Book Review: Lonely Castle In The Mirror

Title: Lonely Castle In The Mirror

Author: Mizuki Tsujimura, Translated By: Philip Gabriel

Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Young Adult, Mental Health

Rating: 5 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

Seven students are avoiding going to school, hiding in their darkened bedrooms, unable to face their family and friends, until the moment they discover a portal into another world that offers temporary escape from their stressful lives. Passing through a glowing mirror, they gather in a magnificent castle which becomes their playground and refuge during school hours. The students are tasked with locating a key, hidden somewhere in the castle, that will allow whoever finds it to be granted one wish. At this moment, the castle will vanish, along with all memories they may have of their adventure. If they fail to leave the castle by 5 pm every afternoon, they will be eaten by the keeper of the castle, an easily provoked and shrill creature named the Wolf Queen.

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

I did not expect this book to tug at my heartstrings. When I picked it up, I was taken aback by the way it was written – the Japanese culture, the way it was translated – it felt like I was reading a story entirely made up of subtitles to an anime and it took me a fair while to adjust. That isn’t something I’d hold against the author in any way, it’s simply a consequence of being a translated story.  So, expect a little difficulty getting into the story at first, but it clears up quickly.
 
Eventually, I was pulled into the story by the author’s exceptional ability to portray mental health issues and what it felt like for a child to be hindered by anxiety and depression. The descriptions were so on-point that my heart hurt reading them.
 
The story was stunning in the way it was crafted – the descriptions, the relationships between the characters, and the many threads of the story as they all wove together into an artful tapestry of pain, fear, friendships, and hope.
 
I would 100% recommend this as an important to-read book this year. If you don’t pick it up, you are missing out.

Book Review: A Multitude of Dreams

Title: A Multitude of Dreams

Author: Mara Rutherford

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Gothic, Historical, Romance

Rating: 5 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

Princess Imogen of Goslind has lived a sheltered life for three years at the boarded-up castle—she and the rest of its inhabitants safe from the bloody mori roja plague that’s ravaged the kingdom. But Princess Imogen has a secret, and as King Stuart descends further into madness, it’s at great risk of being revealed. Rations dwindle each day, and unhappy murmurings threaten to crack the facade of the years-long charade being played within the castle walls.

Nico Mott once enjoyed a comfortable life of status, but the plague took everyone and everything from him. If not for the generosity of a nearby lord, Nico may not have survived the mori roja’s aftermath. But does owing Lord Crane his life mean he owes him his silence?

When Lord Crane sends Nico to search for more plague survivors in the castle, Nico collides with a princess who wants to break out. They will each have to navigate the web of lies they’ve woven if they’re going to survive the nightmares that lie ahead.

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

I had so much fun reading this book. In a way, it was a bit of a fairytale – a princess in a high tower, a great evil attempting to take the throne – but don’t let that deceive you, because this story was so much more.
 
It was a story of plague, anti-Semitism, madness, and vampires. The setting was similar to our own, but set in a fantasy kingdom. In a way, I wish there had been a bit more to the fantasy side of things, but it blended well into the story, so I can’t complain too much.
 
The characters were fantastic. It was interesting to see the old proprieties and customs in a very familiar quarantine setting. I found Nico and Seraphina to be my favorite characters (no surprises there) in part because they were the most fleshed out, but also because their gender roles were not as clearly defined as you’d assume at first glance. I loved that Seraphina was brave, smart, and a bit naughty, while Nico was kind, gentle, and constantly blushing. It made for an interesting dynamic between the two.
 
Overall, the book was very well written and had a bit of darkness to it, but in the end, it was fun and explored what makes us human when we are stripped back to our basics.

Book Review: The Pomegranate Gate

Title: The Pomegranate Gate [The Mirror Realm Cycle 1]

Author: Ariel Kaplan

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical

Rating: 4 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

Toba Peres can speak but she can’t shout; she can walk but she can’t run; and she can write in five languages… with both hands at the same time.

Naftaly Cresques dreams every night of an orange-eyed stranger; when awake, he sees things that aren’t real; and he carries a book he can never lose and never read.

When the Queen of Sefarad orders all the nation’s Jews to leave or convert, Toba and Naftaly are forced to flee, but an unlucky encounter leaves them both separated from their caravan. Lost in the wilderness, Toba follows an orange-eyed stranger through a mysterious gate in a pomegranate grove, leaving Naftaly behind.

