A Vampire Christmas Carol by Sarah Gray

As Londoners fear the dark for the creatures lurking in its shadows and the holidays approaching with tidings of great bleakness instead of joy, all that stands in the way are handfuls of those who are willing to stand up to these creatures and await the promised one who will be born to destroy the last of the evil vampires feasting on the unaware. In this retelling, Scrooge has been directed his whole life unknowingly by the Queen and King of vampires who have a vested interest in him. From the moment of his birth to his years at school to the very present, Scrooge has played a pivotal role in their machinations. And now at the most precarious moment for the humans of London and the world only one person's hope for Scrooge's deliverance can sway the balance. With the visit of three spirits Scrooge will become the fulcrum of the destiny of mankind. Will his humanity awaken to his fellows or will the cruelties visited upon him through his life render him incapable of compassion. With appearances by the characters that have made A Christmas Carol a classic for generations, this retelling will be a welcome addition to any bookshelf. For every warm fireside needs a little bit of chill to fully enjoy the warmth.

The Bad Book Affair (Mobile Library Mystery, #4) by Ian Sansom

Israel Armstrong once again is taking us along for a twisty, hilarious ride as he shambles his way through a somewhat depressive yet completely relatable period of mourning for his broken relationship. With feelings of failure, road to nowhere dumps and I could have been a contender vibes, Israel is hardly the detective that most of us would think of as the hero of a book, yet his feet of clay are what make these stories so endearing. Along with the many other characters that people his stories, Sansom manages to create books that bare the bones of humanity yet forgive us enough to let us see the humor in our very downfall.

In this particular case, Israel is at the very epicenter of what one might call a literary faux pas. A young girl is missing and the last time anyone saw her was when Israel handed her a book from the Unshelved, books that are technically not supposed to be on loan from the mobile library at all. But it's hardly his fault is it, after all it was just some Goth. But when it turns out the girl is actually the daughter of a local politician, Israel becomes the prime suspect ..... again. It seems that life has a place for Israel after all. 

Full of the ups and downs of life, written with wry humor, and fleshed out with mysteries that ask your little grey cells to wiggle, these books are a sure fire hit for any reader. Grab one, prepare to chuckle and ask yourself why you aren't driving a book mobile in the vast wilderness of Northern Ireland.

The Lost Property Office (Section 13, #1) by James R. Hannibal

Jack Buckle's brain works in a different way than the average person's. His senses are heightened, more aware. Sounds bring images and smells and tastes. Needless to say Jack is good at finding things but the additional information can be overwhelming at times. Especially now that he along with his younger sister and mother have arrived in London in search of their father who vanished mysteriously. As his mother tries to find out more, Jack tries to keep his sister occupied, until the day she vanishes. Being lost in London on her trail exposes Jack not only to all the cacophony of a large city filled with so many people but to one individual in particular who has been waiting for Jack to appear. The Clockmaker knows about Jack's special talent and has set in motion a scheme of revenge that will reveal a secret society that holds in its history the very beginnings of Jack's family line and the truth about the Great Fire of London. Jack is at the cusp of an inheritance that will bring him into direct conflict with the very people who need him the most and with time running out for his father Jack will have to decide just how much he is willing to sacrifice to save one and all.

This is an exciting adventure travelling through London's great history with touches of magic and an almost steam punk flair. The Lost Property Office is a great new look at the detective genre as well. All in all, I would definitely recommend this for your young readers as it promises to be a series that will grip the imagination.

Warren the 13th and the Whispering Woods by Tania del Rio, Will Staehle (Illustrations)

The publisher was kind enough to send me an ARC but the review is my own.

This is the sequel to the first Warren the 13th and is well worth the wait. As we learned in the first book, the Hotel is capable of walking and Warren has enhanced the hotel to provide his visitors with panoramic views as the Hotel travels around the land. Everything is going well until Warren and his friends become the focus of the Queen of Witches who sees the Hotel as the perfect way to spread her control and power. With the Hotel under her control no one could stop her so she spreads the word that she will reward who ever can bring it to her.

With witches attacking, mimics invading the Hotel, and Warren becoming separated from his friends while trying to catch up to the Hotel, who can say what will happen. Only adventure is guaranteed as our friends try to stop the evil and in the meantime survive the Malwoods where even the trees hide secrets. Along the way we'll meet the last free member of an enslaved race, a man who loves his snakes, and riddles that will have Warren doing his best to keep going and save the day.

Another great addition to your child's adventure bookshelf. These books are excellent stories and the illustrations are just as enticing. Full of humor, kindness, and wit, they are a great gift for your favorite young reader. The first book in the series is available now, the sequel will be available this upcoming March from Quirk Books. A definite recommend.

Ithaca: A Novel of Homer's Odyssey by Patrick Dillon

This was kindly sent to me by the publisher but the review is my own.

