Love the concept, enjoyed the characters, but the whole thing felt condensed. I would have liked to see the story drawn out longer to make sp3.5 stars
Love the concept, enjoyed the characters, but the whole thing felt condensed. I would have liked to see the story drawn out longer to make space for the relationship between Laduga and Marcello to really develop more deeply....more
This is one of those books that you want to rate 6-stars on Goodreads if only because you don't have the words to describe it and at least an extra stThis is one of those books that you want to rate 6-stars on Goodreads if only because you don't have the words to describe it and at least an extra star would communicate a little bit of how much you loved it.
Like I said in one of my updates as I went along, this has got to be the most emotional book I've ever read. Maybe my emotions are just fragile lately (certainly possible), but God of the Garden really punched me in the gut. Repeatedly. Peterson's prose is beautiful in its own right, and when paired with the experiences and truth that fill these pages it's just... breathtaking.
I could say much more about this book, but I'd go on forever and only be frustrated by the inadequacy of my words, so all I can really say is that you need to read it....more
I'll post a full review closer to the release date, but this is the best PFW anthology yet! I loved every one of the stories. ^-^
FULL REVIEW PFW is relI'll post a full review closer to the release date, but this is the best PFW anthology yet! I loved every one of the stories. ^-^
FULL REVIEW PFW is releasing another anthology, so you know I jumped on it. I'm super thankful to have gotten another of their ARCs, and this one is quite possibly my favorite yet. It's definitely their best anthology yet, and if they keep improving their quality at this rate I'm going to have to create a six-star rating or something. XD Anyway, into the actual review. (And here's the necessary disclaimer that even though I got an ARC I wasn't required to give a positive review and this is all my honest opinion.)
Mistakes Were Made
Everything about this story is fantastic. The tone of finals week at a space-fantasy-style university, the characters and their snark and values and just... character, the folklore-inspired worldbuilding, the voice of the prose... Oh, and did I mention that this one starts a trend of diverse characters with struggles and strengths and whatnot that aren't often portrayed in fiction? Because that's one of my favorite things about this anthology, as a whole. I love getting to see different types of people represented, and Of Myth and Monster does a fantastic job of that. Guillerma is diabetic, which is not only a fact of her character but plays deeply into the story as such things should. Hannah does an excellent job of this throughout all of her stories, and Mistakes Were Made is no exception.
This story is funny, too. It had me legitimately laughing out loud multiple times, and it was just so much fun to read. But the humor doesn't detract from its depth, as the relationship between the two main characters is explored and Mundo's motivation, in particular, is revealed.
Anyway, just a fantastic story all around.
The Boy Who Listened
In an effort to avoid repeating "Everything about this story is fantastic" at the beginning of each review... I'm just going to say now that they're all all-around fantastic and you should just mark the book's release date (this Saturday) on your calendar now and buy it as soon as it comes out and enjoy it and then come tell me so I can say I told you so and we can freak out about it together.
Did you mark the date? Awesome. Back to the review.
Magic academies are awesome. Greek mythology is awesome. Neurodivergent rep is awesome. Sphinxes are awesome. So, naturally, this story is also awesome. It's also written beautifully, as is pretty much always the case with Shultz's work, it's thoughtful, and the character voice is spot-on. And what I said about things like diabetes and neurodivergence being woven with the story, not just disconnected facts? That's true of this story, as well (and the others in the anthology, too). These authors understand those issues, understand character, and understand storytelling, which leads to a skill in telling stories that are incredibly effective in their purposes.
H.E.R.O.
Urban fantasy. Anxiety rep. More Greek mythology. Oh! And a pet phoenix! The worldbuilding in this one was really interesting, putting creative twists on Greek mythology. I really enjoyed the blend of ancient mythology and a sci-fi urban world. I also especially loved the conclusion of this story.
The Gods of Troy
This one blends Greek mythology with space-based sci-fi, and I liked the worldbuilding of the Titans. The story stays very true to its source material, while still putting an interesting spin on it. I liked it a lot.
The Unicorn Tamer
Andorians are adorable, the writing of this story is hilarious, and grumpy characters are super fun to read about. Probably my favorite moment in the story has to do with fuzzy copyright laws. XD (Which is a pun, come to think of it...) There's also a unicorn named Greg, another phoenix (because phoenixes are epic), and... an unexpected ending. Overall, thoroughly enjoyable.
Lamp of Silver
This story was an intriguing look at both a different kind of genie from most and a deep theme. Plus, pirates and others who live on the ocean are cool. I don't have as much to say about this one specifically, but it was well-done.
The Staff of Callewhyr
This story centers around a monk, which is super cool because I feel like we don't get enough scholars and religious folk as MCs in epic fantasy and I love reading about those aspects of a world. The Staff of Callewhyr did not disappoint. The world is fascinating, the characters in it both involved in it and deep in their own right, and the writing befitting of classic epic fantasy. I very much enjoyed reading this story, and I would love to read more about this world and these characters.
Aura
When I first read this story I described it as "sad and beautiful," and I stand by that description. Philbrick seems to have a knack for those types of stories. The characters and their relationships form the core of this story, and they're done extremely well. Philbrick does a good job of writing emotional stories, and that's exemplified in Aura.
EDIT: The Eyes of the Barghest
Ahhhh! I was so afraid I'd do this. I forgot one! And not at all because it's forgettable. I loved The Eyes of the Barghest. It was deeply emotional and beautifully written. The atmosphere was stunning and fit the story perfectly. Everything from the characters' different reactions to grief, to the setting, to the Barghest itself, to the ultimate conclusion of the story was skillfully crafted and moving.
