All Things Halloween Review of A Queen of Thieves and Chaos

A Queen of Thieves & Chaos (Fate & Flame, # 3)

By: KA Tucker

Publication: September 5, 2023

606 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From internationally bestselling author K.A. Tucker comes the third novel in her Fate and Flame series, an adult fantasy novel that should be read in series order.

"You betrayed your brother to steal a broken crown."

The kingdom stands on the brink of chaos. Atticus' grip on the realm is faltering, and as threats arise ever closer to home, he is driven to increasingly desperate acts to hold onto power.

With Islor's fate now in the balance, Zander stands to defend the Rift from the oncoming Ybarisan army. With the king's forces scattered, he must risk unlikely new alliances.

And behind the walls of Ulysede, secrets wait for its new queen. Romeria knows that the paths of the hidden city will lead her to answers. But will they be enough to save the realm – or is their fate already sealed?

A Queen of Thieves and Chaos was simultaneously one of my most anticipated books and also one of my most dreaded. I had a fear about the path these books were headed down and I didn't want to be right. In the end, I wasn't right or wrong. I will say that KA Tucker didn't go in the direction that I was concerned about...yet. Romy hasn't exactly surpassed Zander in that Zander is still acting in a monarchial role for Islor even though Romy has the rule of Ulysede and theoretical ties to Ybaris. Zander and Romy are working together, of course, but Romy isn't dictating to Zander because she's reached some status he's unable to attain. ...Yet anyway. KA Tucker could still go in that direction, but as of this book it didn't seem like that would be where she'd headed.

A Queen of Thieves and Chaos is different from the previous two books in that additional narrators have been added. Mostly, Atticus, Gracen, and Agatha. Atticus's POV was needed to know what was happening in the heart of Islor since Zander is on the run. Gracen is needed to humanize Atticus. Plus since Zander and Romy have made it to pretty solid ground in their relationship, the introduction of a new romance is great for holder reader's attention who also loves this aspect in books. *raises hand* Me. It's me. I'm that reader. Agatha was a little more boring for me because she's all technical behind-the-scenes information. Necessary, but not as interesting as the exciting bits of the story. Agatha is the Master Scribe. 

We have two big bads for the most part in this book. There's the original Princess Romeria's mom, Queen of Ybaris. And there's also Atticus who has taken control of Islor. Atticus is facing his own enemies. The royals that seek to overthrow him just as he overthrew Zander. And then, of course, Zander intends to take back his throne as well. Atticus is doing his best to strategize. And reading his perspective makes it easy to see what he sees, but Atticus isn't the best statistician. 

All of the side characters are important and come off the page as I'm accustomed to KA Tucker doing. There are old friends of Romy's that are still in Cirilea, some are still in the palace and have made friends with Gracen. Some a new. Of course, there's Jarek. He's one of my favorites. There was a chemistry or tension that seemed to float between him and Romy that I had to kind of question. Again, I was getting Blood and Ash vibes. Eden. Zander and Atticus's sister that I can't remember her name right now. Tyree. Elias. And others that are even spoilers.

Favorite quotes:

-"The rich don't like giving up being rich."

-"You have already lost. You just haven't realized it yet."

-"People believe what they want to believe, even when the truth is laid bare, unfiltered and undeniable, before them."

-"You ar the worthiest of causes I have ever met, that I ever will meet, and I will follow you into the rift if you ask it of me. But do not ever ask me to leave your side."

As I said A Queen of Thieves and Chaos was one of my most anticipated releases of 2023. I was dying to get my hands on it. Yet I was apprehensive about Zander turning into a subject of Romy's. So far that hasn't happened, and both are working together and separately to achieve their collective and individual goals. I like this approach. I felt like one of the Big Bads I mentioned above was handled a little too easily. There was a lot of build-up for a short conflict. Either way, I'm stoked to continue the series with book 4. Atticus and Gracen's relationship has helped to continue building interest beyond Romy and Zander. A Queen of Thieves and Chaos gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read A Queen of Thieves and Chaos? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Sunday Post - 10/29/23

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Monday was a normal day for us. Tuesday was full. The big kids had dentist appointments first thing. Then we went to a new to us park and met up with a friend. Then the boys got much needed haircuts. After that was lunch and nap for the youngest. Little Girl went to a playdate with a different friend who's great grandmother lives on our street. I did school with Little Boy and then he was off to Grammy's. Little Girl came home and I did school work with her. Wednesday was back to a normal day thankfully. Husband was off work this week, but that didn't affect our normal schedule until Thursday. I spent Thursday morning doing last minute things to plan for a birthday trip for the big kids. We left Thursday right after lunch to go to Great Wolf Lodge in Lagrange, Georgia. We had a blast. The kids were really well behaved for the most part and memories were made. Husband and I both agreed that the trip flowed well. Our only hiccup was that Baby Boy had trouble sleeping both nights which meant that Husband and I were both up through the night with him both nights. We did the waterpark on Saturday until about lunchtime and then headed home. It is good to be home though.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, # 1) by Rebecca Yarros (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of A Queen of Thieves and Chaos (Fate and Flames, # 3) by KA Tucker
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Mini Reviews?

