The Adventures of Tintin

Rated: PG
 

First off, I have not ever read any of the Tintin comics, so I'm not writing this review from the perspective of someone who is comparing the film to the books. Therefore, if there were any inconsistencies in the movie, I didn't catch them - fans, feel free to inform me of any. I'm more than willing to learn.

Unless the movie was way off from the books, I imagine that even if I had been versed in Tintin's adventures prior to going, I would have enjoyed it as much as I did. I would have loved this movie when I was little. It would have even beaten out Indiana Jones (which was my ultimate favorite adventure series when I was little) by quite a lot, if only because Tintin is a far more likable character than Indy, and Harrison Ford didn't play him.

The computer animation in this was just astounding. I am not one who is very impressed with CG and the like - yes, it is nice when CGI looks real, but I really don't give much thought either way (unless it is just horrible). However, this is one time where I would actually say the movie was worth seeing just for the animation. The people are eerily realistic looking, and there were several times where I had to do a double-take when the camera panned over the "extras," to make sure they weren't real. It was amazing, and added to the overall appeal of the movie.

While a kids' movie, I think most ages would enjoy it. The storyline isn't very surprising - the mystery and clues easy to put together, but it's entertaining nonetheless, and there are many instances where the dialogue is actually very funny. Here was a time where the comic-relief character (Captain Haddock) truly managed to be amusing and not just irritating. It being geared more towards kids, there are, of course, a few chaotic scenes that got a little wearing, but they don't last super long, and they are very few. 

All in all, I thought The Adventures of Tintin was a very fun, quite amusing, and very well-done film (the acting, even though you could not see the actors themselves, was brilliant), and they planned for a sequel intelligently, ending it to where if, for some reason, they decide not to make a second, it doesn't ruin the ending of the first. For the truth is no adventure can just end where everything is wrapped up in the end. There has to be something more, even if the Reader (or, in this case, Viewer) doesn't get to see it for themselves. Seeing this movie made me feel like a kid again, and I can safely say that even now, at my age, it's my favorite adventure movie. Indiana Jones just lost its honorary place among my adventure collection.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Rated: PG-13

First off, let me say that the trailer has, once again, fibbed, for the movie was not nearly as bad as it made it out to be, and you don’t know how glad I am to be able to say that. I was so worried that they were going to mess it up by trying to out-do the first one. Thank goodness, they didn’t.

That said, I will admit that A Game of Shadows was not as good as the first one. Nor was I anticipating it to be. Don’t get me wrong – it was very good, and I have every intention of buying it, and may go and see it in theaters at least one more time (making a total of three viewings). But it simply was not as good as the first. There were a few scenes where I think the makers were trying to out-do the first one, but then realized that perhaps that wasn’t such a good idea, and stopped. The action level was not upped by much, but due to the manner in which they filmed the action sequences, it felt like there was. The biggest action scene I had an issue with was a part towards the end, when Holmes and Co. are running through the woods while being shot at with guns and heavy artillery. The makers put the majority of this scene in super, super slow motion; they were trying so hard to convince the Viewer that this was an intense scene, and all they ended up doing was producing a dragged-out, kind of weird action sequence that didn’t fit in to a Holmes movie. It’s almost as if they were making up for the fact that the movie is not in 3D (which I am profoundly glad it isn’t).

The train scene was almost as bad. Again, I don’t think it was necessarily a very long sequence, but it felt like one, due to the deviation from good dialogue and overzealous use of heavy guns. Now, I love big guns – the artillery and whatnot was way awesome, and completely fine. It was the way they used it – ripping through train cars and exploding trees in slow motion. It just felt a little excessive. And as for Sherlock dressing “in drag” during this train sequence, as a whole, I didn’t mind it at all – Holmes often disguised himself as a woman in the stories. But once the shirt came off, it became evident to me that the makers did it to give Downey Jr.’s abs some showtime, and that I do have an issue with, because then it is a deliberate deviation from the character’s behavior.

The other issue I had was Irene Adler, and I am so pleased that she left the story when she did, because her dialogue had become far less than pleasing. Irene’s character was more than threatening to become “The Flirt.” A female character whose sole purpose is to say sassy things to the hero, while being flirtatious and essentially eye-candy with an Attitude. Oh dear; when Irene started talking, I sighed heavily in my chair and prayed that she would not be in it long. The makers walked a fine line with her character in the first one the way it is, and they crossed that line for the few moments that she was in A Game of Shadows. I am also not entirely certain how I feel about the scene where Watson is drunk, for it seems to me that it was inserted merely for laughs, and my Sherlockian radar whirred a bit in protest. However, these two complaints are fairly small, since the scenes concerned are short.

What about Mycroft in his birthday suit? Those of you who have already seen the movie are probably dying to ask me that very question. Well, for one thing, no one should have to see that much of Stephen Fry – ever, – but I did think it funny, and I could actually see Mycroft doing that. Frown at me if you want, you Basil Rathbone fans – I could see Mycroft wandering about his house with not a stitch upon him!

It may seem that I have a great many things to complain about, but I have many things that I liked. For one, I loved Mary Morstan’s more active role in events (they continue to do her superbly), and Simza was entirely believable. I am so glad that they did not try to give her The Attitude, made her a macho-chick, or even attempted to turn her into a new love interest for Holmes. The dialogue, for the most part, was very funny while remaining true to the characters, and Moriarty was amazing. They could not have done him better; he possessed the cold calmness Moriarty displays – never allowing his temper to show, never leaves loose ends, never hesitates to kill those who get in his way. And through all of this, you could see the madness behind the genius. One thing I never liked about The Final Problem was it didn’t make clear what, exactly, Moriarty was trying to accomplish – starting WWI was, while not necessarily original, still brilliant and kept true to Moriarty’s character.

While I will admit that the storyline, as a whole, was better than the first installment, it had a few too many flaws to make it as good as Sherlock Holmes “1”. When flashbacks were used to explain events in the first movie, they were easy to follow, while the flashbacks in A Game of Shadows were a little harder, because they sped through them so quickly. They tried a little too hard to impress with a few action sequences in A Game of Shadows, and even the music wasn’t as good as the first one. It fit the movie, true, but I just didn’t prefer it as much, and the ambiance of the second was more like an adventure, and less like a mystery. Which is still in keeping with the Holmes stories – not all of his cases feel like mysteries. The Final Problem felt more like an adventure than a mystery, so both movies did feel like a Sherlock Holmes story. This one just had a few more flaws. As I told many people: A Game of Shadows got progressively better, whereas Sherlock Holmes was brilliant from beginning to end.
 

However. The last 10-15 minutes – in short, the end – make whatever flaws A Game of Shadows has well worth sitting through. The final showdown between Holmes and Moriarty was sheer genius, and the solution to Moriarty’s final act that would send countries into WWI a total surprise – and a good one, at that. The scene where Moriarty interrogates Holmes, while gritty and grim to watch, was excellent – it showcased Moriarty’s insanity quite well. But the end was perfect. It makes up for everything else; completely saved the movie. If I have put you off from seeing the movie because of my complaints against the action, go see it just so you can watch the end, because I can only say one thing about it: phenomenal. Maybe you have to be a Sherlockian like me to appreciate it like I did, but I was truly impressed.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is worth seeing; just don’t expect it be as good as – and especially not better than – the first one. And remember what I said about the ending. I pray that the makers keep in mind whatever it is they were thinking when they filmed the end, when they make the third movie.

Review: David - Mary Hoffman

Synopsis: When Gabriele comes to Florence to make his fortune, he has no idea that his face and body will become the most famous in the world, stared at and admired by millions of people for hundreds of years. But when your brother is Michelangelo, things like that can happen . . .

At first, though, being asked to pose for the statue of David is the least exciting thing that happens to Gabriele as he begins his new life. There's romance - thrilling romance, with a forbidden woman who has an agenda if her own. And there's danger. The Florence of 1501 is a divided city, where rival factions fight for control, and no one can be trusted. Recruited to serve as a spy, Gabriele finds himself over his head in a web of deadly intrigue. And when the statue of David becomes the focal point for a violent dispute that threatens to tear the city apart, Gabriele must fight to protect one of the greatest masterpieces the world has ever known.

Review: This book is probably considered an edgy read, and it is certainly not without its content. Gabriele is an all-out womanizer and sleep-around. He's in Florence for one day and he's already found his way into a woman's bed, and she isn't the last. Thankfully, his interests stop at women, but there are plenty of men to make googly-eyes at him, as well, and the Author doesn't shy away from stating that fact. One patron specifically asks a painter to use Gabriele as his nude model because he (the patron) likes to look at Gabriele. And of course, there are lots of references to nudity - it's pretty unavoidable, honestly; David is about Michelangelo's famous statue, who wears not a stitch. But don't be alarmed, Readers - while the book is certainly abounding with sexual references, the Author handles it all with remarkable discretion, hinting and describing in the fewest words possible, therefore making it a book which is readable rather than just downright trashy. Mary Hoffman never gets explicit. There is an underlying wrongness, as with the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley, but it's fairly easy to ignore.

What's probably most remarkable is despite all of Gabriele's shortcomings, he still manages to be a somewhat likable character. This is probably because he actually expresses regret over his actions as a young man, and when one of the ladies becomes heavy with his child, Gabriele shows genuine care and concern for his son. In any case, this is a book you read not for the characters, but for the story itself. My above paragraph has probably led you to believe that this book is about nothing but various peoples finding Gabriele attractive, but David, in fact, has a very complicated political storyline, seeing as Florance was positively turbulent with warring family factions in that era, and while some of the Florentine politics are confusing at first, it makes the book well worth reading, as Gabriele becomes embroiled in the city's tensed state, and an artist's work becomes more than just something pretty to look at, but a political statement.

David is certainly not a book for everyone because if its sexual alludements, and if there hadn't been the political-upheaval storyline, the fact that Gabriele does in fact regret his actions, and the Author never becomes explicit, I probably would not have finished it. But for those people who can appreciate a book merely for its story, and be okay with not really having any likable characters, you'll enjoy David.

Overall Rating: {{{{ 

Review: Five 4ths of July - Pat Raccio Hughes

Synopsis: July 4th, 1777. '78. '79. '80. '81. Five 4ths of July. Five pivotal days in the life of Jake Mallery, a teenager growing up on the Connecticut coastline.

The American Revolution is under way, and all Jake wants is freedom from tyranny - the tyranny of his strict father, that is. Jake has a reputation for being wild; his nickname, "Mal," is French for "bad." He doesn't care about fighting for liberty. To him, the pursuit of happiness is sailing the high seas on a privateer, seeking adventure. But his father insists that Jake remain at home to tend the family's ferry and join the local militia in case their town is attacked. Which, Jake knows, will never happen. He's destined to a life of boring chores, militia drills, and verbal sparring with Hannah, the insufferable indentured servant of his best friend Tim's family.

But on July 4, 1779, Jake's world is turned upside down: The British are coming, and they mean to suppress the Patriot rebellion by any means necessary. The brutal Battle of New Haven sets off a series of horrific events that will shatter Jake's life. And only when he has lost his own freedom does he begin to understand what's at stake in this war.

Review: This was not my favorite American Revolution story - far from it, in fact. First off, there is Jake, who is one of the least likable heroes I have ever encountered. While his father certainly treats him badly, Jake does nothing to help the Reader sympathize with him. He is lazy, surly, has a mouth almost as bad as a sailor's, and an absolute jerk to Hannah. As the story progresses, he shows little regret for his ways, making it really hard to feel happy for him when good things happen.

Five 4ths of July does something interesting, though - something I've not seen many others do. It provides both sides of the coin - the Tories and the Patriots, lining them up side-by-side. The Author makes a fairly good attempt at showing the good and bad of both, too; not all Patriots were necessarily law-abiding citizens, nor were all of them bad. Likewise, not all Tories saw themselves as rebelling against what the rest of their countrymen wanted, nor were all Tories innocent bystanders who just wanted to remain with England. The Author points out that on the prison hulks, the Tory guards were the cruelest.

However, among all of this, the Author also does some slight bashing of the Founding Fathers, claiming that they all wanted war, which is just plain not true - especially of John Adams. For a long time, they tried to avoid war; they only wanted representation in Parliament, but the King would not budge, and soon war became the only option. And while the Author seemingly offers a balanced view of Tories and Patriots, there is also a constant undercurrent which seems to point a finger at many of common Patriot sayings and making it seem like the Patriots just repeated these phrases (like "no taxation without representation") without knowing what they meant. In short, many of the times the Patriots were portrayed as hotheaded idiots who spouted ideas they could not defend.

