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She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.
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Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Retelling Publisher: Fire & Ice YA Publication Date: March 20, 2018 Pages: 264 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads & Storygraph Buy on: Amazon, Indigo, Kobo Nora knows three things: she is a servant, her parents are dead, and she lives in the kitchen house with her adoptive family. But her world is torn apart when she discovers that her birth father has always been right there, living in the house she serves. This discovery leads Nora to more questions. Why was she thrown in an ash-covered room for asking about her father? Why is a silver-bladed knife the only inheritance from her birth mother? Why is magic forbidden in her household—and throughout the province of the Runes? The answers may not be the ones Nora hoped for, as they threaten a possible romance and her relationship with the adoptive family she loves. With the announcement of a royal ball, Nora must decide what she is willing to give up in order to claim her stolen birthright, and whether this new life is worth losing her family—and herself. I received a copy of this book from the author for free and I am leaving a review voluntarily.I know I have said this before but I honestly love fairy tale retellings. Even if some of them can be hits or misses. This book, in my opinion, is a definite hit. Now, don't mistake this for the syrupy sweet Disney version of Cinderella. This is a darker, Gothic tale where the main character Nora is incredibly realistic; she let curiosity break her of the mould that would have truly held her back. Even at the cost of following in her mother's footsteps. I really enjoyed that the love of her adoptive parents and her friendship with Jack was an anchor, and kept her from diving too deeply and learned what she needed to know of the outside world. This was one of those stories that I wished didn't end, it was just that good. I will definitely revisit this story for years to come. RatingMolly Lazer is a former associate editor at Marvel Comics, where she worked on books such as Fantastic Four, Captain America, New Avengers, and cult favorite comic book Spider-Girl. After returning to graduate school to receive a degree in education, she began a career as a high school reading, writing, and drama teacher. She also serves as a professional critiquer for Comics Experience, helping aspiring comic book writers finesse scripts for publication. In 2016, Molly received a MFA in Creative Writing from Rosemont College. Her short stories have been featured in numerous literary magazines including Gone Lawn, LIT, and Silver Blade. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and twin sons. Owl Eyes is her first novel. Connect with Molly
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Genre: Dark Fantasy, Folklore, Horror Publisher: One More Page Publication Date: June 16, 2016 Pages: 216 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads & StoryGraph Buy: Amazon He locked himself away from the dark, but in the Magpie King’s forest nowhere is safe… Lonan is an outcast, accused of letting the monsters that stalk the night into the homes of his fellow villagers. Now, he will not rest until he wins back the heart of his childhood love and reclaims the life that was stolen from him. However, locked safely in his cellar at night, in his dreams Lonan finds himself looking through the eyes of a young prince… Adahy has a destiny, and it terrifies him. How can he hope to live up to the legend of the Magpie King, to become the supernatural protector of the forest and defender of his people? But when the forest is invaded by an inhuman force, Adahy must rise to this challenge or let the Wolves destroy his people. Watching these events unfold in his sleep, Lonan must do what he can to protect his village from this new threat. He is the only person who can keep his loved ones from being stolen away after dark, and to do so he will have to earn back their trust or watch the monsters kill everyone that he holds dear. They Mostly Come Out At Night is a Dark Fantasy novel from Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld series, set in a captivating, dangerous world in which ordinary people struggle to find their place in a land ruled by stories. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.Oh, I absolutely love a tale about creepy happenings in a forest village, for sure! I absolutely enjoyed the concept that the day is safe, the night is dangerous. During the day, everyone in the village has a purpose with a knack or a skill that helps the village. Lonan, the boy who screamed in the night and caused his father's death, his knack seems to be prophetic dreams. He goes on quite the adventure to earn his village's trust and protect them from what he see's in his dreams. I love that this story touches on so many folktales from different cultures. This has a little of everything for every reader all over the world because of that. Reimagining folktales is one of my absolute favourite genres. Also considering that this tale is also three separate stories in one, I definitely give the author props for making the story meld coherently together. This is such an enchanting story with fantastic world-building and excellent characters. Definitely worth the 5 Stars! RatingBenedict Patrick is from a small town in Northern Ireland called Banbridge, but has been living and working in Scotland since he moved there at the age of eighteen. Tragically, that was quite a while ago.
