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egbella's reviews
245 reviews
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I listened to the audiobook version of this, read predominately by Cary Elwes, and greatly enjoyed it. How fun to have also gotten several other members of the original cast and crew to read parts! My only qualm was the occasional redundancy between their various accounts, as the book kept skipping from one person's comments to another, and they often repeated elements. Besides that, I smiled many times at Cary's recounts, especially when he reached their filming and the various mishaps that happened during. There are now several scenes in the movie that I won't watch the same way again. It also made me want to go watch this treasure of a movie again so....
If you're a fan of The Princess Bride and reflective behind-the-scenes tales, you'll probably love this one!
If you're a fan of The Princess Bride and reflective behind-the-scenes tales, you'll probably love this one!
The Gray Poet by Caitlin Miller
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
What a powerful gut punch of a story - and in so few words! Miller has a beautiful writing voice and I was hooked from the start. I don't know how she was able to make me care so much about her characters in so short a time, but I couldn't stop reading, and although it wasn't a happy ending necessarily, it felt very real. Hard and heavy, but with a solid dose of hope. Such a beautiful little story about community and helping one another find the light in the darkness.
NOTE/Content: it features mentions of abuse and a (non-graphic) suicide attempt, so please be aware that if you're sensitive to these, it may be a tough read. If it helps, I do consider myself sensitive to these and was very hesitant when I realized where the story was going, but it was handled with enough tact and grace that I was fine.
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NOTE/Content: it features mentions of abuse and a (non-graphic) suicide attempt, so please be aware that if you're sensitive to these, it may be a tough read. If it helps, I do consider myself sensitive to these and was very hesitant when I realized where the story was going, but it was handled with enough tact and grace that I was fine.
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Domestic abuse
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
After years of the movie being one of my favorites, I've finally read the book! Or technically listened to it. I listened to the audiobook version of this, narrated by Rob Reiner (the director of the movie!), and it was fantastic. He did an excellent job, and having watched the movie first, I couldn't help but see those scenes in my head as he was reading.
This is such a fun, quirky, and classic story, and I smiled during most of it. It's definitely one I'll be purchasing a paperback copy of at some point. In addition, I finished the book with an even greater appreciation for the movie! It was such a faithful adaptation of the book, down to very specific lines of dialogue and pacing. Of course, the book had some extras, but I can see why they weren't included.
My only qualms were the ending being a bit confusing (maybe because I was listening to the story, rather than reading it) because I couldn't tell exactly where the narration of the story stopped and the "author's" interjections began at some points. I also could have done without some of the phrases used, particularly by Westley to Buttercup. I'm not sure whether it's a product of the times when the book was written, or I'm not catching subtle satire clues, but several times it felt like he was being outright cruel, or objectifying her.
Overall though, I absolutely love this story. Controversial: I'd say the movie is still a tad better (for once!), but I'm very glad to have finally read the book. I'll want to keep it around, and probably re-read it myself at some point. Highly recommend for fans of quirky and charming adventure stories!
This is such a fun, quirky, and classic story, and I smiled during most of it. It's definitely one I'll be purchasing a paperback copy of at some point. In addition, I finished the book with an even greater appreciation for the movie! It was such a faithful adaptation of the book, down to very specific lines of dialogue and pacing. Of course, the book had some extras, but I can see why they weren't included.
My only qualms were the ending being a bit confusing (maybe because I was listening to the story, rather than reading it) because I couldn't tell exactly where the narration of the story stopped and the "author's" interjections began at some points. I also could have done without some of the phrases used, particularly by Westley to Buttercup. I'm not sure whether it's a product of the times when the book was written, or I'm not catching subtle satire clues, but several times it felt like he was being outright cruel, or objectifying her.
Overall though, I absolutely love this story. Controversial: I'd say the movie is still a tad better (for once!), but I'm very glad to have finally read the book. I'll want to keep it around, and probably re-read it myself at some point. Highly recommend for fans of quirky and charming adventure stories!
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I'm so glad I finally read this precious little gem of a story - it's now easily one of my favorite classics. While I was familiar with the general tale (Veggietales version, anyone?), I wasn't prepared for how deep and introspective the book is. And yet, at the same time, it's written in a simple and charming style that helps make such difficult life lessons easier to swallow. I would be a much better person if I approached life with the same faithful outlook as young Sara Crewe.
Will definitely be re-reading this one, and purchasing a hard copy to keep around!
(NOTE: the only reason I can't rate this a full five stars is for some wording that I would omit if I were reading this book to my children (ex. "fat", "stupid", etc. used liberally as adjectives for other children). I know language has changed since the writing of this book, but there were a few phrases every now and again that made me uncomfortable.
Will definitely be re-reading this one, and purchasing a hard copy to keep around!
(NOTE: the only reason I can't rate this a full five stars is for some wording that I would omit if I were reading this book to my children (ex. "fat", "stupid", etc. used liberally as adjectives for other children). I know language has changed since the writing of this book, but there were a few phrases every now and again that made me uncomfortable.
No Accident by Laura Bates
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I'm giving this a generous two stars because the first 50-75% was genuinely interesting to me. I enjoyed the survival/thriller/mystery focus, and wanted to know what was going to happen to the teens. My desire to learn more about them kept me listening (I listened to the audiobook) even though the language and some of the content made me uncomfortable.
That said, the ending ruined this for me. I started listening to this audiobook because I needed something available right away and free to listen to while cleaning, and this was one of the first intriguing ones I found on Libby. Had I done any research into the author, I would have realized this probably wasn't my cup of tea. That's on me. Now knowing the author is a non-fiction writer that focuses on sexual assault and other such topics makes so much sense.
The entire ending made me feel icky. All of a sudden, the story's focus turned almost completely away from the thriller/survival aspect, and turned into a long, preachy last few chapters about women and their sexual trauma at the hands of men. I understand the heart behind it, I really do, but this was not the right backdrop for it at all. I felt cheated by the set-up and the following way-too-easy ending, and no longer cared for a single one of the characters. Instead of taking away a powerful message about assault, I carried away from this story disjointed messages about revenge, not taking accountability for causing others (intentional and unintentional) pain, abuse, and refusing to stand up for others and yourself.
Overall, super disappointed in how this turned out, especially after the beginning left me with high hopes. I can't recommend this.
CW: frequent strong language, sexual innuendos and topics (r*** was a major, much-discussed one), fairly descriptive injuries and wounds, mentions of abuse, "off-screen" death.
That said, the ending ruined this for me. I started listening to this audiobook because I needed something available right away and free to listen to while cleaning, and this was one of the first intriguing ones I found on Libby. Had I done any research into the author, I would have realized this probably wasn't my cup of tea. That's on me. Now knowing the author is a non-fiction writer that focuses on sexual assault and other such topics makes so much sense.
The entire ending made me feel icky. All of a sudden, the story's focus turned almost completely away from the thriller/survival aspect, and turned into a long, preachy last few chapters about women and their sexual trauma at the hands of men. I understand the heart behind it, I really do, but this was not the right backdrop for it at all. I felt cheated by the set-up and the following way-too-easy ending, and no longer cared for a single one of the characters. Instead of taking away a powerful message about assault, I carried away from this story disjointed messages about revenge, not taking accountability for causing others (intentional and unintentional) pain, abuse, and refusing to stand up for others and yourself.
Overall, super disappointed in how this turned out, especially after the beginning left me with high hopes. I can't recommend this.
CW: frequent strong language, sexual innuendos and topics (r*** was a major, much-discussed one), fairly descriptive injuries and wounds, mentions of abuse, "off-screen" death.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I went into this completely clueless besides having heard the name before. I assumed it was a simple, lighthearted "dog" book for children, but instead, I'm astounded by the depth and emotion packed into this little story. It's complicated, it tugs at the heart, it's charming, and it's very honestly /real/. (It gave me Bridge to Terabithia vibes, but more wholesome and heartwarming, and a lot less tragic.)
I would wait until kids were a bit older to read this one, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
CW: sparing use of the word r****d, which I didn't appreciate. Mentions of drunkenness, prison and crimes, a mother leaving her child, kids calling an elderly woman a "witch" until they meet her. Sensitive topics, but they are handled with tender care.
I would wait until kids were a bit older to read this one, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
CW: sparing use of the word r****d, which I didn't appreciate. Mentions of drunkenness, prison and crimes, a mother leaving her child, kids calling an elderly woman a "witch" until they meet her. Sensitive topics, but they are handled with tender care.
Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This is adorable and I can see it being very fun to read to young children, especially the first couple of stories. Not sure what I think about the tear soup story, haha (do children really enjoy reading about crying owls?), but other than that, I enjoyed the charming and easy-to-read style, and the amusing zany collection of mishaps by poor Owl. The audio version is excellent as well - crisp, clear, and read with expression. Such a fun one!
Nova And The Lost Stars by Amelia Grace, Lillian Keith
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
This is the most adorable book! Short and sweet and whimsical, I read it in one sitting and finished with a smile on my face. It's aimed toward children 6 and above, and while I don't think my sister (who's 7 and a prolific reader) could quite sit down and read this easily yet, it would make the PERFECT bedtime story for kids that age, or even a little younger.
The plot was simple, but that's part of the charm! I loved the pure emphasis on Nova's love for her papa and the simplicity and wonder of it all made me think back to my childhood imaginations. Each character, though only briefly in the story, added to the fun. Also a cat named Luna? So cute.
And a shoutout to the illustrator! The cover is so pretty (those colors!), and even reading this in e-book form, the illustrations were adorable and added even more charm to this story. A great addition, even for someone who doesn't usually pay much attention to illustrations. The style was perfect.
Overall, there wasn't any content to be aware of (other than a child being up all night and worrying about her papa, if that would distress your child?), and I wouldn't hesitate to loan copies of this to all of my little siblings and cousins. I hope to purchase a paperback version soon. Highly recommend this cute little read!
The plot was simple, but that's part of the charm! I loved the pure emphasis on Nova's love for her papa and the simplicity and wonder of it all made me think back to my childhood imaginations. Each character, though only briefly in the story, added to the fun. Also a cat named Luna? So cute.
And a shoutout to the illustrator! The cover is so pretty (those colors!), and even reading this in e-book form, the illustrations were adorable and added even more charm to this story. A great addition, even for someone who doesn't usually pay much attention to illustrations. The style was perfect.
Overall, there wasn't any content to be aware of (other than a child being up all night and worrying about her papa, if that would distress your child?), and I wouldn't hesitate to loan copies of this to all of my little siblings and cousins. I hope to purchase a paperback version soon. Highly recommend this cute little read!
The Twelve Kingdoms by Dana A. Caldwell, Dana A. Caldwell
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Okay, first of all, THAT COVER. I love it so, so much and it definitely would have caught my eye had I not already been signed up to receive a copy of this.
And for the story itself, this is an incredibly solid debut from a talented indie author! Disclaimer: I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy of this book, but didn't finish it before release and ended up finishing the story in published e-book form that I purchased. All opinions are my own honest thoughts.
Where do I even start? This is certainly an epic fantasy. There is SO MUCH to this book and storyworld. The lands described are expansive and immersive, the types of creatures are a mixture of twisted classic fantasy creatures (goblins, elves, etc.) with some unique ones, the magic system is well-developed and intricate, and overall, it felt like diving into an entirely new realm.
At first I didn't realize that this is the first book in a trilogy, and now that I realize that, it makes so much more sense. Even with as much happened in this first, massive book, there's so much more to the world that I'm looking forward to exploring in future books in the series! As I'm not typically an epic fantasy reader, I had some trouble keeping everything straight, but it was pretty well-explained throughout the book. I think it was merely my brain being difficult, haha.
The characters - as is usually the case for me - were my favorites. Each one felt so developed and real. Even the POV protagonist, Rose Wolfe, was someone that I could quickly relate to and sympathize with, even though that's uncommon for me and teenage female POV characters. So that was appreciated. She was incredibly strong and impressive, even with everything she's been through, and while she kept me on the edge of my toes, her growth and character change is inspiring. I loved that while she was strong, she wasn't your classic "strong female character". She had vulnerability and softness when she allowed herself to, more and more with the help of Animo.
Speaking of Animo, hands down my favorite character in the book. I wanted to hug him 99% of the book, and how awesome is his name? He too is incredibly strong with everything he's been through, and he was always the encouraging, steady rock for Rose, allowing her to learn but never letting her fall completely. Their affections grew at an excellent pace, still very tame, but perfectly slow-burn in my opinion. I seldom root for love interests to finally kiss, but this one got to me...
