lucyslibraryreviews's reviews
363 reviews

Robbing Centaurs and Other Bad Ideas by Bethany Meyer

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-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? No

5.0

Robbing Centaurs and Other Bad Ideas is a fun title that is very well matched to the writing style. I appreciated that underlying humor throughout the story. The titles of the chapters are priceless. Pumpkins Explode, A Smattering of Failed Plans, A Brief Guide to Complete Failure, & The Tale of the Unfillable Bag, to name a few. (The Unfillable Bag is sheer brilliance and one of the best parts of the story.)

Wick & Archer are the consummate odd couple and they have to work together, on a perilous adventure, of they want to survive. We get to see them earn each other’s trust & their friendship. Then, we get to see said friendship tested, over & over as they end up on their world’s most wanted list. Why? Because nobody realizes that what they are in fact doing is trying to save the world.
As brilliant as the unfillable bag, they have to steal from various people groups. A leshi & a seraph with a broken wing have to rob from cities that were designed for fliers. They also have to navigate a world designed for nixies who are strong swimmers. 
This is a fun adventure that definitely has violence, but nothing gory or overly descriptive. 
This is a story about failing, but choosing to persist, anyway. This is a story of an unlikely friendship that demonstrates that we can look within to find value in the most unlikely of characters. It’s about taking risks. This is also a story of giving up the fear of man, because the greater good is more important than your reputation. 

In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

And… a sixth star, because it’s everything I dreamed it would be. George Washington Carver was a man that did his best to live a life in communion with God & a life that mattered. This talks about a visit to a school to help them plant a garden. The author seamlessly weaves fun facts about gardening into the story.

Sky of Seven Colors by Rachelle Nelson

adventurous hopeful inspiring mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Sky of Seven Colors, by Rachelle Nelson, is an adventure in grayscale where color is a rare gift & our heroine learns that no cost is too high to save another. It is a story of hope and of gifts. Gifts that heal. Gifts that bless. Gifts that tame the wild beast. Gifts that bless the ground that gives forth food and grain. Sky of Seven Colors is also a story of what can happen when gifts are used for selfish gain. Sky of Seven Colors is a wonderful science fiction novel that we  
SIDENOTE: This is a standalone YA novel. It’s clean. There is minimal violence that’s not descriptive. 

You Can Pray Big Things by Julia Jeffress Sadler

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

You Can Pray Big Things is a beautifully written to help kids pray big & dream big. It helps kids to understand many things, like when God says no or wait. It even has a prayer of salvation at the end.
The rhyme is good, but there are a few slightly awkward moments. Not enough to bother me, personally.

Susannah Spurgeon: The Pastor's Wife Who Didn't Let Sickness Stop Her by Mary Mohler, Cecilia Messina

hopeful inspiring slow-paced

5.0

Mary K. Mohler does a great job of telling this story in a way that kid’s will understand it. She talks about meeting Spurgeon, marrying him, having twins and life after Charles died. The story celebrates Susannah’s accomplishments, in spite of their illnesses.

Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Daily Devotions for Advent and Christmas by Todd Outcalt

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

I enjoyed this advent & contemplating its contents. I also like that it is for all of December, it keeps going after Christmas day to Epiphany. I’m not a fan of the Catholic calendar which to me is more religion than relationship. He also uses DNA tests as an example. I believe we should keep our God-given DNA out of the corporate world, especially in a day & age when the church of Satan is buying up businesses left & right.

Heart of the Sea by Moriah Chavis

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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? No

4.0

This is the author’s debut novel & it is no small beginning. It’s a fabulous piece of worldbuilding w/ a creative magic system. The lead characters have rather unusual magical powers that are so different from each other, but each useful in its own way. It’s easy to find yourself rooting for both of them, though you’re not certain that they are both safe. They’re pirates, who said anything about safe? The author gives us glimpses into the back story. When a sister willing to pay any cost for revenge is redeemed, it comes at an equally high price for the sister that rescues her.
The ending is wonderful, & though it’s not a cliff hanger, it leaves room for a second story which I would gladly read. 
The story has forgiveness, redemption, being set free from a strange sort of captivity, learning you don’t have to do it all on your own. Learning to trust. It has witches & sirens, both evil. 
I would not recommend this as a book for teens.

quotes: “Like a compass, I’m the needle, and she’s my north, always dragging me toward her.”
“Pride blooms in my gut—this is the girl who has fought against storms & sirens to get to her sister. 
“You only wish you could be so lucky as to die at my hand, Cyrus Crow.” 
”Unlike the dances my mother forced on me, the endless hours of wearing uncomfortable shoes and learning how close and far to stand away from the man, this comes naturally. These dances chase away the autumn air and bring forth the rush of excitement. I fall into step beside Cyrus and spin and weave through the rest of the crew.”
“His lips find mine in the fading candlelight. The touch is tentative, at first, a question I never knew I wanted him to ask."

The Dog Snatcher, Guardians of Time Book 1: A Children's Fantasy Adventure by Phyllis Wheeler

adventurous hopeful informative 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

4.5

The Guardian of Time series is a fun way for kids to learn about history. In the Dog Snatcher, the brother & sister who own the dog are taken to Lyon, France in their search. The boy sees himself as someone that messes up and causes trouble for others. Through the story, he is able to right some of his mistakes and he begins to see himself in a better and truer light. Phyllis Wheeler is intentional to include lessons that kids need to hear in all of her books. Her characters are relatable as well as good examples for today's kids. 

Memories of Salt and Stone by Maegan M. Simpson

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Just wow! This is a story about family that’s not family & having the courage to love again. It’s a story about fighting for justice & freedom for the oppressed, no matter the cost. It has refugees, sirens, 2 headed giants, all sorts of fae. All hope is lost, but Ronan finds she’s got more friends than she realized & more power than she knew. I love the ending & it is not a cliff hanger, so it does work as a standalone novel. This is a story that I really enjoyed coming back to each night. It’s absolutely criminal that the author worked so hard for the price I paid for the kindle book. I’m going to have to buy myself a physical copy.

A Kid's Guide to the Armor of God by Tony Evans

5.0

This book is set up much like an adult Bible Study. Tony Evans uses stories from the Bible & real life to help kids understand how to follow Holy Spirit and wear the Armor of God. The book has thought provoking questions for kids.