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Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: My Darling Husband
Author: Kimberly Belle
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, home invaders, kidnapping, language)
Explanation of CWs: There is some cursing in this book. The book centers on a home invasion and kidnapping. There is some violence and slight gore.
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Everyone is about to know what her husband isn’t telling her…
Jade and Cam Lasky are by all accounts a happily married couple with two adorable kids, a spacious home and a rapidly growing restaurant business. But their world is tipped upside down when Jade is confronted by a masked home invader. As Cam scrambles to gather the ransom money, Jade starts to wonder if they’re as financially secure as their lifestyle suggests, and what other secrets her husband is keeping from her.
Cam may be a good father, a celebrity chef and a darling husband, but there’s another side he’s kept hidden from Jade that has put their family in danger. Unbeknownst to Cam and Jade, the home invader has been watching them and is about to turn their family secrets into a public scandal.
With riveting twists and a breakneck pace, My Darling Husband is an utterly compelling thriller that once again showcases Kimberly Belle's exceptional talent for domestic suspense.
Review: For the most part I really liked this one. It read and felt like something that could be a good horror thriller film and the action started from the first chapter and didn’t let up really until the end. The book is also interesting with the back and forth timeline and the multiple POVs. The book had well developed characters and world building. The book was also very evenly paced.
However, usually in thriller/mystery books there’s a second act surprise or twist. This one really didn’t have one and it was kind of weird. It just kept going with the original plot and didn’t stop. I also felt like the book ended a bit abruptly.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: My Darling Husband
Author: Kimberly Belle
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, home invaders, kidnapping, language)
Explanation of CWs: There is some cursing in this book. The book centers on a home invasion and kidnapping. There is some violence and slight gore.
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Everyone is about to know what her husband isn’t telling her…
Jade and Cam Lasky are by all accounts a happily married couple with two adorable kids, a spacious home and a rapidly growing restaurant business. But their world is tipped upside down when Jade is confronted by a masked home invader. As Cam scrambles to gather the ransom money, Jade starts to wonder if they’re as financially secure as their lifestyle suggests, and what other secrets her husband is keeping from her.
Cam may be a good father, a celebrity chef and a darling husband, but there’s another side he’s kept hidden from Jade that has put their family in danger. Unbeknownst to Cam and Jade, the home invader has been watching them and is about to turn their family secrets into a public scandal.
With riveting twists and a breakneck pace, My Darling Husband is an utterly compelling thriller that once again showcases Kimberly Belle's exceptional talent for domestic suspense.
Review: For the most part I really liked this one. It read and felt like something that could be a good horror thriller film and the action started from the first chapter and didn’t let up really until the end. The book is also interesting with the back and forth timeline and the multiple POVs. The book had well developed characters and world building. The book was also very evenly paced.
However, usually in thriller/mystery books there’s a second act surprise or twist. This one really didn’t have one and it was kind of weird. It just kept going with the original plot and didn’t stop. I also felt like the book ended a bit abruptly.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Sorority Murder
Author: Allison Brennan
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: mystery, thriller
Publication Date: December 28, 2021
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, language, death)
Explanation of CWs: The book focuses on a murder that happened and it has violence, death, and gore in it. There is also some cursing in it.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Lucas Vega is obsessed with the death of Candace Swain, who left a sorority party one night and never came back. Her body was found after two weeks, but the case has grown cold. Three years later while interning at the medical examiner's, Lucas discovers new information, but the police are not interested.
Lucas knows he has several credible pieces of the puzzle. He just isn't sure how they fit together. So he creates a podcast to revisit Candace's last hours. Then he encourages listeners to crowdsource what they remember and invites guest lecturer Regan Merritt, a former US marshal, to come on and share her expertise.
New tips come in that convince Lucas and Regan they are onto something. Then shockingly one of the podcast callers turns up dead. Another hints at Candace's secret life, a much darker picture than Lucas imagined—and one that implicates other sorority sisters. Regan uses her own resources to bolster their theory and learns that Lucas is hiding his own secret. The pressure is on to solve the murder, but first Lucas must come clean about his real motives in pursuing this podcast—before the killer silences him forever.
Review: I loved the premise of this book! I like that the MC has a podcast and that he is into true crime. The book is told in kind of a true crime podcast fashion as well, which is so much fun. I loved how the characters were developed and how the world was built. I also thought the mystery worked well for the most part and the plot kept me interested in the story enough to find out what happened at the end.
However, the pacing is so so slow in this book in the beginning and it picks up in the middle. The book is a bit of an info dump in the beginning, which put me off of it for a bit. The book spends a lot of time going back over old evidence and repeating the same thing over and over again. The ending was also a bit of a letdown and it kind of was outside of the realm of expected.
Verdict: it was good.
Book: The Sorority Murder
Author: Allison Brennan
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: mystery, thriller
Publication Date: December 28, 2021
Genre: Thriller Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, language, death)
Explanation of CWs: The book focuses on a murder that happened and it has violence, death, and gore in it. There is also some cursing in it.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Lucas Vega is obsessed with the death of Candace Swain, who left a sorority party one night and never came back. Her body was found after two weeks, but the case has grown cold. Three years later while interning at the medical examiner's, Lucas discovers new information, but the police are not interested.
Lucas knows he has several credible pieces of the puzzle. He just isn't sure how they fit together. So he creates a podcast to revisit Candace's last hours. Then he encourages listeners to crowdsource what they remember and invites guest lecturer Regan Merritt, a former US marshal, to come on and share her expertise.
New tips come in that convince Lucas and Regan they are onto something. Then shockingly one of the podcast callers turns up dead. Another hints at Candace's secret life, a much darker picture than Lucas imagined—and one that implicates other sorority sisters. Regan uses her own resources to bolster their theory and learns that Lucas is hiding his own secret. The pressure is on to solve the murder, but first Lucas must come clean about his real motives in pursuing this podcast—before the killer silences him forever.
Review: I loved the premise of this book! I like that the MC has a podcast and that he is into true crime. The book is told in kind of a true crime podcast fashion as well, which is so much fun. I loved how the characters were developed and how the world was built. I also thought the mystery worked well for the most part and the plot kept me interested in the story enough to find out what happened at the end.
However, the pacing is so so slow in this book in the beginning and it picks up in the middle. The book is a bit of an info dump in the beginning, which put me off of it for a bit. The book spends a lot of time going back over old evidence and repeating the same thing over and over again. The ending was also a bit of a letdown and it kind of was outside of the realm of expected.
Verdict: it was good.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Get What They Deserve
Author: Eoin Colfer
Book Series: The Fowl Twins Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, science fiction, fantasy, paranormal
Publication Date: November 23, 2021
Genre: MG Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 10+ (Possession, bullying, violence)
Explanation of CWs: There is some possession in the book and bullying. There is also slight violence.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 320
Synopsis: For almost two years, Lord Teddy Bleedham-Drye, the Duke of Scilly, has been plotting revenge against the Fowl Twins, who humiliated him in Book One. Teddy plans to give them exactly what they deserve: permanent death.
He threatens Myles with his weaponized jet and Beckett and Specialist Lazuli succeed in disarming the aircraft and causing an accident that kills the duke. But does it really?
Review: For the most part I did think that the book was good. It was high action and it would be great for kids who loved the Artemis series. The book had some great character development and fun writing. I also enjoyed the creativity of the book and the juxtaposing of science and magic.
However, I had so many issues with the world building and how things weren’t very well explained, especially considering this is the last book from what I’ve heard. The magic was kind of off-the-wall and chaotic. The plot also is kinda everywhere.
Verdict: It’s ok.
Book: Get What They Deserve
Author: Eoin Colfer
Book Series: The Fowl Twins Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, science fiction, fantasy, paranormal
Publication Date: November 23, 2021
Genre: MG Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 10+ (Possession, bullying, violence)
Explanation of CWs: There is some possession in the book and bullying. There is also slight violence.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 320
Synopsis: For almost two years, Lord Teddy Bleedham-Drye, the Duke of Scilly, has been plotting revenge against the Fowl Twins, who humiliated him in Book One. Teddy plans to give them exactly what they deserve: permanent death.
He threatens Myles with his weaponized jet and Beckett and Specialist Lazuli succeed in disarming the aircraft and causing an accident that kills the duke. But does it really?
Review: For the most part I did think that the book was good. It was high action and it would be great for kids who loved the Artemis series. The book had some great character development and fun writing. I also enjoyed the creativity of the book and the juxtaposing of science and magic.
