Jacaby Book Review

Jacaby

By. William Ritter

Rating (out of 5): 5

Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Fantasy  

Release Date: September 16, 2014

Series: None, so far

Series Volume: n/a

Profanity: None

Violence: Mild

Sexual Content: None 

Age Recommendation: 10+

Author Website: https://twitter.com/Willothewords

Summary:

Jackaby sighed and drew to a stop as we reached the corner of another cobbled street. He turned and looked at me with pursed lips. “Let’s see,” he said at last. “I observed you were recently from the Ukraine. A young domovyk has nestled in the brim of your hat. More recently, you seem to have picked up a Klabautermann, a kind of German kobold attracted to minerals. Most fairy creatures can’t touch the stuff. That’s probably why your poor domovyk nestled in so deep.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

Review:

What caught my eye first about Jackaby was it’s beautiful cover and the blurb about it being Doctor Who meet’s Sherlock clinched it for me as a need to read book. Jackaby did not disappoint.

The story follows Abigail Rook as she tries to make her way in the world. She’s just arrived in New Fiddleham disappointed from what should have been her great adventure, but only turned out to be too much work for not enough reward. Still eager to find her place in the world and not have to rely on her parents she takes a job with the eccentric R. F. Jackaby an investigator who is more than he seems. What follows is a sometimes serious, sometimes funny, and often insane investigation of the strange and chilling murder of a reporter. 

Jackaby surprised me with its delightful prose that pulled me right into the world William Ritter has created. Ritter does an excellent job weaving together his words as he paints a delightful Victorian setting and more than often I would actually stop reading just to re-read a passage of description to take in the scene he was describing.  Words that jump off the page at you and pull you right into the story is something I really enjoy reading but don’t often see. 

Each of the characters was a delight to meet and grow to know as I made my way through this book. Abigail’s strong personality and optimistic spin on things helps to root me in the ground whenever Jackaby starts to get a little crazy. And what’s not to like about the odd investigator? His quirks, like his affection for his silly hat, and his tendency not to notice the normal things are endearing qualities.
 And whenever I almost lost myself in his silliness he always does something to remind me how sharp he really is. The other characters that show up are all well rounded as well and I was pleasantly surprised to meet a vibrant cast of characters. Too often in mystery books the main characters are the only one’s given personality and spark but I felt like I really got to know each character in this book.

The mystery was interesting to work out. There were quite a few times I thought I had it figured out, but every time I’d completely missed it. At some parts of the book I felt like I was on the same page as Jackaby, while during other time’s I was right there with Abigail trying to figure it out while being surrounded by the supernatural. 

Speaking of the supernatural, William Ritter does a great job tying it in to this novel. It’s not just thrown in to be something that moves the story along. It is woven into every piece of the story. Ritter makes sure not to overuse any of the many clichés that have formed around the supernatural genre and finds interesting ways of integrating both new and old kinds of creatures. 

One of the things that did bother me in this book was that an early chapter is ‘omitted’ by request of Jackaby. This normally wouldn’t bother me, except that the story never stopped to tell you that you were reading were Abigail’s notes on the case. This was the first instance of that in the story, and then there are no other mentions of these being any kind of notes until the very end when the Supplemental Material (which I recommend you read by the way, it’s a very funny addition to the story) shows up. I would have liked to have been warned that we were reading her notes, and if this is included in future books be warned there as well. The way it is now it was confusing for me. But overall it doesn’t take away from the story. 

As for the blurb about it being Sherlock meets Doctor Who, I can agree with that. Except that the Doctor Who feel I got from it dealt more with Jackaby than with time travel or aliens. Jackaby had a very Doctor-y feel to him, which I really enjoyed. And if you are a fan of Sherlock in any way than you will most likely enjoy this book. 

All in all I really enjoyed reading this book. It grabbed my attention from the very start and didn’t let go until I’d finished the story. I give it a 5/5 rating and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good mystery or fun story. 

Note: I received an early copy of this book from NetGally for my honest opinion which I have stated above.

~Dawn

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians Book Review

Alcatraz Verses the 
Evil Librarians

Brandon Sanderson 

Rating (out of 5): 5

Genre: Fantasy 

Release Date: October 1, 2007

Series: Alcatraz

Series Volume: 1

Profanity: None

Violence: Mild

Sexual Content: None 

Age Recommendation: 8+

Author Website: http://brandonsanderson.com/

Summary (found on Amazon):

The evil Librarians are coming!

