Magic – Looking For a Good Book

October 8, 2021

ODIN – Diana L. Paxson

I feel as though there has been a real resurgence of interest in Norse mythology in the past five years or so, and at the top of that Norse gods pyramid is the all-father, Odin. My own interest in Norse mythology has been high for many years and I’m always interested in learning more which Continue reading

MAGIC, MYTHOLOGY, NON-FICTION, OTHER, Uncategorized

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Mythology/Legend, non-fiction, Religion, Reviews

September 16, 2020

CURSED – Thomas Wheeler

I’ve had an interest in the Arthurian legends for a very, very long time and it’s been interesting to see the cyclical nature of new Arthur-era stories. We can go years without seeing new Arthur stories being told and then suddenly we get a slough of them. I was interested in this because of the Continue reading

MYTHOLOGY, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Mythology/Legend, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

March 7, 2019

BRIEF CASES – Jim Butcher

Despite all the reading I do, I haven’t read very many of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series. I’ve read one book, watched some of the television series, and read a number of graphic novel adaptations … and I’ve enjoyed them all. In part, I haven’t read many Dresden Files books because I’m so back-logged with Continue reading

MAGIC, SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Short Stories

August 29, 2017

THE ELUSIVE ELIXIR – Gigi Pandian

Ah…finally. The story develops, is focused and we get the read that we’ve been looking for through three volumes. Zoe Faust is a 300 year old alchemist. Her specialty is creating potions of healing, But all her knowledge and years of experience aren’t helping her heal her good friend Dorian. Dorian is a living gargoyle, Continue reading

MYSTERY, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Mystery, Reviews

August 7, 2017

THE BEAR AND THE NIGHTINGALE – Katherine Arden

I don’t normally talk about a cover, but let’s face it … this cover art is beautiful. What it suggests is a lyrical fairy tale, and that’s precisely what we get with the story inside. Author Katherine Arden (whose very name conjures up fairy tale princesses) has written a Russian fairy tale, drawing on her Continue reading

MYTHOLOGY, ROMANCE, SF/FANTASY

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Mythology/Legend, Reviews, Romance, SF/Fantasy

January 18, 2017

THE PAPER MAGICIAN – Charlie N. Holmberg

I’ve listened to the Audible version of this book twice – once on my own, and again after recommending it to members of my family as we drove across country. Both times I found it to be really a wonderful, magical book that entertains and encourages curiosity. Ceony Twill has finished her studies at magician’s Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

July 11, 2016

CARNIEPUNK – anthology

I recently turned on an old Kindle of mine, one that I thought was long dead after I had left it out on my deck through a long rain storm – and indeed it was dead, for quite some time. But after sitting in a bag of uncooked rice for a few months and then Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, MAGIC, SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, collection, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Magic, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Short Stories

June 8, 2015

PETRONELLA & THE JANJILONS – Cheryl Bentley

Okay…I’ll admit that the first thing that drew me to this book was the beautiful B&W cover. Then, there’s the fact that this is a book geared toward a young (middle school reader) audience, and I like that. And it’s pretty clearly a fantasy. I like that, too! But what’s inside this book is quite Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, Dark Fantasy/Horror, MAGIC, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

Book Reviews, Books, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Magic, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

April 3, 2015

WALKING THE LABYRINTH – Lisa Goldstein

Walking a labyrinth is intended as a spiritual journey to center one’s self, to right what is out of balance internally, or a means of rediscovery. In Lisa Goldstein’s book, Walking the Labyrinth, the labyrinthine journey is made by Molly Travers, a private investigator who is slowly revealing some truths about her family history. The Continue reading

MAGIC, MYSTERY, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Mystery, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

October 7, 2014

HOMEMADE MAGICK – Lon Milo DuQuette

I feel a little duped by this book. Let me share with you the Goodreads opening description of the book: Sharing the lessons he’s learned from over forty years as a magician and family man, Lon Milo DuQuette reveals his unique point of view about magick–its ups and downs, ins and outs, and how his Continue reading

MAGIC, MEMOIR, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Memoir, non-fiction, Reviews

June 12, 2014

WILL O’ THE WISP – graphic novel

Graphic Novel Review Week In the graphic novel Will o’ the Wisp, young Aurora Grimeon is sent to live with her estranged grandfather after her parents died from mushroom poisoning. The grandfather lives in a creepy old house in the backwater/swamps of Louisiana, where hoodoo is a natural way of life. The superstitious people of the Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, MAGIC, Uncategorized

Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Magic, Reviews

March 13, 2014

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE – Neil Gaiman

If there is a better writer working today, please let me know who it is, because I think Neil Gaiman might be the best fiction writer alive. Mr. Gaiman doesn’t need a review on a book review blog, nor another review on Goodreads … this book has almost 17, 000 reviews — seventeen THOUSAND — Continue reading

MAGIC, SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

Book Reviews, Books, Magic, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult