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samantha_randolph's Reviews (1.59k)
3.5/5 stars, rounded up
"A year after Estelle's fiancé dies, she sells their house and moves back in with her brother to finally try to move on with her life. She devotes herself to her art, coming to terms with her grief, and her mind continues to linger on the guy she has never forgotten, her brother's best friend, Oliver. Now that she is living with her brother, her and Oliver see each other all the time, and there is no denying their chemistry. But when the history between them is so dark, will they ever find a way to be happy together again?" Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=53526
"A year after Estelle's fiancé dies, she sells their house and moves back in with her brother to finally try to move on with her life. She devotes herself to her art, coming to terms with her grief, and her mind continues to linger on the guy she has never forgotten, her brother's best friend, Oliver. Now that she is living with her brother, her and Oliver see each other all the time, and there is no denying their chemistry. But when the history between them is so dark, will they ever find a way to be happy together again?" Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=53526
"Mette, attendant to Queen Catherine, watches as her grown charge navigates the court and attempts to produce an heir to the throne. Once successful, Catherine believes she cannot be touched, but Mette suspects foul play amidst their party. Once King Henry dies, Catherine is nearly forced to leave, and her and Mette must find safety in a land that is not their home while battling sinister forces that would deny them everything." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=53628
"When the Empire takes her brother, Laia turns the Resistance to bargain a deal that will save him. Unfortunately, this means becoming their spy in the one place she doesn't stand a chance of surviving in, the military academy of the Empire. There, a young man named Elias, trained as one of the best soldiers, yearns for a freedom away from the oppressive system. The two will soon discover that their paths are not so separate, and that together, they may stand a chance of surviving." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=53630
"When a ruthless mob leader killed Sera's brother, she vows justice. As an undercover cop with the NYPD, she is determined to find evidence that will take his killer down. Bowen is working undercover too, only he's working for law immunity and family protection. When the two collide, both fall dangerously in love in the middle of a vengeful mob showdown." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=53637
While I love fairy tale retellings, I haven’t read many about Jack and the Beanstalk. This take on the tale by Liesl Shurtliff does a wonderful spin on the original (plus some parts of Jack the Giant Killer). The voice stands out as my favorite part of the novel. Jack’s narration is clear, humorous, and on point with the sort of hero complex young boys are presented with. With a strong amount of action and adventure, Jack’s story flies by as the reader discoveries what really happened with the giants and that magical hen.
The plot builds beautifully with strong scenes both on Jack’s land and in the giants’ kingdom. I wasn’t hooked on the story the entire time, but there is a nice balance of action and transition. The cast of secondary characters in the village adds spice to the story, and the sub-plot with Tom is sweet and fun. There are also hints of other fairy tales among this one as the plot unfolds, and it is interesting seeing how some connect.
While readers can easily enjoy the story at a surface level, I love some of the interesting mentions of undercurrent issues from the effects of greed to family relationships, even potentially an environmental insight. This makes the novel a good choice for either a light-hearted or a deeper read, depending on how much thought you give.
Fans of fairy tale retellings won’t be disappointed with Liesl Shurtliff’s Jack. The compelling voice and memorable characters make this a read I would highly recommend to fans of The Sisters Grimm and Chris Colfer.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/18339-jack-the-true-story-of-jack-and-the-beanstalk
The plot builds beautifully with strong scenes both on Jack’s land and in the giants’ kingdom. I wasn’t hooked on the story the entire time, but there is a nice balance of action and transition. The cast of secondary characters in the village adds spice to the story, and the sub-plot with Tom is sweet and fun. There are also hints of other fairy tales among this one as the plot unfolds, and it is interesting seeing how some connect.
While readers can easily enjoy the story at a surface level, I love some of the interesting mentions of undercurrent issues from the effects of greed to family relationships, even potentially an environmental insight. This makes the novel a good choice for either a light-hearted or a deeper read, depending on how much thought you give.
Fans of fairy tale retellings won’t be disappointed with Liesl Shurtliff’s Jack. The compelling voice and memorable characters make this a read I would highly recommend to fans of The Sisters Grimm and Chris Colfer.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/18339-jack-the-true-story-of-jack-and-the-beanstalk
Full of adventure and excitement, The League of Beastly Dreadfuls is a fast-paced and highly entertaining read. The story mixes the perfect amount of dark and quirky with comic relief and enjoyable characters. The writing flows wonderfully and pulls the reader in expertly, making this an excellent choice for reluctant readers.
Anastasia is a fantastic, clever heroine who knows how use her mind as her most powerful weapon. She is surrounded by mysteries, and she does her best to uncover what is really going on. Her reactions to the aunts and her strange situation are realistic and heartfelt, and I found it impossible not to wish the best for her and hope for a successful escape.
The suspense is incredible. I get creeped out easily when reading a story, but even so, Holly Grant weaves a scary array of discoveries and mysteries that are on the darker side. Areas of comic relief help balance this out, but the dangerous situation Anastasia is in is made very clear.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While some parts of the humor had me laughing out loud, most of the humor didn’t work for me. There are times when it seems a little too silly and occasionally uncomfortable. However, that is absolutely a me-specific note, and I can tell that others could easily enjoy the funnier parts to the story.
