Review: Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd

Title: Grim Lovelies

Author:  Megan Shepherd
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publishing Date:  October 2nd, 2018

Pages: 376
Genre: YA Modern Fantasy/Fairytale

Series:  Grim Lovelies #1
Source:  Audio

 

Seventeen-year-old Anouk envies the human world, where people known as Pretties lavish themselves in fast cars, high fashion, and have the freedom to fall in love. But Anouk can never have those things, because she is not really human. Enchanted from animal to human girl and forbidden to venture beyond her familiar Parisian prison, Anouk is a Beastie: destined for a life surrounded by dust bunnies and cinders serving Mada Vittora, the evil witch who spelled her into existence. That is, until one day she finds her mistress murdered in a pool of blood—and Anouk is accused of the crime.

Now, the world she always dreamed of is rife with danger. Pursued through Paris by the underground magical society known as the Haute, Anouk and her fellow Beasties only have three days to find the real killer before the spell keeping them human fades away. If they fail, they will lose the only lives they’ve ever known…but if they succeed, they could be more powerful than anyone ever bargained for.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd, Grim Lovelies is an epic and glittering YA fantasy. Prepare to be spellbound by the world of Grim Lovelies, where secrets have been long buried, friends can become enemies, and everything—especially humanity—comes at a price.

I have been wanting to read this book for a while. It looks creepy, it's a dark type of fairytale. It really had my name all over it... but I it took me forever to read it. Now that it came out on audio... I no longer had an excuse and I fit it. It was a good read. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I had some issues with it but all in all. I enjoyed it. 

Once upon a time in an alternate present day, witches were alive and well and they ruled the lands... sort of. Once of the spells they performed regularly was turning animals into servants and companions. Beasties as they were called. That is what Anouk is. A beastie. She doesn't quite know what animal she came from but she does know that she once was an animal..The witch that holds her hide controls her. She has never left the house. She is a perfect little servant girl for cleaning and cooking. She does have some friends. Other beasties. She has been happy ... until now. Her witch mother was killed, one of her beastie friends has disappeared... and if they don't find another witch to continue the spell... Anouk and all he friends will turn back to beasties. So she and her friends have to venture out into the world and figure out how to ensure that they survive beyond the next 72 hours. 

I really don't know what I thought this book would be but it wasn't quite how I think I imagined it. I think I thought it would be darker and creepier. I will say I love the concept, I love the story. It fell short in a few areas... the romance, the character development, and the pacing. I did enjoy it, it just wasn't what I imagined... let me explain. 

So the one thing I loved. The one thing that will keep me interested in reading the next installment. This story was creative and smart and the setting, the world, well developed. The actual writing was smooth and beautiful. Even though the characters lacked some development I could feel for these characters. I could imagine this world and what it would be like to be a beastie. 

The story also had quite the excitement towards the end. There was a heist of sorts going on and this kept me on the edge of my seat. It was so exciting and very well through through. There were parts of the book that I just loved. But that brings me to one of my complaints. 

The pacing was not well done in this book. For me, I was very into the story at times and at other times I was bored and distracted. I felt there was a lot of down time in this book and normally when that happens, character interaction and relationship building can fill this void. But in this book those also lacked. I didn't feel any of the relationships. I didn't find the spark or the chemistry in the romance and the friendships lacked some too. 

I liked the main character for the most part. I mean I get that she has been locked up most of her life and so she lacked in quite a bit of real life experience which made her a bit naive and frightened. She did grow quite a bit. She was for sure the best character in the book. I think if there would have been more development in the other characters and in the relationships... I would have loved her. I felt she had something missing. she needed a bit more for me to fall for her. 

There was romance but it felt more like a non romance. I didn't feel there was any build up and so it felt forced and just fit in. There was nothing then it was there. I just didn't feel it at all. I think it would have been better to focus on friendships and left the romance to build on its own or just not show up at all. Not all stories need a romance. 

So I enjoyed parts of the book... the parts I enjoyed was about a 4 heart, the slow and boring parts a 2 heart... so I went with the middle. I do want to read the next installment as the ending was great and ended without sufficient closure. I do need to know what is going to happen. SO I am reading the next book and hope it keeps the momentum of the ending of this book. 

It was good but not great. 

New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of several young adult and middle grade novels. She now lives and writes on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, two cats, and an especially scruffy dog.

