For this
compilation, I’m pulling from multiple age categories and genres. While I don’t
read every single sort of thing – for example, I avoid graphic novels, as I
simply don’t care for them – I aim to be a well-rounded reader … most of the
time. All these stories are works of fiction.
YA mythological fantasy novel.
*This is a standalone novel.*
She sees
gorgeous people. Analiese Jordan happens upon the paths of them, and they turn
up elsewhere in a group like the most impressive Gorgeous Persons Clique ever.
But here’s the catch: She doesn’t only sight them in her hometown of
Philadelphia, but in Rome. Yes, Rome,
Italy. Creepy! A man bequeaths his satchel to her as he lay dying and instructs
her to find his grandson. Marek Comte wants to know what secrets his
grandfather (Adam Conte) held, and it seems Adam has been training Marek for
years to follow his trail of clues when the time comes. The time is now, and
it’s why Marek convinces Analiese to go to Rome with him, Shona Jackson and
Shona’s scary boyfriend Cain. Analiese and Marek are going to find out new
facts that seem so outrageous at first that they might as well be make-believe
… or mythology.
My first impression of the lead
female character was that she’s really annoying. I don’t mind sarcasm (most of
us have at least a little bit in us), and I understand that Analiese is dealing
with a fairly recent grief on top of her existing anxiety/panic attack issues,
but no matter if this is considered a standard way to deal with either or both,
it didn’t make for someone I rooted for. Her lack-of-filter outbursts and
sarcastic remarks were grating, but I suppose that is not out-of-depth for a
teenager. Teenage dramatics aside, this adventure was filled with secrets and
puzzle-solving, new friends and new romance. While I thoroughly enjoyed Drake’s
Library Jumpers trilogy, I cannot say
the same for this standalone novel, though I did appreciate the representation
of multiple lands’ mythologies.
Burning Magic (Apr. 10, 2018) by Joshua Khan.
Middle-grade fantasy novel.
*This is the final book in a trilogy.*
Away from
Herne’s Forest and away from Castle Gloom, Thorn (a squire) and his best friend
Lilith Shadow (a queen), are in the Sultanate of Fire where resides their other
best friend K’leef. K’leef is the fourth son of the recently deceased sultan. The mourning period
has just ended and now the people revel in honor of the crowning of the next
sultan. Sadly, the excitement of a new sultan is short-lived when he dies. It
isn’t that his magic failed to protect him from the lava crown; he was
murdered. But his death means the Sultanate still needs a sultan. It could go
seamlessly to Jambiya, one of K’leef’s significantly older brothers, who
happens to be blind and cruel, but K’leef challenges him. It’s a “trial by
stupid,” according to Thorn, though it’s actually a trial by fire. This trial will take Thorn, K’leef and the
narcissistic idiot Gabriel Solar across lands in search of a phoenix. Lily
escapes those in the Sultanate who seek her power, only to become a prisoner to
a traitorous relative of House Shadow who’s aligned himself with Jambiya. At
least Thorn’s magnificent bat-steed Hades is along. Fighting monsters and
defeating possibly murderous rivals have nothing on Hades, right?
The third and final in the Shadow Magic trilogy, “Burning Magic” is
a middle-grade fantasy novel resplendent with magic and shadow, caring and
banter, loss and gain. The world is macabre, but in a delightful way. Zombie
servants to unload the ship and carry your luggage? Why not? While there is pain and death,
battles and bereavement, there are light moments to break through the shadows.
I originally read the first story because Rick Riordan mentioned it, and I
never hesitated to pre-order the successive volumes. If you enjoy Riordan’s
stories and also enjoy magic, fantasy and new lands, give this trilogy a try.
While this story ends a trilogy, the story’s ending gives hope to what I’m
hoping will be a new series.
Book One: Shadow Magic
Book Two: Dream Magic
Inspiration fiction, romantic suspense
novel.
*This is the second book in a series.*
For most of the
St. John siblings, law enforcement runs in their blood. This includes Chloe,
who’s a K-9 officer with her Dutch Shepherd1, Hank. They’re a great
team; he’s a terrific partner, albeit a furry one. Hank responds to commands in
Dutch only and is super sharp and well-trained, but has a playful side as well.
They get called in to find drugs, but they’re not sure which vehicle, as there
has been a multi-vehicle crash. Hank doesn’t just find drugs, but young women
who have clearly been abducted. With human trafficking suspected, Chloe and her
siblings wonder if there is any connection to their cousin, Penny St. John,
who’s been missing for six months.
