Long Live The Pumpkin Queen: Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas Written by: Shea Ernshaw Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) IBSN: 978-1-368-06960-1 COME ON MY SILLY LITTLE GHOULIES, we've got another Halloween Book Review to do! This book review is specifically tailored for readers who don't like jump scares or dark topics. Let's be honest, Nightmare Before Christmas was never a scary story. It was always a fun childhood tale. At the end of the album for the movie, they confirm that Jack Skellington and his wife Sally have children and live happily ever after. But we don't really know all that much about Sally Skellington. And with this book, we get so much more information about Sally and the Halloween Town universe! Shea Ernshaw did a wonderful job expanding on this beloved fandom.
With all that being said, let's jump into this book review. The book starts off almost a year exactly from the original story. Halloween is two weeks away and Jack and Sally are getting married. Afterward, they go on a very brief honeymoon to Valentine's Day Town. This is exciting because most of us have always wanted to know what the other towns were like! (So immediately you're pumped hoping that you will get to see inside the other doors.) But, since Halloween is almost here Jack must return to do his job as Pumpkin King. The whole time though, Sally is in her head. She is an anxious ball of fabric and dried leaves because she knows, that she is now the Pumpkin Queen. And she is scared, nervous, and afraid of things changing. I feel you, girl, that is my anxiety to a T. Now because of her nerves, Sally heads into the woods for some fresh air, determined to take a break from everyone's demands and calm down. But as she's wandering the woods she comes across a door that Jack has never seen, a door that is overgrown and hidden away. When Sally attempts to open the crescent moon door, Zero freaks out and pulls her back to Halloween Town. In their haste... they didn't shut the door. And Sally and Zero have unleashed a being of great power onto Halloween Town and all the other realms. Now Sally is on a mission to fix her mistake but as she goes from town to town she realizes she is alone on this mission and all hope may be lost. Now, this is where I stop giving you a lot of information specifically about the storyline because truly I was shocked by the plot twists and I want you to be as well. I will say with excitement that we get to see the other realms and we do get to find out what's behind the crescent moon door. I will even go as far as to tell you that the being Sally accidentally set loose was the Sandman. And that he is putting everyone into a deep sleep. He even went into the human realm. (which was wild because we got a COMPLETELY unexpected, Queen Elizabeth II sighting.) In Sally's mission to stop the sandman, we find out more about her past which is really interesting because I wouldn't have expected it... but also somehow it completely makes sense to me. I have seen a lot of criticism that this book reads as fan fiction. And maybe in parts, especially towards the end, I can totally see that. But here's the thing, a lot of fan fiction is read online... and a lot of it has turned into something bigger. So if you don't enjoy fan fiction then maybe you won't like this. But the authors who write for Disney have to have everything okayed and it is implied that even Tim Burton had to sign off on this. So to me, it can't be that far off from what Tim himself would have liked in this universe. And I almost hope there will be more stories with the other realms. In conclusion, I recommend this book to people looking for something more fun and less spooky for a Halloween read. I DEFINITELY say this is a safe fun story for young readers, especially lovers of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Thank you to my Brother-In-Law and Sister-In-Law who bought this book for me as a gift. I really hope people enjoy it. Read on my fellow Bookworms. May we one day have Belle's library! And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below.
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The Creeping
Written by Alexandria Sirowy Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 978-14814-1887-4 We're getting so close to the end of this year's Halloween Book Review series! Only two more books after this. I loved The Creeping! This novel is another mystery-style novel, but I'd almost call it a thriller. The story revolves around a small town where 11 years ago two little girls went missing but only one returned. They never found the missing girl or any signs of her. But the girl who lived, Stella Cambren, came back with no memories of that day. She could only say, "If you look for monsters, you'll find them." I was completely engrossed in this novel and the roller coaster of emotions it took me on! While she has two other novels out, this is Alexandria's first novel and what a start to her career! I WILL be looking into her other novels, so keep your eyes out for next year's series. When Stella Cambren and Jeannie Talcott were six, someone or something took them out of Jeannie's front yard. Only Stella returned- with no memories and her hair french braided. For eleven years the town has looked at her as the lucky one. And every year, on the anniversary of the kidnapping, detectives working her case show up to ask if any memories had come back to her. The answer is always, "no" but they keep trying and hoping. If Stella's being honest she doesn't really remember Jeannie either. Everyone tells her she adored her, that they were best friends, but Jeannie is just a blurry memory filled in by the picture on her missing poster. But on the 11th anniversary of her kidnapping, a fresh corpse shows up with eerie similarities to Jeannie. When Stella looks at the girl all she can see is Jeannie... and the memories start coming back. I feel like this conversation really explains it: 'She was this black-and-white outline to me before' 'And now she's being colored in.' However, in a small town, when you start looking for monsters... you just might find them. The more that Stella searches for the truth the more horrifying secrets she uncovers. Will finding out the truth keep her safe or just open her eyes to things she'll wish she never knew about? There's also the fact that someone clearly wants her to stop looking into Jeannie's disappearance. Someone broke into her house, left threatening "gifts" on her porch, and so on. In a small town, there are always those that believe in fact and those that believe in the supernatural. The more Stella uncovers the town's history the more she fears that a supernatural monster truly is at the heart of this. And if it is, what can be done about it? Now, I chose to put this book under young adult fiction, instead of just fiction, because this book was SO well written in the direction of teenagers. Throughout the drama, there is the life that Stella has built up since being a traumatized six-year-old. Her friends, the boys she dates, the petty high school drama. Popularity and grades. Love interests and jealousy. Childhood sweethearts. The works! It was so well woven together that it was so believable... I'd say maybe even relatable at times. With these kinds of novels it often feels like the mystery takes over the whole book and we lose who the main characters are. What their lives are like outside of the search for the unknown. Alexandria did such a great job writing her characters that I spent so much time going back and forth on whether I loved them or hated them. I will admit that I often read mystery novels with everyone on my suspect list. There's always a plot twist.... what if this sweet character is actually evil? What if this total B is more jealous and possessive than we thought?! It kept me truly guessing and waiting to find out who was hiding what. I mean, how deep do cover-ups in a small town really go? In the end, I would highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good page-turning mystery. A true edge of my seat who did it, kind of mystery. I will say that there are some trigger warnings to address... One: Animal sacrifice has a brief appearance. And obviously two: death of children. They're not overly graphic but detailed enough that you know what you're looking at/dealing with. If you can handle things like that, go get yourself a copy of The Creeping! Read on my fellow bookworms. May we one day have Belle's library! And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below. All These Bodies
Written by Kendare Blake Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN:978-0-06-297716-8 My little monster friends, I would be lying if I said that Kendare Blake wasn't one of my favorite authors. Her writing is just so damn good! When I heard she had a new book coming out in September 2021 I was over the moon. It would be out just in time for October Halloween Book Reviews! Add in the fact that this book revolves around a murder mystery with a potential super natural element... Oh my blobs, I am here for it. But let's discuss the book and the amazing writing within. The book takes place in 1958-59, in a TINY town in the middle of nowhere Minnesota- Black Deer Falls. Think farmhouses, small minds, nosey neighbors, etc. The kind of town where everyone's a "good" Christian and people rarely grow up to leave the their hometown. Throughout the summer of 1958, across four states, 16 murders had been committed. Everyone paid attention to the newspapers, marking on their maps where bodies were found. Early curfews and watchful sheriffs- the world was on edge. Everyone thought the murders were over until Black Deer Falls, where a local family was found murdered in their living room. Only this time, there was an extra person left behind. A young girl of 15, was found at the scene covered head to toe in blood... but none of it was hers. The nation was baffled by this information. She was too small, too young, too feminine to have been the killer. Now, you see, her being covered in the victims blood is even more baffling... because these murders were called, "The Bloodless Murders" or "The Dracula Murders" across headlines. Every single victim had been found bled to death. Except there was no blood found at the scene. Where was the blood going? Were they killed elsewhere and then dumped? It made sense in a few of the cases but definitely not all, like the gas station worker killed on the job and found within 30 minutes of his death. There was no time between customers for him to have been killed elsewhere and dumped back at work.... So how was this happening? The answers must lie with this young girl. But the states quickly start fighting over who has the right to try her. All while she insists she never murdered anyone. But she knows who did. And she has a story to tell that the world is far from ready for. A story she will only tell Michael Jensen, the person narrating this novel. The sheriffs son, an aspiring journalist, and a boy of 17 years. Michael works hard to make sense of Marie's stories and help bring answers for the families of the victims. But even he will struggle to make sense of the things he will hear. The story was excellent. A CONSTANT page turner. Blake's writing is one that is always hard to put down. I would liken this story's writing to that of her Anna Dressed In Blood series rather than the slightly more complicated writing of her Three Dark Thrones Series. She covers a lot of real world, serious topics in this novel: poverty, sexism, privilege, domestic violence, and potentially child grooming (it's a little fuzzy if that's actually true or just a theory thrown around by prosecutors). And I think of course the most glaring topic that is shown by this novels existence is just our morbid thirst for true crime. We as a culture tend to be pretty invested in true crime, serial killers, unsolved mysteries, etc. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but there are definitely those who see it as entertainment and lose all sight of what's really happening. In conclusion, I loved this book... up until the vey end. The ending was sad. And, I've seen many others say that they also felt the ending was unsatisfactory. But truth be told, I don't know what other ending we were expecting. I also kind of appreciate the ending... the questions I will always want answers to... The knowledge that truth is sometimes subjective and very hard to swallow. The conflicting feelings of caring for a monster. This book will always hold a special place in my thoughts. And I'm trying so hard to imagine being Kendare Blake and planning out this entire story. And wondering if she knows the answers to the questions she left us with. Did she have it all planned out and then slowly erased it from the novel to leave us wondering? Or is she too thinking about all the possibilities she put into this world? Read on my fellow book worms. My we one day have Belle's library. And as always, links to the author's pages can be found down below. There is Only Darkness
