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The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin: A Book Review

Book Reviews April 12, 2025 Leave a comment

by Madeline Martin

Madeline Martin's website

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

LibraryThing

Fable App

Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of pages: 432
ISBN: 9781335000392

Format: Paperback, Hardcover, eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Spotify, B&N)
Publication date: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Type: Novel, Standalone

Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin. I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

I loved The Last Bookshop in London so much I am thrilled to be able to review her newest book! Thank you!!!

Please note: I received this e-ARC right before my open-heart surgery, so it took a while for me to get this review ready due to my recovery. However, it does not at all reduce my enthusiasm for this title.

Blurb

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

The Positive Points

Ah! The beginning is so poignant and heart wrenching. I love the literary comparison to describe the characters and what's happening. It already puts us right into major elements of this book: love and family tied with a bow of literature.

I’ve got to say, Emma’s father's love for her is resounding and touching. It reminds me of my own mother and her sacrifices and kindnesses for me. The fact that Emma lost everything she knew and loved is touching and I can relate after having lost my grandparents due to natural causes, and the rest of the family because of stupid drama. At least I got my mom, my aunt and my cousin. It's hard, Emma, I know. What a hard but striking beginning.

Also, the vocabulary is respectful of the times with "bob" for "shillings" and “chemist" for pharmacist. And as always with a Madeline Martin book, all the feels. The FEELS, I’m telling you. I cherish her books because of the historical accuracy, their ambiance, and mostly, the feels—and The Booklover’s Library is no exception to that. You can never go wrong with a Madeline Martin book!

The story revolves around Emma, a single mother, who wants to protect her daughter from the oncoming war while also providing for them both by working at the Booklover’s Library. We get to experience her ups and downs, and the hard decisions she has to make.

For example, what a heart-wrenching decision to make for a mother: to send your child away with strangers for an unknown period of time or keep her with you and put her in harm's way. A nightmare. But that’s exactly what Emma has to decide. I still have goosebumps as I remember a few of the scenes, wow.

I particularly loved how Emma pulled her daughter closer into her arms, wishing deeply and feeling as though love could be enough to shield Olivia from all harm, including the war’s.

Such a beautiful way to put it and so genuine. It’s really like that, when you hug someone or keep them close to you, and you want the best for them and feel that your love ought to be enough to protect them! So touching, I can’t get over that part of the book. It resounded to my core.

On another topic, I really like the friendships between the women at the Booklover’s Library. There is one that is sweet and easy and profound and the other one is more difficult, which really shows the range of getting to know people and befriending them.

Moreover, there is always a little something happening… a hinder, a setback or an issue. It’s small, and at other times it can be big, but there is always a new obstacle or event even if small. It’s interesting and it keeps the tale going.

Also, I love that we have subplots with all the characters in Emma’s surroundings. They don’t feel like furniture (which is a rare thing in novels!), but like real people she interacts and lives with. We get to learn about them as Emma does, and it’s heart-warming. Like Mrs Pickering, the landlady; Mr Sanderson, a mysterious and gruffy tenant; Margaret, her kind friend at work… it makes the story a living, breathing book. And I love it there!

There is a glorious uplifting surprise too! I won’t spoil it for you, but I was in a wild emotional state a few days before my second open-heart surgery in October and here came the surprise from The Last Bookshop in London, a novel I just adored and devoured from the library! (I swear I talked—and still do—so much about it my entourage knows it well, haha!) It made me so genuinely happy I forgot about my troubles for a little while. I was meeting with old friends, ok? That was the feeling. And it was wholesome.

I remember very well that my eyes were wet with emotions (lovely feeling in my chest) at the end of the book. If that’s not telling, I don’t know what will.

Honestly, The Booklover’s Library should be retitled: A mother’s love. It’s the true underlying current of this story.

The Negative Points

Alas, there are two downsides to this book (if you’re like me), yet they encompass strengths of their own when you look closely. Unfortunately, it’s rather slow (at 28% of the read and we were still not in the war…). Nonetheless, I think it shows the depth of the characters notably, Emma the main character, and how she behaves and deals with loss and grief, and her job as well as the people around her. Just when I think it’s getting boring there is a little something happening I mentioned earlier, and there we go again into the story!

As I mentioned previously, the war doesn’t happen until later on (after a good 50% of the book), so don’t expect it to like I did. It will slow down your reading experience and seem boring when it’s not; it’s just a different pace to really encompass the life of Emma, her daughter, and her neighbours, and the impact of the stress and the decisions to make in the face of the oncoming war.

When you’re not aware of this, the story does seem way too slow; otherwise, it’s a really good read set at a different pace that serves to show other aspects of the war that are not often deeply tackled in books.

In Conclusion

I give The Booklover’s Library an emotional rating of 4.5 stars out of 5! It took me a long while to get the subtle plotline so I found it to be a bit long. However, it’s also an emotional, cozy, and heart-warming read! I highly recommend it to people who love a character-driven story with a lot of emotions and coziness and being left with a fuzziness in their heart.

If you want to learn more about the author, Madeline Martin, you can head over to her website. She also has an Instagram account. You can also follow her Author Page on Goodreads. Don't forget to add The Booklover's Library to your cart, your bookshelves, or your wishlist!

The Godfather Lover’s Guide to Sicily by Karen M Spence: A Book Review

Book Reviews March 26, 2025 Leave a comment

Author's Page on Pen & Sword Books' website

Genre: City Guide, Travel, Nonfiction
Number of pages: 184
ISBN: 9781036116590

Format: Paperback
Publication date: March 06, 2025
Publisher: White Owl
Type: City Guide

A HUGE thanks to Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC. I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

When I saw the title of the book, The Godfather Lover’s Guide to Sicily, two things stood out to me: Sicily and the Godfather. Now, I’m quite the Italophile, and I’m also very curious about the mafia. Plus, I have watched all the Godfather movies, and while I’m not a huge fan, I do admit they’re classics and have put a certain standard on movies of the same kind. I was so intrigued I just had to request that book, and thankfully, Pen and Sword Books (an amazing publisher, by the way, go and take a look at their catalogue!) granted me an e-ARC of this book.

Now, I have so many feelings about this book—I was almost certain to enjoy it, but it exceeded my expectations!

Care to discover how so?

Read on, darling!

The Positive Points

The major thing I noticed is that I was always excited and giddy to pick the book back up and resume my reading! And that’s quite telling!

I find this book amazing! Indeed, the reading sessions flew by; I read an hour at a time!! Which is a lot for me who’s used to reading in chunks of 20 minutes throughout the day.

I am really glad there are numerous photos of the movies and the locations included throughout the book. It makes it way more visual and interactive. Also, there are a lot of colours in this book, even in the squares and sections for info tidbits such as film facts and scene recaps (if you forgot a bit of the movie, that was so helpful). There is also insider information as well as Sicily trivia (like how functions the menu and what is the course order in trattorie and ristoranti). It’s fun to learn such tidbits of info in a more informal manner rather than in the overall text. It sounds as though a tour guide is talking to you, being all friendly. It is refreshing and makes for a nice break. I noticed there are scene analyses from the Godfather, too! While I couldn’t remember all the scenes, it was interesting to see them being dissected like that, according to a topic tackled in the text previously.

Moreover, not only does the author talk about the settings in relation to the movies, she expands on their respective history and their relation to the movies and how it stands nowadays. She also tackles Italian and Sicilian customs related to the movies like the “confetti” Apollonia serves at her wedding party.

She also talks a lot about architecture (no wonder since she is an architect!) and art, yes yes yes, it’s lovely and fun!

I love that the whole book, including the trivia and info tidbits, helps see the movie and the Sicilian culture in a new light! It also makes me itch to have a rewatch of the Godfather trilogy haha! I watched the first movie twice and the others once. I love the ambiance and the world it depicts, but I was never a huge fan, yet I find this book exhilarating!

Plus, I love that the author talks about other points of interest like the Museum of the City of Savoca which features a room dedicated to the making of the Godfather movie. If the characters are in a certain setting or go from one point to the next in the movie, the author will mention what you can find in that area or walking the same path as the characters did. It’s really like a tour guide of Sicily and the movies’ locations! And I love it!!

It’s also very fun because there are several anecdotes, facts and unknown stories to us of what really happened while filming these movies. It’s both fascinating and entertaining. Did you know there is a statue of Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola in Savoca? The local artist Nino Ucchini created it to pay tribute to the filmmaker for bringing worldwide renown to Savoca! I think it’s fascinating to learn (and we get pictures of such facts and anecdotes!) This is only one of many, but it shows the impact of that movie trilogy around the world.

And here’s a funny fact about my experience: This book is so interesting that I kept stopping my reading to take notes!! And this is the first time it’s ever happened to me, so WOW!

The Negative Points

Ma che cosa è esso? (But what’s that?)

In Conclusion

I really think The Godfather Lover’s Guide to Sicily is worth a purchase and a read! I am not a fan of the Godfather movies per se, but I found myself to be highly entertained with this book and all I learned in it about Sicily and the behind the scenes of the movies! It also gives interesting locations to visit for tourists looking to recreate the Godfather’s journey in Sicily, or even to just soak into the Sicilian culture and visit a few personal favorite locations from the movie for a special occasion, say a honeymoon or a long-awaited vacation.

I highly recommend this book to the Godfather fans as well as Italophiles like me. It’s a tour guide with an interesting angle for fans all over the world looking to travel from your home or to actually go and visit these places with the book as guide. A gem, I love it!

For all these excellent reasons, I give The Godfather Lover’s Guide to Sicily a fabulous rating of 5 stars out of 5! This book impressed me, and I hope you will feel the same!

If you want to learn more about the author, Karen M Spence, you can head over to her author's page on Pen & Sword Books. Don't forget to add The Godfather Lover's Guide to Sicily to your cart, your bookshelves, or your wishlist!

The Day I Left You by Caroline Bishop: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 18, 2025 Leave a comment

Caroline Bishop's Website

Genre: Historical fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance
Number of pages: 368
ISBN: 9781668047279

ASIN: B0CL5FNMF3

Format: eBook (Kindle), Paperback
Publication date: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Type: Novel (Standalone)

A BIG thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book! I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

The cover is so pretty and elegant, but I admit it was the title that got me. The Day I Left You, hmmmm, so intriguing, and clearly romantic. Curious, I went to read the blurb, and saw it was about an East German woman leaving her British husband abruptly in the time of the Berlin Wall and Cold War. Say no more! As a huge historical fiction lover, this sounded like my cup of tea! (yes, British… tea… I made a tiny pun, see?)

Honestly, it was my cup of tea!

And if you want to know more, it’s perfect because I’m here to spill the tea!

Just keep reading, loves!

Blurb

For readers of The Secrets We Kept and Jill Santopolo comes an epic love story about Greta and Henry, who by chance meet in 1982 East Berlin and find a love that’s meant to last a lifetime—until Greta vanishes.

I’m sorry. I can’t stay.

East Berlin, 1982. When Greta Schneider meets Henry Henderson, she is instantly smitten. An engineer on a work visa from Britain, Henry offers Greta a taste of the world beyond the Iron Curtain, a world that she yearns to explore as a translator once she finishes university. For Henry, Greta is simply perfect—bold and beautiful, her lively and inquisitive nature adding a vital spark to his everyday life.

But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but they know how they feel about each other, so when Henry proposes, Greta accepts—and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. And for a time, everything is perfect. Until, one day, out of the blue, Greta walks out the door of their Oxford home, leaving a simple note behind.

Decades later, Henry still has unanswered questions. Greta loved him, and he loved her. They surmounted the odds to be together, and in his heart, he knows their marriage was happy. So why did she leave? How well did he really know his wife? When a young mother visits Henry’s antique restoration shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Day I Left You is a gorgeous, spellbinding story about the nature of love, the memories we cling to, and the hurts we must leave behind to move forward.

The Positive Points

This book is heavy on love and how to go through grief and abandon, as well as how to find yourself and happiness again. It’s sweet. I had the impression this story is a quest for answers and love, and for love. It’s not a coming-of-age story, but it’s one of coming into your own person as you grow older and try to find answers and deal with grief. An interesting take that I rarely see.

The Day I Left You felt much like life. A tale of life, it felt while reading it. It was as though Greta and Henry were at a coffee shop with me, telling me their stories. I loved it!

Something fun is that I love how we see two different ages: when they are young in their twenties; and then in their sixties or so. It’s a real change from only twenty or forty years old in most adult novels. I love this! Also, I love that the present is told in third person, and that the past with Greta is more personal in first person, like we must feel her and understand her more deeply to make sense of her decisions and actions. For it to have the right effect on us, and it does, I can assure you that. And awwwwww, Part 2 really surprised me with a new and modern POV! I wondered if we’d get to see that aspect of the story, and we do! But no more, because no spoilers ;).

I felt like the surprises kept coming and it’s all so much more intricate and entangled than I saw at first. And much deeper, too. Wow! Plus, Greta’s reasons for leaving are totally understandable in her situation. I feel for her. And it shows all the ramifications of the Cold War, too…

This story fits the expression “all in due time” in several ways. I hope you’ll see for yourself. In the end, it was a very rewarding read. It resolves pretty nicely for both of them in very different but plausible ways.

