If you are a new follower, I do a cover love post throughout the year. Here I display different books that will be released between 1-3 months. You can check out January here and June here.
Crown Books for Young Readers Published Sept. 17th, 2019 384 Pages
Mary HK Choi new book cover reveal Credit: ohgigue
The Parliament House TBP Oct. 1, 2019
Which are your favorites? And what books coming out this year that I should be looking for?
Thomas Dunne Books Published Feb. 7, 2017 436 Pages
All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favor of more practical concerns.
But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.
Down in the Underground, Liesl discovers that the Goblin King still inspires her—musically, physically, emotionally. Yet even as her talent blossoms, Liesl’s life is slowly fading away, the price she paid for becoming the Goblin King’s bride. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.- Goodreads
I almost didn’t finish this book. I was a chapter away from putting the book down. But I didn’t and surprisingly I enjoyed this read. But there were things that needed to be in this book that weren’t there.
Firstly, Liesl is desperate and doesn’t have life to her as an adult. Yes, she goes through some changes which causes her inner child to disappear but once given the opportunity to be free in a sense, her freedom is just anger and it is like that for most of the chapters. Even then her anger seemed forced, her music seemed forced. Liesl is not necessarily the strong independent character you would think she would be become or be. Yes, she pushes through things but the lazy way to explain why is because she had the power of love help her -_-
Lisel relationship with the Goblin King is forced. There is no way around that. Did he love her? Yes, I think and felt that he did. But Lisel. . . I don’t think she truly loved him. Maybe as a child but not as an adult. He was a means to an end and as opposed to trying to figure things out and fight to be with the one she loves, she accepted things for what they were and went about her business.
Granted these are strong points to not like this book and Liesl and her crap personality and romance was the reason I was going to put the book down. But I didn’t because I liked the Goblin King and the author was able to keep me wanting the truth about the King’s origins and ultimately the curse.
There wasn’t enough focus to try to find that information, which made me even more disappointed in Lisel. For the most part, she didn’t care and when there was a glimpse that she would, it disappeared. I wished the author incorporated more mythology into the story. It would have gave the book much more cushion to sit on.
However, surprisingly enough the plot moved at a really good pace. There wasn’t a whole lot going on in the second half of the book, which sucks but as a reader, I was I was pulled into the promise of Lisel saving the day and mythology.
I can see why some people didn’t enjoy this book. I can also see why people did not finish this book but I enjoyed it despite wanting more. I’m curious about the second book and that is more because of the Goblin King and less of Lisel.
This is the third novel to the Villains series staring Ursula and her perspective from the Little Mermaid.
I love reading the viewpoint of the villain. It makes them human to me. But in this particular story, there wasn’t enough for me to have an opinion about Ursula, other than the girl is evil.
There wasn’t enough detail into Ursula. The book showed a little bit of her past. I would say about 10 pages total and everything else focused on the Ariel and the three witches. So technically Ursula was not even the main focus of this book, although she caused all the issues.
I was disappointed because Ursula deserves a story to be told. The pace of the novel was slower compared to the previous books. There wasn’t a whole lot going on other than talking and trying to find out everyone’s true motive. And although the author tried to tie in 4 different stories into one book, it wasn’t the easiest transitions. It complicated things and there was no need because all I wanted to know was more stuff about Ursula. I wanted to see her humanity or some kind of light.
The surrounding character did add flare to the short read but again it wasn’t about them. I did appreciate the tie-ins from the other books and how every Disney story is connected. The imagery was great. But at the end of the day, there wasn’t enough history on Ursula for me to truly enjoy this book.
Rhea is a miller’s daughter set to marry a high-ranking man she has never met. Although uncommon, what is mysterious is the man himself. With a house full of women and unknown magical powers, Rhea has no idea what her soon to be husband is up to.
*Short Review*
This book had gotten a high rating on Goodreads, so when I saw it on NetGalley I had to request it. The summary it self didn’t really draw me but I was open minded. Firstly, I am not sure what fairy tale, this is supposed to be a retelling on, but yeah *shrugs*
I couldn’t get excited with this book. It was slow. Rhea was slow and she did a whole lot of complaining and not a lot of action without the help of others. She also didn’t have much personality.
The author was creative. Without giving too much away, the story behind the six other wives and their husband was great to read. I wish there was a bit more of it. Their stories was actually more interesting than Rhea’s story.
Although I thought the concept of this book was enticing, the book itself didn’t really do anything for me. Rhea lacked a personality from beginning to end and she lacked emotions other than being tired and fearful. Oh yeah and wanting to give up. For a girl, who knew nothing of her husband, she didn’t do enough investigation to find out anything.
Penguin Press HC Published April 4, 2013 320 Pages
George Duncan is a lonely 48 year old divorced American living in London and owns a small print shop. One night a Crane appears in his backyard with an arrow in its wing. Capture by its beauty, George takes the arrow out ultimately saving the Crane’s life and watches it fly away.
The next day he meets the most beautiful woman he has ever met named Kumiko, who asks George to help her with her artwork. Dumbfounded he agrees and falls completely in love with her but struggles with finding out who she truly is.
Before anything take a moment to enjoy that beautiful cover. One more moment. . . . . . . okay.
I like Patrick Ness. I think he can tell a beautiful story and make it into something greater, however he fell short with this one.
The Crane wife is a play on a Japanese folklore. The foundation of this book is the folklore however Ness tries to make it modern by telling the story through three characters; the Crane, Duncan and his daughter Amanda. My issue with this was Amanda. I don’t see her important in the story. For a 25 year old woman, she was annoying and rude as all crap. I understand why Ness factored her into the story but it was unnecessary and it made me dislike Duncan.
He was a weak man. There is a difference between being a really nice guy and being the guy that everyone walks over. Duncan was weak and succumbed to anything and for what he did I can’t say that he really loved Kumiko. He’s a grown as man allowing people to walk over him and then feeling horrible about the consequences of his actions. I pitied him.
Another issue, probably the biggest, was the fact that the book was boring. So so so so so boring. The ending was boring and the “magic” was boring. This book died down fast even with Amanda’s useless drama.
As beautiful as the cover is the book was a disappointment. 2 Pickles.
Ever After High is an enchanted high school in which students are trained to take over the stories their parents
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Published Oct. 8, 2013 320 Pages
were once in such as Snow White, Cinderella, Evil Queen, etc. There is little choice for these students; so each year they have to sign their name in the Storybook of Legends and begin living the life they are trained to live.
Raven is destined to be the Evil Queen in the Snow White story but Raven isn’t nor doesn’t want to be evil. Apple, daughter of Snow White cannot wait for her story to begin but if Raven doesn’t sign the book that could mean her story will never happen.
So I was a bit taken back by this book because when you begin reading it you get a middle school childish feel to it. This is not typical for books that are considered Young Adult; so if you feel middle school reading is a bit too young for you although this is a good read, this is not the book for you.
I enjoyed this read (although I wished for more of an adult feel to it). The story itself is extremely creative and it is well written. Told from Raven, Apple and the Maddie (The Mad Hatter’s Daughter) point of view readers can see both sides of the story and the desperation for the future. It’s a colorful retelling of fairy tales that I was surprised how fun it was.
I literally do not have a single complaint about the writing, the setting or even the characters. The book was written for those younger than the age of 14 not for those older.
Overall the book gets 10 out of 10.
Love, Pickles
Making and breaking your favorite reads since 2017
Motif by Tanya 