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)

Review: Winter's Child - Cameron Dokey

Synopsis: Free-spirited Grace and serious Kai are the best of friends. They grew up together listening to magical tales spun by Grace's grandmother and sharing each other's secrets. But when they turn sixteen and Kai declares his love for Grace, everything changes. Grace yearns for freedom and slowly begins to push Kai - and their friendship - away. Dejected, Kai dreams of a dazzling Snow Queen, who entices him to leave home and wander to faraway lands. When Grace discovers Kai is gone, she learns how much she has lost and sets out on a mystical journey to find Kai . . . and discover herself.

Review: I am a huge fan of fairy-tale retellings, and I am especially fond of this series, which retells so many different stories in so many unique and classic ways, making the tales feel new and fresh - and making a whole lot more sense than the original stories! One of my all-time favorite fairy-tales is The Snow Queen, and while I do not believe it ever needs to be rewritten, I thoroughly enjoyed this particular version. It gave new insight into the Snow Queen herself, which was wonderful to see for someone who always liked the Snow Queen as a character (oddly enough, I never thought of her as the villain).

The writing was of that beautiful and whimsical quality which is so characteristic of this series, conjuring up clear pictures of a snowy world, the coziness of Kai and Grace's childhood homes, and the misery of Grace's hard journey. I loved how she played upon the elements of the story - the mirror shards which caused people to see things in a distorted fashion, the bandits, the raven (which happens to be a falcon in this version), and even the important role the flowers play in bringing back Grace's memory when she stays with the old woman. I admit that I missed the reindeer and the lady from Lapland, but overall I thought it a brilliant piece of work. The ending is somewhat unexpected and rather eclectic in the fact that lots of things suddenly happen and the Reader is completely not expecting, and yet it worked well enough.

Winter's Child can be enjoyed by anyone - be they acquainted with The Snow Queen or are just looking for a whimsical, fairy-tale like love story.

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: City of Ships - Mary Hoffman

Synopsis: Until she finds the mysterious little bag that seems to be from another time and place, Isabel Evans is anything but extraordinary. Then she falls asleep with the bag in her hand and wakes up in another world altogether - a world where she is badly needed.

Isabel is a Stravagante, a person who can travel through time and space to a country called Talia, which is much like Italy. There she meets Flavia, a wealthy merchant whose ships have been attacked by pirates. And piracy isn't the only danger the Stravaganti face. The fierce Gate people are planning an attack by sea, while enemies of the Stavaganti are plotting to learn their secrets. Isabel will have an important role to play - she just doesn't know what it is yet.

Review: Like the others, the fifth book takes several chapters to acquaint the new character to the world of Talia, as well as introducing said character to the Stravaganti in our world, and like the others, there comes a time when the other Stravaganti have to cover for the new Stravagante while they stay in Talia overnight.

Unlike the others, Isabel has a twin to deal with, which throws in some later complications that do a lot to further the story's interest, but get wrapped up and glossed over way too quickly, leaving the Reader feeling more than a little disappointed. What few loose ends City of Secrets had are tied off in this one, and like the others, the fifth installment ends with even fewer questions than previous ones. There is a big battle, some more di Chimici die, there is another wedding, and everything is sorted out in our world for Isabel.

As much as I like this series, it seems I have more complaints than praises, and it is because it seems like no matter how many things happen, the plotline as a whole is never added on to. Each installment feels like a nicely wrapped package that could very easily stand on its own. Please, Mary Hoffman - have some questions and plot development in Book Six!!
Overall Rating: JJJ

Others in the Stravaganza Series:
1)City of Masks
2)City of Stars
3)City of Flowers
4)City of Secrets
5)City of Ships
6)City of Swords

Review: The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha - Lloyd Alexander

Synopsis: How did Lukas become King of Abadan? Even Lukas doesn't know. He was in the town square, watching a seedy-looking magician - and suddenly, he was drowning in a far-distant sea. When he came ashore, the first people he met hailed him as King. Being King is fine with Lukas; that is, it would be fine if everyone wasn't trying to murder him.

Review: One of Lloyd Alexander's better stories. As usual, the Author manages to introduce and familiarize the Reader with the main character very quickly, while wasting absolutely no time in delving into the story. Lukas-Kasha is hilarious right off - a likable Aladdin, in many ways - and promises to be one of those cheeky, witty fellows who is surprisingly fun and not just a completely useless lout. And naturally, all of the characters Lukas meets along his adventures all have unquie personalities, utterly likable in their own right, or horrible villains. Sur-Jehan is a strong female character who can be stubborn, isn't afraid of speaking her mind, and knows how to look after herself. However, unlike so many "strong" female characters in modern literature, Sur-Jehan is believable and doesn't have the modern macho-girl image that is so disgusting to me.

Having collected a nice array of people about him, Lukas is thrust into the sort of hilarious and weird adventure that Lloyd Alexander always promises in his books. Unlike his others, however, Lloyd Alexander actually ends it satisfactorily and with an ending that seems to suit the story. As I continued to read and the number of pages dwindled, I was beginning to fear that this book would have the typical slapped-together ending I had come to expect in this Author's stories, but I was pleasantly surprised, and I can shout hurrah!

The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha is an absolute triumph; a complete must-read for those Readers who love silly adventures.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: The King's Shadow - Elizabeth Alder

Synopsis: Evyn, a young Welsh serf, has dreamed all his life of becoming a storyteller. Blessed with a beautiful voice, he loves holding an audience captive with his words, reciting verses that have been passed down from generation to generation.

But in a cruel twist of fate, Evyn and his father suffer a brutal attack by a group of murderous ruffians. Evyn's tongue is cut off, and his father is killed. Because he is orphaned an unable to speak, most assume Evyn is destined to a life of slavery. But Evyn is resilient and teaches himself to read and write. Having mastered these skills, he is appointed the personal companion to Earl Harold of Wessex, who later becomes the King of England. The two travel the countryside together, forming a close father-son bond. Evyn chronicles all their exciting journeys, which culminate at the Battle of Hastings, where the future of the country is decided.

Review: This was almost worthy of Rosemary Sutcliff, in both story and writing. The Author's style does a wonderful job in capturing the love of the Briton countryside and heritage, as well as weaving historical fact and fiction together superbly. Her battle scene was well written, unlike so many modern stories. She did not focus on the fighting as individual scenes, like a movie does, but as a whole, and yet she does not neglect relating certain events through Evyn's eyes. Her storm-at-sea, too, was related masterfully, being blessedly short, but exciting and never dragging at the same time.

Normally, I do not like it when a main character is mute, but Elizabeth Alder managed it extremely well. The King's Shadow has very little dialogue the way it is, reading instead more like a narrative (almost like one of G. A. Henty's stories) so Evyn's muteness fit in perfectly, enduring his character further and developing his personality in a way that talking could not. By the end of the book, I was thoroughly attached to him and silently begged those printed words that he wouldn't die. The Author makes her other characters just as easy to attach oneself to, from the graceful and kind Lady Ealdgyth, to the curious and lively Brother Lewys, and even King Harold himself.

I absolutely loved this book as much as I love Sutcliff's books, and I hope to add it to my collection very soon.

Overall Rating: |||||

Review: Crusade - John Wilson

Synopsis: "Kill them all. God will know His own."

This was what the crusading knights of the Catholic Church were told as they stormed the walls of the heretic city of Beziers in 1209. Ten thousand people died that day - the first casualties of the only crusade fought on French soil.

Caught up in the horror are two childhood friends. Peter - an assistant to the mysterious priest who leads the crusade - is convinced that the war against the Cathars is God's will, a mission that will lead him to the highest ranks of power in Rome itself. John is far less certain about the Church's goals, and his doubts deepen when an intriguing Cathar woman helps him escape the burning city. As the pair travel together to a safe haven, John listens and learns and is soon embroiled in a dangerous mystery. As the brutal war against the Cathars expands and the flames of the Inquisition spread, Peter and John find themselves on opposite sides of the search for a secret that has the power to change the world.

Review: Crusade was certainly interesting, and the writing is good. John is easily liked, but the introduction to him and Peter feels like the Reader is dropped right in the middle of things, making Peter seem nothing but hard and completely unfeeling. I had a hard time feeling any connection to him; if the Author wanted the Reader to understand John's disappointment at Peter's new solemnness, he ought to have began the story a little earlier in their lives, so the Reader could see some of the change in Peter's character. As it is, it seems that Peter has always been like that.

