Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

Title: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

Author: Jack Thorne & John Tiffany
Genre: Fantasy, Play
Source: Library Hardback
Rating:2 out of 5 paws


It is several years after the Battle at Hogwarts and the trios kids are going to Hogwarts.  Harry's son Albus struggles with living up to the Potter name and how to discover who  he is in the wizarding world.  When he befriends Draco Malfoy's son Harry believes he is in danger.  But daner begins when the boys steal a time turner to go back to the Triwizard Tournament to try and save Cedric Diggory, thus changing time and setting off a series of events.  Harry and Draco both must learn the truth about themselves and their sons.

This was not at all what I was expecting.  I am not normally a fan of plays so it was a little more difficult for me to read through this one and get a feel for the setting and how events transpired. I wanted to like it a lot more than I did, and honestly I did not fancy it all that much.  I feel a little disappointed in it.  It was hard to relate to characters or get interested in them.  This is definitely not one that I would purchase for myself.  I thrive on a story having description, something that pulls me into the story makes me long to read more and this didn't do it beyond wanting to know where the authors were taking this story...morbid curiosity?


There were moments that made me smile and appreciate a little humor, but there was nothing that hit me in the feels or made me gasp and HAVE to turn the page.  I wanted something more compelling and a little less predictable.  It was almost too easy to predict what was going to happen and how.  I disliked how the characters were portrayed, Harry was a total douche-bag to Albus and even Ginny at times.  Ron was an imbecile, and oblivious to everything around him, and Draco I don't even know who the Draco was in this book. 

I expected something similar to the originals, kids in class experiencing what it means to be a wizard, sure Albus dealing with living in the shadow of his father same with Scorpius along with the other stuff that happened, but that is not what we get.  We aren't even in Hogwarts...at all.  It's immediately thrown into the story of polyjuice potion (of course), stealing, time turners, flashbacks, and of course Voldemort.  By the third or fourth act Albus is already a fourth year, so we get NOTHING of his struggles at Hogwarts other than him saying it's horrible.  BUT WHY?  I would have liked a new villain, one that had no association with Voldemort.  It felt like this was an opportunity to create something new out of the Harry Potter universe, but it relies too heavily on reliving the past or rather trying to change it.

There was a few things that I didn't like at all one of which a comment Harry makes about not having a father figure and not knowing how to be one......SAY WHAT???  Do we need to rehash almost every man in Harry's life?  I was not happy with this book and it makes me sad.  I am glad I borrowed this from the library rather than purchasing it for myself.  I was curious about it, and know I know this was not a play for me.  I don't even want to see the play on broadway.  If you are a Harry Potter fan, I would not recommend this.

The Bear and The Nightengale

Title:  The Bear and The Nightengale
Author: Katherine Arden
Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale
Source Library Book: Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5


Amid the Russian wilderness, winter seems to last forever.  Vasilisa spends her time huddled around the fire to listen to stories told by her nurse, her favorite being about Frost; the winter demon who appears in the night to claim souls.  Soon after her birth, Vasilisa's mother passes away and her father goes to Moscow to find a new wife.  Her new step mother forbids the family and the rest of the estate to honor the house, yard, and forest spirits and honor the Christian God instead.  But Vasilisa personally knows these spirits are real, and the family rituals are more important than others realize.  Soon enough crops begin to fail, and creatures of the forest venture closer to the homes.  Her stepmother and the new priest combine their efforts to force the young girl into either marriage or the convent, but Vasilisa will have nothing of it and escapes into the sanctuary of the forest.  What she finds will change her forever.

This book came up as a recommendation because I loved reading Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and I was skeptical of the comparison.  While this book doesn't have the same theme or idea as Night Circus, it still spun a spell around my mind and soul and Katherine Arden's talented writing drug me deep into her tale. The book was enchantingly dark, darker than I expected but I loved it, couldn't get enough of it.  Arden has been able to craft a world that lingers on the fence between the seen and unseen and pokes at the mystery of the beyond. She has transformed this Russian folklore into something magical and fresh.


I have always enjoyed reading books based on folklore, especially folklore that I am not accustomed to and this novel was the perfect opportunity to introduce myself to something outside my realm of knowledge.  I appreciated the fact that while Vasilisa honored the house/yard/forest spirits, she also did not discount the faith of her step-mother, priest and brother.  She seemed to respect them and simply asked the priest to respect her own beliefs and allow her to practice as she has always done.  This was a powerful aspect of the novel as we are reminded that she is a young woman not 16 yet (I believe by the end she is 14 or so). Vasya is a strong-willed independent character who continues to grow into herself and the things she believes in.  There is a lot to be said in her character not being willing to sacrifice herself to fit what everyone else wants her to be.  That's powerful in and of itself. 