Homer's Odyssey is one of the all time classics that has been handed down to us from time immemorial. We know that Odysseus was a great king who fought in the Trojan War and proved himself one of the greatest Greek heroes. He spent 16 years trying to reach his beloved wife Penelope. His adventures during that time have inspired countless retellings through the ages entrancing us with his mighty deeds. 

Patrick Dillon's Ithaca is not just another tribute to this great story. His book is a look at the bones behind the myth. It is about the humanity that is left to deal with the aftereffects of war and it's destructive force that history remembers through a golden lens.

In his story you will meet Penelope who watched her husband leave to never return; who has listened to his virtues praised time and again as she raises a son who has never known his father. A man she knows to have feet of clay; waiting to find closure of a kind, waiting day by day as the jackals gather closer to determine her very existence.

Telemachus who without a father there to guide him has not learned how to deal with the strange men who invade his house as guests and abuse the generosity shown them. Unable to protect himself or his mother from their plotting and machinations. The only stories he knows of his father praise him as a wise king but others say he was a manipulator of words. A man who promised his Ithaca so much and took away so much more, leaving families devastated without the support of their sons, brothers, and husbands. Who instead of returning in glory has left the island to suffer in misery, unsure of the future.

Of great men whose names sit beside Odysseus as well known kings and heroes themselves, now grown older and left to a future where the horrors they witnessed and engaged in have left them hollow and alone. As bards sing their feats of heroism they face a life that has lost its vibrancy , each remembering a man who lead them into battle but was also a friend, flawed as he was.

And Odysseus, not the golden hero of legend but an unknown man broken in spirit and body who still weaves a spell with words, unable, scarred, to speak plainly. His return home is not the joyous occasion he had envisioned but a bleak return to a people who do not gather to claim his accolades but accuse him of bringing the anger of the gods on them. His home invaded, his possessions plundered and a son who in his travels to find his father now finds he does not how to receive him.

Along with the numerous others we meet along this story, these characters each pulse with the conflicting emotions that we as living observers will only be to able to empathize with. A powerful nod to the original, Dillon has painted with the vibrancy of authenticity a new look at a tale that has riveted us for so long with his poignancy and refusal to look away from the grit of history and the ability to gild the beauty not with gold but poetry. 

Fantastic read for those historically inclined or devotees of Homer. A definite recommend.

The Nethergrim (The Nethergrim, #1) by Matthew Jobin

Once a great evil, the Nethergrim, filled the land with creatures of darkness that served it and decimated the countryside of all it surveyed. A great knight and powerful wizard were able at last after great loss to defeat the evil and save their people. And so was laid to rest the legend of the Nethergrim. Until now. Edmund's brother has vanished into the night with no trace and he is not the only child missing. Creatures are said to have been seen lurking in the darkness closer and closer to the villages and animals are being found eaten. As fears start to escalate a secret is revealed and a man who has lived with it preying on his mind sets out on a journey to set to right wrongs and defeat the encroaching evil once and for all. While Edmund's fledgling powers in spell crafting may be the only advantage they have over an enemy that is cunning and has much to lose. 

This is a well crafted story that is full of fantasy, adventure, betrayals, and decisions made that will reflect the courage and cowardice of each character. I would recommend this for any reader but this would be a good series to introduce to boys especially. 

Eric (Discworld, #9; Rincewind #4) by Terry Pratchett

Invoked by a pubescent demonologist named Eric to satisfy his requests of eternal life, Master of the Universe, and the hottest babe ever by his side, Rincewind can't seem to prove that he is not, indeed, a demon. After all, he did appear when called. With no other choice but to try and fulfill Eric's demands until he can find a way of escape Rincewind leaps into another adventure of misfortune. Although Eric is ecstatic to finally be getting what he wants Rincewind knows that when things are going according to plan is when you should be the most worried; especially when one doesn't know who's plans are being accorded to.

With DEATH's attention aroused and weird happenings occurring more than usual in Ankh-Morpork it would seem that an incompetent wizard and a novice demonologist may be just the tip of the iceberg. For in the demon city of Pandemonium a devious overthrow of the King is being played out by the traditionalists who want to get rid of the new corporate look and return to the good old days when both demons and damned could enjoy a good torture and not have to endure the latest trend of punishment by boredom and Rincewind is their first step in their master plan.

As par the course, this is an excellent read full of wit and hilarity and I can guarantee that you will find yourself laughing as you read what has to be one of Pratchett's best titles in the series.

A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans by Laurence Yep, Joanne Ryder

In San Francisco there lives a dragon by the name of Miss Drake. She has cared for a family for a very long time and has watched generations come and go. When her favorite pet human passes away she becomes depressed and locks herself away to grieve. When Winnie the granddaughter of her human pet shows up with her mother to take over the house, Miss Drake is scandalized to find that Winnie thinks she owns HER! The ridiculous notion is only the beginning, Winnie tells her that her grandmother specifically asked her to take care of Miss Drake so she would not be alone. Will Miss Drake be able to train her new pet and learn to love again or will Winnie prove to be the very cause of the magic world's downfall?