The story also seems to be pretty one-sided. It portrays the Catholics as being nothing but horrible, while the Cathars are completely peaceful. After reading The Perfect Fire Trilogy, which presents a very balanced view of both religions (showing the good and bad of both), this did nothing but irritate me, and I had a hard time enjoying the story because of it. I hope that the Author doesn't do this in the second installment.

Overall Rating: KK

Others in The Heretic's Secret Series:
1)Crusade
2)Grail

Review: The Gnome's Eye - Anna Kerz

Synopsis: In the spring of 1954, Theresa's life changes forever. She and her family emigrate from a refugee camp in Austria to Toronto, Canada. Theresa's friend Martin gives her two gifts for her journey: a package of postcards and a stone he claims will protect her from all things evil, living or dead - a gnome's eye. When she finally arrives in Canada, Theresa is afraid of everything: the other tenants in the rooming house, the rat that lives in the sunroom, learning a new language, speaking in class. But as time goes by, her natural curiosity and her active imagination help her overcome her fears - even in the middle of a hurricane.

Review: An interesting "lifetime" story that, if you are looking for a quick read, would be a good choice. I admit that I was hoping it would have more of a storyline when I first picked it up, but I was not surprised to discover that it was one of those books that just follows the life of the character without anything really happening. If it wasn't for the time period, it would have been nothing more than a feel-good book about how to face one's fears. However, Theresa is a very good narrator and likable character, despite all of her fears and how easily she is angered. I did not like her at first, but she quickly grew on me. And I was not crazy about the writing style at first, but after a time, I found it to be all right, even though it began and ended very abruptly.

The Gnome's Eye will eventually find itself on my shelves.

Overall Rating: JJJ

Review: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair - Elizabeth Laird

Synopsis: In 17th-century Scotland, everyone knows the devil is real. Everyone knows that witches exist. Everyone knows that saying the wrong thing can get you hanged . . . When Maggie's grandmother is accused of witchcraft, the sixteen-year-old has to run for her life. With English soldiers on the march, nowhere is safe - certainly not Ladymuir, where her uncle is determined to defy the king. And wherever Maggie goes, disaster follows. When an old enemy turns up at Ladymuir and settles in as one of the family, Maggie knows that trouble will result, but even she can't imagine the deceit and betrayal that's to come . . .

Review: A beautifully written and intriguing story that anyone would enjoy. I certainly did. Maggie is a strong, practical-minded young woman who conquers her fears as best she can and really tries to do her all at whatever task is set before her. She is independent without developing The Attitude that so many female characters have in today's literature. The villains are easy to dislike, and the nice characters easy to like. The most frustrating element to this story is how readily Maggie's relatives don't believe her when the "old enemy" shows up with a contradicting story. I could not help but exclaim out loud, "Are you really that dense?!"

Content is very light. There are some sexual alludements, but they are not at all detailed, and are brief. The writing style is not spectacular, but it is good in its simplicity, conjuring up beautiful images of the Highlands and downs, and of how rough life was. The Author presents the Reader with a fairly balanced view of Covanenters (Presbyterians) and Catholics, showing that not all Catholics were horrible people, and not all Presbyterians were peaceful.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Betrayal of Maggie Blair, and intend adding it to my collection.

Overall Rating: {{{{

Review: Timeless - Alexandra Monir

Synopsis: When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor's family, she is forced to move from Los Angeles to New York City to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she has never met. In their historic Fifth Avenue mansion, filled with a century's worth of family secrets, Michele discovers the biggest family secret of all - an ancestor's diary that, amazingly, has the power to send her back in time to 1910, the year it was written. There, at a glamorous high-society masquerade ball, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life. And she finds herself falling for him, and into an otherworldly romance.

Soon Michele is leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves - and to complete a quest that will determine their fate.

Review: There is not much to be said about this book, negative or positive. The writing is pretty, Michele is actually a fairly likable girl who isn't entirely scornful of history and the fancy life, Philip is a decent young man who did somehow manage to get on my nerves nonetheless after a time, the time traveling lends an interesting and mysterious element to the otherwise invisible storyline, and there is no inappropriate content beyond lots of kissing. For a "paranormal" or "otherworldy" romance story, Timeless isn't too bad. It did not make me scream and I was not inclined to vomit every five seconds, though I confess that after a while, it really started to get a Twilightish feel to it, and by the time I was done reading it, I wanted to watch a really bloody movie. However, because of the history aspect - which really was quite interesting - and the fact that there were no vampires, no werewolves, and Michele is way more tolerable than Bella, and Philip far, far easier to put up with than either Jacob or Edward (glare at me if you wish, Twihards; I'm being very gentle when it comes to addressing the horrors of Twilight), it wasn't nearly as difficult to stomach as that particular series, which I refuse to read entirely.

