Tag: 5 stars

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Title: The Rules of Magic
Author: Alice Hoffman
Pub. Date: 10-Oct-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

I could not wait to get my hands on this book. Therefore, I was super excited to see it was a selection at Book of the Month. I loved Practical Magic and just knew that The Rules of Magic would be the same. I was right!

The Rules of Magic is the prequel to Practical Magic and in it we meet Jet and Franny, when they are young, along with their brother Vincent. The story starts in New York when the three siblings are still children living under what they consider harsh parental rules. They can’t wear black, red shoes, or have any books on magic, among other things. They know they are different but their parents refuse to discuss their heritage with them. Then one day an invite from their Aunt Isabelle arrives and the trio sets off to Massachusetts on their summer break for a visit.  Continue reading “The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman”

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pub. Date: 8-Aug-2010
My Rating: 5 Stars

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare has been on my to-read list for a very long time. I do not entirely know why it has taken me so long to get to this book. After all, the book has all the elements I enjoy, strong plot, memorable characters and excellent world building.

Tessa Grey arrives in England not long after her grandmother dies. Her brother, Nathaniel, has arranged for her passage and upon arriving at the dock she is meet by the Dark Sisters.  Her brother has been unavoidable detained and has sent them in his stead or so Tessa is lead to believe. The Dark Sisters quickly imprison her in their home and set about teaching her how to use her powers that she herself did not know existed.  Continue reading “Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare”

A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne

Title: A Plague of Giants
Author: Kevin Hearne
Pub. Date: 3-Oct-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

A Plague of Giants is the first book I have read by Kevin Hearne and I fell in love with the story and the author.  It is high fantasy, and the first book of a proposed trilogy. The author used a unique way to tell the story, one you will either hate or love, and it worked so well.

The story is about two invading forces of Giants, one in the north and one in the south. They invade the land of Teldwen, made up of six nations.  This invasion has become known as the Giants’ War. The story is told by Fintan, a Raelech bard, who has been gifted with magical powers (called a keening) that allows him to project his voice across vast distances and gives him an eidetic memory to be able to recall all the details of an event so that he can accurately relate the event.  Continue reading “A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne”

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Title: Sometimes I Lie
Author: Alice Feeney
Pub. Date: 13-Mar-2018
Rating: 5 Stars

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney is a chilling debut novel that you will not put down until the last sentence is devoured. This psychological thriller is in the vain of Gone Girl and is sure to keep you awake long after you have finished reading. Definitely one of the best this year.

At this point I usually give a synopsis of the plot; however, this time it is impossible to without some sort of spoiler and I hate spoilers. Believe me, this book is too good and you will be thanking me after you read it. Instead I am just giving you the blurb from the book. Continue reading “Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney”

House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick

Title: House of Shadows
Author: Nicola Cornick
Pub. Date: 17-Oct-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick is a wonderful, fictional story that has been skillfully woven into and around English history. The story line was rather complex as the reader is actually following three separate time lines, one in the 17th century, the 19th and the present.

The story opens on the death bed of Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen, as she implorers William Craven, the First Earl of Craven her faithful and devoted cavalier, to destroy a pearl and a jeweled mirror that she believed had wrought havoc in her family. The story then leaps forward to the present when Holly gets a call in the middle of the night from her niece saying her father, Holly’s brother, is missing. Continue reading “House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick”

The Scholar by J. J. Anders

Title: The Scholar
Author: J. J. Anders
Pub. Date: 21-Nov2017
Rating: 5 Stars

The Scholar by J. J. Anders is the first of two books in The Genoa Chronicles. It is a YA fantasy story about Anna a young girl who has never fit in on Earth. She knows she is different, all she has to do is look in the mirror and see her white hair and translucent skin to confirm this. She also has this unique magical gift where she can acquire all the knowledge in a book just by touching its cover.

Despite searching all her life, Anna has never found another like herself. She has absorbed knowledge from books in libraries all over the world and successfully avoided capture by the military in her quest to learn about herself.  It appears her luck has run out, or maybe she has become complacent, because she has been spotted in the library and must flee to avoid capture.  Just as the military surrounds her and Anna thinks all is lost, a young man, Leian, comes to her rescue. Continue reading “The Scholar by J. J. Anders”

The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso

Title: The Tethered Mage
Author: Melissa Caruso
Pub. Date: 24-Oct-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

The Tethered Mage is the debut novel of Melissa Caruso and is the first book in the Swords and Fire trilogy. This book is truly a great way to start a new series. The author has built a wonderful magical world full of intrigue and characters to die for.

Lady Amalia Cornaro just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is the Cornaro heir and will one day take her mother’s place on the Council of Nine. Therefore, when she inadvertently binds a young fire warlock to herself while trying to aid her it goes against all convention. The Empire does not allow a member of the council to be a Falconer for this could tip the balance of power. Continue reading “The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso”

Artemis by Andy Weir

Title: Artemis
Author: Andy Weir
Pub. Date: 14-Nov-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

Artemis by Andy Weir is the story of the struggle for control of the first lunar city and how a young smuggler got caught up in the deadly fray. There is lots of action and a main character I loved but would get so exasperated with. I have to give lots of kudos to Mr. Weir for another great story.

Jasmine, aka Jazz, immigrated to the moon with her father when she was just six years old. She is a bright young woman but suffers from poor life choices.  She currently works as a porter, though she could have chosen almost any career path given her intelligence. Being a porter allows her to smuggle in contraband from Earth with the help of her friend Kelvin. But Jazz has standards, no guns or drugs, just a few harmless items to make a bit of extra cash on the side. A girl has to make a living. Right? Continue reading “Artemis by Andy Weir”

Retrograde by Peter Cawdron

Title: Retrograde
Author: Peter Cawdron
Pub. Date: 12-Sep-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

Retrograde by Peter Cawdron is a sci-fi novel with the emphasis being on science. In addition, it is intensely suspenseful and it contains some of the elements of a thriller novel. Though it is a work of fiction, I could easily see the events described occurring within the next one hundred years.

The story is about the first human colony on Mars. The colonists consist of scientists and support personal, from a variety of countries, working together as a team to study Mars. They are almost an equal mix of male and female and represent a wide range of ethnic groups. Therefore, when the unthinkable occurs on Earth and the colony is left essentially to fend for itself it will be easy for individuals to think of themselves first and their country of origin next and not as a Martian. They will need to set aside their differences and think like Martians and use their collective intelligence if they are going to survive what is to come. Continue reading “Retrograde by Peter Cawdron”

Tobacco Sun by Lorna Hollifield

Title: Tobacco Sun
Author: Lorna Hollifield
Pub. Date: 13-Jun-2017
Rating: 5 Stars

Holy Smokes! Tobacco Sun by Lorna Hollifield has got to be one of the best written books I have had the pleasure to read this year.  It was so good, when I finished reading I had to sit there and let it simmer for a bit. The story is told from three POVs, Sydra the younger sister and Hollywood Star, Jimmi-Lyn the scarred older sister, and Vanse the lifelong friend of both. As each reflects on events during their life, the author is able to slowly and painstakingly paint a picture of the results of these experiences.

Sydra left for Hollywood just before graduating from high school with no intention of ever returning. That is until her mother dies and she is drawn back to the last place she ever expected to see again. She is there less than two days and she has already seduced Vanse and killed her father. Continue reading “Tobacco Sun by Lorna Hollifield”