What impresses me is that the structure of the book is so well done; everything makes sense and flows properly. All the chapters fit like building blocks put together correctly. The overall structure follows the internal structure—I mean that while the characters gradually deal with what’s happened between them and the Berlin Wall falling, the overall structure of the chapters and the different POVs reflect that perfectly! It’s a work of art so neatly weaved together, bravo!

My first impression was that the prologue is very gripping and intriguing. Why does Greta have to leave if she doesn’t want to? What’s in her past? It’s emotional too, although the use of the “you” POV for her lover surprised me, but it’s good—it’s more immersive in a way. It is personal, the prologue and the Greta’s chapters in the past. And not because the first person POV in Greta’s past, although it helps, but because of the way she describes her lover and her actions. There is a proximity, a certain closeness in the way she describes things. Like it shows she cares and loves.

Moreover, it’s really fun that we get to see both POVs. One in the past Greta, and now modern Henry. Wait until for a surprise modern POV later… It all adds a little something of enjoyment to the story.

I noticed some language tricks. For example, there are psychological tricks, like how telling a lie or anything in another language feels less committing. I love such details about the complexity of the human mind and heart! In addition to this linguistic aspect, I enjoy that some affectionate words are in German, and product names like wine or celebrations, as well as a few swear words and expressions are in German. I think it’s fun to come across these words and it helps with immersion in Greta’s world and memories. And as a polyglot, I always love to see languages sprinkled in stories.

Now, what about the characters? Honestly, I enjoyed my time with them! I’ll start with Henry because he’s the one I felt for the most. He is so romantic and cute in his feelings for Greta. A lovesick puppy; I want one like him! Henry is lovable and endearing because he thinks about others and injustices, and also, he is calm, intelligent. He is a kind and good soul, it’s lovely. I also find interesting that Henry is a furniture restorer. It’s very different and little heard of in stories.

Lucy Kenny! Ah, my favorite character of the story. I really like Lucy and her rambling and her energy. I really love Lucy Kenny, she reminds me of myself, haha! She’s so proactive, helpful, and kind. And most of all: she’s a real chatterbox with a lot of energy! Can you see that in my writing? I hope you can! Plus, I like that Henry and she develop a sort of friendship, it’s rather cute!

I also really like Ros, Lucy’s mother. She’s funny and down-to-earth and lively as well. I also enjoy her views and opinions on the children and her ex-husband who’s her best friend.

And Greta? I like her; however, sometimes she made me feel sour with her. She is intriguing and interesting, and her dreams and hopes are perfectly valid. Greta, I think, did the best she could with what she had to deal with, honestly. I can’t say any more—I don’t want to spoil the story for you! But know she had her reasons and tried her best in her situation.

As per the story, I love how Greta’s homesickness is tackled and described because it must really feel like that. And also, how everything is not perfect or necessarily greener in Britain than in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). It’s interesting to see that and natural for a young woman raised in East Berlin with the wall to see positives to her old life and be homesick while feeling lost and lonely in Britain and not liking everything like capitalism and always being short on money. The character also said that you’re as free in the West as your wallet allows, and it couldn’t be truer (unfortunately). She feels disconnected from life in Britain and in the West in general. Understandably so what with her background of different experiences under communism.

Henry and Greta both evolve as individuals. For Henry, it shows through his gradual openness with Lucy and her family and his realization that his repair work must not be perfect and still show some scratches and scuffles of life and love. He’s grown into his own after so long, poor guy. And Greta is finally confiding in someone and finding her own happy ending. I’m glad that in the end, Henry somehow gets a family he longed to have, albeit a bit differently than how he’d thought he’d have one. It’s funny that it’s through his search for Greta though, but I am glad. Henry deserves the peace and happiness, and a family of his own in a way. It’s cute. And he also needs a dear friend like Lucy.

I am rather pleased that the author, through Greta, explains how and why there is the Berlin Wall and how they got it with state socialism. It is very interesting and informative. And yes, she also explains what the Stasi are and their dangerous (if not deadly) surveillance. I had deducted it, but it’s good to have a better definition in Greta’s words.

I’m so into it. My emotions are gripped. It’s so poignant and I keep being outraged at what happened to Greta and the threats, and I keep telling my mom all about it in a flurry of emotions and indignation. It’s really good when I’m so gripped emotionally.

While I had an inkling of what Greta’d become, it became freakier as I kept reading! It was very gripping emotionally and felt like a whirlwind of intrigue and difficult choices. I am glad I got to read this book before publication-I had quite the adventure with it!

The Negative Points

The biggest point is that I found it so slow. For a book with such a huge question to answer (why did she leave so abruptly?), it’s really slow-paced, which makes it less thrilling than I thought it’d be (at least for the first half of the book). It’s still interesting, but it seems to take forever to receive a new “hint” at what might have happened. Ah, those hints trickled down every 4-5 chapters or so! They had me rolling my eyes a few times because they’re so few for a long while. (They’re exciting, but still!) After 50% of the book, it the pace picked up admirably and the intrigue took me in like a whirlwind, I’ve got to say!

Also, it annoys me that the person being left is always the one who suffers the most, huh? It shows in this book as well, I noticed… It’s not that I dislike Greta, it’s just unfair for Henry who’s been stuck on her since she left, and because of how she left. While Greta has her nomadic life and a new love… It makes me sour a bit towards Greta, oh well. However, towards the end, I understood more how it’s also been cruel and hard on her. It’s just she seems to move on so easily… But I guess she didn’t have much choice, did she? And that’s a problem: she never really did have a choice in the end.

Lastly, the necklace a certain Lucy wears from her mother is quite an intriguing and effective way to deepen and twist the plot a bit. It would have been more effective, however, if we’d known before that that Greta loved to make jewellery or at least more than implied. Because it’s a good moment, but it lacks a bit of the shocking effect as a reader.

In Conclusion

All in all, I give The Day I Left You a feelsy rating of 4 stars out of 5. Despite its slow start, I ended up loving the book and enjoying my time with the characters while learning more about the intricacies and ramifications of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. Plus, if you enjoy slow-paced books, it’ll be a perfect read! I strongly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the Berlin Wall and the Cold War, as well as historical fiction lovers. To those who love their books with a good dose of intrigue, mystery, and surprises. Also, I recommend it to those who love a good book that gives you feels and grips your emotions tightly, and feels just like you were out for coffee with friends to hear their life stories.

If you want to learn more about the author, Caroline Bishop, you can visit her author website and follow her on her Goodreads Author account, as well as her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Day I Left You to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

What I’ve Read in January (Reading Wrap-Up)

chit-chatting with Cat, What I'm Reading February 6, 2025 Leave a comment

Hello, lovelies!