I loved how Arden uses some traditional Russian words, it helped put me into the setting and made me want to learn more about the language.  There is a glossary at the end as well as an Authors Note about the terms that help the readers understand the usage of these terms.  She has a very lyrical writing style which is perfect for this kind of a book as it really makes the story feel like a folklore/fairy tale.  She does a great job in showing the relationship between good and evil as well as the transition between old beliefs and new and how it could become a battle ground of faith and self preservation.


I highly enjoyed reading this novel and plan on checking out the second book in the series The Girl In The Tower.  This book had everything I was looking for in a read, magic, some adventure, and folk lore.  It was the perfect choice for my vacation last week.  If you enjoy novels like fairy tale retellings and spinning of folk lore, give this book a shot I'm sure you might like it.


Check out some other reviews of The Bear and The Nightengale:


Arlene's Book Club

Ready Player One

Title: Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Genre: Fantasy/Sci Fi
Source: Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5


The OASIS is a virtual reality world, where you can do basically anything your heart desires.  One of the world's creators placed an Easter Egg within the realm and has clues leading players to the egg.  It has been 5 years since the first clue had been release and no one has found it yet.  Until Wade (user name being Parzival) figures out the first clue relates to a Dungeons and Dragons dungeon.  Once he figures it out and competes for the first key, he discovers he is not the first person to figure out the clue, but the first person to defeat the first boss.  From here it is race with other "gunters" and an organization named IOI, who want control of OASIS, to find the remaining keys and enter the gates to find the Easter Egg.  Along the way Wade makes some friends, as well as some enemies.  He finds the game not only challenges his nerd knowledge, but also challenges his strengths and weaknesses.

I was already interested in this novel, but was encouraged to read it quickly to see the  movie, I am glad I did.  While it was slow to start and seemed a little slow moving throughout different parts of the book, it was well written and interesting to read.  Being an 80's nerd, I loved all the references and understood every one of them.  He does describe some things a lot, but then some things he doesn't as they are typically things the general public would understand such as movie or television show references.

I have always enjoyed the idea of virtual reality (VR), and enjoy seeing how other people interpret the idea such as this novel or shows like Sword Art Online.  The idea of this book is that people basically live their lives in the alternate universe, almost like people who get pulled into the world of MMOs like Everquest and World of Warcraft, but Ready Player One takes it farther with working, shopping and going to school through this VR world.  Cline does a great job at describing the world, how it works, how people interact, as well as continues to show a class difference even inside the OASIS.  The way he presents the game, challenge, quest whatever you want to call it is rather interesting, and I almost expected it to get harder as it went on, but it didn't seem as that was the case, the clues were harder to decipher, but the gates themselves seemed rather easy.

Wade was an interesting enough character of a typically nerdy fellow down on his luck.  He does grow into himself and learns about his strengths and weaknesses as well as the importance of being able to rely on those around him.  I liked how Cline incorporated that idea into the story as well, the importance of teamwork as well as healthy competition between friends.  Art3mis was interesting as well, I kind of wanted a little more from her perspective and the competition between them and Aech rather than the romantic aspect of her and Wade.

Overall it was a good perfect for those of us who love the 80's and all things considered nerdy.  I am excited to see what the movie will be like, hopefully I can catch it in theaters.  If you are a fan of sci-fi, virtual reality, and 80's nostalgia pick up this book and dive into the OASIS.



Notable Quotes

The Magic Bone

Title: The Magic Bone
Author: Jennifer Derreth
Genre: True Story-Non Fiction
Source: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 paws


Right before Jennifer Berreth learned that she was pregnant, she was visited by an angel. When she saw him, Jennifer was filled with the overwhelming feeling that everything was going to be OK. Her mother had seen the same angel before Jennifer's own birth. Her mother knew that it was her uncle Dick, still keeping watch over his family.  When Jennifer's son Ethan was diagnosed with cancer, Jennifer couldn't stop thinking about a visit from uncle Dick and another loved one and what they had promised. The following experiences proved to both Jennifer and Ethan the reality of angels and the lasting effects of the deepest, strongest love.

I haven't read a book that has touch me deeply as this one has.  Jennifer and Ethan's story is beautiful, heartfelt, and painfully real.  When you pick up this book, you will cry, it was hard to suppress the tears while I read their story at lunch at work.  Cancer is scary to hear for anyone, but when that person is a two year old child and you are his mom, it is devastating.  I cannot imagine the emotions Jennifer had to have felt in the years after his diagnosis, but her words express them beautifully, you find yourself praying and crying with her.  I honestly don't fully know what to say about this book other than how moving and inspirational it is.








Their story is one that needs to be told, it needs to be shared with others.  I recommend picking up this book.  It's a short tale, as Jennifer tells it beautifully and effectively.  There are honestly no words that would do this book justice other than to say it needs to be read and once you read it, you yourself will be changed.  You will find hope, and maybe a little bit more belief in guardian angels. 








