Tag Archives: Reviews

Review: Have Book, Will Travel

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Have Book, Will Travel
Have Book, Will Travel by Kfir Luzzatto
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you start doubting what the book says, we may as well go back now…

Max has been sent to his uncle’s fortress to continue his studies while his mother attends to a dying friend. While exploring the castle, Max finds an old storage room. Intent on avoiding his studies, he begins searching all of the chests in the room, only to one day find a young girl, Darla, reading a book. Soon, they both pass the time reading about the grand adventures in the book and dreaming of going on their own. So, when Max is forbidden to go back into the room, he prepares to do just that, taking Darla with him. But when the castle is besieged, the two friends have to find a way to get back home.

Once the two figure out the secret of the book, the story picks up a bit. In their efforts to go back home, Max and Darla are transported to two different worlds. While the worlds weren’t as fleshed out as they could have been, the fast-paced adventure kept the story moving forward, and the bond between Max and Darla developed as they endeavored to stay together and find the way home.

Fairly well-developed and adventurous, Have Book, Will Travel is a light read great for younger readers, full of mystery, magic, and friendship.

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Guest Post: Gemma from Charade

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Today I have the wonderful Gemma from Cambria Hebert’s newest novel, Charade! Feel free to check out my review and then dig into some tough questions with the newest cast member in this great series!

First: The book!

Blurb:

Dying at the hands of a psycho was a shock. Having my life returned to me by an angel was
incredible. Being named a Supernatural Treasure and being given Sam as my guard was
pretty darn awesome. Acquiring a debt for it all—well, I should have seen it coming.

Now here we are, fighting demons from Hell, caring for a boy that I just don’t trust, and
traveling to faraway places to return a treasure to its rightful place. Nothing is as it seems.
Everyone wears a mask; everyone puts on a charade. It’s up to us to separate the truth from
the lies and reality from fiction. A hard task when my new reality involves fallen angels,
witches and dragons… and did I mention Hell?

Anchoring me down through it all is Sam. Sam, who must face tragedies of his own and is
put to the test again and again.

If we fail in our task, life as we know it—life as you know it—will end. Forever.

Continue reading Guest Post: Gemma from Charade →

Review: Charade

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Charade
Charade by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you cannot breathe, I will breathe for you. If your heart will not beat, mine will beat harder. If you do not live, neither will I.

Heven and Sam have been through so much in their struggles against evil, but they aren’t done yet. Being tasked to return a treasure to its rightful spot in Italy, Heven and Sam struggle with family, friends, secrets, and deceptions on top of everything else. Change is coming everywhere they look and everyone’s mask is cracking. Can Heven and Sam hold it together – themselves as well as their family and friends – and save the world in the process?

Charade continues to follow Heven and Sam, yet expands the cast of characters a bit and reworks a few of the old ones. While Heven grows into her powers, she also learns that she is stronger than she thinks – something she shows Sam time and again, as she is willing to literally go to hell to protect him. The characters continue to grow before the reader’s eyes, sometimes with shining moments and sometimes with bitter ones, making them very believable. Cole plays a bigger part in this book, as does Kimber, and the new additions fall into place logically as well.

While some points slow and predictable, Charades is full of twists and turns that keep Heven’s (and the reader’s) head spinning. Fast-paced and engaging, Charade picks up right where Masquerade left off and runs full-tilt until the end, leaving Heven, Sam, and the reader asking – “What will happen next?”

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Guest Post: Anne Tibbets

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Today I have with me Anne Tibbets talking about an issue close to her heart. You see, Anne just published a new book, Shut Up, about childhood abuse, bullying, and depression. If you haven’t checked out her book yet, there will be more details after her post. Even if contemporary fiction isn’t your “thing,” this is a great, quick read about a topic that doesn’t see enough of the light of day, especially lately. But more of that to follow.

Now, here’s Anne!

If She Were Here

By Anne Tibbets

A few years back, after I had just started shopping Shut Up to publishers and literary agencies, I attended an SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference, and listened to a bunch of speeches, took a few seminars, and even took one writing class. It was a great conference, and I highly recommend it, if you’re a children’s author or illustrator – but that’s not the point I’m trying to make.

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Review: Shut Up

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Shut Up
Shut Up by Anne Tibbets
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This isn’t about her! It’s about me! I’m doing this because I want to! I’m doing this. Me!

Twelve year old Mary can’t do anything right, even when she’s not doing anything at all. Mary’s sister, Gwen, finds any excuse at all to yell at Mary, belittling her and making her feel worthless. What’s worse, Gwen’s gotten pregnant and decided to marry The Creep, causing her family a massive amount of stress – which leads to more yelling at Mary. After enduring for as long as she could, Mary finally plans to escape – which may be the true undoing of the entire family.

Written in mostly Mary’s perspective, Shut Up gives its readers a first-hand look at bullying and abuse. Mary gets teased at school, picked on at home by her sister, practically felt up by The Creep, screamed at and beat by her mother, and yet endures all of these things while her father and brother seemingly sit by and watch. The true strength of Mary’s character is remarkable.