It will be no surprise that Yep has delivered a thoughtful story about the ways that grief can manifest itself and how love can be a powerful reminder that though we have lost someone special they never are truly lost to us after all. Would recommend this for young readers who like fantasy and may not be ready for something heavier like Harry Potter just yet.

Illuminations by Mary Sharratt

Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179) joined the church at the tender age of 8 with Jutta von Sponheim. Her history has been chronicled and tells the story of a woman who devoted her life to the church and to spreading the teachings which were sent to her in visions through her music, writings, and botanical research. She was eventually named a saint and has been used as an example of feminine wisdom and empowerment by numerous groups during history but Mary Sharratt doesn't want to reimagine just her scholarly side, she wants to invite you into the soul of the child and woman who experienced the realities. 

Sharratt has taken the historical facts and used them to create a personal account of Hildegard and her continual growth in spiritual acumen and the trials of pride she faced as she boldly strode forward to create a path for herself and her teachings and faced hardships few other women of her time could have understood. In doing this we come closer to appreciating the way Hildegard must have seen the world, how she helped to create one where the nuns under her direciton were able to achieve so much more than they had been enabled to before. Through her daring and innovative teachings, her fearlessness and determination Hildegard forged a new way forward not only in Germany but across Europe and into the future. 

When you read this story you are not just reading about a religious woman but a character who has been treated with the love and intelligence that she deserves. Sharratt gives you Hildegard von Bingen, full of grace and you cannot ask for anything more.

Hellhole by Gina Damico

Max Kilgore has the kind of name that conjures up images of daring feats and out of this world adventures but he's just another geeky, never done no wrong kind of kid. So when he decides to steal a glitzy kitty for his sick mom, the tension is real. After all, the path to hell is paved with good intentions and bejeweled critters of all kinds. When this one act starts to cause Max sleepless nights he turns to the mountain by his home to dig away the stress and maybe stumble on an undiscovered dinosaur find. But Max winds up unearthing a crater to hell and what comes out of it is Max's worst nightmare in a tracksuit. Not only is the guy a real devil adamant on Max being responsible for making his vacation dreams come true but he's a real asshole to boot. Now Max finds himself having to commit all kinds of petty crime to make him happy. But soon Max realizes that there is no end to the things he'll need to do to satisfy this evil sleazeball and with his mom's life on the line Max will do anything he has to. 

With the help of a young girl named Lore who is all to familiar with the situation Max finds himself in, he'll need to figure a way to get rid of this resident evil if he ever hopes to get things back to the way they were. Armed with just his sadistic cat and a surprising core of strength he didn't even know he possessed Max is ill prepared to pull a fast one on an unsatisfied devil who craves sugars and fats. It's time for Max to think outside of the box on this one and trust in himself.

This book like Damico's other titles is full of hysterical moments that cover a core story of young people facing situations that demand they face their uncertainties and discover their hidden strengths. She keeps it real and doesn't pull any punches but you're all the more thankful for this as her characters ring true and honest. Haven't read one of her stories yet that didn't make me laugh and cheer along. Definitely recommend.

The Unbound (The Archived, #2) by Victoria Schwab

This is the second book in The Archived series which should be read in order.

Mackenzie barely escaped with her life when she managed to stop Owen from fulfilling his plans of destroying the Archives but it didn't stop there. In her nightmares she relives those moments on the rooftop blurring the line between dream and reality. Sleep starts to become a luxury she can't afford. And as a new year begins at a new school all Mac wants is to be normal again. Haunted day and night she soon begins to doubt her sanity and questions are arising at home as well. When an incident occurs that causes her self harm she begins to wonder if she truly is losing touch with reality.

But when people start disappearing without any trace and all they have in common is Mackenzie herself, she becomes convinced that someone in the Archives is out to finish what Owen started and blame her in the process. But with no idea of who it could be who can she trust if she isn't even sure of what's happening herself. As she becomes the prime suspect Mackenzie knows it's only a matter of time before she loses her role as Keeper and possibly more, even her life.

This sequel is more than a match for the first in the series. We finally get a true understanding of the pathos that Mac is trying to work through. The loss, betrayals, and suspicions she is facing are a true test of her perseverance in the face of machinations concealed and the determined force of those who want to see her taken down. Nothing is safe anymore, not even that which she knew to be fact. Will she be able to emerge as herself or will she become just another history tucked away in a drawer, left to remain unread.