I figured it would be fun to share my January readings with you, and perhaps you'd find some inspiration for your own reading! A few days ago, in the end of January, I posted my Reading Wrap-Up on Instagram. However, surprise! I finished one more book on the very last day of the month. So, I adjusted the number here in this article, which is 6 books read in the month of January.

Ready to learn more about the books I've read?

Keep scrolling, dear!

(They're not in order of completion.)

Fairest of All (Villains, #1) – (In French: Miroir, Miroir)

I checked out Miroir, Miroir (the French version) from my local library. I was skeptical about liking this book since I don't like Snow White, although I loooove Disney in general. And unfortunately, I ended up giving the book a rating of 3.5 stars, which was "ok". I wouldn't read it again, and I couldn't wait to get farther in the Villains series to reach Ursula and other villains I prefer (like Gaston and Hades, too!)

Fun thing: the books get way better after this one, you'll see why I know that later on in this article!

The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy, #1)

This book was a book club pick from the first book club I ever joined! 🙂 Not only did I have a blast reading The Bear and the Nightingale, I also had a lot of fun chatting with others in the club! I gave this intriguing, slow-paced story with strongly defined characters in a magical Russian wintry setting a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.

You can read my review on Goodreads and Fable.

Now, I can't wait to read the other two sequels!!

The Godfather Lover's Guide to Sicily – ARC

I've had the pleasure to receive an e-ARC of this book from Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley! I've finished reading it in January, and you'll get to know all about it in my review on March 30th! For now, I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed it; it was like having a tour guide being friendly to me while taking me on a Sicilian and Godfather tour. I learned so many details relating to the movies, as well as information on Sicily, its towns and people and culture.

I might not be a big Godfather movies lover, but I sure am one of this book!

Stay tuned for a review on March 30th!

Teach the Torches to Burn – Draw Challenge

This book has been on my bookshelves for about a year now. A Romeo and Juliet gay retelling? I'm all for it!

So, I randomly picked Teach the Torches to Burn as the first book to read in my Draw Challenge!

I can't tell you much about it now, because I'll soon post the review, BUT it sure defied my expectations (both in good and bad ways) and it gave me my fill of gay romance as well as friendship. It was not what I expected, and I found it slow at the start, but then I began to enjoy it until I would gladly pick it back up to resume my reading. Needless to say, this book surprised me, and for a forbidden historical gay romance, it's really good!

Stay tuned for my review of Teach the Torches to Burn soon in February!

The Conjurer's Wife – ARC

This was the first short story I've read from Amazon Publishing, and it didn't disappoint! Sarah Penner wrote an intriguing plot with a strong main character, Olivia, that I still think about. The plot twist is mind-blowing in my opinion, and I'd definitely take a whole book on Olivia. Also, if you want an Italian historical setting, look no further, because this story takes place in Venice in the 19th century.

I gave this book a grand rating of 5 stars out of 5 in my review.

Honestly, I recommend it to mysterious fantasy lovers as well as fans of historical fiction.

The Beast Within (Villains, #2) – (In French: L'Histoire de la Bête)

Beast Within, The-Villains, Book 2 : Valentino, Serena: Amazon.ca: Books

And surprise! That's how I know the Villains series gets better after the first book. I'd checked it out from my library in French, too. I've finished The Beast Within on January 31st, and I didn't stop reading it for a whole week. I was simply pulled back in every time I wanted to read. It was crazy! Not only is this book very entertaining, it also gives us behind-the-scenes to the Beast's past and experience as a Beast. I loved the cameos, and his friendship with Gaston is so lovely AND tragic; it explains a few scenes in the movie, too. However, I do think the ending is too cheesy and well rushed… Still, this book is worth a 4.5 stars out of 5, easy.

P.S.: I'm now reading Poor Unfortunate Soul with Ursula, yay! And let me tell you, it's quite amusing and informative about her.

In Conclusion

Tah dah! That makes my reading wrap-up hit 6 books in January! I think that's pretty awesome, since I usually read up to… two or three books. Of course, I have still been recovering from my open-heart surgery, and I was not working yet. So, that sure helps!

I hope these books have inspired you to try a few of them, or guide you into the direction of your next read, loves!

Is there one that caught your eye? Why? Do leave a comment!

See you next post, darlings!

The Conjurer’s Wife by Sarah Penner: A Book Review

Book Reviews January 15, 2025 Leave a comment

Sarah Penner's Website

Amazon CA

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

LibraryThing

Fable

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Number of pages: 40
ISBN: 9781662526213

ASIN: B0D6RSVHLR

Format: eBook (Kindle), Audiobook (Audible)
Publication date: January 01, 2025
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Type: Short Story

A HUGE thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

The delightful cover which spoke of spectacle and ancient times what with the clothes and braid of the woman really caught my eye. But what intrigued me was the title, The Conjurer’s Wife! A conjurer? Interesting! And his wife… She’s clearly much more than what she appears to be at first.

I had to read this short story by Sarah Penner! Not only does it occur during the 19th century, but also in Venice, with a backdrop of illusionism and spectacles. I love everything magic and that relates to the arts of the scene.

So, I was kindly granted a digital copy, and honestly I read it so fast. When I had to do something else, I would keep thinking about the story and Olivia, the main character, until finally I could resume my reading.

This sounds like your cuppa too?

Keep reading, loves!

Blurb

In nineteenth-century Venice, a young woman’s marriage to an illusionist hides secrets that go deeper than his spectacular acts. The stage is set for transformation in a mesmerizing short story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary.

In 1820s Venice, world-renowned magician Oscar Van Hoff confounds sold-out crowds with his astounding manifestations. Even his beautiful wife and assistant, Olivia, is mystified. Her job is to smile and recite her lines—onstage and in society. But the thankless routine is bringing out her rebellious side. Then, on the eve of what promises to be Oscar’s greatest performance yet, Olivia uncovers a secret with the power to shatter all her husband’s illusions. Now the finale belongs to her.

The Positive Points

The prose is straightforward and includes much information in short sentences and fewer words than one would think. I love it! You know all you need to in a swift and direct way. The descriptions are succinct, yet they tell everything you need to know: like how common the clearing of throat is before a show as a spectator, and how the theatergoers are drunk, notably before it happens in the holidays and on a Friday evening. The author doesn’t shy away from less-than-agreeable truths and descriptions, and I appreciate it.

Also, I love the integration of gaslight system which is from that time period—it is accurate and well-thought of.

