I read this straight after The Sleeper and the Spindle and unfortunately it just did not live up to the first. I ex
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2.5 stars out of 5
I read this straight after The Sleeper and the Spindle and unfortunately it just did not live up to the first. I expected a retelling or at the very least, a difference between this and the original Brother’s Grimm story. I am disappointed that I could not differentiate a difference between Gaiman’s work and the original.
If you have never read or heard of Hansel & Gretel, then I’m sure this book will be a great introduction to their story. The best thing about the book is how dark its themes are and Mattotti did a brilliant job in capturing the themes of abandonment. Each page is filled with dark and creepy images as we follow Hansel and Gretel deeper into the forest, having been abandoned by their parents.
These children are as smart as they come (for a fairytale) and I’m glad that Gaiman retained their logical minds in his version of the story.
Unfortunately, this book did not add anything to the fairy tale that was not already there and for that I am quite disappointed. For older readers, go in with the knowledge that the book is not intended to be a fairy tale retelling and you will not be as disappointed as I was. It is still a great addition to the fairy tale collection and I know for sure that younger readers will find the story of Hansel & Gretel a delight to read....more
This is my first foray into Gaiman’s stories and I must say that I was extremely impressed with his retelling of Sleeping Beauty and
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This is my first foray into Gaiman’s stories and I must say that I was extremely impressed with his retelling of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. I think it helped that Riddell’s art is just stunningly gorgeous and added an element of beauty to the overall story.
On the Eve of her wedding, a reimagined Snow White is warned by some mountain dwarfs of an enchanted kingdom that has been cursed to sleep for decades. Brave and independent, the queen sets off to rescue the sleeping princess who is rumoured to be the resolution to the curse. However, the kingdom and its sleeping princess is not as it seems and lifting the curse may not be a great idea after all.
This short story is designed to enchant the younger audience, but I’m not afraid to say that I was thoroughly enchanted myself. I loved the twist at the end and the overarching theme of women and their ability to be brave. This story highlights that girls can also break curses without the help of a prince. It’s such a great message to send to our new generation of children who will grow up with this book.
The story was fast-paced and the illustrations accompanying the words brought the book to life. Every part of this book is just so well thought out and designed. So impressed!
I highly recommend this book to all ages. Older readers will get a kick from its themes and younger readers will find a treat in this beautiful retelling!...more
Callum Hunt has been told all his life that magic is bad, and magicians are evil. When he comes of age to test for the Magisterium, he
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Callum Hunt has been told all his life that magic is bad, and magicians are evil. When he comes of age to test for the Magisterium, he goes in with the intent to fail. But coming last doesn't have the effect he and his dad expected at all. Instead, Callum is picked as an apprentice to the highest master at the Magisterium to everyone else's surprise. Along with two other apprentices, Callum must now learn how to control his power, or have them bound.
The Iron Trial was pretty bland. Let's get the question everyone is asking out of the way shall we? No, it's nothing like Harry Potter, but I can see why everyone is making this comparison. In all honesty, it's due to the marketing of the book and of course the blurb, but the story itself is very different. Yes there are similarities if you want to grab at straws, but there is nothing that jumps out and screams plagiarism. At least for me.
But in saying that, the world of Magisterium was underdeveloped and made very little sense. Callum and other potential kids are made to take a test so the masters at the school can gauge their abilities. The tests were ridiculous and made no sense whatsoever, and worst of all, we get no explanation for them either. How does a written test show potential magic ability? And furthermore, not every student gets into the school. Only a select few are chosen as apprentices, so the school lets untrained kids with magical potential run around in the world afterwards, with a poor explanation that they will be looked after in case they can't control their magic. So why don't they just train them all, jeez. Especially when each master only takes on 2-3 apprentices a year. For a majority of the book Callum's master makes Callum, Aaron and Tamara sit in a room and sort sand ... so what does he do with the rest of his time? Surely you can take on the extra students.
The school itself is set underground. I can't exactly explain what it looks like because I have no idea, but what I kept imagining was underground mole tunnels with water flowing through certain areas. Underdeveloped is probably the word I would choose to describe this whole book, a story that basically did a lot of telling and little to no showing.
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I have no idea how the magic system works or any idea where the school is situated (apparently in our current world, but there's dangerous fantasy animals running around at night? And they have waged wars that no civilian has stumbled upon accidentally?). There are so many gaping holes and plot points that make me want to pull my hair out ... like why the heck is there an evil monster thing being kept in the bottom levels of the school but the room is accessible to anyone, like students that stumble across it.
Another thing that was underdeveloped were the characters. Callum is the only one that has a fully developed back story, and his two fellow apprentices get a mini background. But everyone else were pretty much two-dimensional supporting characters that I just didn't care about. I can't even remember their names. But I did like Callum as a character. He was flawed, had a busted leg, but he was also determined to prove his worth. Having been bullied all his life, his defense mechanism has always resorted to mean comments and comebacks. I liked this about him, and his awareness of his behaviour. While he did want to make friends, there was always this insecurity at the back of his mind that people were not being genuine, and thus he kept pushing people away. As the book progresses, Callum grows as a character and his personality starts to change. He becomes more accepting of magic and even feels guilty for wanting to stay at the school while leaving his dad alone back home.
Plot wise, it was excruciating slow. We literally spend pages hearing Callum talk about counting sand, and complaining about counting sand. 3/4 of the book moves at this snail pace but then the final 1/4 is packed with action and things happening all at once. Unfortunately by that time I just wasn't invested enough in these characters to care what happened to them. I did like the sort-of twist at the end, but it was pretty obvious what the twist was just from the prologue.
As far as middle grade books go, this one was quite disappointing. If you want to check out how Black and Clare's writing styles fuse together, then do pick up this book. Unfortunately, this one was just not for me.
Thank you to Random House Australia for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.Â
The Last Thirteen is a 13 book serial released across the span of approximately 14 months. This first book in the series follows a teenage boy named SThe Last Thirteen is a 13 book serial released across the span of approximately 14 months. This first book in the series follows a teenage boy named Sam, who discovers his nightmares are actually a gift that allows him glimpses into a terrifying future reality. One day, he’s sitting in class, and before you know it, a secret organisation breaks down the wall of his classroom and kidnaps him.
I’ve always been a vivid dreamer (I’ve once dreamed an entire episode of Modern Family�), and have always wondered whether my dreams are trying to tell me something. When I read the premise of this book, it immediately hooked me. It was intriguing to see how Sam’s dreams/nightmares could play out in real life.
The book is quite fast paced, going from scene to scene without seemingly stopping. Unfortunately, this fast pace has affected much of the character development in the book.
Sam is your typical ‘hero�, who takes jujitsu classes prior to being kidnapped and then suddenly rescued. He is taken to a secret Academy for people like himself, who has dreams/nightmares of future events. The only difference is that Sam is special because he’s dreamed about Scolaris, a bad guy, and because of this, he’s prophesised to be one of the long awaited ‘Last Thirteens� that is meant to defeat him. During Sam’s kidnapping, he meets two others who he immediately befriends. They’re told that their whole lives have been a scam, with their parents being fake and Agents from an organisation that want to exploit their gifts. Sam, as well as his friends, while promised to be special, are pretty stereotypical and gives off a Harry-Ron-Hermione vibe.
In terms of plot, I’m still a little confused with the whole premise overall. Sam and his friends are taken to The Academy, where they’re meant to learn to control their dreams, but before they even attend a class, they rush off to solve the issue of Sam’s latest nightmare. These Academy people who are apparently trained in combat, decide to bring three kids along with them, two of which know nothing about fighting. Or strategy. Or survival really. But of course, Sam is special so he has to go along, as he’s the one that can manipulate his dream as it’s played out in reality.
I think overall, the idea behind the overall story is interesting, but the book is let down by its execution. The serial release of the books every month may be the core issue here, as the author may be rushing to meet the deadlines. The story definitely needs some tighter editing, but I did enjoy the action scenes. I would classify this book more as middle grade than young adult, and I think younger boys would definitely enjoy this fast read....more
Conspirators, follows a man named David in his late 70s, who’s just woken up from a 12 hour nap. Still groggy from sleep, he reaches for his remote buConspirators, follows a man named David in his late 70s, who’s just woken up from a 12 hour nap. Still groggy from sleep, he reaches for his remote but instead finds a leprechaun. Thinking he’s still dreaming, David plays along with the pipe smoking leprechaun called Colin, and embarks on an adventure to stop a sock army led by a gremlin.
By itself, Conspirator is a wonderful adventure story that can stand by itself. Accompanied by some wonderful images that complements the novel well, the book overall is something that I would buy and read to any young children.
I love adventure stories, so to have such an old protagonist really shows me that you can continue having fun at any age. I really enjoyed this short story � make sure you pick up a copy if you know of any children that would enjoy an adventure!
Thank you to the author Dan O'Brien for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
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For similar reviews on other books, please visit my blog !...more
Auggie Pullman is a child with a rare facial deformity that has prevented him from attending school until now. Aside from his face, Auggie is just anoAuggie Pullman is a child with a rare facial deformity that has prevented him from attending school until now. Aside from his face, Auggie is just another normal kid but most people can’t seem to look past his unusual deformity. This story is a beautiful exploration of what it feels like to grow up knowing you’re different on the outside, but that you’re just another human being on the inside.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the fifth grade, but Palacio’s portrayal of the ten year-olds within the story felt realistic to me. All his characters has their own unique voice, and their reactions to Auggie seemed like genuine reactions that kids of that age would have if they ever met someone like Auggie. I felt like I was by Auggie’s side throughout his story, during his ups and downs, and egging him on to succeed. He is such a strong child, especially at ten, and you can’t help but feel proud of him for how much he grows throughout the novel.
It’s painful to read about bullying, especially by children so young. And it’s especially hard to read about overly privileged adults that stoop to the level of children because something doesn’t go their way. But in spite of the bad apples, it was also nice to read about the kids that chose to be friends with Auggie without caring about what other people thought.
Auggie doesn’t exactly have a smooth ride through fifth grade. At such a young age, the kids are unable to help being scared of him. But as time progresses, we see the small changes that occur in the dynamic between Auggie and the kids in his grade. Auggie grows completely as a person, he becomes less reliant on his family and he learns to stand up for himself. This in fact earns him the respect he deserved from the start.
Wonder is a beautiful story told from the perspectives of a few different people. I don’t usually like changing perspectives, but it worked well in this book because it really showed how different people in Auggie’s life reacted to him and what they really thought of him. Overall, Wonder is a truly heart-moving children’s book full of life and the life lesson to love people for who they are inside and not for their appearances.
I highly recommend this book, it’s an easy yet very profound read.
Thank you to TheReadingRoom for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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³Ò´Ç²Ô±ðÌýis the first book in this new apocalyptic series by Michael Grant. It follows a series of characters aged 14 and under who realises that out of n
³Ò´Ç²Ô±ðÌýis the first book in this new apocalyptic series by Michael Grant. It follows a series of characters aged 14 and under who realises that out of nowhere, everyone over the age of 15 suddenly disappears, leaving only children to take care of themselves and the others around them.
The main plot of the novel follows Sam Temple, a boy who likes to stay away from the limelight as he's beginning to develop 'powers'. His one heroic event prior to the disappearance of all adults had him dubbed as School Bus Sam, as he managed to save a bus full of classmates when the bus driver suffered a heart attack at the wheel. Following that heroic event, Sam had become a recluse until the 'FAYZ', the name the kids had dubbed this apocalyptic event. At the sight of a burning building in town, Sam instinctively rushes in to save a young girl trapped within the apartment block. His actions throw him into the limelight once more, and Sam begins to realise that people are starting to look to him for answers, and to lead. Unwilling to take on the responsibility for many reasons, Sam decides to help his crush Astrid look for her missing brother instead. And so begins the whirlwind adventure that Sam embarks on as he learns that other kids on Perdido beach are also developing powers as well. And some of them are not using them for good.
First off, I really did enjoy this book, but I also had some issues with it. I liked the alternating perspectives between Sam, Lana and even the occasional shifts to Caine and Howard's perspectives however, I failed to see what role Alfred's point-of-views played to the overall story. Alfred is one of the kids that decided to take over the local McDonalds and run it so others wouldn't starve. While his perspective was light-hearted in comparison to Sam's, I failed to see how it was of any importance to add it into the novel. I was bored reading about him taking inventory of the shop and how he was running out of bread to make the burgers. That's not to say I hated him as a character, in fact I respect Alfred a lot for taking charge and using his skills to benefit this awful situation. But once again, I don't think flicking over to his perspective was necessary.
Another issue I found with the book was the ages. It was never explained why everyone specifically 15 and over disappeared. Why 15? I have a feeling that this will probably be answered in the next five books, but in 560 pages, I was really hoping that Grant would at least give us a hint. I also had a problem with some of the characters and their ages. I couldn't picture Sam as a 14 year old boy at all, he was behaving as someone much older than 14 (at least 16), so it didn't help when all I wanted to know was why Grant used 15 as the cutoff age.
But saying all that, I thought the book was quite realistic in its portrayal of a society that had just lost all its adults. Children scared and breaking into the stores taking all the junk food was right on par with what I could imagine happening. I'm very glad that someone actually took action in regards to the babies still remaining in the town, and that the littles were being looked after. This Lord of the Flies-esque book encapsulates a clear image of what potentially may occur within an adult-less town. The actions of many characters were quite believable, and I found myself shocked at times when certain characters went overboard with some of their behaviour. And it scares me that I couldn't find issues with the way some of the characters behaved because honestly, it wasn't all that far-fetched in my mind. I honestly think that some of the cruel things that occurred could actually happen if our world turned apocalyptic.
While I felt this novel was quite cliche, it was still quite enjoyable in its own right. I couldn't help thinking it was a mix of Lord of the Flies,ÌýUnder the Dome ²¹²Ô»åÌýX-men all mixed together, but you know what, it worked and I will definitely pick up the other books in the series just to find out what the hell is going on!
I thought this book started off a little shaky, but definitely picked itself up in the middle. As the story opens, we meet Alaric, a2.5 out of 5 stars
I thought this book started off a little shaky, but definitely picked itself up in the middle. As the story opens, we meet Alaric, a level 9 security officer who has been raised all his life in Tonzimmel. Tonzimmel supports a Gesellschaft culture where each person fights for themselves in order to move up the social ladder. When we meet Alaric, he seems rigid and unimpressionable, similar to the masses in his black uniform and boots. He was extremely bland until he meets Ruahkini, an air mage from Cadaeren who declares he's the missing prince and heir to Cadaeren. Hearing this news, Alaric is both disgusted and amused as Cadaeren is depicted as a crazy place outside the walls of Tonzimmel. While Tonzimmel boasts hard work and science, Cadaeren encapsulates the ideas of a Gemeinschaft culture where your birth determines your status. Not only that, but the mage declares that he has magic, which Alaric almost laughs himself unconscious at.
Ruahkini convinces Alaric to take on a wager with knife-throwing (Alaric's best skill). If Alaric won, his bar tab would be pre-paid for a month, but if he lost, he has to attempt the Quest of the Unaligned. This is a quest that the prince of Cadaeren must go on before their coronation ceremony. Of course Alaric takes on the wager as he considers himself the best knife-thrower in Tonzimmel - and of course he loses. And from there, we follow him as he leaves Tonzimmel and journeys to Cadaeren to begin his quest. On his way to Cadaeren, he is accompanied by Laeshana, a friend who he had believed was a mechanic/engineer back in Tonzimmel, but was in fact an aesh (a mage aligned with fire).
