leahrosereads's Reviews (1.04k)

This is the stepmother’s story of what really happened between her and Snow White. It seems accurate.

And I would not close my eyes until the princess was ash, and a gentle wind could scatter her like snow.

This is the first Snow White retelling that I’ve read, and I don’t think I need to read another one.

This was disturbing and dark and beautifully written.

I would love to read and listen to more fairytale retellings by Mr. Gaiman.

3.5 Stars

Guys, I wanted to give this a full 5 stars. Going into this book, I assumed that being an The X-Files fan, I’d fangirl all over this novel, because it was written by Scully. Not the case.


A VISION OF FIRE follows Caitlin O’Hara, a prominent child psychologist, who is asked by a long-time friend (Ben - a translator that works for the UN) to meet the Indian Ambassador’s daughter, Maanik. Maanik has just faced a trauma (having seen an assassination attempt on her father), and seems to be experiencing some major personality changes because of that trauma. Caitlin meets with her and her family, and quickly realizes that what Maanik is going through isn’t typical, and it’s up to Caitlin to discover what is causing Maanik’s violent dreams/visions, and why she’s speaking a completely new language.

For Caitlin to discover those answers, she travels to both Haiti and Iran to meet with two other teenagers who have exhibited very similar symptoms.


Overall, I really liked reading about Caitlin unraveling this mystery, and I loved her interactions with most of the other characters, including her deaf son, Jacob and Ben.


My issue with the story is that it seems like Gillian Anderson tried to incorporate too much in too few of pages. I understand that this is going to be a series, but if you’re going to info dump, I want it all at once. I don’t feel like she gave enough, especially about The Group, to put it in this story. I would rather have known more about that secret organization and the artifacts they were discovering, or to just omit it, because for me, it confused the story.

The artifacts seem alien, but everything else in the story didn’t to me. It felt supernatural-y or the possibility of another universe within our own. Or both. This may have been a mis-read on my part, but with the different religions and the talking of souls and the connection of souls and past lives, none of that felt alien. And honestly, I’m hoping that I’m right about the story being more about lost civilizations being sucked into another dimension or realm versus aliens. I think it’ll make for an interesting story...but I just don’t know, because of the freaking artifacts.

I’m definitely going to try the next book in the series, because I’m intrigued. And, I love being genuinely interested in what happens next in a story, like I am here. So, even though I rated this a little low, it was because of my own issues with what I felt was missing.

I think the writing is solid, and the plot, while crazy as heck and disjointed, it worked. I loved the characters, and I’m definitely hoping to see Maanik and Gaelle, and others who had gone through similar experiences as major players going forward.


And I’d love to see more Caitlin and Ben, because I have a romantic side about me, and I’m already hoping for a happy ending for them.


To those who’ve read this (either PM me or put your thoughts in spoiler tags, because I’m honestly curious about your answers...I’m very lost in my own opinion):

Do you think Jacob may end up getting sucked into these visions in the later books? Or do you think he would just close himself off because he’s 10 and his mother kept leaving? I didn’t think it was just Caitlin’s connection to the visions that was part of the issue. I think Jacob may be connected as well. I don’t know, what do you think?

4/5 Stars - Midnights by Rainbow Rowell

This was an excellent story to start of the book. I really liked how the story was told over a couple of years, and I felt like I really got to know the characters in very few pages. And, it was adorable (I'm sure I'll say that pretty often with all the other stories). Easily up there as one of my favorites in the book.

5/5 Stars - The Lady and the Fox by Kelly Link

I read a couple of reviews of this book, and I feel like I'm the only one that LOVED this story. I think it's because of the magic in it, but I was just absolutely fascinated with the characters and the world that Link built here. I would actually love to see this as a full novel. It was excellent.

4/5 Stars - Angels in the Snow by Matt de la Pena

First there's a cat - that's an instant star for me, always. I love kitties. The story itself was great though, and just really uplifting. I felt like I really got to know the characters, and I loved who they were. I thought this was an excellent story.

2.5/5 Stars - Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han

This was a meh story for me. It was cute, but the story itself just wasn't for me.

5/5 Stars - It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins

I just felt like everything was right about this story. The writing, the characters, the setting, just yes to it all. This was easily my favorite story of the book, and having never read Perkins before now, I definitely need to try out her other works.

