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June 7, 2017

SPELLSLINGER by Sebastien de Castell

June 7, 2017

Book cover & rating - Spellslinger by Sebastien de CastellSpellslinger is a rather quirky book, which I enjoyed very much. A young mage who’s struggling with magic, a traveller passing through who can’t keep her hilarious social commentary to herself, and a snarky talking squirrel cat? This combination was most peculiar, making me laugh and smirk throughout.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: abduction, abuse, ambition, beliefs, betrayal, bullying, canadian authors, conspiracy theories, culture, death, dysfunctional families, eugenics, family, gender, humour, identity, inequality, jealousy, lies, loyalty, magic, monsters, mystery, oppression, power, revenge, rituals, sacrifice, secrets, self discovery, siblinghood, slavery, snarky characters, truth, violence

May 31, 2017

A GATHERING OF SHADOWS by V.E. Schwab

May 31, 2017

Book cover & rating - A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

A Gathering of Shadows is much more intense than A Darker Shade of Magic. Schwab has a way of putting words to a page that is incomparable to other authors. The wit that underpins her snarky characters is first class, and Lila is a prime example. What makes it so great is that Lila doesn’t try hard — it’s who she is. A Gathering of Shadows increased my love for her, Kell, and Rhy manifolds, and also sucked me right into the spheres of Alucard and Tieren.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: adventure, alcoholism, alternate universe, american authors, blackmail, competition, death, demons, diverse authors, diverse books, fathers and sons, friendship, imposters and imposture, lgbtq characters, loyalty, magic, murder, pirates, power, revenge, romance, royalty, secrets, self discovery, self harm, sense-of-belonging, snarky characters, travel, villains, violence

April 30, 2017

A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC by V.E. Schwab

April 30, 2017

Book cover & rating - A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. SchwabBefore I read A Darker Shade of Magic, I was certain that I would enjoy it. I was also sure I wouldn’t be able to wait two years for the conclusion of the trilogy. So, I did what I tend to do — pre-order the first and second books, then park them on my bookshelf. With the release of A Conjuring of Light this year, it was finally time for me to read A Darker Shade of Magic. The anticipation was well worth it! V.E. Schwab wowed me once again.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: abduction, adventure, alternate universe, american authors, blackmail, brothers, death, demons, imposters and imposture, loyalty, magic, mind control, monsters, murder, on the run, power, royalty, secrets, sense-of-belonging, snarky characters, villains, violence

April 26, 2017

THE HOUSE OF MOUNTFATHOM by Nigel McDowell

April 26, 2017

Book cover & rating - THE HOUSE OF MOUNTFATHOM by Nigel McDowell

The House of Mountfathom is a difficult book to review. Personally, I didn’t enjoy reading it very much. On some fronts, it felt like things were missing — as though there was supposed to me more. The premise intrigued me but the execution failed to charm. When I looked up the author, I found out this book was published posthumously. He was in his mid-thirties when cancer took his life. Knowing this, I was tempted to rate The House of Mountfathom for its potential but decided not to. That would skew my rating scale against other books I’ve read.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: dragons, family, family myth, magic, monsters, shapeshifting

March 16, 2017

CARNIVALESQUE by Neil Jordan

March 16, 2017

Book cover & rating - Carnivalesque by Neil Jordan

Carnivals and circuses have fascinated me since I was young. Even today, I still am taken in by magical atmosphere — the way time stops and visitors are transported into an almost otherworldly realm. This wonderment is something I thought Neil Jordan captured immensely well in his latest novel, Carnivalesque. The setting held a great deal of intrigue and carried a mysterious air. This was especially brought out throughout the eyes of the main character, Andrew, who was a young boy.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: carnival, changelings, circus, death, doppelganger, family, family problems, irish authors, life, magic, motherhood, mystery

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About

Joséphine. Word reveller. Loves books. Reads books. Talks about books. Photographs books. When she’s not blogging, she can be found on Instagram under @wordrevel.

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