However, I had so many issues with the world building and how things weren’t very well explained, especially considering this is the last book from what I’ve heard. The magic was kind of off-the-wall and chaotic. The plot also is kinda everywhere.
Verdict: It’s ok.
Disclaimer: I bought this ebook to support my friends! Promote/help your author friends! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ilahara: The Last Myrassar
Author: C.M. Karys
Book Series: Ilahara Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: There is a brief m/m romance mentioned
Recommended For...: young adult readers, high fantasy, fantasy
Publication Date: November 1, 2021
Genre: YA High Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Parent death, Animal hurt, Animal death, Grief, Death, Alcohol, Romance)
Explanation of CWs: There was a lot of gore and violence in the book. Sexual content is also present in the book and I feel like there was a passage that mentioned that young children worked at either a bar/tavern or a prostitution house but I’m not entirely sure on that and I can’t find it in the book again, so just be weary. There is a kidnapping and parental death mentioned. There is a story shown in the book where a dragon gets shot down and dies. Grief is discussed and alcohol is briefly mentioned. There is also some romance in this book.
Publisher: Literary Wanderlust
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Princess Asharaya Myrassar lost everything on the night of the Coup of Fire when the usurper queen, Aerella Argarys, slaughtered the royal family and claimed the throne of the fae kingdom of Ilahara. After seeking refuge on the human continent and leaving her magical past behind, Asharaya takes on a new identity: Shara, an assassin blessed with dark powers.
Prince Derron Argarys owes his royal title to his mother's coup, and although he has all the status and power one could wish for, he cannot escape the memories of the brutal death of the former prince he once called friend. Now the heir to the throne, Derron must set aside his memories and learn to rule by the Argarys words: show your power, hide your heart.
But when a crone proclaims the last of the dragon-blessed rulers still lives and prophesizes Asharaya's return to Ilahara, friend and foe alike set out to find her, Derron among them. Yet he discovers in Asharaya not only a cold and beautiful assassin but also the princess he once knew. When the chance to rid his family of the Myrassar threat comes, Derron hesitates in dealing the killing blow, charting a new course that may see Asharaya's return to Ilahara to face her greatest enemy and her destiny as the last dragon-blessed queen.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It read a lot like The Shannara Chronicles and I loved the high fantasy feel of it. I also loved the trope (Lost Princess) used and I liked that the book talked openly about menstrual cycles. The book is also heavy in political intrigue, which I like. I liked the world building and the plot kept me going.
However, the book was really confusing. The book didn’t clearly define who’s POV was whose when you start the chapter and it was awkward to go into the book with multiple POVs and not know what’s going on. I also felt like the multiple POVs didn’t allow for the characters to develop well and there was little back-story on each main character, which made the book more confusing. The book was also slow paced. Finally, as I was writing this review, I copied the synopsis and realized that it helps fill in some of the gaps in the book, which is a bummer for me. I don’t read synopses before reading the book and I feel like if important details are in the synopsis but not in the book, it just sets the book up to be a letdown.
Verdict: It was ok.
Book: Ilahara: The Last Myrassar
Author: C.M. Karys
Book Series: Ilahara Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: There is a brief m/m romance mentioned
Recommended For...: young adult readers, high fantasy, fantasy
Publication Date: November 1, 2021
Genre: YA High Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Parent death, Animal hurt, Animal death, Grief, Death, Alcohol, Romance)
Explanation of CWs: There was a lot of gore and violence in the book. Sexual content is also present in the book and I feel like there was a passage that mentioned that young children worked at either a bar/tavern or a prostitution house but I’m not entirely sure on that and I can’t find it in the book again, so just be weary. There is a kidnapping and parental death mentioned. There is a story shown in the book where a dragon gets shot down and dies. Grief is discussed and alcohol is briefly mentioned. There is also some romance in this book.
Publisher: Literary Wanderlust
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Princess Asharaya Myrassar lost everything on the night of the Coup of Fire when the usurper queen, Aerella Argarys, slaughtered the royal family and claimed the throne of the fae kingdom of Ilahara. After seeking refuge on the human continent and leaving her magical past behind, Asharaya takes on a new identity: Shara, an assassin blessed with dark powers.
Prince Derron Argarys owes his royal title to his mother's coup, and although he has all the status and power one could wish for, he cannot escape the memories of the brutal death of the former prince he once called friend. Now the heir to the throne, Derron must set aside his memories and learn to rule by the Argarys words: show your power, hide your heart.
But when a crone proclaims the last of the dragon-blessed rulers still lives and prophesizes Asharaya's return to Ilahara, friend and foe alike set out to find her, Derron among them. Yet he discovers in Asharaya not only a cold and beautiful assassin but also the princess he once knew. When the chance to rid his family of the Myrassar threat comes, Derron hesitates in dealing the killing blow, charting a new course that may see Asharaya's return to Ilahara to face her greatest enemy and her destiny as the last dragon-blessed queen.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It read a lot like The Shannara Chronicles and I loved the high fantasy feel of it. I also loved the trope (Lost Princess) used and I liked that the book talked openly about menstrual cycles. The book is also heavy in political intrigue, which I like. I liked the world building and the plot kept me going.
However, the book was really confusing. The book didn’t clearly define who’s POV was whose when you start the chapter and it was awkward to go into the book with multiple POVs and not know what’s going on. I also felt like the multiple POVs didn’t allow for the characters to develop well and there was little back-story on each main character, which made the book more confusing. The book was also slow paced. Finally, as I was writing this review, I copied the synopsis and realized that it helps fill in some of the gaps in the book, which is a bummer for me. I don’t read synopses before reading the book and I feel like if important details are in the synopsis but not in the book, it just sets the book up to be a letdown.
Verdict: It was ok.
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Promise of Stone and Shadow
Author: Meadow Spurr
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, magic
Publication Date: November 20, 2021
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore)
Explanation of CWs: There is some violence and gore.
Publisher: Library and Archives Canada
Pages: 264
Synopsis: When strange people start appearing in the magical realm of Attina, compiled with disturbing reports from the Water, Fire, Earth, and Air clans, the royals fear that the prophesied shadow they were born to face has finally arrived. Each blessed with the power to control one of the four elements in its entirety, the siblings can only hope that they're strong enough to defeat the coming threat.
It's not long before the unimaginable happens, and the Promised Four must rise.
Review: I really liked this one! I thought the book was well written and had a lot of good premise and plot to it. The characters were well developed and the pacing was fairly spot on. The book also had some fun twists and the characters are the heart of the story and what kept me motivated to keep reading it.
The only issue I really had with the book is that the world building and magic system weren’t very well explained in my opinion. I thought it could have been fleshed out a bit more.
Verdict: it was great!
Book: A Promise of Stone and Shadow
Author: Meadow Spurr
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, magic
Publication Date: November 20, 2021
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore)
Explanation of CWs: There is some violence and gore.
Publisher: Library and Archives Canada
Pages: 264
Synopsis: When strange people start appearing in the magical realm of Attina, compiled with disturbing reports from the Water, Fire, Earth, and Air clans, the royals fear that the prophesied shadow they were born to face has finally arrived. Each blessed with the power to control one of the four elements in its entirety, the siblings can only hope that they're strong enough to defeat the coming threat.
It's not long before the unimaginable happens, and the Promised Four must rise.
Review: I really liked this one! I thought the book was well written and had a lot of good premise and plot to it. The characters were well developed and the pacing was fairly spot on. The book also had some fun twists and the characters are the heart of the story and what kept me motivated to keep reading it.
The only issue I really had with the book is that the world building and magic system weren’t very well explained in my opinion. I thought it could have been fleshed out a bit more.
Verdict: it was great!
Disclaimer: I bought this book and I own two others lol.
Book Series: Book 1 of the Harry Potter Series
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: June 26, 1997
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (magic and abuse by Harry’s family)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Harry Potter's life is miserable. His parents are dead and he's stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he's a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.
Though Harry's first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it's his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.
Full of sympathetic characters, wildly imaginative situations, and countless exciting details, the first installment in the series assembles an unforgettable magical world and sets the stage for many high-stakes adventures to come.
Review: Why haven’t I reread Harry Potter sooner!? Oh my god this brought back such good memories and it’s just a warm book altogether. I adore baby Harry, Hermione, and Ron. I thought the characters were very well developed and the world building was magnificent. The book was written amazingly well and the nostalgia was hard.
My only issue is that the book skipped around a bit, but it made sense and didn’t make the book confusing, I just wanted more of the magical world. Also, how unfair is it that a lot of the stuff was cut out of the movie???
Verdict: Read. This. Now.
Book Series: Book 1 of the Harry Potter Series
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: June 26, 1997
Genre: Children’s Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (magic and abuse by Harry’s family)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Harry Potter's life is miserable. His parents are dead and he's stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he's a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.
Though Harry's first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it's his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.
Full of sympathetic characters, wildly imaginative situations, and countless exciting details, the first installment in the series assembles an unforgettable magical world and sets the stage for many high-stakes adventures to come.
Review: Why haven’t I reread Harry Potter sooner!? Oh my god this brought back such good memories and it’s just a warm book altogether. I adore baby Harry, Hermione, and Ron. I thought the characters were very well developed and the world building was magnificent. The book was written amazingly well and the nostalgia was hard.
My only issue is that the book skipped around a bit, but it made sense and didn’t make the book confusing, I just wanted more of the magical world. Also, how unfair is it that a lot of the stuff was cut out of the movie???
Verdict: Read. This. Now.
Disclaimer: I still don’t support JK Rowling’s anti-trans statements, but I wanted to finish the series that I had purchased before her sentiments came to light.
Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
Author: JK Rowling
Book Series: Harry Potter Book 7
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: harry potter fans and those who like magic
Publication Date: July 21, 2007
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (war, violence, torture TW, gore, death, animal death TW)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Pages: 759
Synopsis: Harry Potter is leaving Privet Drive for the last time. But as he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid’s motorbike and they take to the skies, he knows Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters will not be far behind.
The protective charm that has kept him safe until now is broken. But the Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything he loves. And he knows he can’t keep hiding.
To stop Voldemort, Harry knows he must find the remaining Horcruxes and destroy them.
Review: For the most part I adored this book! The plot was intriguing from start to finish and the characters were well developed. I loved how much more developed Ron was in this book as well. The book also did decent with the world building and the pacing.
However, I felt like the book had some unclear moments, especially during the fight scene. The writing was a bit unclear and not as well detailed as one would have liked. The book also had a lot of information coming at the reader and it takes a good deal of attention to detail to understand it all.
Verdict: It was a great ending to the series.
Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
Author: JK Rowling
Book Series: Harry Potter Book 7
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: harry potter fans and those who like magic
Publication Date: July 21, 2007
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (war, violence, torture TW, gore, death, animal death TW)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Pages: 759
Synopsis: Harry Potter is leaving Privet Drive for the last time. But as he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid’s motorbike and they take to the skies, he knows Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters will not be far behind.
The protective charm that has kept him safe until now is broken. But the Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything he loves. And he knows he can’t keep hiding.
To stop Voldemort, Harry knows he must find the remaining Horcruxes and destroy them.
Review: For the most part I adored this book! The plot was intriguing from start to finish and the characters were well developed. I loved how much more developed Ron was in this book as well. The book also did decent with the world building and the pacing.
However, I felt like the book had some unclear moments, especially during the fight scene. The writing was a bit unclear and not as well detailed as one would have liked. The book also had a lot of information coming at the reader and it takes a good deal of attention to detail to understand it all.
Verdict: It was a great ending to the series.
Disclaimer: I received this particular copy from Cody!
Book Series: Harry Potter 2
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: July 2, 1998
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (little gore, some scary moments, one small sexual innuendo, and snakes)
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 341
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone -- or something -- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?
Review: After all this time, I still love my favorite book of the series. I loved how the story just flows beautifully from book 1 and, when rereading this book, you can really pick up on all of the little cues that JK put in there. The book is full of great moments that didn’t make it to the film and it’s definitely worth the read. The character development is amazing, the pacing is great, and the writing is amazing, as always.
My only, ONLY, issue is that I feel like the book spent too long setting up the final moments of the book. Like, we have 300 pages of set up and then 5 pages of exposition. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, but I would have liked it to be a bit more in the end.
Verdict: Harry Potter OP
Book Series: Harry Potter 2
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: July 2, 1998
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (little gore, some scary moments, one small sexual innuendo, and snakes)
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 341
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone -- or something -- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?