A captivating page-turner, Shut Up brings to light all those little family intricacies that can plague even the most well-intentioned or perfect-seeming households. Readers ride the waves of emotions along with Mary – cheering for her when she does stand up for herself, saddened by her failed attempts to fit in or be nice to Gwen, angry with her at her entire family for the abuse she takes for unknown reasons, enjoying those quiet moments without Gwen – empathizing with Mary’s choice of escape, even if it’s not the best course of action. But Mary endures and overcomes, showing that even in the darkest storms, there is light ahead.

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Review: On Dark Shores 2: The Other Nereia

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On Dark Shores 2: The Other Nereia
On Dark Shores 2: The Other Nereia by J.A. Clement
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“We of Scarlock, we stick together. That is how we survive.”

Nereia is faced with a difficult choice – accept the Other Nereia and stay to protect Mary, or drift away from the beating Copeland gave her. The Other Nereia talks of making the dark waters sweet again, instead of the bitter waters they have become, and Nereia is tasked with completing this. Confused but determined, Nereia must accept that she still has some part yet to play…

Copeland has a plan for Blakey, and Blakey doesn’t think he likes where it’s leading. Down below in the caves, Blakey learns of Copeland’s secrets, including that of the Archangel. But what can he do to stop it?

Picking up where the first book left off, book two is also richly written and full of vividness. The characters continue to grow and evolve, changing from meek-seeming and battered to firmer of will and full of purpose. There is a bit of history added into this book, explaining a bit about Nereia’s past and giving insights into how her and Mary came to be under Copeland’s thumb.

As if Copeland and his decent into madness wasn’t enough, soldiers have come to town, threatening to find Vansel, Mickel and others of their company before their plans can be completed. And, while not seen much in this book either, the Mother is still playing a crucial role in the events of Scarlock. Some new players come on the scene as well, adding to the realness of the town setting and to the drama surrounding it.

What a twisted tale is being woven here. Dark, mysterious, suspenseful, and engaging, On Dark Shores: Other Nereia continues to follow Nereia and the others as change comes to Scarlock – and change isn’t always good.

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Review: On Dark Shores: The Lady

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On Dark Shores: The Lady
On Dark Shores: The Lady by J.A. Clement
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Copeland had already taken eleven years of her life, and there was no getting that back; but Nereia was damned if she’d let him have her sister.”

Change is stirring in Scarlock…

For the last eleven years, Nereia has been Copeland’s thief, stealing trinkets for him instead of going to work in the whorehouse, to protect her younger sister, Mary, from his clutches. But Copeland’s reach in Scarlock is far and his ambitions are vast. Bent on getting Nereia to take on a new thieving scheme, Copeland leans on the chink in Nereia’s armor – Mary. Now they must run or go along with his plan. And no one has ever escaped before…

Blakey’s career as a boxer is over. He finds himself fighting a new type of opponent – whores and shopkeepers and anyone else who owes Copeland. But something changes the night he goes after Nereia and Mary. And he’s not the only one interested in the girls’ escape.

Beautifully written, with flowing prose and vivid descriptions, On Dark Shores: The Lady sets up the dynamic of the town of Scarlock and its inhabitants. While the Mother of Shantari doesn’t really appear in this book, the reader is left with the expectation of finding out her role in later books in the series. The complexity of the characters is slowly revealed, as shown best by Blakey.

While there is no real closure, the plot and character lines are masterfully woven, setting up what is sure to be an excellent series. Dark and mysterious, with a touch of fantasy added to the mix, On Dark Shores leaves the reader wanting more, and not simply because it is short.

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Guest Post: “Uncle Bill”

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There it is Kiddies, the Kristufek House! Yeah, yeah, I know what the doctor said but surely, it’ll be fine if we just stop by and take a peek. You know, for old time’s sake. Oh my, Kiddies, it just like we left it, except for the house coat and slippers that is. The police are still holding those for evidence. And look, the window is still unlocked. Restraining order? I’m sure Ms. Kristufek didn’t mean it when she filed that against us. Come now, Kiddies, this was just meant to be.

Just let me get comfortable now and… Oh my, I see someone has been doing a little writing. Hmmm, The Finder. He he he, let’s hope no one finds us here or your Dear Old Uncle Bill will be fitted for one of those special jackets again.

Okay now, let’s get down to business. I have a little treat for all you Kiddies tonight, a little tale of death and despair. What other kind is there? It’s a little something from your Dear Old Uncle Bill’s Remnants of the Past series. Now sit back, Kiddies, while I read.

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Review: The Mission

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The Mission
The Mission by Bill Talcott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I look at the stars every night and think about home…

The leader of the Undead – a group of mercenaries – agrees to take Darkblood with them, against his better judgement when they are tasked with taking a dying scientist to the planet Valdorion in search of a cure. Once they’ve arrived, Darkblood is given the task of protecting the scientist, which also gives him a small amount of protection. Soon, the mission falls apart, and Darkblood slowly learns what the real mission was – and how he can stop it.

Set in a beautiful world similar to ours, the language making it easy to envision the surroundings and the people. The interactions of the different characters clearly defines each of them – and they are all clearly different. Mostly through dialogue, the characters come to life, encouraging the reader to feel right along with them. The tough decisions made and the depth of emotion shown add to the complexity of Darkblood et al, making them very “real” and relatable.

Undertones of friendship, loyalty, love and loss, as well as conspiracy and treachery, abound as the cast of characters grow before the reader’s eyes. Masterfully interwoven between the characters, The Mission is a quick read with a vivid world that can easily entertain more stories, as well as the reader.

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