FeeRtheDragon

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden is the second book in the Winternight Trilogy. Vasya finds herself in a situation where she is disguising herself as a boy. She earns the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, so she must keep her secret at all costs.

This story starts where The Bear and the Nightingale ends. I fell in love with Vasya. I love her determination. With beautiful prose and a fantastically created world, Katherine Arden is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I can't wait for the last book in this trilogy. 

Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs is a tale within a tale. Tales of the Peculiar is a book read by one of the characters to help find clues in the characters' journey.

I thought this was a great addition to the series. Tales of the Peculiar, read by one of the characters, Millard Nullings, is a book of old tales considered history of the peculiar recorded over years.

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs is the third installment of the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. It picks up where the second book leaves off.

I can't say enough about this series. Fun, whimsical, strange, and yes, peculiar. A must read series.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs is the second book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. This book picks up where the last book leaves off. 

I absolutely love this series. It's whimsical and fun. The characters are so unique. The author creates a fantastic world, and the use of old pictures only seals the deal and makes this story so believable. 

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Pax by Sara Pennypacker is the story of a fox and his boy who are separated because of a war.

Plot 4/5: While the plot wasn't what I was expecting, I found this story to be very moving.

Characters 5/5: The characters are very well written.

World building 4/5: This story is mainly set in two places, the woods and one of the characters homes.

Pacing 4/5: The pacing is steady.

Writing 5/5: This story is written in the point of view of the fox and the fox's boy.

Overall 4.4: Although this story wasn't what I expected, it is a wonderfully written story of two lives that become separated and them trying to find each other again. 

Favorite Quote: 

"We all own a beast called anger. It can serve us: many good things come of anger at bad things; many unjust things are made just. But first we all have to figure out how to civilize it." - Vola

Favorite character: Pax and Vola

Serafina and the Splintered Heart by Robert Beatty is the third installment of the Serafina trilogy. There are more dangers for Serafina and her family and friends at Biltmore Estate.

Serafina has become one of my all time favorite characters, and these books have become some of my favorite stories that I can share with my grandchildren.

You can read my review of the first book, Serafina and the Black Cloak, here:  https://feeroberts64.blogspot.com/2018/10/review-serafina-and-black-cloak.html

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Serafina and the Twisted Staff is the second book in the Serafina trilogy. Serafina is the guardian of Biltmore Estate, but something is not right within Biltmore, and she must find out what. This book is set a couple weeks after the first book.

I loved this book as much as Serafina and the Black Cloak. You can read my review of the first book here: https://feeroberts64.blogspot.com/2018/10/review-serafina-and-black-cloak.html

Favorite characters: Searafina, Braeden, Gidean, and Waysa.

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Serafina and the Black Cloak is the first book in the Serafina trilogy. Serafina is determined to rescue the children taken by the man in a black cloak. 

Plot 5/5: A good mystery that kept me guessing.

Characters 5/5: Interesting characters who I grew to love, and others I disliked quite a bit.

World building 5/5: This story is set in the Biltmore Estate and the surrounding areas. I had never heard of this place, but after reading this story, I would love to visit.

Pacing 5/5: The pacing was fairly quick, with slower parts here and there.

Writing 5/5: The author's writing is very good, and the story telling kept me entertained.

Overall 5/5: I really loved this story. It's a mystery, but also a story of acceptance and finding out who you are, where you're from, and where you fit in. 

Favorite Quote:

"Our character isn't defined by the battles we win or lose, but by the battles we dare to fight." - a grave marker in a cemetery.

Favorite characters: Serafina, Braeden, Gidean, and Waysa.

..........SPOILERS..........

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden is the first book in the Winternight Trilogy. This story is based on a Russian fairy tale called Father Frost. This version of the tale is about a frost king who is after a girl named Vasilisa.

Plot 5/5: I have never heard any Russian fairy tales, so this was quite the treat.

Characters 5/5: The characters are interesting. I loved learning some of the ways of the Russian people and their folklore and beliefs. 

World building 5/5: The descriptions of the village had me feeling the harsh winters and the expectations of spring in this wonderfully created village world. 

Pacing 4/5 The pacing was steady and a bit slow, but Arden kept me rapt in the story. 

