Tag Archives: Brandon Sanderson

Book Reviews – July to Oct 2025

4 Nov

As you can see, I definitely got behind on my monthly book reviews! They just fell through the cracks… In order to catch up quickly, I decided to list the books with a quick review so that next month, I’ll be caught up.

July Reads:

The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder (The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder #1) by C.L. Miller

~I read the sequel to this first, click here for that review. This was a fun adventure although I was, at times, distracted from the story by the choices of the main character…i.e. they seemed out of character even if she was trying to be bold and brave (!!). I’d say it’d be a fun vacation read (which is in no way a slight!) I did enjoy the second one more.

The Californios by Louis L’amour

~Every once in a while, L’amour wrote out of the norm westerns, and this is one of them. First of all, Sean Mulkerin is a sea captain and there’s an element of the supernatural in the quest for gold to save the family ranch. I did highly enjoy it although i do remember being a little confused about some of the happenings.

Unity (Assassin’s Creed, #7) by Oliver Bowden

~I’d not picked up an Assassin’s Creed novel in a couple years probably. I gave this one 3.5 stars on goodreads but I honestly can’t remember why? I remember enjoying it and reading it within a couple days. Shrug

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman (Castaways of the Flying Dutchman #1) by Brian Jacques

~I hadn’t read anything other than the Redwall series by Jacques before but of course I had to snag this to read it! I enjoyed it – the writing definitely felt more for young adult than Redwall (don’t ask me to explain that further…) I was disappointed by how seemingly short a time that the main characters actually spent onboard the Flying Dutchman… Still an engaging story.

All That Is Secret (An Annalee Spain Mystery, #1) by Patricia Raybon

~This touched on two points of interest for me – 1920s and murder mystery. I’d never read anything by Raybon before but I really enjoyed her writing style. What didn’t hit right with me was the near-constant discussion of race and class. (yes I am quite aware of how big an issue it was in those times especially, I just thought it was over-written which almost numbs the reader to it.) Definitely recommend if you’re wanting a fun, faith-filled murder mystery with some fabulous twists. I still think about one near the end that I never saw coming, but afterward, you realize it was skillfully woven throughout the story.

Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson – audiobook

~A very unique adventure from Sanderson that came out this year (2025) – I was enthralled with the stories of Dusk and Starling as they both struggled to do their best in trying circumstances. Highly recommend this one if you’re a fantasy fan.

August Reads:

The Rithmatist (The Rithmatist #1) by Brandon Sanderson

~no denying that this is a young-adult story but it was quite fun, very unique in that the villains are chalk drawings and the only way to fight them? With chalk.

By the Pricking of My Thumbs (Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries, #4) by Agatha Christie

~I scored this at a little library! The way that the two get caught up in another adventure was pretty clever and I had no idea of the ending. Definitely recommend.

Lady Susan by Jane Austen

~It’s been ages since I read an Austen and wow- Lady Susan is a CHARACTER. This was entertaining for sure, a nice quick read.

September Reads:

The Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques

~This didn’t end up being a favorite of the series but I did give it 4 stars on Goodreads.

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano

~1901. Inventions of the clock-making variety. Murder mystery. Main character needing to prove they’re worthy of the inheritance? Brilliant. There were some side plots that made me confused why that was the author’s choice… but the storytelling was absolutely beautiful. Add in the fact that there’s a pirate butler? Sold.

The Tales of Teltra Season One e1-3 (Tales of Teltra Book 1) by Daniel McCormack

~Highly recommend you go give this a listen (tales-of-teltra). It’s an immersive audiobook in episodes. Fantastic storytelling and was instantly pulled into the story. Can’t wait to finish the rest of it!

The Man in the Brown Suit (Colonel Race #1) by Agatha Christie

~This was an absolutely wild ride. I felt almost like I’d come in, in the middle of a series or something. Some of Anne’s decisions made me just groan in frustration, honestly.

The Murder on the Links (Hercule Poirot #2) by Agatha Christie

~Poroit’s little sayings are some of my favorites of these books. I had an inkling on the ‘who’ but that’s it. I really do like Hastings, Poroit’s associate.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4) by Agatha Christie

~I did not see the end/reveal coming at all on this one. I’ll admit I did get a little lost at times with who was who and what was what, but I loved how it felt a little bit different in how it was presented. Loved it.

October Reads:

Pearls of Lutra (Redwall #9) by Brian Jacques

~I really liked this story- combining the loveliness of Redwall Abbey with sailing on the ocean, peaceful islands, villianous enemies and all sorts of fabulous characters.

Ten Days in a Mad-House and other stories by Nellie Bly

~It was intriguing reading about Bly’s time at an insane asylum. I enjoyed her writing style.

Currently reading:

Eye of the World (Wheel of Time #1) by Robert Jordan

Ten Days in a Mad-House and other stories by Nellie Bly – ‘and other stories’ still to read

The Secret Adversary (A Tommy & Tuppence Mystery) by Agatha Christie

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Books I Love to Read- Authors I Auto-buy

8 Sep

Over on my social media pages, I’m sharing with you some of the books that I absolutely love and this week is all about those books that I think about often.

Over the next several weeks, I’ll be doing, well, I suppose you could call it a kind of series. I’ll be sharing videos where I talk about books I love, with a different focus or theme, each time. I’m also sharing blog posts on those same books. If I’ve already written a review on the book, I’ll link it! This is meant to be a quick way to get to know me a little bit more – and these blog posts will be short reads! You’re welcome!

The focus this time is those authors that I auto-buy. If I find them in thrift stores, garage sales or brand new, I have to buy them. (for complete transparency, if they’re brand new, I often do actually wait for a sale because my parents taught me right hehe)

Today I’m going to share a few of the reasons that I love these authors. If you’re interested in the specific book I have, follow the link!

Brandon Sanderson (Elantris) – massive worldbuilding, unique characters, clean fantasy, unexpected twists

Michelle Griep (The House at the End of the Moor) – historical fiction and romance with good depth

J.J. Fischer (Lumen) – clean fantasy with faith themes throughout. Fantastic characters and worlds.

