Liberty Frye and the Witches of Hessen Book Review

Liberty Frye and the Witches of Hessen

J.L. McCreedy

 

Rating (out of 5): 5

Genre: Children's Fantasy

Release Date: January 16, 2014

Series: None

Series Volume:N/A

Profanity: None

Violence: None

Sexual Content: None

Age Recommendation: 8+

Author Website: http://libertyfrye.com/



Summary:


The average ten-year-old girl seldom travels far from home. She doesn't worry about being kidnapped by witches or imprisoned in medieval castles where children meet their unspeakable demise. She rarely gives thought to curses, potions and magic. She certainly isn't concerned about risking life and limb to decipher ancient rites and lost treasures....

But Liberty Frye is about to discover that she is not just an average girl.

When a cryptic note from long-lost relatives arrives, the news it brings flips Libby's small-town existence upside down. Soon, she finds herself lured to a foreign land where retired witches, talking bats and geriatric World War II pilots await. It's up to Libby to unravel the sinister plot that brought her there in the first place, but in so doing, she'll uncover a shocking secret that will change her life forever ... if she survives the challenge.

Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading this book, but I was very happy with how it turned out. Liberty Frye and the Witches of Hessen is the surprisingly delightful story of a young girl who is much more than even she can imagine.

The story is a lighthearted tale of Liberty really coming into her own as a girl. Through her adventures she learns to be courageous and has to use her wits more than once to get her out of a tight spot. Friendship is a key in this book and it is displayed very well, not only through Liberty and her friend Ginny but also in the relationships around her.

This book is very well written. Each line of dialogue and description flows smoothly and the writing never feels choppy or forced. It is well paced and while the action really starts later in the book it didn't feel like it took all that long for things to really get rolling. The author's voice really shines in this book as well setting it apart from others. The story is very funny while also staying true to itself. It's well balanced and doesn't shy away from the darker side of things.

The characters are a delight to read. Liberty has a wonderful personality that makes her out to be a genuine kid. She never acts above her age but always reacts in a way that is believable. Her friend Ginny is much the same and both girls grow exceptionally through the story. The other characters are fun and interesting and the villain is well written.

Both kids and adults will really enjoy Libby's adventure and I'd recommend it to anyone in need of a good fairy tale or light fantasy story.  It was a great read, and one that I'll probably read again.

Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley for my fair and honest opinion as I have stated above.

~Dawn

In the Field of Grace Book Review

In the Field of Grace

Tessa Afshar

Rating (out of 5): 4

Genre: Inspirational Historical Fiction

Release Date: July 1, 2014

Series: None

Series Volume:N/A

Profanity: None

Violence: None

Sexual Content: None

Age Recommendation: 12+

Author Website:http://www.tessaafshar.com/




Summary:

Destitute, grief-stricken, and unwanted by the people of God, Ruth arrives in Israel with nothing to recommend her but Naomi's, love. Her loftiest hope is to provide enough food to save Naomi and herself from starvation.

But God has other plans for her life. While everyone considers Ruth an outcast, she is astounded to find one of the most honored men of Judah showing her favor.  Long since a widower and determined to stay that way, Boaz is irresistibly drawn to the foreign woman with the haunted eyes. He tells himself he is only being kind to his Cousin Naomi's chosen daughter when he goes out of his way to protect her from harm, but his heart knows better.

Based on the biblical account of Ruth, In the Field of Grace is the story of a love that ultimately changes the course of Israel's destiny and the future of the whole world.

Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book. This is is first time I've read a fictionalized account of a book from the Bible so I was both curious and excited when I got this book. In the Field of Grace is a well crafted book that stays true to the book of Ruth. The author does a wonderful job of balancing fact and fiction and paints a beautiful picture of what Ruth may have gone through on her journey.

The book started out feeling a little slow, but the pace picked up as I continued reading through it.The story, as I've said, stays true to the book of Ruth. The author adds in a good amount of detail about the character's surroundings and paints a vivid picture of what life was like for Ruth and her family. I never felt lost or confused by an aspect of their culture, everything was explained or written in a way that the reader could understand what was going on.

Tessa Afshar does a great job of pulling us inside Ruth's mind even while writing in third person. I really enjoyed reading from both her and Boaz's perspectives throughout the book, though sometimes it was hard to distinguish when the perspective changed. Each of the other characters were well written and stayed true to their historical counterparts. The fictionalized characters were fully fleshed out and I really enjoyed getting to know them. 

I really enjoyed the way the author went through the entire book of Ruth instead of simply stopping at the marriage and giving us a summary of what happened next in an epilogue. I found it both surprising and interesting that she chose to do it this way. I didn't expect a full chapter on Ruth and Boaz's lives after their wedding much less the 3-4 more chapters that we got. It was a great passage of the book that wrapped up any and all loose threads of the story.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the epilogue. It seemed random and it really pulled me out of the story. I can understand why the author put it in, but the fact that we jumped so many years into the future with little to no explanation was jarring. 