by: Kimberly J Ward Book review by: Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 978-1527247642 Welcome back my ghouls and ghosties! Oh man, do I have a lot to say about this one. I'd like to start by saying that I could not find a genre listed for this novel. This book, it appears, can only be purchased on Amazon and neither Amazon nor Goodreads had a genre listed. (It is also very possible that I am just overlooking it because: baby brain.) HOWEVER, on the author's Goodreads page she is listed as writing paranomal, young adult, and fantasy. From that, I drew the conclusion, that this review could fit under Young Adult Fiction. I want to give Kimberly a huge round of applause. It's been a while since I felt a book just flowed from start to finish. Everything had a place and a reason for existing, there were no chapters that felt like the shouldn't have been added. I'd go to bed with the idea of reading a little before calling it quits and then realize I'd read over 10 chapters. Now, getting into the book review itself this was such a cool storyline. Our novel revolves around the main character, Alfie and her life on the run. This is the quote that got me to search for this book, "Death is meant to be the end. For Alfie, it was only the beginning." Four years prior to this book taking place Alfie was murdered but she woke in her coffin and clawed her way to surface. Upon rising from the dead she discovered that she had gifts she never asked for. Her 'rebirth', if you will, led her to see a world invisible to humans. Magical creatures, demons, warlocks, necromancers and more are now something Alfie can see but does her best not to. Her intent was to hide in plain sight, find the place with the biggest population and just lay low. No photos of her online, no jobs or way for the government to track her, don't get the attention of other supernatural beings, etc. Should have been easy, especially in New York, right? Well, not so much. While Alfie has done her best to lay low she has managed to make a few close friends. Her bestie, Felix, is the important character here. He is just a normal human content to also squat in abandoned buildings and lay low, helping Alfie despite how messed up her life is. I can say with certainty that Felix is a ride or die kind of bestie. Despite her best efforts Alfie is eventually discovered by a team of supernatural.. peacekeepers..? I think that'd be the best way to describe them. They are a neutral group who help keep the order between the Light and Dark realms- The Murkwatch. When the man who killed Alife also finds her hideout, it becomes apparent that The Murkwatch may be Alfie's best bet for shelter and aid before she takes off to a new part of the world. But she quickly discovers that Caleb, Jay, Basil, and Sills are just as important to her as Felix is. Unfortunately, a supernatural war is brewing and Alfie is right in the center of it. Can she keep her loved ones safe? Can she protect herself from being used for evil or worse killed for her powers? What exactly is Alfie and how does she fit into the supernatural world? Alfie must also discover what side she is aligned to- the Light or Dark. Nothing in the supernatural world is as balanced as it seems. And you never know just who you can trust. When betrayals hit an all time high we are left on a cliffhanger of not knowing if New York is safe! In a brilliant turn of play, Kimberly left the book on a perfect cliff hanger. The story in this book? Wrapped up as nicely as it can be. But left with all the questions and missing information that can only be given through another story. THANKFULLY, you won't have to wait long for this information. Her next book, "As Darkness Gathers" comes out December 17th 2021. And you can preorder it on Amazon. I truly hope you guys enjoy this book as much as I did and can send Kimberly some love! Especially if you can post some nice reviews on Amazon as it really makes a difference for the author. Read on my fellow book worms. May we one day have Belle's library! And as always, links to the author's pages can be found down below. Bones of Faerie
Book by: Janni Lee Simner Book Review by: Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN:9780375845635 What originally led me to this book for a Halloween story was this excerpt, "Liza's sister is born with faerie pale hair, clear as glass, and Liza's father leaves the baby on a hillside to die." Immediately giving 'Replacement'/'Tithe' vibes of faeries stealing human babies and replacing them with their own. That is not at all how this book goes, btw. But none-the-less the story is in a post-apocalyptic world with faerie magic and dangers around every bend. So, it stays in the Halloween reviews. To start with, I will say this was a very simple novel. The goal was clear from the start and it followed through to the end. But it is also the first book in a Trilogy and I can't help but feel like the next novel will be a little more complicated now that readers are familiar with the world/characters. The book was a very easy read that just flowed from chapter to chapter. Before I knew it, I had finished the book (took about 3 days thanks to an active toddler). But sometimes those easy read novels are the best. They just itch the right spot, you know? Now that I've covered that, essentially the only complaint I've seen about this book in other's reviews, lets move on to the storyline. The book takes place 20 years after a war between faeries and humans. We don't know what years these are because they only refer to them as the "Before" times. BUT we do know that human had advanced technology because they mention airplanes and it's heavily hinted that perhaps an atomic bomb was used. No one says exactly how the war ended but it is made clear that magic tainted the world afterwards. The survivors became fearful of all magic. Liza's father being one of the biggest opposers to magic, setting strict laws to kill anyone who shows signs of magic. After her sister's death Liza's mother runs away. Liza begins to show signs of magic herself and fears for her own life running away from her town. This ends up leading her on an adventure through the post-apocalyptic world where animals, shadows, and even plants cannot be trusted not to kill you. With the help of her cat and her hometown friend, Liza is determined to rescue her mother and learn to control her newly discovered magic. What she does not realize is just how powerful her magic is or how dangerous this mission will become. The truths she will uncover and the lessons she will come to understand. In conclusion, I really enjoyed this story and I am very anxious to read the last two books in the trilogy! I want to know more about the war, what happened to the faerie world and where the faeries went afterwards. Now, I am very hormonal but I will say if babies dying/child loss is a trigger for you there are parts of this book that may be too difficult to read. I cried a lot over the storyline of her baby sister. But again, I am pregnant and extra hormonal, lol. Look forward to future reviews where I will surely cover at least the second book in the trilogy to see if it holds up to the hype of the first one. Read on my fellow book worms. May we one day have Belle's library. And as always, links to the authors pages can be found down below. The Replacement
Written by Brenna Yovanoff Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 9781595143815 The Replacement immediately gave off faerie vibes from the description alone. Though they never do call the "creatures" in this book by a name. It's clear that's what they are likened after and I love that. Brenna Yovanoff did a fantastic job with this one! I read one of her books last year, "The Woman in the Walls", and I remember being weirded out completely by the ending. This story was satisfying from beginning to end. While, this book is also listed as a horror I'm pretty sure that is more because of the themes of this story rather than the story actually being scary. (There is a lot of talk about blood, sacrifices, murder, etc.) Our story revolves around a teenage boy named "Mackie" Malcom Doyle. He lives in a small town called Gentry. I'm not 100% sure where this book is supposed to take place but I got upper Kentucky/lower Ohio vibes. A small town no one's ever going to bother with, one that's defined by its secrets. I remember passing through that area on our honeymoon, being on these steep roads high in the forest, looking at the sloping trees loaded down with fog. Then when the roads took us down to the town it was so small and gave off this feeling that we didn't belong there. I kept thinking, "this is a town with secrets". And that's how I picture Gentry. Lots of rain, families that never leave, and secrets that weigh them all down. In this town children go missing but they're always replaced by something not human. These children don't last long. Whether it's because their families kill them themselves or they die from sickness, they're always a temporary hold for the child the family knows deep down that they've lost. Even though the town doesn't want to talk about it. They know, after all these children are always buried on unblessed ground. Mackie is one of these children. But his family also had their secrets, and while they were devastated to lose the actual Malcolm, they did everything they could to raise him safely. The biggest issue with raising a Fae Folk is their extreme weaknesses to the world we live in. Iron and blood being the two biggest things. Malcom is able to mostly play these things off as being weak stomached but his family fears that town will turn on him if they realize that he's not human. All Malcolm wants to do is live a normal life. And if we're being honest, compared to A LOT of these stories, he's got a great start. His family knows and loves him, protects him even. His sister especially, she has given her whole life to looking after the boy she saw get switched. She knew from minute one, when she saw him placed in the crib, but she loved him anyways. His best friend Roswell, a remarkable boy who is loved by everyone but is happiest with Mackie. The twins Danny and Drew, the inventors and the ones who know the least about Malcom's secret. But it doesn't stop them from being there for him when he needs it most. And then there's their friend Tate. Her family was the most recent one chosen to lose a child. She is devastated and angry. She just wants someone to acknowledge that her sister was stolen and what died in her crib wasn't her. She fights for answers and pushes Malcolm to face his own truth as well as the town's sick underbelly. This story was very good. I actually enjoyed the wholesome elements of being loved by so many. It's very different from the overall dark vibes I've had from stories like Tithe. I still love it and Holly Black, but those are some deeply dark stories, lol. Overall the book has 4 out of 5 star reviews so it's well received... but oooh those negative reviews! People were mad it wasn't darker, people were mad it's a "high school drama". they found the writing "lack-luster" etc. I thought it was a very good story. I felt the perfect mix of despair and hope. And that's why I focused on the skeleton of the story. This involves a small town, high school age children, morbid topics, and family bonds. But there's also an underbelly with creatures, magic, and murder. There's a big bad boss. And ending I didn't expect. And an overall satisfied reader. Replacement may not be everyone's cup of tea. But I loved it! Hats off Brenna, you nailed this one. Read on my fellow book worms. May we one day have Belle's library! As always links to the author's pages can be found down below. -Anna Dressed In Blood
