"I'm a Shark!": A Review of Noelle Stevenson's "Nimona"

    Quirky, wonderful, whimsical, weird, but most of all very, very entertaining. "Nimona" by Noelle Stevenson was a short and delightfully fun read. 
    "Nimona" is the story of a girl/shark/cat/dinosaur/mysterious creature that becomes the assistant of notorious villain Lord Ballister Blackheart. Together they take on the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics and Blackheart's former friend and current nemesis Sir Ambrosious Goldenloin. Explosions, science, and adventure ensue.
    "Nimona" is oodles of fun. Now I can't wait to read Stevenson's Lumberjanes.

Hunky Highlanders and Scary Fairies: A Review of "Beyond the Highland Mist"

    Please excuse me while I go read everything ever written by Karen Marie Moning. I have no idea why I haven't read anything by her before.

Ehhh, maybe I do

    I enjoyed this book far more than I expected to. Reading the synopsis it sounded like an Outlander ripoff, and lots of reviews suggest skipping this book in favor of the later books in the series. Being the completionist that I am, I ignored the reviews and prepared to trudge my way through this book in anticipation of relishing the later books. To my surprise I found myself enjoying this book quite a lot. It was the perfect beach read. Hawk and Adrienne are funny, heartwarming and ~steamy~. Perfect escapism. 
    I can't wait to read the next book, and now I'm dying to read Moning's Fever series, which everyone raves about.

Paula Brackston's "Lamp Black, Wolf Grey"

    Is there anyone who describes Wales better than Paula Brackston? Brackston excels in describing the wild Welsh setting, and infuses her home with a sense of rugged beauty and hidden magic.
 

Take me there please!

    “Lamb Black, Wolf Grey” tells dual stories in different times, both featuring the Legendary Merlin. Laura, a painter, and her husband Dan move to the Welsh countryside to make a fresh start after years of infertility. Interspersed throughout Laura’s story is the story of Megan, a servant in the house of a wicked lord, and her romance with the magician Merlin. Laura is a complex and likable heroine, with very relatable weaknesses. While the mythical Merlin remains enigmatic and mysterious. I adore historical fiction, so it surprised me that I found myself rushing through the historical parts to return to the compelling contemporary plot line.
    Overall, I found the book to be an enjoyable, magical read. Though you should be warned, it might make you want to take a trip to the Welsh countryside.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Grown Up, Gothic Fairy Tale: A Review of Naomi Novik's "Uprooted"

    This book is enchanting, and you should absolutely read it. I can not emphasize that enough. Novik has created an incredible world, that she easily pulls you into. “Uprooted” reads like a grown up fairy tale, with all the charm and magic you remember of books from your childhood. Captivating from the first page, I was completely unable to put it down. Our hero, Agnieszka, has what the Dragon calls “an unequaled gift for disaster.” Always dirty, often clumsy, she worms her way into your heart with her stubborn determination and awkward charm. Aside from the adventure, there's a simple and endearing love story at the heart of the story.
    Although this novel is a complete story, I find myself longing to revisit the world of Polnya again. I cannot wait to reread this book, and slip into this world all over again!

There’s Nothing Better Than Fantasy for Escapism.

For the first 100 pages I thought there was no way I’d ever finish this book. (And I HATE not finishing books.) The Eye of the World falls victim to the “introduce main character in peaceful village, spend wayyyyyy too long in said peaceful village before main character is forced to flee and the the story actually begins” trope that plagues fantasy novels. But yesterday I rushed to the store, bought a copy, shoved it in my younger brother’s hands and practically begged him to read it. So clearly I had a change of heart. At around the 200th page I was sucked in, unable to put the book down, and constantly wondering what was going to happen next to Rand, Moraine and crew. At this point I realized what countless people have realized before me: There’s Nothing Better Than Fantasy for Escapism.

Fantasy is a genre I've always flirted with from a distance, reading books by authors that claimed Tolkien as a muse but whose works didn't clock in as 800 page behemoths. I've read “The Hobbit,” but sadly never managed to work my way through “The Lord of the Rings” despite my undying love for the movies and fondness for anything with elves in it. With the exception of the A Song of Ice and Fire books, I would classify “The Eye of the World” as the first hardcore epic fantasy I've ever read. And I loved it.

My life is not filled with terrifying Myrddraals and beautiful Aes Sedai, but in getting to step into a completely new world, it’s easier to leave the problems in mine behind. And sometimes, when work is crazy, and school is hard, and my romantic life seems non-existent, that’s exactly what I want. So I’m breathless with excitement at diving right back into Robert Jordan’s amazing world in book two The Great Hunt.

P.S. I have to confess that I find Rand slightly boring. #TeamPerrin