Timeless promises a sequel, which I am not particularly pleased about. It doesn't need a sequel. Why the Author could not just end it, I don't know, and unless she intends on stepping the storyline up (i.e. bringing it beyond the mushy-mushies and actually having some things happen), I can see the sequel being a disaster. I hope that it is not, but that is how I see things going.

Still, I enjoyed Timeless as much as I can enjoy a "otherworldly romance" book. The characters are, for the most part, likable, and the writing style is pleasing. Just don't expect too much to happen.

Overall Rating: KK

Others in This Series:
1)Timeless
2)Timekeeper

Jane Eyre

Rated: PG-13

An orphan, Jane Eyre is sent by her hateful aunt to a boarding-school, where she lives out a relatively miserable life and being trained as a governess. Several years later, at the age of 19, Jane is hired to be the governess to Mr. Edward Rochester's French ward, Adele, at the gloomy Thornfield Hall. When Jane meets her employer for the first time, she sees little to like in his brusque and often cruel manner, but as time passes, Jane discovers that Mr. Rochester has much to like in his manner - and even more to love. But there is a secret at Thornfield Hall - one that threatens her growing affection for her solemn employer - and, of course, Miss Blanche Ingram, a young woman of little fortune who is a "particular favorite" of Mr. Rochester's. Jane will have to undergo far more heartache than she has ever had to experience thus far, but only a strong-willed girl like herself could come out of it all with a level head.

I have not seen all of the movie versions of this popular tale, but I have seen several, and I have disliked all of them. I never was a fan of the romance between Rochester and Jane because the age difference is just creepy, plus there is very little to like about Rochester himself. He is mean-spirited, selfish, and kind of creepy (if I ever met him, I would be looking for the nearest police officer). But I don't read Jane Eyre for the love story; I read it for Jane's character, the mystery, and the writing style. I watch the movies for the same reason.

This particular film rendition is my favorite. It is cast exceptionally well, and though I at first had my doubts about Mia Wasikowska at Jane Eyre, I thought she did a tremendous job. I was particularly impressed with Jamie Bell's portrayal of St. John Rivers. He is a very hard character to do properly, but he managed it very well. Michael Fassbender actually managed to make Rochester a little likable, much to my astonishment, but at the same time stayed true to his character. And Jane Eyre's aunt, Mrs. Reed, is remarkably easy to hate in the short time she is in the movie. I loved the lighting they used for the film, their costumes were wonderful, and most - if not all - of the dialogue is taken directly from the book.

However, I have three complains:

1) They did not give you a chance to really hate Blanche Ingram. This is where many of the other movies succeeded. Blanche is such a wonderful character to hate in the book, with her snobbery and condescension. I was no great fan Adele, but I hated the way Blanche treated her! Blanche isn't in the movie for long, and they don't showcase her cruel comments towards Jane Eyre very much, if at all. It was a disappointing discovery that they spent so little time with her character.

2) They did not cover enough of Jane's time at the boarding-school. I have yet to see a film version where they cover a satisfactory amount of time at the boarding-school. For me, that is my favorite part in the book, and I am always disappointed when filmmakers only give it the cursory glance, then move on.

3) The mystery was not touched upon enough. It is like the makers wanted to focus more on the love story than the secret that is lurking at Thornfield Hall. In fact, it almost comes as quite a sudden occurrence when the secret is revealed in this particular version. If the makers had left the deleted scenes in, then there would have been a good lead-up to what was really going on. As it was, I don't think they paid enough attention to it.

Despite these shortcomings, though, I thought that they did an overall good job. I loved the cast, costumes, dialogue, and lighting - and of course the music. Jane Eyre with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender is well worth seeing, and I applaud the success! One more thing to note is the rating; there is nothing in it and I am not entirely certain why it was not rated PG. So for those who are concerned about content - no worries!