Plus, you can feel the tension between Oscar and Olivia right from his entrance! He doesn’t seem wholly good… what has he done in the past? It seems Olivia thinks it’s high time for a little rebellion of her own. I am intrigued about what truly happened to Olivia before the injury and what Oscar might have done to her… used her for his shows? Lied and manipulated her to wed her?

As I kept progressing in my reading, something clearly didn’t seem right about this whole thing and Oscar, was Olivia the magician before and then he met her and used her talents to become popular? Maybe he stole magic by causing her head injury… Argh, I didn’t know, but something was definitely wrong in this picture! He seemed to have no trick to his shows… which as a magician is highly improbable! Almost impossible. So what gives?

I love the scene with Olivia and the painting. It is much more important than we know at the moment!

Omg, the plot twist was great! I wasn’t expecting that plot twist until the very last minute. Fantastic and chilling at the same time. A grand number in the author’s show! The ending is excellent and rebellious—just like Olivia in the beginning. dang how I love her character! I would read a whole book about her.

Lastly, this short story reads like a show. I mean, it’s like I am watching a theater play or a tv show—it’s really entertaining and captivating.

The Negative Points

How can she be sure that thing (no spoilers here) is magic? She simply assumed when she saw it. Perhaps Oscar plans his shows with it? This would be more logical than assuming it’s magic right away. This seemed a bit illogical and it bothered me, jumping to conclusion like that—the right one at that, and much less plausible than anything else!

In Conclusion

Overall, I give The Conjurer’s Wife by Sarah Penner a grand rating of 5 stars out of 5 for how excellent the storytelling is, how captivating and engrossing the story is, and also how much I love Olivia as a character and the amazing plot twist! Honestly, I would really read a whole thick book about Olivia! This story is genuinely that good.

I recommend this short story to all lovers of magic in all its forms, art, and spectacles, as well as those seeking to be captivated by a story and characters and taken aback by a plot twist cleverly crafted!

If you want to learn more about the author, Sarah Penner, you can visit her author website, and follow her on her Goodreads author account, as well as on her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Conjurer's Wife to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

Gentlest of Wild Things by Sarah Underwood: A Book Review

Book Reviews December 22, 2024 Leave a comment

Sarah Underwood's Website

HarperCollins' Author Page

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

StoryGraph

Fable

Genre: Historical fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Romance, Retelling
Number of pages: 400
ISBN: 978-0063234529

ASIN:B0CRQG9R8F

Format: Hardcover, eBook (Kobo, Kindle, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, B&N)
Publication date: October 01, 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins
Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Trigger Warnings: Emotional and physical abuse by a parent.

*A HUGE thanks to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.*

As soon as I saw the cover and the blurb for Gentlest of Wild Things, a sapphic Ancient Greece story, I yearned to read it! I’m so delighted HarperCollins Canada offered me an e-ARC of this book, iiiiiiiihhhhhh!!! It was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and I am proud to bring you this review! 😀

Do you want to know why I’m so thrilled about Gentlest of Wild Things?

Read on, loves!

Blurb

On the island of Zakynthos, nothing is more powerful than Desire―love itself, bottled and sold to the highest bidder by Leandros, a power-hungry descendent of the god Eros.

Eirene and her beloved twin sister, Phoebe, have always managed to escape Desire’s thrall. Until Leandros’ wife dies mysteriously and he sets his sights on Phoebe. Determined to keep her sister safe, Eirene strikes a bargain with Leandros: if she can complete the four elaborate tasks he sets her, he will find another bride. But it soon becomes clear that the tasks are part of something bigger; something related to Desire and Lamia, the strange, neglected daughter Leandros keeps locked away.

Lamia knows her father hides her for her own protection, though as she and Eirene grow closer, she finds herself longing for the outside world. But the price of freedom is high, and with something deadly―something hungry―stalking the night, that price must be paid in blood . . .

The Positive Points

What a thrilling beginning chapter! I wasn’t expecting that chase. The prologue is confusing, but in a thrilling “I need to know MORE” kind of way. Honestly, the more I kept reading, the faster I read it and I couldn’t stop thinking about this story. I was so enraptured by this book! Another great thing was how the gods were mentioned in expressions such as “Damn her principles to Hades and back”, and other times Eirene thinks about the gods and how she works and none has ever helped. Like, they’re here and alive, but she only believes in them and doesn’t know they’re real. Like it’s a hint to us, readers. About what’s to come and how the story is more supernatural than we think at first.

As for the characters themselves, I must say that both Eirene and Lamia are loveable in their own ways. Their first meeting was explosively dramatic, emotional, and fun as a ready. I wasn’t expecting that to go this awry! It was different from the usual “I like you already” or “love at first meeting” that is prevalent in so many stories it’s become bland. Eirene is so cute and protective, I love her! She is the strong determined sister to protect her sister Phoebe, weaker in health and in a bad situation. On a side note, I love how each girl has a passion. For Eirene, it’s plants and herbs. For Phoebe, it’s weaving. And for Lamia, it’s drawing. It’s more realistic and it’s nice to see they have something, a hobby, to hold onto, something they love. Lamia is such a cutie! Poor her though, she is so ignorant of the world and abused for the villain’s own riches. She was brainwashed into thinking what her father was doing was good… I love her, she is so kind-hearted and caring, and, poor her, innocent, too! What Lamia has as a special gift, I thought it was just so beautiful and poetic, and well handled throughout the story, with an evolution tied to the character’s arc. Wow! Her character arc is where she becomes more assured and grounded in reality. It was beautiful to see! And the fact that Lamia tried so much to save and help Eirene even if it meant she might run away… Awwwwwww, my FEELS! Plus, there is some closure I wasn’t expecting for one aspect of Lamia’s life later on which echoes the very first chapter. What a great thing to weave into the story!

As for the villain, wow, he’s very dangerous just like I thought before we actually met him. Even with Lamia, his own daughter! He emanates shrewdness, danger, and violence. He is so cruel and abusive, both with Lamia and Eirene, mostly with words, and threats, and mean tricks and lies, but also with physical violence and manipulation. I’m sure he’s a beast—at least, to me.

Speaking of Eirene and Lamia, the sapphic romance is sweet and easy to follow. I love how Eirene is rebellious with boys and wishes not to marry, while Lamia is all compliments and admiration for Eirene. Great ways to show them being sapphic before getting to know each other and falling in love. It’s innate even though they don’t know what it is or means. Their little attraction and romance is so cute. It’s soft and sweet by moments, throughout the big problematic mess they’re in. It’s also really sweet how their affection grows naturally and you can notice it through thoughts, awkward touches, and words like “Our Lamia” when Eirene is proud, and more. For example, it is romantic and soft and sensual per moments with them discovering they desire each other. Like how being close to the other feels, and wishing she would just lean over and kiss her… I also let let out a gasp when I learned that Eirene’s goal is in direct conflict with Lamia herself and her affection and love for her. Ouch! You’ll see! The longing was real, I was so waiting for them to get together, iiiiiiihhhhhh! It was very satisfying! This is a story of love (in many shapes), and also of a void of loneliness being filled by someone you come to love.

