Week 17

Week 17 Reviews
December 23rd- 31st

Book 1- Father Christmas's the Fake Beard 
(short story collection)

by Terry Pratchett 

Read December 22nd -24th 

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This is a great collection of short stories that for the most part I really enjoyed. I love Terry Pratchett's humorous style of writing and the wit that he always uses. This is no exception to that. Below I will give a short review for each of eleven short stories and a rating for each. The illustrations in this book were also great and I loved how it was designed. Overall, it was a joy to read his Christmas tales.

"Father Christmas's Fake Beard"
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I believe that Terry's stories that deal with Father Christmas are the best from this collection. Each just shows the joy of the holiday and are quite honestly just enduring tales. This one is told through a series of notes, where a store has hired someone who they believe is a fake Father Christmas (Santa Claus) for their toy department. Throughout the course of the memos, they slowly realize that they may have been quite wrong. The hijinks that continue on are quite hilarious.

"The Blackbury Pie"
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The first story dealing with the town of Blackbury, I liked these stories but not a lot. This story is about the mayor of the town wanting to give something to everyone in the town, especially the hungry, for Christmas. He decides on a giant pie. The story continues on from there.

"Prod-Ye-A'Diddle Oh!"
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Another tale from the town of Blackbury, about a game played on New Year's Day that is a cross between rugby, hopscotch, shove ha'penny, and vandalism. In the tale, a man who is the best on his team is trying to win the hand of the mayor's daughter, but the mayor gives him a request to do something he really doesn't want to do. This was a good story but the town of Blackbury really isn't that interesting.

"A Very Short Ice Age"
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A story about a little boy trying to navigate a large snowstorm. This one was quite simple but really cute.

"The Computer Who Wrote to Father Christmas"
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Father Christmas goes into an office and has a great conversation with the computer there. A sweet tale that has an equally great message and ending. I loved this one above the rest.

"Good King Wences-lost"
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A tale about a king that loves helping people, a large snowstorm, and a man lost in that snow. Hilarity follows as the king goes out into the snow to try and help a man. Also, a little bit of miscommunication. This was overall a solid piece.

"The Weatherchick"
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This one was actually my least favorite out of the overall collection. It's about a chick in the town of Blackbury that controls the weather.

"Judgement Day for Father Christmas"
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Father Christmas and many other mythical creatures are put on trial.

"The Abominable Snow-baby"
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A cute tale about a woman that befriends a baby abominable snowman and the troubles that this causes. This is another tale from Blackbury and is my favorite from that collection of tales.

"The Twelve Gifts of Christmas"
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A take on the twelve days of Christmas song. It makes the idea of someone giving those gifts to their love make much more sense and also the idea of it even more silly at the same time. So enjoyable to read.

"Father Christmas Goes to Work at the Zoo"
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When Father Christmas is forced to get a day job because he is bothering his wife at home. Let's just say I was not expecting competency with these jobs. 

Book 2- Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

Read December 27th

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This was a reread for me and I just adored it so much. Just recently I did a post on Carrie Fisher for the year anniversary of her death.

A good amount of this book was quite hard to read especially her talking about death and wanting to live for certain milestones. This has become sort of a poignant tale that holds a lot her personality and the story of her life up until the age of fifty. A great set of stories and mishaps from her life that I have enjoyed reading a second time around. I recommend this book to any fan of Carrie's, whether that be from Star Wars or from any of her other works. It is a gem. Also, the stage show/ documentary is really good too. 

Book 3- Hogfather by Terry Pratchett 

December 26th -29th 

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~ Brief Synopsis ~

This is the twentieth book of the Discworld series, though you do not have to read the rest of the series to read this. Also, this is book four in the Death subseries which focuses on the character of Death. I do recommend reading the series because you may miss out on the jokes. I have done reviews for the Discworld books earlier in the year and will link them below for you to look at if you would like. (I skipped ahead a little in the books because I wanted to read this for Christmas. I will be going back and continuing where I was at in January).
Terry Pratchett's Discworld 

This book takes place the night before Hogswatch (basically Christmas in the Discworld). The Auditors have decided that they need to "remove" the Hogfather...so they contact the Assassin's guild and Mr. Teatime (pronounced "Teh-ah-tim-eh." ) is sent to "inhum" him (though the Hogfather is more of a deity than a human). It becomes Teatime's mission to figure out how to kill the Hogfather because technically he can't die. Death has taken over the role of going down chimneys, giving kids gifts, and is trying to save the world. Susan, his granddaughter does not understand why he is doing this and goes on an adventure to try and help. 

~ Characters ~

Death is and will always be my favorite character in this series. We follow him and his manservant, 

Albert, as they go from house to house trying to spread the joys of Hogswatch and keep the children's faith in the Hogfather. Death is still trying to understand humans and the emotions that they show in situations. Reading about his adventures where he gives gifts to children, such a sword to a little girl (it's educational, obviously), is some of the best parts of this book. He has most of the best lines in this novel and his end speech is one of my favorites that I have read all year. (By the way, Death's dialogue in the books is marked in small caps. In the quote below I have put it in caps.) 

“All right," said Susan. "I'm not stupid. You're saying humans need... fantasies to make life bearable."

REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE.

"Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little—"

YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES.

"So we can believe the big ones?"

YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.

"They're not the same at all!"

YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET—Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED.

"Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what's the point—"

MY POINT EXACTLY.” 

― Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

Susan Sto Helit is the granddaughter of Death, who at the beginning of the novel we meet as a governess for two children. She is trying to keep the monsters away that the children keep seeing and also stay as normal as possible. As the granddaughter of Death, she has special powers. She is able to use his voice in certain instances throughout the novel to get people to do what she wants them to do. Also, she is able to see things that will happen as if they are memories. This was my first time reading a book with Susan and I really enjoyed her as a character. Her's is another one of the four different plots that we follow along in the novel as she tries to find out more about where the Hogfather is and what Death is doing. She's not afraid of speaking her mind even to Death and that is an enjoyable aspect of the story. I cannot wait to read more about her. 

Mr. Teatime, is the hired assassin, whose mission is to "inhum" the Hogfather before the morning of Hogswatch. This man is an insane genius. He can literally come up with a full proof plan for assassinated anything in a few minutes and is quite creepy to read about. One of his eyes is made of glass and the other is only a pinhole that he can see through. This man is innocent looking but you can tell by the way that he talks that he's far from innocent. Also, it is questioned throughout the entire novel if he was one that killed his parents when he was a small boy. I won't put it past him myself. His plot is the third that we follow throughout the novel. 

The final subplot which connects in with the story is at the Unseen University, with the wizards there. The wizards of the Unseen University are some of the most interesting characters in this series. They always seem to mess things up and just cause problems. Much of the humor in this novel comes from their scenes. Each time one of the wizards mentions a lare or penate, they are created instantly to fill the void that the Hogfather has created. Many of these creations are just so comical and just bring so much humor to this dark book.

Some other characters that were in the novel that were also quite interesting were The Death of Rats, Quoth the Raven,  Bilious the oh God of Hangovers, and the Cheerful Fairy. This is really just to name a few because there are so many characters to mention. 

~ Ending Thoughts ~

This book was one of the darkest so far for me of the Discworld series and also the funniest. It was entertaining reading about Death saving Hogswatch and also the world along with it. So far this is one of my favorites of the series and I cannot wait to read more of them next year. Out of any book or series that I recommend on this blog, this is the one that I recommend the most. Terry Pratchett was an incredible writer and person and I would recommend them to everyone. He was one of a kind and it devastates me to know that he has not been with us for almost three years now. What an incredible mind and person. I cannot express to you enough about how much you should read this book and the whole series in general. If you love a great fantasy you should read this. If you love the feeling around Christmas you should read this. And finally, if you love a great story you should read this. 

 I will be watching the miniseries in the next couple of days for this novel and I cannot wait. 

Book 4- Groo: Play of the Gods

December 29th 

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~ A Short Synopsis ~
The Groo graphic novels/ comics have been around for decades and I remember when I first heard about them when I was a kid. This is my first venture into his tales and I can honestly say that I'm surprised by how much I really enjoyed this simple little graphic novel. This follows along Groo, a very idiotic barbarian that literally ruins everything around him with just being there. His ultimate mission in this tale is for the search of the best cheese dip in the world. Hilarity follows him in every movement as he ultimately changes the course of the everyone's lives around him. Groo's dog, Rufferto follows him around as he adventures throughout this book and interjects little side comments throughout. He reminded me of Garfield in his way of making fun of the actions of Groo, similarly to how Garfield makes fun of Jon. It was quite funny to read.

~ Writing Style ~
Throughout the whole piece, we see not only the adventure of Groo but also the reactions of the Gods watching everything going on below them. The queen of the land is trying to spread out into other lands surrounding their own and spread the word of their one god to these lands. Each of the Gods blames Diothos for the fact that he is the only one that they are trying to worship and anyone believing in anyone else is getting hurt for it. As a famous sailor leads them to the land that he discovered each person has their own plan. The sailor wants to get gold for himself and leave the others. The priests want to spread the word of their god no matter what the cost, even if they have to hurt people (this actually becomes a funny joke throughout). Groo is tricked into coming for the best cheese dip and no one really wants him to come along.

What I really liked about the style of writing was the switch back and forth between the gods and the humans that they are arguing about. It was an interesting and rewarding choice in creation because this just added to the humor.

~ The Art, Lettering, and Coloring ~
The art style is wonderful to look at. It still has this old type of style with bright popping color for each of the characters. Each character stands out with their own specific styles that fit their characteristics. One of the best scenes is when the citizens of the new land start thinking up new gods. There are really ridiculous ones such as The God of Repetition (who then repeats everything he says multiple times throughout), The God of Spelling Things Backwards, and my favorite: The God of Procrastination. Each of these gods looks different from each other and many have a look that matches what they are gods of. The more gods added to this scene looked great together.

The lettering really is nothing too spectacular but it goes along perfectly with the style of the drawings and the coloring. All of the dialogue stands out great against what is happening in the images. They look great together.

~ Final Thoughts ~
This is the graphic novel that I wanted and needed to read at the end of the year. I loved the humor and the style of each panel. Groo was a character that grew on me almost instantly. The poor guy keeps messing up everything for many of the people around him and many will run away to avoid him. He doesn't even seem to realize or care and I found him enduring. The only downside that I really found in this piece was how slow it was at the beginning. It took me quite some time to actually get into this but once I did I was hooked. The art style and writing style make for a great experience. I cannot wait to read more of Groo's tales from the past and any more that will come out.

*I received this book for free for an honest review*

Book 5: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Illustrated Edition)
by J. K. Rowling
Read December 31st 
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This is probably the seventh or eighth time that I have read this book, really I have lost track now. It was actually this book that really got me into this series and hooked. It has been my favorite of the series since I was around ten and it still is. Even after reading it so many times, I still get so much joy reading this book. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin are my two favorite characters from this series and I love their introductions in this book. I recommend this book to anyone who has never read it and also to those that have. What a great way to end this year of wonderful reading. Also, the illustrated edition is the most stunning book that I have ever seen. I recommend also getting the illustrated editions of the whole series they are beautiful.

