Danielle

I really question why it has taken me so long to start this trilogy. I absolutely LOVE Laini Taylor's writing! The rich, lyrical descriptions just suck me in and create an atmosphere I want to drown in. Her magical worlds are places I want to visit. Whether it was her Faeries of Dreamdark books, which are probably my favourite books about faeries ever, or the magical treasure that is Strange the Dreamer, Laini manages to craft stories that I'm enchanted by.
I think some early reviews that said the love story was a bit too in the ‘love at first sight' category made me hesitate, as I too don't particularly care for that trope, but I shouldn't have listened to that and gone with my gut! I have literally had these books on my shelf for YEARS and I regret it!
With that quibble aside, Laini Taylor creates a mysterious and mythical world that caught me in its snare immediately. Again, her lyrical writing just oozes atmospheric magic. Prague felt like an entrancing character all its own. I wanted to get on a plane and go there to walk the streets and wrap myself in the history, culture and character of the city. And that's just the real Prague we know, then there are other worlds you only glimpse at during the story. Worlds of supernatural creatures, magic and enigmatic secrets. I was definitely a fan of the world-building.
I also found the main character Karou to be a pleasant surprise. I liked her quite a lot. She wasn't moody, sullen or a Mary-Sue. She has quirkiness, passion and spunk and it was so refreshing and honestly a bit inspiring to have a more upbeat lead character. She also has a big heart and values friendship, which I felt drawn too.
Okay, now the loaded love story part. It honestly didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. It niggles, I won't lie, but I suppose when your story is about star-crossed lovers it's almost a given that there will be an almost unbelievable connection between the two and falling in love immediately seems par for the course. I think the ending saves it a bit, but I can't give that away, so you'll have to decide for yourself. If you're dead against that type of love story, steer clear, however, if you can even have a sliver of suspended belief on that part, I think you'll be well rewarded with the rest of story and still on board for the love story part.
Lastly, the ending is a banger. It came so hard and fast with so many little pieces falling into place that all I wanted to do was speed read through it, while also appreciating how much backstory the whole thing was leading up to. Ending on a cliff-hanger was a groaner (in a good way), but I guess the positive side of waiting so long to read this means I can go straight into Book 2. And I am SO ready for the next book!
Overall highly recommended. Best YA fantasy I've read in a LONG time. I'm sorry Laini Taylor for waiting so long to read this book. I won't wait next time, I promise.

It has been quite some time since I've read a Discworld novel and I'd forgotten how wonderfully enjoyable they are! Terry Pratchett's wit is both funny and wise and never fails to make me giggle and laugh out loud, while at the same time contemplate life, people and the ‘bigger picture' as it were. This third volume in the series is a delight and filled with the kind of absurd imagination that I love about the Discworld series and other like-minded books who don't feel the need to make the fantasy ‘realistic' and instead embrace the weird, whimsical and absurd ness of the genre, while at the same time kind of poking fun of it. This volume almost felt like it could have been. Ghibli film. I liked all of the characters, but really loved the character of Granny Weatherwax the best. Esk's journey to become the first female wizard is both a fun and wild ride as well as being an interesting look at gender roles - especially in fantasy. As always, though Discworld novels are labelled a comic fantasy - and yes there is a lot of comedy - it also has something profound to say, it's just not bogged down by preaching and is a much more fun way to ruminate about deeper issues, and Equal Rites is no exception to that tradition in Terry Pratchett's writing.

Although I loved the third book the most because it took place in the BookWorld and I just loved the idea around that, this fourth volume is just as zany, bizarre, fun and funny, but with a satisfying conclusion. I couldn't help thinking of the Doctor's words ‘Timey Whimy' as I read the final chapters. A big reveal at the end was surprising and yet really quite emotional and touching. The amazing imagination that Fforde displays in these books is beyond compare and the journey with Thursday Next was so much fun, I look forward to continuing with the second half of the series and can't wait to see what absurdity Fforde will take me to next!

