[Review] The Book of Shade--K.C. Finn

I really should check my auto-approval section of Netgalley more often because sometimes there are real gems in there. “The Book of Shade,” is one of them. Our heroine, Lily Coltrane, heads off to university where she and her roomate Jazzy join a school club called The Illustrious Minds Literary Society. The society doesn’t seem to do too much except for once a month when members are invited to see the latest strange and magical show at the local Theatre Imaginique, which is run by performers with a variety of odd talents like levitating, hypnosis and shooting lighting bolts out of their hands. The owner and boss of the troupe is Lemarick Novel, a young man with white hair and an air of old world about him who performs all sorts of astounding tricks. Novel immediately sees that Lily has some gifts too and eventually tells her that she is a Shade like him. Shades are non-humans who can control the elements such as fire and water. In the process of mentoring Lily in all matters of Shade stuff, Novel also introduces her to his parents and tells her about the Shadehunters who want to kill all Shades.

Novel’s mean, creeptastic mother is a major character in the book and one of my favorites just because of how much she makes you hate her. I initially thought this book seemed much too long but it sucked me in and kept me wanting more of these strange people.

This book apparently was published several years ago and book 2 was released last year. I’m looking forward to reading that one as well. Thanks to Starstorm and Netgalley for auto-approving me for this very entertaining read.

[Review] Crimson Peak Novelization--Nancy Holder

I'm not sure that I've ever read a novelization of a screenplay before "Crimson Peak." It popped up in "things you may like" on my library account and although I hadn't had much interest in the movie I thought the book looked interesting. Holy crap! It's creepy and gothic and wintery and incestuous...and just sooooo darn good!

Edith Cushing is a young woman who aspires to be a novelist, specifically a horror novelist who uses her own supernatural experiences following her mother's death to fuel her stories. But when she meets the handsome and mysterious Sir Thomas Sharpe her life and the lives of those around her change drastically. Her wealthy father dies under suspicious circumstances, but before she can even discuss the matter with her faithful childhood friend Alan, she is spirited away to England with Thomas and his weirdly beautiful, but clearly sinister sister, Lucille. Cut off from the world at Allerdale Hall and surrounded by red clay that stains the earth, the snow and even the fog, she soon learns that nothing about Thomas and Lucille is as it appears. But never fear because there is still faithful Alan...and that's all I'm going to say.

Try it, you'll like it!

Bryant & May and the Secret Santa--Christopher Fowler

Who doesn't love these old guys? This is a short, Christmas-themed stand-alone story and is a nice treat for Peculiar Crimes Unit fans. 

The action centers around the curious death of a boy who had just visited a department store santa. As usual, Bryant and May get their man and have each others' backs in their personal lives as well. I longed to go with them to the Flask for a pint! 

Thanks to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

Library of Souls--Ransom Riggs

Here's another book that I waited on a list for through my library. Again, unusual, but worth it for sure. This is the third and final book in the Miss Peregrine series and all I can say is thank you Ransom Riggs for a satisfying conclusion.

Although this wasn't my favorite of the 3, it is really good and answers all your deepest and darkest questions about the Peculiars. I didn't want it to end, but as a reader I'm happy with how it all wrapped up. This was the only one of the books that I read on an e-reader, which absolutely takes away from the fun and creepiness of the photos, but I loved it anyway.

[Review] A Curious Beginning--Deanna Raybourn

First my rant: Penguin Group denied my request to review this as an ARC. But I love Deanna's books so I got it from my library (after waiting on a list, which I rarely do) and it is absolutely worthy of review here. I still love you Penguin, but you did me wrong!

Now my review: This is the first in a new series set in Victorian England about a young woman named Veronica Speedwell who was orphaned as a child and raised by her two spinster aunts. Despite having to care for her aunts they allowed her significant freedom to travel and pursue her hobby of lepidoptery (studying butterflies). When the last aunt dies, Veronica prepares to start an independent life pursuing her passion, but before she even gets out the door a thug tears apart the aunts’ house and threatens her. Fortunately, a kindly baron shows up just in time, warning her that she is in danger and that he knows things about her past that he will reveal to her in time. He leaves her with his friend Stoker, once a prominent adventurer who is now forced to do taxidermy work for wealthy collectors. When news arrives that the baron has been murdered, Veronica and Stoker set out to solve the mystery of what happened to him and how all of this is tied to her. The revelation of who Veronica truly is and who her father is turns out to be more dangerous than either of them could have ever known.

Veronica is a fresh and interesting character who refuses to conform to societal norms and butts heads with all sorts of people because of her brash nature and independent streak. This is a great start to what I think will be a fun series. I breezed through this book and look forward to reading the next one.

[Review] The New Neighbor--Leah Stewart

This one goes on my list of favorite books I’ve read in 2015. The main characters are elderly Margaret, who lives alone in the Tennessee mountains and Jennifer, a young woman who moves into the house across the lake from Margaret with her young son Milo. Both women have their fair share of secrets, but while Jennifer wants hers left hidden, Margaret will do anything to find out what Jennifer is hiding, even at the risk of exposing the story of her own forbidden love from long ago.

This book has been compared to Zoe Heller's “What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal” and I can see why. Margaret and Jennifer are both liars, but whereas Jennifer appears to be lying to hide her past and keep her son safe, Margaret lies to manipulate and garner sympathy. Both characters are fairly unlikable but the story is engaging and I not only enjoyed it but have been recommending it to people for the last few months. Definitely give this one a try!

Thanks to Touchstone and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

[Review] Forbidden by Eve Bunting

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It was a fast read with quirky, creepy characters and a great setting on the Scottish coast. Young Josie is recently orphaned and sent to live with her aunt and uncle. When she arrives she finds that while they are not thrilled to see her they have something in mind for her to do and it involves their secretive livelihood. Fortunately, she befriends a local boy named Eli and his grandmother, and together they provide the only friendly faces amongst a town full of weird and disturbing people. Even the dog is disturbing!

Poor Josie was so naive that I couldn't help but worry about her and hope that she found a way to get away from her horrible aunt and uncle. Unfortunately, the ending made very little sense. It explained some things about Eli and his odd habits and way of dressing, but beyond that it was just strange and almost silly. The afterward by the author is worth reading though, because I doubt most people are aware that the type of activity that Josie's aunt and uncle were engaged in was real and that there are many accounts in history of this very thing occurring along the rocky coastline of Scotland. I can't say anymore without spoiling the story for anyone who has not read it.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley and Clarion in exchange for an honest review.