Happy New Year to Everyone! 
Did you know that Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was published 200 years ago today? I thought that was pretty darn cool. I completely recommend reading it. It's a pretty good book and different than I ever expected. 

Week 16 Reviews

🎄 Week 16 Reviews 🎄

December 16th- 22nd

☃️ Book 1: Confessions of a Serial Songwriter by Shelly Peiken

Read by the author

Listened to December 17- 20th ☃️

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I have been a major music fan since I was a child. Throughout my childhood, I listened to classics from the 60s-80s. Also, the present day songs from the 90s and early 2000s. Music was and still is everything to me. Usually, when we think of music at least I know for me I think about the person singing the song. There is really so much more in the development of the music that we listen to other than that but still, I know that I really think about just the singer. This piece is about a woman who writes the music for or with many of the singers that I have listened to and loved in my life.  Britney Spears, Natasha Bedingfield, Keith Urban, Celine Dion, Cher, Reba McEntire, NSYNC, Miley Cyrus, Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, Idina Menzel, David Archuletta, Demi Lovato, and so many more. The tales she tells are just so personal and I could not get enough of them.

Shelly's memoir is a quite amusing and poignant take on her life as a writer of music and how it has affected her over the years. The best part of this audiobook experience is listening to Shelly narrate her life. Each piece of insight that she gives becomes even more intriguing getting to listen to her take on it. There is always something special when you hear an author read their story and this is no different. She knows just when to change the inflection in her voice to match a more heartfelt section and also when to add a bit of humor to it. This piece gives a feeling like she is telling her stories right to the listener.

I really loved the part when she came up with the lyrics for the song "Bitch" that she wrote with Meridith Brooks. Really that is true, you will be sitting in the most random place and random thoughts for writing will come in your head. This happens all the time for me with poetry and with stories. It is why I now carry around a notebook with me everywhere that I go because I never know when new inspirations will hit me. You do not want to forget a great line and then try to remember it again later. Most likely you will never get the line back. Or it will not be as good as the one that you come up with in the moment. This was a part that I could really relate to and I love how she said it.

This book was so great and I loved reading about Shelly's experiences. It felt somewhat like a friend telling me about her life and I could not get enough of it.

                                    *I received this book for free for an honest review*

❄️Book 2: Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks by Jim Mahfood

Read December 20th ❄️

2. 5 stars

A Short Synopsis 

The concept of this graphic novel is one that interested me. The whole idea of having a pair of magical socks that makes someone all-powerful when they are wearing them is just a humorous idea, to begin with. This piece has an overall amount of humor that drew me into it from the beginning. GRRL Scouts: Magic Socks is about a group of girls, Gwen, Daphne, and Rita who are trying to find out the mystery behind the Magic Socks, their new powerful weapon that everyone wants to get ahold of. Their problem is that Daphne has a cousin that is dead set on getting the Socks and won't stop until she and her group of recruited minions get ahold of them. Insanity ensues as the girls fight to keep and get the Socks.

Writing Style

One aspect that got me out of the overall story was the writing. It did get quite funny at times which definitely helped me want to see what happened next. This is described as a psychedelic, hilarious, and destructive insanity that fills the whole entire story and trust me this is right. There were just times that I wished that this would have stuck to the aspects of the story like the past of the Socks or something like that more. This could have had so much more development in aspects like that and would have had so much more of a plot. I love pieces that have weird stuff like magic Socks but this could have used much more of strange features instead of the crazy and action-packed stuff. This idea is something that really made me want to read it but I had a hard time staying invested throughout the whole thing.

The Art, Lettering, and Coloring

Also, the art style is something different than what I have ever seen before in a graphic novel. It’s colorful, wildly entertaining at times, and a bit crazy to go along with it. There were times while I was looking at the designs in the panels and I could not believe how nice they looked. The colors are all bright and just pop on every single page. Then there are pages with more of a psychedelic side of the story that contrasted well with the others but to me were not as appealing. This is a graphic piece that has adult scenes that I would not recommend for the younger readers.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I can say that there are some aspects of this piece that I really enjoyed especially the concept of it. There was just so much more that I wanted from it and that I was hoping for. This is a crazy piece that I believe was hilarious at times, but when I’m reading a story I want more than just a few laughs. The concept I felt was just so silly but it really did not get implemented as well as I would have hoped. This piece I believe does a perfect job showing the insanity of this story of the GRRL Scouts but the plot is lacking. I would have really liked to see more of the Socks and also learned more about each of the girls. The major focus is on how crazy this all is and can be but when it comes down to it that does not help make me invested in any of these characters or the story as a whole. This is definitely a piece that is interesting to look at. I just wish there was more that made me want to read more about the girls.

*I received this book for free for an honest review*

Week 15 Reviews-

☃️ Week 15 Reviews

December 9th- 15th 🎄

Book 1: Descender: The Deluxe Edition Volume 1
by Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen (Illustrator)

(Volumes 1-3/ 

Issues 1-16)  
Read December 13th, 2017

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A Short Synopsis

A young robot boy named TIM-21 is a companion robot of a boy named Andy. In a universe where androids have blown to pieces the way of life for many, the robots are outlawed and hunted by bounty hunters. The graphic novel follows along with Tim and his companions as they struggle to stay alive in a universe with so much war.

The first issue opens before the war, when a group of planet-sized robots, called the Harvesters, come and destroy the way of life of the civilization. We skip ahead ten years and meet TIM-21 who has been asleep for the past ten years. Him and “his family” lived on a mining development. He slowly finds out what has happened since he was “sleeping” and is trying to find his companion and his mother. Bounty hunters come and attack him and the adventure continues from there. 

