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adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
There should be much more hype out there for this novel! The Ink of Elspet is a debut novel and the first in a middle grade fantasy series that needs to get more publicity. It is a fantastic adventure perfect for readers who also enjoyed the Narnia, Artemis Fowl, Percy Jackson, and Keeper of the Lost Cities series.
The writing is fun and charming and the plot is just perfection. There is such amazing creativity to the story and the plot is fast-paced and heavily atmospheric. The characters in the story are so well-balanced and unique. Two siblings, an additional child, some quirky adults, some seriously devious bad guys, and a great helping of magic. There is a slight religious component to the novel (the author is a pastor, as is the father of the children who is the focus of the locus for the story), but this is not a heavy-handed thread and it is very well-handled throughout the read.
I loved nearly everything about this.It will definitely be a middle grade read that you will find me recommending profusely. I will also be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series as I am ready for another fantastic adventure.
The writing is fun and charming and the plot is just perfection. There is such amazing creativity to the story and the plot is fast-paced and heavily atmospheric. The characters in the story are so well-balanced and unique. Two siblings, an additional child, some quirky adults, some seriously devious bad guys, and a great helping of magic. There is a slight religious component to the novel (the author is a pastor, as is the father of the children who is the focus of the locus for the story), but this is not a heavy-handed thread and it is very well-handled throughout the read.
I loved nearly everything about this.It will definitely be a middle grade read that you will find me recommending profusely. I will also be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series as I am ready for another fantastic adventure.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well hello creepy cult novel. Catriona Ward can write a group of characters that just eek their way under your skin. Uncle has master ick factor and boy does she write him well. The whole shebang just screams run. Creepy gothic castle on an isolated island that is only accessible by a causeway when the tide is out. Weirdo little town that just lets these people stay locked up in said castle without wondering what the crap is going on up there with these clearly emaciated children. The whole thing gave off a seriously medieval vibe though the timeline places it firmly in WWI with a followup timeline a couple of decades later.
I freaking devoured this book. It was so good and sketchy. I was totally entranced by the atmosphere and there were plenty of cringeworthy moments. The psychological games played with the plot were fantastically done and even when I had one of the big twists figured out I was just enraptured. A super disturbing read like a train wreck you can't look away from. Dark and weird. Just like I like 'em.
I freaking devoured this book. It was so good and sketchy. I was totally entranced by the atmosphere and there were plenty of cringeworthy moments. The psychological games played with the plot were fantastically done and even when I had one of the big twists figured out I was just enraptured. A super disturbing read like a train wreck you can't look away from. Dark and weird. Just like I like 'em.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good continuation of the series that finally catches up to where the TV show starts. Familiar characters started showing up in this one, which made it even more nostalgic and enjoyable for me.
A lot of foreshadowing with this one and a lot of harrowing situations that had me a bit on edge. The maturity level definitely increases in this book as things get a bit harder and more serious for the family. The Ingalls family continues to be a lot heartier than I think I could have been in these circumstances. Ma deserves a medal for all that she put up with.
A lot of foreshadowing with this one and a lot of harrowing situations that had me a bit on edge. The maturity level definitely increases in this book as things get a bit harder and more serious for the family. The Ingalls family continues to be a lot heartier than I think I could have been in these circumstances. Ma deserves a medal for all that she put up with.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Totally blown away. I liked this a lot more than I expected. Super fast-paced & intriguing with great characters & a fun storyline. Hilarious banter. Highly entertaining. A perfect middle grade read for adventure seekers who love whimsical fantasy. A well-crafted story that is fun from start to finish. Super excited to see where the series goes. This was one of those books that I wish was about twice as long because I couldn't get enough.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars.
Incredibly clever and fun middle grade fantasy adventure. The world-building was interesting and I loved the atmosphere that was created here. I'm actually surprised I haven't heard more about this book and definitely recommend that others check it out. It's a very entertaining read.
The plot is unique and adventurous with a good female protagonist. There is a lot of the world that still could have used some exploration, but I think there are some good foundations in place and the general principles of the story were well-developed. The character interactions are fun and, for the most part, realistic.
The writing gets more relaxed and mature as the story evolves, making this a story that took a little bit to get into but one that really hooked me once I got going. I wound up staying up late in order to finish. The ending was very solid and I think some of the more difficult & mature situations were handled quite well for middle grade readers. There are some great lessons about personal strength and believing in yourself. I also appreciated that there is a strong focus on the importance of verifying information and not just believing everything that you are told. The journey is one that developed a strong character and sets a good example for young readers.
Incredibly clever and fun middle grade fantasy adventure. The world-building was interesting and I loved the atmosphere that was created here. I'm actually surprised I haven't heard more about this book and definitely recommend that others check it out. It's a very entertaining read.