Since this is the beginning of a series, the story naturally leaves off with some open mysteries. However, one or two bigger questions that go on during most of the story are still cut off at the end. I hoped for a few more answers than were provided after all the intrigue, but I know they are sure to be answered later in the series.
Final Verdict:
Though this isn’t a favorite, I highly enjoyed The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. The story is quick, quirky, and holds strange and lovable characters. I am eager to see what the author does with the next book in the series, and I would recommend this to readers wanting an entertaining story with a bite.
Anastasia is a fantastic, clever heroine who knows how use her mind as her most powerful weapon. She is surrounded by mysteries, and she does her best to uncover what is really going on. Her reactions to the aunts and her strange situation are realistic and heartfelt, and I found it impossible not to wish the best for her and hope for a successful escape.
The suspense is incredible. I get creeped out easily when reading a story, but even so, Holly Grant weaves a scary array of discoveries and mysteries that are on the darker side. Areas of comic relief help balance this out, but the dangerous situation Anastasia is in is made very clear.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While some parts of the humor had me laughing out loud, most of the humor didn’t work for me. There are times when it seems a little too silly and occasionally uncomfortable. However, that is absolutely a me-specific note, and I can tell that others could easily enjoy the funnier parts to the story.
Since this is the beginning of a series, the story naturally leaves off with some open mysteries. However, one or two bigger questions that go on during most of the story are still cut off at the end. I hoped for a few more answers than were provided after all the intrigue, but I know they are sure to be answered later in the series.
Final Verdict:
Though this isn’t a favorite, I highly enjoyed The League of Beastly Dreadfuls. The story is quick, quirky, and holds strange and lovable characters. I am eager to see what the author does with the next book in the series, and I would recommend this to readers wanting an entertaining story with a bite.
Great, quick collection of comic fairy tales. Most of the stories have some sort of twist to them, and the variety of artwork is wonderful.
3.5/5 stars
Short and Sweet:
I’ve been on a graphic novel kick lately, and I really enjoyed this one! This is a great read if you’re looking for something different and cool.
To Elaborate…
Though this isn’t the kind of premise I’m usually drawn to, a blogger friend recommended it to me, and her review won me over. This is the perfect reminder for me that I need to read both in and out of my usual spectrum because I liked this one so much. The story follows Tom as he and his friends form a band for the school Battle of the Bands contest. On the surface, the four high schoolers seem your run of the mill types (football player, smart musician, etc.), but the story soon delves into deeper issues.
As much as I enjoy reading kickbutt female characters, I had forgotten how important sensitive male leads are. All four of the guys are strong, mentally speaking, but they also have softer sides that they aren’t afraid to show. The story opens up areas of masculinity that aren’t presented often enough (in my opinion) in other stories, and it is so refreshing to see that here. This book offers up a strong chance to gain some empathy.
While I generally like the graphics (especially the incredible facial expressions and use of diversity), they do have kind of a raw, sketchy feel to them. I wanted to see a little more of a finished look in areas. The dialogue is also a bit stiff at times, but the majority of it definitely feels realistic and sincere.
Readers wanting an emotional, nicely off beat, and fun story can find an excellent pick in The Stereotypical Freaks. I definitely want to read more from this author, and I’m so glad I got to read this.
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2015/06/review-the-stereotypical-freaks-by-howard-shapiro/
Short and Sweet:
I’ve been on a graphic novel kick lately, and I really enjoyed this one! This is a great read if you’re looking for something different and cool.
To Elaborate…
Though this isn’t the kind of premise I’m usually drawn to, a blogger friend recommended it to me, and her review won me over. This is the perfect reminder for me that I need to read both in and out of my usual spectrum because I liked this one so much. The story follows Tom as he and his friends form a band for the school Battle of the Bands contest. On the surface, the four high schoolers seem your run of the mill types (football player, smart musician, etc.), but the story soon delves into deeper issues.
As much as I enjoy reading kickbutt female characters, I had forgotten how important sensitive male leads are. All four of the guys are strong, mentally speaking, but they also have softer sides that they aren’t afraid to show. The story opens up areas of masculinity that aren’t presented often enough (in my opinion) in other stories, and it is so refreshing to see that here. This book offers up a strong chance to gain some empathy.
While I generally like the graphics (especially the incredible facial expressions and use of diversity), they do have kind of a raw, sketchy feel to them. I wanted to see a little more of a finished look in areas. The dialogue is also a bit stiff at times, but the majority of it definitely feels realistic and sincere.
Readers wanting an emotional, nicely off beat, and fun story can find an excellent pick in The Stereotypical Freaks. I definitely want to read more from this author, and I’m so glad I got to read this.
Originally posted at The Forest of Words and Pages: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/2015/06/review-the-stereotypical-freaks-by-howard-shapiro/
