A cute fairy tale for the modern age
Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi is an adorable fairy tale for the modern audience. In a few short pages, Ms. Chokshi manages to stuff in action, adventure, romance, a moral or two, humor, and a few plot twists to make things interesting. She also builds a new world and manages some character development simultaneously. The full audiobook cast help make the story shine. Their earnestness, despite the craziness of their situation, made me laugh out loud several times. The whole experience is light and entertaining. Once More Upon a Time is the perfect palate cleanser after a difficult book.
A tale of two stories
A Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen is a tale of two stories. There are the first two-thirds of the story, entertaining but not memorable or engaging. I didn't hate it enough to set it aside, and it did entertain me. Then there is the book's last third, wherein we...
A masterpiece
One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake is a stunning novel. Every aspect of it hit all the right notes for me. I want to reread it to experience the magic I felt while reading it the first time. Because it was a magical reading experience. The world felt a little brighter,...
Gothic fiction at its finest
The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox is one of the best modern-day examples of Gothic fiction. The heroine's name, Ivy Radcliffe, reeks of a Gothic story as it exudes innocence and privilege. Then it takes place on the Yorkshire moors because of course it...
Sunday Reflections – 19 March 2023
Reading: For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel Listening: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell - Yes, still. Because this past week, I was too busy rocking out to Irish pub music, which is always fun. Watching: The Mandalorian, Daisy Jones and the Six, Ted Lasso,...
Spare – One man’s approach to therapy
Spare by Prince Harry is quite the story. If anything, it forever tarnished my opinion of royalty, a reaction that I suspect Harry wants. I have even more sympathy for him and everything he went through after his mother's death and at the hands of his family. While I...
Dark and dangerous
Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker is a tricky novel to review. On the one hand, it is a story about intergenerational magic, revenge, and power that is dark, dangerous, and seductive. On the other hand, the execution of the story could be more masterful than the...
KPop meets The King’s Men
Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu is a fun romantic thriller. It exists purely for entertainment and distraction purposes, and I am okay with that. There is little character development and a simple plot, but it reads like the most engaging movie you will ever watch. The...
Suzanne Young does it again
The synopsis of In Nightfall by Suzanne Young touts it as Lost Boys meets Buffy. I would add Twilight to that mix, as there are pieces of all three in Ms. Young's latest. Did that prevent me from loving the hell out of In Nightfall? Absolutely not! In fact, In...
