Smoke by Dan Vyleta Fantasy Historical Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Set in an alternate Victorian England, Smoke is both a read-alike for Harry Potter and a study of class structure within society. It can be enjoyed just for the impressive story-telling or studied by a book club with plenty of meaty subjects to explore. In the story, wicked thoughts or deeds are exposed for all to see when smoke and soot … Read more
The World According to Humphrey Humphrey #1 by Betty G. Birney Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I love it because of its storyline. It tells about a golden hamster first coming to school as a class pet. He learns about everything and writes in his journal. He made new friends in the class and goes home with one of his friends every weekend. I like it because it tells the … Read more
The Earl and the Fairy Story and art by Ayuko Fantasy Manga Supernatural Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) The Earl and the Fairy is about Lydia Carlton, who is a fairy doctor, helping an Earl named Edgar Ashenbert. They go on adventures helping fairies and humans alike. I liked this book because it was very fantasy-like. It showed a fairy in the world doing stuff. There were many types of fairies and … Read more
The Island Stallion by Walter Farley Adventure Fantasy Mystery Thriller Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) It all started when people came by boat to the Azul Island. They were hunting for horses and a stallion. They would use a bull whip to break the horses and the stallion in. But the man on the boat got separated. By nightfall it was too dark, so they camped out, when they suddenly came across … Read more
The Grimm Conclusion Companion to A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz Adventure Fantasy Review # 1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This book is a really great book. It has some of the characters and settings from the other two books. There is one part where it’s really confusing, but you then understand it. This book is really good, but not my favorite of the whole series.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate Fantasy Review # 1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I liked this book because it was about a gorilla named Ivan. One of his friends is a dog. I love dogs. The dog’s name is Bob. In this story he talks about how it’s not easy being a gorilla. He has a best friend named Stella and when she was in the circus, they chained … Read more
Magic Thief Magic Thief series #1 by Sarah Prineas Fantasy * Star (A waste of time!) Magic Thief was a boy who lived on the streets and stole things in order to survive. He then became an apprentice of a well-known wizard and saved the decaying magic in the city. I didn’t like it because there was absolutely NO climax in the story. There was also NO build-up to a climax at all.
Clariel Abhorsen series prequel by Garth Nix Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Clariel longs for her former home when her family moves to the city to further her mother’s ambitions in the Goldsmithing Guild. Clariel’s dream is to become a Boarderer and live in the Great Forest, but everyone else seems to have other plans for her – like setting her up as a puppet Queen. When she encounters a Free Magic creature, … Read more
The Eye of Zoltar Last Dragonslayer #3 by Jasper Fforde Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) In order to safeguard her dragon friends from the Mighty Shandar, Jennifer Strange must undertake an information-seeking expedition (not a quest!) into the perilous Cambrian Empire to uncover the last resting place of the Eye of Zoltar – a powerful pink jewel that may or may not exist. She and her companions encounter most of the dangers the … Read more
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick Fantasy Interwoven stories Printz award winner * * * Stars (Pretty good) This collection of interwoven stories spans years and multiple lifetimes of two inseparable souls – Eric and Merle (spellings differ). When they are first parted Eirikr vows to return, “‘You cannot kill me. Do you not know my name? I am Eirikr. The One King! Forever Strong, and though you kill my body today, I will live again! I … Read more