A hero with an incredible talent...for breaking things. A life-or-death mission...to rescue a bag of sand. A fearsome threat from a powerful secret network...the evil Librarians.

Alcatraz Smedry doesn't seem destined for anything but disaster. On his 13th birthday he receives a bag of sand, which is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians plotting to take over the world. The sand will give the Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them!...by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutziness.

Review:

My brother is in love with this author, but I haven't read him until now. On a recommendation from not one but two librarians (GASP I know) I decided to read this book. And I must say I was not displeased with how it turned out.

I started Alcatraz knowing only the title, but with a title like Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians who really needs a summary? And if the title doesn't hook you I guarantee the first chapter will. This book is really unlike anything I've read in a long time, and I'm hard pressed to find anything to compare it to.

Alcatraz has been in and out of foster homes all of his life and trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes. He has a remarkable ability to break things, and it has gotten him into a lot of trouble. On his thirteenth birthday he receives a bag of sand as his inheritance from his parents and meets his grandfather who proceeds to pull him into a world he never would have imagined. This world is one controlled by evil librarians and one where his talent of breaking things is considered a good thing, even if he is having trouble controlling it. His quest to recover his inheritance from the librarians who've stolen it is a wild one that takes readers deep into a library that is lit by lanterns shaped strangely like fruit, and populated not only by horned rimmed glasses wearing librarians but also by the occasional dinasour.

And I  haven't even mentioned the magical glasses that Alcatraz is lucky enough to be able to wield. There is so much to this story to give you an accurate description of everything I liked would be to spoil the whole book. This book is so crazy it's good. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians doesn't take itself too seriously and is sure for a good laugh. It's a quick but fun read and I found myself flying through the pages laughing constantly. I haven't enjoyed a book this funny in a long time. Even in all of the book's hilarity it still has a coherent and interesting story.

Alcatraz Smedry, the narrator of this book, tells story from first person as a sort of autobiography. In his telling he is constantly interrupting for different reasons, often times to tell the reader something that doesn't even relate to what is going on. This was one of my favorite aspects of the book. I found myself looking forward to each new chapter and each new 'introduction' to the chapter. Alcatraz's monologs often had me rolling in laughter and many times I nodded my head in agreement with something he said (such as his description about authors and their delight in leaving cliffhangers for their readers) And his little references to things like See chapter 15 kept me jumping around looking at all the cleaver devices in the book. Not only that but this book is filled to the brim with references any fantasy fan would appreciate. There is so much going on it would seem like it's hard to keep up with, but that's just the opposite of how I felt. Even with all of the interruptions and references going on around the story I found the story easy to keep up with.

My favorite character by far is Alcatraz. It's not difficult for me to enjoy his quippy sarcastic, and awkward self. His voice is by far the strongest in the book simply because he is the narrator. But I think that even written in third person I still would like Alcatraz best, he's a very open and real character. His goal is to let readers know the real him, to give them the truth of who he is and I think that is one of the things I like best about him. A close second is Bastille who is a lot more than she first seems. The other characters are also enjoyable particularly Alcatraz's Grandfather. The villains are a little cardboardy but to be fair most of them don't get a lot of time in the book. The main two villains have some character and are interesting, if not likable.

Have I mentioned the world building in this book yet? No, well somehow amidst all of the fun Brandon Sanderson manages to build a wonderful world similar to ours but totally different as well. One of the best parts about this book is despite the crazy things that happen you can still imagine it being real. There is an explanation for everything that makes sense in the context of the book. The reader can really step into Alcatraz's world and feel like they could live there. Brandon's descriptions and Alcatraz's responses to what is going on around him really set the reader up to be willing to suspend their disbelief every time they open the book again to read.

There is nothing I did not like about this book, except that it was too short. But that is easily rectified by getting my hands on the next book, and the rest of the series.

Overall Alcatraz was a great read that I will recommend to anyone in need of a good laugh, or just a good book. It's great for kids to read but I think that adults may enjoy it more simply because they would catch more of the hints and references talked about in the book. I cannot stress enough how often this book made me laugh. The thing I like best about reading is getting to laugh and Alcatraz never let me down in this area. It truly lifted my spirits and gave me a great laugh without taxing my brain too much, and yet it still managed to keep my mind active as I plodded on through the story. As a short, quick read I give it a perfect score for what it hands out.

