If someone had told me to read some Harry Potter fan fiction, I would have politely declined. It goes to show how much I like Rainbow Rowell that as soon as I learned ofCarry On (2015), I put it on my to-read list. I will give anything by Rainbow Rowell a chance. I’ve never heard of Rowell specifically stating that Carry On is based on Harry Potter, but the similarities are undeniable. Simon Snow is an orphan who grew up in various group homes and foster homes […]
Surprisingly funny
Werewolves and vampires generally don’t do much for me, so I don’t pick up paranormal romances on a whim. However, my book club chose Soulless (2014) by Gail Carriger, and they said it was fun. It also happens to be a steampunk comedy of manners, so I found that there was a lot more to it than Twilight and the Charlaine Harris books I’ve read. I had a good time reading this book. The tone is fun, the writing is fun, and I loved all the names of […]
Re-imagined Fairy Tales Are My Catnip
This is a review of all four Lunar Chronicles books: Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter. When I saw Cinder, the first book in the Lunar Chronicles, I was turned off by the cover and description. I hadn’t yet delved into fantasy YA and so I didn’t buy the series. I had a “what the heck was I thinking” moment about a month ago and bought the book. And I inhaled it, and then bought the next book and so forth until I had rapidly inhaled […]
Yet Another Childhood Favorite Ruined
I was so distraught by the fact that I didn’t enjoy re-reading one of my big childhood favorites that I couldn’t write a review for days. I feel HORRIBLE giving “A Wrinkle in Time” such a low review, but the story just didn’t hold up for me. Meg is supposed to be the main character and the heroine of the tale, but aside from her one job near the plot’s end, she doesn’t seem to do much more than get angry at everyone for […]
My twelve-year-old self might have loved this book, but we’ll never know
The problem with reading beloved children’s classics as an adult, especially having not read them as a child, is that you tend to find the outdated bits. Not outdated in the form of technology, which is also apparent, but in character development. The children seem to do what they are told without questioning here. Today’s literative children are a lot more inquisitive, and also less trusting. And the female characters are stronger and more developed. Fantasy and children’s literature have both evolved since this was […]
Fairytale Retellings that Didn’t Speak to Me
Black Swan, White Raven is a collection of ‘dark’ fairy tale retellings, and I didn’t enjoy a single story in the collection. I adore fairy tale collections, I have always devoured them, but this one was a pain to get through. I’m not sure there’s really a summary to be put in here, I’m sure you’re already familiar with the concept of fairy tale retellings. This book covered a wide variety, from Sleeping Beauty to Thumbelina. The book was originally published in 1997, but was […]