Jar City

Title: Jar City
Author: Arnaldur Indridason
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Source: Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5


An older gentleman is found dead in his apartment, the clues detectives find hint to murder, with a cryptic note say "I am HIM"  What could it mean?  That is the question Inspector Erlendur is determined to discover.  His search leads him to a decades old case involving the murder victim and rape which in turn leads to a missing person case.  This tangle web of mystery leads Inspector Erlendur all over Iceland trying to get to the bottom of this case and discover how the cold cases are related.  Is it all connected?  Or are these cases just coincidently involving the same people?

This is my first novel y Arnaldur Indridason, and technically my first Nordic Noir.  I picked it up from the library as part of the Popsugar challenge I am doing with my group on Goodreads.  I fell in love with the cover and every time I thought of what book to read for this category, I was consistently drawn to this one.  I am so glad I picked it up.  I found it interesting how things translated from Icelandic to English and how the same things were worded differently or expressions used differently.  I had to chuckle a few times throughout because Inspectors consistently referred to the case as a "typical Icelandic murder."


I found the story to be very interesting and engaging.  I wanted to see where the story would go with all the other cases that were tied into this one.  There was nothing that was predictable with this book.  When I thought I had it figured out, something would happen that would change my thoughts and ideas.  WIth the other aspects of the case the story becomes more and more complex and dark.  One would think so many aspects of the storyline would make it too hard to follow but that is not the case here.  There are parts that go into Erlendur's family which only adds to the depth of the character and makes him someone you can relate to and feel for as you are reading through the story.


After reading this book I wondered if there was a movie, and surprise there is!  I haven't gotten the chance to watch it yet, but I intend to find it and buy it to watch and see how it compares to the book.  I feel instantly in love with Arnaldur Indridason's writing and story-telling skills, I intend to find other books in the series and devour them as well.  I would highly suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a great mystery without a lot of gore or sex.  This is a mystery that indeed focuses on the mystery, and the clues involved directing the inspector along even if others are unable to see what he sees.

Book of Killowen

Title: Book of Killowen
Author: Erin Hart
Genre: Mystery
Source: Library Book: Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5


When a ancient body is found in the trunk of a car buried in bog located in Killowen Ireland, archeologists Nora Gavin and Cormac Maguire are asked to assist with the scene.  It is then that a second modern body is found and the mystery grows deeper.  The case takes the detectives and archeologist to an artists "Retreat" not far in search of answers, but everyone seems to be hiding something.  The further the archeologists dig the further into an ancient mystery they go.  Could the recent murder have something to do with the legendary Book of Killowen?  The other man found in the bog, could he have been a scribe or a monk of old?  Nora and Cormac embark on a journey into the past in order to solve the mystery of the present.  As they do so they begin to put their lives in more danger.



Medieval manuscripts, a bog in Ireland's beautiful countryside and a possible murder, what more could a girl possibly ask for?  I randomly picked this book up at the library because the cover caught my eye, and then when I read the synopsis, I felt the need to read more.  I am glad I found it or else I would not have discovered this author.  Erin's writing enthralled me from the beginning with the discovery of the bog man in the trunk of a car, then finding out he was centuries old! It was a great start to the novel.  I love how she incorporated history, art, philosophy, and a little bit of religion into the story.  She masterfully weaved her tale together that made it more than interesting.  I would say I would prefer her writing and stories over that of Dan Brown.

This is the fourth book in a series and I didn't feel like I was missing anything or felt lost when reading about the characters.  There are some things about Nora that may have been explained and happened in previous novels, but they don't affect the effect of the story.  If anything I want to go back and read the older novels as well.  I loved her character and how eager she was to learn and find out new things and how excited she got when she learned something new.  It felt like I was a part of her character because I love this sort of thing, well not murder but the archeology.  Honestly this book re-sparked my interest in archeology.  It is evident that Erin Hart did research and knew what she was talking about especially with wax tablets, ancient philosophers, the region her story takes place.  So much so, that it made me want to research Killowen and see if there really was a monastery there and add it to my list of places to visit.

