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Who doesn’t love fairy tales? The popularity of these age-old tales is evident in the numerous retellings that are being read, appreciated, and bashed all over the world. From high fantasy to erotica to horror, writers retold the tales in various genres.
More Unfairy Tales is no different. Yet, it is super fun and interesting. Five of the famous fairy tales have been turned into ‘unfairy’ tales. Now, it doesn’t mean there are no fairies. The title has been selected with a deeper meaning. These tales show how life can be unfair, and we can do nothing much about it. Or, maybe we can do something. But the course of action we decide finalizes our fate and others.
Don’t jump to conclusions and call this a serious book. I did say it was fun, didn’t I? The stories happen to have an underlying hint of how a single thought and action can cause a huge impact. The writing suits the genre and with subtle humor and mild satire that highlights particular traits of the characters. This adds multiple layers to the unidimensional original witches, fairies, and princesses.
Overall, more Unfairy Tales is a clean, engaging, and humorous read. Kids, teens, and adults can read and enjoy the book.
More Unfairy Tales is no different. Yet, it is super fun and interesting. Five of the famous fairy tales have been turned into ‘unfairy’ tales. Now, it doesn’t mean there are no fairies. The title has been selected with a deeper meaning. These tales show how life can be unfair, and we can do nothing much about it. Or, maybe we can do something. But the course of action we decide finalizes our fate and others.
Don’t jump to conclusions and call this a serious book. I did say it was fun, didn’t I? The stories happen to have an underlying hint of how a single thought and action can cause a huge impact. The writing suits the genre and with subtle humor and mild satire that highlights particular traits of the characters. This adds multiple layers to the unidimensional original witches, fairies, and princesses.
Overall, more Unfairy Tales is a clean, engaging, and humorous read. Kids, teens, and adults can read and enjoy the book.
**Happy Publication Date**
*************
4 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming, hopeful, and happy ever after.
Mia goes back to Winstead Cape when her Grandma Ruth passes away. The old lady managed a historic lighthouse that has been in the family for generations.
Alice, Mia’s mother, discovers the debt left behind by Grandma Ruth. With her finances balanced on the edge and Riley, Mia’s younger sister holding a small job at the hospital, they have no option but to sell the lighthouse.
Mia has to be the strong one and take care of the renovations and arrangements. The nearing Christmas, her broken marriage, the pressure of working with her soon-to-be ex-husband threaten to overwhelm her. Yet, she steps in to take care of things. Her mother and sister step up, and they work together as a unit.
Will is the real estate Mia hired to sell the lighthouse. He has troubles of his own and some of his sister Kate’s to deal with. Yet, when Mia and Will meet and work together, they find solace and peace together.
But things get complicated soon enough. The secrets from Grandma Ruth’s past come out in the open. Mia’s life suddenly is at crossroads, and she’s trying to find her true self.
Can Christmas in the lighthouse save the place and fix things for everyone?
The book is as beautiful as Christmas books should be. It’s more of women’s fiction, and there isn’t any romance, per se. What we do get is people getting to each other and discovering themselves in the process.
The characters are well-etched and come alive on the paper/ screen (for ebooks). The hints to the secret are easy to guess. Nothing gets dragged beyond a point, either.
I love how Will is a smart and sensible guy with a good heart. He is confident, compassionate, and ready to help. Mia’s got a good head and a good heart, both of that make her a lovely person.
There’s enough angst and doubt to add some drama though everything is resolved easily. The imagery of the setting, food, and winter season was beautiful. The writing is easy and smooth. A couple of characters and themes are predictable, but that’s the comfort of reading this genre.
To sum up, A Lighthouse Christmas is a warm story about family, relationships, and listening to what the heart wants.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#ALighthouseChristmas #NetGalley
P.S: Felix was such an adorable kid! Loved his character in the book.
*************
4 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming, hopeful, and happy ever after.
Mia goes back to Winstead Cape when her Grandma Ruth passes away. The old lady managed a historic lighthouse that has been in the family for generations.
Alice, Mia’s mother, discovers the debt left behind by Grandma Ruth. With her finances balanced on the edge and Riley, Mia’s younger sister holding a small job at the hospital, they have no option but to sell the lighthouse.
Mia has to be the strong one and take care of the renovations and arrangements. The nearing Christmas, her broken marriage, the pressure of working with her soon-to-be ex-husband threaten to overwhelm her. Yet, she steps in to take care of things. Her mother and sister step up, and they work together as a unit.