Written by Kendare Blake Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN:978-0-7653-2867-0 Hello ghouls and ghosties we're back at it with book review number three for the Halloween Book Review Series of 2020! This is an older book published in Oct of 2011. So many of you may have already heard of it. But a consensus that I found amongst friends was that many knew of it but hadn't actually read it. Now, I am a BIG fan of Kendare Blake. She wrote the Three Dark Crowns series that I was so damn obsessed with people were honestly tired of hearing about it, lol. So I admit that I picked this up with a little bit of biased. However there is a clear writing difference between that series and this one. I just want to say that this book is a lot less complicated. Her other series has a LOT of names, history, and just in general background information. It makes for a slow beginning and sometimes a harder reading time if that isn't your speed. With Anna Dressed in Blood we pretty much jump immediately into the story and the action of it all. So for anyone who had that concern, I hope that puts it to rest. I also want to say that while I am putting this under YA it was a personal choice based off where I have seen it in book stores. But the author herself states this series is horror. Just wanted to clarify that for anyone wondering! The story revolves around some super fun named characters. Our main character is Cas but his full name is Theseus Cassio Lowood. Like what a name! I'm now in love with it. Adding to the baby name list, lol. His mother, who is a white witch, and their cat Tybalt. Cas has a knife he calls his Athame (which is a real ceremonial blade if you look into it) and it is bound to his bloodline. See he, his father, and their ancestors before him had a special gift. They are able to kill ghosts using this blade. Personally, being a fan of Kendare Blake I would honestly love more information on this blade, and it's creation. I could easily see her making small novels like she did for the TDC series where we get the history of it. They don't just kill any ghosts though. Harmless ones or ones with just enough energy to show up as orbs in photos are considered fine. But ghosts that died in a violent way tend to be the ones who stick around. They are the ones that relive their deaths.... by doing it to others. They are the ones that have to be put to rest. Ever since Ca's father passed away, from a ghost attack, he has taken up the blade and began the hunt himself. Because of this they are constantly moving from town to town letting Cas handle a ghost and then moving on. Consequently a name is given to Cas of ghost with a SERIOUS reputation. He becomes enthralled with this case and they move the small town of Thunder Bay. He has come here for one thing and one thing only. Anna Dressed in Blood. To get his information though Cas must go to high school like a normal student and ask around for information on this legend. Who else will spill their guts about it more than teens telling urban legends? Because of this he quickly finds himself with two friends, something he never imagined happening. Something he normally NEVER lets happen. Carmel Jones and Thomas Sabin. Like I said, super fun named characters. Thomas is the only one who ACTIVELY believes in Anna. Carmel believes it's just an urban legend. They say that Anna was on her way to a school dance when someone came up behind her and slit her throat from ear to ear. That she bled so much her white party dress was stained red. Hence Anna Dressed In Blood. And since her death she has ripped apart anyone who has stepped inside her home. Now, Cas is very confident in his abilities and how quickly he can dispose of Anna. But after seeing her kill and then being spared by her, he not only becomes less confident that he can kill her... but also more obsessed. He's dying to know more about her. Who she was, why can kill the way she can, what is binding her to this place? Why she spared him? And why he wants to just spend time with her... He knows there's more to Anna than just being a violent monster. He can see that she regrets every kill. That she is sentient and aware of her death but also the actions that she is doing. But it's clear she doesn't care for it. What Cas doesn't know is that time is running out on solving this mystery. A monster more horrifying than Anna is closing in on him in ways he can NEVER imagine. If he proves that he's not strong enough everyone he loves will be killed. Can Cas and his friends defeat this evil? In the end I couldn't put this book down. I read in about 3 days, might have been less if I didn't have a tiny terror to run after, lol. It was seriously so hard to put down. The characters were so likable and the story was so well written that you found yourself immersed in it. There were just enough plot twists to keep you guessing. I had some hunches that something was coming but I did NOT see what actually happening coming.... if that makes sense. There are some gruesome kills and topics described in this story. I mean its a guy who puts down ghosts who died violent deaths... and now kill people violently... yeah there's going to be some violence. But I thought it was all well written and easily gotten through. There was one scene that for whatever reason terrified me lmao and I can't tell you guys because it'll give it away! But let's just say reading this in the dark is not the best idea, *wink* And if you've read it feel free to reach out to me on any of our social network pages and I'll HAPPILY tell you what stupid thing scared me. Read on my fellow book worms. May we one day have Belle's library. And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below. Midwinterblood
Written by Marcus Sedgwick Book Review by Miranda Fraser Moses ISBN: 978-1-250-04007-7 Welcome back ghouls and ghosties! It's the best time of year- HALLOWEEN BOOK REVIEW SEASON! It's good to be back! So, let's get into the book reviews you need for this spooky time of year. Midwinterblood is written by Marcus Sedgwick as a YA novel. It was brought to my attention by Goodreads who marketed this as a horror novel. After reading it, I have to say I don't see the "horror" aspect of it. Yes, there are very chilling moments but definitely not horror. Is that to say that it isn't a good book? No. And given the nature of the story I have to be careful with what I say so I don't spoil anything, but I do plan on addressing some of the comments I've seen about this story. First of all, I want to give the author some serious credit. This whole book was based off a painting called "Midvinterblot" by Carl Larsson. It is a painting of a sacrificial scene. In fact, it is described in this book and I was blown away to get to the end and find out it is a real painting. I had to look it up for myself and it is quite a painting. He also based the island this story takes place in, on an actual island in Sweden he stayed at one summer. I just thought these were really neat facts and I will be addressing something else from the author in a little bit. The novel itself actually breaks down into seven separate stories, although they have common things connecting them. They take place in different time periods, starting in 2073, 2011, 1944, 1902, 1848, 10th century, and finally a time unknown. The inside cover breaks it down nicely: "the story of an archaeologist who unearths a mysterious artifact; of an airman who finds himself far from home; of a painter, a ghost, a vampire, and Viking." And each of these stories also takes place on the Island of Blessed. Without spoiling too much we learn that blessed actually derived from a form of the word blood and therefore the island's name itself references blood sacrifices. Which was a chilling addition to the story. As I stated, the timeline above is going from future to past. The first story is about a man named Eric Seven who is sent to the Island of Blessed to research a flower that has mysterious powers and is said to heal/give severely prolonged life. Once there he notices things are very odd, including the fact that there are no children running around. And as his days draw out on the island, he can’t help but feel a familiarity with the island and a woman that lives there. Merle is very beautiful, but it is more than that. He believes he has met her before and wants desperately to get to know her. But the story is marketed as a “horror” story, so I’m sure you can already see that a happy ending is not exactly in the deck here. As I mentioned, the island obviously has known blood sacrifices. But the story in here about a painter (where the famous real-life painting is described) also discusses sacrifices. The painter tells people that while blood sacrifices may be a thing of the past, the world is full of sacrifices. He states that wars equates sacrifice, a mother dying in childbirth is a sacrifice, a parent working themselves to death to feed their child is a sacrifice, love and loss, suffering, and so on. And this is what the author has stated was his overall view. He wanted to express the various types of love and sacrifice there are in the world. And this has some readers upset because they can’t see how he can have a story that is essentially sandwiched in romance (the first and seventh story) have so many non-romantic related relationships throughout the rest of these timelines. I get it though. It’s a love that is so intense it is more than just romantic. I think looking at it from an overview of what love means is more important than looking at the individual situations themselves. And I KNOW this doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I’m trying really, really hard not to ruin the story. And while we’re talking about things that really seemed to bother other readers- there is a heavy number of wild hares mentioned throughout this book. I don’t honestly know why the author chose that particular animal. My first thought was that maybe there were hares in the painting, but that’s it. Then I searched the spiritual meaning behind hares and found that they “represent illumination, intuition, promise and balance. They are strongly feminine in their energy and often come into your life when you need to look within and figure things out.” Which does fit with the themes of the stories. But if you search for Sweedish island full of hares, you will get an excerpt about the island of Gotland, where it states, “the mountain hare which was present on the island more than 9000 years ago”. So perhaps he chose the hare, because it would be conceivable to have been around during a time period so far back people don’t even remember the year it took place. OR maybe the author just really loves hares and wanted one more common theme throughout the seven stories? Who knows? I just thought what I found was really neat and might give the next reader food for thought *shrugs* In conclusion, I really did enjoy this story. It’s not terribly long. It certainly makes you think. It was chilling and morbid like a Grimm tale. But it also left just enough of a mystery that you don’t want to put it down. Even the negative reviews I saw were people saying that had to finish it because they were so invested in getting answers. So, if nothing else I promise you will want to see it through, cover to cover. And I hope you guys can enjoy this morbid look into love. I’d love to hear from other readers on what they thought too. Read on my fellow book worms. May we one day have Belle's library. As always links to the author's pages can be found down below. The Three Spartans
