Danielle

A bibliophile mystery sounded to me like a great read. Between my love of reading, the theme surrounding classic serials and a good old fashioned whodunit I had visions of atmospheric academia oozing old book smell with rainy streets and quaint bookstores. But I don't think The Dumas Club quite lived up to my expectations. Although I did mostly enjoy the story and it did manage that atmosphere in spades, I wasn't quite as taken with it as I had expected.
It was not a bad book and was enjoyable enough, but I don't think it really captured me enough to garner higher praise. Part of it may have been the over abundance of female characters reduced to long passages of physical traits rather than personalities. While I don't mind a bit of physical attraction references, it felt sometimes almost derogatory in this book. Not a single female character was more than a pair of legs, thighs, breasts or open lips and all of them apparently were attractive and knew it. I got tired of the constant descriptions in this manor. Also, the love interest just appears mysteriously and just as mysteriously is in love with the protagonist Corso and is never really resolved why or matures beyond a single sexual encounter and her following him around like a lost puppy.
The mystery itself was also just okay. I don't think it blew my mind or really had me chomping at the bit to know what was going to happen next. It is tied up at the end, but will probably depend on the reader whether they think it is satisfactory or not. I wasn't blown away. Other than Corso, we don't get a chance to get to know many of the other characters, so they remain aloof for most of the story, which is perhaps intended, but I would have rather known more about them and their motivations as it could have fleshed out the mystery a lot more.
Overall, I felt it was an okay read, but nothing super special. It has a lot of potential, but just doesn't manage to make a huge impression.

I am finding it difficult to wade through my feelings on this book. At the beginning I felt very relatable to Quentin as a character, his story had so many parallels to my own. I've dealt with depression and know how even in a privileged life you can feel like you are drowning in misery and waiting for the next bad thing to happen. I know how you can feel great at the beginning of something new only to have it sour and all the old weight of unhappiness slowly creeps into it. Above all I understood the want to exist somewhere else and if that would just happen, then I would be happy. What life and perhaps this book is a cautionary tale of, is that if you don't make an effort to be happy in the here and now, then no matter where you go from there - from new school, new job or magical realm - you'll never be happy. Although this is a very true statement, it is also a tough pill to swallow and can make for a very downtrodden and depressing story. As the book progresses our lead character Quentin's unhappiness follows him everywhere and leads to some destructive behaviour that is neither healthy nor wise and turns him into a very unlikable character. Perhaps this was the point, but I found myself getting frustrated with him and losing interest and an emotional connection to his story, leaving me a bit cold in the end. To top that off, the magical side to the story has some interesting things, but it's told in such an off hand way, that I felt it lost a lot of the wonder that you'd expect from a story about a magical school and magical realm. Overall I think there were some really good ideas at play, I'm just not sure if I cared for the execution. I'm hoping the next two books will improve on it, but that remains to be seen. I like that Grossmen is trying to address some issues - like depression - that is not often seen in much of the fantasy genre, but I guess I was hoping for a bit more of a positive spin on it, alongside the hard truths he's trying to express. That may be my personal take on it, so you'll have to read it to find out for yourself, I don't think it was a wasted read by any means, just be prepared for a very bleak story without much to offset it.

I had actually read Frances Hardinge's book Face of Glass before this and I enjoyed it, but I think I liked this one slightly more, likely due to the nature of the story being something I tend to gravitate towards anyway.
Hardinge's stories tend to be unique, which is a welcome thing among YA books. I also really enjoy her writing style - it is very lyrical and often how she describes things manages to paint a very textured and layered picture in your mind.
Fly by Night is an obvious love letter to words and books, but also pulls off an adventurous yarn that is at turns humorous, mysterious and engaging. I really liked main character Mosca. She's resourceful and thoughtful, even though she doesn't always get it right, she does do her best to make amends.
I don't think another book comes to mind that I'd compare it too, which is part of its strength. Thoroughly enjoyable!

For the past couple of years or more I have found it difficult to absolutely fall in love with a fantasy book or series. I've liked many, but haven't found one that I fell in love with and just wanted to tell the world about. Thank goodness for Brandon Sanderson and his novels, which have single handedly brought me back to fantasy and reminded me why I love it so much. Warbreaker, his single volume fantasy novel is an amazing book and I LOVED it! So many things came together in this one that just had my heart aflutter for the whole thing from start to finish. I wish more fantasy could be like this. It is so cliche to say it, but it is certainly true that Brandon Sanderson has an amazing ability to craft a world and magic system like no one else. This one maybe was particularly awesome in my opinion as an artist, the thought of colour being such an intricate part of the magic system was so vivid in my mind's eye that I instantly loved it. And the characters! So many in this one grabbed at my heartstrings and stuck there and I'm sure won't let go anytime soon, even the unexpected ones. I loved the humour that had me smiling like an idiot sometimes and laughing out loud at other times, especially Lightsong's chapters. The twists and turns and the ending had me flipping pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next and it all ended in tears, both happy and sad. I sat at the end, contemplating it all and taking away so many amazing tidbits that were peppered throughout about love, faith, judgement and sacrifice, among so many other things. In a way I feel more satisfied by this single volume fantasy than by many full series I have read. I think this one will go down to be a top favourite all-time fantasy for me, adding to many other Sanderson works in that list.

It has been YEARS since I've read this and I forgot how much I utterly loved it! I know why Anne is such a beloved character all over the world, but for me personally, I think that I relate to Anne the most with respect to her imagination. The vividness and extravagance of her imagination was something I had a similar abundance of as a child and I vividly remember how my surroundings lent themselves to it in my own made-up places and situations. Reading it now again as an adult, it brings back that innocence and joy I had in letting my imagination run wild. I also highly appreciate L.M. Montgomery's very lyrical and poetic writing. It's so sumptuous in places but never loses the down-to-earth feel of this small rural place in PEI either. I also love how much she was in tune with the nature of people and the little statements or observations she makes throughout about the characters would make me smile or laugh or nod in appreciation of how she captured the heart of people. Speaking of laughing, she also was very witty and deft with her humor, I found myself laughing a lot throughout. Maybe it was the timing of this reread, but I realized it is probably among my favourite books and I always forget to add it as one. It's just such a classic, that I don't automatically think to include it in my favs list, it just seems a given.
It's a love letter to nature, community, family, friends, childhood, imagination, coming of age, and simple pleasures of life. It's a true Canadian treasure, wholesome, and endearing.

I was hesitant to read this, as so many reviewers gave it less than glowing reviews, although liking most of Sanderson's other work, but my hesitancy was misplaced. It's his first novel and there are certainly some issues with it, that Sanderson has obviously improved upon in his later works, but overall I still really enjoyed Elantris. All of the hallmarks of Brandon Sanderson's writing are there, including an amazing world, magic and characters that always seem to surprise me, even the so-called ‘bad guys' have me second guessing myself and my own prejudices. I appreciate that in his writing and how much more its grown over the course of his writing career. I also enjoyed the fact that this was a single one off story and not a series. Some secondary characters may suffer a bit for it, but it was refreshing to know that it was all going to come to an end on the last page and not keep me hanging for years to come. Although I wouldn't put this as my favourite of Sanderson's work, it is still well worth the read and better than 75% of other fantasy out there. Ignore some of those first novel follies and sit back and enjoy a novel that was the start of an amazing author's career!

I think I understand why people initially find this book difficult to get into in the beginning. There is no preamble, no pages upon pages of world building to bring you up to speed on this strange new place. The rules are fuzzy at best and it quite literally drops you in the middle of the story. At first I was wondering what the heck I was reading, nothing made much sense at first, but if you persevere through that first plunge into the unknown it is more than worth your effort to stick it out. As I look back after finishing the book, I realize how refreshing it was to be just dropped into it like that. Yes you have a million questions and not everything makes sense at first, but that's kind of the point. You learn not by being told, but by your observations on what's going on as they slowly reveal how everything works. Although at its heart The City and The City is a murder mystery, there is so much more to it because of the uniqueness of the two cities relationship to each other. I really don't want to go into too much detail, as half the experience of this book is discovering its intricacies and strangeness and yet also being able to find parallels to our own world in it. I've only read one other China Mieville book, but this second helping has proved to me that he is an amazing author and a genius of the imagination. If you let it, The City and The City is a really wonderful read that will challenge how you think stories should be told and will make you appreciate those who push the boundaries once you've made it to the end. One of the most unique stories I have read in a really long time and well worth it if you're looking for something a little bit different.

Tad Williams is the master of typical fantasy and I say that in the kindest sense. There is a lot of cliche fantasy in this series, but he still manages to make it engaging, interesting and full of in depth characters. I was specifically fond of Barrick's journey. Although he is sullen and moody a lot of the time, I found his journey behind the Shadowline to be some of the most interesting parts of this installment. Although I didn't entirely fall in love with Williams characters like I did many of the characters from his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series, they are still very well drawn out and slowly grow as the their fates force them into situations that test their courage, their persistence and their wits. In the third book of the Shadowmarch series, we start to see all the threads that have thus far been separate start to weave together into what is sure to be an epic showdown. I was happy that some of the reasons behind many things that have happened so far have been revealed, along with the motives of many of the characters that have been only hinted at previously. I look forward to the conclusion and to find out the fates of all involved

Wil's account of his struggle to find himself in Hollywood's sometimes brutal landscape is poignant and well worth reading. Makes you see the person behind the characters on tv and film and a really good reminder that they are just trying to get by too - support a family, find satisfaction in a career and follow something that they love, even with many sacrifices along the way.