Will is the real estate Mia hired to sell the lighthouse. He has troubles of his own and some of his sister Kate’s to deal with. Yet, when Mia and Will meet and work together, they find solace and peace together.
But things get complicated soon enough. The secrets from Grandma Ruth’s past come out in the open. Mia’s life suddenly is at crossroads, and she’s trying to find her true self.
Can Christmas in the lighthouse save the place and fix things for everyone?
The book is as beautiful as Christmas books should be. It’s more of women’s fiction, and there isn’t any romance, per se. What we do get is people getting to each other and discovering themselves in the process.
The characters are well-etched and come alive on the paper/ screen (for ebooks). The hints to the secret are easy to guess. Nothing gets dragged beyond a point, either.
I love how Will is a smart and sensible guy with a good heart. He is confident, compassionate, and ready to help. Mia’s got a good head and a good heart, both of that make her a lovely person.
There’s enough angst and doubt to add some drama though everything is resolved easily. The imagery of the setting, food, and winter season was beautiful. The writing is easy and smooth. A couple of characters and themes are predictable, but that’s the comfort of reading this genre.
To sum up, A Lighthouse Christmas is a warm story about family, relationships, and listening to what the heart wants.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#ALighthouseChristmas #NetGalley
P.S: Felix was such an adorable kid! Loved his character in the book.
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Mixed feelings, oh, well!
Amy is struggling to deal with the death of her mother. Her father, a police detective, is clueless about finding a way to connect with his daughter. The distance between them is growing farther, and there’s no one to fill it.
Then comes a chance to go to Seabrook, a small town with a historical lighthouse. Amy’s father has to close a cold case and hopes he gets to spend time with Amy, even if it is only for a day in the town.
However, unexpected incidents result in Amy meeting Ryan and spending her weekend with him. Ryan is a young man caring for his father and working on their family ranch.
The pair hits off and feels comfortable talking to each other. The lighthouse, though, has other plans. The lamp flashes a strong beam after decades and results in a rush of speculations and assumptions.
Amy’s right in the middle of a mystery, and she somehow finds herself entering the forsaken and crumbling lighthouse. What does Amy find inside? How does it change her life and Ryan’s? What does this mean to the Seabrook and its people who are already obsessed with the lighthouse?
• The first half of the book is pretty much what you’d expect from a sweet YA romance with a touch of mystery.
• The midsection of the book is devoted to fantasy/magic realism of sorts with a new theory thrown in.
• The final section is a family YA story that ends with an epilogue decades later.
Now, I do like new ways to create a fantasy in a real-world setting. This one was a bit vague at first, but I understood the concept. It was interesting too.
However, the story pretty much went back to the non-fantasy track, and there wasn’t any reference to it. Not even in the epilogue (except for a distant connection). I personally love epilogues, but this one disappointed me. Guess my expectations were different than what was delivered in the book.
I mean, here’s a girl whose spirit latches on to the spirit of a dead man, and the duo spend the day together in the ‘created snow globe of Seabrook’. Then once Amy is back in real life after helping Ryan free himself, she doesn’t remember him.
Sure, that was also okay, but why couldn’t she remember later on when she spent her entire life at the same farm that belonged to him? If a spirit recognizes another spirit and chooses it, wouldn’t at least a fraction of that attachment remain somewhere inside Amy?
Moreover, what purpose does the whole thing solve if the story goes back to normal? Amy and her dad forge their connection which could’ve happened in anyways. Ryan’s spirit recognizes his death, sure. But why only Amy? The talk about the connection didn’t really make much sense in the bigger picture of things. Why the lighthouse and Amy’s mom and the elaborate plot if ultimately Amy leads a regular life afterward without even remembering what she did?
As much as I liked the book until about 75-80%, the rest of it didn’t work much for me. The only saving grace is that the writing is easy to read. I could finish 360+ pages in two days. Some of the dialogues are surface-level and way too generic. But since the characters were YA, I didn’t mind that much.
To sum up, The Lighthouse had a promising start only to end up flat towards the end. Also, I felt the lighthouse wasn’t used to its full potential. It was more of a convenient prop when it could have been a lot, lot more.
Thank you, NetGalley and Beacon Press Limited, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
*****
P.S: No idea why this one is categorized as an adult book. It is typical YA and has no cuss words or explicit romance.
P.P.S: I have no experience with audiobooks. But considering the dialogues and the fantasy concept, I’m not too sure it’ll be easy listening to this one. One’s more likely to finish it faster by reading than listening.
One Liner: Mixed feelings, oh, well!
Amy is struggling to deal with the death of her mother. Her father, a police detective, is clueless about finding a way to connect with his daughter. The distance between them is growing farther, and there’s no one to fill it.
