Search

Search only in certain items:

A Reflection of Ice
A Reflection of Ice
Katherine McIntyre | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Reflection of Ice by Katherine McIntyre
A Reflection of Ice is a contemporary, urban, fairy-tale suited more to the Brothers Grimm than Disney! Lyra is a young girl at school, struggling with issues in her home life. When she arrives home earlier than expected one day, she sees something she shouldn't and ends up fleeing. During her escape, she finds somewhere new and shiny (literally). Exhausted from her escape, she is rescued and taken into the home. Once she awakens, she finds out she is in between. She has a choice to make - stay in the castle that has sheltered her and kept her safe? Or return to her broken family life and home in the 'real' world?

This is a gripping, enthralling read that would seamlessly fit with stories of old; where fairy-tales were meant as warnings, not as glitter covered cupcakes. The descriptions in this story give the whole thing a feeling of foreboding, an eeriness guaranteed to seep into your veins as you read. There were no editing or grammatical errors that disrupted my reading flow, and I read this book in one sitting as I did not want to put it down. An amazing story from a brilliant author. This is another jewel in the crown of Katherine McIntyre. Absolutely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Beholden (The Fairest Maiden #1)
Beholden (The Fairest Maiden #1)
Jody Hedlund | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Are you looking for a good clean romance for your teens or young adults? Well, Beholden is good for them. It deals with princes and knights. It also has a sweet story about beauty. What a way to have action and adventures. The heroes have to work together.

I enjoyed learning about the gem mines and the slaves. We get a bit of an evil queen and slavery. It seems it is a modern-day fairy tale of Cinderella. Jody does well with the plot and storyline. What a way to pull into the story. It keeps you wanting to turn the pages once the action starts to pick up.

The adventures begin to heighten up once Gabriella is released from the mines. Who will win? The princes are to do testing to see if they are worth the kingship. The princes are given a phrase that is different for each prince.

I wonder what each means and for that prince. Slave for all what can that mean. You will be trying to figure it out along with Vilmar. What is Gabriella's plan? Can Vilmar find the true meaning to Slave to all and find help from the slaves and Gabriella?

My rating for this book is 4.5 stars (Moons) on my rating system. Which make my rating system will have it marked 4 stars (Moons). This book good for teens and young adults. It got romance and fantasy. If your teen or young adult enjoy fairy tales, this book has it and more.
  
40x40

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2163 KP) rated Happily Ever After in Books

Jun 29, 2023 (Updated Jun 29, 2023)  
Happily Ever After
Happily Ever After
James Riley | 2023 | Children
5
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Rushed Ending Keeps Me from Being Perfectly Happy with This Book
Lena and Shefin are living in the Blessed City. Everyone is happy and eagerly waiting for the fairy queen ball to take place that day. Something in the back on Lena’s mind is saying that things aren’t right, but she does her best to ignore them since to go against the fairy queens means punishment. But on her way to school that morning, she discovers a book lying on the road that seems to be for her. What could it possibly mean? And where in Jin? Could he be the key to uncovering what is really going on?

I was anxious to see how this book would end since I’ve enjoyed the previous books so much. It started strongly, with great actions and twists, plus dual points of view to help build tension. It was fun to spend time with the characters again, and the meta comments on writing and books were making me laugh, although they weren’t a prevalent as in the earlier books. Then we reached the ending. It was way too rushed, with some twists that left me completely unsatisfied. We do get a final chapter, but it wasn’t enough to make me feel better with the ending, especially since it changes what I thought I remember about a character. (Maybe I need to reread book two.) Fans will still want to read it, but it’s not as good as it could have been.
  
The Bear and the Nightingale
The Bear and the Nightingale
Katherine Arden | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.4 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
A dark epic fairytale
This captivating fantasy is set in the frozen north of Russia in the 13th century, and used Russian myths and fairy tales as inspiration.

At the centre of the novel is the family of a local Lord, in particular the headstrong youngest daughter Vasya who is gifted with 'second sight'. The existence of the community is threatened when a dark power in the forests begins to wake up, just as the villagers start to turn away from the household spirits who've protected them, in favour of a charismatic new priest.

The Russian setting adds interest and mystique and the protagonist Vasya is fantastically outspoken and scrappy. The plot is easy to follow despite the odd Russian word. It truly is a compelling read.
  
The Night Circus
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern | 2015 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.1 (106 Ratings)
Book Rating
Oh my gosh! What an awesome book!! I'm not even quite sure how to describe it. This book is quite unlike anything I have read before. It is part coming of age tale, part fairy tale, part love story. Celia & Marco are interesting characters who possess extraordinary abilities while still being real. The story sucks you in from the first sentence and doesn't let you go even at the final sentence...I found myself in denial that it was over. It was one of those books you just don't want to end but yet you can't seem to put down.
I finished this book a huge fan of Erin Morgenstern. I hope she will write more books as excellent and addicting as The Night Circus!!!
  
Rory runs the Lucky Dog Boutique in Destiny, CA. When someone starts breaking into local shops and leaving bad luck symbols in their wake, no one wants to talk about it for fear of bringing down even more bad luck on the town. After the real-estate agent who has been trying to find Rory the perfect home confesses to the vandalism and is subsequently murdered, Rory decides it is time to investigate.

Destiny is a quaint, almost fairy-tale like town where superstitions are real and good luck charms are a necessity. I might not like to live there, but it is fun to visit for a while!

<i>Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>
  
Stardust
Stardust
Neil Gaiman | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.4 (35 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a really fun read. I have been wanting to read this book for quite some time but I never found the time. I finally decided to buy the audiobook and boy was I impressed. Neil Gaiman reads the book to you and it was quite a lot of fun.

I always worry when I have the author reading the audiobook. It's either going to be amazing or torturous. Neil did a great job at doing the voices and helping you imagine what each character would sound like.

The plot was cute and sweet. I loved the adult fairy tale aspect of it. I loved the characters and I loved the unique aspects in the book.

If you're looking for a fun read, this is it.