4.5 Stars 

It’s Christmas time, and the cat of the house doesn’t like it the least bit. The decorations and changes are a little too much for the cat. Poor thing. 

 The book is short, with just a handful of words on each page. The illustrations are cartoonish, funny, and super cute. A little mouse appears on each page (which I found really cute), only to realize that it was a sort of game for the kids to find it. 

The last illustration has a teeny mouse on a teeny bed and two home slippers bedside the bed. Imagine that! This is like another version of Tom & Jerry, lol. 

And… Gran has curly purple locks like a mop on her head. The fun of the book is in the detailing. Another example is the chart with the plan of action made by the cat. The hoomuns are listed on the side with photos. 

To summarize, Cats Don't Like Christmas! is a quirky little book showing what cats think of Christmas. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and am voluntarily leaving a review. 

 4 Stars 

Silverweed Road is a spooky, strange, and chilling area with creepy activities and weird people. Everyone on the road is a stranger to the other and has secrets to hide. From spine-chilling sounds to unexplainable disappearances, Silverweed Road is where no outsider wants to go. 

But what happened to the people living along the road? Detective Chief Inspector Jim Heath goes through his notes to talk about the cases he encountered. 

The book is a collection of horror stories with a common setting and multiple themes like greed, human failings, mad brilliance, etc. 

The Jackdaw- 4.5 Stars 

Victor Hagman is obsessed with his garden. His wife Patricia realizes that Victor is no longer who he was, and the garden is the only thing that matters. So when the Jackdaw pair thaws Victor’s attempts to protect his late-season raspberries, it unleashes a series of incidents that changes their lives forever. 

This is totally my kinda story! It is atmospheric, creepy, and dark. I knew what would happen but was still curious to see if that’s how the story would progress. The ending is poetic (not the verses one) and concludes the story with perfection. 

Cleo Marsh is a young artist, a reclusive painter who shot to fame with her bold paintings. The demand to interact with the buyers pushes her into a void. Meeting Margaret Prowler seems like a good thing. What happens when Cleo goes to Margaret’s retreat on Silverweed Road? 

The story takes time to get to the point, but the buildup is necessary to understand Cleo and her actions. This, too, is an atmospheric setting where we know something will happen. The concept is great, but I didn’t feel the ending hit me as it should. 

Augustus Fry needs a deal to stay afloat. After all, shady antique business doesn’t run without artifacts and gullible sellers. When some Mr. Butterworth from a tiny place calls about a ring, Augustus knows what he has to do. The deal goes better than he expected. But what’s with those strange occurrences in his house? 

This one ups the horror quotient as the story progresses. While the house in Silverweed Road isn’t the focus, that’s where the action takes place. I expected the final twist, but there’s a teeny one that made me smile (sinister types). I do love paranormal entities with ethics. Very important, I say! 

Dr. Eric Akoto is all set for the experiment of his lifetime on cuttlefish. It seems to progress well until things take a turn for worse. Can Dr. Eric uncover the secret? What happens to him? 

This is the best story in the book until now. It’s sci-fi horror written in the diary format where Dr. Eric records his thoughts and observations each day. The story is fascinating and eww (depending on how active your imagination is). I enjoyed this one a lot. 

Shanta Kapoor wakes up to an accident outside her home. The crash site is filled with flowers from people in the street. The pink orchids grab Shanta’s attention and start yet another cycle. Where will this lead her? 

The story went really well till the end. It was atmospheric and oppressive as it should be. But I didn’t like the reveal, though it does have some merit. I’d have preferred something more connected with the story itself. 

Terry Slater has dartritis (a psychological disorder that locks his elbow and prevents him from throwing darts). Nothing he does helps him overcome his humiliating loss in the past and his current inability to throw the darts. What happens when he shakes hands with the Devil? 

You can guess the plot from the title and the blurb. Yep, it goes exactly the way you think it would. The writing was gripping and kept me invested till the end despite the predictability. It is good, but not the best. 

Vanslow Lee’s life is no longer his. He turns into a fox every Sunday night. He meets the ruler of the Woods during one such period. Will this give him a chance to live again, or will it push him into an abyss? 

The story is pretty much in constant action from start to finish. As with the ones, a few elements from the earlier stories are woven into the narrative. The ending was interesting (including the Chief Inspector’s notes). 