Overall the book was a good read. It was a wonderful chance to re-visit one of my favorite books of the Bible and I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into what life may have been like for Ruth and her family. I would recommend it to anyone in need of a good historical, inspirational, or romantic read. 


Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley for my fair and honest opinion as I have stated above. 


~Dawn 

 

The Hostage Prince Book Review

The Hostage Prince

Jane Yolen & Adam Stemple

Rating (out of 5): 4.5

Genre: Children's/Young Adult Fantasy

Release Date: June 13, 2013

Series: The Seelie Wars

Series Volume:1

Profanity: None

Violence: Very Mild

Sexual Content: None

Age Recommendation: 12+

Author Website:
http://janeyolen.com/
http://www.adamstemple.com/
http://theseeliewars.com/

Summary:

Snail and Prince Aspen are unlikely companions. Snail is a midwife's apprentice; Aspen is a prince held hostage to prevent a war. Due to a series of misunderstandings, the two find themselves on the run, having adventure after mishap after scary, fast-paced escape. When they reach Aspen's kingdom, they learn to their horror that their actions have divided the country and plunged it into violence. Every minute counts: it is time for Snail and Aspen to figure out a way to stop the building war—together.

The Hostage Prince is a fast-paced, funny, exciting fantasy novel for young readers, both male and female. And who better to start tweens on their journey than Jane Yolen (“America's Hans Christian Andersen”—Time) and her son, Adam Stemple!

Review:

I found this book almost on accident after browsing through a bookstore, I was on my way out and this gem caught my eye. The Hostage Prince has a little of everything I love, underdogs, royalty, the fey, and most of all the set up for a really great story.

The Hostage Prince focuses on Snail, a midwife's apprentice in the Unseelie castle and her companion Prince Aspen a Seelie prince held hostage to prevent the two sides from going to war. The story opens up with the castle getting ready for the Unseelie Queen to have a baby. After a series of unfortunate events Snail and Aspen find themselves thrown together in an attempt to escape the castle, and accidentally starting a war in the process.

Snail is a delightful heroine with her sarcastic wit and take charge attitude. I liked her from the start, and she only grew on me through the book. Aspen is a prince unused to friends or being pushed around by those of lower status than him, but he still tries to be polite and proper. Snail is good for him, and I think by the end of this series he will make a wonderful hero in his own way. The other characters aren't as formed as the main one's but they still each have a personality of their own and I can't wait to see more of them in future books.

The story started a little slow, and I was expecting certain things to happen faster than they did, but after it got going The Hostage Prince was a fast paced adventure that kept me turning pages to see how Aspen and Snail would get out of each bit of trouble they found themselves in. I found myself wondering how the Unseelie Queen's baby was going to play into things, and what special role the Stickman would play in the rest of the series. The authors did a great job of portraying the Unseelie and Seelie worlds for children to understand and their world building was excellent.

Jane Yolen and her son Adam Stemple have crafted a very well written first book in what hopes to be a great series and I can't wait to read the rest. This will be a great read for anyone who is a fan of fairy books, fantasy, and is great for young and old.

~Dawn

The Silver Rings Book Review

The Silver Rings

Samuel Valentino

Rating (out of 5): 4.5

Genre: Children's Fantasy

Release Date: July 1, 2014

Series: None

Series Volume: N/A

Profanity: None

Violence: Very Mild

Sexual Content: None

Age Recommendation: 10+

Author Website: http://www.samuelvalentino.com/



Summary:

Alice and Celia are identical — as twins, and as the recipients of ghastly treatment from their horrid stepmother and stepsisters. To escape, they flee to their fairy godmother Mozzarella’s house. There, Mozzarella advises them to separate and make their way in the world, offering them the rather dubious assurances of troll skin disguises and silver, somewhat magical, rings.

Alice manages to find an abandoned cave of treasure, and settles in to blissful solitude. Celia, on the other hand, runs afoul of a bad-tempered witch, and is promptly turned into a frog. Informed by her magic ring of Celia’s peril, but not her whereabouts, Alice sets out to rescue her. Instead, she finds herself atop a glass mountain, avoiding the love-struck Prince Randall. With Alice’s quest at a standstill, and Celia still enchanted, will the sisters ever realize the high hopes that their godmother envisioned?

Review:

The Silver Rings caught my attention with it's fairy tale mash up plot and adorable cover, so naturally I was excited to start it. After reading the first few chapters of The Silver Rings I wanted to hate it. The whole thing seemed too over the top for me. I was expecting it to be a little ridiculous from the book's summary but what I was given was almost overwhelming. Thankfully I stuck it out to the end and was pleasantly surprised by the delightful story, hilarious characters, and silly hijinks of the plot. The writing style really grew on me, and I found myself looking forward to the next wild thing to happen.