by James McCann Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 978-17753515-4-2 Once again James McCann has graced us with a story the whole family can enjoy. I've been reading it out loud to my little one and plan on lending it to my 9 year old sister to read. It's wholesome, entertaining, and I'd even venture to say borderline educational. If you're a fan of Greek stories you will enjoy this retelling of the battle of Thermopylae. Our main characters are twelve year old Art and his best friend Lea. Art's family always vacations in the same town over the summer. It's where he and Lea spend their days adventuring, when they aren't grabbing all the screen time they can to play Spartan video games. But as most children know there's always a bully somewhere in the crowd. In this case we have Zeke and his hoard of swim team goons. While Zeke's mostly harmless, he is a pain in their butts. When Art finally has enough of him, he and Lea conspire to take care of Zeke and make this the most memorable summer they've ever had. They challenge Zeke to a three day paint ball match. Their objective is to keep Zeke and his army (The Immortals) from taking the tree house fort in the woods. The stakes are high and would banish Zeke from the two spots in Birch Bay he uses to hoard power over others. When he arrogantly agrees to the match Art and Lea use their video game network to call other kids to join them. They of course call themselves The Spartans. Bonus to this war is that if you know your Greek mythology you know how important Oracles are. In this case we have a spotify playlist by a cover band named 'The Oracle'. The lyrics that match the moment when needed most and the songs that rally the troops when times are tough. I found that to be an extremely clever way to go about things! In the end this is a story of friendship and standing together. The Spartan's true mission was to stand up for themselves and their freedom. This was an adorable story with characters that were hard not to love. Art's family are the type of loving supportive people I hope to be for my daughter. Lea's the kind of best friend all kid's should have. And Birch Bay is the quiet peaceful town you wish your family could be in. While it is a small book I enjoyed it cover to cover and am thrilled to share it with you. AND it's available on Amazon Prime so you can order it and have it under the tree for Christmas *wink*. Read on my fellow book worms, may we one day have Belle's library. And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below. Fiendish
by Brenna Yovanoff Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 9781595146380 I discovered this book on a list of "creepy" YA books perfect for your Halloween reading list. The cover and description drew me in and I immediately put it in my Amazon cart. While Brenna's other "creepy" books seem to be better rated, this one has a real love hate rating system going on in the goodreads discussion section. I can see why and would like to jump into it. To begin with, the story is about a girl who's been trapped underground for over ten years. When someone discovers her and brings her to the surface everyone is confused. Why was she underground all this time? Who locked her away? How had she survived? And worst of all why does it seem that no one remembers her existence? They know her family but not her. Strange things are happening and the superstitious town folk are claiming her as a fiend. All of this sounds great, right? Spooky chick buried underground held down by willow roots with no explanation. That for me was the sum total of the creepy factor. The story continues with Clementine, the girl from the cellar, being obsessed with the boy who pulled her out. This turns into a weird love story that I would have been more invested in had I not been expecting this to be a scary book. It's even listed as a horror on goodreads, so that's disappointing. However their friendship is really cute as they both uncover more about themselves and their past. As well as come together to hone their craft. See there is obviously more to the story than a bunch of superstitious rednecks. There is magic in these back woods and the children of these bloodlines have to deal with the brunt of the hate. Not to mention learn to keep their magic low. In conclusion I do think this was an overall good story. I expected so much more and I think that's where my disappointment stems from. If you go into it ignoring the creepy cover and the spooky description then you will probably enjoy the love story and the adventure. I was on the edge of my seat and I did race through the pages waiting to see how it ended. But does it deserve to be on a list for YA horror? Absolutely not. I am going to try some of Yovanoff's other books and see if they are more fitting for that genre, so probably keep and eye out for those reviews. Read on my fellow book worms may we one day have Belle's library. And as always, links to the author's pages can be found down below. The Dead and Buried
by Kim Harrington Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 978-0-545-55657-6 Now, this is a book I've been meaning to read for years. I actually found a book mark in it from the last time I attempted to read it. I don't know why I kept putting it down because honestly, it was a really good book. This is the first story I've read by Kim Harrington but her little excerpt in the back made me fall in love with her. I too was a freaky kid who turned out to be a writer, not a serial killer, lol. So I look forward to reading more books by this author. But with that being said, let's just get into the next book in our Halloween Book Review Series 2019. To begin with, our story surrounds Jade and her blended family. They move to a new town with a bigger house and better school district. Jade knows this is only for her baby brother's benefit but she doesn't really care. She loves Colby and would do anything for him. When he tells her there's a girl in his room she let's him talk through it. But when things start moving and cold spots start appearing she knows there must be more to it than his imagination. Never did she think that her parents had purchased the house where a girl had died only six months before. Not just any girl, but the most popular girl in her high school. The wicked witch who had it all: looks, brains, athleticism, and money. While Jade attempts to adjust to her new life things start get out of hand. Kayla, the ghost, is furious. She didn't fall to her death- she was pushed. And she demands Jade find her killer OR ELSE. Kayla is able to do a lot of things from her ghostly realm, including possess people. She uses Colby as her target of choice acting like the monster people knew she truly was. In desperation to save her brother she must now investigate everyone in school who could possibly have a motive to want Kayla dead. There's a lot. In the meantime, there's romance, mystery, and a little bit of horror. It was a well blended book, perfect for kids to young adults. I willll say that I called it about halfway through. The author does a great job of throwing out a lot of circumstances and theories but you can blame my Murder She Wrote obsession for the reason I guessed it so early on, lol. Still was a great story and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting to find out if I was right or not. When the real ghostly activity came out I was tickled pink. I'm so used to these scholastic 'horror' stories being more... laid back in that department. This was a nice change of pace and fun story for anyone looking for a little spooky time this Halloween season. Read on my fellow book worms may we one day have Belle's library. As always links to the author's pages can be found down below. The Women in the Walls
by Amy Lukavics Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 978-0-373-21246-0 I really think Kendare Blake summed this book up perfectly, "unsettling from the first page". I have yet to come across a book in the Halloween series that has truly bothered me. I mean reading this was so unnerving that I refused to read it until my husband was home too! That alone makes this my favorite book so far in the 2019 Halloween Book Review series. Amy Lukavics has a few books out now, two of which have won awards. I will DEFINITELY be looking for her novels in next years series! To begin with, this novel is about a seventeen year old girl named Lucy Acosta. A very prominent last name. A lot is expected of her family- the women in particular. Something Lucy and her cousin Margaret mock heavily. They could care less about the country club pompousness. But when her aunt Penelope goes missing everything else starts to fall apart around the girls. Margaret in particular takes her mother's disappearance hard and she starts to unravel mentally. She insists on spending time in the attic claiming to hear her mother whispering to her through the walls. But when Lucy begins hearing voices herself she has to uncover the truth about the secrets of her home and the women in her family. Now, that's just the basic gist of what this story is about. But from the very first page we're walking into death and creepy scenarios. This book is loaded with gore and terrors. It was very easy to get sucked into this story and end up on the edge of my seat- easily scared by noise in the real world around me. I had goosebumps and at times a lump in my throat. Amy does not hold back on the death, gore, or creep factor. Everything happens FAST so be prepared to go from 0 to 100 REAL fast. And when you think you got it all figured out- TRUST ME, YOU DON'T. The ending was unlike anything I've ever come across in my life. I was truly sitting there going, "WHAT!?" over and over again. In conclusion, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart or the younger readers who have issues with gore, death, suicide, and self harm. I recommend this book more for the older readers looking for something harder than Hahn or Pablocki, but different from Stephen King. I am really glad I found this author. And honestly, while my head is still spinning at how the hell the book turned out the way it did.... I can't stop thinking about it. Now I wonder what surprises her other novels hold. Read on my fellow book worms. May we one day have Belle's library. As always links to the author's pages can be found down below. An Enchantment of Ravens
by Margaret Rogerson Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 978-1-4814-9758-9 This is the first book in the Halloween Book Review Series of 2019! Woot! We made it to another Halloween series! The GORGEOUS cover of this book is what first drew me in but the story is what made me bring it home. Now, I have to say this isn't exactly the type of story I'd generally say is good for Halloween. But for someone who prefers magic over scares this might be just the thing. This is also the author's first book and I would like to applaud her on this beautiful story. Plus *high five* for being a fellow Ohioan. To begin with, this story takes place in a world where faeries and humans coexist- to an extent. The faeries live in their own courts/realm but they travel to the mortal cities and interact with them. The Fair Ones are incapable of craft of any kind- not even cooking. So humans who are masters of their craft are incredibly valuable to them. The cover insert sums it up perfectly, "These immortal creatures cannot bake bread or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and they trade valuable enchantments for Isobel's paintings." As the quote just gave away, this story revolves around a human girl named Isobel, who is a master painter. For years Fair Ones have traveled to her for portraits of themselves. But unlike other humans she is extremely careful with her wordings. Deals for enchantments can easily turn sour if not worded perfectly. In the courts there are princes who run their seasons- spring, winter, autumn, and summer. Though summer is actually ruled by the Alder King who is the ruler of all Fair Ones. The Prince of the Autumn court, Rook, decides to call upon Isobel for a portrait. He is hard for her to paint as there is something off about his appearance. When she finally realizes what it is, she doesn't realize the damage she's done. She paints human emotion onto his face, and while accurate, it's considered a weakness amongst his people and he drags her into the immortal realm to stand trail for her sabotage. Rook is also a lover of ravens, turning into one himself most often, and thus his portrait payment to her are Ravens as a sign of danger. One if she (or her family) are in danger, 6 if danger is sure to arrive, and 12 for potential death. This abduction to stand trail leads them on a crazy adventure. There are many Fae beasts of dangerous proportions. Just like the Fair Ones themselves they wear a glamour so to appear as a regular creature making it easier to attack a mortal. For instance the Thane often glamours as a buck, though the stench of death is hard to miss. When their glamours slips you can see the bones, rot, maggots, sharp teeth, etc that really create these monsters. Between these creatures, the true nature of the Fair Ones, the spells, and constantly needing to avoid death this book could easily fit ones requirement for this time of year. But it also is a bit of a romance, something I hadn't realized until I was reading the story. I still decided to stick with it for this series for my readers who like lighter topics. In conclusion, I really enjoyed this story. I have such vivid images in my head of what it all looks like and if this were ever to be considered for a movie I want the people who animate the Witcher 3 games to do these creatures! I can see the gorgeous graphics now, and I need it! This book is a stand alone but I'd love to see more in this universe. Read on my fellow book worms, may we one day have Belle's library. And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 978-1-61963-518-0 Being that I love Beauty and the Beast, this may have eventually ended up on my bookshelf on my own accord. But my mother-in-law was very pushy and determined that I read this. So much so, that she got it for me as a Christmas gift. And I know she's reading this, so, "Hi Mom" *waves* But I'm glad she did. I really enjoyed it. Sarah J Mass has written a fascinating story and I'm very curious to see what the rest of the series will be like. Also while this book is written as a young adult fiction I would recommend this for older teens rather than younger teens. There are some sexually explicit scenes that some parents may find unsuitable for younger teens. But for now let's jump into the who, what and where. I want to start with saying that while this is Beauty and the Beast inspired there are only a handful of connections I could make to the 'usual' story. Otherwise it is very much it's own story with a serious plot! The story revolves around our Belle, in this case her name is Feyre, whom, similar to most retellings of Beauty and the Beast, is the youngest daughter to a merchant who has lost his riches. In this version however she is not her father's favorite and she actually is the daughter who does the majority of the work to keep her family alive, and that includes the hunting. In fact, her hunting is the ultimate catalyst for the story-line to play out. "When nineteen year old Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution." In this story there is no rose plucked from a garden but instead a life is taken. This beast like creature is a High Fae named Tamilin, with the ability to shift in and out of his beastly form. Though, don't worry, he and his home do have a curse upon them that only Feyre can break. Going back to the High Fae part of this story, this is a world where Human and Faeries exist though they hate each other thoroughly. In their history the humans were slaves to the faeries until a long war won them their freedom. Now they have barriers separating their worlds and a hatred so strong that it seems nothing can break it. So just imagine being taken away into faerie territory for this crime, trusting no one, and not knowing what torture awaited you. Tamlin is the High Fae of the Spring Court and he and his home are all under a curse by a terrible ruthless faerie. (Basically she's our enchantress but insanely evil and vindictive.) as Feyre's time within the Spring Court plays out she grows to love the people around her instead of fearing and hating them. She as a character starts to grow as does her relationship with the handsome Tamlin. But can Feyre figure out how to save them or will she doom them all forever? In conclusion, the ending was one I hadn't exactly expected. I did enjoy the unique twist and the nail biting suspense in the last few chapters of the story. It was almost as if we'd entered a whole other world to see it all played out. And there are at least three more books after this with more problems Feyre will surely have to tackle. I really am looking forward to seeing this play out as most Beauty and the Beast inspired stories are a one and done story line. So, you've certainly gotten my attention Sarah J Mass. As for my earlier caution about adult content, I stand by that. By 14 my parents wouldn't have been too worried about that kind of writing, but I have heard other parents state that they'd never let their 12 year old or even 14 year old read that. I think this is one of those situations where you as a parent have to decide what you're okay with. If you are a parent looking into this book I suggest a quick google search. I found things by searching "18+ Scenes in A Court of Thorns and Roses". I want you to know I don't say this to hurt the books sales, I really loved the book. But nothing hurts book sales like angry parents who wish they'd been aware of what their child was reading. Read on my fellow book worms, may we one day have Belle's library. And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below. Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel By: A.w. Jantha Book Review by Miranda Moses (Fraser) ISBN: 978-136802003-9 Surprise!!! I managed to add an additional Book Review to this series before it was over. And with this being such a cult classic, I knew it would excite many people to see it. Now, I saw this book and dropped everything in my basket. They no longer mattered. HOCUS POCUS SEQUEL?! That movie is literally a necessity to every Halloween To-Do-List. And people have been asking for a sequel for years! My initial thought was, "Oh man, if this is well received there may actually BE a sequel!" So how did this book hold up to that dream? Well, let's jump into this. To begin with, The sequel doesn't actually start until page 198. The first approximate 200 pages is the movie Hocus Pocus written into a book. Honestly, that was kind of exciting. I don't think I've ever seen a Hocus Pocus book before, so I happily read the story. I could picture the characters, the various settings, and even the FACES the actors made in the movie. I mean, it was written so well and so true to the movie that I just sort of flowed through the pages. There are a few things here and there that seemed added to the story, and obviously inner dialogue we didn't get in the movie. But nothing that in any way took from the cult classic or upset me. I just want to give the author MAJOR credit for that. Now, the things that were added were information about the Sanderson sister's mother and an additional Sanderson member we've never heard of. And that is because the sequel involves those additional characters. Now, fast forward 25 years and the beloved characters Max and Allison are happily married with a teenage daughter of their own. Poppy Dennison is an awkward teenager with two best friends, a love of photography, and a deep distaste for anything 'Sanderson' related. She of course doesn't not believe her parents and Aunt Dani's crazy story about how they defeated the Sanderson sisters. With good reason Mr and Mrs Dennison have become extremely weary of anything magic and occult, and do their best to keep, not just Poppy, but other kids away from such things. They've locked away the black candle, shut down the Sanderson house, and warned Poppy all her life. But fate has a way of putting you in your place. And one bad decision leads to another and history repeats itself. In one poor move Poppy Dennison unleashes the Sanderson sister's into the world, much like her father all those years ago. Only this time the spells are different, their goal is different, and after 25 years the sister's have a new plan to stay on the living plane. I'm going to do my best to limit the information so as not to spoil too much. Interestingly enough, I don't know how I feel about the sequel. Let me explain some pros: we get to see old characters that we already know and love. We get more Sanderson sisters. We get new characters, including a Sanderson descendant. Information we needed answered- like what happened with Jay and Ernie?! And overall a pretty good story line that was fairly easy to follow and enjoy. What I didn't like was the ridiculous amount of times that something "modern" was mentioned just to prove the timeline. There was a lot of mention of social media, a sentence clearly structured just to mention Obama, and an overall push to be like, "It's 2018". I know that's the timeline but let's just say there's something about the heavy use of cellphones that kind of took away from what made the first Hocus Pocus enjoyable. (And before anyone comes for me, no I am not complaining about the LGBT aspect of the story.) I really got the feeling that the author basically took the formula from the first story and tried to shoe-horn in as many things as they could. For instance SURPRISE Winnie turns someone else into a talking animal, they're obsessed with her spell book, they use more 'modern' day cleaning items to fly on (because we've got new stuff since the 90s.), there was a random song that REALLY should have been left out. Unlike "I Put A Spell On You" that worked out great despite it not being a musical. Where this new song in the sequel really should have been cut and I'm shocked it wasn't. In the end I couldn't decide if I loved or hated the sequel. There were a lot of complaints I found myself making mentally. There were parts that I felt really shouldn't have been added at all. And things that were so annoyingly hyped up the whole story just to be rushed in three pages. Also Disney marketing was clearly put into this book- specific DISNEY costumes were mentioned that just HAPPEN to be current reboots they're making. A child might miss that but as an adult I saw what they were doing. But then for as much as I'm complaining I was also enjoying it. And I wanted to see what was going to happen next. I'd say this book is at least a 6 out 10. I didn't fully love it or hate it. BUT what's MOST infuriating is that when you think all is said and done. The disney ending has come and gone... they drop a bombshell of a cliff hanger and now I'm wondering if there's more coming? And I KNOW I will buy it and read it if there is. I have to keep returning to Salem and the world of the Sanderson family. I