Louis L’amour (The Trail to Seven Pines)  – writing style, easy to read plots

What authors do you auto-buy?

~Laura

~while linking these books, I realizes that two of them I’ve not read since 2020 and the other two need more proper reviews here on SGL!

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Book Reviews – June 2025

30 Jun

Welcome back to SGL, friends. I’m surprised by how many books I read, considering how much Other was occurring – and four of them were from my To-Read stack(s)!

I’ve been thinking these past few months of starting to do star ratings. What do you think? Would it add anything to my reviews, in your opinion? Or is there something else you’d like me to add to them?

On to the reviews!

Red Heart Cafe by Rebekah A. Morris (e-book)- During an enforced vacation, Ford Merrick’s truck breaks down outside of a small desert town. He has lunch at a small cafe, and ends up with a bruised jaw and the town bully getting arrested. He hadn’t planned on his defense of a harassed waitress putting not only the cafe’ at risk, but also Ariana’s farm. For the town bully’s father is the owner of the bank, and that man keeps a tight rein on those whose mortgages he holds. As things spiral into further chaos, Ford wonders if his presence has only hurt those around him or if he can help these people find justice.

~I’ve read one other book by this author years ago, so was excited to read another one. First – a male lead with the name of ‘Ford’ is perfection every time. Love it. I enjoyed the small town and how Ford’s perception of it shifted during his stay there. Since I read it as an e-book, it took me a little bit to get into it, but then I couldn’t get stop reading. It was a sweet story of standing up for what’s right and following God’s guidance. I liked how polite Ford was, well, so many of the people were really. It made it feel like it was set back in the 1950’s or something – very lovely. The only thing that made me wonder was when Ford considers a fairly serious step in a relationship that, to the reader, doesn’t yet feel fully mutual. It had a slightly too old-fashioned feel for a modern setting. It wasn’t enough of a thing to put me off though and the story ended sweetly and satisfactorily. A light cute read with good Christian themes throughout.

The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea (The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder #2) by C.L. Miller – Freya Lockwood and her Aunt Carole are called in when a painting goes missing and a body is found behind a museum. The newly-formed Lockwood Antique Hunter’s Agency goes on the case to find out why such a seemingly worthless painting was taken… and that investigation leads them to an antiques cruise sailing the Red Sea. But some of the items in the ship’s art gallery are stolen antiquities – listed in a journal that was left to Freya from unsolved cases. But chasing the thief and murderer turns into a much more dangerous and sinister game than either woman was expecting

~I admit it – I got this from the library because of the title. Did I even look to see if it was a sequel so to then read them in order? Nope. Murder mystery. Antiques. Sign me up (apparently). Because I knew nothing about it- or the author- I was a little trepidatious in whether it would be *clean* – on that score, there were a few swear words and one or two instances of immoral comments… But that was it. For the story and plot – I loved it. While there were definitely moments of ‘girl, think! you’re going to get yourself killed!’, there was another character thinking/saying that as well. Which takes it from an annoying thing about the character to a character trait that they *hopefully will learn from. The twists and turns kept me guessing and I appreciated the satisfying not-too-cliche’ ending. I do have book one on hold at the library. If you like Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers or the like, I think you’d like this one.

The Book Of Three by Lloyd Alexander- I had only seen the movie “The Black Cauldron” that was based off of this series, so I had no real knowledge of the story.
I found this story to be a fun adventure, following Taran, assistant pig-keeper, as he sought the escaped oracular pig, Hen-Wen. He’s realizing that his dreams of being a hero are easier than actually being one.
But Gurgi, Fflam and Eilonwy are there to hinder and help him along the way!
All in all, a cute story of good and evil battling it out. I am curious about the rest of the series now! I found this at a library book sale almost a year ago, so I’m glad I finally read it.

Han Solo’s Revenge (Star Wars: the Han Solo Adventures #2) by Brian Daley – Short on funds, Han Solo and Chewie take on a no-questions-asked job that will pay them 10,000 credits. But once they make planetfall, Solo learns that it’ll also earn them both quick executions from the Corporate Sector Authority. The Authority can overlook many crimes, but the slave trade isn’t one of them. Thankfully, due to quick thinking on Blue Max’s part, they’re able to turn the tables on the slavers. But Solo figures that someone still owes him that 10,000 credits, so he keeps the appointment the slavers had with their boss. But who he meets with doesn’t seem to fit who he had in mind…Except of course, she wasn’t. Fiolla’s an officer of the Sector Authority. . .

~ Basically, these Han Solo adventures are swash-buckling rides in space where Solo survives with quick thinking, luck and his crew’s own skills. I liked seeing Blue Max and Bollux as part of his crew- despite how Solo feels about droids. I liked the bit where Chewie flies. Fiolla was an interesting surprise throughout. I enjoyed this wild ride through different planets, space and spacships.

Han Solo and the Lost Legacy (Star Wars: the Han Solo Adventures #3) by Brian Daley – Unable, for different reasons, to resist the allure of the lost treasure of Xim, Solo and Chewie join up with some old and new friends to locate it. Along the way, they’re hunted by a notorious hitman, the Millenium Falcon is stolen and a strange cult in the mountains kidnap them. And let’s not forget the killer robots that are hot on their trail.

~Sound fantastic enough for you? This one finishes off the trilogy with all the thrills and almost-deaths that you could want. Is it kind of ridiculous? Sure. But that’s some of what you want in a Solo adventure, isn’t it? I was kind of sad with the ending because I wish there would’ve been more to the series. But it was satisfying all the same.

~both of these were found last year at a thrift store – which means I’ve read three of the ten Star Wars books I own!~

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson (audiobook) – When a man wakes up in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he’s from or why he’s there, he has to act quickly to regain his memories, because people from his own time are after him. Working to regain his memories, he makes allies with some of the locals and even starts to wonder about trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only other hope for survival should’ve been a handbook from the real world titled “The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England” but it was torn to shreds during his entry into this world. The pieces he has have clues on them – but will he figure them out in time?

