leandrathetbrzero's Reviews (412)

A wizard, a bounty hunter, and a bard enter the castle....one of them is murdered!

Thank you Christopher Healy, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy of No One Leave the Castle in exchange for this honest review.

What a creative middlegrade genre blend!! A well-balanced mix of fantasy and mystery elements. Hands down, this was my favorite MG read of 2023, and I am just itching for another mystery--if there ever will be one--that follows the Lilac and her loyal bard companion, Dulcinetta.

This duo is adventurous and clever, hilarious, and wonderfully supportive (sometimes in ways that gets them more in trouble). I loved that the aspiring bounty hunter had to turn sleuth as her bard sang her praises, some truths and some lies mixed together. And, on that note, the entire cast is incredibly fresh and dynamic. I thoroughly enjoyed switching POVs among the characters, all as we try to discover everyone's secrets before the bubble surrounding the castle crushed them. And I was thoroughly satisfied with the ending, turning a few mystery tropes on their heads!

This is a mystery I will be recommending to all ages, and it is one I now own my own copy of. Already excited for the eventual reread!!

I loved the romance between Chloe and Red. Both characters provide important representation, not just as an interracial coupling with a black woman and a white man. Chloe is a fat main character who lives with chronic pain. Red has experienced an abusive romantic relationship, and he is struggling to piece his life together. The dialogue was sharp and pretty realistic, the spice was entertaining, and there was so much humor throughout. I really enjoyed the audiobook experience.

The narrator does give the tone a fairytale story vibe as an older British woman narrator. I would have preferred two voice actors, one for each protagonist, that sound closer in age to the characters as well. 

NOTE: A friend did mention the discomfort she had with the voyeurism that takes place in this books. I will admit that I may not have noticed it as much due to the fact that it was Chloe being the voyeur which is a gender double standard. If I were to reread this, I would probably look at these scenes a bit more critically. 

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review! 

3.25 stars

For full transparency, even though this is the fourth book in the Lily Adler mystery series, it was my first time following the regency widow as she solves crimes and brings about justice in her own way. 

Crooked Lane Books has become my #1 publisher for historical mysteries as of late, from the Lady Librarian series to Viviana Valentine. It is unsurprising that I would be drawn to yet another historical mystery from Crooked Lane, especially one set during a Christmas ball with murderer and guests snowbound together.

I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this Christmas mystery. Lily, our amateur sleuth, is thoughtful and patient in her investigation, reminiscent of Rosalind Thorne (A Useful Woman) and Caroline Morton (Miss Morton mysteries). The mystery was well-plotted, and the number of suspicious characters kept me wondering how everything would end. I also appreciated the inclusion of what I would describe as a  prototypical demisexual character. My rating stands, however, because I did find the pacing of the mystery slower than I typically like. I wanted to feel more invested in characters' struggles than I did, and some of the character arcs felt underdeveloped or in need of more explanation, especially those involving blackmail. 

FLAMING FEATHERS!! Perfect for fans of Land Before Time and Jurassic Park!

When Eleri is exiled to the Deadlands for treason, all expect him to perish quickly. In fact, one mysterious dinosaur calling themself Shadow pays a Wind Whisperer to be sure it happens. Out aspiring storyteller not only survives, however. He finds a family where he least suspected it, creating his own herd with other dinosaurs who were rejected by their kind for one reason or another. The band of exiled youths also stumble upon a discovery that places everyone's survival in their claws...

It took me a few chapters to fully get used to this narrative following dinosaurs as main characters, especially one so complex with its history, politics, culture, and legends. Once I felt familiar with each main character, however, I absolutely loved their dynamic. The conversations among the group of exiles were handsdown my favorite, from the snarky comments to those made with empathetic understanding and mutual vulnerability. This very much reads as Land Before Time slightly aged up to the younger teen age range, and that is a compliment of the highest order!

I can easily see middlegrade lovers of all things dinosaurs, fantasy/science fiction, and adventure. And I will be recommending the library where I work to buy this series for our collection if we do not already have it.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and I think the author brings up some important topical issues including substance abuse, grooming, sexual assault and consent. This is the first book I've read discussing grooming and praying on children in a "legal" way, and I really appreciated how the author addressed it. One of the final twists at the end did feel too convenient, especially because - by that time - I had completely forgotten about a specific plot thread started at the beginning of the book and never returned to until the ending. 

I would try this author again for sure though!

I know that I am biased when it comes to Robert Thorogood's writing because I love the TV series, Death in Paradise. As I have watched and rewatched that series too many times, seeing it as a comfort watch at this point, I think that has translated to his published works as well. From his Death in Paradise novelizations (of which I have only read 1 but thoroughly enjoyed it) to his newest project, The Marlow Murder Club. 

I find the mysteries to be intricate and very "Thorogood," with everything explained by the end. While I often guess the endings, I never get everything right and I attribute my correct guesses to being so familiar with the author's go-to narrative plotting. I also love the dynamic between the three women sleuths. Each are so different with varying personal issues and pasts, but they all seemed to be lonely and in need of friendship when they found each other, which I find very sweet. I've preordered book 3 because I find the series a nostalgic, cozy blanket at this point. 

Better - in my opinion - than The Thursday Murder Club!