I have to admit that I am a bit biased when it comes to this addition to the Dresden Files series, as I am a huge fan of stories about the fae. Combine the ethereally scary realm of faerie with Harry Dresden's charm and humour and I couldn't help but love this addition to the series. Fast paced from the first page to the last with almost non-stop action, Dresden's trademark humour and just about every fantasy character you can imagine shoved into a tight knit story and I just can't think of anything bad to say except that I wished it had lasted a bit longer.

It's been a long time since a book had me turning pages and wanting to ignore life to read it. Starling House is also exactly the type of story I was looking to read for autumn/fall...creepy, mysterious and atmospheric. I'm not a big horror fan, but I do love stories that are unsettling and mix the supernatural, folklore and fairytales. Although never stated, I felt there was a bit of a play on Beauty and the Beast, but in Harlow's hand it becomes a different and unique story. Her lyrical writing gives everything an otherworldly feel, most especially in respect to the house itself, which becomes a character in its own right and one I thoroughly enjoyed and loved. The mystery aspect is what had me reading every chance I could get, but the heart of the story is really about family and home. Complicated, messy and often what you make it, not what you're born into. There's a bit of romance. I thought I was over the brooding types, but apparently Arthur proved me wrong. But it never becomes tropey or ridiculous. It's a bit gothic mystery, a bit dark modern fairytale, a bit ghost story and overall just a great read! So many elements I love and though I still hold Harlow's The Ten Thousand Doors of January above this one and an all-time favourite, Starling House is certainly up there and I highly recommend it!

I read this quite a while back and remembered enjoying it, but never continuing with it. I wanted to revisit it, since I've been in the mood for something ‘different' in my reading repertoire. On my second reading, I realize why I enjoyed it so much the first time around.
Touching on themes about stories and their impact on our lives, nuggets on literary sources along the way, great artwork and interesting characters, it would be hard for me not enjoy this.
I love stories about stories! A lot of my favourite books are about books, bookworms or stories and storytelling and this is a great addition to that list. I am excited this time to continue to read the series and see where it leads.

“Good night, Magpie. Dream of magic,” he called back. “You too.”

A magical dream is exactly what reading this book felt like! It was magical, earthy, epic and emotional. Who knew faeries could be all that in one story? I loved it from start to finish. Laini Taylor certainly has an amazing way with words, creating atmosphere few other others manage to create. Her lyrical writing creates visions of ancient things and other worldly things and yet still manages to keep her characters relatable and down to earth - even if they are tiny winged creatures of magic and tall tales. Laini Taylor's world of Dreamdark was a wonderfully magical place to visit, filled with faeries and imps and Djinn, it is a world that blurs the lines of myths and fairytales into something unique and an edge of your seat adventure story that feels both new and old at the same time. Can't express how much I loved this book! Highly recommended!

“Music and lightening, beauty and strength, magic and legend....”
I absolutely adore the world of Dreamdark that Laini Taylor created! I've always loved fairies, but I don't think I've come across a story where they were done so incredibly well and the world that they inhabit so alluring. What a wonderful journey and with characters I won't soon forget!
This second volume is just as good as the first and the new characters are gems right along with the ones I already came to know and love in the first book. Whisper and Hirik were both great additions. I was caught by the emotion I felt for all the characters. Sometimes I wanted to laugh with them or cry with them or give them a hug. The expanding world in this second book was a wonderful new avenue of fairies and creatures and an aesthetic and flavour that I truly enjoyed. Laini Taylor has a wonderful way of writing that immerses you in that world through touch and smell and just a visceral language that manages to put you right there....I've never wanted SO much to run away with a fairy and crow gypsy caravan!
I really hope she continues the series at some point, because I fell in love and this was definitely a cliffhanger ending in need of some resolutions.
High recommendation for the Dreamdark books though, they may just be my favourite fairy centred books ever and will definitely go on my favourites book list!