With a single step, Toba enters an ancient world that mirrors her own. There, she finds that her fate—and Naftaly’s—are bound to an ancient conflict threatening to destroy both realms.

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan was extraordinarily well-crafted in many ways. The narrative was devoid of technical errors minus perhaps one or two misspellings I found along the way. The author did a spectacular job of pulling together a complicated, epic fantasy rife with Jewish folklore and a wide array of characters. In the way of most books with a large cast, most characters weren’t terribly complex, but both Naftaly and Toba were well-rounded.
 
This book isn’t going to be for everyone though – and indeed, I struggled to get through it. The book was long, and at times slow. Make no mistake, this is an epic fantasy, and it was around 500 pages. This isn’t a book you’re going to pick up and finish in one afternoon. This is a book you’re going to have to sit down and devote yourself to for several days. The story was interesting and kept me reading, but it could be a little slow, and I definitely had to take a break now and then as I read.
 
I also wasn’t a fan of the ending. If you like a satisfying ending to a book or even a show-stopping cliffhanger, you aren’t going to find that here. The story gets to the end…. And just stops. It’s clear that the story is meant to go on to a sequel, and felt unfinished.
 
Overall, I liked the book, and I’m glad I read it. I may go on to read the next book in the series, but I can’t say I’m excited to pick it up just because of how long this took me to get through. I’m a bit mentally exhausted after the marathon.

Book Review: The Scarlet Veil

Title: The Scarlet Veil [The Scarlet Veil 1]

Author: Shelby Mahurin

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

Rating: 3 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

Six months have passed since Célie took her sacred vows and joined the ranks of the Chasseurs as their first huntswoman. With her fiancé, Jean Luc, as captain, she is determined to find her foothold in her new role and help protect Belterra. But whispers from her past still haunt her, and a new evil is rising—one that Célie herself must vanquish, unless she falls prey to the darkness.

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

I wish I had liked this book more because the writing was well-done. I loved the characters and the overarching mystery of the plot. Unfortunately, it took me a while to sink into the story.

This is not a stand-alone story. Despite being the first book in this particular series, it is also a continuing story of the events in a completely different series… just in the same world. That meant that when the story started, it fell months after the events of the other series, after the big bad was thwarted, and after the major struggles of the characters. When I first picked up the book, I thought I’d somehow missed the first book in the series, and this was a sequel. The first book in a series shouldn’t require you to read an entirely different series just to understand what’s going on.

Eventually, after many chapters, I picked up on what was going on overall in the story, even though I didn’t have any real understanding of the characters or what led them to that point. Even having read the book, there are still characters I can’t identify – no idea who they are, their gender, or what part they play in the story – and that’s a huge problem.

Once I sunk into the story, it was fine. I liked Celie. I found her vampire companions interesting. The romance was rather lackluster, but I liked the lore… but the ending? It sucked. It felt like the story ended too soon and inconclusive. There was no resolution, and no further explanation as to who was still alive after the big fight, and what happened to them. There was only a brief and unsatisfying glimpse into Celie’s condition after the end… and I mean brief… and that was it. The story was over. There were no confessions of love. No real hope for the future and what that might look like. All Celie’s feelings were gone – invalidated by the last page.

In the end, I’m glad I read the story, but I wish I’d picked up the previous series first… and even then, I don’t know that I’d have enjoyed it more because of the ending. I probably won’t pick up the next book in the series because the way the story ended doesn’t feel good, and it doesn’t make me want to continue reading.

A Disruption

As some of my readers may have noticed, my book review posts dried up in the last two weeks, and now I am off schedule. I wanted to let all of you know that my blog will return to task, but posts are going to be a little out of kilter for the next couple of weeks. I had two of my three hard drives go caput two weeks ago – luckily, my e-book library survived, but Windows on my PC did not.

Luckily, as you are seeing this post, a new main hard drive was acquired, and my PC is back up and running (though I’m still working on reinstalling everything). I fell behind on my reading during the death of my computer, but I should be catching up shortly. In the meantime, book review posts will be released as I get them finished until we’re back on schedule.

Thank you everyone for having patience!

Book Review: Every Wish Way

Title: Every Wish Way

Author: Shannon Bright

Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: 5 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

Raised by a mother whose ironclad motto is “men are trash,” Iza longs to prove her wrong, ideally with a kind, steady boyfriend who will free her from the exhausting treadmill that is dating. Although she’s willing to try (almost) anything to find love, accidentally summoning a wish-granting stranger out of thin air was never part of the plan!