As always, Schwab delivers you a heroine who far from being broken by her flaws and experiences, emerges from the fires forged not from steel but by the humanity they refuse to let go of. A definite recommendation for anyone who likes their characters to sweat blood and tears as they fight to remain true to themselves and do what is right.

The Fall of the House of Cabal (Johannes Cabal, #5) by Jonathan L. Howard

Mr Howard is an evil genius that has invented a world full of characters that I wouldn't hesitate to shot if need be but I secretly have to admit to a great deal of affection for. This is a series that does need to be read in sequence but I assure you that they are worth the effort.

Cabal has come across arcane knowledge that leads him to believe that there is a place where he may find the very thing to bring back his beloved from the dead. The only problem is that the journey will take him and his mainly willing assistants into places that don't exist on any maps or in time or reality actually. But these small pitfalls won't stop Cabal. After all, he's done his research very carefully. Death is not assured, some may even survive, minus a limb or so. With the help of his brother Horst, a young woman who Cabal may have one time considered killing, and a devil who has given her solemn dib dib not to eat, seduce, or maim him and all right, his friends, Cabal sets out to claim his prize. But as their journey progresses something is becoming crystal clear. Everything Cabal thought he knew is wrong and the fact starts to occur to Cabal, he has made a serious mistake and fallen into a trap of great conniving. For an enemy is pulling all the strings but what neither of them can understand is the sheer evil that is playing them both. This time around Cabal may find himself against something that even he can't understand. As each game piece falls into play Cabal finds himself with fewer and fewer moves. Will this be the very death of our necromancer or only the very beginnings of his eternal damnation?

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (Flavia de Luce, #4) by Alan Bradley

Flavia looks forward to Christmas, a time when she can put into affect a plan to trap Father Christmas to prove to her sisters that he is indeed real. But to help abet the financial hardships her family faces this year there will be an extra load of people for the holidays; a famous movie star will be shooting a new film at Buckshaw and it promises to be an event no one will forget. Before filming commences the vicar persuades the star to put on a charity event for the village at Buckshaw. Amidst a raging blizzard, the folk of Bishop's Lacey eagerly watch the magic happen. But when they find themselves stranded at the house, things begin to take a turn for the worse. Not only is half the village splayed about the house as they wait the storm out but a murderer lies amongst them. When Flavia finds the star dead in her room dressed in a costume straight out of one of her movies there is no doubt that this will take her special talents to solve. As the storm continues and turmoil starts to bubble below the surface of gentility can Flavia figure out what's happening or could this be her own final curtain call?

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust (Flavia de Luce, #7) by Alan Bradley

Flavia's mother has finally returned home, unfortunately as a frozen corpse found in the Himalayas. At this pivotal point in Flavia's short life her aunt and father decide that the best thing to do is send her away to boarding school at Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Toronto, Canada. Although this is the prestigious school Harriet also attended as a girl, to Flavia leaving Buckshaw and her family is akin to being banished to the ends of the earth.

Upon reaching her new home Flavia's luck runs true and she is greeted her first day by a body falling from her chimney and a head coming to rest at her feet. Although secretly delighted by this new happenstance, the rest of the school is disturbingly silent about the event. As Flavia comes to realize that strange happenings such as disappearances among the girls are quietly accepted she suspects that there are machinations in place that no one is talking about. Destiny at Miss Bodycote's has a strange way of revealing itself. With her mother's legacy overshadowing her what does it have in store for Flavia?

With a murderess for a teacher, possible spies on all sides of her and a secret organization that must not be spoken of Flavia finds herself digging for clues as to the body in the chimney, could it be one of the missing girls or has the murderer done away with someone for reasons entirely different. Flavia is on the case and even if she is away from all she knows and loves, you can be sure that she'll find the answers.

Home Sweet Motel (Welcome to Wonderland, #1) by Chris Grabenstein

This was an ARC but the review is my own.

Chris Grabenstein outside of being known for his Mr. Lemoncello's Library series and co authoring several books with James Patterson such as the I Funny series, is a genuinely nice man, so I've been told since I've never had the pleasure of meeting him face to face. I have known for quite a while that his books are devoured by young readers so when I had an opportunity to read his new book I grabbed at it. Well, I have to say that I think everybody has hit the mark. This book was funny, entertaining, with a bit of high jinks thrown in to round everything out. This is the kind of book you don't mind buying your kids because you know they're gonna read it cover to cover.

P.T. Wilkie is an 11 year old who gets to live the ideal life, his family owns the Wonderland Motel and his living room has a snack machine, the pool has a frog slide, and the soda machine still gives out glass bottles. Best of all P.T. has the gift of the gab just like grandpa. Everything would be great if only the Motel had more customers. When the bank tells his family they have a month to pay off a loan, P.T. and his new friend Gloria realize they're gonna have to think up something huge to get the cash in time. But with Gloria's business savvy and P.T.'s story telling magic there's nothing to stop them. But when their ideas start causing resentment with their neighbors on the strip and lead to a possible jewel cache on their property from a robbery decades ago stirring up a hornet's nest, they may have bit off more than they can chew. Or have they? 

Go grab your copy first week of October to give your kids a sweet treat. Hey, Halloween is just around the corner!

The Other Paris by Luc Sante

Think you know about Paris, about the cosmopolitan city that shines as a beacon of sophistication around the world? Full of romance and charm but scratch just beneath the surface and you'll find heathens in a city that has been the epicenter of vice, greed, and insurrection. A warrior city covered in gore and wounds that refuses to lie down quietly. Her armor is the generations of Parisians who have fought for their rights and sometimes taken them. Men and women of the lowest classes who lived their lives without apology or remorse, the quintessence of Parisian. Names that will never be known along with famous ones that helped to create a Paris where cultural bigotry ran side by side with revolutionary ideas that helped to change the world at large. 

This book is not for the casual reader but for the enthusiast who wants to delve into the reality of Paris. The photographs of Brassai perfectly illustrate the attraction of Paris, the sensuality and the glint of danger under the surface. The music of Edith Piaf gives you a glimpse into the tormented soul of the working class. And Luc Sante's book lays bare her foundations built upon the bones of her people who refuse to relinguish their rights to be Parisians. Jean-Paul Clebert once wrote, " All cities are geological: you can't go three steps without meeting ghosts fortified with the aura of their legends. " In this book you will come to realize that Paris is a monolith of untold stories that you never imagined were waiting to be told.

A definite recommendation to anyone who thinks they know Paris or the Parisians. This is a bold cup of coffee wake up, first thing in the morning. Welcome but bracing.

We're All Mad Here

The horrible truth is that although I wish I was so good at book reviews that publishers and authors clamored at my door like a literary Oracle, I along with many other book lovers have a regular job that demands I actually work for my money. With limited time to indulge in my one true love I sometimes get lazy and find myself reluctant to read. I know, I know, the horror but surely I can't be the only one that at the end of the day has only one thought. Get me outta these shoes! You collapse having mentally prepared a list of things to do once you can relax such as reading, taking a soak, drinking, or perhaps some YouTube only to wake up at the shrill insistence of the alarm clock that it's time to start it all over again. Ce la vie, n'est pas?

For many of us yes but when you're a bibliophile you cannot indulge in this particular laziness. Whereas the working part of your obsession is crawling along the other side of your obsession, the collector, is still working hard at making sure that you will never have a day where there is not a single book to be read any where near you. Can't afford to buy them, ARCs for all! None to be had? Well then, the opium den of any reader is your next stop, that's right, the LIBRARY.

So why I ask myself have I not been reading and editing reviews within days of each other besides the laziness? Fact is one book has basically caused a literary backup. I have been compacted by one book that I refuse to admit I do not want to read. I am struggling through this particular fiend as though across a battlefield with the last of strength left in my bruised and wounded body. I will reach the end and review it fairly if I have to etch it into my retinas. Why? Why not just admit I don't want to read the book? Or come back to it another day? Because my friend, every time I put a book down I am admitting defeat as a reader. I am saying I cannot read this, and if I am not a reader than what am I? I read, recommend, and review .... books. It is in my very fabric as a Frenchman and a wannabe scholar to absorb the written word like the nectar of the gods themselves. In my blood runs the ink of a million writers, introduced to me as a young child until my present day. I am books, breath books, and always shall be books. So what does this all mean?

I have had an epiphany, reading, even when enjoyed, is a lot of hard work. It requires commitment not only in time and energy but self awareness. That's right, you are investing in yourself when you read. You cannot read and not be self aware of your thoughts, you cannot distance yourself from what you are absorbing. And that is truly where the backup has originated, not the book itself but my reaction to facing the ink being injected into my mind. Now for some of you this will not be surprising, we all have tried to read something that made us want to throw it off a balcony but for some one who approaches reading like a much needed life action this is tantamount to self betrayal. I am plotting my own subterfuge against myself, I will refuse to find reading this book enjoyable because ...... I on an unconscious level do not like myself reflected back in its words. I have found a book that shines light into the dark crevices that can be found deep in me. I do not like to look into mirrors especially when they show so clearly my faults and weaknesses.

Therefore I am now more determined than ever to finish this book and fairly review it. It will cause me ceaseless and unfounded anxiety until I lay it to rest as DONE. So what is the purpose of this rant you ask? There is none. Merely reflections of a mad reader.

Remember. When I started this blog I did warn you that there would be moments of madness included. But count yourself lucky that you are among the gently mad in these fields. Welcome fellow reader and feel at home.

By the by, the book that I've been so fatalistic about is The Other Paris by Luc Sante. And in it I have seen reflected back the lack of my own Frenchness. Hard to take a hit to the solar plexus but there you have it. Now, what's next?

The Masked City (The Invisible Library, #2) by Genevieve Cogman

This was provided as an arc from the publisher but the review is my own.

This is the second book in the Invisible Library series by Cogman and definitely carries on the promise that the first one created of a new heroine who is right up there with those you want to read more about. The book is full of moments where you'll find yourself holding your breath wondering if this is where the author lets her character fall into the maelstrom of cliches that threaten any young woman facing certain doom and challenges to her modesty but at each such junction she proves both she and Irene are more than up for the challenge.

In this followup Irene will find herself in the unenviable position of not only losing her assistant whom so far shes been able to keep her hands off but of being the only one who can possibly save him. With war between the Fae and Dragons quite likely and the support of The Library definitely not behind her Irene has only her wits to guide her as she attempts the impossible. Free a Dragon Prince from a Chaos World modeled on a decadent Venice, where the Fae are in power, alone, prey to any one set to use her to further their own story and forced to work with the one Fae who has proven he cannot be trusted under any circumstances. Irene must complete this task before Kai's time is up and he becomes a trophy and the catalyst for the beginning of war or dies. And all that is standing in her way are two Faes that are more than willing to bring Chaos to all worlds and in failing to do so either cause Irene herself death or at the least pawn her off to anyone looking for an exotic pet. And a prison which is its own world of entrapment. Also a Fae of such power that it may very well be the only one that can help her escape with a wounded dragon, if she can assure it freedom from its own current prison. Irene's future has never seemed so perilous as she fights to survive and places her position with the Library at risk. Some jobs just ask a little more of you than others.

The Elusive Elixir (An Accidental Alchemist Mystery) by Gigi Pandian

This was provided to me as an arc from the publisher but the review is my own.

This is the third installment in the Accidental Alchemist Mystery series. However, one could plunge into the series midway if they wanted a taste and still be able to follow the story line as Pandian makes sure to remind readers of what has happened previously to our characters.

In this book we find Zoe has traveled to Paris to find out more about the connection to Notre Dame and its gargoyles and how they relate to Dorian's plight. With time running out Zoe is faced with a possible break when stories of a strange gargoyle reach her ears, could it be that this is a link to freeing Dorian at last? But swift on the heels of her attempt to find out more comes an unexpected result, she's been recognized by someone who last saw her during World War II and as unlikely as it seems they hold her responsible not only for the death of their mother but for her assistant at the time. With the possibility of her identity being discovered by the authorities Zoe flees Paris back home only to find that the past has followed her and in its wake Zoe will be faced with losing her only chance at a normal life or losing her best friend. Questions are being revealed but the answers continue to elude her and Zoe will find that she may be the only answer that there is. The only thing that she can attempt is anathema to all she believes so the only answer that can help her now is how far will she be willing to go for those she loves and how far will they go for her.

This is a well crafted series that is engaging and fresh. Zoe Faust is the kind of character you wish you could sit down with over a cup of tea and an astrology chart. Perfect for anyone who loves mysteries or wouldn't mind dabbling in the realm of the paranormal. Highly recommend.

Paper and Fire (The Great Library, #2) by Rachel Caine

I received this as an arc from the publisher whom I thank. The review is my own.

In this sequel to Ink and Bone Jess is serving in the Library's army but nothing is as he thought it would be. He has discovered something unbelievable, his best friend thought to be dead may be alive, held prisoner by the Library. If there is even a chance Thomas is alive Jess has to grab at it no matter what the fall out is. This time they are all forced to flee Alexandria, wanted fugitives. But in their fight Jess will come across the unsettling fact that no one is what they seem and that the choice presented to him now will cost him every thing he holds dear. They are now on the very front lines of this war.

As we learn more about the characters in this story we begin to comprehend the true depravity that is at the center of a world that is being torn apart. The lives of all hang in the balance and Jess' choices will be the only thing that can save or doom them all. The story line radiates with individual choices and sacrifices, personal greed and destruction on an unimaginable scale. The world is tipping and there is no safety net.

I definitely recommend this series. A great gripping world full of individual struggles that have ramifications for all. Recommend to those who love books that challenge you to place yourself in the situations presented. How well do you know yourself?

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, #1) by Robin Sloan

This book was brilliant and any true reader will be taken in and swept away. After all who hasn't dreamed of a 24 hour bookstore but when you add a mysterious back section, odd and eccentric readers who belong to a secret society, and an owner who is the holder of a secret that could change the world, you have the perfect recipe for a book that is satisfying and an instant favorite.

This story of a search to a puzzle hundreds of years in the making is lovingly crafted with wit and humor and a generous dollop of technological wizardry. But don't despair, the true gem of this story is the relationships between Mr. Penumbra and his newest clerk and the endless fascination that books hold for us. A tribute to all bookstores, book lovers, and clandestine intrigues around the world this is so much more than a mere reviewer could say.