~How have I never reviewed this on SGL before? This was probably my second, maybe third, read and its ridiculous tongue-in-cheek style is just… fun. It’s a light-hearted tale with themes of truth, loyalty, friendship and becoming who you want to be. I liked that you learn who the main character is along with him, as well as how the world works – its similarities and differences to our own. This is different than Sanderson’s normal style, so keep that in mind!

Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables #1) by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook) – Anne Shirley is an awkward, gangly redheaded orphan that is adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, siblings who live on their childhood homestead, Green Gables. Anne is prone to get into more scrapes and adventures than any other youngster in Avonlea, which proves for an interesting time for all.

~Somehow, I hadn’t read this in ten years. I adore Montgomery’s writing style so much. After so long, it was fun and interesting to read this beloved tale again – how Rachel Lynde is the first character you’re introduced to; understanding Matthew’s reticence in talking with people; Marilla’s softening over time; Diane’s staunch love and loyalty to Anne. Sighhh, bliss.

The First Fast Draw by Louis L’amour – Drawn back to Texas despite the bad reputation he has, Cullen Baker goes home to his land – the land that his parents put their sweat and tears into before they both died – to build a home and life there after years of wandering. But his homecoming is anything but welcoming. The Reconstructionists are greedy, his worst enemy has teamed up with a vicious outlaw and people have long memories. But instead of backing down and moving on, Cullen decides to fight back – and that includes a new style of gunfighting- the fast draw.

~I always love me a Louis L’amour book. But this one had something lacking for me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, unless it was something about Cullen himself…? I’m not sure. All the same, an interesting story on how the fast draw was ‘started’.

DNF’d: (did not finish)

Lust for Life by Irving Stone

Currently Reading:

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (confession, read 20 pages and haven’t picked it up again.)

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook)

Upcoming Possibles:

Prequel: The Adamah Series by Nick Michael (re-read)

The Last Hero: a biography of Gary Cooper by Larry Swindell

Ten Days in a Madhouse & Other Stories by Nellie Bly

And just to repeat – I’ve been thinking these past few months of starting to do star ratings. What do you think? Would it add anything to my reviews, in your opinion? Or is there something else you’d like me to add to them?

~Laura

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Book Reviews – April 2025

7 May

Welcome back to SGL for the monthly book review!

While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

Memoria (The Nightingale Trilogy #3) by J.J. Fischer – follow the link to read about this trilogy of faith, friendship and memories.

The Magician’s Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia #1 or #6 (chronological or publication)) by C.S. Lewis -It’s a cold, wet day in London when neighbors Digory and Polly become friends. But it’s when they explore the secret passage and the door at the end of it that their adventure really begins. Narnia on its first morning. Evil sorceress Jadis whose dark magic threatens everything…even London.

~It’s quite interesting to read about just how Jadis arrived in Narnia… and if you’ve not read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, well… Jadis is the White Witch in that story. You’re welcome! Anyway, I do like Digory and Polly and their adventures with the magic rings. It’s got a bit more action than, maybe, The Horse and His Boy, but it is still a bit slow perhaps? I just genuinely enjoy this series.

Redemption (Infinity Blade #2) by Brandon Sanderson – Siris and the God King were betrayed by their true enemy, the Worker of Secrets (the creator of the Infinity Blade) and left in the Vault of Tears. When he finally gets free from the prison, Siris joins the rebellion against the Worker of Secrets’ reign. But the rebellion seems to have little direction and the battle within himself is just as real as the ones outside.

~I listened to this on Hoopla, directly after finishing book 1, and felt a little confused as to how it started… I felt like I’d been dropped into the story a couple of chapters in. I am assuming that’s because these books were based on the Infinity Blade video games. Once I got past that (blind acceptance type of thing), the story kept my attention. I liked most of the twist and turns in the plot although… I remember being kind of disgruntled about one. No Spoilers though! If you’re wanting to read a Sanderson, but not wanting a re-read, I can recommend this duology for something quick, fun and only slightly confusing

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep – follow the link to read about this 2024 release of mystery and sweet romance!

DNF’d (did not finish)

The Reverberator by Henry James – Reason: far too much descriptions of the characters that made everything drag painfully.

The Fighting Preacher by John Hill Aughey – Reason: well, I read full speeches from two different statesmen…

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – Reason: I was enjoying listening to this immensely at the beginning. The pov from the octopus was so interesting and well done! But, I got maybe a quarter in and there were enough s*x references that I turned it off and returned it to the library. Ugh. I was disappointed because it was such a unique premise – a story of an older woman and an octopus’ friendship?!

Up next possibles:

The Book of Three

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale

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Book Reviews – March 2025

27 Mar

Welcome to another monthly book review, my friends. I admit that I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately – nothing seeming quite right… But, I did enjoy a few books this month.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia #3 ) by C.S. Lewis – King Caspian has built the first Narnian ship in centuries and he’s determined to find the lost lords that his evil uncle Miraz banished years before. Caspian is joined by Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace to the ends of the world.

~This one always calls to me because of how much we get to see of Reepicheep and that we meet Eustace and Glimfeather. The plot style is different in that I don’t feel that it’s building toward a big climax but the adventures they go through are quite dangerous (!) and interesting.

The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia #5 ) by C.S. Lewis – Young Shasta runs away with Bree, a talking warhorse. But when they learn of a Calormen plot to attack Narnia, they race to warn about the impeding danger.

~This remains one of my favorite books of the series. Shasta, Bree, Aravis and Hwin all bring different personalities to the plot. It’s fun to see the Pevensie siblings as Narnian kings and queens. I adore how Aslan appears. Basically, what makes this story quite different in style from the others is exactly what makes me love it so much.

Awakening (Infinity Blade #1) by Brandon Sanderson – The young knight, Siris, was trained for one thing: to face the God King in one-on-one combat in order to free the people from enslavement. This tradition has been passed down through generations of his family and Siris trains diligently throughout his childhood. But when the unexpected happens and Siris kills the God King, he’s suddenly thrust into a much larger world. And a much larger quest – to find the Worker of Secrets.