He has been writing for most of his life, and has been reading for pretty much all of it (with help from mum and dad at the beginning). Benedict's life changed when a substitute primary school teacher read his class part of The Hobbit and later loaned him the book – he fell in love with the fantasy genre and never looked back.They Mostly Come Out At Night is his debut novel, and is the first novel in The Yarnsworld series. Genre: Humour, Contemporary, Short Story Publisher: Barnes and Noble Press Publication Date: February 14, 2020 Pages: 30 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads Buy on B&N A little angler fish asks a very big question. PG-13. I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a review voluntarily.Oh the questions that angler fish ponder, I wonder! This was the cutest, sweetest adult picture book (which we so need more of!). I read it to my best friend and former boyfriend before our lunch date together. It was just the right story for our day! Even though this is meant for adults, I think teenagers could definitely benefit from the meaning of the story. 100% recommend this uplifting book! What did I rate the book?Siobhan Hill is a New York born comic artist and writer. She's received her education from the Savannah College of Art and Design, with a bachelors degree in Sequential Art and minors in Creative Writing as well as Game Design. She's lead stage, costume and prop design for NY theaters as well as written numerous plays for professional and novice actors alike, including her adaptation of the Hobbit which was called a "Magnificent Adventure" by Hudson Valley Parent and "Impressively Brought to Life" by the Sugar Loaf Times. She currently has two novels in the works and a third, Am I Ugly, will hit Barnes and Noble in February 2020. Connect with SiobhanGenre: Dystopian, Science Fiction Publisher: Cerebral Books Publication Date: October 13, 2011 Pages: 278 Format: Mobi Add to GoodReads Buy from Amazon George Irwin remembers a time before the Big Climate Change, back when the airlines were still in business, back when people still drove their own cars and the bulk of humanity had not yet been driven underground. Back when all people were still people despite their eye color or which class they were born into. . . . The world has changed much over his lifetime, but George still believes in the American Dream. However, when an alleged terrorist act lands his wife in the hospital, George stumbles upon a secret that could mean the end of all civilization. World-Mart takes place in a not-too-distant future, one in which the collective and all-powerful entity known as "Corporate" owns and controls every aspect of society. One held in place by complacency and mediocrity. One that could very easily come to pass . . . very soon. What does your future look like? I received this book for free and I am voluntarily leaving a review.I love Ms. Lane's writing and her stories. They hit close to home with a society run by corporations that govern everything from what you eat to how much electricity you can use to what happens if your family members fall ill. That part was terrifying, especially as we're in a pandemic currently. The characters were written well. The world building was awesome and the story was totally awesome, through and through. Perfect story. In addition to writing dark speculative fiction for over twenty-five years, Leigh M. Lane has sung lead and backup vocals for bands ranging from classic rock to the blues, dabbled in fine arts, and earned a black belt in karate. She has a BA in English and graduated from UNLV Magna Cum Laude. She currently lives in the dusty outskirts of Sin City with her husband, an editor and educator, and one very spoiled cat. Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Science Fiction Publisher: Kalamity Press Publication Date: June 1, 2016 Pages: 180 Format: ePub Add to GoodReads Buy on Amazon | B&N This isn't a story about a normal girl. Don't get me wrong, I would love to be a normal girl, but considering my dad is a professional, unionised minion and has worked for such villainous luminaries as the Crash and Burn Twins, Doctor Death (the Third and Fourth versions), Yellow Peril and Captain Calamari, chances of living out my life with any kind of normality are pretty slim. I'm surprised our family has survived this long. My name's Charlie Conti and I'm fourteen years old. I'm a bit of a nerd, I guess, because my role models are Marie Curie and Maryam Mirzakhani instead of Miley Cyrus or any of the Kardashians. I guess I have a bit of a mad scientist streak in me, although I have no interest in taking over the world or anything. I just want to live the regular kind of life. And that brings me to this story. You see, my dad has dragged me and my little brother, Luca, away from Melbourne where I've spent most of my life so far. Out of the Light and into the Darkness of regional Victoria to a coastal town called Henty Bay. Yeah, I'd never heard of it either. I can see the benefits though. After all the problems with the Port Melbourne Intifada, where Captain Calamari totally lost it and my dad ended up at the bottom of Port Phillip Bay, we had to leave the city. There were some harsh words thrown around and maybe a few vendettas were forged in the fires of the moment. So we had to move. Dad, or The Undertaker as he's known in the business, was damaged goods. The most he could hope for if he stayed in Melbourne would have been prolonged unemployment. The more likely outcome would have been a long stay in prison or a knife in the back. I'm not being melodramatic. These kinds of things do happen. The family's new plan is to move to Henty Bay so Luca and I can grow up and live normal lives. Maybe even go to university and get an office job with superannuation and a chance to grow old without having to worry about dodging laser beams and undead Vikings. My brother and I have our own little dreams. Luca wants a puppy, or a bearded dragon lizard thing; and I just want to stay longer than six months in the one school. I told you I was a nerd. I received this eBook from the authors in exchange for an honest review.Holy ray guns, stun guns and shrinking fathers Batman! I absolutely love books with spunky, not normal girls! They're usually the best heroine's. Charlie, however, would love to be normal and spend more than 6 months in a school and her brother would like to get a pet, which is hard to have when you need to move all the time. One thing I would say is that Charlie is very responsible and smart, she handles problems that even grown-ups would chew their nails anxiously at, but at the same time she is relatable. Being a kid of the mid-80's and 90's, I grew up on the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" and this was totally up my alley. About a month ago, my best friend and her son asked me if I had any cool, not-normal, kind of introverted kids books that I had read. I knew then that this was the book to recommend to my nephew. His mom bought it and she said he read it every day until he was done. On FaceTime, I received two thumbs up with him saying he loved the book! Star RatingI would definitely recommend this book for all ages. Not just middle-grade. It's interesting enough to draw in adults (especially young at heart adults ;) ). Ben Langdon was born in Geelong, Victoria, and is a graduate of Deakin University. He is the author of e Miranda Contract and e Halo E ect, editor of is Mutant Life, and a high school teacher in Portland, Victoria (which may, or may not, be the alter ego for Henty Bay).
Connect with Ben: Twitter | GoodReads Eliza Langdon was also born in Geelong and is the daughter of Ben. After complaining that she didn’t like reading books, the father and daughter team decided to write their own, featuring a spunky girl called Charlie Conti. Eliza attends Portland Secondary College and loves reading comics, cooking up storms in the kitchen, and binge-watching TV series on DVD. Genre: Fantasy Publisher: KDP Publishing Date: June 4, 2018 Pages: 465 Format: Paperback Add to Goodreads Buy: Amazon SynopsisThe natural world was dead. Archaic gods and legends withered away, forgotten by mankind in their lust for industrial advancement. The Time Fathers of Panagea kept their divisions’ times in check, but they couldn’t keep the land from crumbling beneath their feet. Nicholai Addihein rules the Southeastern division’s world of coal, steam, and iron. An impulsive decision soon bucks him from his status as a respected leader when he stops his division’s time to save his love, Lilac, from an untimely death. He finds committing the ultimate taboo comes with the ultimate punishment: the