The plot is unique and adventurous with a good female protagonist. There is a lot of the world that still could have used some exploration, but I think there are some good foundations in place and the general principles of the story were well-developed. The character interactions are fun and, for the most part, realistic.
The writing gets more relaxed and mature as the story evolves, making this a story that took a little bit to get into but one that really hooked me once I got going. I wound up staying up late in order to finish. The ending was very solid and I think some of the more difficult & mature situations were handled quite well for middle grade readers. There are some great lessons about personal strength and believing in yourself. I also appreciated that there is a strong focus on the importance of verifying information and not just believing everything that you are told. The journey is one that developed a strong character and sets a good example for young readers.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Though the story itself is fun and I did enjoy reading it, there are a lot of things about this book that definitely place it squarely in its time. The misogyny and race content inside the book did not age well at all and does detract from the story. I actually deducted half a star from my rating specifically because of this.
I did enjoy that Peter is not necessarily the hero portrayed in the Disney version and felt like Hook had more of a human quality to him than is otherwise portrayed in the cartoon. I will say that it holds better to the Hook movie version, which I enjoyed more than the original anyway. Hearing about J.M. Barrie's life and the meanings behind the book were touching and heart-breaking and give the book a bit more of an endearing quality. Knowing that he donated the book and its royalties to a children's hospital which still benefits from it today is even more wonderful.
A good little fairytale despite its downfalls. Worth the read for me, but not at the top of my list for one I would recommend for children now.
I did enjoy that Peter is not necessarily the hero portrayed in the Disney version and felt like Hook had more of a human quality to him than is otherwise portrayed in the cartoon. I will say that it holds better to the Hook movie version, which I enjoyed more than the original anyway. Hearing about J.M. Barrie's life and the meanings behind the book were touching and heart-breaking and give the book a bit more of an endearing quality. Knowing that he donated the book and its royalties to a children's hospital which still benefits from it today is even more wonderful.
A good little fairytale despite its downfalls. Worth the read for me, but not at the top of my list for one I would recommend for children now.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars.
Cute sequel to the original with a good mixture of life lessons. Great discussions on ecology and the responsibility humans have to care for nature as well as a wonderful focus on dealing with grief. There is a lot packed into this little book but it is so heart-warming and wonderful after going through it. It can be a bit of a tear-jerker in places and definitely could be a hard hitter for those with soft hearts. Adorable and really well-written.
Cute sequel to the original with a good mixture of life lessons. Great discussions on ecology and the responsibility humans have to care for nature as well as a wonderful focus on dealing with grief. There is a lot packed into this little book but it is so heart-warming and wonderful after going through it. It can be a bit of a tear-jerker in places and definitely could be a hard hitter for those with soft hearts. Adorable and really well-written.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars.
While this wasn't my favorite read in this series, it seems to open a lot of doors (pun intended) for future installments. The mysterious Whitethorn Institute is introduced, raising an awful lot of questions but not necessarily resolving them. That was a bit frustrating, but I have to trust that Seanan McGuire will be taking care of those issues down the line.
I know for a lot of readers, these "schoolbound" installments are not as intriguing and entertaining as the portal fantasy ones, but I felt like that wasn't really the problem here. Instead, the story just felt a little bit rushed and vague and I wanted to understand more. Regardless, the plot was still very intriguing and the characters were highly interesting. It always amazes me what she can come up with...it's never the same thing twice.
While this wasn't a 5-star, it was still an excellent and fast read for me and I truly enjoyed it. I can't wait to pick up the next in the series.
While this wasn't my favorite read in this series, it seems to open a lot of doors (pun intended) for future installments. The mysterious Whitethorn Institute is introduced, raising an awful lot of questions but not necessarily resolving them. That was a bit frustrating, but I have to trust that Seanan McGuire will be taking care of those issues down the line.
I know for a lot of readers, these "schoolbound" installments are not as intriguing and entertaining as the portal fantasy ones, but I felt like that wasn't really the problem here. Instead, the story just felt a little bit rushed and vague and I wanted to understand more. Regardless, the plot was still very intriguing and the characters were highly interesting. It always amazes me what she can come up with...it's never the same thing twice.
While this wasn't a 5-star, it was still an excellent and fast read for me and I truly enjoyed it. I can't wait to pick up the next in the series.
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There was a lot of this that had the feel of a Kate Quinn novel. If you weren't already aware of my reading proclivities, this is high praise.
The story is told in a dual timeline perspective with two separate protagonists and I felt like the organization was really spot on. The writing is well-structured and does a great job of capturing the historical feel of both timelines (1918 WWI France and late 1970s US). I could definitely have used a bit more bulk and development to the story, so a longer book would have likely gotten even higher ratings from me, but it was still a fascinating read from both historical content and entertainment perspectives.