~I hadn’t heard of this book before so was interested when I found it as an audiobook on hoopla. Apparently it’s based on a video game? Shrug. I found it intriguing and definitely enjoyed listening to it. There was one joke that absolutely could’ve been left out (which means that I was shaking my head and waiting for that part of the scene to be past…) but aside from that, it was, as usual, quite clean. It was a fun adventure although I feel like maybe some stuff might’ve made more sense if I knew the game.

Currently Reading:

Memoria (The Nightingale Trilogy #3) by J.J. Fischer

Redemption (Infinity Blade #2) by Brandon Sanderson

The Reverberator by Henry James – uncertain if I’ll finish this. Reason: far too much descriptions of the characters. Yes, I actually said it. There Can be too much!

The Fighting Preacher by John Hill Aughey – uncertain about finishing. Reason: well. guys. I’ve read full speeches from two different statesmen…

Up next possibles:

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

The Book of Three

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Book Reviews- February 2025

4 Mar

It’s time again for some book reviews, my friends! It’s been a mood-read kind of winter for sure. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve picked up a book that I’ve been meaning to read for months, and sat down with it, only to stand back up and switch it out for a different book. Shrug. I did get three books off that TBR though!

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman- Lyra is hurrying to the North- where armored bears and witch clans rule. For the North is where all stolen children are sent, where Lyra’s friend Roger has been sent. It’s also where her imposing uncle is attempting to build a bridge to a parallel world.

~Having seen and enjoyed the movie multiple times, I wanted to read the book. While I did enjoy it- the writing was good, the plot was entertaining, there were a few things mentioned that I felt were unnecessary and actually pulled me away from the story. (and some that added nothing to the plot whatsoever, instead feeling like something that the author just really wanted to make a statement about). I had intended on reading the whole trilogy but, don’t have any intention to at this time.

Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #2) by C.S. Lewis – When Susan’s horn is blown, the Pevensie children are called back to Narnia to help Prince Caspain reclaim his rightful throne. The false king is ruthless and will stop at nothing to kill the old Narnians and maintain his rule.

~ Prince Caspian is, I think, one of my favorites of the series as we see some of the growing up the Pevensie’s have to go through and of course, we meet Caspian and see Aslan again.

The Silver Chair (Chronicles of Narnia #4 ) by C.S. Lewis- Narnia is in danger and Aslan sends Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole to help. They, along with marshwiggle, Puddleglum, set out on a journey across Narnia to find the missing prince. Their quest leads them to face many trials- snow storms, man-eating giants, underground tunnels and an evil witch.

~I listened to this via hoopla, Jeremy Northam narrating. I admit that it took me a little while to get into this story, this time around, but I do adore Puddleglum and his dire predictions. The giants are probably one of my favorite parts. And when Puddleglum speaks to the witch about Narnia. (I’ll say no more, no spoilers!) A lovely addition to the series, even if it does have a… different feel to it.

The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray- When Mr. Knightley and Emma, now happily married, throw a house party, they bring together new friends and distant relatives. Mr. Wickham was certainly not invited – but he arrives anyway – his latest scheme having created even more enemies, it’s not long before he’s found murdered. Everyone in the house is a suspect, except for the two youngest guests, leaving them to solve the mystery: Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy. Juliet is the daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney and is eager for adventure outside of Northanger Abbey. Jonathan is the Darcy’s eldest son and he somehow makes his father seem almost relaxed by his own strict adherence to propriety. But these two must learn to work together and solve the crime before an innocent person is convicted.

~I thoroughly enjoyed this who-dun-it by Claudia Gray. This was an uncharacteristic splurge purchase, with no prior knowledge of author or book. It was fun to read about these characters that we know and love (although, I’ll be honest, I’m not too familiar with some of them) and see them interacting with each other. The relationship dynamics were written so well, creating doubt and a depth of feeling that I appreciated. There were some conversations about same-sex relations (an outside character) but, to me, it seemed to be well handled. I did thoroughly enjoy this story and look forward to reading more of the series.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson- Yumi and Painter come from opposite worlds – she from one of gardens and spirits, he from darkness and nightmares. But when their lives become strangely intertwined can they figure out why, and how to help each other?

~I listened to this on audiobook on Spotify. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fun to see the events through both Yumi and Painter’s points of view and to be surprised by the revelations all over again. There are a few mentions throughout that, I’d suggest reading this prior to giving to a young reader, but, it is quite mild still. (I’m just overly cautious when it comes to such things). Highly recommend.

Shadow Moon by George Lucas and Chris Claremont – Did Not Finish (dnf). I was excited for this one (George Lucas!!), but struggled to make it even forty pages. I’m not sure if it was the writing style, the feel that we’d gotten dropped into the middle of a story at chapter one, or what, but I just couldn’t get into the plot. The dragon was cool. I like Willow… mostly. What was strange is that I thought the movie (which I do enjoy!) was based on this, but…apparently it wasn’t? All in all, it seems I agree with the reviews I’ve found on Goodreads that this book just doesn’t deliver. Such a bummer.

Currently Reading:

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia #3 ) by C.S. Lewis

The Reverberator by Henry James

Up Next Possibles:

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

The Book of Three

What was the last book you gave up on?

~Laura

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Book Reviews- Jan 2025

31 Jan

Welcome back to SGL, my friends! We’ve another book review post today, and at the bottom, there’s a quick review of my December reads.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes #1-9) by Arthur Conan Doyle – Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes’ and his trusted assistant, Watson, in all nine books of adventures put together in one audiobook.

~I started this 69 hour long audiobook back in the beginning of September. I enjoyed finally reading the Sherlock stories but will admit that doing it all in one ‘chunk’ was probably a bit much. I enjoyed seeing how Holmes’ was written- rather than how he’s portrayed in movies/tv series. He’s more talkative and considerate in general than I think is portrayed. I enjoyed these and look forward to reading specific ones again. Definitely recommend.

Uprooted : How 3,000 years of Jewish Civilization in the Arab World Vanished Overnight by Lyn Julius – (a snippet of the excerpt from Goodreads) Who are the Jews from Arab countries? What were relations with Muslims like? What made Jews leave countries where they had been settled for thousands of years? What lessons can we learn from the mass exodus of minorities from the Middle East?

