Friday Reviews Week 9

🍁 Friday Reviews Week 9: 🍁
October 28th- November 3rd 

🍂 Book 1: Lumberjanes Vol: 2 by 

Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters, 

Maarta Laiho, and Brooke A. Allen

Read November 1st, 2017 🍂

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The second installment in the Lumberjanes graphic novel series. This was just as cute with the stories as the first. I'm really having a great time reading these. I'll probably continue to read one each week. One of the best parts of this one was the addition of Greek Mythology into the story. Usually, if something has Greek Mythology in it, that is something that makes me like it more. I thought that the humor brought in with this element, especially with Issue 8, made this for me. Each of the issues in this volume was about equal for me besides issue 7.  That one was my favorite. I'm glad that their camp counselor Jen, is now going on their adventures with them. She is one of the best characters in this series with her always knowing everything. 

Issue 5: 📚📚📚📚
Issue 6: 📚📚📚📚
Issue 7: 📚📚📚📚📚
Issue 8: 📚📚📚📚

Here's a link to all of my other posts on the Lumberjanes series: Lumberjanes Series

🍂 Book 2: Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

Read October 30th- November 2nd, 2017 🍂

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The sixth book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series and the second in the Witches subseries. This book is part of the overall series but can be read on its own. If you are new to the Discworld series or would like to know more about it you can use this link to see my other posts on them: Terry Pratchett's Discworld

This book reintroduces Granny Weatherwax. It also introduces two other witches Nanny Ogg, the matriarch of a large tribe of Oggs and the owner of the "most evil" cat ever, and also Magrat Garlick, a junior witch, who firmly believes in all things of the occult. This annoys the other two older witches greatly. The three witches/ wyrd sisters are the main characters of this book.

A Short Synopsis

"As the cauldron bubbled an eldritch voice shrieked: 'When shall we three meet again?' 

There was a pause.

Finally, another voice said, in far more ordinary tones: 'Well, I can do next Tuesday.'"

This book parodies many of Shakespeare's plays: Macbeth, Hamlet, and King Lear. It borrows themes from each of these plays to help form this story. The book starts with the witches deciding on a time to meet. Magrat wants to start a witch coven with the other witches because she believes that this is what is meant to be done. "Granny" Esmerelda Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, who are much older witches do not really care for this sort of way of using magic. Throughout the whole book, we see them try to teach her the ways of magic and also learning from her. 

We then find out that the king of the land, King Verence has been killed by his cousin who wanted to take the kingdom for himself. Instead of being left to die peacefully, King Verence becomes a ghost and will remain a ghost until he fulfills his destiny. His cousin, Felmet was guided by his wicked wife to murder Verence for the throne (Terry really has fun with making the duke's wife).  Over the course of the novel, we see him trying to keep hold of the kingdom, while he slips into insanity. A major hindrance for him, at least as he believes, is the witches. He does not realize though that the witches really do not like getting into politics. Also, that witches are not actually what he believes.

After the witches are given the son of King Verence with a crown by mistake, they know that they have to find him a home. This is until he can take his rightful place on the throne. They know that it will eventually be his destiny to take over the throne. He is given to a troupe of theatre performers and the witches hide his crown in prop boxes. The story continues on from there to hilarious and strange places.

Overall Thoughts  

"'Ah,' said Nanny. She took the girl's (Magrat) arm. 'The thing is,' she explained, 'as you progress in the Craft, you'll learn there is another rule. Esme's obeyed it all her life.' 

'And what's that?'

'When you break rules, break 'em good and hard,' said Nanny, and grinned a set of gums that were more menacing than teeth." 

First of all, I have always thought Lady Macbeth was bad, well the duchess could give her a run for her money. She's just as manipulative, but more in a humorous way.  I don't find her to be as mad as Lady Macbeth though. Her husband, on the other hand, has completely lost any touch with his sanity. This is where the King Lear elements fall into play. The duke is followed along by his loyal Fool, who is probably the most sensible person on the duke's side. 

I love when an author uses themes from other stories and makes them their own. I have always been a fan of Shakespeare's plays, especially Macbeth and Hamlet. It was great being able to recognize the references to his plays throughout the book and made the scenes even funnier. Where it diverges from the original source material is what makes this book for me. I enjoyed getting to know each of the witches and seeing their relationship with each other and others. Granny Weatherwax became one of my favorite characters ever in Equal Rites and this book has just solidified that for me. All of the witches are so complex and intriguing. I cannot wait to read the other books with them. 

