Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A new version of a classic short story from Neil Gaiman

Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman

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I admit it, I am a Neil Gaiman fanboy. There are two shelves in my library devoted to his works and this short story, Snow Glass, Apples, sits among the greatest pieces he has created. So what is it about? Take the story of Snow White, keep all of the elements of the story we are familiar with (the stepmother, the dwarves, the stepmother’s attempt to kill Snow White, the Forest, etc.), then invert some, distort others and create a whole new perspective on a […]

See ya later, criminals!

Investigators by John Patrick Green

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Investigators is the first book in a new series by John Patrick Green; who as an author and as an illustrator is busy! He has (so far) The Kitten Construction Company series (currently two books), Hippopotamister (a solo tale) and now the Investigators (book two is planned for a year from now). There are a lot of puns, obvious jokes and toilet humor (literally as they travel the city by flushing themselves through toilets). There are multiple mysteries for this Get Smart meets The Man […]

“Why, all the greatest magic comes down to blood. And who knows blood better than a woman?”

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

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Set in the Regency era, the book follows Zacharias Wythe, recently appointed Sorcerer Royal of England’s Unnatural Philosophers, who has to contend not only with rising opposition against his rule from his fellow sorcerers, but also a mysterious drain on the available magic in the country. Political crises, the question of women’s magic use, and the unstable relationship with Fairyland on which England depends for its influx of magic are all problems he must solve. On the surface, this is a pretty standard fantasy romp […]

Um….why don’t you just go to the store and get more syrup?

Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk

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Leftovers can be one of the best meals. It has seasoned. It usually has the bonus of being something you made too much of as you like it, not because it is left over because you did not like what you made. However, Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast was as stale as if real French toast or pancakes were leftovers. Josh Funk’s book was in our sale books recently. I usually enjoy them as you get to find an older title that you either […]

Not the most Pratchetty of Pratchetts, but solid

Eric by Terry Pratchett

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A friend recommended the podcast Myths & Legends, and I chose to start with the two-part episode on Faust and Mephistopheles, because I have a sculpture of those two that I absolutely love (pictured). The episode was great, and inspired me to reread Pratchett’s Eric, which has barely anything to do with the Faust story, but is still a damn fun ride. Eric is a horny teen gothling, trying to summon a demon to grant him all his wishes. Rincewind is a terrible wizard (in that […]

Is this put in the YA category because publishers think sexy faeries aren’t serious enough to be in the ‘adult’ fantasy section?

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

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The most recent YA books I’ve read are Suzanne Collin’s ‘Hunger Games’ trilogy and Victoria Schwab’s ‘Monsters of Verity’ duology.  Were there heated, passionate moments in those books, yes.  Was there spine tingling sex scenes, nope.  I had the assumption that full on sex was part of the dividing line separating YA from other categories.  But if that is the case, then this series is in the wrong section.  I can’t help but wonder if a decision was made that impossibly attractive faeries having sex […]



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