Geppetto Savini comes out of retirement to create his masterpiece, The Mongon, for a movie. His metal costumes have been famous before, but the latest is his best work ever. However, a sudden change of plans ruins things for him. Or will he take control of the situation? 

This is a character-based story where Geppetto is the hero, villain, and victim. While I enjoyed the decline into madness and the subsequent actions, I felt the story was a little rushed and focused more on graphical description (gore) than horror. 

Leo Harbinger and his wife Pippa are on their special trip to Scotland for their tenth wedding anniversary? However, one of them has ulterior motives, and it could unleash something they cannot control. 

Yet another story where we know what is likely to happen but want to read it to ensure that’s how the plot goes. Though it is graphic (like other stories), it keeps you hooked, especially in the second half. I love the ending of this one. 

Roy and his daughter Lois live in No. 22 and track the goings of the street from behind the curtains. The forever empty house on No. 27 catches their attention. One thing leads to another and could very well end everything. 

The last story in the book works as a standalone and a way to tie up the loose ends. It progresses steadily and has a few moments but doesn’t give that final punch. However, what comes after and the history of the place makes up for it. 

*** 

To summarize, Silverweed Road is an atmospheric and creepy collection of stories with an interconnected theme. I didn’t find any Brit humor in the stories (maybe it was too subtle for m to notice). But I did find loads of horror and enjoyed reading the collection. 

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and HarperVoyager, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #Silverweed Road 

***** 

There are quite a few trigger warnings, so pick it up if you’re comfortable with dark themes and graphic descriptions. 

 One Liner: Heartwarming

Wren lives in an ancient castle on the island of Anglesey in North Wales. She shares her home with her Pa, brother Tudur, and Aunt Efa (her mother’s sister). Wren is much like her mother, a daredevil who lost her life during an adventure. The same incident put Aunt Efa in a wheelchair (a steam-powered model). 

When Pa decides to send Wren to Airey’s school for spirited girls, she knows she has to find a way to stop it. Her plans inadvertently expose a long-buried secret. Now, it’s up to Wren to do what is right, even if it costs her everything. Can a twelve-year-old girl handle the responsibility on her young shoulders? 

The story comes in the first person POV of Wren, giving us insights into her thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc. The start feels a little tentative but picks up pace after the first quarter. 

The atmospheric setting adds to the intrigue. The characters are pretty much two-dimensional, with some growth in the last quarter. It works well in the story (also because this is middle-grade fiction). 

I enjoyed scenes where Wren puts her foot down and gets really reckless. Yeah, not something we would encourage in kids, but this is fiction. There’s got to be some adventure and action for Wren to grow. 

The book doesn’t ignore the importance of personal safety. There are two scenes (kind of related) that stress the need to be careful even when being a daredevil (and how not doing it right can have adverse results). 

The steam-powered wheelchair and the Phoenix seamlessly blend with the historical setting. The combination of mechanics and myth works well in this one. Needless to say, I couldn’t stop chuckling when Aunt Efa zoomed about in her wheelchair and elaborate hairstyles. 

The gothic part wasn’t that impactful though the climax is very well done and detailed. I just wish the paranormal part was a little more impactful. I’m sure kids wouldn’t be scared. ;) 

The epilogue adds a lovely finishing touch to the story. The author’s note provides more information about the flying ships and her family's connection to them. 

To Summarize, Wren is a heartwarming story about a young girl who loves freedom and believes in doing the right thing. It’s a quick read too. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

4 Stars 

Celebrating Diwali is a non-fiction book explaining the festival for little ones. The book is divided into short chapters with equally short paragraphs. The information is compact and to the point. A bit too brief at times, but since it’s written for kids with little or no knowledge about the festival, it works. 

The book also talks about where Diwali is celebrated, the cultural significance, activities to do on each day during the festive period, and so on. There’s a glossary at the end, but before that, there’s an entire section dedicated to DIY. 

I love this part. From making colored rice for rangoli to the recipe for no-bake chocolate laddoos, this section is a treat for kids to get into the festive mood. 

The illustrations are small in my copy and not on every page. They are nice and vibrant, but the wow factor was missing. I’d have liked illustrations with a more personal appeal (some of these reminded me of my social studies textbooks). 

The author has included the celebrations from different parts of India and even our neighbor, Nepal. It’s good to see the focus on different versions instead of just one. 

