Seb and the Sun by Jami Gigot

August 27, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Seb and the Sun by Jami Gigot
Publisher: Ripple Grove Press
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Seb is determined to find some light for his sleepy coastal town. It is so far north, the sun does not shine in winter and the days are cold, dreary, and dark as night. So Seb embarks on a mission to find the sun. Along with his friend Walrus, he makes a plan, collects supplies, and rows far out to sea. Will Seb be able to find the sun and bring its light and warmth back to his town?

No one is ever too young to make a difference.

There was so much kindness embedded in Seb’s community. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that showed how nicely everyone looked after each other during the long, cold, dark days of winter in the far north. It was such a safe and close-knit town that a kid could wander around asking for all sorts of things before his journey began without anyone giving it a second thought. I was delighted by the warm and cozy atmosphere this created for me as a reader.

While I definitely wouldn’t expect a fantasy story to answer every single question I had, I would have preferred to see a little more world building here. For example, I kept wondering how Seb knew where to find the sun or what he was planning to do if or when he found it. Including a few more details about this sort of thing would have encouraged me to give this a full five-star rating.

I appreciated how subtle the fantasy elements of the plot were in many places. They could have been interpreted in multiple ways, including ones that didn’t require the use of magic at all. This meant that the darkness that enveloped Seb’s town could also be seen as a metaphor for any number of possibly scary or unsettling things a kid might be dealing with. I always love it when picture books can pull something like that off.

Seb and the Sun was a magical read that I’d recommend to adults and kids alike.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Eternal by Lisa Scottline

August 26, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Eternal by Lisa Scottline
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Historical, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Ginger

What war destroys, only love can heal.

Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro grow up as the best of friends despite their differences. Elisabetta is a feisty beauty who dreams of becoming a novelist; Marco the brash and athletic son in a family of professional cyclists; and Sandro a Jewish mathematics prodigy, kind-hearted and thoughtful, the son of a lawyer and a doctor. Their friendship blossoms to love, with both Sandro and Marco hoping to win Elisabetta’s heart. But in the autumn of 1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy’s Fascists with Hitler’s Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. In time, everything that the three hold dear–their families, their homes, and their connection to one another–is tested in ways they never could have imagined.

As anti-Semitism takes legal root and World War II erupts, the threesome realizes that Mussolini was only the beginning. The Nazis invade Rome, and with their occupation come new atrocities against the city’s Jews, culminating in a final, horrific betrayal. Against this backdrop, the intertwined fates of Elisabetta, Marco, Sandro, and their families will be decided, in a heartbreaking story of both the best and the worst that the world has to offer.

Unfolding over decades, Eternal is a tale of loyalty and loss, family and food, love and war–all set in one of the world’s most beautiful cities at its darkest moment. This moving novel will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of readers.

Courage. How do you define courage?

I wasn’t going to read the latest book by Lisa Scottoline; the subject is not something that I would typically read and the length of the book is intimidating. The first day I open the book, expecting not to like it. Fast forward, a week later after finishing the book I am definitely glad that I did give the book a try. The story is a harsh real life event and may be a trigger for some but it’s a beautiful story of family, friendship, and love for people.

The author did a wonderful job in providing scenic details of the cities, and of the events during that time. I love historical reads and I admit that previously I only read history about the United States. But after reading this book it has peeked my interest on what I probably have missed out on reading especially if a story is told with such authentic details and from a heartfelt account that makes it feel personal.

The story is told from several different characters’ viewpoints. The author did this in a way that allows the reader to know thoughts and events that we otherwise may not have known or had to assume if she only voiced the words from Elisabetta D’orfeo, Sandro Simone and Marco Terrizzi. Elisabetta is about to reveal a thirteen year secret to her son. She starts her story during a time of innocence in her childhood. The events that she tell gradually unfold over decades until his birth.

I loved the relationship between the Simone and Terrizzi families. Though the Simone family was Jewish, it didn’t stop Massimo or his son Marco from risking their life to support and save Sandro’s family during the war and cruelty that the Jews suffered.