3/5 Stars - Your Temporary Santa by David Levithan

Cute story, but it just didn't completely hold my interest. Most of the previous stories had stronger characters and more interesting plots, so yeah. Still cute and could have pulled on the heartstrings if it was a little bit longer, I think.

4/5 Stars - Krampuslauf by Holly Black

The magic. The characters. The setting. Again, yes to it all, and I definitely liked the darker take of a Christmas-y story. So freaking good.

5/5 Stars - What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth by Gayle Forman

Sweater orgies...'nuff said. (OK, but seriously, I freaking loved these two characters. Easily two of my favorite characters of the book).

3.5/5 Stars - Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus by Myra McEntire

This was a cutesy story, but other than that, I just didn't really care for this story all that much.

4/5 Stars - Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White

Again with the magical stories. They're my Achilles heel clearly with this book. I liked that the magic was more subtle in this one, than in the other two stories, but I still liked that there was something special about the characters.

3/5 Stars - Star of Bethlehem by Ally Carter

I think I needed this to be longer. It felt too short, and I didn't really connect with the characters or the story itself. It was cute, but I didn't feel like it had anything else going for it.

5/5 Stars - The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Magic - check. Great writing - check. Powerful characters - check. Strong story to end the book - check. This was an excellent conclusion for MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME..., and I'm really happy it ended on such a spectacular note.



Overall, I really loved reading this over the past week or so. It's been nice to read all of these really cute, feel good stories right before the holiday, and I'm happy that I picked it up from my library.

In 2015 I’m planning to dive more fully into the DC (and Marvel) Universes, and I’m pretty excited about trying out all the comics that I can find (and hopefully through my library). I saw JUSTICE LEAGUE, VOLUME 1: ORIGIN and decided to enter the DC universe a little early, and you know what, I liked this.

I’ve seen some mixed reviews, but as a complete newbie to the world, it was good. The writing was fine, and, for the most part, I liked the art.

There’s that one weird image of Barry though in it, where he’s missing half his face, but the shading isn’t really dark enough to warrant half a face missing, so that was an awkward panel to me...but that was my ONE issue with the art.


I really liked meeting the Justice League members here (except Hal...I didn’t like him at all. Cocky son of a...).

Again, because I’m new to the universe, I’m not sure if any backstories were changed, but poor freaking Cyborg. I had no idea that was how he became the man he is, but I got pretty emotional during his transformation. It was devastating to the character, and I thought that Geoff Johns did an excellent job writing it with all the feels that story seemed to have to offer. I’d love to read more on just Cyborg now.


Of course, there was Batman, and honestly, I was just happy to see him and read about him and meet him again in a comic setting. I love me some freaking Batman.

Now, in the TV shows, I really liked Hawkgirl, so I was hoping to see her, but I didn’t. I did get Wonder Woman, which is always a plus, but I’d like to see Hawkgirl. I guess I’ll have to search for her stories.

Oh yeah, and there was Superman, The Flash, and Aquaman. I did read Flashpoint in 2014, and I got to meet The Flash, and that was pretty neat. I preferred that Barry Allen to this one though, but I’m not sure if that’s just because I didn’t really get to see The Flash shine in ORIGIN.

I wouldn’t mind reading up more on Aquaman either. From the TV show he seems like a BAMF, but again, I don’t feel like he was really in this story, or not enough for me to form an attachment to the character.

And then, there was Superman. For me, I’ve never been a die hard Superman fan. I haven’t watched all of the movies, and I didn’t watch the TV show either. I’m not sure why. Maybe he seems too good to me, but this Superman had a darker side, so I’m honestly curious now who Superman really is.


Anyway, overall I really enjoyed reading ORIGIN, and I’m looking forward to trying out a few more comics from this universe. I will probably stick with the New 52, just because it’s where I started, but who knows. I’m sure I’ll end up trying out whichever comics my library has to offer.

Review will be in a couple of days.

Supergirl, Volume 1: Last Daughter of Krypton
Written by: Michael Green, Mike Johnson
Illustrated by: Mahmud Asrar

Well, I’ve read another one of DC’s New 52 comics, and once again, I really enjoyed it. Maybe it’s because I’m still incredibly new to DC's universe and have no basis of comparison, but I just thought this was an interesting origin story.

