This was fun! When she was little, my oldest daughter was obsessed with The Wizard of OThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fun! When she was little, my oldest daughter was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this movie. I have a huge soft spot for dogs, so the idea of a retelling of The Wizard of Oz from Toto’s point of view felt like something that I just had to experience. It was so entertaining to see this story with a few updates from such an original point of view.
It turns out that Toto is a snarky little guy. It was great to see so many familiar characters in this more modern look at Oz. We also get to meet a few more key characters which adds a new layer to the original story. Toto has a lot to say and the residents in Oz can understand him, everyone except Dorothy unfortunately. The group runs into plenty of trouble during their quest to have the wizard grant their requests.
André Santana does a fantastic job with the narration of this book. He handled the voices of the varied cast of characters very well which helped to bring the story to life. He added just the right amount of emotion to the reading to take the book to the next level and I thought he handled the more comical moments of the story very well. I am certain that his performance added to my enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that it was a very imaginative and entertaining retelling. The story did drag just a bit for me at times but it was a very enjoyable read overall. I do hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio....more
This was great! I admit that this book first hit my radar because of the gorgeous firstThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! I admit that this book first hit my radar because of the gorgeous first edition (and I can’t wait to get my hands on the copy I ordered!). Once I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to read this book! The story was just as good as I had hoped and I found it so hard to put down that I read most of the book in a single day. Kai was very likable, and I wanted to see things work out for her.
As the story opens Kai is being robbed of her clothes and her amulet somewhere in the woods. She doesn’t know where she is and can’t remember who she is. As she tries to get her items back from the thief, she gets in a little trouble in town and must pay a debt before she can move on. I was curious about Kai’s past and loved the clues each ability or memory gave. The story had a lot of action and it quickly became obvious that Kai knew how to handle herself.
In a quest to find answers, Kai travels with the local blacksmith, Jadon, who is also a skilled fighter, his sister, Olivia, and Philia. They face one obstacle after the next during their journey. I loved that there was a lot of action to keep the story moving at a steady pace. The story kept me guessing throughout, and there were plenty of surprises along the way. The romantic elements kept me on my toes as well.
I would recommend this book to others. It did so many things well. The world-building was top-notch, and the characters were incredibly likable. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next installment!
I received a review copy from Red Tower Books....more
I really liked this one! I have been a fan of this series from the beginning so I was vThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really liked this one! I have been a fan of this series from the beginning so I was very excited to dive into this book and see how the trilogy would wrap up. I feel like I have been through a lot with this group of characters at this point and just want things to work out for them. I found this novel to be a fitting and exciting end to the trilogy.
I wasn’t sure how Reven and Meren would work things out. Things look rather dire at the start of this story and the characters seem to be thrown into one impossible situation after another throughout the book. This book had plenty of action to keep things moving along and there were quite a few times that I was worried about the safety of some of my favorite characters. I love the way that Meren has grown over the course of the series into the leader she needs to be in this installment.
Luis Moreno and Samara Naeymi did a fantastic job with the narration of this book. They were both able to bring the story to life through their use of various voices to represent the key characters and by adding just the right amount of emotion to their reading. I thought that their voices complimented each other very nicely and had no problems listening to this book for hours at a time. I am certain that their performance added to my overall enjoyment.
I would not hesitate to recommend this trilogy to others. I would definitely recommend that this trilogy be read in order since each book builds on the events in the previous installment. I found this book to be a fitting end to the trilogy as a whole. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Entangled Teen and Recorded Books....more
This was fantastic! I fell in love with Tiffany McDaniels’s writing after reading her This review can also be found at: https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! I fell in love with Tiffany McDaniels’s writing after reading her debut novel, The Summer That Melted Everything. I couldn’t wait to see what she would do with a middle-grade novel and I am happy to report that it is everything I hoped it would be. This magical, whimsical tale should appeal to children and adults, really anyone who enjoys highly creative stories with a lot of heart.
Spella, with her blue freckles, was found in a cauldron as an infant by Aunt Cauldroneyes. They live in a small house with their mummified cat, Egypt, making magical hats with big personalities. Spella accidentally lets in a growling hat that swallows Aunt Cauldroneyes and takes her away. This happens just before she is to leave for Dragon’s Knob, a school for wand magic. Spella must find her way at her new school while also trying to figure out what happened to Aunt Cauldroneyes.