This was a history lesson and a must read. It’s heartbreaking and upsetting to me how, based on a person’s heritage or beliefs, they can either be looked upon in greatness or looked upon as less than. I was only reading the story and found myself in tears and disbelief so I can not imagine what those that lived this actually felt. The author delivers a full story, the bad and the ugly, but what stands out to me is the fight for what’s right, for equality, the fight for family and definitely the fight for those that we know and call our friend.

I define courage as letting the one that you love go so that they won’t be subjected to the harsh brutality of your heritage. I define courage as standing up for those that are less fortunate or helpless even though you risk being killed. I define courage as the author creating such an emotional story that tells such inhumane acts that should never be repeated but never should be forgotten.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Fate of Fausto by Oliver Jeffers

August 23, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Fate of Fausto by Oliver Jeffers
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

There was once a man who believed he owned everything and set out to survey what was his.

“You are mine,” Fausto said to the flower, the sheep, and the mountain, and they all bowed before him. But they were not enough for Fausto, so he conquered a boat and set out to sea . . .

Combining bold art and powerful prose, and working in traditional lithographic printmaking techniques for the first time, world-renowned talent Oliver Jeffers has created a poignant modern-day fable to touch the hearts of adults and children alike.

Greed tarnishes everything.

Fausto was honestly one of the most unlikeable characters I’ve ever met, but that was a good thing. Fables often need these types of flat protagonists in order to make their points obvious, and he served his purpose well. The fact that he was consistently portrayed in the same way over and over again no matter how many chances he had to change only made me wonder what the narrator was planning to do with him. Surely they had something special up their sleeves!

Figuring out the most appropriate age range for this tale was tricky. Most picture books are written for young children, yet the themes discussed in this one were far too complex and abstract for little ones. Middle grade readers would be the youngest audience I’d expect to connect with the storyline, and even there I noticed some things that would probably be more meaningful for teen or even adult readers. It would have been helpful if the author had been clearer about who they were and weren’t writing this for.

The ending was unusual but perfectly suited for the plot. I loved the fact that Mr. Jeffers took so many risks here. They paid off beautifully and have made me incredibly curious to read more from him. It’s always wonderful to find storytellers who know how to surprise their audiences and push the envelopes of the genre or genres they write in.

I’d recommend The Fate of Fausto to older readers who love fables.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Anybody’s Game: Kathryn Johnston, the First Girl to Play Little League Baseball by Heather Lang

August 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Anybody’s Game: Kathryn Johnston, the First Girl to Play Little League Baseball by Heather Lang
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In 1950, Kathryn Johnston wanted to play Little League baseball, but an unwritten “rule” kept girls from trying out. So she cut off her hair and tried out as a boy under the nickname “Tubby.” She made the team―and changed Little League forever. This is a story about wanting to do something so badly, you’re willing to break the rules, and how breaking those rules can lead to change.

Baseball is for everyone.

I appreciated the honest tone of this picture book, especially when it came to how difficult it was to push back against sexism in the 1950s because of how ingrained it was everywhere. Kathryn was such a brave girl for finding a clever way around the rules that allowed her to play her favorite sport. Her trendsetting changed the lives of many other kids who would eventually follow in her footsteps.

It would have been helpful to have more details included in the final scene. I was feeling sad right before I read it, so the leap to a much more hopeful emotion to end with left me wishing to know everything that happened between those two moments. This was a minor criticism of something I otherwise enjoyed. It’s simply something I’d want to research on my own before reading it to little ones who may have just as many questions as I did about what Kathryn’s life was like between those two moments.

The plot twists were exciting, especially since Kathryn knew that she wouldn’t be allowed to play baseball anymore if anyone figured out how she’d managed to be invited to join a boys-only baseball team in the first place. I earnestly hoped she’d be included for as long as possible. She’d worked so hard to master her sport and prove her worth to her teammates and coach.