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is starting. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

Don’t forget to link up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2023 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Neither Sandy nor Holly finished any series enders this month.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the October giveaway runs from October 25th - November 25th. On November 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

All Things Halloween Review of Fourth Wing

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, # 1)

By: Rebecca Yarros

Publication: May 2, 2023

528 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Dragon

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

One Sunday, I was visiting blogs, which I don't get to do very often, and stumbled upon one that caught my eye. I can't remember the exact wording, but the blogger stated they didn't enjoy a book that was getting a ton of buzz and love. However she worded her comments piqued my interest, so I looked up the book on Goodreads and decided almost instantly that it sounded like something I would like. I added it to my wish list, and Husband bought it for me for my birthday. I still put off reading it for a while because I needed to focus on review books first. I finally found time to pick it up, and I have to say that I didn't want to put Fourth Wing down. We never have lazy days where we just let the kids watch TV all day, but Husband wasn't feeling well, it was 101 degrees outside, and I was enthralled. So I read every chance I got that first day and read about 80% by midnight. I needed to sleep because I knew that was too much to finish at a reasonable time for me. And I finished the other 20% the next day.

Fourth Wing has everything you could want from the first release in a new fantasy series. You have a flawed leading character--Violet is fragile. Her bones break easily, her joints and ligaments are weak as well. She is short. And generally not physically strong. She is, however, brilliantly intelligent. She spent her entire life training to go to the scribe quadrant. But her mother, one of the nation's top military leaders, decrees that Violet will enter the dragon rider's quadrant instead.

The rider's quadrant is a vicious school of tests and challenges that will end with more cadets dead than alive. Often times the tests kill the cadets. Just as often, the other cadets will do the killing. And what deaths remain are likely from the dragons themselves! Unique schools like this are why series like Harry Potter, Vampire Academy, Divergent, Red Rising, and even Throne of Glass have been wildly popular and universally loved.

And I mean dragons! The appeal of these mythological creatures is fascinating. Perhaps because they're imaginary, we love the different iterations of dragons throughout various literature and media. Fourth Wing's dragons are some of the best I've come across, from the varieties and their discerning qualities to their ability and willingness to bond to humans. Plus, the bond enables a psychic connection with their riders. These dragons are so well done. I applaud Rebecca Yarros for her imagination and vivid depictions in bringing them all to life.

The friends are an interesting variety as well. There are friendships that form almost instantly, those that have spanned entire lifetimes, those that form unexpectedly, and even ones that form begrudgingly. The personalities differ as much as the dragons and the abilities they bestow upon their riders. Violet's older sister, Mira, warns her against forming friendships in the rider's quadrant. Allies are important, but friendship can often be a liability. Plus, when cadets are dying more frequently than surviving, forming friendships means saying goodbye to people who have shared pieces of their hearts with you and vice versa. But Violet doesn't survive the rider's quadrant by following the path others have established. She must survive by her own instincts and her own journey through the tests and trials.

Speaking of abilities, Rebecca Yarros also did an excellent job creating a wide range of abilities since there are so many different characters. None of the signets were too similar to each other. And I loved the intrigue of wondering what new talent would be gifted to the next cadet. She even forms opposite sides of a coin without it appearing to be mirror talents.

The enemies were fierce. We start off with Violet being warned by her sister Mira to steer clear of Xaden Riorson because he will kill her as soon as he gets the chance as revenge for what her mother did to his father in executing the king's justice for his father's rebellion. Violet meets him almost immediately. Nearly the same time, a brutal new cadet sets his sights on her as an easy target to weed out the weak links. Only Violet embarrasses the new cadet, and he swears revenge that he will kill her. And he's not the only person she ticks off during her first year. Xaden is hard to read. He forces Violet into his wing since he's a wingleader. He bounces back and forth between giving her advice that will help her survive, ignoring her completely, and sending others to her in ways that could be construed either for or against her.

Of course, the driving questions are about whether Violet will survive each challenge she's faced with. If she does, will a dragon want to bond with her? At least until you get to a point where you have answers to these questions, and then you want to know what will happen next. I can't reveal those questions to you as they'd be spoilers.

Favorite quotes:

-"They choose for reasons they don't see fit to share with us." He pushes off his desk. "And not all strength is physical, Violet."

-You are not attracted to toxic men, I remind myself...

I had to laugh at that one.

-"One does not live a century without being well aware of the space one takes up."

-"Justice is not always merciful."

-"I know you just want to keep me safe,...,"I whisper. "But keeping me safe is also keeping me from growing, too."

-"I will hate you for this." "Yeah." He nods, a flash of pure regret crossing his face as he draws away. "I can live with that."

-"Andarna is my favorite."

-"You can ride me when the flesh rots off my bones, wingleader."

-"Whatever you feel is natural. Allow yourself to feel it, but then let it go."

-"...if we let fear kill whatever this is between us, then we don't deserve it."

-"One generation to change the text. One generation to choose to teach that text. The next grows, and the lie becomes history."

