Series Spotlight: Wesley Mackey Trilogy, by K.L. Fogg

 We have had this series sitting on our shelves for at least 3 years. We've moved it twice now! I had never read it and neither had any of the kids. It was given to us as a gift from grandparents. Finally, I gave my oldest daughter the task of reading that series for us all, so we could either decide to keep it or get rid of it! They are thick books and take up quite a bit of bookshelf space, so I had been giving them the side eye for quite some time. 

She took on the challenge and actually really liked them! She suggested that I read them as well, which I finally did--6 months later. So here we are! When I started reading them this past week, she decided to re-read them at the same time, so we had a few negotiations over who got priority to read. Ha! 

So, these were a lot of fun. Full of action--lots of kidnapping, daring escapes and rescues, bombs, fires, secret identities, diamonds, and also poisonous animals. They were clean, minus the action-related violence. I would say geared for ages 10 and up. Just for reference, my daughter is 11 and she handled them just fine. I think 3 years ago when we got them, however, they would have been a bit too intense for her.

Now for a bit about each book individually...

Serpent Tide (Wesley Mackey #1), by K.L. Fogg

4 stars: A search for identity, with lots of action!

Wesley Vandergrift is the son of one of the richest women in the United States--maybe even the world. Everyone at school envies him and also give him a rough time because of it.

What they don't know is that Wesley feels trapped. He can hardly do anything, ever. The only times he gets to do normal kid stuff, it's because the head housekeeper, Maria, aids and abets him--and doesn't tell his mom. He and his mom think so differently on every topic that he doesn't see how they could even be related.

By some chance, he is allowed to go to a horse-riding camp for a couple of days. When he meets the owners of the ranch, and their family, they all seem strangely familiar to him. Then he sees some pictures in their family room, and wheels in his head start turning. Could it be possible that this is his true family? 

So many questions, so few answers. 

* * * * *

One thing you have to know about these books is that there are several coincidences that are a bit far-fetched. You just have to roll with it, all right? That's probably me as an adult reader talking--I don't know if my daughter noticed or even was bothered by it. If you can get past the "it just so happens..." aspects of the story, it's an exciting plot, with a good bit of humor thrown in. Imogene Vandegrift, Wesley's "mom" is enough of a villian to keep things moving right along, and the supporting characters have plenty of endearing quirks. 

I think most kids will relate to the search for an identity and a sense of belonging. Well done. As soon as I was done with this one I had to go get the next!

Widow's Revenge (Wesley Mackey #2), by K.L. Fogg

4 stars: Hang on to your seat, it's an exciting ride!

Wesley finally gets to live with his Dad and stepmom, and is enjoying some of the perks of a normal (not super wealthy) life. Too bad school can't be as great. He is tired of being bullied at school, particularly by Dylan. So he finally does something about it. Unfortunately, that "something" gets him suspended from school for the rest of the year. 

His Dad finds him a tutor, who turns out to be this ultra-geeky guy named Harrison. He's all right, though. The real problem is that Wesley's grandma, after some digging into Dylan's background, has decided to give Welsey's tormentor a chance to change his life. That's right. Dylan's coming to live at the ranch. Grandma! C'mon!

Meanwhile, terrible news on the Imogene front: she survived the storm at sea and is lying in wait for her chance to reclaim Wesley, while wreaking revenge upon all who claim to be his true family.

It's going to be hard to know who to trust and even harder to come out of all this in one piece.

* * * * *

A strong second installment! Wesley and Co. have their work cut out for them for this time. As the cover would suggest, a certain black widow spider named Black Betty plays an important role in this story and yes, there quite a large forest fire as well. That's not even the half of it. There are adorable twins, more kidnapping, a senile old lady... What are you waiting for? Find this book and dive in!

Diamondback Cave (Wesley Mackey #3), by K.L. Fogg

4 stars: Diamonds and rattlers! 

 Some people just can't stop! Imogene Vandegrift is one of those people. She has a plan forever. Plans within plans. None of her evil plans include going to prison. They all include a certain stash of diamonds that she has hidden in a secret underground vault.

Well, you know that Wesley is going to get mixed up in all of this. He has to, because his friend Amanda's soon-to-be-stepdad is missing, and the grown-ups aren't doing anything about it. He and Amanda and Teddy the dog set out to find the missing man (I don't want to say his name because it would be a spoiler if you haven't read the other 2.)

Their search takes them into the depths of Diamondback Cave. Are there diamonds in there? Maybe. Are there snakes in there? Most definitely. Will they succeed in making it out alive? Well....that remains to be seen.

* * * * *

This premise is one that made me cringe as a parent--2 kids going off by themselves to search for the missing/kidnapped person. Of course it's a big secret, of course they run into trouble. Just--turn down the helicopter blades for a moment or two and get into the story!

In addition to the main plot, this one had a couple of side plots that added interest. There was an exploration of judging people by what you see, rather than who they really are, and some relationship stuff between Wesley's Dad and stepmom that were interesting to me. I don't know how my daughter felt about those parts! 

Satisfying character growth, and even a bit of a twist at the end. Good ending to the trilogy.

Have you read this trilogy? What did you think? 

Series Spotlight: Half Upon a Time, by James Riley

This is a trilogy that has taken me many moons to finish. The first book was given to us long ago--I have forgotten how or by whom. I read it way back then and enjoyed it very much, but somehow my frugal  (i.e. CHEAP) side kicked in and I never bought books 2 and 3 to finish it out. The libraries where we lived didn't have it. So it goes.

Then I received book 2 as a Mother's Day gift, and serendipitously happened to find book 3 at the library. Maybe they purchased it since I last checked?! So after 5 years, it's done in a couple of days. Nice!