The book is unpredictable, when things begin to get revealed you are astonished because the people involved are people you wouldn't have suspected.  Hart does a wonderful job at keeping things a secret and revealing just a small bit at a time.  She leaves her readers spellbound by the story, setting, characters, everything about her book leaves readers craving for more.  I looked into her and it seems there has been anything written since Book of Killowen, but I know I will go back and search for the other books in this series.  I need more of Nora Gavin!  I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a good story.

Sinner

Title: Sinner
AUthor: Ted Dekker
Genre: Christian Thriller, Christian Fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5


As we enter the world of Sinner we follow the mysterious Marsuvees Black.  He uses his words to seek destruction more than he uses guns or other weapons.  This story takes place 13 years after the first book, and we see Billy Darcy and Johnny once again.  Billy, Johnny, and Darcy survive the monastery project that tests is isolated children could say no to forbidden fruit or if they would fall into temptation.  The three survivors now take on Marsuvees Black and try as they can to stand up for what is right and just.  But will they be strong enough to fight against him?  Or will his powers of persuasion and manipulation get the best of everyone?





I have said this before in some of my other reviews of Ted Dekker's work, he has got to be one of my all time favorite authors.  I started with this series and it had me hooked from the very beginning.  It has been said that you don't have to read the series in order, but I personally believe it is best to read them in order.  That way you get a clear understanding of what is happening and how each character relates to one another.  As well as the events leading up to what happens in Sinner.


Something I love about this author is that he can discuss things that real and important to us today such as the issue of tolerance and hate speech.  I think he does a great job at portraying the dangers of what could happen if we continue on the path that we are one.  There is a difference between tolerance, and love.  He does a good job at getting this message across.  Normally he uses metaphors and subtlety when adding in the Christian elements, but in this novel they weren't subtle and they weren't really metaphorical.  It seemed to be lacking something that the other two books had.  Granted I love the book nonetheless, but something seemed to be missing in this one.


All the characters are interesting and compelling.  I am happy we get to see more of Black in this series and I am kind of hoping he returns in other books, almost like that recurring bad guy that seems to haunt everyone's dreams.  Every time I read this book, or rather the series, I get more and more interested in him.  He is a fantastic character and I want more.   Sinner is a good ending to the other books, though it almost feels like it should be book two rather than book three, but I am sure Dekker had a reason for setting it up the way he did.


Overall I think it's a great book and highly recommend the book, series, and author to anyone who enjoys a good read whether you believe in Christianity or not.  I don't think the elements that he incorporates takes away from the story if anything it might enhance it a little bit.  You never know if you like a book until you read it.


Happy Reading!

Queen of Hearts

Title: Queen Of Hearts
Author: Colleen Oakes
Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
Source: Paperback
Rating: 3 out of 5


Dinah is the princess of Wonderland, destined to role beside her father until the day she marries or when he dies.  She longs to have her distant father's approval and hopes she will achieve it until one day he brings in another child, one born out of wedlock, a duchess of Wonderland.  He dotes on Vittorie and gives her the love and devotion Dinah wishes.  When she receives a mysterious note, she begins to dig deeper into the dark secrets Wonderland holds.  The more she secretly discovers the more in danger she becomes.  This is not the cheerful Wonderland we all know, but one with a darker, sinister side.

Of course you can expect at least 1 Wonderland retelling from me this year, and I am glad this one is one story that I started the year with.  I finished it within a day.  Oakes did a great job at reinventing Wonderland in a way that looked at the Queen of Hearts rather than Alice herself.  This is the first in a series, so we will see what happens to Dinah in the next few books, we begin to see how the Queen became the queen whether it is Vittorie or Dinah readers don't know yet (but since Dinah is the lead most likely her HA).  It isn't the cheery colorful Wonderland of Carol's story, but one with a dark, political side.


There were points where the story dragged on and you wished it got to the point, when it finally gets to the real action and Dinah begins discovering things you wonder why it took so long to get to this point.  There is a point in the book where I believe it's Dinah's father (I could be wrong) states "Listen to me Dinah," he hissed. "Things are going to change for you child, and you had better be made of stronger stuff than the whiny brat you seem now." This doesn't exactly happens instead of following her resolve to become stronger and fierce the way her father wants to be she remains this whiny brat who wants everything her way and complains when it doesn't happen.  She blames other people for the way things are rather than taking action and focusing on her studies or the things that would make her an excellent queen.  All she keeps saying is "when I'm queen" but she doesn't really show that she has what it takes except for a few moments when she does use her power. Moments where she is feisty and full of anger (which is a lot, maybe leading up to why she is the way she is when she meets Alice).


The end of the book does make it feel a little unfinished, questions were raised throughout the story, but none of them were answered and readers are left wondering what is happening.  There are elements that aid in a good story and show readers it is leading to something, but we don't know what it is yet.  I hope those get resolved in the next book which I do plan on reading.  It is very evident that this is the first book, it's meant to build up to something but rather than having some sort of resolve at the end we are left hanging without any answers or anything to hold on to.


I would recommend this book, but do not go into it expecting a fantastical novel.  Be prepared for a whiny main character than is difficult to like at times, and a story line that takes a while to get to the point.  While there were things that would be a hindrance to the novel, I did enjoy it and look forward to what the next novel in series holds.

BFG

TItle: The BFG
AUthor: Roald Dahl
Genre: Children's Literature
SOurce: Kindle Ebook
Rating: 4 out of 5


A young girl Sophie, unable to sleep, sees a large, no a giant man blow something into the window of the house next door.  When he sees her in the window he snatches her up, and takes her home so that she doesn't tell anyone else.  There Sophie learns the other giants eat humans at night, including children.  Sophie also learns the BFG is not a human eating giant but one that spreads good dreams to children.  Sophie creates a plan to convince the queen of England to imprison the human eating giant where BFG creates a nightmare about it and leaves Sophie in her room to confirm.  A fleet of helicopters follow Sophie and BFG back home and capture the sleeping giants and imprison them in a pit.  A castle is built for BFG and a cabin next door for Sophie.  And BFG ends up writing a novel about their adventure which is aptly titled" The BFG."

I read this one because it was published the year I was born, and I have heard a lot of good things about but never had the chance to read it. It was interesting to say the least.  The giant's speech was a little rough to get used too, but I am sure as a child it would have been a lot of fun reading and trying to pronounce some words like Snozzcumbers. If it was getting confused as an adult, wouldn't children be getting a little confused as well?  I really got into this story and would like to see how the story adapted into the movie version that was recently released.  I loved movies like Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Matilda, so maybe I will enjoy this one as well.

There are some things that I think may not have been good for children such as later on the novel a character talking about chopping off heads like one would chop parsley.  That's an odd image to give to children, maybe I thought of it differently because I am an adult reading it.  I don't normally read children's literature so I am not sure how different authors target their audience in the past nor the present, and this might be one of those ways: glossing over some adult themes with child-like innocence.  I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to others to read with their children.  The book was rather short so I see it as something that would be good for parents to read a chapter at night or even to use as a teaching tool to help their children read more, and read better.


Give it a shot and take a stab at reading this one, it's a children's classic.  I'll most likely add it to my children's shelf when I have them.

Nevermore

Title: Nevermore

Author: David Niall Wilson

Genre: Paranormal, Suspense, Occult

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Lenore finds herself drawn to a tavern amidst a swamp, the Dismal swamp to be exact.  There she stares out the window at a specific tree; drawing.  Faces amongst the branches, one such face startles the young barmaid waiting on her.  She begins to tell Lenore the story of Thigpen an evil man who was killed the prior year.  As Lenore listens to Anita's story and continues to erase lines freeing the souls of those trapped within, Edgar is in the room next door writing when a story takes over and he writes the tale Anita is telling.  Together with Lenore, Anita, and a young boy named Tom become trapped within a tale of their own; they become pawns in a battle between good and evil, a battle against the Dismal Swamp itself.