The Writing
The writing style of each issue in this deluxe edition is quite interesting. I really liked how the writer relieved information throughout the story. As we get introduced to more characters we slowly learn more and more about their identities and their backstories. As the series continues on more and more reveals to come out in the writing. The story never feels bogged down with this information though and it all feels essential to get to know the characters and where they are coming from.


Another aspect of the writing that really sticks out throughout is the characters. We follow along TIM-21 throughout the entire piece but also his companions. Each is developed and has characteristics that make them intriguing to continue to read about. The characters range from humans, many sorts of alien races, and many types of robots. Each has their own motivations in the wars and struggles that have been happening since The Harvesters came and destroyed many of their lives. The integral part of the overarching story is the fact there are both good and bad characters on both sides of the battle. Not all of the androids have done horrible things but not all of the humans and aliens can be trusted at face value. The idea of grey areas of thinking can be seen throughout the entire story. Neither side can be considered either good or evil.

The Art, Colouring, and Lettering
What really drew me to this graphic novel from the very first page was the magnificent illustrations. The art style is beyond beautiful and was stunning to look at, even with some of the more grotesque scenes. Each panel has a simplistic painted background that really helps each of the characters and other details to come alive over it. The watercolor feel to each panel makes a stunning story stand out even more.


Many of the different characters get different types of lettering depending on who they are. The aliens and the humans have one type and then many of the androids will get a more synthetic type of font. The only android that seems to not is Tim. Tim is one of the androids that is humanized more and also, we are meant to symphonize with his character.

Final Thoughts
Overall, this as an incredibly made series that I cannot wait to continue on with. I enjoyed reading about everything that has happened in this universe since The Harvesters had started wreaking havoc. Each character was complex and brought different sides to this story that made it a joy to continue to read. With a great mixture of story development and stunning graphics, this is a graphic novel that I cannot recommend enough. If you are a science fiction fan I would say that you should pick it up. I believe that you will be impressed by it.

*I was given a copy of this graphic novel
 for free for an honest review.*

Book 2: Elsewhere Volume 1
 by Jay Faerber (Story), 
Sumeyye Kesgin (Art), Ron Riley (Art)

(Issues 1-4)
Read December 15th, 2017

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A Short Synopsis
The mystery of where Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, ended up in her famous flight has been something that has many puzzled over the years since. Nobody really does know what did ever happen to her.

Elsewhere takes that idea and brings Amelia Earhart to an alien world that she never expected. During her famous flight, Amelia goes through a portal into another world altogether and meets two aliens, Cort and Tavel, who save her from a tree. She wants to find her companion Fred and from the information Cort and Tavel, she believes that Lord Kragen may have him. Lord Kragen is the villain who has been capturing the rebellion and putting them in jail. She with the help of her new friends tries to find her companion but slowly finds out that nothing is what she expected. Lord Kragen has grown very interested in her and will stop at nothing to have her in his clutches.

Writing Style
The story in Elsewhere is developed well and was fascinating to learn about. It was a great adventure with characters you really root for especially Amelia. I felt that the story did get predictable near the end though and that brought the overall story down for me. From the end of the first issue I had figured out the ending and that detracted from the overall impact of it. Also, I would have liked to get more information about this world especially about the villain Lord Kragen. The information we do get is a great part of this tale but I would have liked to have some more. This might be in future volumes and it does make me want to them, which is a good thing.

The Art/ Colouring/ Lettering
The visuals were definitely the best part of this graphic novel. This intricate world that was created is appealing to look at and was quite engrossing. I could look at some of these illustrations again and again. The structures especially at Lord Kragens’ just really stand out and bring some magic into the story. In regards to lettering, this aspect does not really stand out but looks nice visually with the illustrations throughout the entire piece. The visuals gave at least to me, the impression that this world can be expanded upon greatly for future installments. This is a world that I would like to see much more of and I hope that it will even get more and more details in a continuation.

Final Thoughts 
Overall, this was a solid piece that I enjoyed delving into. The characters were good especially Amelia and the world that was created was one of the best parts. Really, the major aspect that detracts from it is the predictability of the story and also the lack of solid information. If we get more development in the actual story arc this could be an incredible piece but that is not saying that I did not enjoy reading this. I just really wanted more to it that I didn’t get.

 I really hope that this will be expanded on in future installments because this really is an idea of a story that stood out to me. Historical fiction that plays with fantasy/ science fiction has always interested me and Amelia Earhart’s story is something that always seemed fascinating to me too. One final point that I would like to touch on is the idea of the other humans who have come to this alien world. I really hope that aspect is continued on and we learn more about them. That would be a good continuation.

*I was given a copy of this graphic novel
 for free for an honest review.*

Week 14 Reviews

🎄 Week 14 Reviews ☃️
December 2nd- 8th, 2017

🧜 Book 1: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie 💀
Read December 4th- 5th, 2017
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This edition of Peter Pan is gorgeous.
I love the MinaLina designed classics.

This is the second time that I have read this book, with the first being when I was around ten or eleven. It's a story that I have known and loved for most of my life. J. M. Barrie's narration throughout this book was one of the most enjoyable parts. His comments about what was going on were often times funny. I loved how he was not only telling the tale but also seemed himself to have a part in it. One of my favorite scenes is when he says he's flipped a coin to figure out which adventure he is going to tell us about. Also, I agree with him when he calls the children brats (at least a little bit).