just pray the next one will be a 10 out of 10. Read on my fellow bookworms may we one day have Belle's library. And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below. The House of Dead Maids by: Clare B. Dunkle ISBN: 9780805091168 Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) The ridiculously creepy book cover alone made this a perfect addition to my Halloween Book Review Series. It was the back of the book, however, that mentioned Wuthering Heights that made this a MUST read. Now, I will say I was let down by this story, I expected something more. BUT if you're a fan of ghosts and mysteries then you may enjoy this simple haunting story. The story is told by the young maid Tabby Aykoryd, she's just been brought to Seldom House to look after a young child. The house is bleak and dreary, clearly in need of up-keeping, and seems to be quite empty. Tabby is confused by their need for another maid, but pleased to put herself to good use, she excitedly awaits her charge. When her young charge does arrive, she's shocked and disappointed. The boy insists to have no name, only, "heathen git". Something so shocking to a deeply christian maid as Tabby. Though she comes to find out that not a person in the town or on the property are religious, and honestly despise religious thoughts. Soon after her arrival at Seldom House, Tabby begins seeing and feeling a ghostly presence. A girl dressed in a maid's uniform, with black eye sockets, and decaying body. Her charge also sees this ghost and others but he does not see them as their deathly decayed selves, but rather with gorgeous hair and features. There is little Tabby and 'Himself' see eye to eye on, as she prefers to call him, but they do agree that they want the ghosts to go away. As time goes on and unrest stirs more and more in the house, Tabby seeks out the answers to these ghosts and other questions brought up by the behavior of those around her and Himself. But what she will uncover will forever change the lives of her and Himself forever. Though their paths in life have already somewhat been formed. Tabby will always be the God fearing hard working woman that she is, and Himself will also see the darkness in life and embrace it. While I dare not give away the ending or the answer about the ghosts, I will address the Wuthering Heights issue. This book is marketed as a prelude to Wuthering Heights, a large feat if you ask me, but it is not until the VERY last page that they really tie the two books together. That alone was disappointing. I would also like to make mention that this book felt rushed about halfway through. Though to it's credit, it did keep me guessing until the end. It is not my favorite in the Halloween Series this year, but will make for a good read on a dark and lonely night. Read on my fellow book worms, may we one day have Belle's library. And as always links to the authors page can be found below. Other by Karen Kincy Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 978-0-7387-1919-1 I have to say this was actually my favorite book I read so far in the Halloween Book Review series. I had planned on reading it in a three day span and ended up finishing it in 24 hours. Karen Kincy did a fabulous job bringing a modern fantasy world to life. I appreciated her writing style and attempt to keep things truly modern, for instance there are IM conversations, sort of like in Beastly. There was definitely a more teenage vibe to the way they talked and the jokes they made. It fit the characters and their world and didn't bother me. Though I have seen people complain about that and the 'author's attempt to be funny and fail'. Which I thought was ridiculous and I will explain further in. Just know this book was definitely aimed at the young adult category. The story takes place in a world where people are aware of paranormal creatures, and mostly, accept them as a part of society. Of course, there are people who don't approve of it and with that plenty of reasons people "with paranormal identities" hide what they are. But that alone intrigued me! Could you imagine living in a small town in your country and KNOWING that your neighbors are fairies, vampires, etc? In our main character's case, Gwen is half human, half Pooka. POOKA! So exciting being that they're a less thought about in mythology. This means that Gwen is a shapeshifter and can transform into any animal she chooses. Though her ID even says "50% Pooka" her family still encourages her to hide her powers. Despite the progressive America she lives in there are still those who call creatures like her "gicks" a slur term for magical being. And the bigotry can be extreme... There are creatures like Gwen who are born with their abilities. And then there are Bloodborn Others (werewolves and vampires) who get their paranormality by 'disease' spread through bites or STDs. Gwen is a, slightly awkward, home schooled, red haired beauty with a passion for Others. This is why I found it annoying to see reviews that the 'author tried to be funny' they were all off handed 'jokes' made by this awkward teenager in a crazy time in her life. I did find them funny because I know I would have tried my best to make 'jokes' to get me through it too. Though life is always full of upheavals, and being a teenager makes it all worse, Gwen has a boyfriend she loves and a best friend (who is full Dryad) that make her happy. But quickly things go awry, her and her boyfriend break up over her paranormality, people are turning up dead in her town, there is a new guy that keeps trying to get Gwen's attention and a pack of werewolves have also shown up in her town. The town is FAR from okay with it, in fact there are hunters out there trying to kill them and collect their pelts. It's a hard time all around and it is more important than ever that Gwen protect her identity. As more paranormal beings turn up mysteriously dead, including someone close to Gwen, she makes it her mission to bring the killer to justice. This will lead her on an insane mission full of ups and downs, close calls, and heartbreaking discoveries. The new guy quickly becomes her best alli in the fight of their lives. And the 'who done it' moment, actually surprised me! I thought I had my answer from the very beginning, so pay close attention as you read. This was a great book and perfect for a Halloween Book Review series! There's magic, paranormal beings, mystery, and a serial killer. Who could ask for more? And best part is it's only book one so I will be on the hunt for more! Read on my fellow book worms, may we one day have Belle's library. And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below. The Nightmarys
by Dan Poblocki Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 978-0-545-38643-2 It just wouldn't be a Halloween Book Review series without Dan Poblocki, now would it? And after the AMAZING novel The Stone Child, I just keep coming back for more of his stories. This book actually takes place in the same world of that book, so it was exciting to hear the mention of it in this story. Once again Poblocki has graced us with a story filled with unique horrors and twists and turns that will keep you flipping pages until the very end. To begin with, our story surrounds two 13 year olds and their little town of Starkhaven. Timothy July, your average child who plays video games, is on a sports team, has a best friend, and a family that is currently driving him crazy. Abigail Tremens, new girl to the school, dealing with home issues, and carrying some major secrets. When their teacher pairs the two of them up for a school project they quickly discover they are both dealing with nightmares... day-mares... unlike anything you could imagine. Abigail has been seeing The Nightmarys, which in reference to The Stone Child and were supposedly from one of Nathaniel Hawthorns books. Timothy has been seeing terrible images of his brother, who was injured in the military. They both believe they are going insane until they begin discussing their lives with the other. Consequently, other people in their lives have started to also have terrible visions assaulting them. Visions they believe to be real. Timothy's best friend has a terrible accident over it, Abigail's grandma has quite the scare, and even their teacher is suffering from some terrible vision. As the two start uncovering that they are all suffering from their worst fears, they begin to see that someone else is at play here. But who and why? Turns out this is not the first time something this terrible has happened in Starkhaven. Mystery and chaos are rooted in this towns history, and it's up to them to figure it out or give up and let it consume them and their loved ones. In conclusion, I can't tell you much more. There are so many characters, clues, and plot twists that it's just so hard not to give away anything important. I promise if you enjoy mysteries and hauntings then The Nightmarys is a perfect mixture. Dan Poblocki is able to write such vivid details, create such unforgettable characters, and place you right in the center of the disaster. I hear he has another book coming out soon, so look forward to it in 2019, it will likely end up in next years Halloween Book Review Series. As always links to the author's pages can be found below. Read on my fellow book worms, may we one day have Belle's library. The Devouring by Simon Holt Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 9780316035736 So far this has been my FAVORITE novel in the Halloween Book Review Series for 2018. It is such a good story! I purchased this book three years ago at a Half Price Books and KNEW it was going to be amazing but never found time to read it until now. This is the first book in a trilogy and believe me they want you to go from one book right into the other! Buuuuuut that wasn't an option for me just yet so I can't confirm if the rest of the series is as amazing as the first one. This is also Holt's first novel and I really hope he continues writing in this genre. The story revolves around a young girl named Regina and her family. Regina and her best friend, Aaron, are horror nerds from movies to books. Aaron prefers real horror and Regina, the fictional kind. She works at a book store called, "Something Wicked", which carries various genres but heavily focuses on Gothic literature, gruesome topics, and horror stories. The owner Eben is a wise, intelligent, friendly old man whom Reggie enjoys conversing with. Reggie's family is already dealing with a lot since their mother left them out of the blue. Her father is depressed and dealing poorly with this and Regina has had to play mom for her little brother. It's already hell being a teenager, imagine having to deal with this on top of it. One day a mysterious journal came into the store and Reggie brought it home to read it. She was fascinated by this unpublished horror she couldn't find anywhere. Her and her best friend decide to attempt the ritual at the beginning of the story, expecting it to be nothing more than a Bloody Mary type hoax. Something silly to do on 'Sorry Night'. In the days to come they discover that they unleashed a creature into their home that night. The Vour is a smokey non-physical being who enters a person's body and takes over their lives. These creatures feed on fear and pain- making an 8 year old little boy the perfect Target. Reggie's life has already been turned upside down but now she must find out what these creatures truly are, how to stop them, and if she can save her brother and her family before it's too late. With the help of Eben and Aaron she sets out to discover who wrote this journal and what options she has left to save Henry. Finally, this story is relatively fast paced. You'll find yourself turning pages trying to find out what happens next. I felt like I had only started the story when suddenly we were in the climactic final chapters racing against time itself. And I was really