I’d recommend Anybody’s Game to anyone who is a fan of baseball or who has other interests that break stereotypes.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Sea Below by William Meikle

August 17, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Sea Below by William Meikle
Publisher: Severed Press
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Horror, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

The adventurers from THE LAND BELOW return to the cavern under the Austrian Alps.

At first it is a rescue mission, but soon Danny, Stefan, Ed and Elsa find themselves in a fight for survival.

A perilous journey across an underground sea brings them to a lost island and fresh adventures, but their attempts to return to the surface only serve to make their situation worse.

Now they must flee for their lives, with all the denizens of that strange island at their heels.

When Danny received Stefan’s missive – that their mutual friend Ed had gone back underground to the caverns and other world they had recently discovered in an old caving site – Danny doesn’t hesitate. With little money to his name and even less reason to stay in London, Danny decides to go and offer whatever help his friends could use from an old soldier. Even though his dreams were still shadowed from his previous experience, Danny has no real idea of what’s in store for them all.

I really enjoyed this short story and feel it’s an excellent, quick read for those looking for an old school action/adventure with a bit of mystery and horror thrown in for good measure. While this is a sequel to The Land Below, readers should be reassured that they absolutely don’t have to have read that first installment to really enjoy this story. Even better, half the first few chapters aren’t spent re-hashing the previous book. While there isn’t much time spent describing Danny’s journey to the cave site, nor their descent down into the underground world the story is set in, I feel this time the story really reaps the rewards of having all it’s action centered fully on the caves, monsters and adventure the men have below ground. While the book is a self-contained adventure, there is not a traditional style of “happily ever after” ending. I don’t particularly mind this with mystery and adventure books, and I certainly don’t feel like the ending is a cliff-hanger or without suitable resolution, but I do feel readers should be aware the ending isn’t a traditional tying up of all the loose ends.

William Meikle – in my opinion – is an exemplary storyteller when it comes to short, action-paced and spooky stories. His writing style really flourishes in this sense and I feel he manages with true skill to straddle a number of genres. While not horror in a traditional sense, his story has monsters and things going bump in the dark. The action is there from virtually the first page and the pace is fast and I feel it really draws the reader along at a breakneck pace. I also really enjoy how he skillfully weaves the story so it’s impossible to tell what sort of period/year these two stories are set in. There are lamps, boats, trains and pulleys, engineering feats so it doesn’t feel “really” old – but the lack of computers and phones also indicates it’s not necessarily the modern world as we know it. Then again, phones and computers won’t work so deeply underground, so given the story’s setting this lack of modern technology indicating an older time period is seriously debatable. Underground caves in the middle of the isolated countryside don’t lend the story to the internet, wifi reception or satellite coverage. While I can’t quite figure this is a truly contemporary time period, I feel this story really can’t be slotted into a historical setting either – but more a vague, hazy “in between” type of time of not right now but neither in the distant past. And oddly, I enjoy the fact this story doesn’t give answers to every question that the reader will come up with. Some things are left to the readers own imagination – and isn’t that the point of reading, really?

Readers looking for an intense, fun and slightly scary monster/adventure/treasure hunt style of story should not find themselves disappointed with this. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every word and I know there will be a number of happy re-reads of this to come. Recommended.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Doll by Nhung N. Tran-Davies

August 16, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Doll by Nhung N. Tran-Davies
Publisher: Second Story Press
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A young girl and her family arrive in an airport in a new country. They are refugees, migrants who have travelled across the world to find safety. Strangers greet them, and one of them gives the little girl a doll. Decades later, that little girl is grown up and she has the chance to welcome a group of refugees who are newly arrived in her adopted country. To the youngest of them, a little girl, she gives a doll, knowing it will help make her feel welcome. Inspired by real events.

Every act of kindness matters.

There was so much compassion included in the plot. Some scenes were straightforward about the many benefits of caring about the suffering of others, while others encouraged the audience to think things through for ourselves when needed. This was a wonderful way to speak to readers of many different ages and ability levels, whether they are already naturally compassionate or are still working to improve this skill.