On top of this is the language and sexual content. There is a "bedroom" scene (pg. 96), which is handled fairly delicately with no unnecessary details, but upon its conclusion, the Reader is left with even fewer characters to like, and throughout the book, there are several references to that particular incident. The only thing that makes this occurrence a little forgiving is the two characters do end up marrying each other. As for language, there is a count-up of 4 g--damns and 1 s-word - all of which, I believe (but I could be incorrect), are spouted from our oh-so-likable hero.

In short, Five 4ths of July was, overall, an unpleasant American Revolution story which seemed to do more bashing of our country's founding than anything else. If you want good American Revolution stories, read Ann Rinaldi - she offers true balanced views and very likable characters.

Overall Rating: KK

Review: The Seance - Iain Lawrence

Synopsis: Scooter King understands illusions. In the midst of the Roaring Twenties, he performs them behind the scenes at his mother's seances, giving the impression that Madam King communicates with the dead.

Scooter also admires Harry Houdini and can hardly wait to see the famed magician escape from his razzle-dazzle Burmese Torture Tank. But when Scooter stumbles upon a dead body in the visiting Houdini's tank, it's no illusion. Who could the murderer be? And did he - or she - kill the right person?

As Scooter sets out to unmask the killer, the mysterious worlds of mediums, seances, and magic are revealed. No one is above suspicion, and appearances are deceiving. If Scooter doesn't sort out the clues - and fast - he may end up as the next dead body.

Review: One of Iain Lawrence's best books - right after The Convicts. He does a masterful job bringing the world of the early 20th century to life with the period-appropriate slang and vividly-described imagery. The Author casts new light onto the world's most famous escape artist, filling him with new life, making him seem like more than just another figure from history. What was probably the most pleasant about The Seance is it lacked the usual weirdness with which Iain Lawrence's books are so often characterized. If any of you have read any of Mr. Lawrence's books, you will understand what I am talking about; he has a habit of throwing something purely bizarre into his stories. The entire time, I was expecting The Seance to take a supernatural turn, but it never does, and everything is explained in a realistic manner, making it a splendid mystery.

My main complaint (because I always have one): the final confrontation with the villain (who, by the way, is easy to figure out, but the Author has added other elements that will keep the Reader guessing enough to remain interested) is painfully cliche. The villain gets to say his overblown peace and then unconvincingly laments that he must now kill the hero, and is even kind enough to explain the method. If ever I am captured by a villain, I hope he - or she - is nice enough to explain everything to me, so I can then spend my time figuring out how to escape.

However, The Seance is a very good book, despite this shortcoming. Scooter is remarkably likable (I usually find Iain Lawrence's heroes more than a little annoying in some aspect), and in the world of illusionists, magicians, and mediums, a murder mystery is bound to be interesting - and this particular one definitely is. Give this book a chance, even if you are not a fan of Iain Lawrence's stories - it will surprise you.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: The 100-Year-Old Secret - Tracy Barrett

Synopsis: "Go to The Dancing Men and ask for a saucer of milk for your snake. Then all will be revealed."

That's all the note says - before the ink disappears! Xena and Xander Holmes think living in London will be boring. But when they discover they're related to Sherlock Holmes and inherited his unsolved casebook, life becomes much more exciting. 

The siblings set out to solve the cases their famous ancestor couldn't, starting with the mystery of a prized painting that vanished a hundred years ago. Can two smart twenty-first-century kids succeed where the celebrated Sherlock Holmes could not?

Review: For kids who have just discovered the wonders of Sherlock Holmes and are now amateur Sherlockians, this is a terrific series to encourage that obsession. Well-written and containing enough little alludements to satisfy any fan, The 100-Year-Old Secret starts this series off with a swift kick. It wastes no time in the beginning, but launches straight into . . . . well, everything. For the most part, Xena and Xander are not horrible, but I wish they showed more interest in history-type things. Why do kids who don't care about that sort of thing always the ones who end up being related to some famous historical or fictional person?! It drives me crazy, and it always has.

The main problem I saw with this book is the resounding lack of villains. For a first installment in a series, that can be looked over, but if it persists in the other installments, then already I see a major problem with this series. The bottom line is you can't have mysteries - especially if they are unsolved Holmes cases - without villains! It just doesn't work.

However, I have hopes for this series and look forward to reading the next one. Until then, I will give it the benefit of the doubt.

Star Rating:  JJJ 

Others in The Sherlock Files:

1)The 100-Year-Old Secret

2)The Beast of Blackslope

3)The Case That Time Forgot

4)The Missing Heir

Review: The Lost Stories - John Flanagan

Synopsis: They were mysterious. Some claim they were merely the stuff of legend - the Rangers with their mottled green-and-gray cloaks and their reputation as defenders of the Kingdom. Reports of their brave battles vary, but we know of at least ten accounts, most of which feature a boy - turned man - named Will and his mentor, Halt. There are reports, as well, of others who fought alongside the Rangers, such as the young warrior Horace, a courageous princess named Evanlyn, and a cunning diplomat named Alyss.

 
Yet this crew left very little behind and their existence has never been able to be proved. Until now, that is . . . Behold the Lost Stories.

Review: At last, here it is - the official last Ranger's Apprentice book, though technically it is not an "11th book," because it is a collection of short stories. But some things would not make sense if the Reader had not read the previous ten.

To put my opinion of this book bluntly: it was what I expected, and many of the stories were so clearly fan-questions-based. The last two in the collection I didn't think needed to even be included. It is a logical assumption that Will and Alyss marry, and as for the ingenious breeding program the Rangers have for their horses . . . Well, honestly, that story just left me feeling hollow and even cheated (when you read it, you'll understand why). The other stories gave interesting background insight into the time when Morgarath was still a threat, which I enjoyed thoroughly - especially the one entitled The Hibernian. It was nice to see how Halt first joined the Rangers, and I thought that particular story was executed with great precision. Some stories, like Dinner for Five, Purple Prose, and The Roamers were a little silly. Perhaps 'silly' isn't the correct word for The Roamers, but I wish the Author had thought of a better storyline than Ebony being kidnapped. When animal characters start being the main focus of a dangerous mission, it begins to feel like the Author is stretching a bit.

Probably the most aggravating aspect of these stories was the continuous mention of coffee. I had noticed how incessantly coffee is mentioned in the other books - especially Erak's Ransom, - but for some reason it really hit me just how much the Author talks about coffee when I started reading The Lost Stories. We get it! The Rangers LOVE coffee! I an not exaggerating when I say that there was only two stories that did not mention coffee; all the rest mentioned it at least three to four times. Then, of course, there are some of the Author's name choices. I have always found his collection of names rather entertaining. He'll have names like Morgarath, and then throw in something like Norman, Dilbert, or - my personal favorite - using the name "Jerome" for a Gypsy. Hmmm.