One of the young women in the truck
is “Beth.” She’s the daughter of Deputy US Marshal Blake MacCallum, and her
name is actually Rachel. She was taken because her captors want Blake to kill
the judge he shares detail in protecting after threats were made against him
and his passionate stance on doubling down on human traffickers. With 20 or
more cases where human trafficking was involved, and a time limit, how can they
narrow down who the abductors are? And what’s their connection to the judge?
Rachel has been rescued, but she has
to find a way back. Not for herself or the judge, but for her best friend
Lindsay. She doesn’t want to abandon her. Her dad says he will find her, and
there is concern in his voice, but she knows he does not love her. After all,
why would he?
This inspirational fiction story is
the second in Eason’s Blue Justice
series. It is fast-paced, and the action does not halt until the last page acts
as any stop sticks would. While all of the characters maintain their faith, I
was most impressed with Rachel’s. Eason wrote her as such that she isn’t immune
to wondering, “Why is this happening to me?” but embraces the doubt in an
extreme situation, which I feel gave the character an increase in dimension and
relatability. This story hits so many right targets with me, from dynamic
characters to quick-footed action to plot-filled suspense and a budding romance
that isn’t annoying, with plenty of faith, courage and heart.
Book 1: Oath of Honor
1The synopsis on the back cover states
Hank’s a German Shepherd, but it says Dutch Shepherd in the book, so I went
with the latter.
Children’s picture book.
*This is a standalone book.*
A young mermaid
named Kiniro is hungry and tired after hours of swimming with her puffer fish
friend, Puffy. Curiosity gets the best of her when she swims upon a beautiful home
comprised of seashells and coral. She tries an octopus family’s marine food,
elaborate chairs and aquatic beds, each time favoring Baby’s items. Otōsan, Okāsan (Japanese for father
and mother, respectively) and Baby
are in for a surprise when they return to their saltwater dwelling, Baby
sporting the floppy new hat she’s not happy about. “The hat was not happy
either” (it is a live ray tied about Baby’s head with seaweed).
In this dazzling and gorgeous
rendering of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” readers swap land for sea, a
young girl for a young mermaid and three bears for a trio of octopuses. “The
Mermaid” features Brett’s trademark illustrations of beauty, activity and color.
Her gloriously-detailed illustrations look as though they should leap from the
page as we’re reading them, unbound by the confines of paper. The signature
sidebar vignettes are there, primarily in the doings of the octopus family and
then when the family returns and Kiniro is sleeping offstage, but they also
include tropical fish. I will say that I also appreciated Brett’s twist in her
main character: creating a character with East Asian features inspired by a
trip to Okinawa, Japan, as opposed to the familiar girl with the golden
tresses. A must-have for many (not just Jan Brett fans)!
Mind Game (Oct. 24, 2017) by Iris
Johansen.
Adult suspense/thriller novel.
*This is part of a longstanding series*
Someone is
reaching out to her, and it isn’t Cira. Jane MacGuire has already been spending
time at Loch Gaelkar with Lord John MacDuff and Jock Gavin, where MacDuff
continues his fanatical search for floodlights that will penetrate the
unceasing mist. Is he finally close to finding Cira’s purported treasure? The
woman trying to reach her is Lisa. Lisa Ridondo, and she is familiar to her,
though she doesn’t know her. But Lisa is able to link with her, and it is obvious
that the woman is in trouble. Lisa makes it clear that she does not want Jane
to involve Seth Caleb, but as a force to be reckoned with, he often ignores
what others want or manipulates them to get his way. After all, he has the
blood gift and Persuasion happens to be a part of that gift. They will all need
to work together and trust others as need be to track down the masterminds
behind Lisa’s abduction.
Although marketed as “An Eve Duncan
Novel,” Eve is not the central character. Jane, Seth and even Lisa are. However,
Eve has surprising news of her own …
I wrote in a post last year that I
thought maybe 2019 would be the year where I finally stopped pre-ordering Iris
Johansen’s novels (I order them in mass market paperback form). *sigh* So far,
this is not the case. As I’ve said
before, these books are not bad; they’re simply very predictable. And I
appreciate strong, independent female characters, but Johansen’s characters can
often be strong-willed to the point of annoyance. Even so, as a fairly loyal
reader, I continue to purchase her books. The story is action-packed, and the
bad guys remain the cream-of-the-crop of baddies, as they consistently do in
her novels. Predictably straightforward work from the author, but that’s fine,
as the thriller element we all expect to be there is there.
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