Time Fathers want him killed, and the already fragile earth deteriorates even faster, leaving millions dead. Falling from grace lands Nicholai in the company of Captain Kazuaki Hidataka and his crew of outcasts. While safe from the Time Fathers at sea, Nicholai is at the mercy of the captain and his crew. But when a discovery unveils the existence of the last Earth Mother, Umbriel, and the foundation of lies in which the Time Fathers are built, an uprising begins. Through bloodshed and revolution, there is no good or bad: only doing what one thinks is right. The Tree That Grew Through Iron showcases the intricate balance of mankind’s relationship with his environment, and himself. RatingReviewI received this Book from the Author in Exchange for an Honest Review.This has been one of my most favourite reads, ever. To say I devoured the book would be an understatement. I had to convince myself to slow down and live life outside of the book but it didn't stop me from thinking about it! I think that hardest part of reading this novel was knowing that the path that we, as a general population, and our political leaders are on the same path that those of the dead world of Panagea's world. A world dominated by men who make the rules and hold the reigns tightly, despite the obvious balance of the world being out and the citizens are dying. Nicholai He broke all the rules to save the love of his life. Stopping the Southeastern division's time in order to find a way to save her. He clearly grew up not knowing really how to survive the outside world. But his knowledge of how division's work and the behaviour of the leaders came quite in handy for him. He was quite lucky to find Kazuaki Hidataka and his crew. A group absolutely willing to do what it takes to overthrow the leaders. What they find is the hope to restore Panagea to its former glory. This was a phenomenal epic fantasy full of monsters, myths, spells and the battle to restore a dying world. This, for sure, has become a favourite that I will recommend over and over! About the AuthorMcKenzie Austin has always enjoyed her relationship with the creative arts. Like any whirlwind romance, she finds the ebbs and flows of the artistic process as challenging as they are rewarding. A tattoo artist by trade, McK is intimately familiar with the art world. Writing has always been the most ambitious undertaking, however, as her inherent demand for quality often keeps her from publishing her works. She resides with her family in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and hopes to publish a follow up to The Tree That Grew Through Iron in the future. Contact McKenziePublisher: Glass Apple Press Publication Date: April 9, 2016 Pages: 464 Format: PDF Add to Goodreads About the Book
A Girl’s Worst Nightmare is Her Mother ...
Priscilla Martin. She’s the diva of Morning Glory Circle and a driving force in the quaint California town of Snapdragon. Overseer of garage sales and neighborhood Christmas decorations, she is widely admired. But few people know the real woman behind the perfectly coiffed hair and Opium perfume. Family is Forever. And Ever and Ever ... No one escapes Prissy’s watchful eye. No one that is, except her son, who committed suicide many years ago, and her daughter, Claire, who left home more than a decade past and hasn’t spoken to her since. But now, Priscilla’s daughter and son-in-law have fallen on hard times. Expecting their first child, the couple is forced to move back … And Prissy is there to welcome them home with open arms … and to reclaim her broken family. The Past Isn’t Always as Bad as You Remember. Sometimes it’s Worse ... Claire has terrible memories of her mother, but now it seems Priscilla has mended her ways. When a cache of vile family secrets is uncovered, Claire struggles to determine fact from fiction, and her husband, Jason, begins to wonder who the monster really is. Lives are in danger - and Claire and Jason must face a horrifying truth … a truth that may destroy them … and will forever change their definition of “Mother.” Where to Buy
My Rating
Review
I received this eBook from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
Maybe my mind is a bit weird but this was one of the best books that I have read so far this year. Prissy Martin is possibly more messed up than the whole Foxworth/Dollanganger families!