Unfortunately, Beckett, her personal wish-granter, isn’t exactly the sage and generous being she would expect. Instead, he loves to party, has attitude to spare, and boasts an uncanny ability to point out Iza’s worst flaws. Iza decides to use one of her three wishes to create her dream man—a modern Mr. Darcy. If that esteemed gentleman can’t impress her overbearing mother, no one can. Using Pride and Prejudice as the handbook to Darcy’s heart, Iza plays the part of Elizabeth Bennet and sets out to create her epic love story.

Making wishes and winning Darcy over becomes more complicated than Iza expects, especially with Beckett’s adorably dimpled grin and unexpected kindness in the equation. Soon enough, she’s glimpsing the truth of the man behind the flippant persona, and each moment in his company makes her question everything she thought she wanted from love.

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

This book was magical. It’s one of those books you read and come away feeling like you both want to cry and go hug every person you love. It was heartwarming, funny, and sweet in a way that gives you warm fuzzies.

I loved the characters – I identified a lot with Eliza as a heroine, with her need to find love and acceptance, and letting that need spiral into perfectionism, anxiety, and judgment. Beckett was an interesting character as well. I found him endearing in a sort of tragic way – he is so broken down from the impermanence of his life that he protects himself by making everyone dismiss him. Because what is the point of creating attachments if you know it’s temporary? Both of them were broken, imperfect characters, but they brought out the best in each other, and in the end, sparked each other to grow.

The book was well-written from a technical standpoint, but more than that, it was well-written from a contextual standpoint as well. I loved the author’s addition of the Mr. Darcy romance hijinks and the way Eliza got exactly what she wished for – no tricks included – but learned along the way that maybe what she wished for, wasn’t the right wish after all. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good rom-com or a HEA romance. It was so, so good.

Book Review: If I Have To Be Haunted

Title: If I Have To Be Haunted

Author: Miranda Sun

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary

Rating: 5 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

Cara Tang doesn’t want to be haunted.

Look, the dead have issues, and Cara has enough of her own. Her overbearing mother insists she be the “perfect” Chinese American daughter—which means suppressing her ghost-speaking powers—and she keeps getting into fights with Zacharias Coleson, the local golden boy whose smirk makes her want to set things on fire.

Then she stumbles across Zach’s dead body in the woods. He’s even more infuriating as a ghost, but Cara’s the only one who can see him—and save him.

Agreeing to resurrect him puts her at odds with her mother, draws her into a dangerous liminal world of monsters and magic—and worse, leaves her stuck with Zach. Yet as she and Zach grow closer, forced to depend on each other to survive, Cara finds the most terrifying thing is that she might not hate him so much after all.

Maybe this is why her mother warned her about ghosts.

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

This was such a fun and heartwarming read. The book was full of adventure, an enemies-to-lovers romance, and paranormal peril at every turn.

I loved the relationship between the two main characters. At times they were prickly and mean to one another, and other times they were heartbreakingly sweet. Though I have to admit, it occurs to me that most of their fighting was up to the somewhat cantankerous Cara, who sometimes took things a bit too far. I think that Zach was my favorite character because as infuriatingly cocky as he could be, it was clear throughout the story that he cared about Cara, probably for a lot longer than either one of them would admit.

Their journey into the liminal spaces and the different dangers they found there made it a thrilling journey, all while being under the ever-present threat of the clock ticking down. I thought the author did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding of the different landscapes and creatures, and the clear and easy-to-read narrative style made it effortless to get pulled along into the journey.

Overall, I found this to be one of those books that pulls you in right from the very beginning with its colorful characters and stunning scenery, and leaves you at the end with that happy warm feeling when everything turns out all right… at least until the epilogue.

Book Review: The Name Drop

Title: The Name Drop

Author: Susan Lee

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Rating: 5 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer.

When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself.

It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations.

As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

This was a fun, heartwarming, and funny read. The book was a mix between K-Drama and Romantic Comedy and is one of those reads that’s perfect for an easy-going weekend. The romance was incredibly sweet, derived from mutual respect between the characters, and I loved the two main characters and the dynamic between them – both were hard-working, self-aware, and determined to make themselves a better future than what others were willing to give them.
 