I was so disheartened when I finished Fourth Wing and went to go purchase Iron Flame only to find that it wasn't released yet. The unique school setting where the cadets die more often than survive. The friends. The enemies. The romance. The DRAGONS. All of it was exactly what I look for in a series. Now, I will say that once the characters leave the setting of the school and undoubtedly have to face the corrupt government, things have the potential to go south like series such as Divergent and The Hunger Games. We shall see if The Empyrean series can survive the traps that other series before it fell into or will it thrive similar to series like Red Rising and Throne of Glass. That being said, Fourth Wing gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Fourth Wing? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Sunday Post - 10/22/23

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

I don't even remember Monday. Tuesday was library day. Little Boy was whining because he didn't want to go to the park. I can't fathom it, but I kept my mouth shut and just drove anyway. Once we got to the library he saw the Halloween decorations at the park and changed his mind about going. Literally no one else was there. We had the entire park to ourselves. I was wondering if that would make them bored quicker, but they played so well together. Wednesday we ended up going to Walmart to get a birthday present for a little girl we go to church with. Thursday we had a field trip to the MOOseum. That was a little bit of a letdown. There were 25 kids and a small area with little play items. After 30 minutes we decided to leave. But that's okay. It was still an experience. We then went to my parents' house to eat lunch and play. Friday was Little Girl's 8th birthday. I can't believe she's so big. I mean eight seems like a legit big kid. She's not a little one anymore! I am so proud of the growth she's had and the person she's become. She is legit one of my favorite people. She was so excited to bake and decorate her own birthday cake. She also made homemade lemondade, and she was probably more excited about doing those things than about getting gifts. Saturday, we went to the birthday party for the little girl from church. Little Girl had fun. Little Boy was having an emotional day and kept saying other kids were being mean to him. I wasn't in the bounce house to see what was happening. And Baby Boy got hurt FOUR times. He fell off the swing twice, tripped on the concrete, and then tripped again on the way to our car. I was exhausted and frazzled by the time we got home. We did finish listening to The BFG on audio in the car on the way to the party.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Grace and Glory (The Harbinger, # 3) by Jennifer L Armentrout (4 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, # 1) by Rebecca Yarros
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Mini Reviews?

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is starting. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

Don’t forget to link up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2023 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Can't Wait for A Drop of Venom

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

A Drop of Venom

By: Sajni Patel

Expected Publication: January 16, 2024 by Rick Riordan Presents

416 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Retellings

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Circe goes YA in this unapologetically feminist retelling of the Medusa myth steeped in Indian mythology, a YA epic fantasy addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

All monsters and heroes have beginnings. This is mine.

Sixteen-year-old Manisha is no stranger to monsters—she’s been running from them for years, from beasts who roam the jungle to the King’s army, who forced her people, the naga, to scatter to the ends of the earth. You might think that the kingdom’s famed holy temples atop the floating mountains, where Manisha is now a priestess, would be safe—but you would be wrong.

Seventeen-year-old Pratyush is a famed slayer of monsters, one of the King’s most prized warriors and a frequent visitor to the floating temples. For every monster the slayer kills, years are added to his life. You might think such a powerful warrior could do whatever he wants, but true power lies with the King. Tired after years of fighting, Pratyush wants nothing more than a peaceful, respectable life.

When Pratyush and Manisha meet, each sees in the other the possibility to chart a new path. Unfortunately, the kingdom’s powerful have other plans. A temple visitor sexually assaults Manisha and pushes her off the mountain into a pit of vipers. A month later, the King sends Pratyush off to kill one last monster (a powerful nagin who has been turning men to stone) before he’ll consider granting his freedom.

Except Manisha doesn’t die, despite the hundreds of snake bites covering her body and the venom running through her veins. She rises from the pit more powerful than ever before, with heightened senses, armor-like skin, and blood that can turn people to stone. And Pratyush doesn’t know it, but the “monster” he’s been sent to kill is none other than the girl he wants to marry.

Alternating between Manisha’s and Pratyush’s perspectives, Sajni Patel weaves together lush language, high stakes, and page-turning suspense, demanding an answer to the question “What does it truly mean to be a monster?”

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review of Grace & Glory

Grace and Glory (The Harbinger, # 3)

By: Jennifer L Armentrout

Publication: June 1st 2021 by Inkyard Press

512 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Danger, betrayal, and enticing forbidden love... When Angels Fall

Trinity Marrow has lost the battle and her beloved Protector. Even with both demons and Wardens on her side, Trin may not win the war against the Harbinger.

Bringing Lucifer back to the world to fight the Harbinger is probably a really, really bad idea, but they’re out of options—and the world’s ultimate fallen angel is the only being powerful enough to impact the outcome.

As Trin and Zayne form a new and more dangerous bond and Lucifer unleashes Hell on earth, the apocalypse looms and the world teeters on the end of forever. Win or lose, one thing is certain—nothing will ever be the same.

Rage & Ruin ends with a bit of a cliffhanger. I can't remember if we get a glimpse of Zayne at the very end or if we think he's actually dead, but the description of Grace and Glory gives it away that he's alive and involved, at least somehow. And that leads me to a discussion topic that I need to type up, but the gist is that I actually have come to expect character rescurrections because they happen so frequently that I'm never surprised when some character finds their ways back from the dead. It's almost become more heroic (in the writing sense) for the author to allow the character to die and stay dead. Maybe I will leave this for now to be discussed in depth later.

Trinity, Roth, and Layla set in motion the plan to bring Lucifer to Earth to fight against Gabriel's plan to open a portal from Earth to Heaven. The idea was that Lucifer's pride wouldn't allow his brother to succeed at something as big as this, even though typically, one would think that doing something similar to this would be up Lucifer's alley. Controlling Lucifer is another story, though. Zayne, as I've already discussed, has come back from the dead as a Fallen Angel with his grace and wings, which apparently makes him nearly as strong as Lucifer.