Half Upon a Time (Half Upon a Time #1), by James Riley
4 stars: Delightful, with a side of sarcastic wit.
Jack has problems, like his grandfather's insistence that he rescue a princess when there are none to be found, for instance. Then a princess literally falls from the sky, and whether she likes it or not, she definitely needs rescuing. Figuring out who she is (could her grandma really be Snow White, or what?) and getting to the bottom of the whole situation is going to be an adventure for all involved.
A mashup of all sorts of fairy tales, Riley's quick wit and deft turn of phrase had me laughing in several parts of this book. The "modern girl dropped into a fairy tale world" theme worked very well here, because we got it all from Jack's point of view, with plenty of sarcastic exchanges between the characters. Along the way there were close shaves with giants, witches (and their children), and a wolf.
It did leave several loose ends to tie up, but it is the first book of a trilogy, so I suppose that's to be expected.
Content: clean
(Originally reviewed September 2014)

** 2019 update: While I did not find it as laugh-out-loud funny as the first time around, I still enjoyed it very much. I would stick with the 4 star rating.

Twice Upon a Time (Half Upon a Time, #2), by James Riley

3 stars: It's the middle book--what did you expect?


Jack, May and Prince Phillip are back to save the world--again. Well, sort of. In attempt to find out who May really is, they happen upon several legendary characters in need of some assistance; if by "assistance" you mean "demand favors at the risk of their lives." The Pied Piper, Bluebeard, the Little Mermaid, and several more. The problems keep coming and these 3 friends keep finding themselves in deeper and deeper water...um, literally and figuratively.

Meanwhile, Jack's dreams are constantly disturbed by an Eye (Wicked Queen's extraordinary guards/henchmen) named Lian who hassles him, predicts his every move, and smacks him around quite often just for the fun of it. It doesn't help that the Mirror's prophecy hangs over all their heads: one of the boys will betray May and one will die. Nothing like a good old prophecy to keep things chipper.

It will take everything they've got simply to survive, but rest assured they'll do it with plenty of sarcastic comments and foolishly bold feats of daring.

* * * * *
Well, talk about a sidetracked adventure! One or two questions about a person's identity become a tidal wave of things gone wrong. The verbal sparring of three main characters was still my favorite part of the book. There were some plot lines that didn't make sense for most of the book, which got old, but I was willing to stick it out based on my general enjoyment of it. It was fun to see how many stories and fairy tales I could spot.


Content: Clean.

Once Upon the End (Half Upon a Time, #3), by James Riley

4 stars: The plot twists in this one were great!


The 3 friends are at the beginning of this final tale, with Phillip and his rescued Sleeping Beauty (Penelope) back in his kingdom doing boring royal stuff; May sleeping in an attic and cooking and cleaning for her surly stepmom and stepsisters; and Jack on the side of the Wicked Queen as one of her Eyes. Nothing is going right for any of them, it seems. And yet...

* * * * *
I'm not going to go any further with my description, because I don't want to give anything away. Never fear, though, there are adventures aplenty still ahead for our Fearsome Threesome--oh, Foursome, I guess now, with Penelope. There were some fun and very clever plot twists that kept everything hopping and incidentally, made certain parts of Books 1 & 2 make more sense.

I was satisfied by the ending--of the book itself and of the trilogy.

Content: Clean.

* * * * * * * * * *

This is a fun series. It's Young Adult/Teen, but I would say probably young teen. Actually, my 11 year old and my 9 year old have read the first book and liked it, so it could go down to elementary-aged kiddos as well.

I appreciated that Riley kept it squeaky clean throughout the series. Even with the boy/girl dynamics, there were a couple of kisses to awaken sleeping...people, but other than that, it was all just fun and innocent. Even the kisses were innocent--everyone was pretty embarrassed by the whole thing, to be  honest!

The characters are all very witty and full of ready one-liners for every perilous situation they encounter. While everything did come together by the end, I liked that it didn't just fall into place from the get-go, particularly with certain relationships. Jack's relationship with his Dad and sister was an interesting story arc.

I guess now I may actually have to purchase book 3, so we have the whole set at home!

Series for a Sick Day: Howl's Moving Castle

I have been down the past week and half--or has it been 2 weeks now? with sickness. Possibly flu, even though I got my shot. The crud. Basically. I thought I was mostly better, than got hit with a second round this past weekend.

So, what do I turn to? Why, books, of course! Usually books that I already know I'll like, to be specific. I have realized that a good deal of my reading is for escape or comfort. Even though my life is not nearly as stressful as most of yours, probably. Sometimes I'm up for a challenge in books, but many times, I just want to travel to a new but familiar place in my imagination.

I'm okay with that. I've made some goals to stretch my boundaries with that a bit, but in the meantime, bring on the comfort reads!

One of the days, I pulled up a list of all the books on my kindle app (on my phone) and scrolled down through to see what I had read. I came across Howl's Moving Castle, by Dianne Wynne Jones, and I knew I had found what I needed to get me through another day on the couch.

If you've never read it, it's quirky, middle grade fantasy. Each of the 3 books is set in the same world, but with different main characters. In the later books, you get glimpses of characters from the first, which makes it more fun.

Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle #1), by Diana Wynne Jones
5 stars: Original and completely delightful.

Sophie is the eldest of 3, and not even the daughter of a poor woodcutter. So basically, she has no chance to make her way in the world. After all, it's always the youngest that's the big success. Her stepmother is actually nice. When the girls' father dies, they have to be apprenticed to various places in town, except for Sophie who stays to run the hat shop.

Then she is changed into an old woman, due to a curse by the Witch of the Waste. She figures the only person who can help her is the evil wizard Howl, who's castle has been roving the hills for several weeks now, making everyone dreadfully nervous. Off she stumps to catch the castle. She doesn't know that at the castle her destiny awaits.

 Sophie and Howl can't help but clash all the time, and it's highly entertaining for the rest of us.