At this point, Alaric's personality was really annoying and rubbed at me in all the wrong places. He was condescending and ignorant, which I knew was intentional. Because of his 'Tonzemmialian' traits, he almost gets both he and Laeshana killed when he declares that he would take the mountain path, even after she warns him of a dragon lurking there. Of course, as a person of science, he scoffs at the idea (fair enough) and declares that will do whatever he wants even though Laeshana was there to be his guide. He's a level 9 security officer, of course he knows best! (Sarcastic) Not surprisingly, they meet the dragon which made for a very exciting read. However, it was pretty unbelievable as I kept wondering why the dragon didn't bother to use fire to incinerate them. And Alaric definitely defeated it too easily.
Following that encounter, we see a little bit of change within Alaric, he becomes less sceptical of magic and of Cadaeren being as insane as he first thought. While he still exhibits many Tonzimmelian traits, his character was changing. After a while, they arrive at the Temple where the King's Crown is held, but alas, it's stolen! The second half of the novel follows Alaric, Laeshana and the apprentice of the temple on their journey to retrieve the crown. This was where everything got much more interesting and where Alaric definitely grew as a character. What I found a little sceptical was how much he changed in just a few weeks - while it was definitely nice to see, 21 years of upbringing within one culture does not equate to immediate assimilation into a culture that is directly opposite to what you're used to.
What I do applaud is Phillip's ability to develop her characters. I think character development is one of the most important things within a good novel, right after plot, and she did it really well with Alaric. Throughout his quest, he is faced with the themes of duty, trust, morality and the continual issue of statuses depicting a persons' worth. This was done extremely well with Alaric. What I had problems with was his parents, the king and queen of Cadaeren and their decision to send Alaric away to be brought up in Tonzimmel in the first place. This was only explained briefly, and not even enough for it to make sense. From what I could tell, they sent him away so he could be 'unbalanced' and not lean towards any one element. What they essentially did was send him to a MAGIC-LESS place which was not only idiotic but what kind of parents does that make you when you send your ONLY child away to be brought up parentless. How are they even fit to rule when your actions show you don't even love your child, let alone your people. I'm surprised civil war did not start while Alaric was away.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read as the action picked up in the second part of the novel. I liked Alaric's character development but I can't say I was invested in any of the other characters enough, which is a shame. Especially Naruhan for his selfless sacrifice to buy Alaric time and save him from death. It would have been good to get some insight into the monarchy of Cadaeren as the two rulers seem quite ... oblivious to everything. Very fairy-airy to be exact. But the book does have a nice ending, which was a good close to the story.
Thanks to A. L. Phillips for providing an e-copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
An electronic copy was provided by the author to review honestly
Fourteen-year-old Matt Archer is out camping in the woods of Montana with his uncle MiAn electronic copy was provided by the author to review honestly
Fourteen-year-old Matt Archer is out camping in the woods of Montana with his uncle Mike when they are attacked by a paranormal grissly bear with tusks. Not knowing what to do as his uncle is attacked, Matt grabs the first weapon he finds in his uncle’s bag � a sharp knife that glows at his touch. The knife takes out the monster and Matt is thrust into the mist of a mission to save the world from armageddon.
For a fourteen-year-old thrust into the tough ordeals of a military nightmare, Matt handles himself extremely well. He is a well-rounded character written unbelievable well by Highley. He acts as a fourteen-year-old would when faced with girl-troubles, but is also smart enough to obey command when necessary. Matt is not irrational and stubborn as most teenagers would be when told that they’re wielding immense power � and that is what I loved about him. Highley has created a person that all readers could root for � rather than another annoying kid given power they’re unable to comprehend.
I found the entire story very well written and paced. Most scenes were definitely filled with action and Highley does not shy away from the prospect of death, which I admire her for. While written for children, it is still to be expected that when you’re fighting a war with monsters, death would always be lurking around the corner.
