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noellesmagicallibrary's reviews
411 reviews
Displaced: Goshway's Journey by Katherine Schlatter
5.0
This is the first time I’ve seen a graphic novel (or any type of novel) with interactive QR codes — it makes for a fun learning experience, especially for younger readers.
I knew nothing about the Chittagong Hills Tract or the history of Bangladesh before reading Displaced. I’m far from an expert now but I am far more knowledgeable.
This story follows a young boy, Goshway, growing up in the CHT, becoming a refugee and then returning to his home years later. Through it all he maintains his happiness and love of learning.
Goshway’s life was incredibly difficult, but as a reader I am so intrigued and I wish I could read more about his life of advocacy as an adult.
I was gifted a copy for review, all thoughts are entirely my own. Thank you THENCE and Kate Rock Book Tours for the opportunity.
I knew nothing about the Chittagong Hills Tract or the history of Bangladesh before reading Displaced. I’m far from an expert now but I am far more knowledgeable.
This story follows a young boy, Goshway, growing up in the CHT, becoming a refugee and then returning to his home years later. Through it all he maintains his happiness and love of learning.
Goshway’s life was incredibly difficult, but as a reader I am so intrigued and I wish I could read more about his life of advocacy as an adult.
I was gifted a copy for review, all thoughts are entirely my own. Thank you THENCE and Kate Rock Book Tours for the opportunity.
The Witch of the Forest's Guide to Folklore Magick by Lindsay Squire
5.0
I think this book is great for anyone who practices and those who are just curious about the history of magickal plants.
The artwork is so beautiful and cozy. This book wouldn’t be the same without it.
I learned a lot and it seems that a lot of research has gone into it.
I was given an advanced copy for review, all thoughts are entirely my own. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity.
The artwork is so beautiful and cozy. This book wouldn’t be the same without it.
I learned a lot and it seems that a lot of research has gone into it.
I was given an advanced copy for review, all thoughts are entirely my own. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity.
The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Horror author Ben Bookman is at a book signing for his newest release while the cops are at a crime scene that is an exact replica of one of the scenes in that new book.
Ben becomes a person of interest, especially because more murders modeled after his book have been discovered.
In the town of Crooked Tree, nightmares come to life.
Superb. I loved it!
There’s something about the mix of dreams and horror that makes for a potentially great story and J. H. Markert delivered. He takes a typical murder/detective plot and blends in elements of the supernatural to create a compelling horror story.
Ben becomes a person of interest, especially because more murders modeled after his book have been discovered.
In the town of Crooked Tree, nightmares come to life.
Superb. I loved it!
There’s something about the mix of dreams and horror that makes for a potentially great story and J. H. Markert delivered. He takes a typical murder/detective plot and blends in elements of the supernatural to create a compelling horror story.
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.5
This book held my interest and things happened that I didn’t expect so overall I say it’s a pretty solid thriller. It also helps that I didn’t read the synopsis prior to start so I literally had no idea what the book would be about (other than murder).
The audiobook is good BUT I didn’t enjoy the performance of Lilly — the narration felt stilted and monotone. By the end of the book I didn’t really care anymore and it seemed appropriate for the character, but it did bother me a lot in the beginning.
The audiobook is good BUT I didn’t enjoy the performance of Lilly — the narration felt stilted and monotone. By the end of the book I didn’t really care anymore and it seemed appropriate for the character, but it did bother me a lot in the beginning.
Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation by Jim O'Heir
5.0
Every Parks and Rec fan needs to read this book. It’s a reminder of how incredible that show is and now I have the need to binge it all again.
The majority of the book is told from Jim O’Heir’s personal experience but there are also conversations with the producers and other members of the cast.
The majority of the book is told from Jim O’Heir’s personal experience but there are also conversations with the producers and other members of the cast.
Reflection by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
I've been wanting to start these Twisted Tales book and I had this one sitting on my kindle for a while. So when I was on vacation in Disney last week it felt like the perfect time to finally crack it open.
After she causes the avalanche that takes out the majority of the Hun army, Li Shang saves Mulan's life but he is mortally wounded by Shan Lee in the process.
Mulan is determined to repay Shang and save his life in turn so she enters the underworld, Diyu, to rescue him. The lord of Diyu makes a deal with Mulan -- if she can find Shang and escape the underworld by the time the moon sets, then they will both return to the land of the living unharmed.
Diyu is a dangerous place for mortals. Mulan needs to travel 100 levels of demons and ghosts to succeed. Luckily it's not just her though, she has the help of ShiShi, the lion guardian of Li Shang's family.
Here's the thing, this book is fun but it wasn't amazing. I think it's exactly what I expected it to be. I love taking the story of Mulan (the Disney cartoon) we know and love and turning it on it's head. And I love seeing lyrics reflected in the dialogue and narrative.
I liked the plot and I liked the characters. (ShiShi was fine but I really missed Mushu.) But to be honest, I had difficulty visualizing some of the more active scenes (and this could be a me-problem, but it could also be due to the writing, I just don't know). And this is probably why the book didn't score too high for me.
Still, I recommend any Disney fan to read Reflections. You'll see a lot of familiar faces and experience a new Mulan story.
After she causes the avalanche that takes out the majority of the Hun army, Li Shang saves Mulan's life but he is mortally wounded by Shan Lee in the process.
Mulan is determined to repay Shang and save his life in turn so she enters the underworld, Diyu, to rescue him. The lord of Diyu makes a deal with Mulan -- if she can find Shang and escape the underworld by the time the moon sets, then they will both return to the land of the living unharmed.
Diyu is a dangerous place for mortals. Mulan needs to travel 100 levels of demons and ghosts to succeed. Luckily it's not just her though, she has the help of ShiShi, the lion guardian of Li Shang's family.
Here's the thing, this book is fun but it wasn't amazing. I think it's exactly what I expected it to be. I love taking the story of Mulan (the Disney cartoon) we know and love and turning it on it's head. And I love seeing lyrics reflected in the dialogue and narrative.
I liked the plot and I liked the characters. (ShiShi was fine but I really missed Mushu.) But to be honest, I had difficulty visualizing some of the more active scenes (and this could be a me-problem, but it could also be due to the writing, I just don't know). And this is probably why the book didn't score too high for me.
Still, I recommend any Disney fan to read Reflections. You'll see a lot of familiar faces and experience a new Mulan story.
Fourth Wing (Parts 1 & 2) (Dramatized Adaptation) by Rebecca Yarros
5.0
I loved it just as much the second time. The graphic audio is a fun way to listen to the story but I like the original audiobook better— it just hits differently.
Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
This is my second time reading a Jeneva Rose book and once again it was not good. At least I liked it marginally more than You Shouldn’t Have Come Here (which I rage read), and I was able to comfortably listen to this at 2.15 speed which meant it was over quickly.
The characters were unlikeable and the plot was obvious— honestly wasn’t shocked by “the twist”. But I only have myself to blame because my expectations were low to start. A+ on the cover though, that’s really why I decided to give her another shot.
My summary is below, there are spoilers.
Beth is taking care of her dying mom and she’s mad at her siblings for not being around to help. With her dying breath she tries to tell Beth that her dad didn’t run away or something and not to trust (here she dies and doesn’t complete the thought). Now the other two kids (Nicole and Michael) finally come back home.
The mom leaves envelopes for each of them and a lock box specifically for Beth, all to be opened after her funeral. When cleaning out the house they find old family videos and decide to watch some. One of them shows their dad bringing the mom to the body of a mission girl. Long story short, the whole time we’re meant to believe the dad killed the girl and ran off a few years later. But it was the brother who pushed the girl off a cliff, the parents were covering up for him.
And there was also the disappearance of another adult who was (wrongly) accused of murdering that girl, AND another young girl who was thought to have run away (but actually she magically captured the murder on film and blackmailed the dad so she got $5000 and a chance to leave that small town).
The characters were unlikeable and the plot was obvious— honestly wasn’t shocked by “the twist”. But I only have myself to blame because my expectations were low to start. A+ on the cover though, that’s really why I decided to give her another shot.
My summary is below, there are spoilers.
The mom leaves envelopes for each of them and a lock box specifically for Beth, all to be opened after her funeral. When cleaning out the house they find old family videos and decide to watch some. One of them shows their dad bringing the mom to the body of a mission girl. Long story short, the whole time we’re meant to believe the dad killed the girl and ran off a few years later. But it was the brother who pushed the girl off a cliff, the parents were covering up for him.
And there was also the disappearance of another adult who was (wrongly) accused of murdering that girl, AND another young girl who was thought to have run away (but actually she magically captured the murder on film and blackmailed the dad so she got $5000 and a chance to leave that small town).
Remina by Junji Ito
4.0
As usual with Junji Ito, half the time I was reading this I was asking myself “what in the world is happening?!”
The image of a planet with a giant tongue is so grotesque and I loved it.
I’d love to get more of a backstory about the planet Remina— how did it come into existence, does it have sentience, what happens next?
The image of a planet with a giant tongue is so grotesque and I loved it.
I’d love to get more of a backstory about the planet Remina— how did it come into existence, does it have sentience, what happens next?
Liar's Kingdom by Christine Calella
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Liar’s Kingdom takes the basics of what you know about Cinderella and creates a new story.
Ell (Ellain) is a scullery maid in her own home, serving her evil stepsisters and wicked stepmother. She’s been planning her escape for a while but when Prince Bayard shows up at her door, she is given a new way out and she decides to take it.
In the land of Holbein fairy magic has been forbidden ever since the king broke his vow with the fairy queen. This has caused a war between the humans and fairy kind.
After telling many lies, Ell has married the prince— now she’s a princess. And even though she’s a liar, she has a good heart and wants to save the kingdom.
I loved this book. Ell is a wonderful main character and addition of the fairy plot line was really interesting.
I also loved how this book reminded me of Ever After and Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
Highly recommend this book to any fantasy lover, especially if you like books based on well known fairy tales.
Ell (Ellain) is a scullery maid in her own home, serving her evil stepsisters and wicked stepmother. She’s been planning her escape for a while but when Prince Bayard shows up at her door, she is given a new way out and she decides to take it.
In the land of Holbein fairy magic has been forbidden ever since the king broke his vow with the fairy queen. This has caused a war between the humans and fairy kind.
After telling many lies, Ell has married the prince— now she’s a princess. And even though she’s a liar, she has a good heart and wants to save the kingdom.
I loved this book. Ell is a wonderful main character and addition of the fairy plot line was really interesting.
I also loved how this book reminded me of Ever After and Roger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
Highly recommend this book to any fantasy lover, especially if you like books based on well known fairy tales.