This book tells the story of twin sisters who, despite their evil step mother's intentions, are bright and optimistic. Upon the most recent failure of one of their stepmother's many schemes to get rid of them they finally decide to leave home and seek their fortune's elsewhere. The story is every fairy tale you've heard and more with it's delightful mash up of characters and altered stories.

The Silver Rings is a hilarious story that teaches some surprising lessons along the way. Both children and adults will enjoy Alice and Celia's adventures. The author's refreshing views on love at first sight and perseverance remind us all that things don't always go the way we've been taught. This story is a wonderful introduction into fairy tales and adventure stories for girls and despite the situations that could come across as dark the stories atmosphere and the girls reactions to each situation keep it from getting too serious. 

I said earlier that I wanted to hate the book for it's almost overwhelming amount of zany situations, which at first did seem overwhelming. But the more I read the more I actually enjoyed it. It's just the sort of thing I use to read and write when I was younger and I think that kids would really enjoy it. Alice and Celia's awareness of the world around them adds just enough sanity that readers will stay grounded even when everything else is going haywire. 

The characters are well written and stay true to themselves through the plots progression. I found myself really growing to like each of the characters in the book from the over zelous Randall to the tale-telling fox, Rant. Each one had their own silly charms and added to the story. Rant was probably my favorite character because despite his outrageous stories he was a loyal friend who could make the best of any situation. 

Overall The Silver Rings was a delightfuly silly story with good lessons and fun illustrations. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting a good read and a laugh. I am very glad that I decided to finish this book. 

Note: I received an electronic copy of this book from Netgalley for my fair and honest opinion as I have stated above. 

~Dawn

 

The One Book Review

The One

Kiera Cass

Rating (out of 5): 5

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Series: The Selection

Series Volume: 3

Profanity:Mild

Violence: Mild

Sexual Content: Mild (but clean)  

Age Recommendation: 13+

Author Website: http://www.kieracass.com/




Summary (Found on Author's Website):

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen—and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!


Review:

The third and final book in the selection series is one I have really wanted to read for a while now. I must say I am pleased with how it turned out. When I first started reading this series I thought for sure that The Selection (book 1) would be the only book in the series. Imagine my surprise when there is not only one but two more books! In the beginning I wasn't sure how Kiera Cass could write three books from what I'd seen in The Selection, but coming to the end of this journey I now see a wonderful and fully formed story.

The Selection trilogy felt like one story all the way through, which speaks of a lot of planing before hand by the author. This is something that I feel like doesn't happen often enough with trilogy's these days. It seems to me that lately authors (mostly YA authors) write a trilogy because it's popular and not because it's what their story demands. I didn't feel this with Kiera Cass's Selection series, something I am immensely grateful for.

Now I'll step off my soap box and give you a review of the book.

The One picks up right where The Elite left off, with America working out a plan to enact her new found determination to win. Things between her and Maxon still have their ups and downs through the book, and Aspen always seems to pop up. But things are changing, and America is finally starting to push back.

Many of the relationships in this book grow and change, and not just America's relationship with Maxon and Aspen, but also her relationships with the remaining members of the elite, her family, Maxon's family, her maids, and even a few new characters all go through major changes and testing. I found these growing relationships even more interesting than the main love story because I got to see a new part of many of the characters. We get a deeper look into the other elite girls and I found myself growing to really love each of the girls, including Celeste. I loved getting to see America's family again as well as getting to know some of the new characters. Overall I really enjoyed the character development in this book, Kiera Cass did a wonderful job of keeping the relationships realistic over the course of the book.

The story was so much more than just America's love life, but at the same time the unrest in the country didn't overwhelm the story. It was used to propel the story but it never took over this romance completely. One of the things I really liked about the Selection series was that it was overall a romance story. Yes it had it's dystopian elements but they never overwhelmed the story like I've seen happen. Kiera Cass made sure to keep the books true to the story she was telling, and that was America's journey through the Selection. That said, I loved everything we got to learn about the rebellion and what was going on in the kingdom. It was very interesting to see what was going on behind the scenes and get to learn a little bit of each sides intentions.

There wasn't anything I really disliked about this book. The romantic scenes got to be almost a little much at times, but they never went too far or got too mushy for me. I enjoyed America's struggle with saying I love you though, it seems to be something I think a lot of people deal with in relationships. When is the right time to say it? Who should say it first? These were questions she struggled with and their eventual resolution left nothing to be desired.

Overall The One was a great read and an excellent conclusion to the Selection trilogy. I would love to see more books by Keira Cass and would recommend anything she's written. If your new to the Selection series or just trying to decide if the finale is for you I say read them, read all three and you won't be dissapointed.

~Dawn