~ Dawn 

The School for Good and Evil Book Review

The School for Good and Evil 

Soman Chainani (Author), Iacopo Bruno (Illustrator)

 Rating (out of 5): 3.5

Genre: Fantasy 

Release Date: May 14, 2013

Series:  The School for Good and Evil

Series Volume: 1

Profanity: None

Violence: Mild

Sexual Content: None 

Age Recommendation: 8+

Author Website:

http://somanchainani.net/
http://iacopobruno.blogspot.com/

Summary:

At the School for Good and Evil, failing your fairy tale is not an option.

Welcome to the School for Good and Evil, where best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

With her glass slippers and devotion to good deeds, Sophie knows she'll earn top marks at the School for Good and join the ranks of past students like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White. Meanwhile, Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks and wicked black cat, seems a natural fit for the villains in the School for Evil.

The two girls soon find their fortunes reversed—Sophie's dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School for Good, thrust among handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.
But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are . . . ?

The School for Good and Evil is an epic journey into a dazzling new world, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.

Review:

The School for Good and Evil looked to be a very promising read, and turned out to, just not in the way I had expected it to. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting when I began reading the book, maybe a short term at the school then the two girls being sent off into their own fairy tales or something but whatever it was the book threw me for a loop within the first chapter. This story was far darker than I had imagined it being, told more in the style of a Grimm fairytale than most that we see today. By the time I had finished the book I had enjoyed it but I also had some issues with it.

First of all while the story gets on to a very interesting start it is slow. Overall it's a pretty slow book. Yes there are times where things heat up and the action/story really get going but for the most part it moves along at a pace all it's own. While I liked the detail the author went into about the school the huge cast of characters began to confuse me and many of them blurred in my mind. I often found myself wondering 'Who was that again?' and 'When did they show up?' Another thing that really bothered me about the book was the way Sophie treated Agatha. They were suppose to be best friends but one minute she's all nice and the next she's mean and cruel. I can almost understand why it was done, but the story would have been better if their friendship had been done in a more natural way. Yes friends fight and they can be mean to one another but that is something that strengthens them. These fights were never really resolved, they just magically disappeared or in some cases got worse. It frustrated me.

And the ending, what can I say about the ending? It didn't feel like one for starters. The whole ending scene felt very rushed and while it tied together plot threads it did it in a way that was both weird and almost uncharacteristic for the book. At the same time other plot threads were tied together neatly and very characteristic. And the books last chapter felt like the author just stopped writing and said 'See you next book!' giving us a conclusion without actually giving us a conclusion. It left me feeling very frustrated and eager for the next one to come out to find out what really happened. 

Now that I've gotten all the bad out of the way let me tell you what I did like about the book. The magic! The classes! The different schools! The fairytale history! I loved how it took the fairytale lore we know and love and put a different spin on it. I enjoyed both Agatha's and Sophie's character growth through the book, and while at times it seemed like one or the other was regressing in growth I appreciated the fact that the girls changed. Too often do I read a book where the main character grows a little but is stale for most of the book, this book did not do that. Even the more prominent minor characters began to grip me with their growth and personality. These are the one's that the author seemed to put a lot of time and effort into and stood out to me more than some of the others that tended to get jumbled in my head. By the end of the book I had really grown to care for each of the main characters and their closer friends. 

The story itself was great, as slow as it seemed in many parts it did keep moving. The story was very original, I loved seeing the way the two schools interacted with one another and how each class progressed. The different tests and games were amusing and I found myself very interested in the school's history. Just enough clues about whats really going on are provided for both the characters and the reader to begin to unravel what may have actually happened hundreds of years before, though you are still left going 'Say what?' when everything is finally reveled.

Overall I have to say this book is a good read if you need something or are a fan of fairy tales, just keep going through the slower parts and it will pick up again and again often enough to keep you interested and pining to find out what does happen. I do however recommend reading it only after you've got your hands on books 1 and 2 at least. (Though it's suppose to be a trilogy so if your one who hates reading then waiting just wait for all three to be released.)

~Dawn

The Heist Book Review

The Heist

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg 

Rating (out of 5): 4.5

Genre: Mystery Fiction 

Release Date: June 18, 2013

Series:Fox and O'Hare

Series Volume: 1

Profanity: Mild

Violence: Mild

Sexual Content: No sex

Age Recommendation: Adult

Author Website:

http://www.evanovich.com/
http://www.leegoldberg.com/

Summary (From Amazon):
Nicolas Fox is an international con man, famous for running elaborate scams on very rich and powerful people. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail for years—particularly FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare. But just when it seems that Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with O’Hare.