Also, the scene with Death near the end of this book is my favorite. I will never get enough of Death as a character. He's the best. I would write out the whole scene here, but it would spoil the book. I will put one quick quote though. 

"This worried Death. He was used to people claiming that they were not dead, because death always came as a shock, and a lot of people have some trouble getting over it. But people claiming that they were dead with every breath in their body was a new and unsettling experience." - Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett. 

By all means, you don't have to have read any of the plays I mentioned to read this book. I believe that you would still enjoy it. But I do feel that many of the jokes that Terry Pratchett uses in this book are funnier because of my knowledge of these plays.

I cannot recommend this series enough. It may seem intimidating, but really it isn't once you get into it. You can really start it anywhere you want and you won't really miss anything. Each of the books stands on their own for the most part. I hope you enjoy Terry Pratchett's Discworld if you do decide to pick any of them up. I know that I do. 

🍂 Book 3: The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo 

Read November 3rd-4th, 2017 🍂

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Yay! 

I'm not surprised that I really loved this book of short stories. Last year, I fell in love with Leigh's writing in her Six of Crows Duology, which I read over a course of two days. I have yet to read the Shadow and Bone trilogy, but I will be picking it up when I have time to marathon a whole series (I know I won't be able to put them down). 

Leigh has created such a detailed world in her Grishaverse and I cannot wait to see what else she comes out with in the future. This book has six short stories that I will further talk about below. Overall, each of the stories helps create a different view into this world with wonderfully atmospheric writing, and illustrations that build into a full two-page illustration. I have never seen a book that each page built the end illustration more and more as you went. It was a great idea and those illustrations were beyond stunning, just like the stories they were for. 

"Ayama and the Thorn Wood": 📚📚📚📚📚
Sort of a twist on the myth of the Minator, with a half-wolf man. I loved how this story and all of the others felt like the some of the original fairy tales (Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson). I could see this one especially being thought of as classic fairy tale. It was similar in elements such as the tales that Ayama tells. This was a great start to the collection.

"The Too-Clever Fox": 📚📚📚📚📚
Following along with Koja, the fox, was an enjoyable experience. I liked seeing him outsmart other creatures and using his cleverness to his advantage. The message at the end of this story was also a nice touch. It (I'm going to repeat myself) felt like a fairy tale in this aspect. Also, I was not expecting the ending.

"The Witch of Duva": 📚📚📚📚📚
A take on "Hansel and Gretel". In the author's note, Leigh talks about this story among the others. It's funny because I completely agree with her take on the original tale. This tale flips that one and really makes you think about the real villain in the tale. I loved seeing her twist on this story.

"Little Knife": 📚📚📚📚
A short tale, of a beautiful young woman whose father, is trying to find the perfect husband for her. He makes many men do all sorts of tasks to try and win her hand. Her father definitely felt like a father out of a fairy tale. I really liked Yeva, the beautiful young woman in this.

"The Soldier Prince":📚📚📚📚📚
I really thought that this take on the Nutcracker story and somewhat of The Velveteen Rabbit was one of the best. These are both stories that I have known since I was very young and have enjoyed. It was based on those stories, but with more of a focus on the Nutcracker as a being. This is a retelling that I could not get enough of.

"When Water Sang Fire": 📚📚📚📚📚
This story was probably my favorite. I love mermaid stories and have been looking for a good book about mermaids for quite some time. The lore of this world that she creates is some of the most interesting that I have ever read. I loved the use of magic through music. It's perfect for mermaids. Then the ending...man that ending. I love the connection to The Little Mermaid that she made with this story (I adore The Little Mermaid with all my heart). I will not go into details about that but it thrilled me. What a great ending to the collection!

I have now realized even more how hard it is going to be for me to pick favorites this year. The list will probably have about twenty books. There have just been so many great ones and this is one of the best. If you love great fantasy books, Leigh's books, or just a great story, in general, you should read these stories. They are each quick and beautifully illustrated. The best part though is the writing that to me is what makes Leigh's books so incredible. Read this, I don't believe you will regret it.