This is probably my shortest review because I am left speechless. Pick it up today and read their story, share it with others.

Chalk Man

Title: The Chalk Man
Author: C.J Tudor
Genre:Suspense, Mystery, Thriller
Source: Hardback: Library
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws


In 1986 as a young boy Eddie witnessed a tragic event.  Eddie and Mr. Halloran (the new teacher) helped a young girl who was struck when an amusement park ride broke from it's frame.  Through converstations, Mr. Halloran gives Eddie the idea of drawing chalk symbols as messages between his friends.  But then; the chalk men lead the group of friends to a body.


Fast forward 30 years and Eddie is now a teacher in his home town when an old friend pays him a visit.  One the same day a letter arrives in the mail containing one thing...a chalk man.  When his friend turns up dead in the river, memories of the past come back to Eddie.  Is the past beginning to repeat itself?  Will he ever be able to escape the Chalk Man?

The Chalk Man is another novel I have seen recommended everywhere I looked so I pick it up from the library (I am loving my library lately). It is a hauntingly fascinating tale that took me only 2 days to finish.  I went into it with an open mind, not knowing what to expect and I am happy that I picked it up.  While I expected something else, this was definitely worth the read. 

The tale opens with a tragically morbid scene of a fair ride coming off it's tracks and injuring a girl, but as usual life goes on, the kids enjoy their summer while other more serious things happen around them such as abortion clinic protests, sordid affairs, and dark rumors.  While the book focuses on Eddie and his friends it is about so much more.  Everyone seems to be hiding something even when the story jumps ahead 30 years to 2016.  While some may think the back and forth may be tedious or make the story difficult to read, it wasn't.  The parts in 1986 give detail into what is happening in 2016.  I almost wanted more from each time period, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.


The ending, you never see it coming.  You have suspicions throughout the book, and you think you know all the answers, but you don't even as the book ends there are still some questions left open which make for great book club discussions.  C.J. expertly inserts little hints throughout the chapters giving readers subtle clues as to what will happen next, but you have to really pay attention to what he is saying.  While you know things like abuse and sex are happening, Tudor doesn't out right describe it in gruesome, heated scenes.  He does it in a way that lets readers speculate at what is happening between the lines.


I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers and mysteries.  Tudor is truly a master storyteller and I for one cannot wait to read something else from this author.  I did expect it to be more "edge of the seat" thrilling, unable to sleep til I finished.  It was thrilling enough but not as much as it was made out to be by others.  But still a wonderfully written tale that will intrigue readers and hold them captivated until the very end.

Couple Next Door

Title: Couple Next Door
Author: Shari Lapena
Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Source: Hardback: Library
Rating: 3 out of 5 paws.


Anne and Marco are next door enjoying a dinner party with their friends.  Or rather Marco is enjoying himself.  Anne is not only worried about their baby and wants to go home, but she watches as her beautiful neighbor shamelessly flirts with her husband.  Upon arriving home, they discover the front door is open, and the worst has happened.  Someone has taken the baby.  Immediately suspicions falls on the parents.  As Detective Rasbach investigates the kidnapping, the truth of what happens begins to unravel and he believes the couple are hiding something, but what is it exactly that they are hiding?

I heard a lot of different good things about this book and people saying that I wouldn't be able to put it down. so I decided to check it out. While it was good but I don't think it was as phenomenal as a lot of people say it is.  It fell flat in many places and I found myself not really caring about the characters.  I tried to tell my mom and best friend about the book, but struggled to explain some of the "twists" found within this novel.  It is interesting and engaging in the beginning, but as the investigation continues it becomes completely unrealistic and I found myself wondering "now why would he do that," "shouldn't he have thought of this."  Again while it was good and interesting, it was completely outlandish and I struggled at times with it. There are so many different theories in this story intended to lead the reader to think one thing when it turns out to be something else.  At first I felt for Anne, her baby is missing, the detectives think it's her.  But as the story progresses and as a reader I notice things aren't right with her husband, I begin to wonder how she could be naïve.  There wasn't really any depth to the characters other than a few hints at something in their past, but nothing that really goes anywhere with the story.  Just a bunch of red herrings that after a while it begins to distract from the tale. I found it easy to put down and then come back to because it wasn't one of those books with a lot of deeper things happening within the story, everything was surface action.  Characters began to get annoying and their actions completely far-fetched.  The consistent switching of POV got to be annoying, I wanted the story to focus on one person rather than 3 or 4, it took away from the suspense in finding out what would happen.  For example readers would find out something in one chapter from the POV of a character then it gets revealed two chapters later and it feels anti-climactic because we already knew it. Now would I read this book again, probably not. Would I recommend it?  I don't know, I have but then took it back because of how much of a let down the rest of the book became.  I will not say it was the best book I have read, nor was it the worst book that I have read. I think if you are interested in thrillers and suspense novels you should give this a try.  Just because it was meh for me doesn't mean it would be for you.