(12/8/15)

Castle in the Air (Howl's Moving Castle #2), by Diana Wynne Jones
4 stars: A poor carpet merchant gets a chance to live his dreams...for better or worse.

Abdullah is a carpet merchant who dreams of much more--a more exciting past, a more romantic future. Then one day a stranger sells him a magic carpet and that very night he is whisked away into one of his daydreams. He meets a lovely girl named Flower-in-the-Night, but he also meets her angry father. He is fated to be "raised above all others in the land," based on a prophecy his father paid for when Abdullah was just young. Now he's not sure, though, if that means great wealth or at the end of a noose!

When his lovely Flower-in-the-Night gets snatched away to a castle in the air, Abdullah is determined to rescue her. He has adventures of all sorts along the way. He falls in with a cunning mercenary and very reluctantly, with a demon cat and her kitten. The magic carpet is helpful...to a point. The surly genie in the bottle, likewise. If he's going to ever retrieve his princess, he's going to have to stop wasting wishes, somehow get up to that castle, and then...a plan will materialize. He hopes.

* * * * *
2014: This was great fun--witty and charming. It's been a long time since I read "Howl's Moving Castle." It made me want to look it up again.

re-read Dec 2015: Mostly skimmed it, to remind myself of the story. I remembered some of the surprise identities, but not all. Still enjoyable the second time through.

2/25/18: I enjoyed the flowery language of Abdullah's culture this time around, especially in contrast to the more blunt way of speaking employed by the northerners. 

House of Many Ways (Howl's Moving Castle #3), by Diana Wynne Jones

3 stars: My least favorite of the 3, but still good fun.

Charmain is sent to her Uncle's, to look after his house while he is away being healed by the Elves. She hasn't had any magical training, and the house is very magical. Fortunately, her uncle has left answers to most questions--all she has to do is ask.

Then a boy named Peter comes along, claiming to be an apprentice of her uncle's. Oh yes, and she gets a job in the palace, helping the King sort out his library. The kingdom is about to go bankrupt, and the King feels sure that the answer to where their wealth has gone can be found amongst the papers and books in the library.

Our old friends, Sophie and Howl, are also called in to help investigate, along with their little boy. However, it's Charmain who has all the pieces of the puzzle, if she can just put them together.

* * * * *
Sophie and Howl are the brightest parts of the story, but Charmain manages to hold her own. The Lubbock was sufficiently creepy. The breeding laundry was pretty awesome, as were Peter and Charmain's domestic travails.

(12/13/15)

* * * * *
What are your main reasons for reading? Escape? Enlightenment? To collect facts?
Does that reasoning change when you're stressed or sick?

Do tell!

Series Spotlight: As the Ward Turns, by Joni Hilton

Today's series is a throwback to the early 90's. In other words, I have had these books for a long time! I don't remember when I bought them, but I'm pretty sure it was pre-marriage. I have re-read them many times. This last time around, though, it had probably been years since I last cracked them open.
Even though I knew what was going to happen, the turns of phrase, and the zany situations had me laughing all over again!

If you can't tell from the titles, this whole series is very Mormon-centric. A "ward" is the Mormon word for a congregation. Those unfamiliar with Latter-day Saint terms and culture may not think it's funny at all. Some of it is a little bit dated--for instance, "Homemaking night" is now just called a Relief Society Activity. ("Relief Society" is the women's organization within the church.) If you have never heard of either of those terms, you may need to find a Mormon friend to interpret for you as you read these!

Last thing you should know before diving in--there's some straight-up preaching in all of these books. Spoken through the mouths of the main characters, but really, spelling it out as though you are sitting in a Sunday School lesson. That's not my favorite style of delivery for such things--I much prefer a more subtle approach--but it was fine. For me, the humor more than made up for "hammer the point home" sections.

As the Ward Turns (As the Ward Turns #1), by Joni Hilton

4 stars: Let the hilarity begin!

Andy Taylor has an unfortunate new perm and also a new calling: Ward Relief Society President. A busy mother of 3, she feels a bit overwhelmed, but determined to do a good job. She needs someone to be her Homemaking night coordinator, and she's heard there's a sister (not currently active in the church) who has built her entire house using only particle board and a hot glue gun. Perfect!

When she meets Edith Horvitz in person, however, she realizes she may have just made a huge mistake. Edith is very enthusiastic about her new calling, and in fact, has invited a local reality show to film Andy's visit to explain her new responsibilities. Edith, if not certifiably crazy, is pretty doggone close. Perhaps the glued house should have been the first clue? In any case, Homemaking night will probably never be the same again!

And that's just the beginning...

* * * * *
Good thing Andy has a sense of humor--she's really going to need it! A few blue-ribbon apologies wouldn't hurt either, as she always seems to be sticking her foot in her mouth. At least her heart is in the right place.

Even having read these many times before, I found myself chuckling once again at Andy's embarrassing predicaments and Edith's antics. Perhaps being easily embarrassed myself, and prone to get into such situations, made it all the more funny.

(Finished reading Sept. 17)

Around the Ward in 80 Days (As the Ward Turns #2), by Joni Hilton

3 stars: Bad guys, missed flights, and some powerful glue.

As an extremely generous thank-you gift for putting up with him all these years, Andy's brother Nick is taking her and her entire family to England on vacation. She is thrilled! A little less thrilling is the reality of her offer to hold onto Nick and Zan's wedding gifts while they're on their honeymoon. Particularly the macaw (from Edith--who else?) that cusses a blue streak and imitates household noises.

Then Andy is hit by a sudden attack of stomach flu in the airport, and misses the flight (everyone else has already boarded.) If that weren't bad enough, upon returning home, she finds a couple of burglars--or something--in her house. Before long, she is on her own [almost] private flight to England, along with her kidnappers and Edith--who was just stopping by and insists on coming along. She is supposed to lead them to her brother (his shadowy past catching up with him), but there are plenty of things that could go wrong in the meantime. She hopes.