Writing 5/5: The writing is beautiful and lyrical. 

Overall 4.8

Favorite Quote:

"I would walk into the jaws of hell itself, if it were a path of my own choosing. I would rather die tomorrow in the forest than live a hundred years of the life appointed me." - Vasilisa

Favorite characters: Vasilisa and Morozko

This was a fabulous story and I cannot wait to read the next installment.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is the first book in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. Sixteen-year-old Jacob has questions after a family tragedy, which leads him to a remote island and to a ruined orphanage, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. 

Plot 5/5: This is a most unusual and intriguing plot.

Characters 5/5: There were so many emotions that had me laughing, crying, and fearful for the characters throughout the story.

World building 5/5: Incredible world building between the present and the past.

Pacing 5/5: The pacing was steady, and kept me enthralled throughout the story.

Writing 5/5: The writing is beautiful, and with the addition of the vintage photographs, it made the story even more believable. 

Overall 5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I'm eagerly anticipating what happens next to the peculiar children!

Borrowed from my local library.

The Wolf Lords by F.T. McKinstry is the second book in The Fylking series. We follow a sorcerer, and the King’s Rangers in their search for a hedge witch, who they believe hold the secrets that could change the outcome of the war.

Plot 5/5: Interesting plot that kept me intrigued. 

Characters 5/5: This series has some of my favorite characters, who are average people with familiar emotions that bring these characters to life.

World building 5/5: Incredible world building.

Pacing 4/5: Steady pace with spurts of action, though I felt some areas of the story were bogged down with too many details that were unnecessary, but it did help to create the world the author was trying to convey.

Writing 5/5: Great writing.

Overall 4.8

Creepy by Jeff Bennington is a short story collection of paranormal delights. I thoroughly enjoyed this little treasure. I will be reading more of Jeff's work.

Purchased on Amazon. 

The Temple of the Mad God by Martyn Stanley is the fifth installment of the Deathsworn Arc series. The Temple of the Mad God picks up where the last book, Rise of the Archmage, left off. We follow the champions on their quest to enter Durgheim Holt, home of the dwarves.

Plot 5/5: The plot continues with each book in the series with the author touching upon previous events, which I love.

Characters 4/5: I've become invested in these characters, but there are a couple of characters whom I would like to see more character growth. Hopefully, this will happen in future books.

World building 5/5: I love the world Martyn Stanley has created. There are places that are beautiful, and places that are dangerous. 

Pacing 5/5: The pacing is steady, with spurts of action.

Writing 4/5: Martyn's writing is greatly improving. I love to see an author mature in their writing. It's a treat in itself to witness such maturity.

Overall 4.6

I was given a copy of this book for free from the author. I chose to review this book on my own, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Betrayal of Thieves by C. Greenwood is the second installment in the Legends of Dimmingwood series. 

This story picks up where the first book, Magic of Thieves, left off. You can read my review of Magic of Thieves here: http://feeroberts64.blogspot.com/2018/09/review-magic-of-thieves.html

I just love Greenwood's writing, and I plan on reading the entire series.

Purchased from Amazon.

Magic of Thieves by C. Greenwood is the first installment in the Legends of Dimmingwood series. In a village where magic is forbidden, Ilan must find safety in the forest of Dimmingwood.

Plot 4/5: Good plot about a girl coming into her power.

Characters 5/5: Well fleshed out characters.

World building 4/5: Good world building within the setting.

Pacing 4/5: Steady

Writing 5/5: Very well written.

Overall 4.4

I loved Greenwood's beautifully written storytelling.

Purchased from Amazon.

Rogue Mage by Brandon Barr and Michael Anderle is the first book in the Path of Heroes Series. Payetta wants revenge on Titannus, the mage who killed her family and destroyed her village.

Plot 3/5: Trope plot.

Characters 3/5: I just couldn't get into the characters. The main character could have used more growth. She became quite monotonous.

World building 3/5: Not much detail of the setting.

Pacing 4/5: Steady with bouts of action.

Writing 4/5: Decent writing.

Overall 3.4

Not what I'm use to from Brandon Barr.

Purchased from Amazon.