The rest of the side characters...oh my, they were colorful! Ketch, Camilla, Megs, Margaret, Hertz, Nelos, Christoph, etc. Each of them had a life and personality of their own, and I enjoyed watching them twist and weave through Rose's life, each working for them own goals while still - sometimes, depending on the character - helping her as well. I hope we see a lot more of most of them and that there are some loose ends tied up in the next books.
Also, I won't say too much, but WOW did the ending get tense. The villain is absolutely terrifying, and I can honestly say I wasn't expecting about three of those last major plot twists, haha. Once I reached those last few chapters, I couldn't put it down until I'd read to the end. Very well-done.
In true epic fantasy form, the plot bounced between extremely high-action, suspense-filled scenes of peril and slower "going on a journey" moments as the party traveled. I thought it was an excellent balance, and the author did a great job skimming over the more tedious elements of the passing of time and travel, always keeping us on our toes. If anything, there could have been a few more slower moments for readers to catch their breaths, but I was definitely never bored at all.
I loved the variety of things that we got to see throughout the story, from quaint villages, to crime lords, to dreamscapes, to pirate ships, and so on. Each section brought new sights and experiences and I honestly pictured most of it as if I was watching a LOTR-esque movie. So excellent!
The only caveat I can give to other potential readers regards the magic system. I'm rarely picky about magical content in the books that I read, as long as it doesn't glorify demonic elements at all. I love the Harry Potter series, etc. This book does have an extensive and prominent magic system that's well-thought-out and very intricate. The only elements that ever gave me pause were the increasing mentions/usage of a totem formed through blood magic (presumably bad) and some lengthier verbal spells/curses. Personally, they never crossed any of my lines and I never felt that anything demonic or too dark was glorified, but if you're squeamish with magic at all, this is something to be aware of. I'm interested to see where the next books lead, with all of the magical questions that were brought up. If it grows substantially darker, I'll update, but I was fine so far.
Also, if you're as sensitive to "foul language", even in a made-up fantasy language, be aware that made-up curse words are used frequently. I could look past them, and I'm extremely glad they weren't modern-day curses, but they still stood out to me. Again, not a big issue, just FYI.
Otherwise, I have no real critiques regarding this story! I was pulled in from the very start, the writing style was beautiful and immersive, the world was huge and vivid, the magic was clever, and the plot is intriguing, mysterious, and exciting. I'm really looking forward to the next installments in this series! If it sounds good to you, definitely give it a try - you may just find a new favorite too!
CW: several brief kisses, hugs, frequent usage of made-up fantasy curses/swears, frequent vivid nightmares, frequent mentions of blood and semi-descriptive mentions of gore and wounds, battles/war violence, death and loss, grief, mental health struggles (one reference to wondering why she couldn't have just died), constant danger, betrayal, brutal deaths (decapitation, hanging, beaten, "torn apart"), extensive magic system with spells, totems, staffs, charms, and curses, references to human sacrifice and stealing blood, "drugging" with herbs, mentions of alcohol and drinking on a pirate ship, theft/shoplifting by main characters.
I'd recommend it to: anyone who enjoys epic fantasies, especially if you love adventure journeys, slow-burn (clean!) romance, intrigue and action, fun side characters, terrifying villains, and powerful themes.
And for the story itself, this is an incredibly solid debut from a talented indie author! Disclaimer: I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy of this book, but didn't finish it before release and ended up finishing the story in published e-book form that I purchased. All opinions are my own honest thoughts.
Where do I even start? This is certainly an epic fantasy. There is SO MUCH to this book and storyworld. The lands described are expansive and immersive, the types of creatures are a mixture of twisted classic fantasy creatures (goblins, elves, etc.) with some unique ones, the magic system is well-developed and intricate, and overall, it felt like diving into an entirely new realm.
At first I didn't realize that this is the first book in a trilogy, and now that I realize that, it makes so much more sense. Even with as much happened in this first, massive book, there's so much more to the world that I'm looking forward to exploring in future books in the series! As I'm not typically an epic fantasy reader, I had some trouble keeping everything straight, but it was pretty well-explained throughout the book. I think it was merely my brain being difficult, haha.