I really struggled with Grace & Glory in the ways that they discussed God. It reminded me so much of the show Supernatural (which I used to love but ended up abandoning before it was over for the same reasons). To consider that God is just MIA or so completely hands off what's going on in our world feels sacrilegious to me. Funnily enough, Jennifer L Armentrout had to be familiar with the similarities of the Supernatural series to this one because Lucifer gets sucked into binge watching the show once he's on Earth. I think that's kind of funny. Ultimately, she handled enough of the biggest components of the book regarding this area in a way that I could say "okay" over, but mostly I felt majorly uncomfortable through the majority of reading these sections. I want to discuss this in more detail, but a lot would be spoilers.

Zayne and Trinity's relationship is the redeeming part of this book and the series.

Favorite or supporting quotes:

-What was happening to me wasn't the sum of who I was, but it was a part of who I was.

-"I dropped you in a pool." "I'll probably punch you for that when you least expect it..."

-"Maybe God has checked out..."

-"Maybe God just doesn't care anymore, forsaking the most treasured creations. Look throughout history. There were many times God could've stepped in and ended countless horrific and senseless tragedies but chose not to. God acts like the rules can't be broken when God is the one who created them." ... "Some say I'm the monster, the nightmare in the dark and the evil hiding in plain sight, but when a child dies needlessly, it is not a life I've taken. When a mother takes her last breath due to disease, it is not by my will. When a brother dies senselessly, it is not a part of my plan. Death and war and disease are not my creations." ... "But what is God? Because at the end of the day, God could take all that pain away. So tell me, who is the real monster?" "The father of lies," Zayne murmered...

I'm glad that Jennifer L Armentrout at least mentioned that Lucifer is the father of lies, and that indicates that all these things he just spent a long speech accusing God of doing and being are in fact lies. I know it wasn't the purpose of this book to counter argue these lies accused at God, but it feels so important to do so. Leaving things like this feels like leaving the reader with questions and no answers. And I guess she's trusting the reader to think for themselves. But it just left me feeling uncomfortable not to argue these points.

"And just think how many would have heard my words and believed me? Believed my legions?" "Based on what I've seen people believe on social media?" Layla whispered. "Millions."

Again, I'm glad this was mentioned. Social media is full of lies, and I'm here to attest that the mob mentality is almost always wrong, in my opinion.

-"Jesus," Jada whispered, and I bet she was regretting her decision to come here. I was starting to regret this decision. "As if," Lucifer replied, falling onto the chair by the window. "I am nothing like that whiney, all talk and very little action golden Boy."

See what I mean? Sheesh! How much more sacreligious can we get? Obviously, the character speaking here is Lucifer, and I wouldn't expect him to think highly of Jesus, but Scripture is full of instances of God protecting His name, and Jesus is the Name about all names. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I wouldn't think sacrificing Himself for the world is a bunch of talk and no action.

-"You know what people get so wrong about God? That He is an absentee father. That He doesn't care for His children, watch over them meticulously, day in and day out. That He doesn't interfere in the small ways--ways often and easily overlooked. That random choice to turn left instead of right on the way to work? The unexpected decision to stay home or stay out late? The unplanned trip or phone call, purchase or gift? None of that is random or unknown. That is God, doing what a good parent does. Stepping in when they can and knowing when there is nothing they can do. I never really understood how God could do all of that--be willing to do anything and everything to be near His children and yet be able to walk away."

Finally a quote about God that I can get behind.

-"You are all I ever wanted, even before I knew what I wanted. It was you. It was always you."

I feel torn over Grace and Glory. On one hand, I loved Trinity and Zayne. I'm happy they have the ending they did. There's some open ended stuff for if Jennifer L Armentrout wants to return to the series or do a spin-off from it. I loved the story with Peanut and how that played out. I was struggling through so many pages and quotes that felt irreverent to God. For some reason, I don't mind fantasy that is completely fiction, but to borrow upon real life and attribute things to God that just aren't true makes me uncomfortable. I was waiting for the redeeming ending, which unlike Supernatural, Jennifer L Armentrout did give me. I guess overall I give Grace & Glory a reluctant 4 Stars. Have you read Grace & Glory? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Sunday Post - 10/15/23