A couple of things I’d like to add are- 

To Summarize, Celebrating Diwali is a pocket-sized version for those who wish to know more about this wonderful festival of lights. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Callisto Media, and Rockridge Press and am voluntarily leaving a review. 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A fun read! 

Martha Miller is invited as the guest of honor at the Winteringham Country Fair. She travels to the place with her sister Ruby, the new vicar Luke, and two friends, Maud and Ada. Though Martha is nervous about the event, she looks forward to spending quality time away from her village. 

However, Martha stumbles upon the dead body of the local femme fatale (a teenage girl), and she has no choice but to investigate the crime with Luke. One death leads to another, and Martha has to stop the killer from taking more lives by exposing who they are. Can Martha and Luke solve this case too? 

The story comes from Martha’s POV in the limited-third person. 

What I Like: 

·       The book is just 210+ pages long and is easy to read. It can be read as a standalone as there’s enough backstory for readers to understand the characters and their relationships. 

·       There’s a list of characters and their profession at the beginning of the book. This makes it easy to keep track of them (and to make notes). 

·       The story has themes of the changing scenarios after WWII and how they affected women’s lives during the period. It has an array of characters with varying quirks (some stereotypical but work for the purpose). 

·       Apart from the crime, this book has three major focus elements- the need for a loving family, how the scales are heavily tilted against young women with no support, and the ease at which people justify their actions (nothing has changed!). The concept of having a child is dealt with from different perspectives. 

·       There are bits and pieces of lighthearted moments, gossip, and loads of tea as any countryside mystery should have. (Not complaining. I’d rather read about tea than a variety of alcoholic beverages and heroines who love their drink a little too much!) 

To summarize, Daggers at the Country Fair is a short, fast-paced, and easy, cozy mystery set in the English countryside. The book works as a standalone. Grab it when you want a book for a lazy afternoon. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #DaggersattheCountryFair
 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining 

Yarrow in Kentucky is a magical place. The three generations of the Haywood family heal people’s pain and feed it to their shadow garden. The shadow garden gives them rich fruits, herbs, vegetables, and flowers in return. 

The Bonner family owns the local bourbon distillery and brews a different kind of magic. On one day every year, a shot of Bonner bourbon can make a person’s worst memories go away. The lives of the Haywood and Bonner family are more entwined than the Haywood ladies would care to admit. 

Something happened twenty years ago. No one remembers what made everyone willingly give up the memories. A person died, and no one remembers how. As the secrets from the past come to light, The Haywood ladies have to make decisions that can affect their future. 

The story comes in the limited third-person POV of many characters. 

Since I didn’t reread the blurb before starting the book, I was surprised to find it heavier than expected. Yet, I enjoyed the sense of intrigue and drama it created. 

The first 35% is slow. The last 25% is super fast. The second half worked better for me as I wanted to read to the end and could do it by staying up a few minutes extra. 

The book started with three family trees. Yep. I recreated those on paper (as I always do), but the relationships between some characters are still confusing (‘is’ because it’s still messy in my head). 

There wasn’t enough breathing space in introducing characters and changing POVs from one character to another. Lucky that all of them didn’t have a chapter with their name. 

The concept of the shadow garden was wonderful. I loved how it is an integral part of the story from start to finish. A book with magic should have magic as one of its characters, and this book does that. 

But… the story was too elaborate for a 330 page-book. That meant one thing happened after another, and with different POVs in each chapter, you had to pay full attention to keep up. IMO, the premise deserved more. I’d have loved it if the whole story was divided into two books (220-250 pages) with proper character development and optimum utilization of the setting. 

While I decided to go with the flow, I didn’t know if I should root for Irene or Addison. The chapters whizzed by before I could make up my mind. In fact, there’s still a chance for a prequel. Give us more details about the past, about why Maura didn’t like Bonners and Addison’s childhood. 

Despite the lack of character development, the book was entertaining and enjoyable. The mystery wasn’t much of a mystery after 50%, but I sure wanted to know how they would connect the dots. 

What I loved the best was how the Haywood ladies weren’t all goody-good. They had their faults and weren’t perfect parents/ grandparents. There are subtle lessons in the book about family relationships, supporting the younger generation, and trusting them to make their own decisions. 

Another important lesson is how a person can end up pushing away their loved ones by prioritizing their hate for a third party over loving/ supporting their own. I so wish this was given enough space for the gravity of the act to sink in. 