Fun fact: I didn’t know wrapping a bandage could be so sensual and romantic, but wow, it is, and it’s beautiful.

Awwww, I love when FMCs cut their own hair. I did it twice too for the unease I felt with my long hair and I was at a time where I couldn’t pay for a haircut, so I tried to cut my hair and felt thrilled and wild. And it wasn’t so bad. I love when the FMC feels the same and tries the same thing. It’s also an act of rebellion and to seek wellness in one’s body.

Oh, and I love how Eirene discovers the source of Desire. I have been waiting for their two storylines to merge like this for the intrigue to have its answer. The “how” took me by surprise because I wasn’t waiting for it anymore. Fun!

Gentlest of Wild Things is a clever retelling in ancient times of Psyche and Eros, but make it sapphic. It’s lovely and magical. It’s also a strong “do it yourself” story, which I always love.

Every one of Eirene’s task was fun and exciting, but the last one was the most thrilling and exciting, and full of magic and mythology. What a retelling, and what turn it took! I noticed, like I mentioned earlier, that Lamia underwent the most changes in her arc. Eireine’s is more subtle, yet still there.

This story respects mythology, like the path to Hades not being for mortal eyes, and more. Also, same respect with the time period, like with men acting out the plays.

Lastly, this is a doubtlessly a story of women who stand up to men who abused them in more ways than one. It’s powerful. As for the conclusion itself, it was veeeery satisfying and had me feeling all warm and fuzzy and giddy, rocking my legs and smiling.

The Negative Points

Hm, let’s skip this, shall we? None was to be found, whatsoever. The writing, the character development, the intrigue, everything was great!

In Conclusion

All in all, Gentlest of Wild Things was excellent to the end! It is a feminist, and cutely romantic sapphic tale! And the villain gets what he deserves… Mythology was well mixed with magic and romance as well, it was so nice! I give Gentlest of Wild Things a rating of 5 amphoras out of 5, because it was such a great read and sweet from the beginning to the end with strong emotions, thrills, and a soft romance. I loved all of it! Honestly, I would take a dozen more books like this one!!

If you would like to learn more about the author, Sarah Underwood, you can visit her website, follow her on her Instagram account, and on her Goodreads Author page. Don't forget to add Gentlest of Wild Things to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

Make Your Art No Matter What: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 24, 2023 Leave a comment

By Beth Pickens

Goodreads (Add it to your shelves!)

StoryGraph

LibraryThing

Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Art

Pages: 208

ISBN: 9781452182957

ASIN: B08SJ9RN2Q

Audio ASIN: B08ZNWBH39

Format: Paperback, eBook (Kindle), Audiobook (Audible)

Publication date: April 6, 2021

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Type: Book, Self-Help

* I received a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books! *

Introduction

“Art!”

Wait, hold on, did someone say art? I’m right here!

Yup, any time someone mentions the words art or writing, you’ll see me poppin’ up.

So, how about when I read that title, Make Your Art No Matter What, over on NetGalley? Instant request!

Thankfully I was approved!

And thus began a soul-digging yet rewarding and comforting adventure…

Blurb

The Artist's Way for the 21st century—from esteemed creative counselor Beth Pickens.

If you are an artist, you need to make your art. That's not an overstatement—it's a fact; if you stop doing your creative work, your quality of life is diminished. But what do you do when life gets in the way? In this down-to-earth handbook, experienced artist coach Beth Pickens offers practical advice for developing a lasting and meaningful artistic practice in the face of life's inevitable obstacles and distractions. This thoughtful volume suggests creative ways to address the challenges all artists must overcome—from making decisions about time, money, and education, to grappling with isolation, fear, and anxiety. No matter where you are in your art-making journey, this book will motivate and inspire you. Because not only do you need your art—the world needs it, too.

The Positive Sides

“It’s an exchange, so the agreement is this: I’ll keep helping artists and you keep making your work and putting it in the world. Deal?”

That sentence right there touched me deeply, made me feel warm inside and smile. And you know what? DEAL!

On a side-note, the graphics of each chapter title is really beautiful with calming waves and gently surfing letters. That, in itself, is art, and quite appreciated too. It’s pleasant to the eye.

I love how each chapter relates to a major issue experienced by most artists. It’s clear and easy to navigate to and understand. So the book not only becomes one to read through, but a companion to come back to about a specific topic in times of need! Furthermore, her writing is sometimes funny, yet she is professional and amiable. I liked her voice as an author, I felt safe, and as though she was a friend looking over me.

There’s something mind-blowing about the author’s pedigree of this artist’s self-help book: She is a psychologist specializing with artists! I never heard of this, but it’s AWESOME. And it gives weight to her tips and tricks and her words. She gives so many tips and tricks (proven ones from a psychologist’s point of view!). I’m now using at least four of her techniques, it’s amazing what it does to our art practice!

For example, I love the techniques and mindset of “Your birthday every month for life things” and the “aim to get 20 rejections, which means you’ll have tried and applied for many more opportunities and received approvals in several.”

Overall, there’s something uplifting and helpful for EVERY artist. Me, my bestie, and my mom are three very different artists BUT there are things I told them from this book that resonated with THEM and not me, while others did so with me! It’s amazing how helpful this book can be!

I recommend it to EVERY artist, crafter, writer…. even engineer! Anything that requires creativity!!!

The Negative Sides

Erm, it’s too short to my liking? I mean, it’s an admirable piece of work and I LOVE it! But that’s exactly the thing… I’d take easily a hundred pages more of it. It feels like a motivational, helpful, and true elixir for all types of art!

Come on, who wouldn’t want more?

In Conclusion

Taking into consideration all the advice, counsel, comfort, and techniques Make Your Art No Matter What offers us, I give Beth Pickens’ book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, undeniably. But please, make the next one longer?

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow him on Amazon author page and Goodreads. You can also add Make Your Art No Matter What to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Second Star: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 19, 2019 Leave a comment

Amazon.ca

Genre: Fiction, Young adult, Science-fiction, Retellings, Fantasy, Romance

Pages: 352

ISBN: 9781948583008

ASIN: B07DH1PJS3

Format: eBook, Paperback

Publication date: March 5th, 2019

Publisher: Bleeding Ink Publishing

Type: Fiction, Novel (Series), Retellings

*A big thanks to Bleeding Ink Publishing, NetGalley and J.M. Sullivan for granting me this much-loved ARC in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation and reviewed it willingly.*

Second star to the right. Such a beautiful phrase in Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie and a brilliant idea for a retelling novel, Second Star by J.M. Sullivan. The title itself is what grabbed my attention, the gorgeous cover held it for a while, and the blurb had me requesting it on NetGalley. Here’s a hint to my review: I loved it!