The writing was clean and easy to read and lacked any major errors. It was easy to sink into the story and get carried away by the lives of the characters, and the backdrop of what you’d normally find inside a Korean contemporary didn’t feel forced or out of place being set in an American setting.
 
Overall, I loved the book and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys K-dramas, romantic comedies, or young adult contemporary romance.

Book Review: A Study In Drowning

Title: A Study In Drowning

Author: Ava Reid

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Gothic, Romance, Mystery

Rating: 5 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. She’s had no choice. Since childhood, she’s been haunted by visions of the Fairy King. She’s found solace only in the pages of Angharad – author Emrys Myrddin’s beloved epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, and then destroys him.

Effy’s tattered, dog-eared copy is all that’s keeping her afloat through her stifling first term at Llyr’s prestigious architecture college. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to design the late author’s house, Effy feels certain this is her destiny.

But Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task: a musty, decrepit estate on the brink of crumbling into a hungry sea. And when Effy arrives, she finds she isn’t the only one who’s made a temporary home there. Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar, is studying Myrddin’s papers and is determined to prove her favorite author is a fraud.

As the two rival students investigate the reclusive author’s legacy, piecing together clues through his letters, books, and diaries, they discover that the house’s foundation isn’t the only thing that can’t be trusted. There are dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspiring against them – and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

What a strange and beautiful book. The story had a gothic feel, with just a bit of Eldritch horror thrown in for good measure. The setting was an eerie mix of dark academia from another time, with its scholastic halls that seemed to be from another era – complete with the infuriating misogyny – and an otherworldly decaying and drowned manor that is slowly slipping into the sea. And of course, don’t forget the cruel but beautiful Faerie King lurking in the shadows like a boogeyman.
 
The book was a strange mix of ideals from a more patriarchal time, mixed with modern technology, horror, mystery, romance, and fantasy… and yet it worked.
 
I loved the characters, particularly Effy, and her story was a particularly powerful one. There are themes of sexual abuse, bullying, misogyny, and mental illness – and that barely scratches the surface. It is a powerful narrative that will leave a lasting impression on any reader, and I would absolutely recommend you give it a try.

Book Review: The Library of Shadows

Title: The Library of Shadows

Author: Rachel Moore

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance

Rating: 5 Stars

Description/Synopsis:

Radcliffe Prep. The third most haunted school in the country, where a student disappearance isn’t uncommon and no one dares stay in the library after dark. And Este Logano enrolls with the hopes of finding her dead father.

Not literally, of course. She doesn’t believe in ghosts. Going to her dad’s school just seems like her best hope at figuring out who he was.

But then Este meets Mateo, who is maybe—probably—definitely—a real ghost. And an annoying one at that.

When Mateo frames Este for the theft of a rare book from the library’s secret spire and then vanishes, Este will have to track him down or risk being expelled and leaving Radcliffe early just like her father did.

Except following her father’s footsteps might be more dangerous than Este ever anticipated. As she investigates the library with its secret passageways, hidden tunnels, and haunted halls, she learns that the student disappearances aren’t just myth. And if she isn’t careful, she’ll be next.

WARNING – SPOILERS MAY ENSUE BEYOND THIS POINT – REVIEW BELOW

I had so much fun reading this book – it was a fantastic mix of ghost story, YA romance, and mystery. There was an overarching theme of friendship throughout the story that I enjoyed. There was a rag-tag group of paranormal investigating students, a group of eclectic ghosts from different decades, and then there was the main character, Este, who connects them all.
 
I found Este to be a likable and compelling main character. She is solitary by nature, mostly because of her mother’s penchant for traveling around the world, but she remembers a time when she had a solid home and a doting father, and she craves to have that kind of connection again, even if she doesn’t quite know how to get there. I was drawn in by her relationship with Mateo – equal parts friendship, romance, and at times, prickly and reluctant teammates.
 
One of my favorite parts of the book, I’ll admit, was the setting. As you can imagine, I love libraries, and this book had a sense of dark academia to it, mostly taking place in the Lilith, a massive library on the academy grounds, complete with candle-lit archives, a forgotten spire, and the many ghosts and fades that inhabit it. It gave the book an almost Gothic feel, even though it was very much set in the present day.
 
Overall, I loved this book. The writing was excellent, the characters were engaging, and the plot was gripping. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves ghost stories, gothic mysteries, and YA romances with a paranormal spin.