The female protagonists are both really well balanced and felt genuine. I enjoyed that they were both told from an introspective point-of-view and that I felt like the reader could really get to understand their strengths and weaknesses. This helped them to really come alive on the page. I was more attracted to the WWI story line, but more attached to the 1976 protagonist. There is a great discussion of misogyny throughout the secondary timeline and a small slice of racism discussed in both timelines. I particularly struggled with Kathleen's story line, in the sense that her treatment seriously boiled my blood. There was definitely a high amount of emotional response from me throughout these parts of the plot. I appreciated the author's note at the end of the novel with regard to the historical accuracy of these moments as well.
I knew that the timelines would tie together in some way (because that is just the nature of these types of stories), but I did not predict how that would happen until it was beginning to really unfold. I appreciated that lack of predictability and, though it wasn't a complete bombshell for me, it definitely added to my enjoyment of the novel.
The War Librarian is absolutely worth the read and I will be adding Armstrong's debut novel to my TBR for a hopefully soon read.
The story is told in a dual timeline perspective with two separate protagonists and I felt like the organization was really spot on. The writing is well-structured and does a great job of capturing the historical feel of both timelines (1918 WWI France and late 1970s US). I could definitely have used a bit more bulk and development to the story, so a longer book would have likely gotten even higher ratings from me, but it was still a fascinating read from both historical content and entertainment perspectives.
The female protagonists are both really well balanced and felt genuine. I enjoyed that they were both told from an introspective point-of-view and that I felt like the reader could really get to understand their strengths and weaknesses. This helped them to really come alive on the page. I was more attracted to the WWI story line, but more attached to the 1976 protagonist. There is a great discussion of misogyny throughout the secondary timeline and a small slice of racism discussed in both timelines. I particularly struggled with Kathleen's story line, in the sense that her treatment seriously boiled my blood. There was definitely a high amount of emotional response from me throughout these parts of the plot. I appreciated the author's note at the end of the novel with regard to the historical accuracy of these moments as well.
I knew that the timelines would tie together in some way (because that is just the nature of these types of stories), but I did not predict how that would happen until it was beginning to really unfold. I appreciated that lack of predictability and, though it wasn't a complete bombshell for me, it definitely added to my enjoyment of the novel.
The War Librarian is absolutely worth the read and I will be adding Armstrong's debut novel to my TBR for a hopefully soon read.
adventurous
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars
I love a good music based novel, whether from the perspective of the musicians, the roadies, the groupies...it doesn't matter. Sister Stardust had a slightly different approach than other similar reads in the subgenre and I found that interesting, but ultimately this was just an okay read for me.
Reading a bit more like literary fiction than historical fiction and having a bit of a slow, evenly keeled plot, the writing was at times beautiful but there wasn't a lot to hook me. The tension stayed somewhat flat despite the fact that there are some great scenes present in the book and there really is some interesting backstory to some of the events.
There is a lot of Almost Famous feel, particularly to the first third of the book and I definitely appreciated the transportation to Morocco...an area that really isn't typical of historical fiction and that added something new for me. I was unfamiliar with Talitha Getty, but this book did prompt me to do some light research on her, so I will give it points for creating enough interest that I was searching out more information beyond the story I was given. Clearly there was some interest generated.
In fact, Talitha was the star of the book for me and I likely could have done without Cece. Pushing the two characters together felt like two wholly separate stories and just didn't flow naturally for me. Plus...I kind of found Cece annoying.
Good intention, good source material, moderate execution.
I love a good music based novel, whether from the perspective of the musicians, the roadies, the groupies...it doesn't matter. Sister Stardust had a slightly different approach than other similar reads in the subgenre and I found that interesting, but ultimately this was just an okay read for me.
Reading a bit more like literary fiction than historical fiction and having a bit of a slow, evenly keeled plot, the writing was at times beautiful but there wasn't a lot to hook me. The tension stayed somewhat flat despite the fact that there are some great scenes present in the book and there really is some interesting backstory to some of the events.
There is a lot of Almost Famous feel, particularly to the first third of the book and I definitely appreciated the transportation to Morocco...an area that really isn't typical of historical fiction and that added something new for me. I was unfamiliar with Talitha Getty, but this book did prompt me to do some light research on her, so I will give it points for creating enough interest that I was searching out more information beyond the story I was given. Clearly there was some interest generated.
In fact, Talitha was the star of the book for me and I likely could have done without Cece. Pushing the two characters together felt like two wholly separate stories and just didn't flow naturally for me. Plus...I kind of found Cece annoying.
Good intention, good source material, moderate execution.