Positive Sides:

I rarely do this, but I'll start right away with the writing itself because it's note-worthy! Not only is it good and pretty, but it's also action-oriented and all showing, very little telling. I really like her writing! The names of the companions as acronyms for the robots and parts are excellent! Wow!! This made me grin and giggle so much. It's a nice spin on them. Moreover, the author makes creative genius and touchy feelsy uses and explanations of real quotes like "the second star to the right". She uses the quotes brilliantly and they're so faithful to the characters. It made my heart squeeze with so many feels!

As for the action of the story, the book jumps right into the action and lasts a long while which is highly entertaining. Because when action starts, it's action upon action and it's always the worst-case scenario that happens! In my opinion, this is the best reading experience, and it's thrilling. The action scenes had me engrossed and captivated, with my heart beating faster in real life. I have to give kudos to the author for they're fun, well-written, and there is no confusion about what's happening or who's doing what. At some point in the book, things got slow, but I swear the thrill picked back up on the next page or so. It was expertly woven.

That's all very good, but what about the story itself? Well, I thought the setting was genius! It's so different and creative in a retelling, yet so many hints and equivalences are there like Tink and more. In a space academy? Then off onto a spaceship? And landing on the Neverland planet? That's genius right there. Neverland is both stunning and foreign, and I love how everything is beautiful yet tinged or made slightly different. The fact that it's an alien planet has been taken into consideration – neat! Also, I love how there is coding and technical and engineering stuff that appear prominently; that makes it realistic for the future. This might be a silly remark, but it overjoyed me that Peter is a redhead! Often in retellings he is blonde or brown… but I prefer red heads, so it made me squeal as I could imagine him even more easily. Thanks, Miss Sullivan!

As for Wendy, I like that she's at school and one for the elite at that! Plus, the fact she has no brothers and that Johns and Michaels are her besties is a cool way to to reinvent the wheel! Her relationships with her "soul brothers" is so friendly, cute, and platonic (amazing!). In addition, I looooove how Wendy is in charge! She's different, and this makes her complimentary to Peter. And there's this special treat of how Wendy always has to look proper even in most dire situations. This trait reminds me of her mother role to the boys in the original and the era she's from where everyone of status looked dapper. What about Peter? He and Tinc are immensely likable! They're mine, okay? MINE!

And… the villains! Yes, villains are AWESOME. Dangerous, too! I'm so glad the author put in the original good form argument and attitude from Hooke. I'm also quite impressed by the twist and use of Peter's shadow; very surprising and innovative. Can I add that the showdown at the end is marvelous? WOW! Furthermore, I love how science is used in this book as well as the new concepts for devices, ships, and so on. Last, I swear the author made the Mermaids' Lagoon as important as in the original (if not even more), which made me so happy.

On a side note, may I talk about the thimble? YES, she included the thimble! Oh, my emotions! I cried and all the feels and I ship it!

You may now proceed to the negative sides, thank you.

Negative Sides:

Besides its many good points, this book has two main issues, in my opinion: cheesy romance and inconsistencies. In my book, romance is not very important in books, but this one was way too cheesy to believe in. I mean, Wendy and Peter just got to know each other for a week or two. I barely buy it, which makes me go rather "bleh" and rolling my eyes or sighing while reading. So, I'm warning you: this might get on your nerves like it did with mine. If only more time had passed, that would have been more understandable. While I know love at first sight might happen for a few people (does it even exist, though?), this was brimming full with insta-love.

The other issue is how regular are the inconsistencies. I noted two of them, glaring ones, but there are a few more. For example, in the beginning, the power is out and in the previous paragraph it is said that the ship Jolly Roger is pitch black, so then how come Peter can see cook’s face and his men like in daylight? The only source of light is Tinc, and it’s not said whether or not she is near him for this scene. Also, much later in the book, there's a scene where the gun isn't working anymore, but two chapters later it does with no explanations how. This is so confusing! I had to reread several times the passages, yet I couldn't make any sense of it, so I figured these were inconsistencies. It's annoying, but mostly because the book is so good overall that you want to understand.

In Conclusion:

So, I got this ARC months ago but only got to write this review this week due to health issues, BUT what I'm about to say still stands strong: Second Star is one of the few best retellings I've ever read and the best book I've read in 2018, clearly. Heck, it's the end of 2019 and I'm still thinking about it a lot, remembering all those charming characters, engrossing action and enticing world. Thanks to all of this, I give Second Star by J. M. Sullivan a rating of 4.5 out of 5. I didn't take a point for the cheesiness of the romance (which is still cute), but I took a .5 for the (unfortunate) inconsistencies. All the rest is amazing! I'm eager to read the sequel!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Twitter and Goodreads. You can visit her publisher, Bleeding Ink Publishing. You can also add Second Star to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing for Canadians: A Book Review

Book Reviews August 22, 2019 1 Comment

39419271. sy475

Amazon.ca

Genre: Non-Fiction, How-To, Writing, Indie Authors, Self-Publishing

Pages: 264
ASIN: B07BMH2J44
ISBN: 9781988821146
Format: eBook, Paperback
Publication date: March 20th, 2018
Publisher: Self-published/Barb Drozdowich
Type: How-To, Non-Fiction

*I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I got no compensation and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Barb Drozdowich and NetGalley!*

Introduction:

I'm a huge fan of self-publishing and I've read multiple books on the topic. Plus, I already had a few books by Barb Drozdowich about writing and blogging.

But the real deal with *The Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing for Canadians* is that it covers an area that no one explored previously: the Canadian self-publishing process! Being a Canadian, I had still many questions after reading other books about this topic from the US and UK. At last someone knowledgeable tackled this topic for my country!

There was no way I wouldn't read it. So, of course, I did.

And its information was all I needed for my self-publishing endeavour.

Here we go with the review!

The Blurb:

From editing and finding free ISBNs to book structure and sales, this self-publishing guide for Canadians shows you the right way to go! For those of you who are uncertain about how to proceed with self-publishing your book, this author's guide contains all relevant information and answers to your questions when it comes publishing in Canada.

The Positive Sides:

Starting right off the bat, there's an easy introduction in the topic of this author's guide. Plus, her chapters are short but loaded with information (I'm sure the pages are bursting!) and are in quite a logical order.