Now this isn't a story for everyone. The story touches on some pretty tough topics such as incest, emotional and mental abuse, sexual abuse and Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy. These topics, of course, are not easy topics to handle at all. I definitely do not recommend this for everyone. Prissy, from first appearances, is that annoying busybody of the neighbourhood. She is like a Stepford Wife, robotic in her dealings with anything that goes on in her cul-de-sac called Morning Glory. Everyone had their secrets and she knew them all. She despised them all for them, despite holding her own secrets. Many of these secrets being much worse than the neighbours secrets. As the novel went on, more and more was revealed. It was no wonder that Claire left as soon as she could. Sadly Claire's husband Jason was blind to Prissy's mania and often thought his wife's reactions were pregnancy hormones. It took a long time for me to appreciate him as a character because of this. Claire, sometimes, was a little aggressive in her reactions. But after learning the secrets that even Claire was not privy to, it changed Prissy from mania to a complete detachment of reality. It was quite the story line and an exciting read too. I couldn't wait to find out what other skeletons could be dug out of the closet. About the Authors
Tamara Thorne has collected ghost stories, true and fictional, since she saw her first Twilight Zone as a tot, and continues to this day. In addition to writing novels and stories of the paranormal, she also writes non-fiction and is an active ghost hunter. She makes her home in southern California with her husband and their feline family and when she’s not writing, can be found haunting ghost towns, phantom-filled hotel rooms, and other spooky places. Tamara loves to hear from her readers. Whether you have questions or comments or would like to share your own ghostly experience,come visit her at her website www.tamarathorne.com.
Alistair Cross' debut novel, The Crimson Corset, a vampiric tale of terror and seduction, was an immediate bestseller earning praise from veteran vampire-lit author, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and New York Times bestseller, Jay Bonansinga, author of The Walking Dead series. In 2012, Alistair joined forces with international bestseller, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write - among other things - the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Their debut collaboration, The Cliffhouse Haunting, was a bestseller. They are currently at work on their next solo novels and a new collaborative project.
In 2014, Alistair and Tamara began the radio show, Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!, which has featured such guests as Charlaine Harris of the Southern Vampire Mysteries and basis of the HBO series True Blood, Jeff Lindsay, author of the Dexter novels, Jay Bonansinga of The Walking Dead series, Laurell K. Hamilton of the Anita Blake novels, Peter Atkins, screenwriter of HELLRAISER 2, 3, and 4, worldwide bestseller V.C. Andrews, and New York Times best sellers Preston & Child, Christopher Rice, and Christopher Moore. Connect with Alistair
Publisher: iUniverse Publication Date: July 6, 2007 Pages: 292 Format: Paperback Add to GoodReads About the Book
Still Alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman's sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer's disease, written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University.
Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the Cape, is a celebrated Harvard professor at the height of her career when she notices a forgetfulness creeping into her life. As confusion starts to cloud her thinking and her memory begins to fail her, she receives a devastating diagnosis: early onset Alzheimer's disease. Fiercely independent, Alice struggles to maintain her lifestyle and live in the moment, even as her sense of self is being stripped away. In turns heartbreaking, inspiring and terrifying, Still Alice captures in remarkable detail what's it's like to literally lose your mind... My RatingMy Review
For months, my best friend had begged me to please read this book even though I told her it was on my TBR list. Finally I gave into the endless pestering and from her recent book choices for me to read (whispers: I think she might be trying to torture me.) I cried. And cried. And cried some more.
For most of us, we tend to think of Alzhemier's as something people only develop when they're older. This book goes above and beyond to prove that is not true. This book will completely dispel any idea you think you know about this terrible disease. Personally though, because this is a book to movie review, I did find that the book was significantly better. While I love Julianne Moore, I felt that the movie was rushed and there was such a disconnect between all the family members. The eldest children were completely devoid of emotion while the youngest daughter was trying so hard to care. Even the movie husband wasn't like the book husband. So this is definitely one of those "the book is better". This is such a sad story though. To watch a brilliant mind be slowly consumed by endless forgetfulness and general confusion of her whereabouts. It was a slow loss of the grip of reality. But it was also how her family coped and how they learned that this disease is rapid and can and will change everything. Although there is a significant amount of medical knowledge in the story, it didn't really take away from the book or pollute the general feeling of the storyline. In fact, it showed exactly who Alice and John were and how serious they were when it came to finding ways to help Alice decline comfortably. I do recommend this story, however, I recommend bringing many tissues. And although the movie didn't have the same atmosphere, nothing beats Julianne Moore's acting, as always. Where to Buy |
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"The cosmos is within us. We are all made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself." - Carl Sagan Archives
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