pleased to see the plot twists added by the author. Looking back at some of the beginning sections I suppose tiny nuggets of clues were laid out subtly, but it's truly one of those hind-sights-twenty-twenty type situations. I highly recommend this series to anyone who's looking for a fairly original horror story that you won't be able to put down. And as always link to the authors page can be found below. Unbroken by Paula Morris Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 978-0-545-41642-9 Unbroken is the sequel to the novel Ruined, one of the novels I covered in last years Halloween Book Review Series. This one is also a ghost novel mixed with a mystery. I was actually really excited to have a sequel because of how well the first book was written. These novels revolve around a girl named Rebecca and her encounters with ghosts. They take place in New Orleans and the author has made a point to have as much historical accuracy as she can, which I really appreciate. To being with, if you didn't read the first novel I highly recommend it. Just to recap the previous novel Rebecca is sent to live with her eccentric aunt in New Orleans for a year while her father is handling business in China. Whilst there Rebecca meets a homeless girl who she discovers is actually a ghost. This is already a shocking twist to her life but on top of it Rebecca is surrounded by Old Families. Aka "Old Money" who run the show and insist on putting Rebecca down. As the story goes on mysteries as unraveled and Rebecca does her best to aid Lessite (the ghost) in crossing over. The ending was VERY shocking, Morris did an excellent job writing this mystery out. But what Rebecca discovered in the previous novel is that ghosts pick and choose who to make themselves visible to. So in this novel, when another ghost appears, she knows what she has to do. For spring break Rebecca, her father, and her best friend go to New Orleans for a visit. This allows Rebecca to see her aunt and cousin, and her handsome sort-of-boyfriend Anton. The gangs all here! Oh and three ghosts Frank (pleading for Rebecca's help), Delphine (friend of Frank, mostly keeps to herself), and Gideon Mason (ghost Trouble with a capital T). In 1873 Frank was entrusted to bring a locket to a wealthy family in New Orleans, but on his way there he is mugged and murdered for all he has on him. Just before dying Frank hides the locket and has since spent the rest of his ghost life walking the Earthly plane wondering how to return it to its rightful family. Seeing Lessite with Rebecca he knew she could help him and he turned to her for aid. But Rebecca's visit is already clouded with the horrifying events of the previous novel. Events involving the living more than the dead, and a deranged maniac out for vengeance. I was very happy with the ending. I love the way Morris writes these stories and intertwines everything JUST right. I seriously was having anxiety problems reading this because there were so many people and mysteries and plot twists! It was amazing to see how it all played out. If you love mysteries then you won't be disappointed. The saddest part to me is that there don't appear to be anymore stories with Rebecca and her crew. But I sure would love to see more of them! Morris does however have another story like this that takes place in England so I am excited to read that one! Read on my fellow bookworms may we one day have belle's library. as always links to the authors pages can be found down below. The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily
by Laura Creedle Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 9780544932050 I hate to be that person... but I judge books by their cover. I KNOW! I'm ashamed of it too. But my instinct with book covers has almost always led me to books that I adore and read over and over again. But then there are books, like this one, whose covers are so unappealing that I would never have picked it up on my own. I owe Once Upon A Book Club for this. And once again not sponsored just enjoying my membership. This book was beautiful and heartbreaking. Laura Creedle brought an amazing story to life and I'm glad I didn't miss it. To begin with, I actually didn't know anything about the book. Silly me, in my sleep aid induced mind, read the wrong part of the book cover. It has one of those paper covers, you know the ones where all the info is in the inside of the cover? Yeah, I took that off, read the back, and scoffed at the idea of the book. In case anyone else did that- it's not about a time traveler going to high school. It's actually an engaging story focused around a teenager named Lilly. Her parents are divorced, she shares her room with her little sister, has one best friend, and high school is hell. But high school is it's own particular hell for Lilly because she suffers from ADHD and Dyslexia. I say suffer, and I'm sure someone took offense to that. BUT when it leaves you feeling like you cannot do anything right AND like you're riding on a carousel of medications- suffer is very accurate. My little brother was diagnosed with pretty much everything under the spectrum, so I'm no stranger to any of the medical conditions discussed in this book. And I think that might be part of why it hit home so hard. THAT and that you don't normally see authors tackle the concepts of living with ADHD, Dyslexia, Aspergers. I mean when Lilly's having trouble understanding what someone is saying to her the words will be scrambled up, visually depicting her confusion to the reader. I truly felt that Creedle did a good job getting the information across to her readers. Now, I'm sure you're like, alright but the title has another name in it? What about him? Abelard (I adore his name) is a quiet, 'strange kid', Lilly's known since Kindergarten. In fact Lilly tells the story of how she was having a hyper moment and accidentally cut his face with her lunchbox, which she was swinging around. He never told on her but he has a scar on his face from it. After a series of strange events Lilly and Abelard end up texting every night at 7pm. Time is very important. Abelard has Aspergers, which is a form of Autism but very high functioning. Most of the children who have this are highly intelligent but suffer where their social skills are concerned and therefore have a hard time making friends. They may also have a very hard time with sensory problems. In Abelard's case he suffers from sensory overload issues. For instance he gets out of class a few minutes early every class so that he can avoid crowds. Too much noise, lights, people, etc. can be overwhelming for him. Same thing with physical touch, he is very selective about being touched. I'm actually familiar with these issues so I thought it was very well written. For someone with this kind of a sensory issue a physical relationship can be darn near impossible. Lily and Abelard begin texting each other and falling for the other. BUT they started texting each other quotes from Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise, the book Abelard is named after, and a real story. While the book wasn't published that long ago (I could be wrong, researching it was really difficult) the people and the letters were written in the 1100's! First of all, I have a secret love for things like that. I had a boyfriend in High School that would have whole email/text conversations with me in Shakespearean tongue and quotes. BUT I also love the dedication it takes for an author to use actual quotes from another book and have it so perfectly fit a modern day love story. In the end I just want to stress how human this story is. It's not a magic fiction world full of magical creatures and spells that can fix it all. It's a raw story about growing up. There's family problems, there is issues with schooling and your peers. Mental issues and the ever impending question of what is happiness. I actually highlighted a whole section about the word happy. Lily describes it as a bully of a word, and as someone who deals with anxiety and depression, that hit home pretty hard. It's about hope and trying to make everyone happy around them. And most importantly there's the ever important battle of making yourself happy. You have to find yourself. Read on my fellow book worms, may we one day have Belle's library. And as always links to the author's pages can be found down below. The Two Princesses of Bamarre
by Gail Carson Levine Book review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 0-06-440966-x While I can't remember a time in my life where I had stopped reading, there are certain books that I remember re-sparking my love of reading. You know those books that are just so perfectly written that they speak to some inner part of you and you can never forget them. The Two Princess of Bamarre is one of those stories. Many people know Gail Carson Levine for 'Ella Enchanted' and 'Fairest'. This book does not take place in that kingdom, but if you enjoy her writing then you should love this one. This story takes place in a mid evil kingdom full of magic and mythological creatures. An unfortunate plague hits the kingdom, the Gray Death. It has taken many of the kingdoms citizens, even the King's wife. The Gray Death continues to torture this kingdom for many years. When it revisits the castle a sick twist of fate occurs. You see the king is blessed with two beautiful daughters. Opposite in every way. Meryl is brave and adventurous, dreams of fighting dragons, and heroic deeds. She is described as being fair and small, compact in energy and bravery. Adelina on the other hand is scared of everything: spiders, shadows, etc. She is described as being tall for her age, loose-limbed, and dark complexioned. They were opposites but they loved the other and understood the other. Meryl always protecting Addie from every danger, real of not. I mean their relationship is so beautiful it's the kind of love all parents hope their kids will have for the other. But alas this happiness does not go on, for the brave princess who believed she would find the cure, fell ill to the Gray Death. In this moment when all hope seems lost Addie must find her courage to seek out the cure herself. This book is FILLED with excitement and adventure. There are legends and ballads, there are 'prophecies', a charming sorcerer, fairies, specters, dragons, ogres, and so on and so forth. There are so many creative spells and magical items in this. A pillow made of clouds, a tablecloth that produces food when properly requested, magical boots, and so much more. The story is just SO charming and FULL of twists and turns, and even a little romance. But the tale of finding courage and power in ones self should speak volumes to anyone. Especially to a child or young adult who may need their courage more than ever. Perhaps this book can speak to that inner part of them as well. AND even though when you all see this review I will already have it in my hands, 14 years after this book was published, Levine has made a prequel. I literally cried when I saw that. I love this story so much and I'm so ridiculously happy to have another story in this kingdom. Links to the author's pages are below. Uglies