I really didn’t know much about Kara Zor-El (Supergirl), and I have no idea if this origin story is different than her original one, but it works. It works so well.


Kara literally crashes onto Earth with no memories of why she left Krypton, or where she is. She is discovered by an organization (with the help of local military), and she’s just this terrified teenage girl. It felt real and her emotional processes seemed very genuine, and I just couldn’t help but feel sorry for this alien so new to Earth with us earthlings just trying to beat her into submission.

But, she’s Kryptonian, and lets face it, we know what our yellow sun does to the Krypton people, and Kara is no different. She couldn't be taken down, and really, Kara doesn't seem like the submitting type.


When Superman makes his way into the fold, Kara is, understandably suspicious, and I don’t think there would have been (realistically) a way to get through to her at that point in the story. Kara really had to experience all that she did, for this world to make some type of sense to her.

Kara’s journey in Last Daughter of Krypton is long, but I didn’t feel like any part was unnecessary or should have been removed. Her encounters with the Worldkillers and the basic back story given there, has made me genuinely curious about those people/aliens/creatures as well.


Also, the art was stunning in this comic. I absolutely loved panel after panel, and I thought that the coloring throughout the comic was just spectacular.


Another win this year for a comic book, and I’m still really loving these New 52 comics. I am definitely looking forward to picking up more in general from my library, but I’m really hoping that they have more Supergirl, because I really want to know where Kara’s story goes from here.

Wowzers! OK first off, there’s quite a bit of info dumping in this book, and normally I hate that, but I was so fascinated by this alternate history, that I didn’t mind it at all.

In fact, I was happy with all the information that Westerfeld was tossing my way.

LEVIATHAN is an alternate history surrounding following World War I starting in 1914. It follows two protagonists, Prince Aleksander (heir(ish) to the Austrian-Hungarian throne) and Deryn Sharp, a commoner who joins the British Air Service...in disguise...as a boy, because girls couldn’t join the service at the time.


The War is just starting with the Germans having struck first, and both sides are preparing for battle. However, this world has a bunch of new crazy technologies that are insane, incredible, and just things that I really kind of want in real life. Now.

One side (Germans, Austrian-Hungarian, etc.) have Clankers. It’s high-tech machinery that is large, loud, and really freaking powerful.

The other side (the British) have fabricated creatures. In this world, Darwin has discovered and opened up new technologies using DNA, animals, and engineering to create some really spectacular creations. The Darwinists continue to advance this technology, and from the Leviathan (a fabricated creature that uses whales and creates a new ecosystem - also what Deryn is on throughout the book) to the Huxleys (fabrications using jellyfish and used as kind of air-rides for scouts), they all just sound amazing.


Deryn and Alek’s journeys are very different, and being on different sides of this upcoming War, that’s completely understandable.

When they finally meet though, that’s when I feel like the book really gets going (and it is near the end of the book).

LEVIATHAN definitely reads as the first book in a series. There’s a lot of build-up for the plot, characters, and settings, but, there’s enough going on during this book, that I didn’t mind all of the world building.


I would definitely recommend giving this book a try, and I can’t wait to continue the series. I really want to know where Deryn and Alek’s friendship goes, what Dr. Barlow’s mission is, and what other beasties and clanker creations there are in future books.

I know that this isn’t a great review, but I really didn’t want to give too much away. However, I do think it’s worth looking into.

I went into THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST blind. I didn’t even read the synopsis, and I’m glad I did. This book really just touched on my fantastical side, and it made the dreamer in me extremely happy to have read such a magical story.

In the woods is a glass coffin. It rests right on the ground, and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives…

This story follows Hazel Evans, and her brother Ben, as they live in a town not like any I have ever heard. Sure, Fairfold has shops and restaurants and schools and all of that may be very normal. However, Fairfold also has the Folk living in the forest surrounding it. The Folk are elves and fairies and hags and ogres (and so much more). They’re magical, and the people of Fairfold have learned to co-exist with these wondrous creatures, while also being wary of them.