The characters - as is usually the case for me - were my favorites. Each one felt so developed and real. Even the POV protagonist, Rose Wolfe, was someone that I could quickly relate to and sympathize with, even though that's uncommon for me and teenage female POV characters. So that was appreciated. She was incredibly strong and impressive, even with everything she's been through, and while she kept me on the edge of my toes, her growth and character change is inspiring. I loved that while she was strong, she wasn't your classic "strong female character". She had vulnerability and softness when she allowed herself to, more and more with the help of Animo.
Speaking of Animo, hands down my favorite character in the book. I wanted to hug him 99% of the book, and how awesome is his name? He too is incredibly strong with everything he's been through, and he was always the encouraging, steady rock for Rose, allowing her to learn but never letting her fall completely. Their affections grew at an excellent pace, still very tame, but perfectly slow-burn in my opinion. I seldom root for love interests to finally kiss, but this one got to me...
The rest of the side characters...oh my, they were colorful! Ketch, Camilla, Megs, Margaret, Hertz, Nelos, Christoph, etc. Each of them had a life and personality of their own, and I enjoyed watching them twist and weave through Rose's life, each working for them own goals while still - sometimes, depending on the character - helping her as well. I hope we see a lot more of most of them and that there are some loose ends tied up in the next books.
Also, I won't say too much, but WOW did the ending get tense. The villain is absolutely terrifying, and I can honestly say I wasn't expecting about three of those last major plot twists, haha. Once I reached those last few chapters, I couldn't put it down until I'd read to the end. Very well-done.
In true epic fantasy form, the plot bounced between extremely high-action, suspense-filled scenes of peril and slower "going on a journey" moments as the party traveled. I thought it was an excellent balance, and the author did a great job skimming over the more tedious elements of the passing of time and travel, always keeping us on our toes. If anything, there could have been a few more slower moments for readers to catch their breaths, but I was definitely never bored at all.
I loved the variety of things that we got to see throughout the story, from quaint villages, to crime lords, to dreamscapes, to pirate ships, and so on. Each section brought new sights and experiences and I honestly pictured most of it as if I was watching a LOTR-esque movie. So excellent!
The only caveat I can give to other potential readers regards the magic system. I'm rarely picky about magical content in the books that I read, as long as it doesn't glorify demonic elements at all. I love the Harry Potter series, etc. This book does have an extensive and prominent magic system that's well-thought-out and very intricate. The only elements that ever gave me pause were the increasing mentions/usage of a totem formed through blood magic (presumably bad) and some lengthier verbal spells/curses. Personally, they never crossed any of my lines and I never felt that anything demonic or too dark was glorified, but if you're squeamish with magic at all, this is something to be aware of. I'm interested to see where the next books lead, with all of the magical questions that were brought up. If it grows substantially darker, I'll update, but I was fine so far.
Also, if you're as sensitive to "foul language", even in a made-up fantasy language, be aware that made-up curse words are used frequently. I could look past them, and I'm extremely glad they weren't modern-day curses, but they still stood out to me. Again, not a big issue, just FYI.
Otherwise, I have no real critiques regarding this story! I was pulled in from the very start, the writing style was beautiful and immersive, the world was huge and vivid, the magic was clever, and the plot is intriguing, mysterious, and exciting. I'm really looking forward to the next installments in this series! If it sounds good to you, definitely give it a try - you may just find a new favorite too!
CW: several brief kisses, hugs, frequent usage of made-up fantasy curses/swears, frequent vivid nightmares, frequent mentions of blood and semi-descriptive mentions of gore and wounds, battles/war violence, death and loss, grief, mental health struggles (one reference to wondering why she couldn't have just died), constant danger, betrayal, brutal deaths (decapitation, hanging, beaten, "torn apart"), extensive magic system with spells, totems, staffs, charms, and curses, references to human sacrifice and stealing blood, "drugging" with herbs, mentions of alcohol and drinking on a pirate ship, theft/shoplifting by main characters.
I'd recommend it to: anyone who enjoys epic fantasies, especially if you love adventure journeys, slow-burn (clean!) romance, intrigue and action, fun side characters, terrifying villains, and powerful themes.