~I am working to regularly read a bit more non-fiction with the focus being Jewish history. Unsurprisingly, this was a rather hard read, which made it a slow one for me. There were so many points that I tabbed and I have started a blog post for a separate review. Definitely recommend this for adult readers who want to learn about Jewish history in the Middle East.

A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham – When Hazel takes a job as Dr. Gilbert Watt’s lady in attendance, she uses an alias. Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a stain on her real name – as well as on her heart. Gilbert Watts is unsure about admitting a woman into his office, but finds that Hazel is a cheerful addition to his life even while he senses something secretive underneath her chatter. For Hazel, she finds a friend in the quiet dentist and the hope that if she can put her past to rights, she just might have a future after all.

~My mom loaned me this book with the ‘you’ve got to read this’ suggestion. =) This is the only book by Fordham that I’ve read and it was well written and enjoyable! There was one moment for Hazel that felt so out of character that I stopped reading for a few days. But it was compelling enough that I came back to it and finished. Fordham had some twists throughout the plot that kept this story feeling fresh and I appreciated that. Recommend.

Castle of Whispers (Secrets of the Quilt #1) by Elizabeth Penney – Sofia Parker inherits a family heirloom the evening before her grandmother’s funeral. A trunk and the silk quilt inside have been passed down for generations, a secret trust to be guarded. But all the guardians were women who were excellent seamstresses and Sofia can barely thread a needle, much less stitch a straight line. So Sofia is stunned to inherit this heirloom, and even more so to find that there’s a diary inside the trunk as well. A diary that chronicles the significance of each piece of the quilt and the one that intrigues Sofia is that one is claimed to be connected to the Mona Lisa!

~This was another book my mom loaned me. I admit that I was a bit uncertain about it but I’m glad I gave it a try. It was a cute read – one with a fun historical twist that since the synopsis doesn’t say too much about it, I won’t either. Suffice it to say that this was a sweet story although, once again, the main character, Sofia, did something that irked me. It was better explained further on (the motivations behind) but, I’ll admit, it still doesn’t sit quite right…? I don’t know. But. If you’re wanting a sweet read with some fun history thrown in, check this one out. And apparently it’s a whole series!

Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories by Dorothy L. Sayers – a full collection of the 21 Wimsey short stories along with an article about the author.

~This is linked to a review that I did of the whole series earlier this month – definitely check it out if you like mysteries. It was quite fun to go through these, even though I’m not normally a fan of short stories. I will always recommend this series!!

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) by C.S. Lewis – When the Pevensie children are sent away from London, they’re sent to stay at a house owned by the professor. Lucy, the youngest, finds a wardrobe in an empty room and stumbles upon the fantastical land of Narnia. Soon, all four siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy- will be blinking in the bright sunlight of that frozen land, meeting Aslan and be forever changed.

~After the chaos that was December, I needed a cozy story to listen to, so I (naturally) turned to Narnia. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michael York. I adore the Pevensie siblings, and of course, especially Lucy. And Peter. The beavers and Mr. Tumnus are wonderful as well. Suffice it to say, I highly recommend this intro to the Narnia series!

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – Tress leads a simple life on her island home in the emerald sea. She enjoys colleting cups that sailors bring her and listening to the stories her friend Charlie tells her. But then he’s taken away from her by his father to find Charlie a bride and disaster strikes. Charlie has been captured by the Sorceress in the Midnight Sea. Tress decides she must sneak off her island and rescue Charlie. The journey she undergoes is dangerous, not only because one drop of water in a sea of spores can mean instant death, but because it will challenge her in every way.

~First off, how is this my third read of this book and yet it’s the first time I’ve reviewed it? Anyway, this is a fairytale but with the heroine being more than just the damsel in distress. Tress has no idea how she’ll accomplish her plan, but through it all, she proves that she is more than a simple window washer from a tiny island no one knows about. Sanderson wrote this with a bit of tongue-in-cheek that differs from his usual style and it just makes it that much more fun. Highly recommend.

Since I apparently missed doing a review on December’s reads, here’s a quick list of what I read! The first several are short stories from the Victorian age. I was part of a read-along on Instagram that’s called Dickens December. It’s quite fun if you want to check it out – look up Laura (pixie.hallows) or Jess (dickens.and.docks)

The Christmas Mummers by Mary Charlotte Younge

Old Hooker’s Ghost by Anonymous

The Black Bag Left on a Doorstep by Louisa Catherine Perkis (a new favorite. It’s about a female detective!)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Other reads in December:

The Legend of Luke (Redwall #12) by Brian Jacques – Martin, along with friends, Gonff, Trimp the hedgehog and Dinny Foremole, leaves Redwall on a dangerous journey to the northern shores to find his father, Luke. There, he finds the story of the evil pirate stoat, Vilu Deskar and the warrior mouse, Luke, who pursued him over dangerous seas to enact revenge, even if it meant abandoning his only son.

~I always enjoy a Redwall story. I’d been curious about the story of Martin’s father, as I’ve been slowly reading through the series (although I did go out of order on this one, whoops!) I liked the different creatures that the travellers came across, and how they either outsmarted/defeated/befriended them, depending on who they were. All that to say, I enjoyed it even though this isn’t one of my favorites of the series.

Hangman’s Holiday: a collection of short mysteries (Lord Peter Wimsey #9) by Dorothy L. Sayers – this collection not only shares some amusing things that happen to/around Wimsey, but they also include some stories featuring amateur sleuth Montague Egg.

~I started this a little unsure, because I’m honestly not a huge fan of short stories, but they were still delightful! I thought the ones with Montague Egg were hilarious, and wouldn’t mind reading more books about him.

Quite the diverse list, isn’t it? Did any strike your fancy? What’s a book you’ve read recently that you absolutely loved? Let me know, down below!

~Laura

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Book Reviews- Nov 2024

4 Dec

Welcome back to another monthly book review! I finished up a trilogy, read a few standalones and am still working my way through an incredibly long audiobook…

The God of Lost Words (Hell’s Library #3) by A.J. Hackwith- Claire, Hero, angel Remi and muse Brevity might just have to destroy the Library in order to save it… After saving the Library of the Unwritten Wing and finding out just what the books are made of, their secret out and all of Hell is coming for every wing of the Library. A war erupts and it’ll take all of their wits to survive.

