Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
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| Pub Date: 9-10-24 Adult - Fantasy |
Somewhere Beyond the Sea- TJ Klune: As a phoenix, Arthur Parnassus knows how to rise from the ashes. Instead of allowing the horrible events of his childhood to turn him bitter, Arthur chose to ensure no magical child would endure the abuse he did. So, he became the master of the same orphanage that once tried to break him. On their magical island, Arthur and his beloved Linus raise six magical children with the help of a sprite named Zoe and the island's occupants. But when Arthur gets summoned to state his past in front of the Department In Charge of Magical Youth, he and his family find their peaceful way of life threatened. Arthur soon finds himself in the middle of a media frenzy while juggling a new magical child who revels in calling himself a 'monster' and a meddling DICOMY inspector intent on destroying the family they've built. With the odds seemingly stacked against them, Arthur refuses to stand down from his dream of seeing a better world for magical people, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
I don't necessarily think The House in the Cerulean Sea needed a sequel, but goodness, I'm so glad Klune wrote one. I didn't know how much I needed to be back in this world with these characters. Just reading the first few pages felt like a homecoming. It was that first sip of a warm beverage after being out in the cold. While it's a tone shift from the first book, it felt right. Where the previous book felt lighthearted and whimsical, this one felt heavy and dealt with serious issues that felt relevant and timely. But Klune has a way of navigating these topics in a way that never felt bogged down. Despite all the darkness thrown at them, Arthur and his family never gave into despair or allowed anyone to diminish their light, and it was beautiful. The found family aspect remains my favorite thing about this series, and seeing them all interact will always tug on my heartstrings. I can't recommend these books enough if you need something cozy and heartfelt.
I don't necessarily think The House in the Cerulean Sea needed a sequel, but goodness, I'm so glad Klune wrote one. I didn't know how much I needed to be back in this world with these characters. Just reading the first few pages felt like a homecoming. It was that first sip of a warm beverage after being out in the cold. While it's a tone shift from the first book, it felt right. Where the previous book felt lighthearted and whimsical, this one felt heavy and dealt with serious issues that felt relevant and timely. But Klune has a way of navigating these topics in a way that never felt bogged down. Despite all the darkness thrown at them, Arthur and his family never gave into despair or allowed anyone to diminish their light, and it was beautiful. The found family aspect remains my favorite thing about this series, and seeing them all interact will always tug on my heartstrings. I can't recommend these books enough if you need something cozy and heartfelt.
Rating: 5/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 4-9-24 Adult - Contemporary |
Wild Love- Elsie Silver: Ford Grant has never asked to be in the spotlight, but growing up with a famous father meant he was used to having no personal space. When he's named World's Hottest Billionaire by Forbes, Ford decides he's had enough of the press and paparazzi and leaves to pursue his passion project of opening up a recording studio away from prying eyes. But when he gets to the small town of Rose Hill, he comes face-to-face with a young girl claiming to be his daughter. After an incident at work leaves her jobless, Rosie Belmont heads back to her small town with no plan of what to do. Desperate for anything, Rosie begs Ford for a job, and Ford, who has been in love with Rosie since they were kids, can't say no. He swears to keep things professional, but when their bickering turns heated, it's clear there's more to the tension between them than animosity.
Listen-- is this a perfect book? No. There's almost no plot. The characters picked fights like they were in grade school, and Rosie got on my nerves more often than not. But, good grief, if I wasn't invested the entire time. This was only the second of Silver's books that I read, and I don't know what she puts in these things, but I ate it up. I love seeing a MMC who is just down bad for the FMC, and that was Ford to a T. Rosie annoyed me, so I didn't see the appeal, but I loved watching how smitten Ford was. I did enjoy their banter. The relationship did feel very natural, and their chemistry was off the charts. The secondary characters were fun, and it was sweet watching Ford take on a parenting role. Despite a few bothersome things, I thought this was a solid read, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Listen-- is this a perfect book? No. There's almost no plot. The characters picked fights like they were in grade school, and Rosie got on my nerves more often than not. But, good grief, if I wasn't invested the entire time. This was only the second of Silver's books that I read, and I don't know what she puts in these things, but I ate it up. I love seeing a MMC who is just down bad for the FMC, and that was Ford to a T. Rosie annoyed me, so I didn't see the appeal, but I loved watching how smitten Ford was. I did enjoy their banter. The relationship did feel very natural, and their chemistry was off the charts. The secondary characters were fun, and it was sweet watching Ford take on a parenting role. Despite a few bothersome things, I thought this was a solid read, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 10-3-23 Adult - Fantasy |
After the Forest- Kell Woods: It's been twenty years since Greta and Hans escaped the witch in the gingerbread house, and they're struggling to get by. Their mother, father, and stepmother are all gone, and Hans has fallen into a deep gambling debt, so Greta has turned to a witch's grimoire to help keep her family afloat. Over the years, the book has been Greta's constant companion, helping her when no one else would. She's used it to perfect the most delicious gingerbread anyone in their small village has ever tasted, but she knows she must be careful that no one discovers her secret. But the villagers are a superstitious lot, and when darkness arises in the woods, they're quick to turn on Greta. All the while, Greta can feel magic growing inside her-- one that she must learn to handle before it overpowers her.
I always love a reimagined fairytale so I couldn't add this to my TBR fast enough. I had high hopes that I would love it, but unfortunately, it didn't work. I found it so dull. The characters, especially Greta, felt so wishy-washy. They lacked depth, and all felt the same. The pacing was also slower than molasses. I listened to the audiobook while reading it physically to get through it faster. It also felt like Woods combined a few other fairytales, making the plot feel too scattered. I liked the romance between Greta and Mathias, but it wasn't enough to save the rest of the story. Woods's writing was atmospheric, and her premise was interesting, but the execution was lacking.
Rating: 2/5
I always love a reimagined fairytale so I couldn't add this to my TBR fast enough. I had high hopes that I would love it, but unfortunately, it didn't work. I found it so dull. The characters, especially Greta, felt so wishy-washy. They lacked depth, and all felt the same. The pacing was also slower than molasses. I listened to the audiobook while reading it physically to get through it faster. It also felt like Woods combined a few other fairytales, making the plot feel too scattered. I liked the romance between Greta and Mathias, but it wasn't enough to save the rest of the story. Woods's writing was atmospheric, and her premise was interesting, but the execution was lacking.
Rating: 2/5
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