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thebookwormscorner's reviews
31 reviews
Dylan Mcfinn & The Temple of the Four Winds by Liam Jenkins
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Finally!
I've finished the second installment in the Dylan McFinn series. I was anxiously waiting to see what adventure and trouble Dylan and his brother Axneus were going to get into next.
The story starts off where the first book left off. After losing their parents and defeating the almighty Gate, Dylan and Axneus are trying to figure out what's next in their lives. Dylan of course, is thinking about the more important and realistic things in life. Whereas, Axneus is thinking about riches and showing his greed. Dylan is fueled with the need to find his parents. He sets off on a adventure with his brother and Marvin though the 'Forest of Shadows'.
As they go on the hunt for the midnight marauders, they came across the evil sea nymph, Marilla (she gave me total Ursula vibes). Marilla is working on Kadavu's side to help him gain all control of Maloto once and for all. Marilla tries her all to brain wash numerous characters that you've seen in the first book for her personal gain and evil ways. Dylan must go through hell and back to find his parents, and the trials will make or break him.
Jenkins once again delivers an amazing set of characters. Through descriptions and imagery, you feel like you're living everything you're reading. Let's not forget that ending! Huge thanks to Liam for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I cannot wait to read what happens next.
I've finished the second installment in the Dylan McFinn series. I was anxiously waiting to see what adventure and trouble Dylan and his brother Axneus were going to get into next.
The story starts off where the first book left off. After losing their parents and defeating the almighty Gate, Dylan and Axneus are trying to figure out what's next in their lives. Dylan of course, is thinking about the more important and realistic things in life. Whereas, Axneus is thinking about riches and showing his greed. Dylan is fueled with the need to find his parents. He sets off on a adventure with his brother and Marvin though the 'Forest of Shadows'.
As they go on the hunt for the midnight marauders, they came across the evil sea nymph, Marilla (she gave me total Ursula vibes). Marilla is working on Kadavu's side to help him gain all control of Maloto once and for all. Marilla tries her all to brain wash numerous characters that you've seen in the first book for her personal gain and evil ways. Dylan must go through hell and back to find his parents, and the trials will make or break him.
Jenkins once again delivers an amazing set of characters. Through descriptions and imagery, you feel like you're living everything you're reading. Let's not forget that ending! Huge thanks to Liam for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I cannot wait to read what happens next.
Curby by Alyssa Lynn
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I'm going to warn you right now you'll need some tissues for this one. I made the mistake of reading this at 9am only to end up in a mess of tears. Curby is a short story in the POV of Golden Retriever. He's absolutely a cutie and totally in love with his mom Roxy. He cherishes her and loves being around her. He even has conversations with the other pups that Roxy's friends have. One day Curby gets some bad news from Roxy's friend. He didn't know what happened exactly, but he knows his human friend wasn't coming back.
Curby is a must read if you're an animal lover. It will definitely leave you in your feels. Thanks to Alyssa lyne for providing me with a copy of the book through book sprout in exchange for an honest review.
Curby is a must read if you're an animal lover. It will definitely leave you in your feels. Thanks to Alyssa lyne for providing me with a copy of the book through book sprout in exchange for an honest review.
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Imagine living in perpetual fear everyday because of your race. Imagine hoping that your family wasn't next. Imagine getting the opportunity to go and try to escape those that wish you harm. Eighteen year old Sadie Gault and her family are Jewish and have lived in Krakow, Poland for most of their lives. Their lives were pretty peaceful until the Germans invaded. They were forced to move into the Krakow Ghetto. Everyday got progressively worse for all the Jewish families.
One day while the parents of the Jewish children were at work, the Germans raided the homes of the Jewish families, taking children with them. Sadie heard the approaching soldiers and decided to hide in a trunk in her mother's room. It was only when Sadie heard her mother trying to kill herself that Sadie came out and showed her mother...she's okay.
