Set in a post-catastrophic Edinburgh (near future or alternate?) The Library of the Dead is about Ropa, a fourteen year-old ghostalker of Zimbabwean heritage – count me in! While trying to make a living and care for her grandmother and sister, Ropa takes messages from ghosts to their families. She hears that someone is doing something terrible to children, and this sends her on an adventure that brings her to an amazing library, new friends, magic, and much danger. It had a slow start, but I am fully on board for the series.
A secret circus created by a daemon so as to look after his family. The circus would appear only to those who had a ticket and featured a tragic cast performing wonderful acts, it was both beautiful and cruel. Add to this Lara, who in present day Virginia knows she has a little magic but not the full extent of her family’s story and its connection to the secret circus. I did get swept up into the story, but the ending fell flat for me – it was not as dramatic as it could of been and everyone was so accepting of the magic.
The second book in a trilogy is often the weakest, and while I haven’t yet read the third, I did find the beginning of this one slow and confusing. Diana and Matthew, needing to escape their present, travel back in time to 1590 looking for a mysterious book, and someone to help Diana learn more about herself as a witch. This isn’t my favourite period of history, but once they moved out of Oxford, spending time in France, London, and Prague, I did find it fascinating. There are plenty of elements of paranormal romance, and they seemed to know or become involved with every person of note in the period, but the historic and scientific detail was engrossing, and I am looking forward to wrapping the story up in the final book.
I have heard this described as the thinking woman’s Twilight, and there is much to commend that description. It is long, descriptive, full of historical detail, and peopled with interesting and compelling, rather than annoying, characters. Yes, the romance is similarly problematic if you think about it, but far less eye-roll-inducing, and the settings (Oxford, especially the Bodleian Library, a French chateau, and upstate New York) are beautiful and atmospheric. It’s a significant time commitment, each of the three books is hefty, but so far it has been worth it.
A steampunk adventure/romance. Octavia has an extraordinary gift as a healer and on her way to a town needing her help she discovers there are threats on her life. Who can she trust? Quite a different read for me, but good to be immersed in a different world – a blend of science, nature, magic and belief.
All the love, friendship, loyalty, humorous antics (Fred and George!), imaginative detail, and magic expected of the whole series, with increasing teenaged angst levels. Harry is a bit painful to be with in this book, but other characters, and the thrill of the journey are more than enough to make up for it.
This series has the most exquisite world building; full of wonder, beauty, and endless fascination. The characters are so full, and there is intrigue, suspense, and another cliff hanger ending. Only a year to wait for the final book….
This was a big Southern hug of a book. Full of Southern charm and magic. It remined me of the movie Steel Magnolias – where even though it covers pain and suffering, it does so with a big heart and a big sense of community.
We’re back for more colourful, sweet, imaginative, daring adventures with Morrigan and her friends. As Morrigan begins to learn more about being a wundersmith, a nasty illness is infecting wunimals, bringing fear and confusion for Nevermoor. Complete with librarians, this is a fun episode in a delightful series.
I read so much and the stories can start blending together especially when authors all hop on a trending theme. When I find an author trying something different I get very excited! Wonderscape is an adventure, blending science, technology, time travel, history and gaming. Hard to believe and difficult to do but Jennifer Bell is very talented and pulls it all together brilliantly. I am hoping this turns into a series of amazing adventure stories. Arthur, Ren and Cecily would never have been friends in the real world but when they become trapped in the future their lives depend on teamwork and they become friends real fast. And don’t get me started on the bad guys in this book! We have lifelike androids, weapons disguised as beauty products, historical heroes that I know and some I would like to know more about, and also ethical dilemmas that make me very angry. I encourage everyone to visit Jennifer’s website to play the Wonderscape game. Readers 10yrs+ are going to devour this book… so I had better hurry up and get it back on the ebook library shelf! Travel with wonder my friends!
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