* * * * *
I like the beginning and the ending of this one the best. The middle is good for a smile here and there, but yeah. Get your laughs in at the beginning, then stick it out to the surprise ending.

(Finished reading Sept. 17)

Scrambled Home Evenings (As the Ward Turns #3), by Joni Hilton

4 stars: I laughed until I cried!

Andy manages to deliver 3 healthy little boys, but apparently some of her brain cells have been shed in the process. At least, her unfortunate habit of saying the wrong thing to the wrong person seems to go into warp drive. Is it possible for one person to actually die of embarrassment? If so, Andy is a definite contender, followed by her young teenage daughter Erica--who suffers from second-hand embarrassment due to all of her mother's embarrassing episodes. [How many times can I use the word "embarrass" in one review? Let's count.]

Andy knows her life has turned completely upside down, though, when Brian loses his job and receives an offer from Edith--crazy glue lady. Yep, she is as eccentric as ever, but now somehow she's famous for it. Also rich (from the glue.) Sometimes it seems to Andy that Edith may even be the saner of the two of them. Probably not the best sign. If her husband accepts the job offer, their lives will no doubt jump a few levels from normal, but hey--at least they'll have a roof over their heads. A Day-Glo mansion roof, to be precise.

* * * * *
I thought the second book wasn't as funny as the first, but this one was right back up there. I don't even remember now which part it was that set me off, but I have not laughed that hard in a long time.

Her portrayal of the kids was spot-on, and it was fun to see Edith's transformation from neighborhood curiosity (remember the particle board/glue gun house?) to wealthy tycoon. Andy, I was laughing with you, friend, not at you. Okay, maybe a little bit at you, but mostly with. Good times.


Content: Some of the humor relates to nursing mom issues.


(Finished reading Sept. 24)

Stop the Ward I Want to Get Off! (As the Ward Turns #4), by Joni Hilton

2 stars: I was hoping for more.

Andy, Brian, and their 6 children still live with Edith in the mansion, only now there's an added attraction--Edith Land! So, remember the airport llamas? That didn't work out so well, so Edith had to figure out what to do with all those llamas--oh, and the birds that were supposed to train the llamas (by repeating phrases over and over.) Naturally, a petting zoo was the perfect answer. Edith Land just kept growing from there, much to the chagrin of the Taylors.

Meanwhile, Andy continues to try to keep her sanity in a house of craziness, NOT say embarrassing things in front of large groups of people, and put up with children, husband, and Edith. It's a full-time job.

* * * * *
You guys! How did I not know there were 4 of these?! I went to look them up and this one popped up. I ordered it the same day and read it soon after it arrived.

Later...
Perhaps my expectations were too great. It was just okay. Some of the incidents were amusing, but it started to feel a bit forced at times.

So, unless you have to get every book in a series to feel closure in your life, you could do without this last one. I did for all these years.

Content: One of the embarrassing moments here is a misunderstanding where Andy shouts, "No more secs!" to a child, which everyone else hears as "No more sex!" The joke doesn't die for at least a chapter.

(Finished reading Nov. 12)


* * * * *

Have you read these? What did you think? 

Series Spotlight: Latter-day Spies, by Michele Ashman Bell

My oldest son has read this series several times and I finally made time to read it as well. It was fun discussing each one together, or having him ask me where I was in the book as I was reading it. Shared bookish experiences strengthen not only your bond as parent/child, but also their love of reading.

This series is definitely geared toward the older end of the middle graders. I would put the age range at 8-12. The main characters are 11 years old, but I think even young teens might enjoy them. For more sensitive readers I would hold off until 10 or older. There are some intense scenes in each book. In fact, my son said if he starts reading one of them at night, he has to read all the way to the end, otherwise it gives him nightmares. (He is 9 years old.) So take that into consideration.

As the name of the series implies, the main characters are Latter-day Saints, or Mormons. It doesn't come up very much or in detail. However, in all 3 books, the kids talk about prayer and answers to prayer, which I appreciated. They pray for help in the frightening situations they find themselves in. I thought the religious element was woven in well, without sticking out or giving the feeling that you were being preached at.

Spyhunt (Latter-day Spies #1), by Michele Ashman Bell

4 stars: A thriller for kids.

Seth and Sadie Fletcher, 11 year old twins, live in Frankfurt, Germany with their parents. Their dad is an U.S. Ambassador there. Their favorite game is called Spyhunt. They play it all over town. One team is the spies and the other is the hunters. They pick a landmark and try to reach it without the other team catching them.

Their summer is going swell, though a bit curtailed due to their parents' overprotectiveness, when they find out that the son of one of their friends is coming to live with them for awhile. His name is Fami, and he is blind. His dad was killed by lightning--the same strike that caused Fami's blindness--and his mother has something else going on and needs a safe place for him to stay. The twins are not too excited by this news, but rather grudgingly make room in their plans for Fami.

When he comes, they're surprised by how normal and cool he is. However, several things don't really add up. For one thing, the story his mom told their parents is much different the story she told Fami about why he was going to the Fletchers'. Also, a menacing man with piercing black eyes has started showing up more and more, almost like he's following them.

When things take a turn for the worse, they 3 kids are going to have to rely on each other, and the power of prayer to get them through.

* * * * *
The relationship between the twins was well-done and realistic. They loved each other and had each other's back when the chips are down, but day-to-day they also teased and annoyed each other. Fami and his mystical rat helped keep things lively and gave a refreshingly different perspective on the events going on.

Some heart-pounding moments were mixed well with lighter fare to keep things exciting but not too terrifying.


Content: Some violence, some intense scenes, as noted above.