by Scott Westerfeld Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 0-439-80611-9 I honestly cannot believe I never wrote a book review for this! I think because I did one on the graphic novel 'Shay's Story' that somehow I felt I had written about the original story. This is another one of those books/book series that I have read over and over. I loved this entire series, even though, admittedly the next two books in the series kind of break your heart. And then the fourth one, which is arguably a companion book more than a direct continuation of the story, was also really well done. My husband and I both read this book in middle school and I've reread it and recommended it countless times. It's one of those YA books that a lot people have either read, or would enjoy, so it's always a safe bet to suggest it in conversation. In The Uglies series it's a post apocalyptic world, some hundreds of years after a disaster reshaped the world and it's governments. In this new world everyone is born "ugly" and then on their 16th birthday they are given "pretty" surgery. All of their flaws are corrected and they will all look like super models. No one can fight or bully each other when they're all the same and perfect. Then you get moved into Pretty-ville (I don't think that's the exact name I just don't remember it, lol) where you have all the high-tech gadgets and parties you want. Can you smell the problem with this yet? Well our heroine, though honestly, I am not sure I want to call her that, Tally Youngblood is THRILLED to get this surgery. I mean, if you've been told your whole life that you were ugly wouldn't you jump at the chance to be 'fixed'? During her wait Tally becomes friends with a girl named Shay. And Shay doesn't want to be rebuilt, she thinks there is another option out there. And she's right. Far off the grid is a place called The Smoke where people never get the surgery and they live normal human lives. Shay runs away to this place and Tally stays behind. That's when The Specials (government/police), inform Tally that if she doesn't help them find Shay, she will never get her pretty surgery. Needless to say Tally goes on this mission with the sole intent of turning her in. After all the government wouldn't steer you wrong would they? It is discovered that they are rebuilding more than just your body and you are essentially controlled by your government in every way. Tally, finds The Smoke, finds Shay and a whole other world she knows nothing about. Suddenly it's a lot harder to decide if she wants to be a Pretty or not. There is a love interest and a bit of a love triangle, I know, how positively typical for a YA novel. But the story is really good and it's not too annoying of a love triangle for long, at least not that I remember. And it goes without saying that this is book one of a trilogy. After this is Pretties and then Specials. And like I said there is a fourth book called Extras. I feel like if you read the original trilogy the fourth book should also be read so you see more of the world and what's been happening in it. A lot of things happen throughout the stories and it's crazy, upsetting, and heartbreaking- but also riveting. ALSO BEFORE ANYONE COMES FOR ME- Trigger Warning in the second book. There is 'self-mutilation' in this novel. AND at the risk of posting spoilers I want you to know that I might be more upset about this if it wasn't under the context of the fact that pretties don't own their own minds and are under constant supervision so that nothing happens to them. But then they discover that pain helps them break free of the mind control. It completely plays into the story, it isn't a suicidal thing or anything in that context. BUT it has made a lot of mothers upset and so I want to be very clear on that being a part of this series. If you're not completely turned off to reading this I highly suggest it. Scott Westerfeld originally started out as a Scifi author and moved over to YA because it was a very lucrative writing genre at the time. I think that is really obvious with his style of writing that he clearly has some sort of a scifi background or interest. I hope you guys enjoy this book and as always links to the authors pages can be found down below. Read on my fellow book worms may we one day have Belle's library. GUYS SCOTT WESTERFELD I COMING BACK IN SEPTEMBER WITH NEW BOOKS TO CONTINUE IN THIS SERIES. I AM FREAKING OUT SO HARD RIGHT NOW. Also this review was written in march so waiting to share this with you guys is going to be so difficult. One Dark Throne
by Kendare Blake Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 978-0-06-238546-8 As we return to the Island of Fennbirn I want to start by saying there are spoilers. ahead. I don't really think I could review this without giving things from the first novel away. IF this is the first you're hearing about this series go ahead and click on this link: pickupabooktoday.weebly.com/young-adult-fiction/three-dark-crowns . It will take you over to my review on the first novel (which was amazing!). I want to start by saying that during the first novel there is a lot of information and names to learn. It gives it a very slow moving pace at first. With the sequel we already know the characters and their world so it's a very fast paced, edge of the seat, type novel. If the first book dragged for you, I assure you it's easier this time around. The Queens are now in the Ascension Year and are playing a game of cat and mouse to kill the others. On top of a pace change the biggest plot twist (alright, one of the biggest) has been revealed to us. We now know that one of the 'talent-less' queens is actually not talent-less, she's just a different magic type then originally believed. (I'm trying to be careful to tell you who without actually telling you. Is it working? *cringes at how awkwardly I'm describing things*) Now, since it's clearly too late to do anything about this type change, the only thing this queen can do is use it to her advantage. That really makes things interesting in the second novel. I mean, think about it, they don't know she has this ability or that she's not weak to a certain magic type. Now this woman, who believed she was as good as dead, has a chance. On the other hand, where the story picks up there's one sister whom we all thought was dead. When she shows up miraculously alive there's so many unanswered questions. How did she survive? And most importantly, why is she so eerie and different now? What is going on with her? This plays a pivotal role all the way through the second novel, as she is now a true threat to her sisters. By the end of the novel I still felt like her story-line needed more answers but I felt slightly better about her as a whole. On top of the queens, Blake basically made Jules, the naturalist friend, a main character. That girl is ridiculously overpowered! One might even say she's a ticking time bomb. She has become such an important part of the novels that I would be very surprised if by the end of the series she isn't playing an even larger role than she already is. As things stand she's got double the power, just as much mystery and heartbreak to grow from, and enough predictions about her to sustain her story-line through the rest of the series. And it's not just her, somehow Billy, the weak love interest, has become a powerful ally and main character. I've grown to love him so much that I am honestly afraid for his future. Given the state of this world it's clear that love interests tend to get burned not flourish. In the end, I want to assure you guys that this really is a good novel. I LOVED the first one, and I've seen a great number of people who actually loved this one more than the original. But I almost wrote this review as two 'sentences' and hit publish. "Good book. Mad ending". The ending left me so upset and emotional and confused. It wasn't a cliff hanger but it was also a moment of "this can't be the end...?" Well, there are two more books set to come out. One this year and one next year. They are untitled and there isn't anymore information about them then that. But I pray that she REALLY brings it with the next one. I need answers and honestly justification for the things Blake has done, lol. That's a little dramatic but it's how I'm going to leave things. As always links to the author's pages are below. Read on my fellow books worms, may we one day have Belle's library. The Coldest Girl In Coldtown
by Holly Black Book review by Miranda Fraser ISBN: 978-0-316-21309-7 If the name Holly Black doesn't immediately bring to mind dark images mixed with heavy emotions and magical creatures, then maybe we're reading two different author's works. I mean, I did a book report on Tithe in seventh grade, a book so beautifully dark and slightly depressing, that my teacher was concerned what type of books I was reading, lol. So to see her writing career has far from slowed down, is inspiring. I reached for the book out of the sheer nostalgia of Black's 'Modern Faerie Tales', but stayed for the intriguing back paragraph. A paragraph where the words and phrases such as, "massacre", "infection", "survivors", "never leave", and "terrible secret"; mingle together like an enchanting aroma beckoning for you to open the pages. The story revolves around a girl named Tana, a seventeen year old with a sad past and an even darker future. She wakes up after a night of partying to discover most of her class, people she's known practically her whole life, are all dead. This is where the truth is unraveled. See, the paragraph on the back of the book spoke of an infection and a massacre, call me silly, but all I could think of was the Walking Dead. Turns out this book is about Vampires, where turning human's into vampires is spread through the infection of a bite. I personally loved this concept, think about, long gone are the days where a vampires bite is enough to turn a human. With movies and shows like Vampire Diaries, there are all new ways the transformation takes place. Here, Black revives this belief with a slight twist. People who become infected are considered 'cold' and the world now has closed cities called, 'coldtowns' where vampires and infected are sent to live where they can't hurt or infect anyone else. Once you enter Coldtown, there is no turning back. As you can imagine with the world dealing with such an outbreak of vampire-ism, they are no longer a secret living in the shadows and in our nightmares. Instead they beckon behind screens showing off a life of glamour. But I digress... turning back to Tana, when she realizes everyone is dead, she also realizes that the vampire, or vampires, may still be in this very house- hiding from the sun. In seeking a phone she finds an infected survivor, her ex-boyfriend, and a chained up vampire boy. In what can only be considered a stupidly moral decision, she saves them both. Turning her life completely upside down! They immediately begin driving towards Coldtown, the largest in the United States. Aidan is infected, Gavriel is a vampire, and Tana may very well be on the cusp of turning cold herself! The clock is ticking for them all. Gavriel, as it turns out, is hundreds of years old, and very wanted. And very charming. It was like falling for Roiben (from Tithe) all over again! But he looks out for Tana and keeps her safe. His mind is ravaged and at times his thoughts are very muddled, but his intentions seem to be for the best. Tana finds herself drawn to him and yearning for him, and yet they part ways. Bravely heading into Coldtown with her 'friends' she hopes for the best and believes she will leave. Things go horribly wrong. Horribly fast. Coldtown is a dark ravenous place that will eat you alive- literally. Filled with Vampires and wannabee Vampires- convinced of the glamour the famous vampires portray on tv. The truth is sometimes muddled. Reality can be staring you in the face, and yet you do not see all the pieces clearly. With that, I will say that this book is brilliantly written, with a conclusion unlike anything I was expecting. I sat on my bed, a tear rolling down my cheek, wondering how it has invoked such an emotion from me. Tana and the characters surrounding her are complicated, raw, treacherous, and human. No matter how you spin them, vampires are as human and flawed as the mortals they feed off of. Once again Holly Black, thank you for bringing me into a world of magic and wonder, emotions and adrenaline, and unlikely romances that tear my heart out but fill it up at the same time. Beautiful. Read on my fellow book worms, may we one day have Belle's Library. As always links to the authors pages are below. |
YA Fiction Reviews |