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Baby Boy came home from school Friday coughing. Saturday afternoon, he woke up from nap with a fever. His breathing got really scary during the night Sunday night. Thankfully, we had albuterol and a nebulizer and his breathing evened out enough for me to feel like I could sleep. It wasn't a peaceful night. Monday I took him to the doctor and he was diagnosed with RSV. Monday was a scheduled day off of school so that was nice that no one missed any. They wanted to see us again Tuesday to check his breathing so we went back. His breathing was still rough but you could tell he was feeling a little better than Monday. Tuesday was also Husband's birthday, and it was a stressful day for me with the kids. I helped Little Girl bake a birthday cake for him, but she was so impatient to put on the birthday candles that she didn't wait for the cake to cool and the candles melted inside the cake. We thankfully just cut around those pieces. Wednesday, Little Girl started feeling bad. Her throat hurt, nose was stopped up and she started running a fever. Baby Boy started complaining about his ears hurting. So Thursday we packed up for our third trip to the doctor's office in one week (so far a record for us that I never hope to beat). Baby Boy ended up with a double ear infection on top of RSV. Little Girl wasn't infected yet and thankfully she seemed to recover quickly. Friday, Husband and Little Boy ended up getting hit. Husband just has congestion and a sore throat. Little Boy developed a bad cough and ended up running fever Friday night. We did get in on the Krispy Kreme $0.13 donuts for Friday the 13th. We'd hoped to go to the pumpkin patch on Saturday, but with Little Boy running a fever Friday night and then he ended up running a fever almost all day Saturday it just wasn't going to happen. It did end up being a beautiful day Saturday so we got outside for a walk, and I got to read on the front porch in one of my fairly new rocking chairs for a little while.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Spice Road (Spice Road Trilogy, # 1) by Maiya Ibrahim (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2) by Rebecca Yarros
Friday: Homeschool Friday - # 4

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Grace & Glory (The Harbinger, # 3) by Jennifer L Armentrout
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Mini Reviews

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is starting. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

Don’t forget to link up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2023 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

No new books this week.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - # 4

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

This week's list of books seems to be more fails than wins, but sometimes that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Goodreads description--Join Lola as she learns what it means to be a big sister, in the third installment in the loveable Lola series. We all know how much Lola loves books, so it is no surprise that she can’t wait to share her love of reading with her new baby brother, Leo. Lola gets ready for little Leo’s arrival by reading books about brothers and sisters and picking out the perfect stories that she just knows her little brother will love. When the baby is finally here, Lola takes on the role of big sister—she helps her mommy and daddy around the house and tells Leo stories to cheer him up when he cries. Simple text and bright and charming illustrations celebrate family, reading, and what it means to be a big sister.

This was a sweet book about Lola and her new baby brother Leo. Lola is such a sweet girl and this would be a great book to give to your kids before they too become a big brother or sister. Not much to say about it. My kids liked this one too.

Goodreads description--This wildly imaginative, crayon-inspired picture book shows that with a bit of teamwork and a universe of creativity, anything is possible!

Buzz!

Zap!

CRASH!

Gurple and Preen are in a big mess!

When they crash-land onto an unfamiliar planet with nothing but boxes of crayons, they must work together to get the mission back on course.

From Newbery Award–winning author Linda Sue Park and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi comes a story about all the best things that can come out of a box of crayons.

This book was very conceptual. You've got two robots that have crash landed their spaceship, and it's all broken. They have to figure out how to get it working again and it appears that one robot does so by breaking a bunch of crayons which ends up creating all of these random things that get used to repair the spaceship. I didn't like it. I think the idea might have been that even broken crayons can still create, but I can just see my two boys using this as an excuse to break all of our crayons and then whine because they're all broken. Whatever the concept, my two-year-old wasn't impressed either.

Goodreads description--For every child who has ever looked up at the stars and asked, "What are they?" comes the story of a curious boy who never stopped Carl Sagan.

When Carl Sagan was a young boy he went to the 1939 World's Fair and his life was changed forever. From that day on he never stopped marveling at the universe and seeking to understand it better. Star Stuff follows Carl from his days star gazing from the bedroom window of his Brooklyn apartment, through his love of speculative science fiction novels, to his work as an internationally renowned scientist who worked on the Voyager missions exploring the farthest reaches of space. This book introduces the beloved man who brought the mystery of the cosmos into homes across America to a new generation of dreamers and star gazers.

My kiddos have been interested in the stars and outer space and how big everything really is. So I thought this might be a winner for us. It started out good with this kid named Carl who used his curiousity, passion, and determination to research and learn about what he was interested in. As a family that has a creationist, Biblical world view, the idea presented that each of us is made up of star material and how outspace just sort of "happened" didn't sit well with me. But that's the good thing about being the reading parent who can just decide we're not going to finish reading the children's book that doesn't fit with our world view. There are so many other books out there that can teach my kids about space that don't have to bring in theories we don't agree with. (I'll eventually teach them about other world views, but not while they're this young.)

Goodreads description--Do you know what the fox says? Based on the hugely popular YouTube video with more than 200 million views, this picture book is packed full of foxy fun.

Dog goes woof. Cat goes meow. Bird goes tweet and mouse goes squeak.

But what does the fox say?

The lyrics of Ylvis's YouTube sensation 'The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)' meet Svein Nyhus's playful illustrations in this irresistibly entertaining read-aloud picture book.

My kids have gone through phases of being obsessed with this song. When my son saw this at the library he immediately picked it up. Now for me, this isn't my style at all. The song gets on my nerves, the illustrations are a bit out there, and I hate the nonsense words--especially because there are so many! If you know the song by heart, then you won't have any trouble repeating the sounds, but somehow even with how many times my kids have asked Alexa to play this song, I have somehow tuned out enough that I have missed all the "words" so reading this section took too much brain power for me. That's sad, but true. My five-year-old son still liked this book.

Goodreads description--Bonaparte is having a tough time. It's hard for this young skeleton to just hang loose when he can't keep hold of himself.

When he plays catch, his throwing arm literally takes a flyer. Eating lunch can be a real jaw-dropping occasion. How can he start school when he has so many screws loose?