Go get this book, relax in an armchair, and enjoy the experience. But get your own copy, you're not gonna want to let this one go.

The Path by Michael Puett The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life by Michael Puett, Christine Gross-Loh

This course from award winning Harvard professor Puett became quite popular with students who are using the ideas of ancient Chinese philosophers to take a new look at the way they can face every day challenges and open up new possibilities for themselves and others. This is not a self improvement book or a believe in yourself seminar, this is a look at how modern assumptions have actually limited the opportunities we have set before ourselves. The ideas contained in this book are by no means new but Puett's engagement of them brings them a fresh appeal for a new generation that is encumbered by the search to be themselves and live a good life. What exactly is a good person? How do we achieve the self fulfillment we all desire? 

These ancient scholars were all ready exploring these questions over two thousand years ago and their answers may seem counter intuitive but could be the beginning of a revolutionary look at how history and mankind has slowly crafted the modern world we live in. The Path is the beginning of a journey that requires one thing from the traveler, start by seeing and doing every thing completely differently than you've been taught. There is no Path to follow but every step is a chance to create a new set of possibilities. 

This book clearly makes it obvious why the course is so well received. With the knowledge contained in these writings any one can begin to realize the numerous ways that we curtail our potential by simply believing in the limitations that define our lives. Even little things that you have come to accept as your personality traits could be a hindrance to your search for fulfillment.

If at the end of the book you have done nothing else but come to understand how China helped to establish some of the basic concepts we still use today in our lives, consider yourself well rewarded. This book will help you to blow some of the cobwebs away and wake you up to the myriad ways in which you can expand your abilities and self knowledge.

Aleph by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho is a favorite author of mine. I have read many of his books and have always found them entertaining if not something I would add to my personal library. So why have I given this talented writer only two stars you ask? Well, I thought about how to explain my train of thought with a little analogy. 

If you've ever been introduced to someone at a party who's conversation left you reeling from trying to make heads or tails out of it, then you can begin to picture this novel. The conversation/story pulls you in because you are genuinely interested. But when you try to follow this logically you find yourself getting lost in the attempt. You want to understand but you just can't get a firm grip on what is actually being said/told. The deeper you delve the more you realize you have absolutely no idea whats happening. Every time you find a foot hold you slip again into the unknown.

Now, if you've ever read any of Coelho's works you know that he has a transcendental touch to his stories that evoke the peace and harmony that each of us is searching for. However in this book I couldn't quite click with it since the lyrical sense that he imbues in his books does not come across smoothly but is deterred numerous times by the reader's inability to keep reading without scoffing or just plain gawking at the scenes unveiling before their eyes. Frankly I kept reading because I wanted him to magically pull me through this story into an appreciation of the talent it took to write it. But this time the magic fell flat.

Yet, to repeat myself, this is still one of my favorite authors and I do think that if you are a reader who likes to find themselves in their books this is one you should pick up because it will make you search harder than any self help book out there. Just so you can say, Hey! I get it. If or when that happens just drop me a note. I could always use a little soul growing myself.

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 #1 (of 6) by David Petersen

This is the first in this well developed graphic novel series that introduces us to the Mouse Guard, warriors that enable mice across the land to travel in safety through the treacheries of terrain and enemies. They have served this purpose so that all mice may live freely. But not all who are protected believe that the Mouse Guard is what it should be. There lies in their mist a traitor who sees a new future very different from the current one.

As we meet Saxon, Kenzie, and Lieam for the first time we journey with them on a routine errand to search for a missing merchant who never arrived at his destination. The answers they will find though will uncover something of a much larger impact to the safety of all. There is a storm brewing leveled at the very heart of the Mouse Guard, Lockhaven. Within its own walls and legends lie the seeds of treachery and it will take the cunning and friendship of the Mouse Guard along with a stranger who is myth incarnate to put down this rebellion before it is too late.

Filled with the very energy of hardships and accomplishments of these tiny creatures, this novel is an adventure story that can be indulged in without qualms. The illustrations have the grittiness that helps to imagine the harshness each mouse faces on a daily basis trying to eke out happiness where they can. When the story line and illustrations are combined as well as they are in this series you get characters that will resound within your heart. 

A definite recommend if you're trying to get a non reader interested to read.

Ink (Paper Gods, #1) by Amanda Sun

This is the first book in the Paper Gods Trilogy.

After the loss of her mother Katie Greene finds herself halfway across the world in Shizuoka Japan to live with her aunt while her grandparents in Canada try to see if she will be able to come live with them. Katie struggles with the new language, new cultural ways, and most of all her sadness. Her aunt and her are trying to form a relationship but it is hard to do when what ties them together is the memory of Katie's mom.