But enough with that. I really did like The Lost Stories. I thought it was entertaining and a justifiable excuse to write an 11th book. In some ways, it was nice to see little bits of the story being wrapped up. Anyone who owns Ranger's Apprentice shouldn't leave The Lost Stories out of their collection.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Others in the Ranger's Apprentice Series:

1)The Ruins of Gorlan

2)The Burning Bridge

3)The Icebound Land

4)The Battle for Skandia

5)The Sorcerer of the North

6)The Siege of Macindaw

7)Erak's Ransom

8)The Kings of Clonmel

9)Halt's Peril

10)The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

11)The Lost Stories

Review: The Search for Delicious - Natalie Babbitt

Synopsis: What is the definition of Delicious? The King's all for apples, the Queen favors Christmas pudding, and soon the entry in Prime Minister DeCree's dictionary is a bone of contention throughout the court. Alarmed, the King dispatches young Gaylen, DeCree's foster son and Special Assistant, to take a poll of the whole kingdom. In short order, the country is on the brink of civil war.

Review: The Search for Delicious seems a simple tale, and it is. But it is a simple tale which is really enjoyable and humorous. The very idea of a kingdom going to war with itself over the definition of a word brings to mind the war between the Lilliputians and Bigenders in Gulliver's Travels, who went to battle over which end to break one's egg. There is, however, an underlying message that humans just take. While this is certainly true about governments and people as a mass, it isn't of the individual, and the anti-person-message can, at times, grate on a Reader's nerves.

Setting that aside, however, this book is fun. Readers will appreciate Gaylen for a main character and laugh over his encounters with townsfolk and other such people. The Author masterfully weaves a more complicated plot into the other, making the story not just about finding the definition of a word, but something much more, for lack of a better word, epic. A swift read, The Search for Delicious was thoroughly enjoyable for an afternoon stroll.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: Mable Riley - Marthe Jocelyn

Synopsis: Mable Riley dreams of having adventures and of becoming a writer. When she travels far from home to act as assistant to her sister, a schoolmistress, Mable hopes her new world will be full of peril and romance. Her new life, however, is as humdrum as the one she'd left behind.

Then Mable encounters the eccentric Mrs. Rattle - a real writer who wears daring fashions and takes delight in scaring off the townfolk by stating her opinions. Mable eagerly accepts Mrs. Rattle's invitation to a meeting of the Ladies Reading Society. But the ladies are not discussing books at all, and Mable soon has more peril and romance than she'd bargained for.

Review: Criticisms first: the book begins very abruptly, it takes place in Canada, and there is no solid storyline. Not until you get a little further in, that is. And that is when the pros begin. Yes, it takes place in Canada, but so does Anne of Green Gables, and like that classic, I was able to ignore the general "dullness" Canada-based stories immediately have, because like Anne, Mable Riley is an engaging character, full of wit and innocent, though unrealistic, romantic thoughts of the world and adventure. She makes Canada not seem so dull.

While the majority of this book is a "lifetime story," - one which has no solid storyline, but merely follows the occurrences in someone's life - a plotline begins to develop when Mable meets Mrs. Rattle (who, by the way, is an equally wonderful and eccentric character). The book does not end with a resounding THE END, but rather takes the approach of a real-life journal: not everything is resolved, because in people's lives, things rarely are.

Mable Riley is an entertaining, "homey" tale that should be housed right by Anne of Green Gables - and read by one's children right along with the latter.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Review: The Runaway Dragon - Kate Coombs

Synopsis: When Meg's dragon, Laddy, runs - or flies - away from home, she knows she must go on a quest to find him. But she hasn't counted on her parents, the king and queen of Greeve, sending ten guardsmen along. Fortunately, she is also accompanied by her best friends: Dilly, lady-in-waiting and a cool head in any crisis not involving heights; Cam, a gardener's assistant who knows the exact value of a brick shed filled with sausages; Nort, a skinny guardsman who has never given much thought to crows; and Lex, a young wizard with bad taste in horses, magic carpets, and sorceresses. Of course, Meg's quest goes topsy-turvy once she enters the enchanted forest - and her adventure is just beginning. It isn't long 'til she and her companions learn a thing or two about grouchy giants. What's more, meeting up with the dashing bandit Bain again isn't at all what she expected.

Review: I did not consider this installment as good as The Runaway Princess from the beginning. Meg seemed way younger than her age, and there were far too many characters tagging along on the quest. But the extras are dumped in short order, bringing the character count down to a more reasonable number, and just when I decided that there were still too many tag-alongs, the Author splits them up, creating two separate, and equally enjoyable, adventures. The journey(s) pick up from that point, and I could kick back and enjoy the humor I had grown accustomed to in The Runaway Princess.

As in the former, the Author pokes fun at a boatload of fairy-tales, but in this one she pokes at a few lesser-known tales that only a fairy-tale-connoisseur might recognize (she throws in Rapunzel and Jack and the Beanstalk for familiarity, so other Readers don't feel left out).

The Runaway Dragon still isn't as good as The Runaway Princess, but it picks up a lot towards the end, and ultimately does not disappoint.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Others in This Series:

1)The Runaway Princess
2)The Runaway Dragon

Review: Brides of Eden - Linda Crew

Synopsis: When, in 1903, the fiery preacher Joshua arrives in sleepy Corvallis, Oregon, Eva Mae - and the whole town - is never the same again. Joshua is wonderful. He's charismatic. Insisting on simplicity, he commands his converts to burn their possessions. Demanding devotion to Christ, he tells them to abandon their personal ties.

But there's a surge of violence rising, and before it's over, families will be ripped apart and lives will be destroyed. Eva Mae's gripping true story is a stranger-than-fiction tale of a turn-of-the-century apocalyptic cult.

Review: A thoroughly fascinating story, made only more so by the fact that it is true. It also struck my particular fancy because I have actually visited many of the towns mentioned within, and I had no idea that such an incredible, thoroughly creepy incident happened in Corvallis and around Yahats and other neighboring towns. And Linda Crew is an author whose research can generally be trusted.

What was probably most disturbing about Brides of Eden was that there are still people - Christians included - who allow crazy individuals like Joshua move their emotions into a frenzy, making all logical thought almost impossible. Such events are not just confined to the spiritualism of the 1800s.