Review: Wizard for Hire by Obert Skey

Title: Wizard For Hire

Author: Obert Skye
Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Publishing Date: March 6th 2018

Pages:  416
Genre: Modern Fantasy

Series: Wizard For Hire
Source: Hardcover

Fourteen-year-old Ozzy lives near Portland, Oregon, and is desperate for help. His scientist parents have been kidnapped after discovering a formula that enables mind control. Their work was so top secret Ozzy is afraid to go to the police, but without help, he fears he'll never find his parents. Then he stumbles across a classified ad in the local newspaper that says "Wizard for Hire. Call 555-SPEL." Ozzy has read about wizards in books like Harry Potter, but wizards couldn't actually exist today, could they? After Ozzy meets the wizard Labyrinth--aka Rin--he's even more skeptical.Sure, Rin dresses like a wizard, but the short robe and high-top tennis shoes seem unorthodox, as does Rin's habit of writing notes on his shoes and eating breakfast for every meal. Plus, Rin doesn't even cast any magic spells, which means that the unexplained coincidences that start happening around Ozzy are just that--coincidences.With the help of a robotic-talking raven invented by Ozzy's father, a kind and curious girl at school who decides to help Ozzy, and, of course, a self-proclaimed wizard who may or may not have a magical wand, Ozzy begins an unforgettable quest that will lead him closer to the answers he desperately seeks about his missing parents.

Wouldn't you like to hire a wizard? Need an A on that exam coming up this week? How about a clean house? Or perhaps you need sleep or wake up faster to get to work on time. In a pickle and need magic to help you out? I know there are many times I could have used a wizard there to help me through something difficult situation or the knowledge to use magic. But would you like to be abandoned at 7 years old in a thick, forest in a small cabin on huge land all alone with no human interaction at all.

  

That is exactly what Ozzy is faced with as his parents are taken from him. Luckily his parents came to the area with lots of canned food so he can eat food. While exploring the house he discovers Clark the mechanical bird that is solar powered that can fly and also talk to Ozzy. Clark was invented by Ozzy's dad, and he has a crush on other birds and also all metal things. Ozzy eventually decides to explore the forest and beyond the creek nearby. He comes to discover a beach and a young attractive girl named Sigi. With limited communication skills due to his isolation, he doesn't really say much to her.

This discovery leads Ozzy to seek out more ways to interact with other kids his own age. He then discovers that there is a place called school where there are other kids his own age. So then he tries to find a way to get to school. Once he gets to school he finds that Sigi who also goes to school there. 

Ozzy still wants to find his parents and from reading mystery books he knows that the police should be able to help him. So he goes to the police to see if they can help, but he is not fully honest because he is afraid if they find out he has no parents that he will not be able to go back to the cabin in the woods. Or cloaked house as he likes to call it. But as the police start asking questions Ozzy does not want to answer he runs out of the police station.

Ozzy then finds a paper that has an ad for a wizard. He believes that the wizard who has magic will be able to help him on his quest to find his parents. The wizard's name is Rin and at once Ozzy and his bird Clark are unsure of his methods or if he really is a wizard. Maybe he is just a crazy old man. He wears a felt hat like a wizard but also wears a short bath robe and he seems to really love breakfast.

As the story progresses the interactions between Ozzy, Clark, and Rin become more intertwined. With some funny humor and  a very interesting cast of characters the story whizzes by. And as Ozzy gets closer to the truth about his parents things become rather dangerous. It seems Ozzy's parents had a major breakthrough with a science experiment and hid to escape the consequences of what their experiment could bring about.

"Sorry- Clark sort of gets a crush on anything bird-related or made of metal."

"Sort of?" Clark said with disgust. "This could be a grown-up relationship."

"It's a trash can."

"Don't tell me who to love."

A fun fantasy novel that has some interesting and well developed characters. The story takes the reader on a journey of mystery, adventure, and danger. I recommend this book to fans of Harry Potter and those who like adventure/fantasy novels. I think boys might like it better than girls, but I think there is stuff girls might enjoy as well.

Obert Skye read his first book at age two. He wrote his first story at age four. And he was nearly trampled by a herd of water buffalo at age six. For a short time, he lived on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where he spent time as a candy-taster. Several years ago, Obert Skye says, he discovered the existence of Foo. Publishing his story as a fictional series was not Obert’s first choice. Nevertheless he is content that the “history” is being told. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old maps, water polo, roller coasters.