(Finished reading July 24)

Dragon's Jaw (Latter-day Spies #2), by Michele Ashman Bell

4 stars: Strong sequel brings back our favorite characters and some of the villains too.

After the events of the first book, Fami, Seth, and Sadie are happy to be taking a trip back to the United States to get away from it all for awhile. Their cook is even coming with them, even though she is terrified of airplanes. They are thrilled when they find out that in New York they have an entire floor for just their family--for security purposes. They start playing hide and seek, but after a frightening experience in the hotel elevator, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher decide their hotel is not as safe as they thought.

The kids are sent to Fami's grandfather's cabin in the mountains of Utah. Meanwhile, Fami keeps having dreams about his dad trying to tell him some kind of message before his death. Before long it becomes apparent that their location may have been compromised even there, so they all go into an even more remote place to camp.

Then things really get interesting.

* * * * *
If your kids liked the first, they will probably like this one too. The twins' friendship with Fami continued to develop, and this one had an added element of mystery surrounding a cave and the message from Fami's dream.

Content: Again, some violence, some intense situations.

(Finished reading July 26)

Rescue (Latter-day Spies #3), by Michele Ashman Bell

3 stars: Still good, but I liked the first 2 better.

Now the kids are back in London, at an official spy training school--since they seem to need it. Soon after that is complete, they are sent off to Brazil. Maybe it's the training, but it seems like they're seeing suspicious characters all over the place!

Once they arrive, they find out that tensions are running high between the villagers they're staying with and some land developers. The kids get the feeling that no-one is telling the full story, but they're not sure who to trust. As things come to a head, the kids will have to use all the skills they have learned. Their survival, and the survival of their new friends depends on it!

p.s. Be ready for some surprises!

* * * * *
This one veered away from the "kids getting chased by bad guys" formula that was quite successful in the first two. Helping the villagers prevail against the avaricious land developers was good, but not nearly as exciting to read about as the others.


Content: I would say this one had the fewest intense scenes.

(Finished reading July 27)


* * * * *

If you and or your kids pick these up, I would love to hear your thoughts! They're a bit older, so they might be hard to find. Amazon has them in its used book store, or just $1.99 for Kindle. Ours were courtesy of a garage sale.

Series Spotlight: Finishing School, by Gail Carriger

If you like steampunk at all, give this series a try! Gail Carriger has a created a world of unlikely companions: for example, proper young ladies training to be spies and assassins. She has mixed in a few supernatural elements--vampires and werewolves--and added a school that's a floating dirigible, mechanical gadgets and gizmos, clever dialogue, and all the social conundrums and intrigues of boarding school.

The whole series was fun and entertaining. It never takes itself too seriously. If you need a break from more weighty fare, you could do a lot worse than these books!

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School #1)

4 stars: Highly enjoyable.

Sophronia is so busy riding dumbwaiters and climbing trees that there's absolutely no time leftover for being a lady, much to her mother's dismay. So her mother sends her off to Finishing School. As Sophronia soon finds out, it is a very unusual sort of school, with as much emphasis on information gathering and deceptive messages as eyelash fluttering or curtseys. Much to her surprise, Sophronia feels right at home.

But there's a puzzle to be solved: one of the older girls, Monique, has hidden a mysterious communication device that is highly sought after on all sides. In fact the school (3 floating dirigibles smashed together) has already been at battle with flywaymen because of it. Sophronia is determined to find it, no matter what!

The steampunk world already intrigues me, and this deliciously frothy plot topped it off to perfection.

(Originally reviewed on Goodreads, Dec. 2015)

Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School #2)

3 stars: If you liked the first, you will like this one!

Sophronia is back at school in the dirigible, and back to her old tricks--she certainly climbs down to the boiler room often enough to chat with her boy-pal Soap. Everyone on board is all atwitter, because the school is actually going to London. For a ball, no less!

However, not everything is as it seems (is it ever?) Sophronia is convinced there is something more to the trip than simply allowing the young ladies a chance to use their best ball gowns--and their espionage training. There are political rumblings amongst the supernaturals (vampires and werewolves) and London is the heart of all things political for the kingdom.

Sophronia is not about to let the wool get pulled over her eyes. In the meantime, there are lessons to learn (hive dynamics of vampires, the use of accessories as weapons), boys to practice flirting with, and best friends to defend. It's going to be a busy semester!

* * * * *
Much like the first, this was a fun ride and a quick read. Sophronia faces new obstacles with aplomb, both socially and in her clandestine activities.

It's all a bit over the top, but it's meant to be! Don't look for deep thoughts or subtle messages here. This is nothing but delicious book candy. Enjoy it while it lasts!

(Finished reading May 1)

Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School #3)

3 stars: A stepping-stone on toward the conclusion.

Welcome back to steampunk England, where certain proper young ladies have to know not only etiquette and deportment, but also the inner workings of a werewolf pack. It would also help to know who they can trust, if anyone.

So what are Sophronia and friends to do when one of their own has an urgent need to return to Scotland? Well, they sneak out of school and find a way to get her home, of course. They hitch a ride on a train that is strangely empty. Well, almost empty.

The politics that Sophronia just brushed up against in book 2 are back in full force, and as usual, she finds herself in the thick of things. Saving London as everyone knows it may be up to her. Fortunately, if there's anything Sophronia's good at, it's coming up with a plan.

* * * * *
I liked this one for all the same reasons I liked the first two: the steampunk setting juxtaposed with proper English society, and an intrepid maiden deftly finding her place in both worlds. Witty writing and enough action and romance to keep things moving.

This one didn't stand out in particular from its fellows, but by this point, reading it was a foregone conclusion.

(Finished reading May 3)

Manners & Mutiny (Finishing School #4)

4 stars: Everything comes to a head.

Sophronia is back at school just in time. This time the danger is going to hit close to home. While most of the young ladies are safely and properly not on board when the takeover happens, Sophronia is there--along with some of the less helpful staff members. Once again, though, people have secrets that Sophronia knows nothing about. It's time to put all her skills to the utmost test and bring this thing around--for the good of all England. It's unfortunate that the school itself may become a casualty in the fray.

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This was a strong ending to the series. Loose ends were tied up. Like the others, there was plenty of sneaking around, plotting, and covert action. Meanwhile, there were a few secrets revealed that had been hinted at all along.

Sophronia had to make some decisions about what her future was going to look like and who would be included in that. I was satisfied on all accounts.

(Finished reading May 4)

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A note on content: These are geared for teens and are clean, for the most part. These are proper young ladies, after all. When the werewolves transform into people, they are naked. Generally it just gets a mention, at times it is commented on a bit more. A brief discussion amongst the girls about the mysteries of male anatomy in one of the books.

FYI: This series is a prequel for Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, which are written for adults, and include some sex scenes (according to reviews I have read.)  

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Have you read these? What did you think?

Series Spotlight: The Lyra Novels, by Patricia Wrede

I just finished this series of 5 books, which came all in one set for Kindle, under the title The Lyra Novels. While they are set in the same world, there aren't any overlapping characters and the books can be read in any order. Of course, certain types of people and places play central roles in some books and more peripheral roles in the others.

One recurring theme throughout the series is the idea of powerful magical objects that have fallen into the hands of somewhat ordinary people. The object must then be protected and saved from those determined to get it, who are usually much more experienced and also evil.

Shadow Magic was Wrede's first published book. As I have only read her later work up until now, it was enjoyable to see her early efforts and appreciate her growth as a writer. In fact, at the beginning of the series, she talks about the experience of re-writing Shadow Magic several years later, with examples of changes she made. It was fascinating. This was the rewritten version, by the way.

Even though I didn't find any that I loved, I'm glad I read them. They're written for adults, but teens would probably like them, too. If you just want to read one, pick up #5: The Raven Ring. My second favorite would be Shadow Magic.

Shadow Magic (Lyra #1)

3 stars: What legends are made of.

There has been some trouble lately with caravans disappearing and attacks from Lithmern increasing, and the Lord of Brenn is quite concerned. It all hits home, though, when his daughter Alethia is kidnapped. Among those who set off to find her are her brother Har and is friend Maurin. In the process, they all uncover a problem that is much deeper and more dangerous than anyone could have guessed.

The Lithmern have awakened an ancient power and plan to use it against Alkyra. If the noblemen of Alkyra can't stop squabbling long enough to even muster a defense, it will mean the complete downfall of the kingdom. Alliances must be made--quickly---amongst the non-human people of the land, as well. It will take everyone working together to defeat the darkness threatening to engulf the land, with Alethia playing a bigger role than anyone could have guessed.

* * * * *
A good mix here of politics, race relations, and magic. A light touch with the romance, which is how I like it. An enjoyable, quick read.

Content: Battle scenes with some blood and death, but nothing too graphic. Otherwise clean.

Daughter of Witches (Lyra #2)

3 stars: A glimpse into a Lyran dystopian society. This one probably had the most connections to other stories.

Rinara is an indentured servant to an abusive innkeeper. Her city, Drinn, is not a safe place for anyone to be, though. The Priests of the Temple rule the citizens with an iron hand and have eyes everywhere, it seems, particularly during the Midwinter Festival. Magic or being a witch is one of the worst offenses a person can be accused of and usually results in a fiery death for the accused. In fact, Rinara's own parents were burned for being witches, leaving her this wretched life she lives now.

When 3 guests--strangers and outsiders--book a room at the inn during the Midwinter Festival, Rinara knows there will be trouble. The city is closed to outsiders during that time, and the closure is strictly enforced. What Rinara doesn't realize is how her fate will be bound up closely with theirs, and what she will discover about herself in the process. Assuming any of them survive, of course.

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Characters I cared about, with a side of interesting world-building. Rinara's awakening to her own abilities, and to the reality that life could be different from her narrow experience was satisfying. I had hopes that the plot would move beyond the "on the run" section, but alas, that's where it stayed for a very long time. Not my favorite, but I guess it worked for us to get know all our characters quite well. There were a few minor inconsistencies, but nothing big enough to really bother me.

Content: Some innuendo, as one of the Priests has turned his lecherous intentions toward Rinara.
 

The Harp of Imach Thyssel (Lyra #3)

2 stars: Fine, but not particularly memorable.

Emereck and Flindaran are off a lark together when they stumble upon an ancient castle and its even more ancient magical artifact: the Harp of Imach Thyssel. Emereck is just out of minstrel training, so he immediately takes to the Harp, though he can sense that it has  powers beyond what he can or should be involved with. He decides the Harp must be taken to his masters back at the Guild, to be studied or destroyed, as they see fit.

Unfortunately, life has other plans. Once they get to Flindaran's house, leaving with the Harp will not be so easy as it appears. The Harp has power that is hard to resist, but it tends to leave sorrow in its wake. Emereck will find himself tested beyond what he thought possible, as sorcerers of all stripes descend upon him in search of the power of that he holds.

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When I was thinking back on the series as a whole, it took me awhile to remember what this one was even about. So that's not a great sign!

Also, Emereck and his love interest--what's-her-name--(no really, I can't remember it), had this very different relationship going on. He basically chose to be moody and rude a lot of the time--mostly because he was trying to scare her off for her own protection or something--while she somehow saw through all of that and didn't let any of it faze her. She stuck to him like glue no matter what he dished out. Seriously, what did she see in him? In real life that would get old very fast, I would think, romantic ballads or no.

Content: Clean.

Caught in Crystal (Lyra #4)

2.5 stars: 80% talking and flashbacks, 20% action. Maybe 90/10.