Luckily, Bonaparte hit the bone-anza when it came to his friends. Franky Stein, Black Widow, and Mummicula all have some boneheaded ideas to help pull him together. But will it be enough to boost his confidence and get him ready for the first day of school?

Poor Bonaparte is falling apart. While doing regular things he will randomly lose some piece of his body. And he's a little worried about being made fun of once he goes to school. He overcomes his fear by just doing it anyway, and he realizes that most people are pretty nice and he had nothing to worry about afterall. This was one of those books that was a sweet, cute read with a good message, but I don't know that it'll stick with us many years down the road. My middle son (the five-year-old I've already mentioned) is into all things spooky right now, plus Halloween is approaching, so this was a timely book in that manner. I would consider this a gentle Halloween book.

Goodreads description--A rhyming, charming exploration of "flower-watering"—the art of appreciating others—for kids

We are all flowers! We all need to be seen and genuinely appreciated to be our best selves, just like flowers need water. This fun and sweet book introduces children to the practice of the-much needed art of recognizing and appreciating good qualities in the people around you, which brightens and lifts everyone's spirits.

Also includes a section on watering your own flowers to grow your own self-esteem.

This book is similar to two others I've discussed before. The Love Tank and Have You Filled a Bucket Today? This book is basically about how if people were flowers then we should be watering them and giving them sunlight. What kinds of things do people need to grow and thrive? And how can we help them? I thought it was a great metaphor. My daughter who is 7 years old and very literal told me this was a story for babies, and she wanted to give it to her nearly 2 year old cousin. But to be fair she's been going through this phase of thinking she's getting too old for various things...birthdays and Christmas included. I wouldn't count this one out because of her party-pooper attitude. Especially if you have a child who loves flowers, this might be a great book to help them think and consider how they are "watering" others.

Can't Wait for Iron Flame

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2)

By: Rebecca Yarros

Expected Publication: November 7, 2023 by Entangled: Red Tower Books

640 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Dragons

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review of Spice Road

Spice Road (The Spice Road Trilogy, # 1)

By: Maiya Ibrahim

Publication: January 24th 2023 by Hodder & Stoughton

411 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The first book in an epic fantasy series for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal and Elizabeth Lim, set in an Arabian-inspired land. Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, seventeen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother whose betrayal is now their greatest threat.

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens affinities in those who drink the misra tea. With an affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani wields a dagger like no other warrior, garnering her the reputation as the next greatest Shield for battling the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and other monsters that lurk in the sands beyond city limits.

Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother who tarnished the family name after he was discovered stealing their nation's coveted spice - a tell-tale sign of magical obsession. He disappeared soon after, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, and leaving Imani reeling with both betrayal and grief.

But when Imani uncovers evidence her brother may be alive and spreading their nation's magic beyond the desert, she strikes a deal with the Council to find him and bring him back to Qalia before he can reveal the city's location. Accompanied by Qayn, a roguish but handsome djinni, and Taha, a powerful beastseer whose magical talents are matched only by his arrogance, they set out on their mission.

Imani will soon discover there are many secrets that lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes - and in her own heart - but will she find her brother before his betrayals endanger the fate of all of Qalia?

In this epic and action-packed fantasy, one young heroine navigates the treacherous road between protecting the ones you love and staying loyal to the place you call home.

Have you ever read a book description and been excited but yet torn about it? It sounds like you might like it, but there's also something holding you back? I've not read a lot of Arabian-inspired books, but I'm torn on the ones that I have. One series, I loved. Another was mediocre at best. I don't love but don't hate love triangles. And so I guess I just wasn't sure if I would love Spice Road. I decided to request it, but as time went by from getting approved for it, I never felt like it was the right time to read it. And the more time went by the more I wondered if I made a mistake by requesting this book. That being said, I feel like there's a lot to cover here.

The basics of this world is that Qalia exists at the end of the Spice Road and has basically been forgotten by the outside world. There's an area of the dessert that blocks it from the rest of the world. And this area is supernaturally charged to keep Qalians in and foreigners out. The people of Qalia have been given this special spice called mishra (sp?) by the Great Spirit. And they are charged with killing monsters and protecting the secret of mishra from the rest of the world as well as Qalia itself. There's a council and different magical abilities. The main ones that were mentioned are beastseers (those who share their minds with an animal), those who have an affinity for the elements (earth, water, iron, etc), and skinwalkers I believe who can change form into other animals.

I liked the opening line "We will fight, but first we will have tea." Mishra is consumed by being ground into a powder and made into tea and then drunk. The magic seems to stay in one's system for a single day before it is exhausted and the body is magicless.

Imani's brother, Atheer, was originally a Shield, turned Scout, and then seemingly overconsumed the mishra and is assumed to be dead. Imani and her family have mourned him. They've even had a funeral. But to Imani, it just doesn't make sense. Imani and her sister, Amira, find evidence that Atheer isn't dead. Evidence shows that he fell in love with an outsider on a scouting mission and has shared his knowledge of magic with her as well as joined her cause in rebellion to a hostile takeover of her nation. Imani doesn't agree with Atheer's choices, but she believes he must be brought back home. She believes she can convince him to come.

Imani is a flawed character. She is privileged and doesn't even realize it. Apparently, there's an entire side of Qalia that she doesn't know about. She happens to have come from one of the most prestigious clans. And she can't understand why Taha from a lesser clan hasn't paid her the time of day. He's never even acknowledged her. His father has secured the place of leader of Qalia, but Imani believes it was by force. Imani and Taha have lived such different lives and their outlook on the world and their mission to retrieve Atheer varies greatly. Yet there's something between them. A tension. A few moments shared that hint to the possibility of more.

Despite Imani questioning her brother's actions, she is determined to find him at nearly any cost. And she binds herself to a Djinn who claims to have known Atheers last whereabouts. Djinni are considered monsters and Imani should just kill him, but she can't risk losing whatever information he might have about her brother. Qayn makes up the third piece of the love triangle. Imani doesn't know if she can trust him. All djinn lie. He has a soullessness to his eyes. And he won't open himself up to her, yet his information and help proves true time and time again.

I feel like I should spend some time talking about the side characters, but this review is already getting a little lengthy and I've got some other details I want to discuss, so I'll pass on detailed information about the cast. I will say that some tidbits didn't seem to add up to me. If outsiders aren't able to wield magic, how does Friada have an affinity for water? How the languages work? It was mentioned that Qalia's language is close to that of the foreigners, but even with some differences, it would have been noticeable that Imani and her crew were speaking differently. Yet it seems like only the Harrowlanders speak in a much different language. I just don't feel like these areas were fleshed out well enough. Also the social class differences of Qalia was not spelled out all that well. Maybe this will be revealed more in the books to come?

Favorite quotes:

-"Yes, Bright Blade, for light not shared is light diminished."

-"We endeavor to shape the world, Imani. But now and again, the world succeeds in shaping us."

-"Words are mightier than both the sword and the flask of tea."

-"With magic comes monsters in the Sahir. Here, with riches comes thieves."

-Curse my fortune that has put me in the company of people who only want the things I don't.

-"The future is not final until we reach it."

-"Not all who are bad are bad the whole way through."

I am glad that I finally read Spice Road. It did have a slow start for me, and I wondered for a bit if I would ever get invested in the story. There were moments when I skimmed some of the descriptions of things that didn't have dialogue or parts of the story moving forward. In the end, I really wanted to know how things were going to turn out. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series. At the same time, I had a few questions about things that didn't feel fully explored or explained. So for me, Spice Road gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Spice Road? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Sunday Post - 10/08/23

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Tuesday was my dad's birthday. He got a wonderful *sarcasm* birthday present of COVID on his trip to Colorado and Utah with my mom. She also now has it. Tuesday was also library day for my crew. Man, my boys are wild in the library. I did check out a book on library manners, but we haven't read it yet. We need to make sure we do read it one more time before going next time. We went to the park right after the library and met up with a friend. The city was decorating for Halloween around the walking trail so that was fun to get to see some of their decorating. We also did grocery pick up. Thursday we had to run back to the store to get a gift for a birthday party that we went to on Saturday. The kids played outside in the sprinkler and even dipped into the pool. They didn't stay long. We had a cold front move in Friday night so the temperature has dropped to the low 70s for a few days. It'll be back up in the 80s by the end of this week, but all of that to say we really are nearing an end to any water activities until late spring of next year. It's sad, but I also look forward to being outside more without having to get wet in order to not melt. Friday was the last day in our first quarter of homeschooling. I took notes on all of our accomplishments and activities so far this year. I can easily fall into the negativity trap so I want to highlight the pros and all the things to keep us motivated to move forward. This second quarter should be interesting with an upcoming vacation planned as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas. My kiddos birthdays are fastly approaching, and I am way under prepared this year so far. Only two weeks until my daughter's birthday. I got several goodies this week. I am branching out to try and read more middle grade books in hopes that I might have some recommendations to my kids as they become better and better readers. Do you have any middle grade or must read recommendations for me to look into for my kids?

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash, # 4) by Jennifer L Armentrout (4 Stars)
Thursday: All Things Halloween Review of Matilda by Roald Dahl (4 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Spice Road (The Spice Road Triloy, # 1) by Maiya Ibrahim
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Friday: Homeschool Friday - Mini Reviews

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is starting. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

Don’t forget to link up for the 2023 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2023 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

How to Train Your Dragon (How to Train Your Dragon, # 1)

By: Cressida Cowell

Publication: March 13, 2003

214 pages

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy, Dragon

Source: Personal Kindle Library (was on sale)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb?

Join his adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons--and becomes a hero. This action-packed, hilarious, and perfectly illustrated novel is a modern classic beloved by millions across the globe.

The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, # 1)

By: Peter Brown

Expected Publication: April 5, 2016

279 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library (was on sale)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.

Greenglass House (Greenglass House, # 1)

By: Kate Milford; Jaime Zollars (Illustrator)

Expected Publication: August 26, 2014 by Clarion Books

384 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library (was on sale)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.

Honey for a Child's Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life

By: Gladys M. Hunt with Mark Hunt

Expected Publication: January 1, 1969

272 pages

Genre: Nonfiction, Parenting, Christian, Education

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A modern classic with over 250,000 copies sold, Honey for a Child's Heart is a compelling, essential guide for parents who want to find the best books for their children ages 0-12. This updated and expanded edition includes a new preface, an updated list of recommended reads for each age group, and audiobook suggestions.