Review: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Title: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Author: Jessica Townsend
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Yong Readers
Publishing Date: October 31st, 2017

Pages: 480 
Genre: Middle-Grade Modern Contemporary

Series: Nevermoor #1

Source: Hardcover 

  

A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world - but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination
Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.
It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart - an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

Wish you could be nevermoor? Morrigan Crow lives in a town where nobody likes her. No one even wants to talk to her or her to talk to them. Morrigan was born on Eventide and is apparently cursed. She is blamed for dead pets, local misfortunes, hail storms, and even heart attacks. And what's worse, she has been prophesied to die on her 11th birthday. Yikes, and you think you have it bad.
But as luck/fate/destiny would have it before her death she gets many bids to join internships at various places under some very important people. But, she also gets a visit from a very peculiar man named Jupiter North of the Wonderous Society.
Morrigan Crow is offered a chance to join the Wondrous Society in the hope of becoming someone important like Jupiter. The catch is she has to go through many trials to be accepted. Each one harder and more bizarre than the last.
The Wondrous Society will accept someone who is honest, determined, brave and has a unique skill or knack. But Morrigan seems to have no knack and she is worried that Jupiter must have chosen her by mistake. A policeman seems to be concerned about her entering Nevermoor illegally and is determined to have her sent back to where she came from. And there is the hunt of smoke and shadow which is hunting her down.

This book is magical and engaging and has some similarities to Harry Potter. But has some unique developments along the way. I really like all the character interactions and the big huge cat.

"Nevermoor. If it's so great, why haven't you heard of it? Truth is, Morrigan, this is the best place- the best place- in all the Unnamed Realm." 

An engaging and magical story that is well developed and has some great characters. An exciting fantasy yarn that will have kids and adults engaged from the very first page.

Jessica Townsend lives on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Her pet fascinations include public transport, ancient cities, hotels, opera singers, Halloween, secret societies and gigantic cats - all of which have weaselled their way into Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, her award-winning first novel released in 2017. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow, the second book in this record-breaking series, will be released in 2018.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow was the biggest-selling Australian children's debut since records began. It has won the 2018 ABIA for Book of the Year, Book of the Year for Younger Readers and Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year; the 2018 Indie Book Awards Book of the Year and Children's Category; the 2017 Aurealis Award for Best Children's Fiction; the 2018 Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Younger Fiction and was named a CBCA notable book.

Review: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Title: The Sword of Summer 

Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Books

Publishing Date:  October 6th, 2015

Pages:  491
Genre: YA Modern Fantasy/Mythology

Series: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1
Source: Book

Goodreads ~ Amazon 

Magnus Chase has seen his share of trouble. Ever since that terrible night two years ago when his mother told him to run, he has lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, staying one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.
One day, Magnus learns that someone else is trying to track him down—his uncle Randolph, a man his mother had always warned him about. When Magnus tries to outmaneuver his uncle, he falls right into his clutches. Randolph starts rambling about Norse history and Magnus's birthright: a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.The more Randolph talks, the more puzzle pieces fall into place. Stories about the gods of Asgard, wolves, and Doomsday bubble up from Magnus's memory. But he doesn't have time to consider it all before a fire giant attacks the city, forcing him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents. . . .
Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die.

Rick Riordan has done it again. He has created a crazy, fun, and adventurous tale involving myths. This time he tackles Norse mythology. If you are not familiar with Rick Riordan he has written many series involving myths. Greek (Percy Jackson & The Olympians and Trials of Apollo), Egypt (Kane Chronicles), and Roman (Heroes of Olympus). So he is no stranger to myths. Each story involves a lot of humor with some myth characters in modern like settings.

This novel involves the story of Magnus Chase (Annabeth's cousin) who is a homeless teen whose life comes to an end as he defeats Surt. And I do mean a literal end as he dies at the beginning of the story. That was a quick novel, right! Well lucky for us this is only the beginning of the story as Magnus is carried to Valhalla by the Valykrie Samirah al-Abbas, aka Sam. Sam is also perchance Loki's daughter. So Magnus is not sure of her true intentions in choosing him as an Einherji. To be an Einherji one must die a heroic death with a sword in hand, and the bravery must be unplanned- a heroic response to a crisis. And when reviewing Magnus tape of his death many don't think he belongs. So Sam gets kicked out of the Valkyries.

Magnus knows he must get the Sword of Summer and keep it from causing Rhagnarok. If you seen the latest Thor movie you already know what that is. If you haven't it's basically the apocalypse. Magnus with his friends Hearth and Blitz, a hearing impaired elf and a dwarf, embark on a quest to keep the world safe. Along the way they run into Thor who is funnier and crazier than the movie versions of him. And they have to stay alive. There are many funny and crazy moments with these characters. 

Here is a snippet of words spoken between Hearth, the hearing impaired elf, and Jack, the sword of Summer.

"Hearth signed, 'is it talking? I don't read sword lips.'"

'what is he saying?' Jack asked. 'I don't read elf hands."

Yeah, pretty much classic Riordan humor. Highly recommend reading this book if you like myths, humor, or just a fun adventure.

~~About the Author~~  

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels for young readers, including the Percy Jackson series, the Kane Chronicles, the Magnus Chase series and the Trials of Apollo. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. While teaching in San Antonio, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children’s fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today, eighty-six million copies of his books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 37 countries.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.