The Reason Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion

 A super cute comic that livened my spirits. 

Raeliana isn't actually all she appears to be. She's not from this world that she's found herself in. In real life, she's trying to get into college and finds herself on the top of a library roof and someone pushes her off! When she wakes up, she's in one of her favorite novels and is portraying a character who's death starts the story off. Only Raeliana doesn't want to die! (Who would?) And so she thwarts her assassin/fiancé by trying to call off the marriage in many different ways until she's at a ball and sees the main love interest of the story, the Duke. Stalking him out into the gardens, she strikes a deal with him. Because she knows the ins and outs of what is going on in the book, she has vital information that is important to him. She'll tell him, if he consents to be her new fiancé for appearances, thus dropping her assassin in the lurch and saving her life until she can figure something else out. He accepts, finding her and her information intriguing. But now, Raeliana must play the part. She is forced to move into his home and take lessons so then she can become the wife of a Duke, for appearances. Things do not go as planned. Between kidnappings, monster hunts, swimming in deep court waters with ladies akin to piranhas, and messing up the original story, Raeliana finds that she actually starts liking the Duke even though his schemes are up up amongst the most interweaved of anyone in the kingdom. 

This was a "sickly sweet" story that I needed to help me out of the winter funk I'm in. (Depression sucks and my heart goes out to all who suffer.)  It was funny, charming, witty, and full of blushes. I loved the world that was built and the palace intrigues. The characters were also very comical and funny. Her guards are among my favorite. 

The plot twist and turns were fun and I had a hard time guessing what was going to be happening next, which kept me on my toes. And it goes to show that ladies and their agendas can be very scary for those who are unprepared and unaware. 

I would be very happy if there was more in this world because it feels so lively, so large that there could be many more comics that could happen in this story. It's very different and fun and extremely binge worthy. 

Grip of the Shadow Plague

 It takes a really good writer to make the reader cry for more than five pages over and over again and when you think you've got a handle on your emotions just to get kicked in the emotional teeth again. Thanks Brandon Mull. I needed a salty shower just on my face this morning. 

Kendra and Seth are still at their grandparents house for the summer. It is too risky to send them home yet because the Society of the Evening Star is still out to get them. And now it seems that even Fablehaven isn't safe anymore. Now creatures of light are turning dark from this unknown plague and they don't know why. Kendra has also been issued an invitation to join the Knights of the Dawn and help them retrieve more artifacts. Kendra and Warren go down to Arizona with other members of the Knights of the Dawn. The others at Fablehaven have found that not only has this dark plague attacked the creatures, but it can also turn human's into shadows that now only Seth can see. More and more creatures at Fablehaven are being infected and there are very few sanctuaries left for anyone. 

This was a very good book. There were times when I most defiantly didn't want to put it down and I wanted to read on even if my son wasn't too thrilled about it. (Yes I might have dragged him to the book against his will, but I really wanted to know what was going to happen.) It was well written with good pacing that kept us well engaged. There was a part that I pretty much knew for sure what was going to happen (which I was right), but it didn't stop the emotions from flowing over their banks. Well done Mr. Mull.

I've come to very much love these characters. I still have my suspicions about one or two of them, but I'm very intrigued to see what will happen to them in the future. All of them have their own personalities that they stick to and are endearing. I loved the development of new characters that we got to interact with, specifically a mustached twirling gent whom I like very much. 

I very much am excited to read the next book and will probably try to make my son listen to some of it during Christmas break even though "reading is just before we go to school, mom!" We'll see, my son, we'll see. 

Haikyu!

 This is one of my favorite series I've read this year. 

Haikyu! is about these boys on a volleyball team in Japan. Hinata is short and had little volleyball experience, but can move really quickly and jump very high and is beyond willing to take whatever he can get. Kageyama is a brilliant setter who needs to work on his people skills. In middle school the faced each other and became rivals for life, but then suddenly they find themselves at the same school trying for the same volleyball team. They have to learn to work together and make the Kurosono team fly to nationals. But it isn't just them on the team. All of the boys have things to work on with skills and personality to bring to the court. With dedication, determination, and a willingness to never give up, they become a sensation amongst the other volleyball teams as they work their way to nationals. 

I've always loved volleyball and since I started reading manga, I've love that too. So this was amazing. It was well drawn, and well written. Each of the boys have great personalities (whether it is part of Kurosono or the many other teams). I think Haruichi Furudate did a great job in keeping everyone boy an individual with a separate personality (HEY HEY HEY!!!) and back story from the others which is no easy feat when there are so many characters going on and off the page. So good job. 

I also loved the character development of all the characters. AND EACH OF THEM DEVELOPED AS THE STORY WENT ALONG! Taking the title "King of the Court" and making it his own was pretty  much my favorite. It was refreshing to be so engaged in the story. 

The ending was a little weird with it being a few years in the future some times it got a little confusing trying to remember all of the individuals (there were a lot of them). However, it was fun to see everyone either having moved on to different careers or progressing in volleyball. And the fact that it never actually ends and that the volleyball games will keep going and that Hinata and Kageyama will always be rivals (on the same team or on different teams) was icing on the cake with plenty of cherries on top. 

It was fabulous. I can't wait for the anime to finally be completed in English (though obviously subs are good too). 

Rise of the Evening Star

 Rise of the Evening Star is the second book in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull  and it is "interesting, strange, and silly" says my son. 

A year has passed since the events of the first Fablehaven book. Kendra has had some interesting side effects of being kissed by all the fairies and can now see into the into the magical realm without aid. After an incident at school and potential bad guys hanging around, Grandma Sorenson convinces Kendra and Seth's parents to let them come visit and help Grandpa who just broke his leg thus also keeping the kids out of harms way. But now Fablehaven is in jeopardy again. The Society of the Evening Star is working to get five ancient artifacts that are hidden on different preserves so then they can release demon. Fablehaven has such an artifact. But now there is a traitor amongst those at Fablehaven and they don't know who it is. 

My son and I really enjoyed this a lot. There were many funny moments, amongst the serious ones, that made my son laugh a lot. The story was very engaging. The many creatures and bad guys they encountered were different and I didn't know what to expect for the most part. 

It was great to see Seth having learned his lesson from the last book. He isn't as foolhardy and reckless, and while he does things the grownups don't particularly like he does them for good reasons and with a tendency for caution instead having his guns blazing. Kendra also ends up drawing on her brother's courage for support which is big of her to see this good quality in her brother. 

I have my predictions which are starting to accrue and it will be fun to see if I'm right or if I'm wrong. 

Wizard at Large

The third installment of the Magic Kingdom of Landover series by Terry Brooks. 

Things have gotten relatively back to normal and Questor Thews is practicing his magic. In the past in order to save his friend's life, he turned Abernathy into dogman and hasn't been able to figure out how to turn him back into a human. But now he things he's got it. While wearing Ben's medallion, which he was reluctant to give away even for a moment, Abernathy submits to Questor's attempt only to get teleported away to Washington State in the USA. In place of Abernathy in Landover is a bottle with a demon inside that is oh so willing to grant wishes, but these wishes end up going poorly for the wisher most of the time. This bottle once belonged to the Old King's son, Michel Ard Rhi, who left Landover for Earth with Meeks and was the very reason Abernathy was changed into a dog to begin with. So when Abernathy finds himself in Michel Ard Rhi's castle home in Washington, he must escape and finds help in a little girl named Elizabeth. To make things worse, the bottle has gone missing. 

This was supposed to be the last book in the Landover series (though The Tangle Box came out 6 years later) and ends up coming to a nice, though somewhat abrupt, conclusion. 

The adventure has some suspense for Abernathy and Elizabeth which was my favorite part of the whole book. Them and Miles. We, as the reader, are finally given some depth and growth to other characters besides Ben (who is nice all). Questor is designated to find the bottle and get it back and fights a dragon for it while Ben and Willow get transported (by Questor) to the USA to find Abernathy, but because Questor struggles with magic, he transports them to Las Vegas instead of Washington State. Oops. With the help of Miles though they are able to track Abernathy down. 

I've noticed something, though. Maybe it's because it's a 1980s book or one of Terry Brook's first, but there is a lot more "telling" about things happening than there is "showing." We are told that Michel is a nasty bruit who is a mean runt and everyone was happy when he left Landover, but we never actually get to see him be awful. We're told he hurts animal, hence why Abernathy and Elizabeth are more scared of him, but we never actually get to see him being the bad guy. He puts Abernathy in cages and withholds food and drugs him, but making him dazed and hungry (even to a bad extent) didn't fill me so much worry as it probably could/should have, not that we need all the gory details. 

I did enjoy Questor vs Strebo and them barging into the courtroom. That was probably the best plot part in the whole thing. Happy Halloween guys! lol By far this one was the best of the series. The next book, as I said, came out about 6 years later, so hopefully he's improved. 

The Black Unicorn

The second book of the Magical Kingdom of Landover series by Terry Brooks. 

Ben Holliday is not a native of Landover, but he is now it's king and has been for about a year. But one night most of the members of the castle of Stirling Silver have dreams that seem more prophetic than regular dreams. Questor Thew's dreams of the location of his elder brother's books of magic, Ben dreams of troubles back on Earth with his friend Miles, and Willow dreams of the Black Unicorn.  Questor gets the books of magic, but one is burned and the other is full of pictures of white unicorns. Willow hasn't returned by the time Ben comes back having found everything okay with Miles. As he sleeps again, he finds himself dreaming of having lost the medallion, a vital trinket that holds his identity as King of Landover. Upon waking he finds that it wasn't a dream Meeks (Questor's elder brother) has magicked himself into Landover and has taken the medallion, both of which should have been impossible. Meeks has also changed Ben to look like some commoner and himself to look like Ben. Ben gets run out of the castle and called a thief by his friends. He how has no identity that anyone but a random talking cat that decides to follow him. 

Compared to the first book, this one had more to it and that had more more invested into the story. The plot had more going for it over all, questing for your own identity and this mysterious unicorn, though walking around to the same three places as they did in the first one seems to be a redundant occurrence which can get old fast. I understand that Landover isn't that large of a kingdom, but it can be repetitive. 

Character development for Ben was big this time, specifically on his identity not just in Chicago but as Landover's King and that he's going to stick by those guns and not give up on them. Others, however, still lacked growth. I don't think the kobolds or Willow (let alone the dragon or Nightshade) will ever get much actual development in growing as people (or dragons). We do see more of Willow being resilient and given the chance to turn back she didn't, but characters are supposed to be more one trait. Willow needs to be more than devotion and constancy, which are great qualities--don't get me wrong--but she would need to be more to be a well rounded character. 

It had a decent writing style and did keep me engaged. Some of the twists I didn't see coming, but others were easy to spot. But it somewhat ended the same way as the previous book, a battle with the Paladin. Although the reader described what was going on with the fight, my mind just skipped through it. Nothing intensely engaging happened and it seemed very similar to the first book, which was disappointing. 

Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold

 This is a book that my husband has been trying to get me to read for nearly a decade.... It's taken me a while to get to it. Sorry, love. 

Ben Holliday is a lawyer in Chicago who is still grieving over the death of his wife and unborn child. He has no motivation in his life except for work and he is miserable. Looking through a Christmas catalog only for the uber wealthy, he spots a peculiar add about a Magic Kingdom for sale for 1 million dollars. What kind of heist is this? Who would fall for that? Well, when he can't get it out of his mind, he inquires with the add agency and it's a legitimate add. He actually purchases it. 1 million isn't that much to him, especially with a full refund guarantee if he's not satisfied. Any change would be good for him now. Anything is better than this stagnant feeling and dwelling in grief. So he goes, and finds out that it is for real. The first moment he steps into Landover where his first contact is a demon that tries to chase him down and then a dragon that he has to sneak by. The court wizard, who is really bad at magic, named Questor Thews takes him to his rundown and tarnished castle that is being run by a man who was turned into a dog and two kobolds. Not the welcoming parade and fanfare he might have assumed would accompany a king to a magical kingdom. With no authority other than the medallion he was given and the ragtag team of counselors, he decides he's not going to give up. Well, at least he has 10 days to fully decide. 

My rating of a 4 Star is generous. I'd probably give it more of a 3.75, but I haven't done quarters in my rating system, so.... 

Magic Kingdom For Sale:Sold! is an old school fantasy book, published in 1986 and it feels it. It's as if back in the 80's only guys read fantasy (which they might have) and it was very much published for them. There are two whole girls in this story, one is beautiful and fanciful, devoted with her entire heart (after just one meeting) and the most gorgeous being he's ever seen; while the other is an ugly old witch who is one of the three most powerful beings in Landover. There is no in between, it is simply two extremes. Willow did fall in love at first sight because it was fated to be and would willingly die for him if it would save him even though they had only met for about five minutes. Upon their next meeting of another five minutes she pledged herself. This is extremely unrealistic, fantasy or not, and I didn't like it. She has no personality besides her devotion to him. "I must stay with you, Ben" is something she says often in almost every book I've ready thus far. It most defiantly, in my opinion, fails the Bechdel Test which I honestly didn't think was much of a problem (probably because I mainly read more recent publications or those written by women). 

The character development for pretty much anyone besides Ben is extremely minimal. Many feel very two dimensional. Most of the quirks that the characters have are surface level (dogman, bad at magic, green lady, dragon, evil witch). They feel almost like caricatures or stereotypes who are happy to stay in the stereotype.  Nothing really happens to them. 

The plot of the book is very simple. *spoilers* He comes into Landover, finds it's rundown but is willing to work through it, goes to different people to help him gain some authority which kind of works, and then has to fight a demon who would try to kill him at the end of a year anyway. It's not complicated at all and is kind of a let down. 

I feel like this book hasn't aged well and if it weren't for my husband liking as much as he did the last time he read it and the fact that I can listen to it as an audiobook, I probably wouldn't have read on. But I have. 

The Black Unicorn is better. 

Fablehaven

 This is a book that I'm glad I picked up. I am reading it to my son and he is very invested in it as well. 

Fablehaven is about a brother and sister who go to live with their grandparents for a few weeks while their parents are away during the summer. Grandpa Sorenson has some strict rules around his Connecticut home, especially to stay out of the woods because there is a tick infestation and he doesn't want them to get hurt. Kendra is more than willing to stay near the house reading and figuring out the little mystery Grandpa Sorenson gave her with the keys in the playroom, while Seth on the other had has a hard time doing what he's told. Off adventuring he goes while everyone's back is turned and finds a pond that is imaculately cared for and an old lady hidden deep in the woods. Muriel gnaws at a rope and talks to the little creatures that surround her. Why is she out there and what else is Grandpa Sorenson hiding. What Seth and Kendra end up finding out is that Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson are caretakers of a magical preserve. The butterflies that are constantly flittering around the gardens are actually fairies and Muriel is a witch bound to her little hut by strong magics to keep the rest of Fablehaven safe. But when Seth doesn't listen to the rules Grandpa and the other adults get taken and it's up to Seth and Kendra and a chicken to find the adults of Fablehaven before Fablehaven is destroyed. 

This was a great book. The world building behind all of the light and dark creatures in the Fablehaven preserve was grasped both my son and I. The time goes by too quickly before we have to get ready for school in the morning (when I read to him). Each plot twist and turn was fun to explore. 

I particularly like bookish Kendra and adventurous Seth. They are foils in a way to each other, as siblings often are. And although Seth is often portrayed as reckless and doesn't listen to the rules, you can see how he isn't an awful person. We get to see his reasonings, even if some of them aren't as honorable as moral would dictate. As the story progresses, he learns (as all children should) that our actions have consequences and we will end up having to live with them.  

Please Take My Brother Away

Please Take My Brother Away was a hilarious manga that was turned into an anime as well as a life action K-Drama. 

A brother and sister live together after their parents sticky divorce and must survive each other. It is a short, fast, slice of life that is just too funny. 

I don't know much more to say other than it's hysterical and I finished it in a day. I really want to find the anime for it, but the K-Drama is on Netflix. 

If you're looking for a pickmeup story, this one is great. 

Rhythm of War

 The fourth installment of the Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson was amazing. 

The world of Roshar has turned on it's head. The Desolation is here and the enemy is at their front door. Traitors have been found amongst their ranks and countries around the world are being taken over or willingly joining the enemy which can mean doom for Dalinar and his Knights Radiant. Queen Navani is sent to deal with the ever day of Urithiru and is constantly propelling the inventors forward to help end the war.  In a year of fighting, Kaladin and his Windrunners have found honor in the enemies they have been fighting and an old friend turned traitor causes a lot of havoc for the once Bridgeboy who suffers heavily with PTSD. Refugees flee including Kaladin's parents and war abounds. Adolin and Shallan must travel to Shadesmere and must convince the Honorspren to join their cause so there can be more Windrunners to defeat the constant stream of enemies. And not all of the enemies are what they appear. All want the war to be over and some of the enemy are will to help Dalinar's side instead of the Old Gods. 

This was a very exciting story and one that went in a direction that I didn't think it was going to. I read this book well after it came out and knew of some spoilers, so I was able to not cry at a certain point, but I was wholeheartedly unprepared for what came after and how touching it was that tears streamed down my face at the lakeside. So well written just like everything Brandon Sanderson does write. 

I love how Brandon isn't scared to touch some hot topics, specifically mental illness. He doesn't just skim this lake, he dives in and gives voice to people's legitimate troubles. It's not just a "happy" story of war and everyone is willing to kill everyone else to win. It's the after affects of so many hard situations that change us. It's the coming to terms with those circumstances. Brandon does what Kaladin does in bringing the sufferers into the light instead of hidden away in dark holes inside a mountain. He also shows us that not everyone is as black and white as they might appear on the outside. People have ulterier motives and will likely surprise you when they are given the chance. 

These character arches are amazing in that they are sticky, people slide into old habits, they think they are doing the right thing just to find out that it might not have been so right. It feels so real and makes me want to write like him. 

Fly Me To The Moon (Tonikaku Kawaii)

 

Fly Me To The Moon is a slice of life story for a boy named NASA (like the space association) and a girl who saves his life. He vows he will marry her, but she disappears. He goes through school, graduates at the young age of 16, and suddenly she shows up and asks if he still wants to marry her. He's been looking for her for years and says yes, so they get married. They live in his tiny little apartment and get to know each other. Part of the suspense and intrigue in this story is that neither of them knows anything about being intimate and they both think it would be very improper to touch much let alone sleep with each other (other than actually resting). When his apartment burns down, they move temporarily into a bathhouse (run by a mom and her two daughters who are his age, whom he's helped out with accountant work in the past). Jealousies and friendships accrue. 

In going into it, I didn't realize it was a slice of life, so I was anticipating a thick plot and was slightly disappointed. There was this implication that she is some kind of moon spirit or guardian, but then that never really goes anywhere. I haven't finished the whole series because it was getting king of long (as slice of life stories sometimes do), but I did enjoy what I did complete. 

There were many really cute moments that I don't think would happen in real life (because of the attitude of "we shouldn't touch more than hand holding," "kissing makes me embarrassed," "I shouldn't look because I'm not supposed to" when they are actually married and all of that is fine in practically ever culture that I'm aware of). They are sweet and kind to one another and shows a good marriage which is nice for a change when there are so many awful marriage or the "Mom and Dad are off on business trips for the whole story or don't exist all together." 

I really wish they would have added more into the whole Moon Guardian thing. The slice of life aspect of it is fine, but I really wanted them to do something more with her paranormal powers--like how the heck did she actually safe him! 

Warbreaker

 Rereading this one was one of the best ideas. 

Siri was the left over princess, but suddenly she is the most important person in two kingdoms. Instead of Vivenna, the important sister the perfect princesses, Siri is chosen to marry the Godking to stop a war. Thrown into unknown politics and told she isn't supposed to even talk to her new husband, Siri is extremely over her head. Vivenna knows how out of her depths Siri is and goes to to save her, but now her only contact is dying of a horrible sickness and she is now on her own. Vasher is also in town with his own reasons to get into people's business. 

The characters in this story are amazing. I think the growth that the main characters go through and how drastically they can change when circumstances require it, shows the reader that we can all do hard things, things we never believed we could ever do--I'm especially looking at you Vivenna. 

The magic system is unlike any I've seen anywhere else and there are so many possibilities. To have your magic powered by your Breath and the colors around you is ingenious. As for all of Brandon's magic systems, it is extremely well thought out and although it takes us a while to get a full description of what potentially could happen (as opposed to Mistborn which gives us the explanation right up front) we get the jist of it enough to not have us be totally lost. I very much appreciate the rules being laid out and having hard and fast rules as opposed to other books with magic where it takes a few nonsensical words of "Power," a wiggle of the fingers, and some form of intent and absolutely anything or nothing can happen. Those other kinds of magic systems seem cheaper to me and can get the writer out of situations they otherwise wouldn't be able to logically get themselves out of. For Breath and it's magic systems, there are rules that can't be broken and yet also many facets that help them to do amazing things. They are tools used for many ways but there are still impossibilities that must be worked around. It's good, thought-out worldbuilding which I very much enjoy. 

The first time I read the book (this is my second), I thought that the ending happened too quickly, that maybe there could have been another chapter or three to elongate the suspense. However, upon this second reading, I enjoyed it so much more and the ending, although somewhat abrupt, didn't feel like it wasn't warranted. Each of the characters got their moments of doing something great--Lightsong you will forever be in my heart--and empowering which end up changing what will be happening in the future for the world and off-world for the Cosmere as a whole. 

I know that Brandon is going to write a sequel to this story, and while he's had this one out for well over a decade, I believe he's "close" to starting this next project. Brandon writes fast and consistently so we won't be waiting for it never to happen (which happens for other writers where their series' go unfinished). It might take another few years, but all of Brandon's readers are eagerly await for the next Warbreaker book.