–This was a good finale to the trilogy with a fantastic battle for each of the characters and bringing in a new villian (Godmother of Ghosts mwahaha). I admit some of the…details of the plot left me a little confused but I just kept reading anyway. It was more along the lines of fantasy-rules, so I didn’t feel like I’d understand it even if I stopped and pondered it… Anyhow, once again I did like the character growth – their battles and losses and victories felt specific to them. After finishing it, I was a little confused by some of what had happened but still finished content overall. The romance is, as I said in my reviews for the previous two books, is different than I normally read/prefer. (pansexual is apparently the word for it…) While I may not necessarily like this part of the plot, Hackwith wrote it so well that it didn’t take away from the story. And that the love was true and deep – not this flighty, physical focused type of infatuation. I appreciated that. With that in mind, a cautious recommend. As a last thought, I think the first book was my favorite, with this one being the second favorite.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien- Bilbo Baggins, hobbit of Bag-End, joins the wizard Gandalf and twelve dwarves, led by none other than Thorin Oakenshield, across Middle Earth to help the dwarves reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug. Through many obstacles – most of them extremely dangerous- they struggle through before even reaching their destination- the Lonely Mountain

–  I always love the Hobbit but listening to Andy Serkis narrating it, just improves it by leaps and bounds, somehow. It has been several years since I read this story and thoroughly enjoyed how Tolkien points out these random facts/feelings – in a way that modern authors just don’t do (well, that I’ve come across). Anyway, it is a nice, concise wonderful adventure story. I love how talkative Gandalf is. How uncertain Bilbo can be. How much the dwarves complain all throughout but then repent soon enough after. Highly recommend reading or listening to (esp with Andy Serkis narrating) this story!

Dragonsteel Prime by Brandon Sanderson- On Yolen, we follow the story of a boy named Jerick and a fool or jest, who calls himself Topaz (though you might know him by another name).

–this was written back in 2001 and only now has been widely printed and sold. We see Sanderson’s original attempt at writing the Bridge Four story. I appreciated that, at the beginning of the book, he even says that the story is a bit all over the place. This acknowledgement made a difference through the parts that seemed out of left field.. I adored all things to do with Topaz. And Bat’Chor. And really, there were times I was wishing we were focusing more on Jerick… Anyway, I did enjoy this story even though I, maybe, don’t love certain elements of it. (some choices near the end just frustrated me!) I got the hardcover and it’s simply gorgeous.

Where the Long Grass Blows by Louis L’amour- Bill Canavan rides into a valley at war – the two large ranches are owned by rustlers turned ranchers, fighting to dominate the entire valley, and a third small ranch caught in the middle. The third ranch was owned by honest folk – a brother and sister. But Canavan didn’t just happen to choose this valley to settle in. He knew this land, this range war and had decided he’d stay. He’d staked a claim and had plans to be the one still standing after the the war had blown over. What he hadn’t counted on was just how much the woman owner of the small ranch would affect him…

–whenever I want a nice, cozy, western read, I pick up a Louis L’amour. I greatly enjoyed this one – it was full of the clever cowhand with a fist of iron and a moral compass; the villians who run roughshod over everyone; the beautiful spirited woman that fights back and cattle, horses and the range. I always like the straight-talking, quick-decision making aspects that are in L’amour’s stories. I liked that Canavan entered the town of Soledad with the intent to stay -this wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. And I liked the comparisons drawn from the other characters, between him and Star Levitt. Highly recommend.

Currently Reading:

Uprooted by Lyn Julius

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (at 59% of a 69 hr audiobook)

I hope you found something to add to your to-read list!

~Laura

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June and July 2024 Book Reviews

13 Aug

I hope that putting these two months into one blog post isn’t too long for you, my lovely readers. I’m nearing the end of two different series’ and have started (yet again) another series. While I have read a few non-fiction books this summer, I’d like to fit a few more in. As well as starting a Dickens perhaps.

While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes- I was so honored to be part of Dykes’ street team and to read her newest book for my honest review! Click the title to see my post about it.

Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows across the World by Ewan McGregor- McGregor and Boorman, celebrities and friends, decide to undertake a motorcycle trip that’s 20,000 miles long. From London to New York they travel through some of the harshest country, and document every step of the way.

~ It was fun to read as they rode through Europe, Asia and Alaska. The sights they saw, the experiences they were able to have and the people they met along the way. The only downside was the swearwords and I think, a few, inappropriate things. It was an enjoyable travel-ogue but I’d only cautiously recommend it.

Have His Carcase (Lord Peter Wimsey #8) by Dorothy L Sayers-We meet Harriet Vane for the second time in this series and this time around, it’s she that finds the corpse. This inevitably unites her with Peter Wimsey again and they set off to solve the lethal mystery. As they do so, avoiding danger as a matter of course, they find themselves becoming more than sleuthing partners.

~It was nice to see Harriet Vane again and I enjoyed how much of the book was in her point of view. It let us see Wimsey through her eyes, and in consequence, get to know him better. The murder mystery was quite complex and interesting, I thought. Another thing I enjoyed was the references to how Harriet thought like a writer. Highly recommend this one!

~Side note, yes these seem to be out of order, but apparently some short stories were also written, and those are, apparently, included in the series order. Articles I’ve read, share that if one skips these and reads only the full-length novels, you won’t miss much. (subjective of course, that). As I tend to prefer books to short stories, this is what I’m doing. Although I’d like to read all of them eventually.

Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey #10) by Dorothy L Sayers- Lord Peter Wimsey is called in to investigate a death that originally looked like an accident. At Pym’s Publicity, a respectable London advertising agency, ad man Victor Dean died after falling down a set of office stairs. But Wimsey soon learns that there’s more to copywriting than meets the eye- a bit of cocaine, blackmail and of course, the five brutal murders that occur in quick succession. This case will require all of Wimsey’s wit and cleverness to avoid being corpse number six.