Is it strange that I want a Dodo of my own? Jasper Fforde continues one of the most unique, bizarre and enjoyable worlds in his second Thursday Next book which offers lots of laughs, a plethora of literary references for the book geek and a story that had me turning pages as fast as I could.
I won't say too much on the plot other than to mention that the second book in the series lives up to the first in all the ways that made me love it in the first place and opens up tons of new possibilities for future volumes. This volume leaves more up in the air at the end than The Eyre Affair did, but that just makes me more anxious to move on to book 3 The Well of Lost Plots. A worthy addition to the series and a gateway for much more exciting literary adventures to come.

The Discworld and Death are as iconic as macaroni and cheese and this first foray into the realm of Death is definitely a fantastic start to the “Death” books of the Discworld series. I enjoyed the humorous moments where Death has showed up in previous books, but this volume focuses on him and his unlikely apprentice in an adventure that winds through life, death and alternate realities like its child's play, and I loved it! Humour abounds, thoughtful insights are peppered throughout and for a subject matter that could be a real downer, it manages to be an uplifting tale that keeps you engaged and having fun throughout. As always with any Discworld book, this one is highly recommended!

The beginning of this book is very awkward and I can see why some people give up on it before finishing, but if you can get past the shaky beginning, it is more than worth it to keep going. It takes a while for the clunkiness of the storytelling to make way for the truly wonderful one it turns into.
I always roll my eyes when a book cover claims it's ‘like the Lord of the Rings'. I have yet to come across the mythical book that is ‘just like the Lord of the Rings'. LOTR being my absolute favourite fantasy, I have never found one that compares. While The Summer Tree doesn't quite compare story-wise (it is it's own story - and that's a good thing), it does actually compare quite well with the Tolkien's poetic and mythic writing style. It feels like you've come across some ancient book, telling you a historical story about the mists of time when gods, goddesses and mythical creatures roamed the earth and magic shaped its destiny. The words are beautifully written, and invokes a sense of magic all it's own. I was quite impressed by the beautiful language used, at times so poetic I wanted to re-read it again. It truly took me to another time and place.
I wasn't as impressed by the characterization of the characters in The Summer Tree, at least at first. The main characters are not given a lot of time to form and become more than just names on the page, although by the end I felt I knew them a bit better. More time could perhaps have been given to the characters and filling them out more as people we care for before they are thrown into the epic journey they go on, would have made that beginning less awkward. Another niggling point was how easy they just went along with it all...I feel like in a kids book you can get away with that, but adults questions a heck of a lot more than children do when they are suddenly transported to another world and are asked to take on some pretty hefty roles when they get there. These characters just seemed to go with it, which I found odd and jarring at times.
However, by the end, I found myself warming to some of the characters and on the fence about others, which means that they really grew in the telling of the story. It took 3/4 of book to get there, but I really enjoyed Dave's storyline, short though it was. So I suppose the characterization wasn't a complete misfire.
The reason I gave The Summer Tree 5 stars, though I did have a few issues with it, is that it is as close as I've come to a similar writing style to Tolkien, something I truly love about LOTR, and also that I really enjoyed about the book. So much so, that I forgave some of the issues I had with the story itself. On that note, I did find the story quite compelling in it's own right. A mix, in my mind, between LOTR, Narnia Chronicles, and strangely enough, the anime The Twelve Kingdoms, it is a mix that works really well and ends up creating a world and story all its own despite borrowing from some pretty mainstream sources. I've drifted from reading a lot of traditional fantasy because I find them so similar to each other, but this book really stood out from them all, even though it uses very traditional elements, and I can't pinpoint exactly why.
In the end, I found I really enjoyed it and also found myself stealing every extra minute to read it and staying up until my eyelids were drooping to get even a little further in the book - which means it certainly had my attention.
Not sure why it took me so long to read The Summer Tree - I've had the trilogy on my shelf for years, but I'm glad I did and am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

The second book in a trilogy can be a tough one. No definitive start and no definitive ending, but if done well it can Expand upon the original story, propel it forward and enrich its characters. The Wandering Fire does exactly that. There is no awkward beginning this time around and we now have a firmer grasp on our characters, although I still find them lacking some depth in comparison to other novels. Again Guy Gavriel Kay's writing is the real star here. It has such an elegance and way of conveying myth, magic and legend so that you can feel it. He transports you to this world and surrounds you in it with his words and that is really what I am appreciating about this trilogy as a whole. The story and world building continue to grow in this volume, and give it more depth and breadth. We travel a great deal and expand upon not only the world itself, but also the magic that inherent in it. I really did enjoy the ride and the beautiful writing and look forward to the conclusion.

