A Bookworm's Book Reviews 