My next roll is:
1. Author is a woman - Grump by Liesl Shurtliff
9. Author's last name begins with the letters H, I, J, or K - What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz
Landed on:
16. Genre: fantasy - For this one I'm reading The Last Gargoyle by Paul Durham
Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1853447/snakes-and-ladders-update-2
Review:
Audience: Adult
Format: Audiobook/Owned
What year these events transpired is of no consequence.
- first sentence
Overall, this book was just ok. The children were supposed to be brilliant, but never really talked to each other (or their parents) about the supernatural experiences they were having. The father, John Calvino was my favorite character in the book; he was deeply troubled and haunted by the murder of his parents and sisters (and his killing the murderer) that occurred many years ago. However, despite his supposedly close relationship with his wife, he never confided in her about his fears nor she in him about the weird things happening. If any of them had spoken to each other, the power of the "evil" would have been somewhat thwarted. Calvino is a police detective and somehow manages to reveal some of his suspicions to his boss and his partner, but not his wife (not until much later anyway). The time Koontz spent on the partner and his actions seems wasted as he didn't end up playing as big a role as I thought he would.
The story had some holes and some of the descriptions were a bit overdone. But the end was interesting and the idea that one utterance could cause someone to be so haunted that they basically invited evil to follow them was interesting. The audio was well done and I enjoyed listening but I don't really recommend this one.
I read this one for Snakes and Ladders:
9. Author's last name begins with the letters H, I, J, or K
Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1853446/what-the-night-knows-audiobook
1. Author is a woman - Grump by Liesl Shurtliff
Landed on:
9. Author's last name begins with the letters H, I, J, or K - ooh this fits perfectly with the audiobook I just started: What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz. At 12 hours, 24 minutes, it fits the length requirement. :)
Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1849620/snakes-and-ladders-update-1
Review:
Audience: Middle Grade
Format: Hardcover/Library Copy
I was born just feet from the surface of the earth, completely unheard of for a dwarf, but it couldn't be helped.
- first sentence
The dwarf's name is Borlen and his nickname is Grump. This story is set in the same world as Rump, Jack, and Red and written by the same author, Liesl Shurtliff. I really enjoy this series and I am always happy to see a new book come out. The series takes fairy tale retellings to a new level. The characters are all part of the same larger world and I love the way Shurtliff weaves them all together.
Borlen is obsessed with the surface even though most dwarves are terrified of it. He always feels like a bit of an outsider. When he finally finds himself above ground, his first friend is Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.). Readers know she is the Evil Queen, but Borlen is fairly naive and thinks she is his friend (his only friend). And so, Borlen gets caught up in the Queen's plot against Snow White.
I loved the characters in this story and the story itself. Grump is so complicated and conflicted but also very clever. At first Snow White seems like a self-centered, spoiled brat, but later we find out she is more complex than that. The crew that Borlen is a part of consists of seven dwarves - of course, one of whom sneezes a lot - go figure.
I highly recommend this book to readers in grades 4 and up, especially fans of fairy tale retellings. I read this as part of the Goodreads HA A-to-Z Challenge and for space #1 in the Snakes and Ladders game (book with a female author).
Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1849616/grump-the-fairly-true-tale-of-snow-white-the-seven-dwarves
Review:
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Hardcover/Owned
What if Ariel hadn't defeated Ursula? Hmmm.... Well, Ursula would be married to Prince Eric and in control of the kingdom. Triton would be gone and Ariel would be the queen of Atlantica. Ariel also wouldn't have a voice. The book opens 5 years after Ursula wins and she has Eric and the kingdom under a sort of hypnosis.
I have a confession: I love fractured fairy tales. I love the way authors take these stories that everyone knows and turn them into something different and in some cases, wildly entertaining. And this was definitely one of those cases. It was fascinating to see how the responsibilities of being queen changed Ariel; she is no longer the flighty young girl who fell in insta-love with a human.
I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the rest of the Twisted series (A Whole New World, Once Upon a Dream, and As Old as Time all by Braswell; and Reflection by Elizabeth Lim).
Original post: readingismyescape.booklikes.com/post/1849612/part-of-your-world-a-twisted-tale