Then comes a chance to go to Seabrook, a small town with a historical lighthouse. Amy’s father has to close a cold case and hopes he gets to spend time with Amy, even if it is only for a day in the town.
However, unexpected incidents result in Amy meeting Ryan and spending her weekend with him. Ryan is a young man caring for his father and working on their family ranch.
The pair hits off and feels comfortable talking to each other. The lighthouse, though, has other plans. The lamp flashes a strong beam after decades and results in a rush of speculations and assumptions.
Amy’s right in the middle of a mystery, and she somehow finds herself entering the forsaken and crumbling lighthouse. What does Amy find inside? How does it change her life and Ryan’s? What does this mean to the Seabrook and its people who are already obsessed with the lighthouse?
• The first half of the book is pretty much what you’d expect from a sweet YA romance with a touch of mystery.
• The midsection of the book is devoted to fantasy/magic realism of sorts with a new theory thrown in.
• The final section is a family YA story that ends with an epilogue decades later.
Now, I do like new ways to create a fantasy in a real-world setting. This one was a bit vague at first, but I understood the concept. It was interesting too.
However, the story pretty much went back to the non-fantasy track, and there wasn’t any reference to it. Not even in the epilogue (except for a distant connection). I personally love epilogues, but this one disappointed me. Guess my expectations were different than what was delivered in the book.
Spoiler
I mean, here’s a girl whose spirit latches on to the spirit of a dead man, and the duo spend the day together in the ‘created snow globe of Seabrook’. Then once Amy is back in real life after helping Ryan free himself, she doesn’t remember him.
Sure, that was also okay, but why couldn’t she remember later on when she spent her entire life at the same farm that belonged to him? If a spirit recognizes another spirit and chooses it, wouldn’t at least a fraction of that attachment remain somewhere inside Amy?
Moreover, what purpose does the whole thing solve if the story goes back to normal? Amy and her dad forge their connection which could’ve happened in anyways. Ryan’s spirit recognizes his death, sure. But why only Amy? The talk about the connection didn’t really make much sense in the bigger picture of things. Why the lighthouse and Amy’s mom and the elaborate plot if ultimately Amy leads a regular life afterward without even remembering what she did?
As much as I liked the book until about 75-80%, the rest of it didn’t work much for me. The only saving grace is that the writing is easy to read. I could finish 360+ pages in two days. Some of the dialogues are surface-level and way too generic. But since the characters were YA, I didn’t mind that much.
To sum up, The Lighthouse had a promising start only to end up flat towards the end. Also, I felt the lighthouse wasn’t used to its full potential. It was more of a convenient prop when it could have been a lot, lot more.
Thank you, NetGalley and Beacon Press Limited, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
*****
P.S: No idea why this one is categorized as an adult book. It is typical YA and has no cuss words or explicit romance.
P.P.S: I have no experience with audiobooks. But considering the dialogues and the fantasy concept, I’m not too sure it’ll be easy listening to this one. One’s more likely to finish it faster by reading than listening.
And... that's the end of this lovely tea dragon trilogy.
The book is just as sweet and a soothing conclusion to the story. However, it seemed to miss the magic of the first two books. I still enjoyed it, though.
P.S: The last few pages are gems. Don't skip them.
The book is just as sweet and a soothing conclusion to the story. However, it seemed to miss the magic of the first two books. I still enjoyed it, though.
P.S: The last few pages are gems. Don't skip them.
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Good, but could’ve been better.
It’s Christmas time in Hopley village, and what’s Christmas when wounded hearts don’t heal? Holly loves to teach little kids and is a drama teacher in the village school.
Edward and his eight-year-old daughter, Eliza, have recently moved into the Christmas House that’s a bit away from the village. Eliza is in the same class Holly teaches and is trying to adjust to the new place. Holly is nursing heartbreak after Alex ended their 10-year relationship.
Holly, Edward, and Eliza are struggling with issues from the past. When fate brings them together, will they manage to look past the wounds and find each other? How will the past affect their present and future?
The story is told in the limited third person from three perspectives- Holly, Edward, and Eliza. My favorite character in the book is Eliza. To say she’s the life of the story wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Holly and Edward are sweet people who want to do the best they can. The book is pretty much a Hallmark movie kind of story. While it was enjoyable, the overall impact wasn’t as good as I expected. I’ve read the author’s first book and was impressed by it.
This one, though sweet and inclusive, was more of a tell than show when it came to backstory. While it contained the length, it dimmed the effect on readers (at least me). Also, there wasn’t an epilogue! The last chapter has a decent, hopeful ending, but that’s not enough. I wanted something more concrete.
Three things I loved the most:
• Eliza is an absolute sweetheart, and so were the other kids at school.
• Holly is a wonderful teacher. Sensitive, attentive, and assertive.
• Edward is a great dad.
Things that could have been better:
• Cressida’s character. We never really get to understand her.
• A little more show than tell.
• A couple of more chapters from Eliza’s POV.
• More interaction between the lead characters.
To sum up, The Little Christmas House is a sweet book to pick up between heavy reads or on a lazy afternoon.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheLittleChristmasHouse #NetGalley
*****
P.S:
Can we please not rely only on Fatima in so many books? There are some beautiful Arabic names for girls.
Indira Khan sounds a bit awkward, especially without the backstory, and I kept wondering if the parents were a fan of the late Indira Gandhi.
One Liner: Good, but could’ve been better.
It’s Christmas time in Hopley village, and what’s Christmas when wounded hearts don’t heal? Holly loves to teach little kids and is a drama teacher in the village school.
Edward and his eight-year-old daughter, Eliza, have recently moved into the Christmas House that’s a bit away from the village. Eliza is in the same class Holly teaches and is trying to adjust to the new place. Holly is nursing heartbreak after Alex ended their 10-year relationship.
Holly, Edward, and Eliza are struggling with issues from the past. When fate brings them together, will they manage to look past the wounds and find each other? How will the past affect their present and future?
The story is told in the limited third person from three perspectives- Holly, Edward, and Eliza. My favorite character in the book is Eliza. To say she’s the life of the story wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Holly and Edward are sweet people who want to do the best they can. The book is pretty much a Hallmark movie kind of story. While it was enjoyable, the overall impact wasn’t as good as I expected. I’ve read the author’s first book and was impressed by it.
This one, though sweet and inclusive, was more of a tell than show when it came to backstory. While it contained the length, it dimmed the effect on readers (at least me). Also, there wasn’t an epilogue! The last chapter has a decent, hopeful ending, but that’s not enough. I wanted something more concrete.
Three things I loved the most:
• Eliza is an absolute sweetheart, and so were the other kids at school.
• Holly is a wonderful teacher. Sensitive, attentive, and assertive.
• Edward is a great dad.
Things that could have been better:
• Cressida’s character. We never really get to understand her.
• A little more show than tell.
• A couple of more chapters from Eliza’s POV.
• More interaction between the lead characters.
To sum up, The Little Christmas House is a sweet book to pick up between heavy reads or on a lazy afternoon.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheLittleChristmasHouse #NetGalley
*****
P.S:
Can we please not rely only on Fatima in so many books? There are some beautiful Arabic names for girls.
Indira Khan sounds a bit awkward, especially without the backstory, and I kept wondering if the parents were a fan of the late Indira Gandhi.
4.2 Stars
The picture book is in rhyming verse that’s easy to follow. The illustrations and the tone go hand in hand with the mood of the book. The Struggle Bus deals with the sadder and scarier emotions. The book shows that it’s okay to feel sad. There’s nothing wrong with being lost, not knowing what you want, or not being able to do something others can.
The book humanizes suffering, while also giving hope that one can overcome the fear, pain, and doubt by being persistent, asking for help, and trying to work things out. Making mistakes is fine, and they are chances to learn and do better.
Using the bus as a metaphor to deal with complex emotions is a lovely way to explain things to kids. The book would help start discussions with little ones.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kind World Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheStruggleBus #NetGalley
The picture book is in rhyming verse that’s easy to follow. The illustrations and the tone go hand in hand with the mood of the book. The Struggle Bus deals with the sadder and scarier emotions. The book shows that it’s okay to feel sad. There’s nothing wrong with being lost, not knowing what you want, or not being able to do something others can.
The book humanizes suffering, while also giving hope that one can overcome the fear, pain, and doubt by being persistent, asking for help, and trying to work things out. Making mistakes is fine, and they are chances to learn and do better.
Using the bus as a metaphor to deal with complex emotions is a lovely way to explain things to kids. The book would help start discussions with little ones.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kind World Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheStruggleBus #NetGalley
3.8 Stars
This cute book is about the unique friendship between a hermit crab and a seagull. Herman is the crab who hides among the rocks to avoid being eaten by larger fishes and birds. The princess is a seagull who flew from another island in search of blue water and food.