Although the people of Fairfold live in relative peace and quiet, the tourists that visit the town to see the magic up close and personal tend not to have the same protection from the Folk. When one of the biggest tourist attractions, the horned boy in the glass coffin wakes up, Hazel, Ben, and the people of Fairfold’s lives get a whole lot messier.

And of course, it’s up to Hazel to save the day, like she had always done when her and Ben were young and they pretended to be heroes.


While I may not have liked the heroine right away, Hazel Evans really grew on me. She was bluntly honest and also secretive. It made her hard to like, but she grew on me, and I felt like her character developed the most throughout this novel.

The other characters, though, were spectacular from the very beginning. I absolutely adored Ben and Jack, and when Severin was introduced, I loved what he added to the story as well.

Ben, Hazel’s brother, was truly a delightful character. He was human, but had a blessing from the Folk, that gave him this gift of music. He was the bard to Hazel’s knight, and with this gift, he was able to understand his best friend a little bit better.

Jack, Ben’s best friend shouldn’t have even been in Fairfold. However, his mother switched him with another family’s baby. Because she could. Because Jack is a changeling and the Folk like to play tricks. The baby’s mother discovered this deceit by though, and got her baby back, but kept Jack as well as punishment. I loved Jack probably the most out of all the characters, and I knew from the beginning that he would be Hazel’s love interest.

Then there’s Severin. He’s the horned boy from the coffin, and when he’s first awoken, I was a little nervous there’d be some rivalry going on for Hazel’s affections, but there isn’t. Because Severin does care for an Evans. It’s just that it’s Ben. I absolutely loved the fact that Holly Black introduced Severin as Ben’s love interest. It didn’t feel forced, just skillfully planned, and I absolutely loved Severin and Ben’s interactions.


Although the story itself may have felt a little generic. I don’t feel like any of the concepts or tales are new or all that interesting on their own, but I did think that Holly Black’s storytelling really enhanced all of these pretty traditional lore.

I was absolutely entertained while reading this story. Especially when it took on less of a fantasy feel and moved more towards a darker tone. The way Black morphed it from one to another, and then back again, seemed effortless.

Finally, I like that this is a standalone novel. It’s been the first fantasy/paranormal that I’ve read that hasn’t been part of a series in a very long time. I love that Black was able to tell THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST in one book. It didn’t feel rushed, and it didn’t feel unfinished.

I’m looking forward to checking out Black’s other work, especially if some of her novels are similar in style to this one. I just absolutely loved this.

Wow. Just wow.

THE WELL OF ASCENSION was a fantastic second book in this trilogy. While reading this, it felt like Brandon Sanderson really upped his game. The plot twists caught me by surprise. The continuing character development was phenomenal, and of course, Sanderson's writing was just completely top notch.

I wrote up such a long review for THE FINAL EMPIRE but if I did that here, I would spoil parts of that book, and I absolutely don't want to do that.

I still completely recommend reading that book, and then moving onto this one. Sanderson has really created something magical here, and I'm looking forward to getting the final book in the trilogy from my library soon.

What a bittersweet ending to a trilogy. While I applaud Mr. Sanderson’s conclusion to this story, I can see how he could continue creating other stories within his Mistborn world, and I know I’m definitely going to be interested in checking out the next books in the Mistborn world. Not now, because the pain/wound is too fresh from completing this trilogy.


I think what I loved most about what Brandon Sanderson created here was the characters. Yes, they were flawed. However, they were all important, and the ones that were heroes were flawed in the most realistic and beautiful ways. I was invested in every single one of them, and when one of the characters died, it was like losing a friend.

It hurt every time.


THE HERO OF AGES follows are wonderful heroine from the first two books, Vin, and her now husband and Emperor Elend as they work together with all the other characters to correct some pretty big issues from the previous book. I really don’t want to give anything away, but just know, it’s another epic quest, and it was just so fascinating to follow their story.

But that ending guys...I was just so completely devastated with it, because I really didn’t see it coming. Maybe I was just blindly ignoring certain hints throughout the other two books, but I thought the ending, while amazing, and it really did work for the story, it just shocked the hell out of me.


This was my first delve into Brandon Sanderson’s works and worlds, but it won’t be the last. He’s made me excited to read not only more of his novels, but I’m really looking forward to getting back into high fantasy in general again.

Thank you for the story Mr. Sanderson. It was a pleasure to read.