~ Now, folks, this is the book that started me on this series in the first place. I got an old copy from a library book sale and was instantly intrigued by the title. I, of course, loved the theme of copywriting throughout the story. The case is especially intriguing as it’s not only centered in the agency’s office, but among the high-brow society. This is one of my favorites of the series, for sure.

The Nine Tailors (Lord Peter Wimsey #11) by Dorothy L Sayers- A disfigured corpse is found in a country parish, leaving the rector worried. He pleads with Lord Peter to investigate how the man died, who he was and how he came to be laid to rest…in the unfortunate place he was found.

~The way this story started was quite different, a slower pace, I thought. Actually, the whole story was a slower pace, probably. Anyway, this story talked a lot about bell tolling (apparently they’re called tailors? or is it the bells that are called tailors?) that lost me from time to time although some of it was interesting. I liked the rector – his forgetfulness and humble pride of his parish- and his wife – her gentle reminders to her husband and how she organized ‘everything’ so to help him in his calling. The plot did lose me from time to time, and I’m still not completely certain how it all tied up in the end. But, that’s why I don’t write murder mysteries, ha. Still an interesting story, but not, overall, one of my favorites.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J.K. Rowling- The last time Harry saw Professor Dumbledore was when he was battling Lord Voldemort. And now, two weeks before start of term at Hogwarts, Harry is waiting nervously for Dumbledore to arrive at the Dursley’s. However, Harry doesn’t know why Dumbledore is coming – what is it that’s so important it can’t wait until he’s in Hogwarts?

~Ahh, Dumbledore. Seeing him at the Dursley’s was quite entertaining. There were so many more politics in this story -and man, if Rowling didn’t accurately portray the different motivations of those in power… We see more of Snape, Dumbledore and Draco in this story- and some drama between Hermione and Ron. The happy surprise in Harry’s year is that he rises to the top of potions class- all thanks to a tattered copy of the potions textbook whose previous owner was ‘the half-blood prince’ that causes some problems – naturally .

Waiting for Hope: Malachi Study by The Daily Grace Co. – Malachi, as the last book in the old testament, is a lesson on patience and faithfulness through trying times. This study highlights how to follow in God’s people’s footsteps – waiting with hope.

~This is a three week study, helping the reader through dealing with God’s seeming silence and trusting that He is still at work in our lives. Hope is an essential part of faith, isn’t it? Anyway, this study was good – although there were several repetitive questions and that tends to bother me. Obviously, being only a three week study, one can’t dive too in-depth but I did feel that this one stayed on the surface a little too much. The book itself was beautiful.

Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson- Stephen is a genius, but that comes at a price – his mind creates personalities, he calls them aspects, to contain all the information he can learn in a few hours. But his brain is getting crowded with all these imaginary experts and as he investigates the cases he’s been hired for, he must learn what is happening inside his own head.

~ I’d read this only once before, and as it’s a genre I don’t normally read – thriller-, it was a fun rabbit trail to dive into. Stephen Leeds does all he can to create as normal of a life as he can for himself. The case he investigates is intriguing- a camera that can supposedly take photographs of the past, and what that could mean for the world. I obviously like books dealing with case investigations and this one is no different.. well, it is because it’s a thriller…anyway.

Why The Jews? by Dennis Prager- This book sets out to uncover and understand the antisemitism that started in the ancient world all the way to the modern world.

~A friend recommended this one to me. I am glad I read it even though so much of the content was hard to read about (not surprisingly). I can definitely recommend this book if you’re interested in learning about the unique role that Jews play in human history.

DNF’d:(did not finish) It’s not often I don’t finish a book, but here are two. I won’t go into their synopsis’ here though, if you’re interested, go look them up. Just because they weren’t for me, doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy them!

The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven Pressfield- This had statements that I didn’t think were appropriate, especially not for a book on creativity. It wasn’t the type of book I was expecting – think more of a read-a-page-a-day. I would’ve gotten through it if it hadn’t been for the other issue.

The Heirs of Falcon Point by Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards and A.L. Sowards- At first, this one sucked me in easily. But as I dove further into the story there got to be more instances of ‘gee that’s convenient’ and over telling. Now both of those are sure-fire ways to pull a reader from a story. Don’t let your hero/heroine know something just to move the plot along. Make them work for it. If you need further examples, watch certain superhero movies where they only survive because the plot needs them to. Anyhow, the over telling was what made me put the book in the donate pile though. I know what staircases look like and I know what people do when they get a phone call. . . As you can tell, these are two issues that drive me a bit batty. Otherwise, I would’ve loved this story. (update: my mom loved this book!)

Currently Reading:

In The Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling

Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle #2) by Christopher Paolini

About the B’nai Bagels by E.L. Konigsburg

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Book Reviews – April and May 2024

7 Aug

Time for Book Reviews again! I know, already?! But I’m trying to catch up to be able to do them monthly as usual. If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that I’m currently in at least three series’. Two of them are children’s/young adult and one is murder mystery.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4) by J.K. Rowling- In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry is looking forward to learning new spells and playing Quidditch. But when he’s unexpectedly chosen as as competitor in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, he’s suddenly thrust into more dangerous territory than he ever has been.

~I feel like this is the last book that the trio – Harry, Ron and Hermione- are still innocent kids enjoying school and holidays. The scenes where the muggle world and wizarding world interact, were wonderful and… magical. (sorry but I had to crack at least one joke like that in these reviews). The danger is so ramped up and yet, Harry’s got friends that help him along the way… or snub him, as the case may be. Anyway, this one was a lot of fun but also held so much heartache that sometimes caught me off guard.

The Five Red Herrings (Lord Peter Wimsey #7) by Dorothy L Sayers- While Wimsey is visiting the Scottish coast with some friends on a painting retreat, the hated Sandy Campbell is found dead. But although it looks like an accident on the cliffs, Wimsey is certain that there’s something wrong with the death and starts to investigate.

~ This one was intriguing as Wimsey and his ‘helpers’ track down the alibis of six different suspects. I admit that I had a hard time, or as Wimsey would say ‘a devil of a time’ keeping track of who everyone was. And then there was the question of whether the stolen bicycle was, or wasn’t, relevant to the case. I am still enjoying this series whole-heartedly, and having Ian Carmichael narrate the majority of them brings a certain comfort to the listen.