I think this isn't my most coherent review, which is a side-effect of waiting too long to write it and my just getting over a mental health dip, but hopefully I've communicated that Of Myth and Monster is amazing and you should definitely check it out and support these fantastic authors and read some awesome stories. ;)...more
Bertolini's priorities are exactly right in his approach to youth work (something I see all too infrequently in youth ministry), and I'd recommend thiBertolini's priorities are exactly right in his approach to youth work (something I see all too infrequently in youth ministry), and I'd recommend this book to any youth worker. A few of the exact techniques he suggests are outdated, but all of the principles still apply and he gives great ideas for putting them into action....more
This book was short, but no less effective for its length. Every letter was joyful and encouraging, and a pleasure to read. This is definitely an exceThis book was short, but no less effective for its length. Every letter was joyful and encouraging, and a pleasure to read. This is definitely an excellent read for any writer, but particularly those in a season of inspirational drought. Reading Dear Author rekindled my excitement to work on revising my NaNoWriMo novel! Definitely worth the read, and almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face....more
*squeals* This anthology was so good! Thank you so much to PFW for the ARC. :D
The Backpack Boy: This story was so well-written and endearing. It so pe*squeals* This anthology was so good! Thank you so much to PFW for the ARC. :D
The Backpack Boy: This story was so well-written and endearing. It so perfectly captured the imagination of a little kid, the interactions between the elephant and the backpack boy were so sweet, and the twist was wonderfully executed.
Finer Things: This is one I struggled to connect with. From what I can tell, it's set in the same world as Frank's Echoes in the Black series, and I probably would have been more invested if I'd been more familiar with the world. I might have to reread this story after I've read Echo. But from what I understood from this story, the world Frank has created is really complex and interesting, and this is just a case of good writing I wasn't personally able to engage with.
Roanoke: While this story is full of action and suspense, I found it difficult to connect with and didn't really feel invested in the conflict going on. Though I wasn't able to engage with it personally, it's well-written and probably more enjoyable to a reader who enjoys high-stakes situations more than I do.
Kamynosa's Labyrinth: One of my favorite things in Child of the Kaites was the way Wangler portrayed the relationship between the two main characters, and she's written a similar relationship in this story. I loved the characters individually, and then their relationship was also extremely satisfying and ended exactly how I'd hoped it would. Plus, the worldbuilding in this story was really enjoyable and I loved the peek into a new culture in Wangler's world (or at least new-to-me).
Barnaby Brown and the Glass Sea: The characters in this story were so quirky and fun to read. I loved watching them interact with each other. I was so ready to just keep reading this story forever... and then it ended. My only complaint is that it ended too soon, lol. I'm hopeful there will be more to this story in the future, but this was a delightful short.
Through the Lens: It took me a bit to get into this one, and I still didn't feel fully connected by the end, but the general relationship dynamics between the characters and the glimpse into Dion's culture was cool. I feel like things could have been fleshed out a little deeper, but I also understand the restrictions of short fiction, so overall this felt like a fairly solid short story.
Ric Vayne and the Curse of the Ghoul Nebula: Something I always enjoy about Shultz's writing is his ability to use language to fully support the tone and content of the story he's writing and to vividly paint his characters, and Curse of the Ghoul Nebula is no different. The characters were easy to engage with, Ric himself was a compelling protagonist, the imprecision of Ovo's translator was really fun, and the whole adventure was perfectly paced.
The Underground: I was initially confused by the shift in POV and struggled to figure out who the second POV character was, but once I sorted that out I was able to follow the story fine. I didn't connect with the characters very strongly and the plot felt like it didn't really do much (I didn't feel like Kef served much of a purpose, and they didn't really change anything except to discover the Dragons and the Deep, and then that knowledge was only used to help them once and that was the end), but the Dragons and their ship were interesting and I'd be curious to learn more about them.
This Pain Inside: I was so fortunate to get to beta-read this one, so I already knew it was going to be awesome, but YES, IT'S AWESOME. While usually the first thing I gush about when I read Heath's stories is the worldbuilding--and the worldbuilding in this one was good, also--what shines the most in This Pain Inside is the main character: Charlie. She's a very authentic character with very real struggles and flaws, but also very real strength, and watching her journey through this story was amazing.
Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology, and I look forward to reading more by all of these authors!...more
As always with Hannah Heath's writing, the worldbuilding and characters in this story were spectacular. A kick-butt main character, awesome sibling dyAs always with Hannah Heath's writing, the worldbuilding and characters in this story were spectacular. A kick-butt main character, awesome sibling dynamics, and a further dive into the world of The Shard make this story an instant favorite....more
August 2019 review: On this momentous day in history, a book legitimately made me sob. AND THEN LEFT ME WONDERING WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED AFTERWARD. THAAugust 2019 review: On this momentous day in history, a book legitimately made me sob. AND THEN LEFT ME WONDERING WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED AFTERWARD. THAT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO END THINGS. WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE JUST HAVE TO WONDER FOREVER????
*takes a deep breath* But seriously, this book just got more and more and more and MORE intense and took me through a complete roller coaster of emotions in a way that no other book has ever done. I could relate to it. I genuinely feared for the characters. I sobbed (first time ever sobbing at a book). This entire series was so moving and so spectacularly written and I can't believe it's over....more
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