A good book is a gateway into a wider world of wonder, beauty, delight, and adventure. But children don't stumble onto the best books by themselves. They need a parent's help. Author Gladys Hunt, along with her son, Mark, discusses everything from how to choose good books for your children to encouraging them to be avid readers.

Illustrated with drawings from dozens of children's favorites, Honey for a Child's Heart Updated and Expanded includes completely updated book lists geared to your child's age and filled with nearly one thousand longtime favorites, classics, wonderful new books, and audiobooks that will enrich your child's life. It will also show you how to:

Understand the importance of being a read-aloud family, enjoying books together by reading aloud
Give your children a large view of the world, of truth, and of goodness
Encourage each child's imagination and good use of language
Find the best books for your children

Thousands of parents have used this guide to furnish their children's inner spirit with the wonder and delight of good reading. Updated and expanded to keep pace with the ever-changing world of children's literature, it is sure to enrich the cultural and spiritual life of your home.

Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 1)

By: Nisha J. Tuli

Publication: November 15, 2022

400 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Fae

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.

Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to escape and pay him back for every moment of misery she's endured.

When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the rival Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight as she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she'll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge.

But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. Not only does she not understand why she was freed, she isn’t a citizen of the Sun King’s court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is removed from the competition, permanently.

Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be returned to the evil—and now vengeful—Aurora King.

Rule of the Aurora King (Artefacts of Ouranos, # 2)

By: Nisha J. Tuli

Expected Publication: March 19, 2023 by NJT Author

272 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Fae

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--“ I am not his conquest. I am not his to claim. I am my own castle.” Freed from the golden clutches of the Sun King, Lor now finds herself in the hands of Nadir, the Aurora Prince. Convinced she’s hiding something, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make her talk. But Lor knows the value of secrets—she’s been keeping them her entire life—and she’s not letting hers go without a fight. When Lor and Nadir team up to search for a lost item that holds the key to her past and her future, she isn’t sure if she can trust him. All she knows is she won’t fall for his promises and make the same mistakes again. Lor also hasn’t forgotten her vow to destroy the Aurora King. As Atlas hunts her across Ouranos, Lor plots to bring down the Imperial Fae who took everything. But she soon realizes that the future of the continent is about so much more than just her shattered legacy. The Rule of the Aurora King is the second book in the Artefacts of Ouranos series and combines romance, intrigue, action, and adventure. If you love enemies to lovers, fated mates, and fake dating, don’t miss this exciting next installment!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

All Things Halloween Review of Matilda

Matilda

By: Roald Dahl

Publication: October 1, 1988

384 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Classics

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--*A very special edition, celebrating everyone's favourite young genius! Includes tips and activities for creating your very own story, and incredible pull-out illustrations of Matilda all grown-up*

'A true genius - Roald Dahl is my hero' - David Walliams

These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: you are not alone.

Matilda is a brilliant child with a magical mind.

But her parents have decided she's just a nuisance who wastes too much time on reading and stories.

And her headmistress Miss Trunchball is a terrible bully, who thinks children are rotten and awful and should be locked up.

Now it's time for Matilda to find the power to change her story, and show them just how extraordinary children can be . . .

This very special version of Matilda includes writing tips to tell your OWN story, and pull-out-and-keep grown up Matilda illustrations to inspire you to think big, big, BIG!

I never read Matlida growing up. I never really watched the movie either. I remember the movie being put on at school, but for some reason, I wasn't interested in it. I can't remember well enough to tell you why. But I've been doing read-aloud chapter books to my kids more and more the older they've gotten, and my daughter was given Matilda by her grandmother for her 7th birthday. So we finally read it.

At the beginning, I worried when Matilda was pulling pranks on her parents--most specifically her father. Obviously, Matilda's parents are horrible. But I worried that my prankster son, who's been struggling with self-control and impulse control, might take it into his head to find some similar pranks as Matilda to use in retaliation for any time he might be getting in trouble at school or at home. Thankfully, that didn't happen.

And it's funny because while we were reading Matilda, my daughter had a book fair at school, and she wanted to buy The Hidden Girl by Lola Rein Kaufman and Lois Metzger, but the librarian told her that she wouldn't be able to read it and didn't let her buy it. I was a little miffed about that, and I told my daughter that people said the same thing to Matilda.

I don't plan to do much analysis of the story or the characters because this is a classic book that has been analyzed over and over. I don't think I could add much to what's already been said. But I will say that my 7-year-old daughter has been obsessed with this story. We watched the original movie and the more recent musical after finishing the book, and she's rewatched them both during her allotted device time. She's also been playing "Matilda" with her dolls.

Oh and, I also want to say that my 5-year-old son was the one who called out the big twist about Miss Honey's aunt out loud before even my daughter. I had, of course, already speculated, but I was so impressed that he was paying attention to the story so well and that he saw the foreshadowing and could pick up on the clues. My daughter was shocked, but she agreed with him.

My only real negative is that I don't like to mix fantasy with realism. This is my own grown-up issue that I find I dislike in books. But I liked the tidbit of fantasy for my kids to latch onto to build and explore their imagination.

Matilda is a classic, and we will definitely be reading more of Roald Dahl's books as a family in the future. Matilda gets 4 Stars from me, but I have a feeling my daughter would give it 5. Have you read Matilda? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.