I am a huge Edgar Allen Poe fan, especially the Raven, so much so that I have a tattoo on my calf making a reference to the writer.  So when I came across this novel and seen it included Lenore and Poe as central characters I decided, why not let's see.  This is the first book of his that I have picked up, and I have mixed feelings which seems to be happening a lot lately.  The story starts of incredibly slow, and confusing in the beginning as to what is happening and the importance of the events that are happening.  The middle part does pick up a little bit in pace in interest, but it is still a little difficult to get into.  It felt like there was a lot to the story that wasn't being told, more hidden beneath the words.

I liked the characters and personalities David gave to the characters especially Grimm.  I liked that a raven had personality and was as much a character as Poe or Lenore.  This would be great as a series as I could see Poe and Grimm acting in different capacities much like this story.  It is dark, magical, thrilling trip through time, magic, and even a little bit of love.  We see the romance between Lenore and Poe that fans may have thought about when reading "The Raven."  Which is enjoyed seeing a variation of Grimm's tale of The Raven included in this novel. 

I recommend this novel for those who like the paranormal, suspense, thriller, and magic.  Reading this book will make time disappear and make you want read more of Poe's stories with a different outlook on his tales.  I will give this a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.

The Crossing by Micheal Connelly

Title: The Crossing

Author: Michael Connelly

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A woman is found brutally murdered in her bed, Mickey Haller is defending the prime suspect and he is certain the man is innocent.  He only choice is to turn to his half brother, retired LAPD Detective: Harry Bosch.  Harry does not want to work for the defense, as he feels he is betraying his fellow officers.  As Harry goes through the file he realizes there are so many holes in the case, but if the suspect didn't kill the woman...who is the real killer?  Harry cannot let that thought sit in his head and gets the help from his former partner to look into this case.  The case leads him somewhere he wishes it didn't: back to the PD, to someone who
has been watching him as well.  Will Harry be able to prove Haller's client innocent and find the real killer before it's too late?

Michael Connelly is a master in the art of thriller and suspense.  He delivers a great installment to his series.  I haven't read any other  novel from Michael Connelly, but I feel as though I should go and get a few more of his novels and delve into the world of mystery a little more than I already have.  It is easy for a reader to find themselves devouring this novel and finishing it in no time, even if you aren't much of a reader.  He has a way of combining plot and character development in a way that makes you feel like you are not reading a novel, but watching a movie.  I would LOVE to see this made into a movie or something.  There is not a lot of gory scenes nor are there any explicit sex scenes.

Readers are taken on a suspense filled ride as Bosch navigates his way through this case.  There are so many twists and turns, it is not a book that is predictable.  Sure you find yourself thinking you have figured out the case, but many times you find out you were close, but no cigar.  The characters are realistic and compelling.  Readers will find themselves hoping the Bosch will be able to find the evidence needed to prove that Haller's client is innocent and that someone else was the murderer.  I love how Bosch is torn throughout the novel with working with someone on the defense rather than the prosecution that he is accustomed too.  The question he struggles with is he betraying his fellow officers by taking this case?  What is more important one man's freedom and finding the truth, or remaining loyal to his comrades?

If this is the quality of novel one can expect from Michael Connelly, I cannot wait to get my hands on his other novels.  I would recommend this novel to mystery and suspense lovers as this will keep you up all night until you find out who the killer really is.  I highly recommend this novel to all readers and give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.  Add it to your library today.

Perrault's Fairy Tales

Title: Perrault's Fairy Tales
Author:Charles Perrault
Genre: Classic lit, Chidlren's lit
Source: Kindle Ebook
Rating: 4 out of 5


Collection of early versions classic fairy tales such as "Cinderella", "Puss In Boots," "Blue Beard" and more.  Each story contains a moral at the end to help readers know what the intention of the stories were.  These are the stories before they were touched by companies like Disney that changed things around to make them more....fairy talesuqe instead of the gruesome tales they may be.  Perrault is credited with laying the groundwork for fairy tales, and can be seen rewritten numerous times including the Grimm Brothers.

This collections holds about 8 or 10 classic fairy tales, some we know well some not so much.  Many we have seen reappear from other authors such as the Brothers Grimm and made into movies by the likes of Disney, but Disney changed quite a bit from these tales.  I liked being able to read the original versions of the stories and see how they became different throughout time from 1697 to now 2018 there are a lot of differences for example, Little Red Riding Hood does not get rescued, but devoured by the wolf.  Each of the stories have some sort of gore to them, not intended to really scare the children, but for the ew factor, though I do admit some stories I wondered how they were considered children stories.


Some of the stories I have read before in Brother's Grimm, other stories like Puss In Boots, I have not read before and enjoyed finally getting the chance to read them in their original format.  Children do enjoy stories with ogres and things and in the years that follow the publication of this book, children are protected more from things people think might be too scary like an ogre eating children, not to mention to tell the morals and convey the themes involved some of the stories needed to have a little gore and what some would consider adult themes.


While the author included morals of the story, they do seem to be morals that HE thought the story told and have room for each reader to form their own opinions of what the fairy tales are supposed to convey.  Some people may say classic fairy tales are no longer relevant especially with the movies and adaptations we've seen throughout the years, but I believe they are still relevant and convey the same if not different morals to an audience in today's society no matter how different things may be.


I recommend everyone read this collection, it may open your eyes to some beloved stories you thought you knew or rekindle a love for a story you loved as a child.  Pick up a copy from amazon.

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The Last Necromancer

Title: The Last Necromance
Author: CJ Archer
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Source Kindle Ebook
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 paws.


Charlie is your average 13 year old boy living on the streets.  He steals to survive until he gets caught and arrested.  Only..Charlie has some secrets, one he is actually an 18 year old girl.  Two...she can speak to and control the dead: she is a necromancer.  Her father banished her from his home when she first commanded her mother's spirit five years ago, she lived on the streets in disguise since.  When she is arrested she stirs the pot when she begs a spirit to help her escape the clutches of the other prisoners allowing her to escape jail altogether. Now There are people looking for her a mysterious doctor and Lincoln Fitzroy the head of a secret organization.  But why do these people want her and what will they do with her once they find out she is a girl and in deed the last necromancer?

I have read other books by C.J Archer, and loved the writing style enough to need to check out this novel as well.  This is the first book in a series and yes, I already bought the second book in the series.  I liked that Charlie was a little flawed in that she didn't trust anyone, was constantly denying who she was and even falling for someone older than her.  Having flawed characters make them easier to relate to, making the book more enjoyable to read.  I have read a lot of other books with the main characters having a variety of powers, but this is the first that I have read about a necromancer, and I like what Archer did with it.  Granted there was literary artistic creativity with the doctor character (I don't want to give it away).  I know some people didn't like how it was done, but I was excited once I figured out who this mysterious person was and what he wanted her for.  It is set in Victorian London and makes references to some events that have happened around the time such as the Ripper murders, which I thought was a nice touch bringing the real into the fantasy.


The story does take a while to develop to the climatic point of who the person is and finding him.  Most of the time Charlie is trapped in a manor with not much to do other than read and play cards with two other characters.  I wanted a little more from Gus and Seth, I think I liked their characters more than I like Lincoln.  There is too much we still don't know about him/felt too mysterious.  I also wasn't sure about the potential love interest between Charlie and Lincoln because of the age.  Now I know age makes no different, but it's hard to read a book of an 18 year old girl falling in love with her 30 year old kidnapper.  I actually shipped her with Seth, and would love to see that happen, something different from the normal go to of lead female falls for lead male.  Or better yet, have her not want to get mixed up with a man until she learns about her powers and how to defend herself against people out to find her.  Shake things up a bit, sure it's YA but does every girl in a YA novel need to be rescued by a man?!


There were a few things about Lincoln I was not okay with such as him "teaching" her a lesson by dropping her off in the middle of Whitechapel to fend for herself.  While she was used to being on the streets she did so under the guise of a boy, now she was all gussied up like a respectable lady and almost gets raped.  I admit I almost stopped reading right there, but low and behold Lincoln comes to her rescue and kills them man.  I find it hard to believe that is a good way to prove to someone that you would not harm them or to encourage them to help you.  And of course Charlie goes with it because she's so frazzled and see him as her knight in shining armor.


I liked the thrill of finding the doctor, but I would have liked Charlie to have been in on it a little more, or the use of her necromancy powers to be more in the story other than in the beginning and towards the end.  I wanted more from that which is why this book got the 3.5 paw rating.  There was a lot of waiting around for something to happen, but I understand the need to build a little bit of a backstory within the first book of a series. I wanted Charlie to be a stronger character, but she does come off as being weak and unable to defend herself (but then how did she survive on the streets for so long?)


It was a good enough story, kept me wanting more up til then end and made me want to buy the next book in the series, even if there are a few loop holes in the story itself.  I tried not to overthink those holes.  I am interested to see where the story takes us and what is in store for Charlie, Seth, Gus and Lincoln.  I recommend it for those who enjoy fantasy, paranormal, supernatural kind of stories.

Wicked River

Title: Wicked River
Author: Jenny Milchman
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Source: Kindle Ebook from NetGalley
Rating: 2 out of 5 paws


Natalie and Doug have just gotten married and are spending their honeymoon in the Adirondack mountains.  This is a chance for them to start a new life together, to become something new.  They begin to explore their own hearts and dive deeper than they ever have before.  But the couple learn quickly that they are not alone.  Something or someone more sinister lurks between the trees.  The mountains are a beautiful place to be, but also a place where someone can hide, or for someone to go missing without a trace.  Someone watches them, waiting for them to come closer.  Then he will ensure they never make it out of the mountains again.

I couldn't be more excited to have received this book from the kind publishers and those at NetGalley for an honest review. I am always excited to find new authors and potential find something out of my normal read.  That was my hope with this novel.  The synopsis makes it sound so thrilling and exciting to read, sadly it missed the mark.


From the beginning readers will see the sentence structure is a little different than what we may be used to with sentences like the first one "Twigs and branches tore at her arms like razor wire, so fast she was running."  The second part of that sentence is what made me stumble a little bit, but the structure does get easier to read.  Also some of the vocabulary makes it feel like the author is trying to hard at something.  Some of the words in the first few pages I had to look up because I never seen them used before like "fleeter" which she could have used something more common like "nimble". 


The story takes a very long time to develop and the characters weren't all that interesting aside from Mia, but she's a secondary character.  The idea for the story is interesting in itself, but I don't think Michman executed as effectively as she could have.  About 8-9 chapters in and readers are still basically at base camp of the story, and find themselves wondering when will the action begin.  It almost feels like you are pushing yourself to read more just to get to "the good part."


I wanted to enjoy this book so much, but I was really disappointed in it.  The excessive use of uncommon vocabulary was rough, but you get used to it, the drab characters happen sometimes, as so the slow moving story, but all of it mixed together makes for a book that is really difficult to finish.  I don't think I would recommend this book.

Seven Stones

Title: Seven Stones

Author: James Rozoff

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Kindle Ebook

Rating: 3 out of 5

Doug is a young magician who is determined to become greater than the great Houdini.  When an older magician named Ashavan offers to share his secrets in exchange for Doug's help, he jumps at the opportunity.  Little does Doug know that each item he must hind has deep dark secrets to them.  Now things have grown bigger than either Doug or Ashavan can handle, but it is too late to turn back.  Doug must finish what he started and race against time to find all seven stones.  Will Doug succeed in finding all the stones? Or will he give up and abandon his search?

There are a lot of things happening in this novel it's a book about treasure hunting adventure, a metaphysical journey, magic, historical fiction, mystery, but oddly enough it works well for the story.  One aspect of the tale does not overshadow the other. It starts off very compelling with an older magician dangling new and exciting tricks in front of a younger magician.  In order to get what he craves, the younger enters a world of séances, real magic, even death and zombies.  What zombies? Really?  It's not what you think, the way Rozoff presents these creatures of lore is very interesting and unique rather than the traditional zombie we see in other stories.