Spella was an easy character to like. She is smart, works hard, and cares about those around her. I had a great time watching her learn new things at school while making new friends. This imaginative story included everything from shape-shifting dodos to magical sandwiches. Even the footnotes were entertaining and whimsical, sharing explanations and suggestions with the reader alongside artwork of feet or shoes of various styles.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I was quickly pulled into Spella’s magical world and wanted to see her succeed at school, make friends, and find her Aunt Cauldroneyes. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put this book down and look forward to many more adventures in this series.
I received a review copy of this book from the author and Simon & Schuester Books for Young Readers....more
I loved this story! It is no secret that I am a huge fan of the writing pair of Ilona AThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this story! It is no secret that I am a huge fan of the writing pair of Ilona Andrews. Whenever I pick up something this pair of writers create, I find something magical on the page. That is exactly what happened with this new story. I have to admit that didn’t remember as much about Roman from the Kate Daniels series as I probably should but that didn’t cause any issues jumping into this book. I think this story would work well as a stand-alone story and is a must-read for anyone who is already a fan of the character.
Roman serves Chernobog, the God of Destruction, Darkness, and Death which isn’t a pleasant job most days. He has powerful magic and I loved seeing some of the things that he was able to do. When a young boy asks for sanctuary at his home, he feels that he must oblige. That’s when the trouble starts. A group of mercenaries are determined to get their hands on this boy and will use everything at their disposal to make that happen.
The story had plenty of action to keep me glued to the pages. I enjoyed getting the chance to know more about this character and really appreciated learning how he ended up becoming the Black Volhv. He really is a good guy despite the fact he works for the God of Destruction. It seemed that there was no end to his ability and willingness to sacrifice for others.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This is a quick-moving novella that I was almost impossible to put down once I started reading. I am amazed by the fact that such a big story fits in this shorter work but Ilona Andrews somehow made it happen. I hope to read many more of Roman’s adventures in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from NYLA....more
I had a great time with this book! T. Kingfisher has quickly become one of my favorite This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a great time with this book! T. Kingfisher has quickly become one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled once I got my hands on this book. This book is described as a retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s “Goose Girl”. I don’t know that story so I can’t tell you how this one compares but I can assure readers that this book stands strong on its own. I started reading this book at the start of a long flight and didn’t stop reading until I reached the end. It was the perfect story to lose myself in for just a little while.
Cordelia was an incredibly likable character. She has had a difficult life, enduring the whims of her sorceress mother. Her mother keeps her very isolated and even can exert complete control over her, a skill that she does not hesitate to use whenever it suits her. Her mother insists they leave their home in the middle of the night and become guests of a wealthy man and his sister, Hester. Her mother hopes to marry the man and will stop at nothing to make it happen. Cordelia and Hester seem to have an instant connection that only strengthens as time progresses.
This story kept me on my toes. I was never entirely sure what Cordelia’s mother might do next so I worried about her. Hester was very relatable and seemed to notice things that others might miss. This story was told from Cordelia’s and Hester’s points of view which helped the reader really get to know these two characters. There was plenty of action to keep the story moving forward, especially in the later sections of the novel.
I paired the digital book with the audiobook and thought the narrators did a great job with the story. This was the first time that I have listened to Eliza Foss’s work and only the second time that I have had the chance to listen to Jennifer Pickens narrate. I was impressed by both narrators and thought that they did a remarkable job of bringing this story to life. I am certain that their performances added to my overall enjoyment.
I would recommend this book to others. This story hooked me early on and I cared about this group of characters almost immediately. T. Kingfisher’s books have found a permanent spot on my favorites shelf and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Tor Books and Macmillan Audio....more
I enjoyed this one! The book started rather slow for me but after a few chapters thingsThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I enjoyed this one! The book started rather slow for me but after a few chapters things picked up. I liked Harrow and Raith. Their instant connection felt very real and I couldn’t wait to see how things would develop. This book was a bit spicer than I expected, which wasn’t a bad thing, just unexpected. Overall, I found this to be an entertaining read.