Shadow Weaver

Title: Shadow Weave
Author: MarcyKate Connolly
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Source: Hardback:  Goodreads First Read
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 paws


Emmeline is a lonely girl, she feels isolated from the world because of her gift, one that causes those around her to fear her.  She has grown content with being hidden away in the castle with only the shadows to keep her company. One day a nobleman arrives at the estate offering a cure for her talent meaning she will lose her gift. When this noble visiting her family estate mysteriously falls into a coma, Emmeline is blamed, and she runs away.  Her shadow Dar proposes a deal to protect Emmeline as long as she helps make Dar a human girl again.  Emmeline agrees and together they dash into the nearby woods where she hides within the shadows and stumbles upon a boy with light magic.  She begins her life living with them trying to figure out how to clear her name, help Dar and hope her new friends will not discover her secrets.

I was really excited when I won this novel from the Goodreads giveaways, and I admit it took me a little while before I was able to really sit down and read it.  It starts out a little slow, but then begins to pick up the pace as Emmeline runs away.  The idea is interesting with every 25 years a comet passes over and blessed a certain number of children with various gifts.  It was also interesting that Emmeline manipulates shadows as opposed to a gift we generally see in fantasy novels like earth magic or fire.  Shadow magic is something unique and adds an interesting spin on the story.


I enjoyed how Emmeline and Lucas' bond begins to grow that they practice their magic together and discover they are more powerful when they work together.  It is an interesting take on relationship between light and dark.  She doesn't know who to trust or how to really let her guard down after spending most of her life isolated from people. I think this is something young readers can related to, feeling isolated as if they don't belong, nothing in common with others around them etc.  The story does develop somewhat slow but I believe it is leading up to something more in a later novel.  It sets a good background for any additional novels.


The story is geared towards middle school aged children, so the writing is somewhat simplistic, but it makes for an exciting and easy read.  Children of this age would enjoy reading those book and I could see them devouring it.  I personally was able to read it within the day and found myself, as a 30 year old woman, engrossed in these characters.  I wanted more, I wanted to see more magic and hoped to see Doyle's wind magic playing with the light and shadows of Lucas and Emmeline, maybe we will see this later in another book. 


The enchanting tale of Shadow Weaver is story that begs for readership regardless of age.  It is a cute book that has friendship, betrayal, excitement, magic and so much more.  I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel.

The Magicians Land

Title: The Magician's Land
Author: Lev Grossman
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Ebook
Rating: 3 out of 5 paws


This is the third book in the Magician's trilogy.  Quentin is cast out of Fillory and working as a teacher at Brakebills, until he gets cast out of there as well.  After being cast out of Brakebills he joins a quest to steal back a chest with some things in it, what the things are he doesn't know.  While on the quest he meets Plum who was a wonderful student at Brakebills but was also cast out.  Their quest takes them back to Brakebills South, but what they discover about the box changes things.  Quentin tries even more to bring Alice back from being a niffin, but in the process he discovers how to create a magical utopia.  Meanwhile, Fillory is dying.  Eliot and Janet are trying to find a way to save Fillory from dying and Quentin just might be their answer.

I must preface this by saying I accidently borrowed the wrong book.  I meant to borrow book 2 "The Magician's King" but the library system had the book labeled wrong and I read out of order so for a while I was VERY lost in what was happening or what had happened.  Despite not reading the second book, this one felt....bland and unpleasant.  I kept saying I wanted to quit reading but my friend insisted that I finish reading it.  There were parts of the story that felt like it could have been way more exciting than it was such as the suitcase quest, it could have been way better, but it fell short of expectations. 


The only parts I did enjoy involved Fillory, Eliot and Janet, granted they are my favorite things about the series as a whole (including the television show).  Janet really stepped up in her bad-assness with her kick ass weapons and really taking on the role of High Queen of Fillory.  Eliot I felt fell a little flat In his awesomeness, maybe I am too used to the actor who plays him.  That is part of the downfall of reading a series after beginning to watch a movie or tv show based on the series.  You already gain an image in your head of that character and for this series they don't add up.  I prefer the TV show actors to the characters described in the book.   


The ending is almost predictable in what would happen.  While the story itself built up to the end, it was predictable from the beginning and left me feeling unsatisfied.  I wanted something more from the end, something grander.  What I think I should do is read the series when I am NOT watching the tv show so I am not as bias.   Overall I would recommend it.  Grossman is a great storyteller and has created an interesting world that I wish I could escape to sometimes.  If you enjoy fantasy definitely pick this series up but if you enjoy the show, maybe wait til later to read it.