There are small hints of inconsistency throughout the novel, such as the main character Doug sometimes being referred to as Dave.  It took a moment or two to realize these were not two separate people.  The story is interesting enough of being a treasure hunt for seven mystical stones, but it tries to be so much more and includes a lot of different politics and things which ends up making the story slow moving.  Once Doug leaves Mississippi (or is it Louisiana), the story slows down dramatically, and it's hard to get back into the story after this.  I liked the idea of the seven stones being related to Pangaea, but it was hard to follow the idea that Rozoff was going with it and the stones because the explanation is broken up throughout the story.


Overall it was a decently written story, that had it's interesting moments.  It wasn't the thrill ride I was hoping it would be when I started reading it, but it was interesting enough to finish.  It was difficult to continue to feel connected to the story.  The multiple things happening throughout the novel made for a large feel of disconnection for the reader.  It takes too long to get to the good parts, we are pulled in with Doug finding three of the stones and dealing with their effects quickly, but then there are chapter after chapter of nothingness, which honestly felt like a let down. 


Will I read this book again?  Probably not.  Will I recommend it? eh I'm on the fence because I always feel like there is an audience for a book even if it wasn't my cup of tea.  I will recommend it for those who like books with mystical or philosophical aspects too them, or with a hint of history interspersed.  It just happens that I felt like the characters wondered around like lost puppies after a while.

Paper Magician

Title: Paper Magician

Author: Charlie Holmberg

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Rating:  2 out of 5 stars

Ceony is a young magician in training. She has been bonded to paper simply because there are not enough paper magicians. This is a decision she is not happy with but goes to meet with her new mentor Magician Thane. While living with him she learns the magic of paper magic and how useful it can be. One night while having dinner a blood magician enters the home and steals Thane's heart. In a desperate attempt to save him, Ceony grabs some paper, her paper dog and goes in search of Lira to defeat her and get the heart back.  But to do so she must go inside his heart and free him from himself before she can defeat the evil on the outside.  Will she succeed in time to save him?

The concept of the story is interesting enough. I even liked the idea of Ceony going INTO Thane's heart to help defeat Lira by learning about the connection between the two. What I didn't like was how the story dragged on, nor did I like how she defeated Lira. It felt anticlimactic. There is a slight romantic aspect to it with Ceony loving Thane and Thane's involvement with Lira, which part of me wonders if the story would have been more powerful if it wasn't about a lovers on opposite sides of magic (Light and dark). There is no sexual content, but the amount of graphic violence was alarming. Blood everywhere, which I guess makes sense with a blood mage.

The whole second half dragged on and I kept wishing it would get better, to pick up.  Ceony goes into the heart and walks through Thane's memories, interesting enough, but it felt more like Thane and Lira were the main characters not Ceony.  Ceony spends time in visions of Thane, but cannot interact with him or vise versa. It almost made no sense what was the point other than to show how there came to be animosity between the two characters. I didn't find myself caring about the characters because there wasn't enough development to make me care about them. The only part that made me go "Awe" was when Thane makes Ceony a paper dog to replace hers.  A dog she brings with her into battle which seemed a little odd.  I found Emery more interesting than Ceony and actually wanted more from his character than what we actually see.

There is a lot of potential with the book, a lot that could be really good with the story, but it just....it just fell flat. I almost gave up a little less than half way through but wanted to at least finish it, hoping it would get better. It did not.  I wish there was more paper magic, more paper folding.  More explanation on the power that paper folding could have had, or more of a demonstration other than within the last few chapters.


Some of the marketing I have seen for this book have compared the novel to the likes of Harry Potter.  This is FAR from what we see in the Potter universe.  It doesn't delve into mythos or legends, nor does it have a in-depth, complex character or world.  I don't even really see a strong theme of loyalty, friendship and trust.  You do find a cute young woman growing to love her magic, learning something new and stepping outside of her comfort zone. 

I have debated on whether or not I would recommend this novel to others, but just because I didn't like a story doesn't mean someone else wouldn't.  Check out the book if you like magic, young adult, a little romance.  Maybe try it from the library before buying it though.  I haven't decided if I want to venture into the second novel in the series, maybe from the library rather than buying it myself.  The rating is again a 2 out of 5 stars because it just fell flat and the strong desire to just give up on the book.


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Media Medusa
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