Sadie's parents were afraid and tired of living like this and decided to come up with a plan to finally escape the hell they were living through. With the help of a sewer worker named Pawel, they created a hole and escaped into the sewer system under the most deplorable conditions. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and things for the family became harder for them. Until one day, Sadie decided to explore the tunnels and came face to face with another girl her age through the sewer grate. After that things take an interesting turn.
I must say this book was riveting; The writing was amazing. I will definitely be checking out more of Pam Jenoff's writing. Wow...just, wow. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Park Row books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
One day while the parents of the Jewish children were at work, the Germans raided the homes of the Jewish families, taking children with them. Sadie heard the approaching soldiers and decided to hide in a trunk in her mother's room. It was only when Sadie heard her mother trying to kill herself that Sadie came out and showed her mother...she's okay.
Sadie's parents were afraid and tired of living like this and decided to come up with a plan to finally escape the hell they were living through. With the help of a sewer worker named Pawel, they created a hole and escaped into the sewer system under the most deplorable conditions. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and things for the family became harder for them. Until one day, Sadie decided to explore the tunnels and came face to face with another girl her age through the sewer grate. After that things take an interesting turn.
I must say this book was riveting; The writing was amazing. I will definitely be checking out more of Pam Jenoff's writing. Wow...just, wow. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Park Row books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Finding Bryan by Matthew Kesselman
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TW/CW: homophobic comments, death of a parent, cancer talk, micro aggressions
Gosh, there's so much to say about this amazing and well-written contemporary. First of all I will warn you that you will not like Forrest Wilcox. He's grumpy, self-absorbed, and overall a chaotic person who spends all his time focusing on his failures and what he could've done better. Along the way of his chaotic life, Forrest lost his brother Bryan, but not to death. Bryan ran away at the age of 17 in search of a better life. Ever since then, Forrest has felt a little lost. That could be what some of his bitterness comes from.
Now, Forrest is married to his HS sweetheart and they have a daughter named Casey (whose spunky). He also works at his father's auto shop as a mechanic, but Forrest feels like something is still missing from his life. One day Forrest's father talks to him and tells him his mom's cancer is doing worse and she hasn't got much time to live. That's when his father says that his mom wants Forrest to find his brother...Bryan. Forrest doesn't hesitate to go and look for his brother, he even takes his daughter Casey with him despite what anyone was opposed to. As Forrest and Casey travel across the country they come across numerous characters and go through some serious things, but it's all in the name of Bryan.
Let me just say that I absolutely loved this book and the southern twang that the author utilized. I loved how raw Kesselman portrayed Forrest. Yes, he was unbearable and a jackass, but at the same time he still was human under that hard exterior. Special thanks to Novel Novels, and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Gosh, there's so much to say about this amazing and well-written contemporary. First of all I will warn you that you will not like Forrest Wilcox. He's grumpy, self-absorbed, and overall a chaotic person who spends all his time focusing on his failures and what he could've done better. Along the way of his chaotic life, Forrest lost his brother Bryan, but not to death. Bryan ran away at the age of 17 in search of a better life. Ever since then, Forrest has felt a little lost. That could be what some of his bitterness comes from.
Now, Forrest is married to his HS sweetheart and they have a daughter named Casey (whose spunky). He also works at his father's auto shop as a mechanic, but Forrest feels like something is still missing from his life. One day Forrest's father talks to him and tells him his mom's cancer is doing worse and she hasn't got much time to live. That's when his father says that his mom wants Forrest to find his brother...Bryan. Forrest doesn't hesitate to go and look for his brother, he even takes his daughter Casey with him despite what anyone was opposed to. As Forrest and Casey travel across the country they come across numerous characters and go through some serious things, but it's all in the name of Bryan.
Let me just say that I absolutely loved this book and the southern twang that the author utilized. I loved how raw Kesselman portrayed Forrest. Yes, he was unbearable and a jackass, but at the same time he still was human under that hard exterior. Special thanks to Novel Novels, and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent