I would've never come across this book if I wasn't invited to sign for the blog tour. This book is supposedly a childhood favorite of well-kn#blogtour
I would've never come across this book if I wasn't invited to sign for the blog tour. This book is supposedly a childhood favorite of well-known animator Hayao Miyazaki. You might not be familiar with that name but he did Spirited Away, My neighbor Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle to name a few. And Mr. Miyazaki is said to be going to base his final film on this book. Of course, this piqued my interest. I didn't even ask the publicist how she comes across my blog. I am just so excited to be part of this tour for the first ever English translation.
How Do you Live features 15-year old boy, Cooper, who lost his father and finds himself in a new season of his life, with some help from his uncle. The book then has two point of views - one is Cooper's and the other is his uncle's through letters and journals. The book is very thought provoking. Through Cooper, the book tries to answer questions about life that are both basic and deep. And I can say that it somehow succeeded in that point. What I love about this book is it didn't just focus on philosophical aspect of things. There are so many lessons featured, from science and history, to politics and ethics. And of course, there are tons of lessons about humanity and morality.
It is easy to relate to Cooper because all of us came or will come to a point in our lives where we begin asking the right questions about life. We don't have to lose anyone, just as Cooper did, for us to feel that inner longing to understand life, which entails the question how to live, not just with ourselves but more importantly, with others.
Cooper is great kid, all things considered. But he seems to be preoccupied of different things to step up. I love his uncle's words. I am always excited to read his letters and journals. His words are gems to be treasured. They're very motivational. I could've highlighted lots of lines from his POV if it wouldn't slow my reading. And the book itself is slow already. That sounds like a criticism but in my case, I didn't mind the pacing. It fits the story for me. Although, I think that would be a bit of a problem for younger readers. This is, after all, a childrens and Middle Grade book.
I also love Cooper and his friends. Their friendship is so amazing. A little bit dramatic but insightful. But still, my favorite is Cooper's relationship with his uncle. I think because it makes me think of Mr. Miyazaki as the uncle. I don't know, it was just easy to imagine the animator as the one giving insightful thoughts....more
I was invited to be a part of this blog tour via email, but by the publicist herself and not a blog tour host. Seeing that it is a childrens book, I sI was invited to be a part of this blog tour via email, but by the publicist herself and not a blog tour host. Seeing that it is a childrens book, I signed up because I thought it would be a nice break from everything I’ve been reading these days. The publicist then sent me a Netgalley link, along with the first book in the series. I’m just so happy to add short books on my Netgalley shelf because they’ll be faster to read and I want my feedback ratio increase. LOL. I just need some reading accomplishment this year, okay? ...more
This is such a cute, fun, and quirky story. I love it so much. You can never really go wrong with childrens and middle-grade books.
The Becket is literThis is such a cute, fun, and quirky story. I love it so much. You can never really go wrong with childrens and middle-grade books.
The Becket is literally a list by Becket, aka Rebecca, about the things she wants to accomplish in her first summer on her grandmother's farm. Becket is a city girl but she's excited to have a new life on the farm, but no change is easy. This is a story of a girl, of growing up and adapting to new places.
But Becket handled her new life like a pro. Yes, like a pro because I hope I'm like her when thrown in such a situation. She says "Beautiful Alert" every time she sees a beautiful thing that she wants to share with the people around her. That's just so cute and wholesome and so enthusiastic.
All the characters are very well-rounded, not just Becket. The plot is also quite heartwarming and insightful. So I think grown-ups will love this book as well. I mean I'm 29 and I really enjoyed this book....more
The blurb pretty much summarized what this book is about and what to expect, but really, Fireborn gave me more adventure than I expected from4.5 stars
The blurb pretty much summarized what this book is about and what to expect, but really, Fireborn gave me more adventure than I expected from the blurb. It follows a huntling, Twelve, who trains in Hunting Lodge to become a hunter, but she has a hidden agenda for being there. She doesn’t just want to learn how to fight monsters; she wants to avenge her family. But then things get complicated because everything in her new home is not what it seems. Twelve finds herself in an adventure that will change her life forever and expose her to truths about herself and her past.
I read Fireborn in one sitting. It was not a short book by size, but it was so easy to read. I couldn’t put it down and wanted to know what’s next. Reading this was such an adventure. It was filled with twists and turns that were unexpected. And every scene was exciting. There wasn’t a single scene in the story that bored me. The story moved at very nice pacing.
That said, the plot was very well-constructed. I love that even though it’s in the childrens and middle-grade genre, the overall story gives a dark aura. You can only understand this when you read the book. I can’t give too many details because it is so easy to spoil any part of the story. But I guess, I can say that the setting is a big part of the vibe that the story is giving. That aspect is very well-done too. The world just kept giving me something interesting in it.
The characters are awesome. I love Twelve. First of all, I love her name. Second, she’s not perfect. But I saw her grow so much throughout the story. If you would compare the Twelve at the beginning of the book to the Twelve at the end, the growth is very clear. It’s like she sees her world and everything differently at the end. I also love the side characters. They weren’t shadowed by Twelve but they also didn’t outshine Twelve. Just perfect.
Fireborn is another amazing read from middle-grade/childrens genre. I’ve never read any book from this genre that I didn’t enjoy and so it’s becoming one of my favorite genres....more
When I read reviews comparing (in a good way) this book to the Percy Jackson series, I thought it must be really good. Even though I haven’t read the When I read reviews comparing (in a good way) this book to the Percy Jackson series, I thought it must be really good. Even though I haven’t read the PJO series yet, I am aware of how good it is. So I was really excited to read this one. I know, I know, you must be thinking that if I was excited, then why is my review late? In my defense, I read the book a day after receiving a copy, I just didn’t write a review right away. LOL.
Anyway, The Mostly Invisible Boy is everything I expected it to be – magical and action-packed. I can’t really say if this really resembles PJO but I can say that people who love that series would surely love this new series as well.
The Mostly Invisible Boy features Casey, who the title refers to as mostly invisible boy. I didn’t connect with him right away, to be honest. But he grew on me. I ended up loving him as the story goes and even became a favorite, which means I really want to see more of him in the next books. He’s definitely a character that’s easy to root for. I think he’s very brave and kind. I especially love his relationship with his little sister, Gloria. Gloria, on the other hand, was too easy to like. She had my heart right from the moment I met her on the page. She’s so cute. Gloria and Casey’s relationship is so sweet and I love sweet siblings relationship in books. Speaking of relationship, I also loved the friendship they develop with Luciana, a Sylvan.
As an opener of a new series, it did a great job at introducing the characters and making the readers fall in love with them. It also introduces a very interesting world. Secret worlds hidden in real world always hold my interest. Books like this helps me fool myself to think that magic is real, it’s just hidden. Hehe. Sylvan wood is very interesting and intriguing. I know there’s more to it than already shown. Same with the magic itself. This is not all. I know the Sylvan Woods still holds more secret and I can’t wait to discover them.
The writing is very engaging. The pacing was just enough and the story flowed perfectly. Overall, this is a well-executed story and I can’t wait to meet more characters and creatures. This author is a new favorite of mine.
If you love magical worlds, monsters and adventure stories, I highly recommend this book....more
I found Jam Sessions informative and relatable, which makes it an important read.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. In fact, I diI found Jam Sessions informative and relatable, which makes it an important read.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. In fact, I didn’t even know what this book is about. I didn’t read the blurb before I started reading. This book features a boy, Phillip, who has anxiety that definitely went strong when his mother took him in a new place and in a new school, but for a reason. As most middle schools, Phillip’s new school has bullies who he was associated with and it didn’t help with his anxiety that Phillip even had panic attacks.
I think this is a very realistic book. I never thought I would see myself in a boy like Phillip but I did. I have anxiety for as long as I can remember but it was definitely worse during my teenage years. I felt for Phillip as he navigated each day in his new school, trying to fit in and really, just trying to survive. The portrayal of anxiety in this book is very realistic and relatable. I know that not all share the same way of dealing anxiety and panic but still, I saw myself in Phillip. At first, he associated himself with wrong people but he found the right friends to be with along the way. I want to have friends like Ashley, Jaylan and Daniel. I wish all teens, especially the ones struggling with mental health has friends like them.
I also love Phillip’s favorite teacher, Mr. Filters. His Jam Sessions are the best and I wished I had the same teacher in school. Using my creativity with the help of my teacher would’ve helped me a lot in dealing with my mental health issues. Phillip and his mother have a good enough relationship but his mother is busy with work. Thankfully he has a good relationship with his grandfather. Not all the teachers in his school are good parent figures but the ones that are good are really likeable. I think the author did a great job at portraying the teachers. He did a great job at portraying the bullies, as well. They were very realistic.
The writing overall is great. I enjoyed the short chapters which I think children and middle grade readers and even adult readers will love. There were capitalized words in dialogues throughout the book and they bothered me at first but got used to them eventually. The story itself is a bit slow in the beginning but picks up as the story goes.
For me, this book is important and I really hope many will have the chance to read this. This will not just educate people who are not that familiar with anxiety and panic attacks but will also help those who needed help with this issue....more
It’s not hard to love this book, mainly because of Amari. Right from the very first scene, she stole my heart. Amari is strong-willed and very brave aIt’s not hard to love this book, mainly because of Amari. Right from the very first scene, she stole my heart. Amari is strong-willed and very brave and overall has an amazing personality. She lives in a poor neighborhood but goes to a posh school and what she’s going through in that school pains me. So when the fantasy side of the story begins, I was elated because finally, Amari gets to shine more.
The fantasy element really surprised me, not because it’s new but because I enjoyed it a lot. I enjoyed learning about the Bureau and I found them interesting along all the magical creatures and abilities in Supernatural world. the supernatural abilities are also enjoyable to read even though there’s nothing new in them. This made me realize that the writing is incredible.
I also enjoyed the mystery side with Quinton.I think the author did a good job at handling that specific side of the story. I was eager to know more about Quinton in every chapter even though he’s really not present in the huge part of the story, but his presence is always there because Amari’s connection to her brother is very pure. And of course, Quinton is very much connected to the Bureau (not a spoiler because it’s very obvious. LOL).
Speaking of Quinton, his story is not the only aspect I love but also his character in general. I love his relationship or bond with Amari. He’s very protective and loyal. And the fact that I love him from the very first time Amari talked about him says a lot. Aside from Quinton, I also loved the other side characters. This book is filled with characters you’ll love. I can’t say much to avoid spoiling things especially because some of the characters, you just can’t be sure about them at first. All I can do is name them. I ended up loving Elsie, Agent Magnus and Fiona and of course Amari and Quinton’s mother. Even Dylan and Lara kept my interest. The characters are probably the best part of this book.
Yay! 5 stars. I really wasn’t expecting to still have a 5-star read as the year is ending but here it is. I just can’t find anything that I don’t like in this book. I absolutely love it and I’m sure you will too.
This is a very charming take on the classic Alice in Wonderland. First of all, I found the concept brilliant. Sure, the entire plot resembles the origThis is a very charming take on the classic Alice in Wonderland. First of all, I found the concept brilliant. Sure, the entire plot resembles the original but the idea that Lewis Caroll had left diaries that tells people how to cross to Wonderland is fascinating.
I also adored the main characters and I find them realistic and relatable. Celia is dyslexic and I think the author did well in her portrayal. Tyrus is a nerd and was bullied for it and I think it's handled well too.
The writing is amazing. It's very whimsical just like the original and I loved it. The writing is one of the charms of the original Alice in Wonderland and J. Scott Savage did a very good job at writing the same way. I'm glad he did. The overall plot resembles the original but that didn't ruin the fun for me because it's still exciting. ...more
This was marketed as Lemony Snicket meets Dorian Gray, and also promises the macabre humour of Roald Dahl and the warmth and charm of Despicable Me, aThis was marketed as Lemony Snicket meets Dorian Gray, and also promises the macabre humour of Roald Dahl and the warmth and charm of Despicable Me, and wow, the marketing team of this book did a great job because those are exactly what The Beast and the Bethany has delivered. Well, those and more.
This book is a delightful treat. Just a few days ago I was telling my cousin that it’s been a long while since I read for pleasure and not for a blog tour or ARC (I’m not complaining, just merely stating a fact) and then I read this book and I was more thankful that I join blog tours hosted by people whose book preferences I trust, such as Dave. Why, this book is amazing. I enjoyed it right from the start and couldn’t put it down.
It opens on a scene introducing two of the main characters, Ebenezer Tweezer and Bethany and instantly letting me know who they are and how they are as characters. They are the most interesting. The opening line promptly gives a lot about Ebenezer. It says…
Ebenezer tweezer was a terrible man with a wonderful life. – JACK MEGGITT-PHILLIPS (THE BEAST AND THE BETHANY)
And then Bethany, even with her seemingly innocent first line in the book, she was obviously not a nice kid. I liked the main characters and probably the best part of this book. They’re morally grey and the author didn’t hide their flaws or rather their cruelty – Bethany with the cruelty, or naughtiness, of a child and Ebenezer who is almost heartless and whose priority is staying young. Ebenezer, in his 511 years, let his pet beast influence and dictate his actions. I would even say he was manipulated, though the beast and Ebenezer’s relationship started almost innocently.
I really, REALLY, loved reading about the main characters and seeing how they grew. It’s a bit predictable where the story is heading or how the characters will evolve by the end of the book but it’s still amazing going through the journey, seeing them develop feelings. Ebenezer and Bethany really crawled their ways to my heart. Their backstories also tugged at my heartstrings, which brings me to the mood of the book. This book seems charming and heartwarming and it is but more than that it is dark and sad at times.
One of the saddest scenes for me is when Bethany asked something from the beast. I thought she was going to ask for a pet because she wants one but she asked for something else and I almost tear up seeing her so heartbroken. You see, Bethany is an orphan. Go figure. As for Ebenezer…There is something sad about people who value their physique or beauty. This theme has always been a sensitive issue for me. I won’t talk about why but stories with this theme always hits me hard. And Ebenezer is such a very likable character, despite everything, that reading his story makes me somehow sad. Obviously this book has moral lessons, lessons I’m pretty sure we all already know but we just don’t live by them. Again, it’s sad.
The side characters are well-written as well. I liked that I felt as if I spent as much time with the side characters as with the main characters, which is impossible because most of the scenes only feature Ebenezer, Bethany and the beast. The beast is a fascinating creature. Yes, he is evil. It’s not a morally grey character, he’s really evil and has done lots of evil in the story. And yet I liked how he was written. The author obviously succeeded in writing a good antagonist.
The book is really well-written and the story engaging. The writing style is okay. It’s simple and easy to read which is expected in this genre. Though there are times that I felt the writing is trying hard to appeal to older readers, which first of all, it doesn’t have to because the story will appeal to all ages. But anyway, I guess some of the quotes won’t appeal to kids nor would they understand them. The illustrations in this book are also amazing. I love them. I’m definitely adding this book to my list of Childrens books to buy. (I will never have children but I have little cousins who I want to buy MG books for.)
As I already said, this book will appeal to all ages. Its meaningful messages will appeal to older readers and even young readers with the guidance of adults. Especially since in order to deliver those messages, this book touches difficult themes. But there’s humour in this book too which kids and kids at heart will enjoy. ...more
This is a very cute story and I really believe would appeal to children. It features not only the fairy folk - with pixies, dwarves, giants- but I thiThis is a very cute story and I really believe would appeal to children. It features not only the fairy folk - with pixies, dwarves, giants- but I think the whole setting is very appealing to children and middle grades and the main characters are very relatable to kids.