But what about the writing itself? Well, her writing is good, straight-forward and even kind, verging on friendly. She gives us clear and precise, almost step-by-step instructions and information-I can't stress enough how helpful and reassuring that is! And with all the content she put in, there's no wonder she knows what she's talking about! But, I guess, from self-publishing so many well-appreciated how-to books, you have to master the field, right?

As for the content itself, it ranges from editing to book structure interspersed with so much more. The chapters might be short, but I never read one and been disappointed! One of the two major points I take out from this is the eye-opening tip about ISBNs for Canadian and general process (you can get one free, legally, no joke!). So, instead of purchasing one in those US or UK self-publishing help businesses, buy this book and you'll save the price of your ISBN. Amazing! The other major point is the book structure. Please, hear me out. Miss Drozdowich makes us really look at a book, its content, what are the inner pages like both in paper and ebook formats, what it must have, and so on. It was enlightening AND fun because she tells you to the examination yourself. She encourages such a process. There's also a "bonus" (I consider it so): the author explains concepts and the jobs (such as editor, formatter,…) and tells you exactly why you need them to work on your book. That's great and will make you think twice about ditching one to the curb, figuring you don't need them.

Lastly, it's an effing amazing idea to write such an author's self-publishing guide for Canadians! With all those tips and nooks and crannies (such as the free ISBNs!), this book is invaluable for us. It was high-time someone wrote this guide for Canada amidst all those self-publishing guides from the US and UK (don't get me wrong: I'm grateful they exist, but some things in them that are not relevant to us). We needed our own version and didn't even know!

Well-played, Miss Drozdowich!

The Negative Sides:

Err, I considered striking this section since I found NO negative side, but why mess with a good structure, right? 😉

In Conclusion:

If you're considering self-publishing (even just a tad!) and live in Canada, this is the book for you. It's jam-packed with juicy information you won't find elsewhere for our specific country. Plus, she covers the most important areas of self-publishing and gives you the information in a clear-cut but helpful manner. Frankly? I give The Author's Guide to Self-Publishing for Canadians a rating of 5 stars out of 5 for how helpful I've found it because, yes, I'm going to self-publish my first book. Thank the world she wrote this book, or I'd have (uselessly) paid for an ISBN and missed out on great points such as how important other publishing jobs are to the well-being of my book.

Read this book. You can thank me and the author later.

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can visit her book blogger listing site. You can also add The Author's Guide to Self-Publishing for Canadians to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Unwritten: A Review

Book Reviews June 17, 2019 Leave a comment

Genre: Middle Grade, Magic, Fantasy, Adventure, Quest for Self, Modern, Fairy Tale

Pages: 198
ISBN: 9781631631771
Format: Paperback, eBook
Publication date: October 16th, 2018
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Type: Novel

*A special thanks to NetGalley and Jolly Fish Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

The Blurb:

Gracie lives with her mother in our world, though she suffers from “story glimmers”, which are memories from what happened in the book Gertrude Winters wrote about her. Indeed, Gracie and her family as well as her best friend Walter are all characters from Bondoff, a magical world that Winters created. They got out of the story, unbeknownst to the author, in order to save themselves from Cassandra, the evil stepmother who wants to get her hands on the magical book and control everything.

But is everything as it’s been told to Gracie? She wants to talk to Gertrude Winters to ask more about Bondoff and the book, but what she will find will be more dangerous and life-altering than she could have imagined.

Will Gracie come out it strong?

Is there a choice to make to be who you truly are?

Introduction:

You know when a book cover grabs your attention, then the blurb just compels you to read the book and the story just amazes you? That’s exactly what happened for me with Unwritten by Tara Gilboy. As soon as I saw it on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it. Fortunately (to me, at least, haha), my request was granted.

Thanks a lot, NetGalley and Jolly Fish Press!

The Positive Sides:

The best positive side has to be how this story tells of an identity quest. It asks important questions while never being boring and it gives the reader the sentiment/feeling of being in control of one’s destiny and actions, to choose who we want to be. Perfect and extremely moving!

As for the writing itself, it is sweet but honest with an emphasis (rightfully so) on Gracie’s turmoil of emotions. What a ride! Speaking of Gracie, I extend my thought to the characters because they felt alive to me. Gertrude did feel off sometimes and sounded trite in her dialogue, but Walter (Gracie’s friend), her mother, Cassandra, and the rest popped out of the story to me (see what I did here?).

Now, I can’t reveal spoilers (goddammit, how I hate those pesky nuisances!), BUT I can tell you two things:

1- The plot twist with Gracie halfway down the road is PER.FECT.ION!

2- The very last sentence gave me so many feels I had tears in my eyes! It sums up the story pretty well and it’s quite a nice touch there.

Moreover, the theme of Unwritten is fundamental and wonderful at the same time. Fear not, it is NOT force-fed to us, no. It flows with the rhythm of the story and it’s just so precious. It focuses on choosing who you want to be and staying true to that person. Amazing! And so vital.

Oh, and I wasn’t bored even ONCE! It captured my attention from cover to end, never failing. It held my interest all the while. There were enough action scenes (yes, where Gracie has to make quick and hard decisions) and emotional insights to her. I loved her relationships with the different characters and her own nature. She was fun and strong in her own right, looking for her true identity with admirable determination.

In the end, this is the story I was personally looking for as a child and teenager! Unfortunately, there was nothing like it at the time and I felt so alone. I believe this book can help others like me who are too different and have so many doubts about themselves and who they should be versus who they are. Needless to say that’s a huge point to me.

The Negative Sides:

What about them?

Where are they?

Honestly, I don’t know. I was waiting for a negative side to show up but it never did. In my opinion, it’s a flawless middle-grade book.

In Conclusion:

I have so many excellent things to say about this book, but since numbers help too, here you are: I give it a rating of 5 out of 5 no less. And trust me, if I could, I would give it way more! But alas, rating has to be contained to a specific number… I can’t rate 10 out of 5, even though I genuinely want to with Unwritten by Tara Gilboy.

To me, it’s such a good MG story, it goes with the likes of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. If that’s not grand, I don’t know what is. But don’t take my word for it: try it for yourself. You’ll see, it’s pretty darn great!

Here’s a bonus great news I found on Goodreads from the author, Tara Gilboy, herself: Is this a stand-alone or the first in a series? “I’ve been dying to answer this question and wasn’t able to announce it until now! Yes, there will be a sequel! I am hard at work on it right now, and it will release in spring 2020!”

I couldn’t be happier! We’re getting a sequel, woohoot!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. You can visit her publisher, Jolly Fish Press. You can also add Unwritten to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.