With that being said, the intended age group this picture book seemed to be written for felt a bit too large to me. Some portions appeared to be written for preschoolers, while others touched on serious topics like why refugees are forced to leave their home countries that would be more interesting and appropriate for older elementary students. While I appreciated the fact that the author tried to reach so many different ages, I do think the story would have benefitted from reducing its scope a little so that it could go into more detail about issues related to this type of immigration. It’s an important subject that older kids should definitely be educated on.

The ending was by far my favorite part of it all. It had a straightforward message that built on everything the author had decided to include in this fictionalized version of something that really happened to her as a child. I loved the fact that it trusted its audience to make certain logical leaps between the narrator’s memories and what she hoped everything would take away from her tale. It was a nice way to wrap things up in the end.

The Doll was a heartwarming read.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Body Counts: A Memoir of Activism, Sex, and Survival by Sean Strub

August 12, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Body Counts: A Memoir of Activism, Sex, and Survival by Sean Strub
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Historical, Contemporary, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

As a politics-obsessed Georgetown freshman, Sean Strub arrived in Washington, DC, from Iowa in 1976, with a plum part-time job running a Senate elevator in the US Capitol. He also harbored a terrifying secret: his attraction to men. As Strub explored the capital’s political and social circles, he discovered a parallel world where powerful men lived double lives shrouded in shame.

When the AIDS epidemic hit in the early 1980s, Strub was living in New York and soon found himself attending “more funerals than birthday parties.” Scared and angry, he turned to radical activism to combat discrimination and demand research. Strub takes you through his own diagnosis and inside ACT UP, the organization that transformed a stigmatized cause into one of the defining political movements of our time.

From the New York of Studio 54 and Andy Warhol’s Factory to the intersection of politics and burgeoning LGBT and AIDS movements, Strub’s story crackles with history. He recounts his role in shocking AIDS demonstrations at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as well as at the home of US Sen­ator Jesse Helms. With an astonishing cast of characters, including Tennessee Williams, Gore Vidal, Keith Haring, Bill Clinton, and Yoko Ono, this is a vivid portrait of a tumultuous era.

I wanted a hard-hitting book that would make me think and this one fit the bill.

I’d seen this book on lists at the library and decided I wanted to try it, so I did. This book is well-written and thought-provoking. I can’t imagine going through the things Sean Strub did–seeing friends and lovers die of a disease no one wanted to deal with. He paints a vivid picture of the epidemic and how it wasn’t handled, but how it also affected him as a person. It’s not an easy read. It’s painful in spots because of the emotion involved.

I love how he managed to take his diagnosis and turn it into something positive. He created POZ magazine, despite running into roadblocks.

This is a good, but mentally tough book that should be read by anyone wanting to know more about AIDS or activism. Recommended.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase

August 9, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Dukes Prefer Blondes by Loretta Chase
The Dressmakers series, book 4
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Biweekly marriage proposals from men who can’t see beyond her (admittedly breathtaking) looks are starting to get on Lady Clara Fairfax’s nerves. Desperate to be something more than ornamental, she escapes to her favorite charity. When a child is in trouble, she turns to tall, dark, and annoying barrister Oliver Radford.

Though he’s unexpectedly found himself in line to inherit a dukedom, Radford’s never been part of fashionable society, and the blonde beauty, though not entirely bereft of brains, isn’t part of his plans. But Clara overwhelms even his infallible logic, and when wedlock looms, all he can do is try not to lose his head over her . . .

It’s an inconvenient marriage by ordinary standards, but these two are far from ordinary. Can the ton’s most adored heiress and London’s most difficult bachelor fall victim to their own unruly desires?

She’s beautiful and he’s breathtaking. It’s a match made in heaven, right?

These two are so wrong for each other, it’s right. The writing was crisp in this story and I had to see what would happen next. I mean, I had to. Would they stay together? Would they even make it that far? I had to know. I’ve read others by Loretta Chase and I’m glad I read this one, too.