The LGBT side characters are delightful and cute, as adorable as the lovely cover and the drawing of flowers at the beginning of the chapters. 

There’s a glossary for reading the shapes in tea leaves. Tea leaves are a big part of the book. I’m yet to get into it (just started learning tarot), but seems like destiny has it lined up for me. I’ve read quite a few books with magic, witchcraft, and tea leaves reading as major themes since I started learning. Though the glossary is limited, I loved that I could save a copy of it (along with the meanings for different flowers). 

To summarize, In the Shadow Garden is an engaging book about magic, tea leaves, flowers, mystery, love, families, and choices. Pick it up when you want something light (as long as you keep track of the characters). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

3.8 Stars 

This little book is for little ones who feel left out and sidelined on the arrival of a new baby at home. Owen doesn’t like that his daddy is busy with the baby. But daddy promises him a day out, and they go to explore the city. Owen first feeds corn to the ducks, plays at the park, and orders food to take home for lunch. 

He is happy to spend time with his daddy and is more loving towards his sibling. The book is rather simple but sweet and cute. I wish it had a line or two where Owen and his dad talk about the new member of their family. That said, the book is more for parents to ensure they divide their time between the kids. 

The illustrations are cheerful and childlike. Kids will love the slightly turned-up button noses and color-pencil-sketched (or is it crayons) hair of the characters. I liked the happy vibes in the book. It sure made me smile. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Clavis Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review. 

3.8 Stars 

Jeet and Fudge is a standalone picture book from a series with the same title. This book deals with Jeet meeting Fudge, his little pup, at the animal shelter. Jeet is an adopted kid of Indian-American parents. He feels lonely in the new place and yearns to make friends. 

Jeet’s mom takes him out to play, and they stop at the animal shelter. He falls in love with the place and makes friends with a little chocolate-colored furball. The story comes in a couple of sentences on each page. 

The font is big and easy to read. The language is super simple. Kids can read it on their own. The illustrations are cute and cheerful. The details of Jeet and his dad’s turbans show that they are Sikhs. I love his mom’s plaited back hair and how she wears a salwar suit one day and jeans on another. 

To summarize, Jeet and Fudge: Forever Friends is a simple yet sweet tale of a little boy finding a home and a pet in a new country. I’ll check out the other books in the series. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Baker & Taylor, and Paw Prints Publishing and am voluntarily leaving a review. 

The Fish-Boy is an Inuit folktale about a merman (or merboy, to be precise) and Atlantic puffins. I think Puffins are super cute birds with colorful beaks and penguin-like bodies. 

A lonely man who makes a living by catching and selling fish meets the Fish-Boy during one of his trips. He doesn’t want to adopt the Fish-Boy but agrees when the little one says he’ll help catch more fish. The story goes on to show how the nearby villagers praise the man and Fish-Boy, then attack them because of their stupidity. Similar to other folklore, the Fish-Boy deals with several themes like goodness, respect, serving guests, etc. 

The illustrations are wonderful. The color scheme is just brilliant and suits the content on the page. Scenes inside a cozy dwelling have warm hues, while the outside world has white, blue, and icy shades. The Fish-Boy is adorable with his colorful tail and layered hairstyle. 

To summarize, Fish-Boy is a charming folktale from a faraway land with icy shores and lovely people. The glossary and additional information at the end of the book are icing on the cake. And did I mention the maps? So good! 

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Vanita Books and am voluntarily leaving a review. 

 

This is a fun, engaging, and informative book about animal life in Alaska. The details about each animal (bears to puffins to loons and dragonflies) are provided in differently styled poems. Each poem has its own structure, and some are rhymed. I could enjoy the poems better when I released that all poems don’t follow the same AA BB rhyme scheme. 

The illustrations are full-page and in watercolors. The detailing a big and blurry on the edges, but the color scheme and textures are very good. I could feel the texture of ice-cold water on the page. 

The book ends with information about glaciers (types, etc.) without boring the reader. There’s enough info to get an idea about Alaskan animals and glaciers. I got to know of Vole and ice worms (worms that live on glaciers). Who knew! 

To summarize, Who Lives Near a Glacier?: Alaska Animals in the Wild is engaging, entertaining, and educational. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley, Sasquatch Books, and Little Bigfoot and am voluntarily leaving a review.