March 2021 – Looking For a Good Book

March 31, 2021

THE DOVER READER: EDGAR ALLAN POE

I last remember reading Edgar Allan Poe’s fiction back in middle school, and his poetry when I was in college so I thought it was well past time to dig into some of his work again. And what a treat to do so! Publisher Dover, who repeatedly does a very good job publishing no-frills ‘thrift’ Continue reading

SHORT FICTION

4 stars, Classic, Short Stories

March 29, 2021

CITY OF VILLAINS – Estelle Laure

In addition to being a high school senior, with all that entails, Mary Elizabeth Heart is also an intern at the Monarch City Police Department. She delights in meeting all the detectives as they check in and rush off to help clean up the city. For years there has been a deep divide between the Continue reading

ENTERTAINMENT, YA

3 Stars, Entertainment, YA

March 26, 2021

A HERO BORN – Jin Yong

We are in China in the 13th Century. The Song Empire has been invaded and half its capital city are in the hands of the enemy Jurchen. In Mongolia, a powerful warlord is uniting a nation of warriors and soon the warlords name will be known everywhere: Genghis Khan. But our focus here is on Continue reading

SF/FANTASY

5 Stars, SF/Fantasy

March 24, 2021

NIGHT TIDE – Michael W. Sherer

I haven’t read too many action/adventure books, but mostly because I am not familiar enough with the genre to know what’s out there and worth digging in to. With that in mind I thought I’d give this a shot. Blake Sanders is our hero in this, the second book in a ‘Blake Sanders Thrillers’ series, Continue reading

MYSTERY

2 Stars, Action/Adventure, Mystery

March 22, 2021

THE STARS OF WHISTLING RIDGE – Cindy Baldwin

Ivy Mae Bloom’s goal is to find her ‘forever home.’ At thirteen (well, almost thirteen), Ivy wishes the magic of a place to settle on her and her mom so that they can stop the constant moving. Ivy’s mother is a fallen star who travels the globe to fix the magic that surrounds everything. Even Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, SF/FANTASY, YA

5 Stars, Children’s Books, Middle Grade, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

March 19, 2021

SIEGE & SACRIFICE – Charlie N. Holmberg

Sandis was finally free from the Master who was using her as a host to unleash the ancient beast Kolosos. Now she would be able to summon her own demon – a fire horse – and along with her friend Rone, perhaps they would be able to finally defeat the unbeatable Kolosos. But in the Continue reading

SF/FANTASY

4 stars, SF/Fantasy

March 17, 2021

THE SECRET CHAPTER – Genevieve Cogman

The sixth book in Genevieve Cogman’s fantasy/adventure ‘The Invisible Library’ series already! It seems like it that wasn’t so long that the first book came out (I reviewed it in 2016). Librarian Irene is on a short break from her last adventure when she gets the call for her next task. One of the worlds Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

4 stars, SF/Fantasy

March 15, 2021

LUCY IN THE SKY – graphic novel

I was not sure what to make of this book – going back and forth from liking the book, to not liking the book, and back to liking it again. The book is a coming-of-age story of Lucy, a middle school student. Like middle school students all over the world, she’s going through a lot Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized, YA

Children’s Books, Graphic Novels, Music, YA

March 12, 2021

CRANK PALACE – James Dashner

The Maze Runner. Since the days of the ‘boy wizard’ books and films geared toward a young adult audience have flourished, but only a couple have had real success and one of those is James Dashner’s “Maze Runner” series. I’ve only seen the first film and I’ve only read one of the books but when Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, YA

4 stars, SF/Fantasy, YA

March 10, 2021

BACON AND EGG MAN – Ken Wheaton

Our government is at war. With fast food. We are in what might be best described as the future in an alternative timeline in what was once the United States of America. The Northeast has seceded and the rest of the country is now run by “the electoral descendants of King Mike, a man who Continue reading

HUMOR, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Humor, Satire, science fiction

March 8, 2021

THE RESURRECTIONIST OF CALIGO – Wendy Trimboli & Alicia Zaloga

Roger Weathersby digs up corpses for medical schools. It is his hope to earn enough money by this means to buy his own text books and study to become a physician. Though he’s never been a man of wealth or means (he was the son of a servant) he had been childhood friends with a Continue reading

ROMANCE, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Mystery, Romance, SF/Fantasy

March 5, 2021

BOARD STIFF – Piers Anthony

I’ve never before read a Xanth novel. As a regular reader of fantasy and science fiction I have been aware of this series. How could I not … this is the 38th book in the series. Thirty-eight! That’s a remarkable accomplishment. So when this was available I decided now was as good a time as Continue reading

HUMOR, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

3 Stars, Humor, SF/Fantasy, YA