A Brief Synopsis

Peter  Pan is about a young boy who never wants to grow up; his spunky fairy, Tinker Bell; the dastardly pirate, Captain James Hook; the other pirates; the Lost Boys and three English children-Wendy, John and Michael- who Peter takes with him to Neverland. The story focuses mainly on their adventures in the wonderful world of Neverland. A story of growing up but also of the importance of believing. This is a timeless tale. 

The Characters

Peter Pan is everything I already knew about him. The boy that never wants to grow up can be quite stubborn, forgetful, and a bit of a showoff. Overall, he really does care for his friends and he can be a sweet boy when he wants to be. He has always been one of my favorite characters of all time and reading this again, I can see why.

Tinkerbell was a snappy and amusing character to watch. Her little comments about Peter were great. I love the side comment that Barrie gives about how fairies can only be bad or good at a certain time. They cannot be both at the same time because they're too tiny. It's that kind of quirky writing that makes this just incredible.

The mother and father of Wendy, John, and Michael were characters that I felt sorry for. Their children are away for who really knows how long and they have to just stay there and hope that they will come home. Mr. Darling's idea to stay in Nanny's kennel until his children are safely home was not expected and so funny.

Then there's the dastardly Captain James Hook, my favorite literary villain of all time. His character was so much more complex than the Disney version gives him credit for (though I adore the Disney version). James is after Peter Pan, yes because the boy took his hook, but also because of his cocky attitude. He also is cunning and a gentleman at heart. We find out a bit about his backstory and can see why he wants to fight with such precision. "Bad form."

And finally the quote "To die would be an awfully big adventure"- will never stop being great.

Ending Thoughts

Overall, Peter Pan will never stop being one of my favorite books of all time. It really is one of the best books I have ever read. Great story and equally great characters. This is a bit darker than most versions of the story that I have watched but that makes it so much better. Peter is a character that I will never have enough of.

👻 Book 2: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 🎄
Read December 7th, 2017
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I have read, watched, and listened to this story so many times I could probably recite every plot point. It will never get old for me. I first fell in love with this story when I was a child with Mickey's Christmas Carol. I really do not know how many times I have consumed A Christmas Carol, but most likely it's been over thirty.

 You have probably heard of this story before but for those that have not, I'll give a quick synopsis. We follow around Ebenezer Scrooge and his encounters with four different ghosts on Christmas Eve. Scrooge has lived a good part of his life mean-spirited. He is an arrogant, insensitive and quite cold miser, who spends every day miserable at the world around him. His old friend Jacob Marley (who has been dead for seven years) comes as a ghost that very night to give Scrooge a chance to change his ways so he doesn't end up like Marley. Marley has been doomed to wander the earth as a spirit, to forever carry the burden of his sins in the chains on his back.

The other three ghosts that Scrooge encounters are of Christmases past, present, and future. They each help him see the errors in his actions and really help show the overall message of this story. A Christmas Carol is known for its story and Scrooge's redemption. We want him to succeed, at least I know that I do. Yes, he is a man who is a curmudgeon but that does not mean there is no room for change. Like I have said before I grew up with Mickey's Christmas Carol. One of my favorite characters from Disney cartoons was Scrooge McDuck. It was great getting introduced to this famous literary character through him, especially since Scrooge McDuck is based on Ebenezer.

As we follow Scrooge through his journey through his past, present, and a possible future, we learn a good amount about him. He is never really as cold-hearted as he seems. There are many glimpses at a softer side to Scrooge that shows that he really could change. Our other characters such as Bob Cratchett and his family are also a joy to read about. This is a family that has hardly any money but they can still see the joy of Christmas. Spending time with their family is the most important thing to them. The ghosts are also each distinct from each other and bring about some quite interesting scenes.

This novel just brings a warm feeling to my heart every time I read it. This story is a favorite of mine that I know will never change. It's a classic for a very good reason. If you have not taken the time to enjoy this before now, please pick it up in some fashion. I believe that you will enjoy the overall message and get something out of it.

Week 13

❄️Week 13 Reviews ❄️

November 25- December 1st

☃️ Book 1: How the Grinch Stole Christmas ☃️

By Dr. Seuss

Read November 25

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I figured that this would be the perfect way for me to get into the holiday and Christmas spirit. This is not my first time reading this book. I've read it countless times as a child. It's my second favorite of Dr. Seuss's books right below Green Eggs and Ham. This was a great jump back into nostalgia and such a great story. Many know this story because of the animated movie. This was just as good as I remembered it. What a great book.

🎄 Book 2: The Knowing 🎶

By Sharon Cameron

Read by Emily Woo Zeller and Andrew Eiden

Listened to November 29- December 2nd 

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If you have not read my review of the first book The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron, here is a link to it: http://whattoreadwithcag.blogspot.com/2017/11/friday-reviews-week-12.html.

 I recommend reading that book before this book but they are companions to each other so you don't have to. Both can stand on their own. 

This is the companion book to The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron and was just as good. It takes place nearly 400 years after the end of the first novel. Set in New Canaan, we follow around both Samara and Beck. Samara cannot forget and she is not the only one that can't. She is free of the Forgetting but her memories plague her and she wonders what is really going on. She leaves and escapes to the cursed city of Canaan hoping to find some answers. 

What really intrigued me about Samara was this idea of her never forgetting. She's one of The Knowing a group that is forced to constantly relieve, over and over things that have happened in their life. I really did not realize when reading the description of this book what this actually meant. It's quite insane the extent that this goes to. Samara literally just has to search her memory for information and she can remember it. She can scan pages of a book and read them fully later on. Also, she has vivid and complete memories of most her life after she became one of the Knowing. This is one of the most interesting concepts that I have ever read about. 

Our other narrator is Beck, a citizen of Earth, who is flying on a spaceship on his way to Canaan. His parents are researchers trying to find out about the settlement on Canaan and what has happened in the years since the original settlers left Earth. Beck becomes stranded on Canaan without a way of contacting the ship and meets up with Samara. Little does he or she know what secrets Canaan and the others on his spaceship are hiding. 

One of the best aspects of this book was the switch back and forth between Beck and Sam's perspectives.  I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and I felt that the dual perspective actually added to the story. These types of formats are always either a hit or a miss for me. Another aspect that I really loved from both this book and the first is the little snippets of their books scattered in throughout the story. This not only lets the reader learn more about the two main characters but also of other people in the world.

This story was a great companion to the first book and expanded onto this concept in an interesting way that I didn't expect. Sharon Cameron has such an intriguing world set up in these novels that I cannot get enough of. Each of the characters, especially the narrators are fully fleshed out, dynamic and compelling. I loved Nadia and Grey in the first book but I equally loved Sam and Beck. How they ( Nadia and Grey) are tied into this book was really interesting. Overall, this book had a tightly woven plot that pulled me in while I was reading. I enjoyed learning more about this world and how unexpected major parts of this plot really were. It was an enjoyable time listening to this book. All I know is that I really hope that she writes a third book because I'd love to see more. Maybe one that is set between these two, a prequel to both, or something else internally. I know that I'd read it. 

If this all sounds intriguing to you, you should pick this and the first book up. 

* I received a copy of this audiobook for an honest review * 

Friday Reviews Week 12

🦃 Friday Reviews Week 12 🦃 

November 18th- November 24th, 2017

Book 1: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao

Narrated by Kim Mai Guest

Listened to November 15- 18th, 2017

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From the first sentence of this audiobook, I was hooked. I have not read many books where the villain was the protagonist. I really loved this retelling/ origin story of the Evil Queen. The Snow White fairy tale has always been one of my favorites and this twist on that was enjoyable to read. It definitely became a new favorite one for me out of any of the Snow White or any other retellings. I loved Julie's take on this story and how she made it her own. 

There were times that I liked Xifeng and then could not stand her in another action. She's not the type of narrator that you are going to automatically like and the comments she makes can be quite horrible. That does not mean that she does not have likable characteristics. I really did feel for her many times throughout this story. Her actions are for her own gain and that's intriguing. The stars tell Xifeng that she's destined for greatness and she really believes it. Anyone standing in her way really does not stand a chance, even the man that has loved her their entire lives (I loved him with all of my heart). 

I enjoyed trying to figure out what would happen next in the story, even though I know the original so well. The thing is that yes this is based on a fairy tale, but it is as its heart Xifeng's story. It became so much more than what I expected and I'm so glad. Xifeng chooses her destiny which she knows (believes) that she deserves above anything else. Her character sort of reminds me of Lady Macbeth in the fact that she's willing to literally do anything to get what she wants. This woman is manipulative, conniving, but also has a caring side to her at times that would surprise me. 

With great and imagery, this book played with my every emotion until the very last word. I cannot wait until the next book comes out, which I will definitely be picking up. 

*I received the audiobook for an honest review. Thank you so much*

Book 2: Plank's Law by Lesley Choyce

Read November 19

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I really enjoyed the humor throughout this book. Trevor has spent a good portion of his life knowing that he had Huntington's disease and has spent most of that time going day to day not really living. I liked the relationship that Trevor has with Plank, an older man that he befriends at the beginning of the novel. Plank was one of the best parts of this novel with his snarky sense of self. When I first read about him in the description, I really wanted to read this book. He did not disappoint me. 

The overall message of this book is one that has been said before but that did not detract from it. It's to live every single day to the fullest. To make the most out every moment that you have. Trevor starts to try to complete items on his bucket list. With the help of Plank and a girl named Sara, he realizes that there might be more important ways to spend his life. 

The only real issue I had with this book is how rushed certain parts seemed throughout. I would have enjoyed getting to know the characters more and I feel that the relationship between Trevor and Sara could have been expanded upon. To me, their relationship, at least at the beginning of it, seemed forced. I would have liked them getting to know each other a bit before "falling in love." This story was very sweet and I loved how they both supported each other. 

Plank's Law is a sweet story of living in every moment that you have left and was a story that I liked reading. I just wish that there was more to it and that Trevor and Sara's relationship was fleshed out more. 

*I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you.*

Book 3: Fowl Language: Welcome to Parenting

By Brian Gordon

Read November 24, 2017

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This is Brian Gordon's first book. Earlier this year, I read his second book that came out this year. This was just as great as the second and I really loved the comics. Brian Gordon is someone that I will have to continue to follow because his comics really make me laugh. I cannot get enough of these. They have become some of my favorites that I have read with comics.

My favorite from this book. 

If you like comics you should pick this and the second one up. You will most likely like this. I will say that he does swear in these books. So it may not be for the children.  

Book 4: The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron

Read November 22rd- 25th, 2017

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I first heard about this book early last year and was intrigued by the premise. It is a story about the city of Canaan, where our narrator Nadia lives. It's a safe, structured community within white walls. No one knows why they are behind the walls and what happened before, at least that is what most in the city believe. Every twelve years the city descends into bloody chaos caused by the Forgetting. This is a day where everyone loses their memories unless they write it down. Everyone carries around their book, where they write their identities and lives.

Nadia is the only person that she knows that has never forgotten. As the days get closer to the next Forgetting, Nadia tries to use what she knows to help prevent everyone losing their memories. Along with the glassblower, Gray, she finds out about the past. 

This book did not disappoint me at all. It was very interesting and I did not ever expect some of the twists throughout this novel. I loved the narration of Nadia and learning about the world through her perspective.