I do have to admit I got a bit tired of hearing how wonderful and beautiful the heroine was. Yes, she’s pretty and yes, she’s not taken at personal value because men can’t see beyond her looks, which is sad, but it got a tad repetitive. It was like the author was pushing too hard to remind the reader Clara is perfect. Raven is flawed and I liked that because he’s tough around the edges and doesn’t always take her seriously, but it worked for me.

This was a good read and I’m glad I picked it up. I’m going to look for the others in this series.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Butcher Boy Rebellion by Robert H. Cherny

August 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Butcher Boy Rebellion by Robert H. Cherny
Publisher: Club Lighthouse
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Standing in the blood of the man who tried to kill him, the boy, almost a man, froze, horrified at what he had done. The head, separated from the body, lay face down in the forest undergrowth. Blood flowed from the open neck onto the mat of decaying leaves. There had been no time. There had been no time to think. No time to plan. Only one would walk away from that confrontation in the woods. The boy had gotten the better of this man who had killed many before him.

When the woman, dressed to blend into the forest, emerged from behind the trees to admire his handiwork pointing her crossbow at him, he thought he might have killed for naught. Little did any of the handful of people standing in the forest that day know the changes that this one death put in motion.

Anyone who wants to survive in this world needs to think and react quickly. There is no time for second guessing here!

The pacing was fast and exciting. I liked the way the author leapt straight into the action in the first scene. It helped me immerse myself in this world immediately. Pertinent details like certain backstories popped up later, but in the beginning all I really needed to know was that the protagonist was a skilled butcher by trade who had excellent fighting skills.

I struggled to keep track of the large cast of characters in this novella. New folks were introduced so rapidly that I didn’t have much time to get to know them before the next batch of people showed up. There also wasn’t a great deal of time spent describing them and their personalities even for the main characters. When combined with the large cast, this made it even harder to remember who was who.

The snappy dialogue kept me coming back for more. This was a heavily plot-based tale, so it made perfect sense for the characters to stick to the facts and spend as little time on long or unnecessary conversations as possible. I appreciated how careful everyone was with their words. That made perfect sense given the setting and rapidly-developing plot.

Butcher Boy Rebellion kept me perched on the edge of my seat from the first scene to the last one. Anyone who enjoys adventurous fantasy novellas should give it a try.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Hallowmas Train by Gloria Pearson-Vasey

August 3, 2021 By 7 Comments


The Hallowmas Train by Gloria Pearson-Vasey
Publisher: Tellwell Talent
Genre: Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rated: 4 stares
Reviewed by Rose

BOOK 1: Prosper Station

With Hallowmas approaching, time travellers Azur Moonstorey and companions exit the local library to board the midnight train bound for 19th-century Prosper Station. Their mission: to rescue Azur’s sister from the eerie dimension Vapourlea.

BOOK 2: Black Springs Abbey

After her harrowing rescue from Vapourlea, Hilma Moonstorey is still beset by anxiety and insecurities. Encouraged to take a position at Black Springs Abbey by young police constable Garth Mayfield, she soon discovers that the dilapidated abbey houses not only elderly nuns but ghosts and dark secrets.

Two books for the price of one! And two really good books at that. I love these characters – I love the worldbuilding. I have to admit, I like the first book a little bit better than the last book, but they were both enchanting in their own way.

Book one sets up the world of the sensointuitives and the Hallowmas Train that helps the time travellers go back and forth between the present and the 19th century. I loved the way the characters worked and grew together. The author did a tremendous job on describing the setting, and the twists and turns in the plot kept me on my toes.

Book two takes place five years later and deals with Hilma and the way she helps solve a mystery at Black Springs Abbey. We get to see the characters from book two and find out what’s going on in their lives as well, which is a plus.

I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for more of this author’s writings and I hope she sets more stories in Providence Crossing and Prosper Station. 4 stars.


Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,
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