So I’m reading Frank Beddor’s book, The Looking Glass Wars, based on Lewis Carroll’s famous 1860s book, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The Looking Glass Wars is an interesting and creative book, full of action, and certainly worthy of a book review. But this is not going to be a straight-up book review. It’s a discussion of … Continue reading
So I’m late to the party when it comes to A Series of Unfortunate Events. I just read the first three this month, because it seemed an Octobery thing to do. (Also because it’s Monday the 13th, the date Garfield the Cat fears most.) But as both a bibliophile and a denizen of pop culture, … Continue reading
At the recent ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference, I had the pleasure of meeting author John W. Otte. Here’s your chance to virtually meet him, too! I was both impressed and entertained by the book, Failstate, which I reviewed in an earlier post. After reading this great book, I sent John some questions. Hope you enjoy his … Continue reading
Shannon Hale YA Fantasy Ok, this is the Hebrew cover, but it’s just stunningly symbolic, so that’s what you get this time. Book of a Thousand Days has just about everything I have come to love in Shannon Hale, in abundance. She brings a surprising depth, even a kind of ache, to her fairy tales. … Continue reading
John W. Otte I picked up Failstate because I met the author, John Otte, at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference. And because I like superhero stories. Superheroes + reality TV + sibling rivalry + Christianity + coming-of-age story + love triangle + crime show ______________ Failstate Robin (Rob) Laughlin is overshadowed both in … Continue reading
Maurissa Guibord YA Fantasy The best thing about this book may be the title. I hang out with weavers, so I get the pun. A warp is the yarn that goes on a loom first, the part that goes up and down. The weft is the yarn that goes back and forth. So bingo, Guibord’s … Continue reading
Todd Mitchell YA fiction/ spec fic First, I love the premise. The book takes place backwards. So like the movie Titanic, we already know the boat sinks. Only in this book the disaster at the end, which is really page one, is that a young man with everything going for him commits suicide. The question … Continue reading
Lise Haines YA Pop Fiction I was surprised by this book. I figured it would be some of kind of Hunger-Games-meets-pro-wrestling deal. And it is, but with far more depth and originality than I anticipated. One of the book’s strengths is the world-building. It is set in contemporary America, but in an imaginary subculture based … Continue reading
THE BOOKS OF BAYERN #4 Shannon Hale YA Fantasy Oh, author Shannon Hale, you got me again. I thought you’d fallen so in love with your own characters from the first 3 books of the series, that book 4 would just be an excuse to go hang out with them again. Regardless of a plot. … Continue reading
THE BOOKS OF BAYERN #3 Shannon Hale YA Fantasy Top 3 reasons to read this book: Razo Razo Razo The plot isn’t as tight as in the first two books of this series, nor is the use of theme as poignant. But I don’t care, because Razo is a fantastic protagonist. I love being in … Continue reading
Sarah E. Morin 