Friday Reviews

Friday Reviews Week 11

November 11th- 17th, 2017

Book 1: All the Wind in the World by Samantha Mabry

Narrated by Maria Cabezas

Listened to November 3rd-12th
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The Characters:
First of all, I want to say that I don't like how at the beginning of this book we believe that the narrator and her boyfriend are cousins. It is not until a little bit in that we find out that they actually are just pretending to be cousins to stay safe. This was something that at first made me not really interested in listening further. I am glad that I continued.

Our narrator, Sarah Jac and her boyfriend, James are trying very hard to survive in the bone-dry Southwest. They work hard in the maguey fields trying to earn money so that they can eventually get enough to get a home for themselves. After a horrible accident at the ranch at the beginning of the novel, they are forced to flee. They travel to the Real Marvelous, a supposedly cursed ranch. Slowly the ranch and the people there start to take over their minds. Their plan for a future with each other seems to fade away with what is actually happening at the ranch.

Over the course of the novel, we find out bits and pieces of their past. It really helps add to each of their characters and their story as a whole. I loved the way Samantha Mabry told this story and could not get enough of the narrative. Sarah Jac is not a perfect character and does many actions that get her and James into trouble. It was probably the best part of this book being in her head and seeing her every thought. She really was a great, developed character.

The Setting:
The visuals that Samantha Mabry creates in this story are incredible. The imagery throughout the book is stunning and this was something that made me really like this book. I have not read many books set in the Southwest like this. It was interesting learning about what Sarah Jac and James had to deal with throughout this book.

The best part of this book for me was the magical realism aspects. There is a large mystery of what is actually going on at the Real Marvelous and I kept wanting to listen to find out more. From chapter 6 until the end I was hooked in.

The Narration:
It took me quite some time to actually get into this novel, especially with the narrator, Maria Cabezas. They really picked the perfect person to narrate this book. Her voice not only felt genuine but also really felt like she was Sarah Jac. Sarah Jac is not a likable narrator at first and does not reveal information in a way that I would have expected. I at first did not really enjoy listening to her every thought and really could not stand her way of narrating. Then chapter six happened and I could not stop listening.  I went into the book expecting one thing but came out somewhat heartbroken and heavily moved by this girl. Maria's voice is soothing which really helps when she is describing the imagery that Samantha Mabry wrote in her book.

* I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. *

Book 2: Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories 
in 25 Words or Fewer 
Edited by Robert Swartwood
Read November 15th, 2017
📚📚📚

As a writer, I really love the idea of being able to tell a story with only a small amount of words. This book was marketed as an experiment based on the story that was supposedly by Ernest Hemingway, "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn." I have myself always wanted to write my own six-word memoir and never have been able to write one that I felt fit perfectly. This book was more of the editor creating the hint fiction (25 words or less) with 125 stories by award-winning authors and also emerging writers. So when I saw this at a three dollar a bag sale, I put into my bag interested to read the little stories.

The stories were very strange to me and a good amount of them were just boring. I thought that this would be similar to the book of six-word memoirs that I read but most were not. The point that I always got out of these short stories was that they could stand by themselves and interest you to want to know more. That's the whole point of the one credited to Ernest Hemingway that I mentioned above. These really did not have that feel to them. Most don't even really tell a story.

There are three parts: Life & Death, Love & Hate, and This & That. In these parts mostly the stories focused on one topic. For instance, in Life & Death, almost all of the stories were depressing stories about death and not at all about life. 

That's not saying that there are not good ones in this collection because there are. This just really makes me want to write my own, maybe someday. 

Friday Reviews Week 10/ ScalleywagAThon Wrap-Up

Friday Reviews Week 10:

November 4th- November 10th

For this Friday Reviews, I am going to combine my reviews of the books I read this week with my wrap-up for the ScalleywagAThon. When I come to a book that I read for the ScalleywagAThon, I'll put a pirate flag by it. Overall, it was a great week of reading and a great start to this month. I read every book that I wanted to read for ScalleywagAThon and most of them were great. 

Book 1: I Hate Fairyland Vol. 1: Madly Ever After

 by Skottie Young

Read November 4th, 2017

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This is my third read of this volume of I Hate Fairyland. I like rereading them each time a new one comes out. Again, I really love this graphic novel series. The humor is great and the way Skottie plays with tropes of fairy tales is the best part. The colors used in this comic and the illustrations can be very beautiful. 

This series follows Gert, a forty-year-old woman stuck in a six-year-old's body. She has been stuck in the magical world of Fairyland since she was six. She and her guide, Larry go around Fairyland trying to find the key to her world. Gert is very brutal. The illustrations go from being cutesy to gory. It's not for the faint of heart or kids. 

This is a graphic novel series that I really adore with a sense of humor that I love. 

Book 2: I Hate Fairyland Vol. 2: Fluff My Life

by Skottie Young

Read November 5th, 2017

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The first volume of I Hate Fairyland is one of my favorite graphic novels I have ever read. This volume is enjoyable and funny, but it doesn't (at least to me) hold the originality of the first volume. The main joke going through this one, which is the same as the first, is that Gert wants to go home. Don't get me wrong, I really did enjoy this volume, but not as much as the first.  Some of the scenes in this are so funny, especially when Gert goes into Larry's hat. I believe the best part of this volume and of the first was Larry's snarky humor. He makes these for me. This is still one of my favorite graphic novel series and I had a great time reading it a second time. 