At the end of this book Laini Taylor says: “...I am a scavenger of shiny things: fairy tales, dead languages, weird folk beliefs, fascinating religions, and more.” I am thankful she collects these things and then spins them into her own strange, captivating, magical and dark other-worldly tales and stories because her books are absolutely delicious to read. I was a bit skeptical at first because this was tagged as being a ‘fairytale romance' or ‘fantasy romance' genre, and there are so many ways that can go sideways. There is an odd occasion when I don't mind fantasy books with heavy romance leanings - basically romance in a fantasy setting, but on the whole I prefer the fantasy part to come first and foremost and the romance is secondary. Laini Taylor made this book of short stories part of the latter category and also managed to make it not cringe-worthy ‘teen romance' tropey either. Rather this reads like original Grimm's fairy tales with all the dark, dangerous and eerie atmosphere they were meant to have. Non-Disney-fied fairy tales where you are more likely to be thankful that kind of magic doesn't exist because it often exacts a price and isn't filled with butterflies and happy endings. Her signature lyrical writing is also present, pulling you into images of the world with words as wonderful as a fine wine. I'm a huge fan of her writing and this book was just another addition to many of her books and stories I love. Whether she is taking us on an adventure with little winged fairies, or on an expedition to a fabled city in the desert filled with mysteries and gods and magic or to the mountains and forests of dark fey, it is always a journey well worth taking!

Brandon Sanderson just writes what I thoroughly enjoy reading. He manages to pull together elements that I really love in a book - characters I get attached to, original and imaginative world-building and magic, ALL the feels, humor and thoughtful commentary on life. Even in this book, the lightest and very fairytale-like story seems at first to be just a fanciful adventure, but somewhere along the way I was highlighting passages left and right that hit me right in the heart and it had me literally laughing out loud as I read. Don't go into this thinking you'll get the excellence or deepness of the Stormlight Archive books, it certainly feels like a ‘side' project in some ways, but do go into it with the expectation that Sanderson always delivers wonderful stories that are fun to get lost in with the signatures he's known for. I do honestly think some people will not like this one, even fans of his just by its nature alone, but I loved it!

A warm slice of life story that the Japanese seem to know how to do best. There is nothing overly deep here, being a rather slim volume, but it still manages to capture a state of life upheaval and the healing power of both books and family has to set a new life course in the wake of that upheaval. It's the kind of story I gravitate too, so maybe I enjoyed it more than the average person. The characters aren't really fleshed out, but I enjoyed them anyway, especially the uncle. The second 1/2 of the book takes a detour that seems somewhat odd, but it helps to put perspective on the whole, so I didn't mind it. It isn't mind blowing, but just an especially good comfort read.

Strange, atmospheric, lyrical writing and nods to bibliophiles and storytelling is a combination I LOVE in books. The Other City is drowning in all of these and is a trippy ride that may not be for the average reader, but if you like your stories a bit bizarre, meandering, yet also manages a pretty good story, then you probably will enjoy this one. Straight up I'm going to tell you, this is likely one of the most peculiar and off the wall stories I have ever read. If that isn't your thing, steer clear. I wasn't even quite sure what I was reading at times. But if you persevere and you do like stories that are surrealist in nature, it is worth wandering through this imagination-fueled Prague. It makes you want to look in all the nooks and crannies of your own backyard to see if there might be a hint of something ‘beyond' the ordinary world you know. Whether it is flying fish, or worlds within statues or books in unknown languages, that is only the tip of the iceberg in this jam-packed journey through the “other Prague”. The journey is more one of wandering and allowing serendipity to lead you toward what you seek. There are insights I thought about long after I finished it and felt the need to re-read it almost immediately to see what I missed the first time. I highly enjoyed it and think we could use more books that stretch our imagination in the way this book does. I can see this being a re-read on a snowy evening when you want to be carried off into cobbled streets of the eccentric and unconventional and the mysterious.

‘That was so sweet!' Were my exact words when I finished reading this and then I read the author's Acknowledgments and had it confirmed! Maybe not everyone will feel that way about Thornhedge, but I really loved this novella! It felt like a fairytale for those of us who don't feel like princesses. Who feel odd, and ugly and unlovable and that there might be hope for us to find our happily ever after too. A re-telling of Sleeping Beauty using faerie lore and much more ‘original' Brothers Grimm feel, it is exactly the kind of atmosphere and earthier overtone I like for my fairytales. It made me think of Jim Henson's The Storyteller series, which I also love. Dark, old world magic, gritty and yet oddly enough still really charming. The main character Toadling stole my heart, I love her so much, and the prince was humble and endearing in a way I don't think I've ever seen in fantasy. No brooding fae or snobby royalty here. For such a short read, it just charmed me from the first to last page. Despite borrowing from other works, it feels completely unique and I highly recommend it! After really enjoying T.Kingfisher's novel Nettle and Bone earlier this year, I may have found a new fav author!