What an amazing duology! Definitely one of the best YA novels I've read in a long while. A main character that is flawed and yet having followed her from humble beginnings you find yourself also justifying her questionable actions, just as she does. Eona was a wonderfully complex character who had me wondering right until the final pages what her final decisions would be and how that would affect her world and those around her. Speaking of worldbuilding - wow! Alison Goodman built an absolutely astounding world of dragons, pearls, royalty and magic that was totally immersive and mesmerizing. I definitely recommend this one if your tired of the same old tropes in YA, it is a refreshing step away from ‘love at first sight' stories and girls meeting boys with mysterious powers storylines, Eona has her own power and her journey through learning how that power should be used is a truly thought-provoking and exciting one. It's not black or white and there are often hard choices, difficult decisions and very real consequences for her actions. Highly recommended fantasy!

What an amazing series! It started out as an adventure of the week with a thrown together group of characters who travel across worlds and dimensions and turned into one of the most twisty time-travel, epic love stories that had me at times absolutely baffled, but also totally enthralled. I believe it may actually deserve a second and third reading to truly appreciate all the interconnectedness between characters and places and to really see all the events unfold now that I know the ending AND a reading of the sister manga XXXHolic, which though isn't required for Tsubasa, must be a huge help in understanding everything that happens.
I absolutely LOVED this series and recommend it to those who love fantasy and time-travel and crazy LOST-like plot twists.
I grew to love these characters and they will be high on my list for a long time to come. Mokona's tears at the end choked me up just about every time, which usually means I'm entirely invested in what's going on in the story.
The ingenuity, imagination and storytelling involved in this series has blown me away and I highly recommend it!

The concluding volume in the Shadowmarch series is right up there with the previous books, however, I didn't find the finish quite as satisfying as I'd hoped. I still enjoyed the journey, don't get me wrong, but I was hoping for more resolutions and less left up in the air with so many characters. The world Tad Williams created is still the best part of this series. From the dwarf-like Funderlings to the Rooftoppers to the pantheon of gods and goddesses, the series is filled with amazing creatures and creations and chock full of the fantastic - something I really enjoy in Tad Williams writing. All of these creatures and people coming together in the end is probably the most satisfying thing in this final volume, but the completion of it all left a bit to be desired. I was really hoping for certainty in the futures of the characters we've followed through four books, and I felt like didn't happen. Briony and Barrick's futures seem just as uncertain as they were when the whole thing started. In this case the journey is actually better than the destination. I still enjoyed the series over all and think that Tad Williams is very underrated fantasy author, there are a lot of gems to enjoy in this series and it is worth checking out.

I debated between 2 and 3 stars, but ended up with two for a few reasons. First what I did like: Jane as a modern introvert. As an introvert myself, I did find myself relating to her in a lot of ways and when it was just her trying to figure out life and doing her introvert ‘thing' I found myself somewhat enjoying it. BUT, then the whole romance just fell completely flat and even cringy at times. Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is filled with sumptuous language, a dark, gothic atmosphere and tantalizing, slow-burning romance filled with longing. Combined with Jane's moral compass and strong character, it is what makes the original so beloved. All of these elements were missing from this re-telling, which ended up boiling it down to the bare-bones of the story told in a modern age that lost all the allurement of the original in favor of a bland relationship between a messed up rock star and an introverted art student and absolutely no spark between them whatsoever. I never once felt the butterflies or even understood the allure of their attraction. Despite the age difference and circumstances in the original, as well as all the constrictions of the era it was written in, I FELT the spark in Bronte's Jane Eyre, but this book missed that mark by miles. I'm not against modern re-telling's of classics as some are, so while this was an intriguing concept I thought would be really good, the actual execution didn't live up to it's potential.

