3.5 stars



“Paladin, paladin, choke and twitch, bitten by the Wolf-Blood Witch.”



I am reviewing this as an ARC book edition for the Fredricksen Library. I can't wait to watch the Netflix adaptation! The Lady of the Lake can finally get the press she deserves. In this book, Nimue isn't just King Arthur's weapons-keeper. She has her own family, relationships and motivations. Her character progresses through the book, becoming more aware of her power and abilities. While the story has a loose plot at best, Nimue is a stellar character. She's flawed, but she does try to do the right thing. Her relationship with Arthur is unexpected and tender at the same time. As more characters are introduced, the story of Camelot begins to come together in a beautiful way.



My critiques mainly have to do with the plot structure and ending of the book. Nimue's journey is rocky and disorganized. Sometimes her intentions are unclear and confusing. I'm not sure I'm okay with her rise to power? I expected to jump and down for a Camelot queen, but I'm not sure I like the direction the plot took. Nimue's character definitely deserves more flushing out; it's a lot of work that can't be achieved in one book alone. The plot felt rushed and then THAT ENDING. AN UNCLEAR CLIFFHANGER? IS THERE GOING TO BE A SEQUEL AT ALL? The reader is left not knowing how the plot stands.




Some of my favorite quotes:

"Uther is merely warming the throne for a true king."

"You see them, you experience them in ways I will never understand."

"And Arthur. My young wolf. My heart. Will I see him again?"

“You aren't made for sweeping floors, little beastie," he said quietly. "Don't you know that?” 



This is the kind of book that everyone's talking about, you read it, and then nobody talks about it anymore! Seriously it was difficult to find #bookstagram posts about it. A couple years ago this book was a big deal in the ya community so I finally read it. AND I LOVED IT. It's perfect for fans of [b:The Golden Compass|119322|The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1)|Philip Pullman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505766203l/119322._SX50_.jpg|1536771], [b:The Cruel Prince|26032825|The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574535986l/26032825._SY75_.jpg|45959123] and the [b:A Court of Thorns and Roses|16096824|A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546406962l/16096824._SY75_.jpg|21905102] series. It's honestly a combination of all those wonderful stories! This book has something for everyone: high-speed chases, magic spells, awesome friendships, some romance and memorable characters.



I can't wait to read the second book in this duology. Anouk is such a lovely heroine; I relate to her so much! She's shy and quiet but she's also smart and loyal to her family. Plus her badass jacket! She's quirky and kinda reminds me of Blue in the [b:The Raven Boys|17675462|The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1573508485l/17675462._SY75_.jpg|18970934] series. Her character goes through such AMAZING DEVELOPMENT in a short time! Even though her development happens quickly, the book doesn't feel rushed. Somehow [a:Megan Shepherd|5108399|Megan Shepherd|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1329343208p2/5108399.jpg] creates a fantastic fast-paced story that allows time for character growth and friendships to form.




Some final thoughts:

- Beau is too cute! I love how he learns to back off and let Anouk be her own person. His animal form is so perfect.
- Anyone else think there was insane chemistry between Anouk and every other character? I could ship her with Cricket, Beau, Viggo and Rennar! I guess she's just so lovable.
- I felt like Rennar was introduced and made to be so important, but the reader had no time with him! His role at the end was very small. I'm really hoping we get more of him in the next book or else what's even the point?
- Madam Zola you did me wrong! I was loving your lavender house of dreams and you just went and ruined it!

3.5 stars



A fascinating look into the history of a beloved institution. [a:Susan Orlean|45374|Susan Orlean|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1316565913p2/45374.jpg] did an amazingly thorough job researching dates, contributions and even the Dewey decimal system! My favorite moments were near the beginning when Orlean describes her childhood visits to her hometown library. It was a beautiful parallel when she discussed taking her son to the library later. This book is clearly a passion project for Orlean and it's sure to enchant all the library lovers who read this.

My critiques have to do with the story structure. This book is half narrative, half historical accounts. All the chapters have something in common: they describe stories of libraries. However, the plot jumps around so I could never keep track of which library Orlean was referring to. For example, she jumped through hoops describing the library fire. She would discuss it one chapter, then maybe not mention it until another two chapters had passed. I would forget about it and lose track of the details. I believe it would have been better to arrange the story in specific sections and in order.

“People ask me sometimes, ‘When will there be enough women on the court?’ and my answer is, ‘When there are nine.’ ” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg



I'M SO ON BOARD WITH THIS BOOK. I loved learning about eco-feminism in Korea, the patriotic women's league of Iran, the ladies of the supreme court, real life Amazons and female pirates. These are just a few of the remarkable stories shared in this book. Even though many female friendships are featured, [a:Sam Maggs|8445946|Sam Maggs|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578516847p2/8445946.jpg] leaves enough room to describe in detail each woman's individual life. She throws in fun details as well as historically accurate information. My favorite was when she mentioned Elena Kagan's support of frozen yogurt machines in the Supreme Court cafeteria lol!



Maggs's informal commentary, usually written in parentheses, is delightful. She makes her opinions known and her jokes makes the tough subject matters more digestible. She always ends each chapter with a note of hopeful finality. Through Maggs's writing, the reader becomes hopeful that more women's stories will rise from the shadows and be shared. I need a Netflix documentary series based on all this book's chapters!!!!!!!! I recommend this book to every women and gender studies class.

This is a niche genre book - for readers who enjoy sci fi and fantasy with just a hint of realism. It's a graphic novel with elements of science fiction, fantasy, history and stream of consciousness writing. This is a book for a very special reader. It definitely won't appeal to everyone due to its unusual wordplay, but I can see this appealing to kids. I received this as an ARC book and I can't wait for it to join the shelves of my local library! Ebony Grace is such an adorable and fearless heroine.

It's helpful to understand why this is a multi-genre piece:

science fiction: at least half the book is told through Ebony Grace's eyes as if she was a Starfleet character aka Star Trek.

fantasy: this is partly due to the science fiction elements and the fact that Ebony Grace's life is merged with fantasy daydreams.

historical importance: the book takes place in Harlem, 1984 so there's discussions on race, diversity, cultural differences.

realistic fiction: the other half of the book is the story of a young child growing up in a city. Every day events take place such as Fourth of July parties and jump rope with friends.



The writing style is difficult to follow because of it being stream of consciousness, but it's the accurate portrayal of a kid babbling. Just because a character narrates in a confusing way doesn't mean that their thoughts aren't valid. I've read reviews here on Goodreads that suggest that Ebony Grace is on the autism spectrum. While this is never confirmed, it makes the most sense. No matter what, her creativity and unique vision make her a refreshing protagonist.



I love reading any books with diverse characters. [a:Ibi Zoboi|5241080|Ibi Zoboi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1458007096p2/5241080.jpg] is an author I need to watch out for! She's both fantastical and down to earth when it comes to her writing style. She doesn't sugarcoat Ebony Grace's harsh experiences. Instead, she brings us straight into the minds of young kids. She is giving kids a safe space to express how they're feeling. I can't believe that an adult had enough sensitivity to write this book.

When I was a kid, I attended a summer camp with a diverse group of kids. They belittled me, especially when it came to jumping rope. If I had a book like "My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich," I believe that I would have been able to understand my peers better. We knew next to nothing about each other and we allowed our differences to get in the way of a possible friendship. "My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich" can teach kids how to accept each other's differences and understand why everyone doesn't get along. The fight scene between Ebony Grace's father and uncle spoke to this. It addressed violence in Harlem and, through the eyes of a child, it was devastating to see her father taken away by police.

3.5 stars



A lavishly epic adventure! The Spanish mythology and cultural setting gives this story diversity. Think the [b:The Lightning Thief|28187|The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)|Rick Riordan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400602609l/28187._SY75_.jpg|3346751] series but minus the overdone Greek gods trope. This is an exciting young adult fantasy novel that adults will also enjoy. I would categorize this as a new adult book as it can be read by both demographics. I've been dying to read "Woven in Moonlight" ever since it became one of the most popular #bookstagram covers of 2019. The rich language is breathtaking, just ultimately stunning in its creation. The reader is swept up in a unique and tantalizing escapade that captures all five of the senses.



While I do adore the main character, the side characters are even better! Rumi was such an interesting and mysterious guy. I usually find mysterious male characters to be an annoying trope, but Rumi is so complex and intriguing that I got excited whenever I saw his name. His quotes were the best and I could picture him vividly in my mind. He's like the YA genre's version of [b:Don Quixote|3836|Don Quixote|Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546112331l/3836._SX50_.jpg|121842], but a better version of course.



