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The Crow Box (Shadow and Ink #1)

Nikki Rae

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The small wooden box is dirty, the size of a human fist, and sealed with wax. When Corbin takes it...

ClareR (5711 KP) rated Berlin in Books

Dec 15, 2022

Berlin

Bea Setton | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Generally speaking, if a book looks as though Germany, or somewhere in Germany, is going to have a reasonably central role, I’m going to read it. And Berlin didn’t disappoint.

Daphne has moved to Berlin, ostensibly to learn German, but as the book progresses it seems more likely that she’s trying to escape something. Trouble and strange occurrences seem to follow Daphne, and I was left wondering if it was in her imagination a lot of the time. Nothing is easy - from her German lessons, to her relationships and flat rentals.

Daphne is an unreliable narrator - and I think that’s all I need to say! Other than: it was a great read that I really enjoyed!

Kudos

The Vaster Wilds

Lauren Groff

9.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

A profound and explosive novel about a spirited girl alone in the wilderness, trying to survive A...

Historical fiction

EmersonRose (320 KP) rated In The Dark Corner I Stood Alone in Books

Nov 20, 2019

I stood alone in a dark corner. My imagination ran wild.”

In the Dark Corner, I stood Alone is a collection of short stories by author Petra Pavlikova, published on June 12th, 2018. These short stories pull together themes of women and fairytales. Telling stories about strong women in stressful situations, difficult because they are real, and how these women pull through, with a healthy dose of the fantastical. The collection itself is a short and easy read as the stories range in length from 5-20 pages each. I loved the beautiful imagery created in these stories as they each take you on fantastic journeys.

The characters in these stories are such strong and relatable women that I fell in love with each one as I read their story. From beginning to end this book captured this beautiful whimsey that kept me captivated in each story. As you read, each has a distinctive story to tell, but they are all in the same unique voice that has a charming but straightforward tone that captures the fairytale quality splendidly. I think that my favorite story may be The Smell of Sweet Lavender, as it tackles a heart-wrenching tale of trying to be true to yourself and the cost it sometimes has on those that you love most. But each was so unique that they held different messages and meanings to them, that I could see myself having a different favorite depending on what mood I was in at the time. This is definitely one of those books that I could see myself re-reading whenever I just wanted to curl up with a sweet set of stories that allow my imagination wander in the realm of fairies and distant kingdoms. The magic in them creates a tone but the themes within them last without extra flare, making them that much more poignant.

The other thing that makes this book really stand out is the remarkable work of the illustrator Anastasia Telegina. From the small flowers and bright colored pages to the exquisite images of the women in the book, the watercolor work is astounding and fits in perfectly with the wanderlust tone of the writing. Each time I saw that stories full image, I was blown away by the beauty and talent. They play with your imagination rather than entirely putting images in your head, keeping the fluidity of the imagination intact while still creating magnificent images. Creating perhaps what is more what a child might imagine from what is described that a realistic picture. This pair clearly makes an excellent team.

These are stories for almost any age in the themes it tackles and the beautiful way in which they are told. While some of the ideas may be intense for a younger audience, the way in which the stories are told make them accessible to any reader. They are important topics dealt with in a way that is natural and very real world, while held within a slightly more fantastical space. I very much enjoyed reading this book and would definitely recommend it. I will be keeping an eye out to read more from this author. Five Stars.