Kayl is an innkeeper in a very small village, raising her two children alone after the death of her husband who was a Varnan wizard. The two met on an ill-fated expedition to the Twisted Tower many years ago, when Kayl was still a member of the Sisterhood--a group of women with access to great magical power of various forms. She hasn't even looked at her sword in many years. In fact, she has successfully blocked out most of her memories from that time in her life.

Then a visitor named Corrana arrives at Kayl's inn. Corrana is an Elder Sister--as Kayl later finds out--and in fact, has come to recruit Kayl for another mission: a return to the Twisted Tower. Kayl's group is the only one that has ever successfully breached the spells on the door--at great cost to themselves--and the magical power of the Sisterhood has been waning for many years now. They think it must have something to do with what happened in the Tower so many years ago. They are desperate to get back inside and remedy the problem.

Soon afterword, an old friend shows up at the inn: the other wizard that came on the expedition way back when. He's a wanderer and sees troubling visions. In fact, he has seen one pertaining to Kayl, her children, and the inn. While not all of his visions come true, he is certain enough that this one will, that they all flee the inn: Kayl, her children, Glyndon (the wizard), and Corrana. Eventually, they end up in Kith Anuel, the home of the Sisterhood, where Kayl will have decide how much of her past she is willing to let back into her life again.

* * * * *
This one got off to a strong start with the forced desertion of the inn, but then about the time they left for Kith Anuel, it hit an extended slow stretch. Most of the time travelling to Kith Anuel--6 months covered in a few pages--and the time within the city itself was made up of people talking at each other and Kayl remembering the original Tower trip and its aftermath. There were a few exciting moments, but they didn't last very long, before we were back to more discussions. Yawn. The ending picked back up again finally, but not enough to redeem the middle.

I will say, the kids added some good distractions and gave Kayl's character quite a bit more depth. As for the romance, I could see it coming, even though there didn't seem to be many outward signs of the two falling in love. I felt like I wasn't surprised because I was told not to be, not because I saw it happening for myself.

A step above the Harp of Imach Thyssel, but not a big step.

Content: Clean.

The Raven Ring (Lyra #5) 

3.5 stars: Good balance of action, quirky characters, and a little bit of romance.

Eleret is a warrior, trained in the ancient ways of her people, the Cilhar. Her Ma was killed in battle and Eleret takes it upon herself to travel to the city Ciaron, to pick up her mother's things in person. It's a good thing she does, too. There have been some incidents relating to her mother's kit--attempts to steal it--that has the Commander thinking there must be something unusual or important inside.

The only thing Eleret finds that would even be worth stealing is a silver ring with a raven on it that is a family heirloom. Despite feeling completely out of place in the city, her plans to return home keep getting delayed, as more and more people seem to think the ring is not only worth stealing--it is worth killing for. Killing her, to be specific.

In her short time in the city she has managed to find a handful of allies, which is good, because she'll need all the help she can get. Not that she isn't completely capable of winning a fight, but some fights take more than physical prowess--particularly in this strange new world of politics and intrigue that is the city. Who--or what--wants the ring so badly, and why?

* * * * *
Of the 5, this was probably my favorite. I was glad to enter the mind of a Cilhar warrior, after being introduced to them in Daughter of Witches. Plus, Eleret was down-to-earth and smart. It was enjoyable to see the way she stayed true to her heritage, but still managed to beat some of the city girls at their own game--when she wasn't fighting assassins and such, that is. 

I also appreciated the faster-moving plot, as compared to some of the others. The chapter all about the card reading got a bit slow, particularly as it got into multiple explanations of what each card could mean, but other than that the pacing kept me engaged.

Content: Some fight scenes, including injuries and death. Otherwise clean.


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What series has caught your fancy lately? Any others by Wrede that I should be sure to check out?

Series Spotlight: The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson

I started this series back in November. I had purchased the first as an ebook quite a long time ago and never gotten around to reading it. I finally did, then luckily our library had the other three as well. The last 2 I ended up listening to over many nights in December (9 and 12 hours, respectively.) I often would fall asleep listening to them, actually, so then I would have to go back to where I last remembered--which sometimes was quite a ways back.

An epic saga retelling the timeless story of good vs. evil, with plenty of action, near misses and near saves, and a family determined to give their all for each other and for the kingdom. Peterson weaves Christian themes through the series, which made it all the better.

I would put the age range at 10+. The books are clean as far as language and sex, but they do have some battle violence and intense situations.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (Wingfeather Saga #1),

3 stars: A bit of a slow starter for me, but by the end I was ready to go on to the next in the series.

Janner Igiby is the oldest brother and despite his chafing against it, he is often held responsible for his younger brother Tink's activities and whereabouts. They live with their mother Nia, younger sister Leeli, and grandpa Podo, who used to be a pirate. Their little village of Glipwood, like all of Skree is ruled by the Fangs of Dang: Komodo-like creatures who walk upright and talk, with venomous fangs and dispositions to match. It has been this way ever since the Great War, and the defeat of the High King of Anneira across the Dark Sea of Darkness.

There is little joy to find in their daily lives, but they take it where they can and are content, for the most part. Until the day of the Glipwood Dragon Festival. Janner discovers a map tucked away in a old book, while on the job at the bookstore. It's a treasure map, leading to a place called AnkleJelly Manor. Of course he and Tink will check it out.

They'll have to be careful, though. Toothy cows abound in the woods, and the Fangs slither through town. People of all ages disappear into the terrifying Black Carriage, which comes in the middle of the night, and are never seen again.

If that weren't enough, it is said that Gnag the Nameless searches for the Jewels of Anneira, and he won't rest until he finds them.