Brotherhood by Mike Chen- Obi-Wan is sent to Cato Neimoidia to investigate a devastating explosion and finds himself fighting the separatists. Anakin, who is now a Jedi Knight and on equal footing with Obi-Wan, goes against his orders to leave Kenobi to his own mission and hurries to assist.

~Ah, Kenobi and Skywalker. It was fun to see their familiarity and camaraderie bump against their struggle in finding their balance in their new equality. The investigation and subsequent…solving of the issue was quite entertaining. Definitely enjoyed this one.

Queen’s Peril (Star Wars: The Padmé Trilogy, #0) by E.K. Johnston- When Padme, at a mere fourteen years old, wins the election to be queen of Naboo, she adopts the name of Amidala to keep her family safe. Another precaution is to gather around her handmaidens – girls of similar age and build with skills that can be her decoys, assistants and confidants. But they all come from different backgrounds, and it’s up to Padme to unite them into one cohesive group.

~It was fun reading about Padme when she was younger and how she was so intentional about her handmaidens, as well as the choices she made for Naboo. It was hard to imagine having a ruler being a girl of 14, but somehow, one was able to put that aside, or even believe it was possible, in this atmosphere.

Come Out of the Kitchen! A Romance by Alice Duer Miller- In a small Southern town, bachelor Randolph Reed seeks to purchase a quaint mansion. But the owners only agree if he will take on the current four-person staff – a butler, cook, maid and a young page boy.

I picked this one up, printed in 1916, at a library book sale. It’s a lovely little hardcover and the title was just so intriguing that I had to grab it. It’s a short, sweet, comedic story of romance with some good moral lessons in it as well. I’ve since realized that there’s been an adaptation (tv or movie?) of this but I haven’t, as of yet, watched it. Highly recommend if you’re wanting a light, lovely read.

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin- When Arthur Stanhope III unexpectedly dies in 1898, his mother, widow and daughter are dismayed to learn that the estate – and the vast wealth- is left to the nearest male heir, leaving them almost destitute. His widow, Sylvia, decides that their best hope is for their daughter, Adelaide, to marry well, before news of their downfall is circulated. But, Junietta, her mother in law, feels that their lives need some shaking up and vows to let Adelaide choose her own path in life. Caught between two women she loves, Adelaide must learn from both of them and decide which life she wants to lead.

~The synopsis of this one drew me even though I’m not reading as much of this genre anymore. But Austin is an author I’ve read and enjoyed multiple times. This story, while it started out strong for me, threw me with some of the story-telling choices that were made. Without sharing spoilers, I didn’t enjoy how the three stories of the women were told. Recommend with the acknowledgement that it wasn’t for me.

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson- Nomad has been running from the Night Brigade for years by skipping through the Cosmere, just one step ahead of his pursuers. But with his powers depleted, Nomad finds himself stuck on Canticle, a planet that’s own sun will kill anyone that doesn’t keep moving, following the shadows. Tormented by his past mistakes and terrified of making new ones, Nomad must do all he can to restore his powers to skip yet again, but ends up having to fight for his very soul.

~It had been too many months since I’d read a Sanderson novel, so I picked this one up again. (now that I have my own hardcover copy!) It being my second time through it was still a surprise on some of the plot points but I also understood some of the hints and twists that were coming. Enjoyed it thoroughly and obviously recommend.

Now’s the time to refill your coffee cup, restart your Youtube playlist before starting on May’s book reviews:

The Bellmaker (Redwall #7) by Brian Jacques- Martin the Warrior comes to Joseph the Bellmaker one night with a mysterious message, indicating that Joseph’s daughter, Mariel and her companion, Dandin are in great danger. They’ve been gone for four seasons, having left to fight evil but no word has been heard of them since. Four Redwallers rush off to find and assist Mariel and Dandin, facing danger of their own with valiant hearts.

~When I want an engaging comfort story, I turn to the Redwall series. This one was quite action-packed! I always enjoy the puzzles that Martin provides for the Redwallers to decode and their subsequent rally to action in order to do good. Plus, I always find myself wanting delectable vegetable, fruit and herb dishes after reading a Redwall book.

Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy by Terry Brooks- Follow the fight of good against evil, of myth and magic and of innocence and power in the fantastic world of Star Wars. Anakin Skywalker is found as a young slave on the world of Tatooine; as a young padawan, as a Jedi Knight fighting a war among the stars.

~This is the novelization of the prequels. It was quite fun to read although there were parts that I was a bit less interested in since I have seen the movies several times. But, I’d recommend these to any fan of Star Wars for sure.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling- After receiving no news, even from Ron and Hermione all summer, Harry finally learns just why that is. Dumbledore also tells him about a prophecy that says that Harry will have powers to defeat the now-returned Voldemort. But the wizarding world doesn’t believe that Lord Voldemort really has returned and are making Dumbledore, and Harry, out to be liars and dissidents.

~Well, so much for any of the ‘happy kid’ feeling from the previous books. This one just hits you in the face with the harsh reality that life often holds. Harry’s left out of anything that’s going on with the Dursley’s who abuse him. And even when he’s back among the Weasley’s and his other friends, he’s still not included in much of the planning. What makes it all worse is that the Ministry appoints a new teacher who takes pleasure in hurting the students. Like I said, so much for a lovely comforting read. But still, it was quite good, seeing our trio grow and learn when to stand up for themselves and the power of friendship, love and loyalty.

Long Way Down by Ewan McGregor- McGregor and Charlie Boorman go on their second trip around the world on their motorcycles. This one is a 15,000-mile journey, from Scotland to South Africa, riding some of the toughest terrain in the world.

~I always enjoy a well written travelogue and (aside from the swear words, sadly) this one was fun. Going from Scotland to South Africa is a crazy distance but the people McGregor and Boorman meet and interact with were a highlight of this book.

Whew! You made it. You deserve another cup of coffee and at least a half hour’s reading of a good book.

Click the link for March 2024 Book Reviews where you’ll see more of the series I’m reading!

A friendly little note : While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

Happy Reading, Laura

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