Into this roiling mess come new friends who help Katie become more proficient at Japanese and help alleviate her sorrow. But then there is Tomohiro. The first time she meets him he catches her inadvertently eaves dropping as he cruelly dumps his current girlfriend. Not only is Katie in the wrong place at the wrong time but she catches a glimpse of a secret that Tomo is being very careful to guard. His ink sketches move and whats more they're trying to get to Katie.

With her growing attraction to Tomo Katie is confronted with an undeniable fact, there are people and powers that are very interested in him and their growing attachment. Is there any truth to the Japanese legends of people descended directly from a goddess or is she slowly losing her mind with grief. Could it be that like Tomo she too is linked to the sketches somehow. Either way being close to him is causing his capabilities to spiral out of control and it's only a matter of time before something goes terribly wrong.

There is an upcoming battle brewing and Katie and Tomo are at the very epicenter of the struggle between the two sides. As their love grows it becomes clearer to Katie that in order to survive and save Tomo from himself she has to do the one thing that has all ready caused her so much pain, she must let go of someone else she loves. With a breaking heart she readies to leave Japan and the life she has come to cherish to make her way to Canada. But will half a world away be enough to stop destiny or is this just the beginning.

A first hand knowledge of Japan from the author has been blended into a great fantasy filled with action and excitement done in a lovely lyrical style. The sketches that run through the book give the reader a real feel for the poetry of Japanese style art and as you read along you are given an interactive art exhibit which really enhances your connection to the story. All in all this is a definite recommend to anyone interested in Japan and its culture, art, or just a lovingly written love story. A definite recommend.

The Relic Master by Christopher Buckley

In the year 1517 Dismas the relic hunter procures authentic religious relics for Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony and soon-to-be Cardinal Albrecht of Mainz. Both men are competing for the greatest collection of genuine relics outside of Rome. Frederick is building a college and supports Martin Luther. Albrecht has bought his way to his current position and sells indulgences to fund his growing political ambitions . Although both are men of faith, they couldn't be more unlike. Dismas fills their wish lists for relics as best he can but the time is nearing when he dreams of settling in the mountains and finding a lovely lass. When Dismas loses all the money he has saved for this dream he and his friend, famed painter Durer come up with a scheme to discover one last great relic. Dismas genuinely cares for Uncle Frederick but Albrecht is a different matter, so the two friends decide that the to be Cardinal shall have his most wanted relic, the true burial shroud of Christ. But when Durer's unknown personal touch to the shroud is discovered Dismas' fraud is brought to light and his punishment is severe. Frederick steps in to keep him alive but negotiating with Albrecht is not as straight forward as it seems and his continued existence becomes dependent on fulfilling a penance Albrecht finds fitting. Dismas shall travel to Savoy where he will steal the Shroud of Chambery and return it to Albrecht. Only then can he finally have the life he's been planning. That is if the journey along the way doesn't see Dismas killing Durer, or having the mercenaries sent with him killing him. Or avoiding an entanglement with a possible witch being chased by a lusty count or finding out that they may not be the only ones with the intention of stealing this famous European relic.

Set against the backdrop of Europe this book resonates with a sharp witty look at the prevailing changes in religion, science, art, and political intrigue of the times. It is an adventure filled with comedy and poignant characters and Buckley has worked the historical details of the Shroud of Turin's origins in beautifully. A definite recommend for those who are interested in this era or just looking for a good historical read.

Vicious (Vicious #1) by V.E. Schwab

What happens when you recognize a piece of yourself in someone else? In the glimmer of their eyes, in their stance, you see the same dark edge that also hides in you and you feel the bond only to discover that the connection isn't a blessing but a burden and in time the seat of vengeance. 

Eli and Victor are not two sides of a coin, they are superimposed shades of each other which has brought them to the edge of the abyss and where one leads the other follows in a successful experiment where a near death experience will create a power based on their last moments. Their growing competitiveness is now a rift between them as Victor's decision not to let Eli leave him behind sets off a chain reaction that will set the now enemies on a collision course. One incapable of being wounded, the other capable of absorbing pain or releasing it. One knows that he is not completely human but still worthy of living, the other thinks he has been given a chance to exterminate others like him to protect humanity. Even if he must take lives to do so.

This is a tangled tango of two monsters who take powers onto themselves that are beyond anything we could comprehend outside of comic books. As we travel along and meet others like them, it is Eli and Victor that grip you and make you question which side you want to be on. There are no good guys here, only the demons within come out to play. The only thing you have to decide is what resides in your soul. An addictive read which will make you all ask yourselves, if I had super powers would I use them for good or evil? Would I even care? 

This is the first in a series and well written. There are a few hiccups but quite frankly you will be too invested in seeing who comes out on top to care. So pick this book up and decide which monster appeals to your inner nature. Be prepared to read into the early morning hours.