* * * * *
It took me awhile to get into this first book. There were a great many ironic asides that had me rolling my eyes instead of grinning, and the world-building seemed a bit clunky, with some creatures close enough to Earth life that I kept thinking--why bother with a new name for this one? Like "hog-pigs," for example. Or names that seemed over-the-top, like--well--The Dark Sea of Darkness. 

The family dynamics were well-written, particularly the give and take between Janner and Tink. Enough action to keep the story moving. Character development was strong. There was a lot of potential there, and I decided to keep reading to find out what happened.

(Finished reading Nov. 24, 2016)

North! Or be Eaten (Wingfeather Saga #2)

4 stars: This second book really got me invested in the series. After reading this one, I had to keep going!

The Igiby family must flee to the North countries, after learning of their true heritage. They are hoping the cold will keep them safe, as the lizardlike Fangs of Dang cannot stand the cold. Their journey is not a tranquil one. They are constantly pursued, must cross perilous bridges and valleys hiding terrible monsters. They must seek help from (and survive) the Stranders--a fierce group of outlaw people living in the forest of East Bend.

Then they get separated, and each group or person has to make their own way the best they can. The decisions made now will form the basis of what they have to deal with from here on out. Choose wisely, Igibys! And go swiftly!

* * * * *
 I felt like Peterson settled into his story a bit more with this second book. Or perhaps, I was more used to the world he had created and so didn't get pulled out of the story nearly as much by some of the descriptions or creatures. In any case, this one was more enjoyable for me and a quicker pace.

The desperate race away from danger, only to encounter more and new dangers, made for an exciting read. Once again, the biggest strength of the book was the family relationships. Janner was a good character to choose as the main one to follow, as he probably had some of the most complexities to work out with his place in the family, and the expectations of him. Other family relationships came into play as well, that contrasted nicely with the Igibys.

I enjoyed seeing Janner begin to come into his own as a leader and protector of others. The mistakes and poor choices made by some characters were painful but seemed true to character. Once I finished this one, there was no question that I would go on to read the rest!

(Finished reading Dec. 2, 2016)

The Monster in the Hollows (Wingfeather Saga #3)

4 stars: A strong 3rd book: continued character development, and the stakes kept getting higher and higher for the last installment.


After barely escaping the North country with their lives, the Igibys/Wingfeathers are desperate to find a safe place to land. They decide to go back to Podo (and Nia's) homeland: the Green Hollows. Hollows folk are known to be mighty warriors--in fact, their land is the one place that has yet to be overrun by Gnag's minions.

It's not all going to be smooth sailing, however. Tink, who goes by his real name Kalmar now, looks like a Fang--one of the new wolf-like furry Fangs. The Hollows folk are not going to accept him easily or lightly. The family settles at the old homestead and the children actually begin school. So not only are they the new kids, one of them has a tail. It would be hard enough to fit in without that.

Janner continues to struggle with his role as Throne Warden (protector and keeper of the High King, which would be Kalmar.) It seems his desires are always getting pushed to the back, while he must sacrifice over and over again for his brother. He's not entirely certain how much human is even left in his brother. There are times when Kal's eyes go this yellow color... Meanwhile, Leeli is in 7th heaven, working with dogs all day long.

Then there are reports of Cloven coming into the village. Cloven are terrifyingly awful beasts--mixtures of several different animals, but all twisted and wrong. Even worse, one Cloven in particular is drawn to the Wingfeathers. Their safe place may not end up being so safe after all.

* * * * *
I appreciated the change of pace in this book. After an entire book of running and fighting and narrow escapes, it was nice to see how the children fared with more normal challenges: starting a new school, standing up to bullies, etc. As in real life, they got a break from some things but had new and different stuff to deal with at the same time. I liked keeping up with what was going on back at the Fork Factory, too, with Sarah Cobbler and Arthum.

Then there were a couple of fantastic twists. I thought I knew who or what the "monster" was, but it was more complex than I thought. More of an essay answer rather than a multiple choice. Well done.

Note: Of the four, this is the first one I listened to. Our library had ebook copies of the first two, but then last two only on e-audio. Despite the length, I wish I had listened to them all! Read by the author, the brogue and expression brought it all to life. There were different voices for each character. All in all, it was a delightful experience. 

(Finished reading Dec. 8, 2016)

The Warden and the Wolf King (Wingfeather Saga #4)

3.5 stars: The final showdown!

The fourth and final book of the series finds each of the Wingfeather children facing their biggest challenges yet. Gnag has come to the Hollows, ready or not (um...somewhat ready? They had been preparing but were taken by surprise.) Meanwhile, Janner is lost out in the wilds, by himself, Kalmar has decided go after Gnag himself in the Deeps of Throg, and brave Leeli is playing her whistle-harp until her lips bleed to keep the Fangs at bay. Each has a part to play in the final showdown--even Grandpa Podo and even the dragons.

* * * * *
This book gave us the background of Gnag the Nameless. It tested each of the children to their limits. The great and terrible Last Battle came along and ended how it ended. Then there were still Things to Do. Not all was made right. There was hope, but there was a lot of suffering and despair still as well. I liked that the battle wasn't the end, because there's always an aftermath of the battle that is sometimes more important than the battle itself.

The ending surprised and touched me; it made me think. Always good.

A couple of things brought my rating down for this last book. The biggest was that some of the plot lines and characters sort of just dropped off the map. They were integral in books 2 & 3, then we heard nothing more about them. The loose ends there bothered me.

Secondly, after all the deeper, heavier stuff that had just happened, the Epilogue seemed almost flippant in tone, which didn't set well with me. I could understand what he was going for with it, but it just fell flat. Perhaps I would have had a different take on it if I had been reading it rather than listening to it--hard to say.

Still recommend it, though. Much to discuss and some heroic characters to cheer for!

(Finished reading Dec. 21, 2016)

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Have you read this series? What did you think? Who was your favorite character?