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mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
"Fairday Morrow woke to a loud crack of thunder."
And that is how this book begins, with thunder, storm, and a willow barging in Fairday's home. Yep. The book starts with a bang!
And the book stays exciting from the start to the finish. Sure, at times I was a bit confused, but that had more to do with me having a busy day and it being very late. The next day when I was awake I could get through this book way more easily.
This time no scary ladies in mirrors, but words are being eaten by a bookworm (ohhhh noeees!), a library is in danger, there is a Halloween party (which is just perfect given the location), we also see Eldrich and Ruby again, and so much more.
I just adore it when mysteries offer hints here and there but manage to keep the real whodunnit well hidden until the end. I didn't know who the bookworm was until it was revealed. Yes, I had some ideas, but nothing concrete yet.
The book also has a ton of riddles to crack your brain on. :P
I loved finding out more about Fairday and her love for words. She even has a magical role that truly fits her like a glove. And we see her discover more about it and even use her newfound powers a few times (which made me smile so much).
But Lizzy also gets some attention as we find out several things about her (most I already suspected). Yes, this girl doesn't only have the magical shoes, but so much more, and I am very happy with it, I can't wait to see what she will be able to do in the next book (or what we will find out in the next one).
Marcus, well he is pretty much the odd one out it seems. He doesn't get anything special, and I also didn't always like him that much in this book. Mostly because his attitude towards Sanir and some other parts.
Dif was also a surprise to me! I won't spoil anything of course, but I can't wait to see what will happen in the next book regarding what is said in the ending.
I wasn't sure what I thought about the parallel world. I could get that there is a mirror world of the house. But that there is also a parallel world in the basement? It just seemed too much. Sure, I loved the library, and eventually I kind of liked the idea of a parallel world, but I still loved the parts that took place in Begonia House (normal/mirror) more.
The book also has some illustrations spread throughout the book, and I am not too sure if I liked them. Yes, I liked that the book had illustrations, but I am not too sure about the style.
All in all, I just want more of this series and I hope that there will be many more books in the future!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
And that is how this book begins, with thunder, storm, and a willow barging in Fairday's home. Yep. The book starts with a bang!
And the book stays exciting from the start to the finish. Sure, at times I was a bit confused, but that had more to do with me having a busy day and it being very late. The next day when I was awake I could get through this book way more easily.
This time no scary ladies in mirrors, but words are being eaten by a bookworm (ohhhh noeees!), a library is in danger, there is a Halloween party (which is just perfect given the location), we also see Eldrich and Ruby again, and so much more.
I just adore it when mysteries offer hints here and there but manage to keep the real whodunnit well hidden until the end. I didn't know who the bookworm was until it was revealed. Yes, I had some ideas, but nothing concrete yet.
The book also has a ton of riddles to crack your brain on. :P
I loved finding out more about Fairday and her love for words. She even has a magical role that truly fits her like a glove. And we see her discover more about it and even use her newfound powers a few times (which made me smile so much).
But Lizzy also gets some attention as we find out several things about her (most I already suspected). Yes, this girl doesn't only have the magical shoes, but so much more, and I am very happy with it, I can't wait to see what she will be able to do in the next book (or what we will find out in the next one).
Marcus, well he is pretty much the odd one out it seems. He doesn't get anything special, and I also didn't always like him that much in this book. Mostly because his attitude towards Sanir and some other parts.
Dif was also a surprise to me! I won't spoil anything of course, but I can't wait to see what will happen in the next book regarding what is said in the ending.
I wasn't sure what I thought about the parallel world. I could get that there is a mirror world of the house. But that there is also a parallel world in the basement? It just seemed too much. Sure, I loved the library, and eventually I kind of liked the idea of a parallel world, but I still loved the parts that took place in Begonia House (normal/mirror) more.
The book also has some illustrations spread throughout the book, and I am not too sure if I liked them. Yes, I liked that the book had illustrations, but I am not too sure about the style.
All in all, I just want more of this series and I hope that there will be many more books in the future!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
The first mystery of The Detective Mystery Squad (The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow) has been solved and now Fairway, and her best friends Lizzie and Marcus are looking forward to her first Halloween party at Begonia House, the old Victorian her parents are converting into a Bed and Breakfast.
Then, one night a week before Halloween, during a wild thunderstorm, a branch of the old oak tree is blown through the window of Fairday’s bedroom. Before her dad moves her out because of broken glass, Fairday discovers a note, in fact, the third one that week. Written in a rhyme, the note read
"The Librarian has been double-crossed. Many words will be lost. Lest the bookworm goes away, story ink is how books pay. We seek the one who wears the shoes - only they can hear the news."
What could it mean? Fairday can’t wait to talk it over with Lizzie and Marcus. But, just as they arrive so does a giant spider named Sanir, who can speak to Lizzie, and who leads them to a trap door in the closet under the stairs. Plunging into the darkness, the trio free fall through darkness, passing by three windows - one with curtains, a vase of red roses, and a silver spoon, a second with closed blinds and a ticking sound, and a third window with colored jars behind a broken window. What could that mean?
Landing and finding more riddles which they are finally able to figure out, the friends meet Fas, the librarian for the Talking Library, a library where all the real first editions of all stories ever written are stored. It seems the Talking Library and Fas desperately need to get in touch with Eldrich, the Myxtress. It was she who tricked and cursed Ruby Begonia (see Book 1) so that when she was trapped in this part of Begonia House, she served as the Housekeeper for the Talking Library. Once the curse was broken and Ruby left, the stories in the Talking Library became vulnerable. Now, it seems the Library has a bookworm who is beginning to eat the words from the real first editions. The possibility that they could disappear forever looms unless this mystery is solved. In fact, Fairday had already noticed that in her prized copy of The Wizard of Oz, and in the copies of Charlotte’s Web in school, words were already missing and nobody noticed.
Finding the bookworm sounds like no easy task, but the DMS are on the job. Can they find Eldrich and rid the Talking Library of this evil bookworm before books vanish forever?
Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library is really a fun mystery to read with shades of Alice in Wonderland (in fact a discombobulated Alice even makes an appearance. The Begonia House seems to have an abundance of mysterious secrets that it is releasing one at a time. Interestingly, Fairday’s parents are totally unaware of the magical side of the house, despite all the renovations going on.
And it turns out those sparkly red high heeled sneakers that fit Lizzie at the end of The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow play a pretty important role in this novel, too. Not only that, Lizzie is in for some surprises about her family that explains a lot.
Besides an engrossing story with great plotting and interesting fleshed out characters, there are some fun full page black and white illustrations scattered throughout the story. Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library will surely appeal to readers who like mysteries, character friendships, and, especially, solving riddles - there are lots of them.
I can’t wait to read the third DMS mystery.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by the authors, Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson
Then, one night a week before Halloween, during a wild thunderstorm, a branch of the old oak tree is blown through the window of Fairday’s bedroom. Before her dad moves her out because of broken glass, Fairday discovers a note, in fact, the third one that week. Written in a rhyme, the note read
"The Librarian has been double-crossed. Many words will be lost. Lest the bookworm goes away, story ink is how books pay. We seek the one who wears the shoes - only they can hear the news."
What could it mean? Fairday can’t wait to talk it over with Lizzie and Marcus. But, just as they arrive so does a giant spider named Sanir, who can speak to Lizzie, and who leads them to a trap door in the closet under the stairs. Plunging into the darkness, the trio free fall through darkness, passing by three windows - one with curtains, a vase of red roses, and a silver spoon, a second with closed blinds and a ticking sound, and a third window with colored jars behind a broken window. What could that mean?
Landing and finding more riddles which they are finally able to figure out, the friends meet Fas, the librarian for the Talking Library, a library where all the real first editions of all stories ever written are stored. It seems the Talking Library and Fas desperately need to get in touch with Eldrich, the Myxtress. It was she who tricked and cursed Ruby Begonia (see Book 1) so that when she was trapped in this part of Begonia House, she served as the Housekeeper for the Talking Library. Once the curse was broken and Ruby left, the stories in the Talking Library became vulnerable. Now, it seems the Library has a bookworm who is beginning to eat the words from the real first editions. The possibility that they could disappear forever looms unless this mystery is solved. In fact, Fairday had already noticed that in her prized copy of The Wizard of Oz, and in the copies of Charlotte’s Web in school, words were already missing and nobody noticed.
Finding the bookworm sounds like no easy task, but the DMS are on the job. Can they find Eldrich and rid the Talking Library of this evil bookworm before books vanish forever?
Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library is really a fun mystery to read with shades of Alice in Wonderland (in fact a discombobulated Alice even makes an appearance. The Begonia House seems to have an abundance of mysterious secrets that it is releasing one at a time. Interestingly, Fairday’s parents are totally unaware of the magical side of the house, despite all the renovations going on.
And it turns out those sparkly red high heeled sneakers that fit Lizzie at the end of The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow play a pretty important role in this novel, too. Not only that, Lizzie is in for some surprises about her family that explains a lot.
Besides an engrossing story with great plotting and interesting fleshed out characters, there are some fun full page black and white illustrations scattered throughout the story. Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library will surely appeal to readers who like mysteries, character friendships, and, especially, solving riddles - there are lots of them.
I can’t wait to read the third DMS mystery.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was sent to me by the authors, Jessica Haight and Stephanie Robinson
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