There is very little content to be addressed. There is one bedroom scene, when Joshua informs the women that one of them will give birth to the Second Christ, and he requests to see each woman alone in his private shelter. It is necessary to events, and the Author handles the scene with kind delicacy. Also, there are 2 g--damns, and other references to Joshua having affairs with married women. But nothing explicit.

Brides of Eden is a book which will disturb Readers because it is a true story, but it is really interesting and is a highly recommended historical-fiction read.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: Kat, Incorrigible - Stephanie Burgis

Synopsis: In the prim and proper world of nineteenth-century England, twelve-year-old Katherine Ann Stephenson is at a loss: Her sisters, Elissa and Angeline, have recently entered Society and now gossip incessantly in whispers; her foolish brother, Charles, has gambled the family deep into debt; and Stepmama wants nothing to do with them at all. What can Kat do but take matters into her own hands?

Luckily Kat has inherited her mother's magical talents and has the courage to use them - if she can only learn how. But with her sister Elissa's intended fiance, the sinister Sir Neville, showing a dangerous interest in Kat's magical potential, her sister Angeline creating romantic havoc with her own witchcraft, and a highwayman lurking in the forest, even Kat's reckless heroism will be tested to the utmost.
Review: From the very start of Kat, Incorrigible, I was absolutely taken with the witty writing style, the characters, and the situation. Kat is a wonderful heroine, whose age makes her attitude not seem like The Attitude, but rather the whims of a very young girl. She's full of spunk, intelligence, and a desire to protect her sisters - even if they are far too prim and proper at times, and always scolding her. Normally I do not like fantasy meddling with historical fiction, but Stephanie Burgis made it work, all the while retaining a Jane Austen-ish flavor to the entire setup.

At first, I expected Elissa and Angeline to be quite aggravating, but I soon found myself as dearly attached to them as I was to Kat, and their respective beaus equally amusing and endearing with their distinctive personalities. The villains are properly alarming, but they are not so scary that they detract from the overall humor of the story. When one has a story like this, which is light-hearted in the way that Jane Austen's works are light-hearted, one cannot have villains which give the Reader nightmares for weeks on end.

I cannot wait for the sequel to Kat, Incorrigible to come out; I am quite anxious to see what occurs when they go on a "relaxing" trip to Bath.

Overall Rating: |||||

Others in The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson Series:

1)Kat, Incorrigible

2)Renegade Magic
3)Stolen Magic

Review: Cleopatra's Moon - Vicky Alvear Shecter

Synopsis: Cleopatra Selene is the only daughter of the brilliant Queen Cleopatra of Egypt and General Marcus Antonius of Rome. She's grown up with jewels on her arms, servants at her feet, and all the pleasures of a palace at her command, and she wants only to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a great and powerful queen. Then the Roman ruler Octavianus, who has always wanted Egypt's wealth, launches a war that destroys all Selene has ever known. Taken to live in Octavianus's palace in Rome, she vows to defeat him and reclaim her kingdom at all costs. Yet even as she gathers support for her return, Selene finds herself torn between two young men and two different paths to power.

Review: A beautifully-written tale, Cleopatra's Moon seemed to promise a stirring historical adventure of intrigue, power struggles, and murders in the night. And it had all of that - and more. It is the "more" part which bothered me. Looking on the surface, this book was good. Cleopatra Selene, though inept at practically all that she attempted, was not the worst heroine to have, and her brother Ptolemy absolutely adorable. The descriptions of Alexandria were rich and vivid - so much so that the Reader could almost feel the warm, spiced wind and the blessed cool of palm trees.

But then you look deeper - or, rather, you read further into the book. While the Author did a splendid job with research, there is a rather unnecessary scene that seems to only serve the purpose of painting the Jews as, well, idiots who cannot even explain the depth of their beliefs (which is just ridiculous). They do not think like the Jews of the Ancient world, but like modern-day Evangelicals. It's painfully obvious that the Author spent more time looking up the Egyptian religion than Jewish beliefs, and I have to wonder why she even bothered putting the scene in at all.

Finally, there is the fact that the Author actually portrays the Romans too accurately. Yes, I am really voicing this as a complaint, and here is why: as I said, she portrays the Romans for what they were - a disgusting, perverted culture, whose economy was based solely on conquest. She also does a fairly good job of portraying the Egyptians the same way, but still manages to glorify them by picturing Cleopatra, Marc Antony, and Julius Caesar as being "not that bad of people." Where she got that Julius Caesar was kind and merciful to his enemies, I will never know, because any small reading of historical accounts written by Ancient historians will reveal that Julius Caesar was one of the most disgusting individuals that ever lived.

Putting that "minor" flaw aside, let us return to her portrayal of the Romans. This is where the sexual content comes into play. I will say this: the Author never becomes explicit, but she doesn't soften it either. Twice Cleopatra Selene is almost raped, there are numerous references to whores, men liking young boys (or other men), too-close-to-explicit-for-comfort groping and kissing scenes (again, no one wants to read descriptions of French kissing), and then finally, we do have a bedroom scene which I did not fully read, but it looked close enough to explicit to be absolutely inappropriate (ch. 44, pg. 315-316). But surely this is nothing to be irritated over, because it's an "interrupted bedroom scene," so that makes it okay (I am being sarcastic, by the way).

I realize that it is very hard to write a historical story containing Romans without mentioning their pervertedness, but it can be done tastefully, and even ignored to an extent. Rosemary Sutcliff managed to write tons of Roman-based books and never once found it necessary to delve as deeply into their disgusting habits as Vicky Shecter did.

In the end, we are left with a story that could have been excellent - well worth spending $18.00 on, in fact. But it's so populated with sexuality and immoral behavior (which, by the way, isn't necessarily painted as a bad thing; when Cleopatra Selene thinks her twin brother has a male lover, she thinks it's cute) that it makes it uncomfortable and practically impossible to read. I wish I had better things to say, but that is how it is.
Overall Rating: N

Review: Vermeer's Daughter - Barbara Shoup

Synopsis: Willful, dreamy, not-beautiful Carelina Vermeer is a trial to her wealthy Grandmother Thins, whose efforts to make her into a proper young lady are a constant source of tension in a large, loving, but quarrelsome family. Then, early one summer morning, she follows her father to a house on the harbor where he is preparing to paint his masterpiece, View of Delft, and her real life begins.

Barbara Shoup presents an interesting way of viewing Vermeer's life: through the eyes of one of his daughters, who is herself an artist at heart. Though this is entirely a work of fiction, it still brings to life one of the most famous painters in history, and the Reader is left feeling like they actually know Vermeer.

Review: Beautifully written, Vermeer's Daughter is an intriguing novel which focuses on some of Vermeer's most famous works. The mammoth-load of Dutch names can make it difficult to get through (there is, unfortunately, no pronunciation key in the back), but once you have worked that out to a satisfactory degree, the story is easy to become immersed in. It is a very fast read, being only 160 pages long, but it is a story which all ages would enjoy.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Review: Straw Into Gold - Gary D. Schmidt

Synopsis: Tousle's life depends on the answer to a riddle. He must solve it in seven days or be killed. With no one to ease his way in this challenging quest but the cruelly blinded Innes, Tousle sets off to find the banished queen. She alone possesses the answer that can save them.

Running for their lives - pursued through dark woods and across the raging rivers by the king's men - the boys soon find themselves challenged by another, even more mystifying, riddle: What happened to the young prince, who was taken away so long ago by a magical little man who could spin straw into gold? Is the royal heir hidden in plain sight? Could the queen, after so many years, even recognize him?

Review: I have read a lot of re-tellings of Rumpelstiltskin, and I have liked all of them, but not as much as this particular version. From the very beginning, the Author had me convinced about the direction of an certain element, and then completely surprised me by revealing that I was wrong. I was never completely sure how things were going to turn out, and I was eager to find out how he would wrap things up. He doesn't disappoint.

The writing itself I found a little confusing at times. It's like the Author forgot to include some words in a sentence, so I had to pause a couple of times and re-read the phrase. But the characters and their interactions made up for this almost entirely. Innes is not what I was expecting; his sense of humor is surprising and adds a lot to his personality. The banter between him and Tousle is very brotherly and believable from the start, and I found myself caring for both of them very much. I even liked Rumpelstiltskin!

Gary D. Schmidt did an excellent job in making sense of the muddle of the original and classic fairy-tale.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: Cyrano - Geraldine McCaughrean

Synopsis: Cyrano. Master swordsman. Brilliant wit. Big nose. This heroic (and homely) man is, of course, doomed to love the fairest lady in town. Resigned to unrequited love, Cyrano suddenly finds himself in the odd position of wooing his beloved Roxane on behalf of another man - a man more handsome than himself. How does he do it? As only Cyrano can. With eloquence. With passion. With panache!

Absolutely hilarious; I was laughing from the very first words of the beginning chapter. Cyrano is the sort of full-of-himself character which somehow manages to be sincere and endearing rather than obnoxious and an absolute blow-gut. He's the sort of friend everyone would like to have for any occasion.

Review: I confess that I have not yet read the play for which this book is based off of, so I can neither commend nor frown at the Author for any particular liberties she might have taken. But from what I do know of the original story, Geraldine McCaughrean did a splendid job in its retelling without changing anything. Cyrano has always been a stage-stealing character, and the Author only brings him more to life, and ending everything tragically without leaving the Reader feeling disappointed.

Two thumbs for Cyrano!

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: Macaroni Boy - Katherine Ayres

Synopsis: Mike Costas has lived his whole life in the Strip, Pittsburgh's warehouse district. His father and uncles run Costa Brothers Fine Foods, and Mike is proud to lend a hand in the family business, which helps feed the city. But it's 1933, and the Depression is bringing tough times to everyone. Even worse, Mike's beloved grandfather has been growing forgetful and confused. Things at school are going downhill, too. Mike is being tormented by a bully named Andy Simms, who calls him Macaroni Boy. When dead rats start appearing on the streets, that name changes to Rat Boy. Mike isn't afraid to use his fists, but first he's got to watch out for Grandpap. Now the old man isn't just forgetting things - he's getting physically sick. Can whatever is killing the rats be hurting Grandpap?

Review: Macaroni Boy is one of those books which does have a storyline, but spends most of its time covering day-to-day occurrences, and whose storyline is a pretty small instance in somebody's life. A lot of this book talks about Mike's school troubles, his family's financial troubles (which is a theme that cannot be ignored in a Great Depression-era novel), and other such things. The storyline itself takes a little while to appear, and when it finally comes around, you are not certain if it's the storyline or just some other unlucky incident in Mike's life.

However, as far as these types of books go, Macaroni Boy is good, due to the time period, the writing style, and the fact that the Author chooses an interesting topic to build her plot around, so once the Reader gets to it, they'll be interested enough to finish it. The Author does a good job of covering the gross parts without so much detail that it will put Readers off of their breakfast (unless the Reader happens to be eating bananas). And she gives the family members personalities that don't grate on your nerves, like most family-member characters do.

All in all, Macaroni Boy is a book that a lot of younger Readers would enjoy.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Review: Wild Orchid - Cameron Dokey

Synopsis: Wielding a sword as deftly as an embroidery needle, Mulan is unlike any other girl in China. When the emperor summons a great army to fight the invading Huns, each family must send a male to fight. Tomboyish Mulan is determined to spare her aging and wounded father and bring family honor, so he disguises herself and answers the call. But Mulan never expects to find a friend, let alone a soul made, in the commander of her division. Prince Jian. For all of Mulan's courage with a bow, is she brave enough to share her true identity and feelings with Prince Jian?

Review: Wild Orchid is just as brilliant as the other Once Upon A Time books Cameron Dokey has written. Mulan is brave, resourceful, practical, and determined to learn, making for a very good heroine; I immediately felt for her.

I have very little to complain about with this story. It was masterfully written, the Author did a good job playing upon the original aspects of the ballad, the characters were all likable, and there was a proper amount of deaths. My only objection is a personal preference: in one version of The Ballad of Mulan I once read, Mulan's gender is not discovered until after the battle, when the army has gone to the capital to celebrate, and Mulan gives an allegory of when danger is at one's very doorstep, it is a woman's duty, as well as a man's, to protect their homeland. It displayed Mulan's genuine cleverness better than any accidental discovery by a doctor inspecting her wounds.

But that is, as I said, a personal preference, and overall, Wild Orchid is a very good version of one of my favorite stories.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Others in the Once Upon A Time Series:

The Storyteller's Daughter (Cameron Dokey)
Beauty Sleep (Cameron Dokey)
Snow (Tracy Lynn)
Midnight Pearls (Debbie Viguie)
Scarlet Moon (Debbie Viguie)
Sunlight and Shadow (Cameron Dokey)
Spirited (Nancy Holder)
The Night Dance (Suzanne Weyn)
Golden (Cameron Dokey)
Water Song (Suzanne Weyn)
Before Midnight (Cameron Dokey)
The Rose Bride (Nancy Holder)
The Crimson Thread (Suzanne Weyn)
Belle (Cameron Dokey)
Wild Orchid (Cameron Dokey)
The Diamond Secret (Suzanne Weyn)
Winter's Child (Cameron Dokey)
Violet Eyes (Debbie Viguie)
The World Above (Cameron Dokey)

Review: Violet Eyes - Debbie Viguie

Synopsis: When a storm brings the dashing Prince Richard to her family's farm, Violet falls in love at first sight. Richard also gives Violet his heart, but he knows his marriage is destined to be an affair of the state, not of passion. For the king and queen have devised a contest to determine who will win their son's hand in marriage. To be reunited with her prince, Violet must compete against princesses from across the land. It will take all of her wits - and a little help from an unexpected source - if Violet is to demonstrate that depth of her character and become Richard's bride.

Review: Cons first: I was not impressed with the writing style too much; it felt a little too step-by-step, too explanatory (i.e. characters constantly explain why they are doing something, as if the Reader could not figure it out themselves), and even a little juvenile (there are other names for animals beyond Bessie and Duke). Richard is a pretty typical prince when it comes to looks, which made me feel rather disappointed. When I read a fairy-tale retelling, I don't want to encounter a Disney-drawn Prince Charming.

However, the writing does seem to improve as time goes on, and if I am mistaken in that fact, it is because the storyline becomes so engaging that I could easily ignore the style. Yes, the ending is predictable, but the Author plays on the "pea" aspect of the story in an interesting way, and presents a far more pleasing, and logical, fairy-tale than the original. While Richard is all handsomeness in a way only a fairy-tale prince can be, his personality is not as cardboard, though I confess out of all the princes in this book series, Richard was the least memorable.

The Author also seems to have a bit of a hard time deciding whether or not Richard's parents are good, decent people or "everything for the kingdom" types. They set up this contest to determine who will marry their son, regardless of his opinion, and always talk about royal marriage being for the kingdom, and not love. And yet, at the same time, the king and queen - the queen especially - come across as very decent, caring parents at times, and I have a hard time believing that such parents wouldn't at least feel grieved over the fact that their son cannot marry for love. It also seems that Richard doesn't know his parents very well at all (which would not be unusual, but considering how caring his parents seem, I think their relationship would be different).

Despite my complaints, Violet Eyes was an intriguing new look at The Princess and the Pea, and I think it well worth reading.

Ovearll Rating: JJJ

Others in the Once Upon A Time Series:
The Storyteller's Daughter (Cameron Dokey)
Beauty Sleep (Cameron Dokey)
Snow (Tracy Lynn)
Midnight Pearls (Debbie Viguie)
Scarlet Moon (Debbie Viguie)
Sunlight and Shadow (Cameron Dokey)
Spirited (Nancy Holder)
The Night Dance (Suzanne Weyn)
Golden (Cameron Dokey)
Water Song (Suzanne Weyn)
Before Midnight (Cameron Dokey)
The Rose Bride (Nancy Holder)
The Crimson Thread (Suzanne Weyn)
Belle (Cameron Dokey)
Wild Orchid (Cameron Dokey)
The Diamond Secret (Suzanne Weyn)
Winter's Child (Cameron Dokey)
Violet Eyes (Debbie Viguie)
The World Above (Cameron Dokey)

Review: The Near Witch - Victoria Schwab

Synopsis: "The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. There are no strangers in the town of Near."

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger - a boy who seems to fade like smoke - appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true. The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi's need to know - about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Review: I don't know if this is considered a "paranormal romance," but if it is, it is one of the best I have ever read. The Near Witch uses a technique which I really like: the village of Near feels very isolated, while at the same time not giving the entire impression that it is totally cut off from the rest of the world, yet cut off enough that the strange occurrences aren't out of place. And the Author never says whether or not Near exists on Earth, or somewhere else, adding on to the eerie, unreal feel. It was dreamlike, and parts of it echoed the Gothic elements of Wuthering Heights, even though the two stories are completely different.

The characters are, for the most part, good. I quickly became attached to the silent, mysterious, sad Cole (the strange boy). The Author brought out his personality in every aspect of his appearance and behavior: his clothes, pale and thin figure, and how very little he talks. These small things really brought depth to him. Lexi, too, is a very strong-minded, resourceful girl (and my Readers know how much I like those) who, despite her hatred for female pastimes, manages not to have The Attitude or get on one's nerves - at least, not always. The Author also does a good job of making certain characters really easy to hate, which is actually a great many; there is not a large number of helpful characters.

Now we come to the writing. I normally do not like first-person present-tense, but it somehow worked exceptionally well for this particular story. The writing is elegant and pleasing, as well as thoroughly eerie and frightening at times. The Author captures the nature of wind - its sounds and touch - in an uncanny manner, reminding me once more what it felt like to lie in my bed some cold winter night when I was very little, listening to the breeze's beckoning call. At times, things grow a little strange (especially at the end), and it was a strangeness that, had it been in any other book, I would not have liked. However, it worked quite well in The Near Witch.

My only real complaint was the romance between Lexi and Cole. It was not nauseating, nor did it lead to inappropriate scenes. But a romantic involvement did not seem to suit Cole's character. There are those characters who are meant to fall in love, and those who are not. Cole did not strike me as the type of character who was supposed to fall in love, and I was sorry that it happened. And while I liked the ending of the book well enough, I had another ending in my head which, had it happened, would have pushed this book up into my Top 10 list - easily. However, the Author was clearly not like-minded when it comes to killing characters, and I am content to accept her decision not to.

The Near Witch is a perfect book for some late, winter night, when the wind is howling outside of your window, and you sit curled up under a pile of blankets in a chair or bed, a cup of hot chocolate at hand and a candle or two. You will be reminded of what it was like as a child.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: Torn - Margaret Peterson Haddix

Synopsis: Jonah and Katherine have barely had a chance to recover from the traumatic events of Roanoke in 1600 when they are hurtled through time again, to 1611, moments before a mutiny on the Discovery, Henry Hudson's ship in the icy waters of James Bay. As they struggle to survive the frozen seas and brutal conditions aboard the ship, Jonah and Katherine begin to realize that something is very wrong. The history they remember is drastically different from what they're experiencing. Will this new version of history replace the real past? Jonah and Katherine struggle to unravel the mysteries of 1611 and the Hudson Passage before the only future they've ever known is lost forever.

Review: Margaret Peterson Haddix cranks up the action in this, the fourth installment in The Missing series, bringing in greater risks and fascinating alternatives to history. Any historian - professional or amateur - will enjoy how she spins her new plotline around the story of Henry Hudson's fatal voyage on the Discovery. This particular installment felt a lot less predictable than the previous three, and while I wish she had kept up the suspense to the very end, I was not disappointed with how things concluded. It offers a breather for the Readers - and no doubt the Author - while we wait for the fifth to be written and then released. Katherine was a bit annoying, but her role in events actually became quite prominent, which finally ended my wondering, Why is she even tagging along? What does she contribute?

All in all, I was impressed with Torn. It reengaged my interest, which had begun to wane a bit by the third book. I had taken this series off of my To Buy list, but I have now re-added it. Fans and semi-fans will not be disappointed with this book, and I hope the next one is every bit as good.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Others in The Missing Series:

1)Found
2)Sent
3)Sabotaged
4)Torn
5)Caught

Review: The Wizard in the Tree - Lloyd Alexander

Synopsis: Mallory notices there's something funny about an old oak tree, takes a closer look, and before she knows it, she's broken a magical spell. Arbican the wizard has been trapped in the oak for thousands of years, and his powers are gone. Will he get them back in time to save Mallory's village from greedy Squire Scrupner?

Review: One word: hilarious. And clever. Once again Lloyd Alexander offers Readers a completely likable, strong heroine and a grouchy wizard who manages to be funny rather than simply annoying. He sets it in the perfect time period - no, not at all medieval - and presents a storyline which is quite well thought out, rather than tha slapped-together feeling so many of his endings seem to have. In some ways, the story has a little bit of a Charles Dickens feel to it (probably the names, and the fact that the majority of the people were villains), which of course heightened it in my good opinion.

The Wizard in the Tree has to be one of my absolute favorite Lloyd Alexander books.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: The World Above - Cameron Dokey

Synopsis: Gen and her twin brother, Jack, were raised with their mother's tales of life in the World Above. Gen is skeptical, but adventurous Jack believes the stories - and trades the family cow for magical beans. Their mother rejoices, knowing they can finally return to their royal home.

When Jack plants the beans and climbs the enchanted stalk, he is captured by the tyrant who now rules the land. Gen sets off to rescue her brother, but danger awaits her in the World Above. For finding Jack may mean losing her heart . . .

Review: Gen is a wonderfully upbeat heroine who doesn't allow her skepticism get in the way of accomplishing what needs to be done. She's practical and blessedly admits when she is wrong, rather than hanging on to denial for the entire duration of the story. The contrast between her and her twin brother add much to the believability of their relationship, and gives them both a very distinct personality.

Adding onto this is the combination of a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk and Robin Hood, which are two stories that interact beautifully in The World Above. For once, I actually liked Robin! The Author plays cleverly upon all elements of both stories - giants, Sherwood Forest, the archery contest - and even integrates different versions of Jack and the Beanstalk into the storyline with incredible smoothness.

The story opens with Gen saying how her story is far more interesting than any Jack and the Beanstalk the Reader has read; she's right. The World Above is, from beginning to end, far more interesting and exciting - and makes far more sense - than any version of the classic fairy-tale, and Robin Hood, combined.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Others in the Once Upon A Time Series:

The Storyteller's Daughter (Cameron Dokey)
Beauty Sleep (Cameron Dokey)
Snow (Tracy Lynn)
Midnight Pearls (Debbie Viguie)
Scarlet Moon (Debbie Viguie)
Sunlight and Shadow (Cameron Dokey)
Spirited (Nancy Holder)
The Night Dance (Suzanne Weyn)
Golden (Cameron Dokey)
Water Song (Suzanne Weyn)
Before Midnight (Cameron Dokey)
The Rose Bride (Nancy Holder)
The Crimson Thread (Suzanne Weyn)
Belle (Cameron Dokey)
Wild Orchid (Cameron Dokey)
The Diamond Secret (Suzanne Weyn)
Winter's Child (Cameron Dokey)
Violet Eyes (Debbie Viguie)
The World Above (Cameron Dokey)

Review: The Diamond Secret - Suzanne Weyn

Synopsis: Nadya is a mischievous kitchen girl in a Russian tavern. Having nearly drowned in the Iset River during the turmoil of the Bolshevik Revolution, she has no memory of her past and longs for the life she cannot remember. Then two young men arrive at the tavern and announce that Nadya's long-lost grandmother has sent them to find her. Yearning for family and friendship, she agrees to accompany them to Paris for the joyful reunion. Nadya eagerly embarks on her journey, never dreaming it will be one of laughter, love - and betrayal.

Review: I am a great fan of the theories surrounding Anastasia's survival (even if modern historians insist that it was impossible for her to have survived), and The Diamond Secret presents a new and thoroughly interesting version of this "what if" scenario. It is, of course, a predictable story, but still enjoyable, and the ending had a small, surprising element that I was not entirely expecting.

Nadya is a very likable heroine, at times slightly annoying, but no one is perfect, and the two young men equally good, though sometimes the "leading man" was aggravating and I had a hard time entirely understanding why Nadya liked him.

Some of the dialogue feels off, but the writing style, as a whole, is pleasing and contains just the right amount of descriptiveness; Readers will be swept away by the beautiful imagery. The Diamond Secret is just as enjoyable as all other installments in this series.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Others in the Once Upon A Time Series:

The Storyteller's Daughter (Cameron Dokey)
Beauty Sleep (Cameron Dokey)
Snow (Tracy Lynn)
Midnight Pearls (Debbie Viguie)
Scarlet Moon (Debbie Viguie)
Sunlight and Shadow (Cameron Dokey)
Spirited (Nancy Holder)
The Night Dance (Suzanne Weyn)
Golden (Cameron Dokey)
Water Song (Suzanne Weyn)
Before Midnight (Cameron Dokey)
The Rose Bride (Nancy Holder)
The Crimson Thread (Suzanne Weyn)
Belle (Cameron Dokey)
Wild Orchid (Cameron Dokey)
The Diamond Secret (Suzanne Weyn)
Winter's Child (Cameron Dokey)
Violet Eyes (Debbie Viguie)
The World Above (Cameron Dokey)