Harrow has spent the last 50 years telling fortunes with the traveling circus, keeping the fact that she is the world’s last Seer a secret. When she sees Raith, she is drawn to him and knows that they need to leave the circus to keep him safe. Raith has no memories of his past but he feels the connection to Harrow and wants to keep her safe. There were a few twists and turns that I could guess pretty early on but that didn’t impact my enjoyment.
I thought that the chemistry between Harrow and Raith was well done. They both felt a connection to each other and I thought that it felt very real. They both go through a lot in this book and I liked that we get quite a bit of excitement before the story wraps up. I thought it was interesting to learn more about each character’s past as we worked our way through this story.
I would recommend this book to others. It wasn’t a perfect story but I found it to be a lot of fun in the end. I liked a few of the secondary characters quite a bit and hope we see more of them in future installments in this series.
I received a review copy of this book from Red Tower Books....more
This was fabulous! I have loved everything that I have read from this author so far so This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fabulous! I have loved everything that I have read from this author so far so I went into this book with some pretty high expectations and I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. The writing was gorgeous and the characters were very likable. The story hooked me quickly and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Effy and Preston.
Effy is a first-year architecture student. She would love to study literature instead but women are not allowed in the program. When she sees the chance to possibly work on designing the home her favorite author’s home she jumps at the chance. Once she arrives, she finds the home is in further disrepair than she imagined and there is another student doing work in the home. Preston is there as a literature student. As they look into things, they discover that they have even more questions than they thought.
I loved the characters in this book. It was obvious early on that Effy had an interesting history and I loved the way that the author gave us that background a little at a time throughout the story. Effy and Preston were a great match and I enjoyed watching them connect over the course of the story. The dark gothic setting was so well-developed that it almost came alive on the page.
I paired the audiobook with a digital copy and thought that Saskia Maarlevald did a phenomenal job with the narration. I have been a fan of her narration work in the past so I was excited to see that she was reading this story. She did a wonderful job with the various character voices which helped to bring the story to life. I am certain that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story. Overall, I thought that this was a wonderful book that will be going on my keeper shelf and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Harper Teen.
This was fabulous! I have loved everything that I have read from this author so far so I went into this book with some pretty high expectations and I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. The writing was gorgeous and the characters were very likable. The story hooked me quickly and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Effy and Preston.
Effy is a first-year architecture student. She would love to study literature instead but women are not allowed in the program. When she sees the chance to possibly work on designing the home her favorite author’s home she jumps at the chance. Once she arrives, she finds the home is in further disrepair than she imagined and there is another student doing work in the home. Preston is there as a literature student. As they look into things, they discover that they have even more questions than they thought.
I loved the characters in this book. It was obvious early on that Effy had an interesting history and I loved the way that the author gave us that background a little at a time throughout the story. Effy and Preston were a great match and I enjoyed watching them connect over the course of the story. The dark gothic setting was so well-developed that it almost came alive on the page.
I paired the audiobook with a digital copy and thought that Saskia Maarlevald did a phenomenal job with the narration. I have been a fan of her narration work in the past so I was excited to see that she was reading this story. She did a wonderful job with the various character voices which helped to bring the story to life. I am certain that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story. Overall, I thought that this was a wonderful book that will be going on my keeper shelf and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Harper Teen....more
I liked this book but it wasn’t perfect. I liked Niamh and Kit and wanted to see thingsThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I liked this book but it wasn’t perfect. I liked Niamh and Kit and wanted to see things work out for them. I thought that Niamh’s ability to magically weave emotions and memories into the clothes that she makes was incredibly interesting and I really would have liked to learn more about it, and the rest of the magic system than we are given. The romance between Niamh and Kit was my favorite part of the story but it was not without its challenges since Kit is a prince and happens to already be betrothed.