The story is rather sweet, and so are the illustrations. It talks of friendship while also providing useful information about the crab, seagull, and a couple of marine creatures. It’s a cool book for kids who love animals and the sea.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Compass Rose Press USA and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#HermanandThePrincessGull #NetGalley
This cute book is about the unique friendship between a hermit crab and a seagull. Herman is the crab who hides among the rocks to avoid being eaten by larger fishes and birds. The princess is a seagull who flew from another island in search of blue water and food.
The story is rather sweet, and so are the illustrations. It talks of friendship while also providing useful information about the crab, seagull, and a couple of marine creatures. It’s a cool book for kids who love animals and the sea.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Compass Rose Press USA and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#HermanandThePrincessGull #NetGalley
3.7 Stars
The book is about Alex and his friends who try to help him raise money for his Grandpa Joe’s shop. Speedy Wheels is an old cycle store and a famous one in the area. The place suffers from a fire accident due to an old coffee pot being left plugged. Alex feels responsible as it was his duty to unplug the appliances.
He tries to earn money in different ways and help his grandpa. His earlier attempts are a flop, but he and his friends don’t give up. They paint an old garage and raise money. Their class teacher also helps them make a list of Fire Safety rules, which they hand over to Grandpa Joe, along with the money.
The age group isn’t mentioned on NG, but I’m not sure if little ones might sit long enough to read through the text. The book has text on one page and illustrations on the other alternatively. Kids might want to skip the pages and watch the illustrations instead. Maybe the book is for slightly older ones who can sit still and read more words.
The concept and the execution are good, though the title could have been something else. Preferably one that included Alex and his adventures.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Archway and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#LovableGrandpaJoe #NetGalley
The book is about Alex and his friends who try to help him raise money for his Grandpa Joe’s shop. Speedy Wheels is an old cycle store and a famous one in the area. The place suffers from a fire accident due to an old coffee pot being left plugged. Alex feels responsible as it was his duty to unplug the appliances.
He tries to earn money in different ways and help his grandpa. His earlier attempts are a flop, but he and his friends don’t give up. They paint an old garage and raise money. Their class teacher also helps them make a list of Fire Safety rules, which they hand over to Grandpa Joe, along with the money.
The age group isn’t mentioned on NG, but I’m not sure if little ones might sit long enough to read through the text. The book has text on one page and illustrations on the other alternatively. Kids might want to skip the pages and watch the illustrations instead. Maybe the book is for slightly older ones who can sit still and read more words.
The concept and the execution are good, though the title could have been something else. Preferably one that included Alex and his adventures.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Archway and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#LovableGrandpaJoe #NetGalley
Okay... This is a cute and not-so-little book about a girl who drank the moon, literally.
The setting is vivid and magical. The characters are both detailed yet mysterious. The combination of lighthearted fun and heavy themes works well.
Considering that this is MG fic, the depth of evil has been kept low. It did make the climax a bit less effective, but I guess it would work for the kids.
My only grouse is that the narration is too slow. Even though the imagery is fantastic, and I could visualize the entire story, I wanted it to be a little pacier.
And maybe add a little more to the main climax scene. After all, the book *is* about the magic within the girl.
The setting is vivid and magical. The characters are both detailed yet mysterious. The combination of lighthearted fun and heavy themes works well.
Considering that this is MG fic, the depth of evil has been kept low. It did make the climax a bit less effective, but I guess it would work for the kids.
My only grouse is that the narration is too slow. Even though the imagery is fantastic, and I could visualize the entire story, I wanted it to be a little pacier.
And maybe add a little more to the main climax scene. After all, the book *is* about the magic within the girl.
3.5 stars
The prose is beautiful, and the little bits of magical elements blended rather well. The characters had depth but were not explored enough. Maybe the author wanted something sweet and light with a dash of sadness and a bit of conflict. Things don't get intense or heavy, and right now, I'm glad they didn't.
However, I do wish the book delved more into details and added another 50 pages. It's rare for me to want a book with extra pages, but it would have worked for this one if the author powered up emotions. She did well within the restrictions set, but I wanted more.
And a wee bit of control on the adverbs would have been better. Can't help it. I tend to notice them first.
The prose is beautiful, and the little bits of magical elements blended rather well. The characters had depth but were not explored enough. Maybe the author wanted something sweet and light with a dash of sadness and a bit of conflict. Things don't get intense or heavy, and right now, I'm glad they didn't.
However, I do wish the book delved more into details and added another 50 pages. It's rare for me to want a book with extra pages, but it would have worked for this one if the author powered up emotions. She did well within the restrictions set, but I wanted more.
And a wee bit of control on the adverbs would have been better. Can't help it. I tend to notice them first.