Their first assignment takes them to the side streets of Berlin, the California desert, and remote Indonesian islands as they team up to catch Derek Griffin, a corrupt investment banker charged with stealing millions from his clients. Finding Griffin on his private island is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.

Review:

This is my second Janet Evanovich book and I must say that I was much happier with this one than the first that I read by her. As for Lee Goldberg I love the series Monk so I figured I couldn't go wrong with him co-writing. I chose The Heist based on the fact that I'm a sucker for a good con and a coworker recommended it.

I was not disappointed. This book had me laughing from the get go and only let up long enough to allow me to fall for Nick and grow to like Kate enough to cheer her on.

Kate O’Hare is an ex-Navy SEAL turned FBI agent. She’s tougher than most men and eat just as much as them as well. She's take charge, but still somehow always manages to get food on her shirt. She's made it her mission to catch Nicolas Fox. Nick is a natural con man and the harder the con, the more enjoyment he gets out of it. When he's finally caught by Kate he manages to talk (or should I say con?) his way into working for the FBI instead of going to jail. He is teamed up with Kate and the two are sent off to catch the elusive Derek Griffin. The story is an lighthearted read and doesn't take too long to get through, but is still highly enjoyable. The con/heist isn't laid out in a 'wow I never would have figured that out' kind of way but explained as the book and characters pull it off and plan it. Though there were still plenty of clever moments that made me smile, especially during the first half of the book while Nick was pulling off a pretty funny heist.

The characters are funny and varied as Nick and Kate build their crew. The two most notable (and loveable) were the flamboyant actor Boyd Capwell and adrenaline junky Wilma Owens aka Willie. Boyd's acting had me in fits of laughter while Willie is just crazy enough to make you fall in love with her. Kate's father was by far my favorite additional character. After all, who won't love a dad who can kill a man 16 different ways with a pair of tweezers and who's idea of a care package includes very explosive toys. I really hope to see more of them in later books.

The story is fast paced and never gets very confusing. It is fairly simple and not too complicated, but a book as fun as this really doesn't need to be. The story has fun twists and turns while throwing the characters in crazy situations and pulling them out in ways just as insane.

I listened to this as an Audio book and really enjoyed Scott Brick's reading. His voice was pleasant and he pulled off a variety of different voices well, though he was not as varied as I've heard other people read. I was able to keep up with the story well and didn't get lost while listening.  

Over all this is a great fun read. If you need a quick easy laugh or if you enjoy a good heist pick up this book.

~Dawn

My review for the prequel short story The Shell Game can be found here

Layton Brothers: Mystery Room App Review

Layton Brothers: Mystery Room 

Series: Professor Layton (spin off)

Developer: LEVEL-5 & Matrix Software

Publisher: LEVEL-5

Platforms: iOS (4.3 and later)

Android (2.3.3 and later)

Price:

Intro and first 2 cases are free

Files 3-6 are $2.99

Files 7-9 are $1.99

In App Purchases: Case Files 3-9

Rating (out of 5): 4.5  

Summary (Wiki):

The game follows Lucy Baker, a beginning detective who is transferred to Scotland Yard. Here, she works under Alfendi Layton, son of the renowned Professor Hershel Layton. Together, they investigate crimes for Scotland Yard's "Mystery Room".

Review:

The Mystery Room is a spin off game of the Inspector Layton series. I haven’t played any of the other games so I have nothing to compare this one too, though from what I’ve seen it’s different from the other Layton games, but still a great deal of fun. For the I-phone the first 2 cases are free then you must purchase the rest of the cases in two separate bundles but end up totaling about $5 if you get them both. If you want to find out the story then you’ll have to buy both bundles and play all 9 levels of the game.

This game’s immersive mystery solving game play struck me as very unique. Most ‘mystery’ games I’ve played are hidden object or puzzle solving games and while I’ve enjoyed them I’ve always been partial to games that allow me to work to solve the mystery and this one did just that. It makes you think by laying out the crime scene and allowing you to move through it examining each piece of evidence and then asking you questions pertaining to said evidence. You work your way through witness statements and questioning sessions to eventually solve the crime and confront the suspect. 

I loved being able to work my way through the crime scene and form my own opinions on what had happened. Being able to go back to it and the witness statements was often helpful in answering the questions that led you to the criminal. I found myself having to really pay attention to witness statements and what the evidence was because when it came to the questioning sessions even the small details were important. The game allows you infinite guesses, but it’s still a lot of fun when you’ve figured out the answer the first try.  