I loved the fact that Kit was a bit of a grouch for much of the story. It took a bit for Niamh and Kit to fall for each other and it was fun to see them get to know one another. But this story was more than just a romance. There were a lot of things going on in the kingdom which left the story feeling overly busy at times and I felt that it bogged down a bit in the middle. I found the secondary characters to be interesting and thought that they added a lot to the story.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Fran Burgoyne did a wonderful job with the story. I found her voice to be very pleasant and I had no problem listening for hours at a time. I liked the various voices that she used, which helped to bring the story to life. I believe that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story. I think that a lot of readers will like this one even more than I did. I do hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio....more
Now this was good! I was drawn to this book by its gorgeous cover but it was the descriThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
Now this was good! I was drawn to this book by its gorgeous cover but it was the description that really sold me. I was hooked by this story almost immediately. I couldn’t help but like this group of characters and couldn’t wait to see how things might work out for them. I found this book to be incredibly entertaining and hard to put down.
I liked Kiara right away and couldn’t wait to see how she would handle the challenges thrown at her in this book. She is a strong and determined leader. Jude was also great, although a bit more mysterious. I knew that his backstory would be interesting and it certainly was. I thought that this pair was well-matched and liked the connection between them.
The story had all of the action, excitement, and romance that I had hoped for, and more than a few surprises worked into the plot as well. I loved that this story was able to keep me guessing and there were times when I was really worried about what might happen next. I liked that the world that this story was set in was rather unique and thought that it added an interesting element.
I will definitely be recommending this book to others. I thought that this was a really well-done book filled with excitement and likable characters. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a review copy of this book from Entangled: Teen....more
I really liked this book! I did need to start over a few times, but that was not an issThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really liked this book! I did need to start over a few times, but that was not an issue with the book. It was an issue with my focus instead. What can I say? It happens. Once I was able to concentrate, I didn’t want to stop reading. Iz and Warren were fantastic characters, and I was drawn into the story right away. I found this to be an entertaining novel.
Iz is a Hexologist, and her husband, Warren helps her as she works to solve cases. The pair make a fantastic team and their strengths complemented one another very well. When they are approached by a royal secretary to look at an anonymous claim from someone who may or may not be the king’s heir, they reluctantly take the case. The story took so many exciting twists and turns keeping me glued to the pages. They unravel years of secrets, often putting themselves in danger.
I thought that Sarah Slimani did a wonderful job with the narration of this book. This was my first experience listening to her narration and I was impressed. She handled a large cast of characters incredibly well. I found her voice to be pleasant and liked the way she was able to add just the right amount of emotion to her reading. I am certain that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very impressive start to a series that I look forward to following. The characters were quirky, yet incredibly likable, and the mystery was rather complex. I can’t wait to get my hands on book two.
I received a review copy of this book from Orbit....more
I thought that this was great! I love books filled with magic so when I saw the descripThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this was great! I love books filled with magic so when I saw the description of this book, I just knew that I had to give it a try and I was hooked almost immediately. Keltania and Valen were both great characters and I thought that they were the perfect match for one another. I found this book to be incredibly entertaining and I was glued to the pages until the very end.
Keltania has trained her whole life training as a druid to be a guard to a Winter Fae. She is determined to make sure her charge is kept safe regardless of the cost. Valen isn’t interested in having her protection and tries to ditch her at every opportunity. Things are not exactly as they seem at the Winter Court and before long Tania and Valen form a bond that they would have never expected. One secret leads to another and I love that the story was full of so many unexpected twists and turns. The story had plenty of action as the pair faced danger from a variety of sources.
I hated to put this book down so when I noticed that the audiobook had become available from my local library, I downloaded it right away and started listening to the story about halfway through. This worked perfectly because I was able to continue with the story even when I didn’t have the time to sit down and read. I thought that Alex Kydd and Amy Melissa Bently did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. I loved the character voices that they used and thought that they added just the right amount of emotion to their reading. I do believe that their narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I thought that this book was filled with just the right amount of excitement and the characters were easy to fall for. This is the first book in the series and I cannot wait to see what will happen next.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Entangled: Teen....more
Okay, I am convinced that Alix E. Harrow can do no wrong. I have loved all of the booksThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
Okay, I am convinced that Alix E. Harrow can do no wrong. I have loved all of the books that I have read written by this amazingly talented author so far (I still need to read The Once and Future Witches and I promise to get to it sometime soon.). This story grabbed me from the very start, and I didn’t want to stop listening. I had a fantastic time with this entertaining novel that I found almost impossible to put down.
