Caro's Book Reviews

This was an awesome read. The plot draws you in, making you not want to put the book down – resulting in a few late nights. The story is full of mystery and intrigued, you never quite know which of the characters to trust until you reach the end. Each character is unique, as the story flows you get a feel for each one. The ending was delightfully twisty, one that I was not expecting at all. I just loved everything about this E-ARC; when the novel came up on one of the book buying lists at the library I work at, I pounced at the chance to add it to the library's stock collection. I would definitely recommend this to those who love mystery and detective novels, especially those that are set in a historical setting. This was a free E-ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I read this novella as the author was coming to the library I work at to give a talk. The Firebird is set on a humid island, ruled over by a warrior monk sect. The main character, Lada, deeply believes in their doctrine but as she comes face to face with the darkness of her past, doubts begin to niggle at her. Was it her fault or her brother's that caused the destruction of their family, this haunts Lada throughout the story as she tries to hold onto her beliefs and figure out the right course that she must take. The Firebird takes the reader for a wild and bumpy ride filled with betrayals and danger. This is a fantasy story that does not fit into the traditional mould. It is a short read, perfect for those who do not have much time to read but are looking for a good book.

I took this book out on a whim, and was not disappointed. Finished reading it in just about two days, it had the 'unputdownable' quality about it. Looking forward to going back to work to see if the sequel is available to take out. The world that Ink and Bone is built upon what would have happened if the Library of Alexandria had never been destroyed. In this world; knowledge rules and the Library rules knowledge. No one is allowed to own personal copies of books, which lead to a black market run by book smugglers who hide from the Library. Ink and Bone has its protagonist in the form of Jess Brightwell. To say that he has a complicated family life is putting it lightly. Jess's family are book smugglers, but he would rather read books than smuggle them. His father decides to send him to the Library, so that he can aid the family business from the inside as a spy. However, there is more to the Library, and Jess soon finds that becoming a member of the Library is

Lainey Styles is a high school student who pretty much has her life planned out. She wants nothing more than to be able to leave her small town life behind and explore the world around her. However, all her meticulous plans come crashing down around her when she discovers most of what she knows about herself is a lie. Thrust into a world of magic and the impossible, Lainey must learn how to navigate in this new world while facing enemies who are after her unique gift. Lainey is not alone, as she is aided by her best friend Maggie, and new-to-school Ty. Together, they try to help Lainey discover her family's history and her true self. Keeper is filled with magical creatures such as witches and werewolves. Lainey must learn who she can trust, and who is working for the enemy. Initially, I wasn't too enthused but as the story moved on and the pace quickened, I began to enjoy reading to find out what happens next to Lainey. The ending is a bit abrupt in my opinion,

Road of the Lost , by Aiden Russell, is the first book of the Judges Cycle series and is set in the Land of Nod. Two young Templars looking for a missing champion, and an Elf with an inherited duty as a guardian, are thrown together as unlikely companions due to dark machinations of an ancient evil. Dark Elves, with brutish and hungry Ogres for minions, work for the ancient evil and constantly beset the heroes with attacks. Due to this, there is plenty of action with with all of the battles. The two Templars, Gratas and Jerah must learn to work together with the Elf, Reslo, in order for the three of them to survive the quest that they have been given. In the background, political truces are hanging by a precariously thin thread. Rival nations disagree over religion and gods, and there is bitterness remaining from a long ago war. The novel ends well, with threads leading towards a second book. There are also a few intriguing sub-plots that left me curious. Road of the

Quick reads from last weekend: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” by J.K. Rowling (et al.). Quick review: not as good as the original series. Seemed cliche at times with father/son not understanding each other arguments. Script form, so not for those who prefer novels to scripts. “The Hostage” by James Patterson and Robert Gold. Quick review: quick read as intended, took about an hour to read with distractions in between. Little bit gory so not for those who are a bit squeamish. Ending was a bit unsatisfactory for me, but otherwise it was an ok read. Both books were library books, and reviewed for fun.