I have only high praise for the character developments within this story. All the characters were well-rounded and felt completely real. I enjoyed the strong bond of friendship between Matt and his best friend Will, but what I loved most was his bond with his family. His sister Mamie is one tough cookie, even though she’s known as a nerd to people around school. While we don’t see much of Matt’s brother Brent, he is always there when Matt needs him the most. He has his back and that’s what counts the most. And how can I forget the relationship between Matt and his uncle Mike? With Matt’s father M.I.A, Mike is the closest father figure he and his siblings have. Being deployed to Afghanistan serves the family a huge blow, but it is because of Mike’s leaving that pulls the Archer family together. They’re all just so supportive of each other, and it’s such a great thing to read about.
While you may think that this book is just about hunting mosters in the dark, Matt is still a teenager in high school. He has problems just like any other adolescent boy full of testosterone, and the glimpses offered into his ‘normal� life was quite enjoyable to read about. Not once did I get impatient and want to fast forward to the fighting, because Matt chasing after is dream girl Ella was fun to read about too.
Matt Archer: Monster Hunter was an extremely enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading the next one in the series - Matt Archer: Blades Edge. I hear it’s set in Australia, my home country, so I’m very, very excited!
A lovely children's story, filled with beautiful pictures and wise words. A must read classic story for all ages. A lovely children's story, filled with beautiful pictures and wise words. A must read classic story for all ages. ...more
This 80 page children’s book was an extremely quick read that I found I was unable to put down. It was so much fun following Bobby, a third grade kid This 80 page children’s book was an extremely quick read that I found I was unable to put down. It was so much fun following Bobby, a third grade kid who won a game of checkers to win the presidency of the USA. Bobby was a lovely character who I found very endearing. He was truly a kid, and I found he was characterised properly by Maguire. Adults writing from the point-of-view as a child is very hard, especially getting it right and not making them seem more juvenile than they really are. Children are never as dumb as some many believe, and I think this book captures that perfectly. Some children could potentially be president � heck, some are probably more viable for the position than a lot of adults in this world.
THANKS TO: Smith Publicity on Netgalley and Paul Maguire for the book for review.
(view spoiler)[1%: Jack is very annoying. He narrates in a way such that he knows he's in a book ... it really irritates me the way he tells the reade(view spoiler)[1%: Jack is very annoying. He narrates in a way such that he knows he's in a book ... it really irritates me the way he tells the reader not to continue reading, but tempts them to at the same time. While he doesn't say it aloud - he basically says, "If you don't continue reading, you're a wuss unlike me."
2%: Ironic that he tells the reader not to proceed but narrates like he knows this will be read.
4%: I find it highly unrealistic that his aunt has bought him a bench press for his 13th birthday... (hide spoiler)]
I couldn't finish this. The protagonist, Jack, just didn't feel right to me - his character was always a little off. Plus I really disliked the story telling method of Gunhus. Jack's childish voice irked me so much, and even though I tried really hard to at least get to chapter five (in order to give this story a chance), I really just couldn't continue it. While I understand that this is children's fiction, Gunhus's writing style and Jack's character really rubbed me the wrong way. It just wasn't the book for me.
I don't know why I was always a little weary about reading this. Maybe because I tried reading LotR when I was young and got completely confused (for I don't know why I was always a little weary about reading this. Maybe because I tried reading LotR when I was young and got completely confused (for some reason, I started on The Twin Towers), so I wasn't expecting much from The Hobbit.
But I'm so glad I finally gave this book a chance because it was brilliant! What started out as a procrastination book during my exams (hence why it took me so long to finish this), turned into an adventure story I didn't want to leave! I must say, the narration irked me a little at the beginning, but I soon got used to it and even really like this style now.
I must admit, I read this book because the movie is coming out soon in December, and I wanted to get a feel for the storyline before I went out to watch it. I am not disappointed at all and wish I'd read this earlier!
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