Review: After all this time, I still love my favorite book of the series. I loved how the story just flows beautifully from book 1 and, when rereading this book, you can really pick up on all of the little cues that JK put in there. The book is full of great moments that didn’t make it to the film and it’s definitely worth the read. The character development is amazing, the pacing is great, and the writing is amazing, as always.
My only, ONLY, issue is that I feel like the book spent too long setting up the final moments of the book. Like, we have 300 pages of set up and then 5 pages of exposition. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, but I would have liked it to be a bit more in the end.
Verdict: Harry Potter OP
Disclaimer: I bought this book!
Book Series: Harry Potter Book 4
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: September 28, 2002
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (magic and some little violence but some really scary moments and some gore)
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 734
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.
Review: Like any Harry Potter book, this one was stupendous! I love all the little things about this book and I find more and more every time I reread them. The characters are very well developed and they are aging very well. The story is complex, but well done, and the writing is stupendous.
However, the beginning is a bit hard to get into. Like, it took me 100 pages to really want to read it. Kinda weird.
Verdict: Read this series!
Book Series: Harry Potter Book 4
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: September 28, 2002
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (magic and some little violence but some really scary moments and some gore)
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 734
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.
Review: Like any Harry Potter book, this one was stupendous! I love all the little things about this book and I find more and more every time I reread them. The characters are very well developed and they are aging very well. The story is complex, but well done, and the writing is stupendous.
However, the beginning is a bit hard to get into. Like, it took me 100 pages to really want to read it. Kinda weird.
Verdict: Read this series!
Disclaimer: I bought this book before Rowling came out as transphobic. *sigh*
Book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling
Book Series: Harry Potter Book 5
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: September 1, 2004
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (teen angst, violence, slight gore, Umbridge)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Pages: 870
Amazon Link
Synopsis: There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it’s haunting Harry Pottter’s dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?
Harry has a lot on his mind for this, his fifth year at Hogwarts: a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey; a big surprise on the Gryffindor Quidditch team; and the looming terror of the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. But all these things pale next to the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named---a threat that neither the magical government nor the authorities at Hogwarts can stop.
As the grasp of darkness tightens, Harry must discover the true depth and strength of his friends, the importance of boundless loyalty, and the shocking price of unbearable sacrifice.
His fate depends on them all.
Review: This was an amazing read for me! I absolutely loved going back into the world of Harry Potter and seeing teen angst Harry. I loved the writing of this book. Rowling does well at aging her characters along with her audience and you can see that definitely in this book. The character development was amazing, the plot was intriguing, and I’m anxious to read book 6 for the first time this month!
My only issue is that while Harry was developed tremendously (as he should be) I didn’t feel like some of the others weren’t as developed. Luna and Ginny got a bit but not a lot. Hermione… meh. Just a bit of an issue with me as I love all three of them, but it’s hard to accomplish that in a book where it’s first person POV.
Verdict: Definitely ready for shiz to happen in book 6!
Book: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling
Book Series: Harry Potter Book 5
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: September 1, 2004
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (teen angst, violence, slight gore, Umbridge)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Pages: 870
Amazon Link
Synopsis: There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it’s haunting Harry Pottter’s dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?
Harry has a lot on his mind for this, his fifth year at Hogwarts: a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a personality like poisoned honey; a big surprise on the Gryffindor Quidditch team; and the looming terror of the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. But all these things pale next to the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named---a threat that neither the magical government nor the authorities at Hogwarts can stop.
As the grasp of darkness tightens, Harry must discover the true depth and strength of his friends, the importance of boundless loyalty, and the shocking price of unbearable sacrifice.
His fate depends on them all.
Review: This was an amazing read for me! I absolutely loved going back into the world of Harry Potter and seeing teen angst Harry. I loved the writing of this book. Rowling does well at aging her characters along with her audience and you can see that definitely in this book. The character development was amazing, the plot was intriguing, and I’m anxious to read book 6 for the first time this month!
My only issue is that while Harry was developed tremendously (as he should be) I didn’t feel like some of the others weren’t as developed. Luna and Ginny got a bit but not a lot. Hermione… meh. Just a bit of an issue with me as I love all three of them, but it’s hard to accomplish that in a book where it’s first person POV.
Verdict: Definitely ready for shiz to happen in book 6!