The second thing that really hooked me about this game was it’s story line. This is actually what brought me back to the game. Originally I didn’t want to pay for the rest of the cases, no matter how fun they did turn out to be but the story is what kept bringing me back to want to play more, it sparked my curiosity and I wasn’t disappointed in the end after purchasing and playing through all the levels. The story follows Lucy Baker a new detective who is assigned to work with Alfendi Layton,( affectionately known as Al or Prof) in Scotland Yard’s special unit called the Mystery Room. As the game progresses you begin to find out that there is more to Al than you realize, and that he is not telling you quite everything about some of the cases you come up against. My curiosity as to who he really was and what had happened hooked me and caused me to play through level after level as the story began to grow and things started getting more interesting. 

The graphics were always clear and the game never glitched on me. The loading times were very short and never got in the way of my enjoying the game. The only thing that may bother you as a player is the way some of the characters talk. I always found their accents and ways of speaking interesting and sometimes humorous but on the review in Apple’s App store some people had complained about it and I felt compelled to warn anyone who may play it that yes many of the character’s have strong accents and speak funnily sometimes. If this bothers you then don’t play the game. If you think it may bother you but your not sure then play the free version and make your decision afterwards if you want to purchase the rest or not.

I really enjoyed the games music. It gave the game a definite feel of mystery and detective work and was fun. It really helped to pull me in as I was exploring , and especially when confronting the suspect.  

As I said earlier I wasn’t originally intending to purchase anything in this game but I ended up buying all 9 cases. For the price (around $5) it’s a good game. The game play was very enjoyable and for the unique experience the price wasn’t bad. If they made any more cases I would probably buy them as well. For me $5 for a full game is not bad, really I prefer paying for the game once (or twice in this case)instead of constantly having to dish out for in app purchases to keep me going. 

Overall I highly recommend this game if you have time to spare and enjoy solving mysteries. My only downside to the game is that I wish it were longer. 

Games I’ve found similar to this one: Nancy Drew PC games. 

~Dawn

The False Prince Book Review

The False Prince

Jennifer A. Nielsen

Rating (out of 5): 5

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Release Date: Apr 1, 2012

Series: The Ascendance Trilogy

Series Volume: 1

Profanity: None

Violence: Mild

Age Recommendation: 12 and up

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

Summary (found on Amazon):

In this first book in a remarkable trilogy, an orphan is forced into a twisted game with deadly stakes.

Choose to lie...or choose to die.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

Review:

The first thing to catch my attention about this book was the cover and title, both sparked my interest and imagination. I am happy to say that Jennifer A. Nielsen did not disappoint my expectations. This book has the feel of a well written fantasy novel without the magic and sorcery involved.

The protagonist Sage is a witty sharp tongued orphan who seems too smart for his own good, and I mean that in a positive way. His quick wit and sharp mind get him out of trouble almost as often as they get him into it. Along with three other orphans Sage is dragged into a scheme concocted by one of the kingdom’s noblemen, Conner. This scheme involves a competition between the boys to see which of them has what it takes to become the kingdom’s lost prince.

Secret agenda’s and trickery are the heartbeat of the competition starting with Sage himself. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s going on the story throws in twists that keep you on the edge of your seat.

The layers-upon-layers in this book created a momentum that never let up. Every detail, no matter how small, felt like it was leading to something. Sage himself always seemed to be hiding something from everyone, including me as a reader. Oftentimes I knew he was hiding something more than he was revealing and it would drag me breathless through more pages as I searched for the reveal that was inevitable, crying out in excitement when I got it right and berating myself when I got it wrong.

I enjoyed seeing the story told from Sage’s point of view. Not only because he acted as an unreliable narrator (something I love) but because it’s not often I get to read a book written from the perspective of a male character and I enjoy the difference when it happens.

Each of the books characters are interesting with each one having their own agendas and backgrounds. Not one felt like a cookie cutter creation with each one being well rounded. And while you may not find yourself loving every character, you will find a grudging respect for some, and more than one will surprise you by the end of the story.

One of the best parts of this book is that it leaves you feeling satisfied with it’s ending. Yes you desperately want more, but that’s because you’ve fallen in love with the characters and the world, not because you’ve been left with a cliffhanger.

I would (and am) recommending this book to anyone and everyone that I can, both old and young. It’s a great read from start to finish, a true gem to discover. I only recommend waiting to start it until you have time to read it from cover to cover.

~Dawn