I can't forget about the sloth either! Such a cute and original pet for the main heroine. Honestly all my favorite moments were when the sloth was mentioned. It gave the story much-needed humor and entertainment. This is a must-read for any mythology and fantasy readers and readers who enjoy badass female fictional characters.

"Indeed, the more we find to love, the more we add to the measure of our hearts."



A furiously fantastical adventure. Perfect for kids and adults alike. I would gladly reread this again. There's a reason this series has become a classic: it's just that good.



I've loved seeing Taran and Eilonwy's relationship develop. Their friendship comes together in a beautiful and realistic way. [a:Lloyd Alexander|8924|Lloyd Alexander|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1353430382p2/8924.jpg] doesn't rush to write them as star-crossed teen lovers. They are still kids who are slowly aging in the series. Since these characters have the most unlikely and unexpected friendship, their relationship is all the more endearing.



Speaking of development, Taran goes through a major glow up! In the previous book he acted like a brat sometimes but not as much as the movie adaptation insisted. This time around he is in fully-fledged hero mode!!!!!! I wasn't sure if I'd like Hero Taran but he's a gem. He's wonderfully flawed but committed to doing the right thing. Being a hero even makes him a better friend. Final thoughts: I still love Gurgi with all my heart and the world building of Prydain just keeps getting better and better!

I can't wait for book three of this series! This fanciful world of Smith's is one I want to inhabit. Her plot lines are original and intriguing. They seamlessly transitioned from being mysterious to alluring. Aurelia and Zan's relationship is swoonworthy and it's kinda cool how their magic is connected. No spoilers, but I think fans of this series will delight in the epicness of "Greythorne."



Everything about this book entranced me. The book's cover is gorgeous and so detailed, the plot is complex, the characters go through amazing development and the ending is a SO EXCITING! It leaves some questions unanswered, but not too many. I appreciated how Smith tried to wrap some plot up, but not to the extent that the next book will be predictable. Every chapter is carefully organized to link to each other, which is appreciated by a perfectionist reader like myself. If I had to choose only five words to describe this book they'd be: mages experience epic, worldbending love.

The luscious setting and beautiful historical backstories were excellent. It is expertly crafted and rendered with interesting and unusuual characters. The build up is great, but the plot becomes stagnant. Once the main character, Dr. Aubrey Waycross, travels to a new town, there's great excitement but then all the character's relationships feel forced. Hardly any of the relationships feel genuine. The main love story has no chemistry and I didn't like how Aubrey showed interest in all three sisters. Too quickly did he hate them then feel attracted to them, it was just all too strange. I get that the witches are supposed to be charming and easy to love but even this interaction felt forced.



While I fell in love with this story's setting, the plot didn't capture my attention. None of the characters had a clear motive or focus. Aubrey did want to get the witch sisters to leave town but it clearly wouldn't happen when he fell for them. I struggled to care for any of the characters, even though I expected the female characters to be badass kick butt witches. Overall this book's plot disappointed me and the characters needed more development.

"Stepping through a gate, you’ll first be met by trees. They’ll greet you with white leaves falling like rain, dusting a crisp confetti across your path that crunches under your feet as you begin to find your way. Step carefully over the slick stones, or you may slip." ~ "The Sisters Grimm"



A lush epic adventure told across several time periods. The my of family and sisterhood is powerfully written. However, it's too much worldbuilding with not enough time. I'm thoroughly disappointed with the dry plot, sterotypical female characters, unremarkable villain, loose plot structure and sparse character development. There's enough magic in here to fill three books! The main problem is that the author tries to fit the plot of three stories into one book. This causes the plot to be unnecessarily hurried and not much character depth to appear. The main characters didn't even meet until they faced the villain!



What was frustrating were the multiple points of view. Every chapter rotated between the sisters Bea, Ana, Scarlet and Goldie. Just when I was starting to follow the plot, the action would shift to a new setting with no transition. Sometimes a single chapter would have two perspectives! With the amount of backstory for each sister, it couldn't have fit in just this one book. As a result, I couldn't develop a passion for any of the sisters. I went into this book hoping for amazing Grimm sisters set in a fairytale plot twist world, but it was impossible to keep the timeline of their lives straight. Think "The Time Traveler's Wife" meets "Lord of the Rings."



Final note: Major props for the illustrations at the end of the book. I loved getting to see if the sisters I pictured in my head matched with the artwork. It's stunning work and it reminds me of fanart for Sarah J. Maas's books.