🏴‍☠️ Book 3: I Hate Fairyland Vol. 3: Good Girl   🏴‍☠️

by Skottie Young

Read November 5th, 2017

(The first book for ScalleywagAThon)-
 Blue on the cover

📚📚📚📚

This volume was great! The humor in this volume especially centered around Larry was some of the best in the entire series. I loved the issue with Larry's past and him seeing a different future for himself if he didn't meet Gert. It was definitely different than I expected. My favorite part of this was the spoof of the movie Labyrinth. When they first said that they needed to go to a labyrinth, I was expecting that they were going to play with the myth of the Minotaur from Greek Mythology. I never expected the jokes about the movie Labyrinth. It is one of my favorite movies and I enjoyed seeing how Skottie played with it. Parody is one of my favorite types of humor. Loveth Lovelord was a handful. 

Larry is and will always be my favorite part of these comics. He's so snarky and isn't afraid to speak his mind. It was great actually seeing him care for Gert. Like I said before, the issue based all around him was one of the best. 

Also, that ending. Man... I want the next volume right now. This was a great continuation of the series. The only thing that I marked this down for was that the joke of Gert trying to get home is getting a little old. I did like her trying to become "a good girl" though. All I could think of the whole time was "yeah right." The art style in this is just as great as in the other two issues. I cannot get enough of how stunning it really is. 

I recommend reading this. It was a great addition to the series. 

Book 4: Harry Potter- The Unofficial Guide

 to the Collectibles of Our Favorite Wizard

by Eric Bradley

Read November 6th, 2017

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As a huge fan Harry Potter fan, I was happy to receive this book for a review. I like knowing random trivia. This book has some interesting facts in it that I liked learning about. It's astonishing to see what these items are worth (though it is subjective really). I can't say I loved this book, but I did like reading it.

We go from the first editions of the books (and how to pick them out), posters, jewelry, Funkos, and movie props. The "Did You Know" facts were a good addition to the book and many of them I didn't actually know. I enjoyed seeing items that I have seen before and then the other items I never have. 

The most interesting part was probably how the books have changed from their first editions. 

*I received a free copy of this for an honest review.*

Book 5: Sweet Revenge: Passive- Aggressive Desserts

 for Your Exes & Enemies by Heather Kim

Read October 25th- November 6th, 2017

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Never thought I would say that I laughed at a cookbook. This is definitely the funniest and most engaging cookbook I ever read. I know I will have to try out the recipes in it and see how they are. Also, the pictures are so vibrant. It made me very hungry reading through this. This writer, I feel could make anything funny, just from what I saw here. 

Overall, this would be a nice cookbook to have on the self that I enjoyed reading. 

*I received a free copy of this book for an honest review

-Thank you very much, Net Galley.*

🏴‍☠️ Book 6: To Be or Not To Be: 🏴‍☠️

 A Chooseable- Path Adventure 

by Ryan North

Read November 7th-8th, 2017

(The second book for ScalleywagAThon)- 
Skull on the cover

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I have been a major fan of Choose-Your-Own- Adventure books since I was a child. It might have been because I have always had a natural affinity for telling my own stories, whether that be through writing or just in creating stories with my toys as a child. This is a version based off of Shakespeare's Hamlet and I cannot get enough of creating new paths in it. When I read it this time, I created around ten different paths throughout the book. This is a really great idea for a book and I love how Ryan North played with the original play that I know so well. This is a re-read of certain parts, but also a first time read of others. It's not the type of book you read straight through. I know that I will continue to have a great time with this book and cannot wait to see even more of the paths and illustrations that go along with the ends. 

🏴‍☠️ Book 7: Lumberjanes, Vol. 3: A Terrible Plan 🏴‍☠️

Read November 8th, 2017

(The third book for ScalleywagAThon)- 
Read in a day

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This volume was just as cute as the others. I like seeing the girls' interactions together and their friendships are something I just really love about these graphic novels. The one thing I was not too sure of at first was the change in art direction, especially in the ninth issue. I did like the art direction in the rest of the issues, but not as much as I did in the other volumes. Also, the ninth issue was not a favorite of mine. Overall, these still are really good. 

Volume 9: 📚📚📚

Volume 10: 📚📚📚📚

Volume 11: 📚📚📚📚

Volume 12: 📚📚📚📚

🏴‍☠️  Book 8: Dear Luke, We need to talk. Darth 🏴‍☠️
and other Pop Culture correspondences by John Moe
Read November 8th-9th, 2017
(The fourth and final book for ScalleywagAThon)- 
A stand alone
📚📚



An okay book where you see the letters, emails, text messages, and other correspondences of pop-culture icons. This was a book that I got because I thought it sounded funny and because of its cover. There are many pieces of correspondence that I really enjoyed reading in this book, but a good amount of them are not so good.

Another aspect that may not make it enjoyable to some people is if you don't get the references. That is the problem with this type of book that correspondences are based on something else. Funnily enough, I actually knew basically every reference in this book. I was not expecting that but I did. That did not help to make them any better for me. Like I have said there are some good examples such as Jay Z's 99 Problems (the biggest surprise for me), A Court- Ordered Letter from Dora The Explorer's Mother, A letter from the kids' of Peanuts teacher Miss Othmar, and also the Welp ads for Hotels.

The sad thing is that I have always loved books like this, but I could not even enjoy the pieces based off of pop-culture that I enjoy. One example the Star Wars one, I did not feel that it felt true to the character of Darth Vader and really was not funny, which I believe was the intent behind every piece in this book. Also, the piece for Harry Potter had details that were not actually accurate with Harry Potter. When making a book like this if you are going to use actual details as a joke I believe you should make them accurate to the source material. Also, there were a couple pieces that were quite strange for their source material, like the Friends show and Mickey Mouse ones.  I'm sad to say that I really was bored by this book. 

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.