Opal was a wonderful character, and I wanted to see things work out for her and her brother. She has faced a lot of challenges in her life and does what needs to be done to care for both herself and her brother. She can’t turn down the job at Starling House that she is offered. Arthur was equally amazing. He is doing the best that he can with the situation that he has found himself in. I loved the gothic vibe of the story and thought that it was just creepy enough to really pull me in.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Natalie Naudus did a wonderful job with the story. I loved the voices that she used that helped bring the characters and story to life. I found her voice to be very pleasant and am certain that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of the story. I will definitely be recommending this one to others. I found this story to be a wonderful tale filled with characters that were easy to fall for. I cannot wait to read more of Alix E. Harrow’s writing.
I received a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio and Tor Books....more
This was such a fun book! I believe that this middle grade fantasy is a perfect read foThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was such a fun book! I believe that this middle grade fantasy is a perfect read for both younger readers and adults. We meet the sword Asperides right away once I realized a sentient sword would be one of the main characters, I knew that I was in for a good time. I was entertained by this fascinating tale from beginning to end.
Nack has been cast out by his family and hopes to prove his worth by completing a task to win back his place. I felt horrible for Nack since he was truly on his own with no place to go and even loses his sword right away. He decides to go on a knight’s quest where he finds Asperides and enters into a contract believing it is an angel sword. Nack was such a great character and I adored his interactions with Asperides. I found this story to be really exciting with quite a few surprises worked in. The characters all grow and change over the course of the story as they try to do what is right.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Mark Sanderlin did a great job with the story. I have listened to this narrator’s work on a couple of adult romance novels so it was fun to see him tackle a different genre. I thought that he did a great job with the various character voices which helped to bring the story to life. I do believe that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. It was an entertaining story featuring wonderful characters that should appeal to a wide range of readers. I would not hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Algonquin Young Readers....more
I have been a fan of this series since the beginning. This story was just as good as I This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I have been a fan of this series since the beginning. This story was just as good as I had hoped it would be. My only complaint is there are so many characters that I had a bit of a hard time remembering who was who and how everyone was connected. I quickly got caught up with what was going on and enjoyed getting to see a new couple come together.
Lennie is the only female dragon shifter and a princess. She is expected to marry another dragon since she will one day inherit the throne. Bran is out for revenge against those who killed his brother and harmed his sisters. When he is injured, he has no idea that the dragon responsible is Lennie. These two are drawn to each other despite their many differences and I enjoyed watching them work things out.
Jill Tanner does a good job with the narration of this audiobook. Her voice sounded a little bit older than I would have chosen but she won me over in the end. I believe that this is the first time that I have had the chance to listen to her work and I really enjoyed her range. She adds just the right amount of emotion to her reading to keep me hooked. I do believe that her performance added to my overall enjoyment.
I would recommend this book to others. I would recommend reading this series in order if at all possible since so many characters from previous books play a role in this story. I can’t wait to read more of this talented author’s work.
I received a review copy of this book from Kensington....more
I loved his book! I have had Jennifer Armentrout’s books on my tbr for a very long timeThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved his book! I have had Jennifer Armentrout’s books on my tbr for a very long time, but I haven’t read any of her work for one reason or another. When I got my hands on an early copy of this book, I decided that it was time to give this author a try, and let me tell you – I am impressed! This was one of those books that you just don’t want to put down and I wanted to read it at every opportunity. I am certain that if I didn’t have so many responsibilities, this would have been a book that I would have read in a single day.
Calista, or Lis, is lowborn but she has a special gift that has earned her a special place with the Baron. She sometimes has visions and can read other’s thoughts if the situations are right. Thorne is a powerful Hyhborn lord who is drawn to Lis. The chemistry between these two is palpable and the tension between them never seemed to settle down. I loved the way the world-building was done giving the reader just what is needed at the right time. And here were more than a few surprises worked in along the way.
I would highly recommend this book to others. This was a fine example of romantasy that left me eager to get my hands on the next book. I will warn readers that the story ends in a bit of a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see where things go next.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from Bramble....more
I really enjoyed this book! I fell in love with Genevieve Gornichec’s writing when I reThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I really enjoyed this book! I fell in love with Genevieve Gornichec’s writing when I read The Witch’s Heart last year. I couldn’t wait to dive into her sophomore novel. Once I started this book, I did not want to stop because I was fully invested in the fate of these 3 women. I found this to be a very entertaining novel set against a compelling Viking backdrop.