The main characters are Arty and Emma and I love them both. I also liked that Emma is more artistic while Arty is more scientific. They're such a perfect duo and I'm glad that the story is told in their POVs.
The book features a lot of adventures that even I found enjoyable and fun so I know younger readers would love them too. But then there are some parts that I think kids will find a bit boring, especially when Arty was busy learning about what's happening to fairy folk. Those parts drag. In my case, they're not boring because I understand those parts are important but younger readers might skip them. But overall, I find the whole book fun to read. ...more
I love reading first books of fantasy series because I enjoy discovering fictional/magical worlds for the first time. That is, of course, if it’s doneI love reading first books of fantasy series because I enjoy discovering fictional/magical worlds for the first time. That is, of course, if it’s done well. In this book, I liked the feeling that I was discovering the magical world alongside the protagonist, Thomas. And because of this I felt more connected with Thomas. But still, regarding the magic aspect, Thomas’ reactions throughout the book threw me off a bit.
In the beginning, he seemed to believe in magic easily enough, or at least willing enough to believe that magic indeed exists. But then, after some time, I noticed that he acts more surprised and confused about everything that’s magical. Maybe it’s because in the beginning, his father’s last words are in his mind. But it’s more believable if he’s more confused, skeptical, or hesitant in the beginning rather than later in the story.
The first half of the book suffers from too-much telling. When it comes to magical books, I expect every aspect to come alive to make it more magical and that often achieved with showing more rather than telling. Sadly this book lacks in that area, at least the first half of the book does. It was really boring at first. I even found the first scene cliche. This is a magic book for younger audience and I think it’s very important that the readers are hooked right from the very first scene. But then it picks up in the second half. Suddenly, it’s action-packed and I’m satisfied.
There were a plethora of characters and I like them all enough. Though I still find them underdeveloped and in need of more depth. But this is only book 1 so there’s more time for development. I do love Thomas. He’s such a sweet kid. I love how he is to his mom, even without his father, who left seven years ago. By the way, the mystery of his dad’s absence is what hooked me to keep reading after finding the first chapter boring. Thomas wasn’t sure what happened to his dad and I wanted to know. Another thing, Thomas’ friendship with Enrique is amazing.
Lastly, I found the Book of Sorrows itself a little disappointing. I was expecting more from it. I was so thrilled when Thomas was given the book of sorrows and when he inspected the box it’s in for the first time, I was excited…but then, the pacing gets really slow.
Despite my issues, I still think that this book is a nice start for a series. Overall, it’s a magical read....more
This one really surprised me and it's the kind of book that I know I will reread someday. The characters are amazing. I love Aleja. She's a badass andThis one really surprised me and it's the kind of book that I know I will reread someday. The characters are amazing. I love Aleja. She's a badass and also relatable. I think most of us have dreamed of adventures like her. The plot is well-crafted. I love every second of the story and was left wanting more when I was done reading. But the best thing about this book is the world-building. The author has created such rich, beautiful fantasy world. There's a vivid picture in my head of this fantasy world.
Overall, a well-written book that promises pure enjoyment....more
This book is a dream come true for all the readers and writers who ever wished they can jump into books, be part of th“Be brave, be curious, be kind.”
This book is a dream come true for all the readers and writers who ever wished they can jump into books, be part of the stories, and interact with the fictional characters. Being a bookwanderer is really so cool. And right from the start, warmth enveloped my heart. I just knew the story will not be just cool, it will be heartwarming as well.
I was right.
Tilly, along with all the characters are just so easy to love. Even the antagonist, who I won't name, is well-written. His motive or reason for being such a character is understandable., especially considering the rules of bookwandering and the fictional characters in the book. Speaking of rules...
I liked the way the rules of bookwandering are explained. There's not one bit confusing about it. Every aspect of it is explained well that I can say the magic system of the book is well-structured. The book really did well at laying out even the limitations of bookwandering. I guess the author made sure of this so the younger readers may understand the story clearly. This is a childrens/middle-grade story after all.
The reveals in the story, or rather the twists are amazing. I can even say that some of them are jaw-dropping. They're simply brilliant. Also, I already said this book is heartwarming but there are few scenes that made me tear up a bit. I can't say what scenes exactly because they'll be spoilers but my heart went towards Tilly more because of these scenes.
Overall, I love this book. It's one of the best middle-grade books I've ever read. To be honest, I'm now realizing why so many readers have this genre as their favorite. So far, all the books I've read in this genre are really great stories and so heartwarming. Sorry for not realizing it sooner, but this genre is one of the best genres I know. In my defense, I'm one of those readers who started reading young - I started when I was 8 - but didn't start with childrens books. I started with crime thrillers and once thought childrens books are childish...
Obviously, I was wrong. Thankfully I know that now. I apologize for my mistake. :) :) :)...more
Wonderfully written!!! Middle grade literature at its best.
“You can’t run away from darkness. It’s everywhere. The only way to see through it is to shWonderfully written!!! Middle grade literature at its best.
“You can’t run away from darkness. It’s everywhere. The only way to see through it is to shine a light.”
A Wish in the Dark surprised me. I didn't know it has a Les Misérables twist, which I love. It explores some social issues such as poverty and the unfairness that it entails. And let me say that the author did a great job of tackling the underlying themes. The story features two main characters, Pong and Nok. Their lives are too contrast with each other but that's what makes them perfect main characters. I feel like their individual personalities and social status in life makes the whole book perfect. Because each of them showed a different picture and then collided with each other.
I learned more about the world and everything within because Pong and Nok are from two different sides. And wow, the representation of the Thai culture is so well-done. I'm a Filipino and most are familiar to me but I enjoyed learning more about them and new things about Thai. Such an amazing country that I want to visit someday.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to everyone, not just to kids. I received an e-ARC from the publisher/author via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book in any way....more
The Identity Thief surprised me in so many aspects and it made me stay up all night reading it.
Imaginative and engaging…
Imagine London but ve4.5 stars
The Identity Thief surprised me in so many aspects and it made me stay up all night reading it.
Imaginative and engaging…
Imagine London but very dark — that’s where I was while reading The Identity Thief. It is set in London but with magic exist though forbidden and feared for its usage has great consequences. Magic is in form of sorcery and though there are bad witches, there are bad ones and the worst of them all is Cuttlefish. I admit the name cuttlefish is somehow over the top for me but it fits the character who is a major trickster. He shapeshifts, taking forms of anyone he can use to get his hands on the books of sorcery that he needs. And in his hunts for these books, he leaves chaos and fear in his wake. His goal for what he’s doing, achieving the God machine, is somehow ridiculous but still, that’s just make the story more imaginative.
In this alternate London, there’s a group especialized in catching anyone who deals with sorcery. I was really fascinated how brilliant Cuttlefish crimes are, how he can fool everyone he talks to. I’ve read books with shapeshifting as magic before but in The Identity Thief, this kind of magic is really used well. It made me wonder so many times if the scene I’m reading has Cuttlefish in it, are the characters are really who they are? Also, one of the places the story is set is in an old mysterious house standing beside a cemetery. It’s really atmospheric that more than I few times, I was anxious someone will jump out from the dark to make me scream.
The Reveals…
It seems like there’s two world in this book. One is Cassandra dealing with her friends in school, some family stuff, including her mom’s insistence that they befriend the new neighbors known as the River People, which she doesn’t like at all, and the other world is Cuttlefish and his crimes. As the blurb said they’re not connected. Well, in some way, they are and you would guess about it, thinks like you’d guessed right, and then at the end, the blurb is still right. They shouldn’t have been connected.
Anyway, at first, it seems like these two worlds shouldn’t be together in one story. All throughout the book I was wondering what will make the two worlds connect. And I thought maybe it’s because of Cass’s mother, Helen, who is the head of the special group especialized in catching magic users. But no, it’s more than that and I like it. And wow, the reveal with River People is amazing.
Superb storytelling…
So cryptic and mysterious and gripping. I swear if The Identity Thief is a movie, I’d be jumping every five minutes. That’s how effective the storytelling is. It’s so thrilling. But there’s also humor and it’s equally surprising. Like the humor is too eager to be part of the story so, amidst the thrill and scares, it squeezes itself to be known to the reader. There are scenes where you think it’s scary but it’s not. You know, like things moving but turns out it’s only a spider. I have a favorite funny part. There’s a part where two people are talking about some guy they’re suspicious about as Cuttlefish. (Remember: Cuttlefish take the forms of other people) And one of them blurted out how ugly the suspicious guy is and that’s his first impression. Okay, it’s not funny to call other people ugly but the delivery. The delivery is priceless.
Also, the story is told in different ways – narratives, POVs, articles (social media posts, newspaper clippings, excerpts from books). For some people, this can be confusing but for me, it makes the story more engaging and intriguing because I was never sure what kind of chapter I’m going to read next. Aside from that, it avoids info-dumping. It certainly helps with the backstories.
Well-developed characters…
The main heroine, Cassandra is very unlikeable. She’s not at all relatable for me, and characters like her and her friends are the reason why I’m not a fan of Young Adult. But I don’t think her character is very realistic. She’s only 12 and that seems too young but when I think more about it, it’s the age where the social peer pressure starts. But that’s not the only reason why I dislike Cass, what I hated the most is how she treated Hector. Ah, that kid Hector. My heart cries for him. He is a son of the River People and is new in school and wow, the bullying. Up until the end, I really wanted Hector to use sorcery just to punish them all. He has issues but Cass was too much and she acts like she knows everything.
But despite that, I was invested with Cassandra which means her character is really done well. All the side characters are also well-developed. There’s not one of them I will forget, that’s for sure. Even the ones with the slightest role are unforgettable but of course, my favorite, aside from Hector, is Cuttlefish himself. He makes every page thrilling even if he’s not part of the scene. It’s like his presence is always there. Like I said, he shapeshift so you’ll never really know if he’s with you. And the reveal in his character is really good.
Before 2020 started, I set a new rule for my star rating – I won’t give perfect ratings unless the book gives me complete enjoyment. Technically, I don’t have any issue about this book and I really enjoy it a lot but my enjoyment wasn’t complete because of Casandra. She really annoyed me at times thus a half-star less from a perfect rating.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher/author via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book in any way....more
This is adorable and I love the illustrations. I actually pick this up to use as an inspiration for my journal theme. Hehe. I might post a proper reviThis is adorable and I love the illustrations. I actually pick this up to use as an inspiration for my journal theme. Hehe. I might post a proper review soon....more
This book surprised me big time. I wasn't expecting much from it, to be honest. I dived into it just wanted to pass my time. But it took only3.5 stars
This book surprised me big time. I wasn't expecting much from it, to be honest. I dived into it just wanted to pass my time. But it took only few pages for me to fell in love with Micah and Grandpa and the story itself.
This is a decent fantasy suitable for kids but even I, at age 27, was touched and enjoyed this gem. This is definitely one of those hidden gems of a book and in a genre I don't usually read. And by the way, while reading this, my little cousin, age 4 but acts like she's 7, kept on bothering me. I ended up reading to her some of the parts. I had to translate it to her too because of course she knows little English. We're Filipinas. :) She ended up liking the story and Micah. She's so into it, she kept asking lots of questions. I ended up bribing her with some ice cream so she wouldn't bother me. (yeah, yeah, I'm not exactly nice. lol.)
Anyway, the only reason I couldn't give this more than 3.5 stars is because I think the story still has a lot of potential. But overall, this book is a nice read. ...more
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