This is my first Connie Willis book and I loved it! Time travel, the Victorian era in England and a mystery that kept me intrigued from beginning to end. There were laugh out loud moments, characters I cared for, a bit of romance and a story that had a nice balance between the characters and the adventure. I highly recommend it!

The power of storytelling seems to be the main vein in this series and I absolutely love how it's being handled in this series. The first volume was good and enjoyable, but this second volume really pumps up the ante and includes really interesting and bizarre ideas. I continue to enjoy the characters and the artwork, as well as the literary references peppered throughout. The central mystery continues to have me baffled and I look forward, like Tom, on learning more about it in the coming volumes. The thin line between reality and fantasy, fiction and non-fiction blurs in this one-of-a-kind story, and I'm loving it!

How do I even describe this book? To say it's a bit strange is an understatement and I don't think it will be everyone's cup of tea, however, I found it funny, surprisingly emotional and somewhat thought provoking amid all the sci fi jargon. Not to mention that I have a huge soft spot for time travel stories, so this was definitely up my alley in the first place. It has the same kind of zany feel as Douglas Adams, although I think Douglas Adams is still a few notches up. It was a quite compelling read, fast paced, humorous and though not action packed, it manages to keep you flipping pages to see what's around the corner. Top that off with a poignant and touching look at life and how we live it in relation to our past, present and future and whether we actual engage in it or just ride along with it and the story goes from just a fun sci fi romp into something a little more. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think it's a worthwhile read if you don't mind a story that's a bit strange and you enjoy time travel, sci fi and maybe a small dose of heart.

Melancholy with dark undertones - don't expect this ‘light' YA novel to be light in content. But also don't let that scare you away from this brilliant story. Creative and thoughtful, it has a way of getting under your skin and not letting go, especially if you've ever felt distant from the world around you, but it also has small notes of hope about a future, even if it isn't the future you envision for yourself. I was pleasantly surprised by it and will certainly be thinking about for many days to come - a sign of a truly good story. If you are tired of the same old wishy-washy YA novels that frequent the shelf and are looking for something much more poignant and meaningful, then do yourself a favour and check out this book. Can't wait to continue the series!

This book in the series started to try my patience with the series. As much as I liked the characters and wanted to know what happens to them, I found it hard to get past the same story of the 2 main characters being torn apart by magical forces and coming up with complicated ways of dealing with them (that usually involves Richard being ‘super' smart to figure out what no one else knows or has figured out in the last 1000 years). Can't say I was overly impressed.

The tag lines that stated that Akata Witch is like Harry Potter in Africa was not far off the mark on this one. I really appreciated the use of the Nigerian setting and folk roots of the magic and supernatural elements - it leant the familiar story a lot of flavour. Sunny was a likeable character and her friends were interesting if a little less fleshed out.
I enjoyed the story and felt it was fast paced and had a lot of really fun aspects to the imaginary world created, which kept me turning the pages to see what the intrepid foursome would come across next. It's definitely imaginative and a refreshing take on the YA magical genre.
I felt it could have used a bit more fleshing out in some areas and I also didn't feel a huge emotional tie to the story, which I really look for in order to make it just that something a little bit more special. Well worth reading still though!

I think this is the first YA book that didn't start out as a girl meeting some strange mysterious boy and the adventure surrounding their angst filled relationship - and I loved that about it. It was refreshingly different in both it's use of an oriental-like backdrop to a main character who has a disability. I was swept away in this story in a way i haven't for some time with a YA book and when it came to an end I was so glad I could pick up the next volume right way. I recommend this for anyone tired of the Twilight knockoffs and want a story that doesn't shy away from difficult themes about honor, trust and friendship. Very, very good read!

I had heard people weren't as happy with this last volume, but I just couldn't put it down - finished it in 2 days! I thought that it was an emotional roller-coaster ride that had me raging, crying and smiling at intervals. The end is a bit rushed, which I think would be my only complaint. It certainly is one of the best YA fiction trilogies I've read in a long time. Definitely going to add it to my favourites.