Gunnhild, Oddney, and Signy were fantastic characters. I could tell just how much they meant to each other as children. They haven’t seen each other for years but their paths cross just as Oddney and Signy’s farm is raided and Signy is taken away. They are both determined to do what it takes to get her back. This story was exciting and sometimes heartbreaking. There was just the right amount of magic and enough romance to keep things very interesting.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Nina Yndis did a remarkable job with the story. I believe that this is the first time that I have had the chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I must say that I was impressed. I thought that she did a great job of bringing this extensive cast of characters to life. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no issues listening to this book for hours at a time. I am certain that her narration only added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was drawn into this entertaining and often exciting novel featuring characters that I found easy to like. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio....more
I loved this book! I had a feeling that this was going to be really good. How can a booThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! I had a feeling that this was going to be really good. How can a book involving dragons not be really good? But this was I couldn’t put the book down and read it in 2 days even though it was longer than 500 pages good! When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it and when I finished it, I considered going back to the beginning and reading it again.
Violet was ready to live her life as a scribe. That is what she planned on and studied for. Her father was a scribe but he is now gone. Her mother is a general with other plans so she pushes Violet to become a dragon rider. The only problem is that candidates are just as likely to die as they are to bond with a dragon and survive. Violet is smaller and weaker than most of the other students so she has her work cut out for her.
This story was exciting, sometimes heartbreaking, and full of surprises. I thought that the romantic element of the story was incredibly well done. I fell in love with this cast of characters and thought that they were very well-developed, including the dragons. The world-building was very well done and I really appreciated how Violet’s knowledge that she gained for training to be a scribe was worked into the story. There were plenty of surprises and enough action to keep me glued to the pages.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrators did a wonderful job with this story. Rebecca Solar handles the bulk of the narration in this book. Anyone who is considering picking this one up because of Teddy Hamilton may be disappointed because we hear very little of his voice in this book. I thought the narrator did a great job of bringing the story to life. I liked the various voices that were used to represent the characters and I felt that she added just the right amount of emotion to her reading.
I am going to be recommending this book to everyone. I loved being with Violet as she made this journey toward becoming a dragon rider. This book was fun of action, wonderful world-building, excitement, romance, great characters, and dragons. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment in the series.
I received a review copy of this book from Recorded Books and Red Tower Books....more
This was fantastic! T. Kingfisher has packed this novella with such an interesting and This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was fantastic! T. Kingfisher has packed this novella with such an interesting and magical story. This is a different kind of Sleeping Beauty story and I couldn’t help but like our protagonist, Toadling. I was drawn into this story right away and couldn’t wait to see to story unfold. T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming an auto-buy author.
Toadling has been along for a very long time until she meets Halim. As we slowly learn what happened all those years ago, we learn just how much everyone has lost. I thought that the descriptions in this story were incredibly well done so that I could clearly imagine just what the characters were experiencing. I felt like things ended in a very hopeful manner which added to the magical fairy tale feel of the story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It was an incredibly well-done story that felt like a big story despite its limited number of pages. I am adding this one to my keeper shelf since I can easily see myself picking it up to read again in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Tor Books....more
I thought that this was a wonderful conclusion to a series that I have thoroughly enjoyThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this was a wonderful conclusion to a series that I have thoroughly enjoyed. It was wonderful to finally see Macey and Max together, although I felt like Macey was justified in being upset with her father for not being a part of her life for the past 13 years. I felt terrible for Macey at times because it seemed like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders and the man she loved was just out of reach. I have a tough time putting this book down once I started reading it.
Nicholas Iscariot is in Chicago trying to get his hands on a couple of artifacts that would give him more power. Macey, Chas, and Max will do everything in their power to make sure that does not happen. This book had many emotional ups and downs for the characters and things looked desperate at times. There was plenty of action to keep things very interesting and there were quite a few moments when I wasn’t sure how things would work out for this group of characters that I have grown to love.
I would definitely recommend this series to others. I would recommend reading the series in order since the events from previous books come into play in this installment. I hope to read more of Colleen Gleason’s work very soon.
