All Things Halloween/Homeschool Friday - The Wild Robot

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.

The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, # 1)

By: Peter Brown

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.

I got The Wild Robot a while back because I'm trying to increase the number of chapter books that I am reading aloud to my kids. My kids are currently 8, 6, and 3. We just finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire which is a massive book for the age of my kids. I wanted to take a break from the Harry Potter series before we started that one, but my daughter was determined to push forward. I am forcing a break before we move into book 5 though because the subject matter gets more mature and the plot gets more complex. But back to The Wild Robot. I might have an easier time convincing my kids to pick this one as our read-aloud option before bed if I were more familiar with it. So I get the audiobook from the e-library. 

Kate Atwater does a wonderful job with the narration. She is robotic when Roz speaks without being too over the top. And her voices for the other characters were just enough to distinguish them without making it feel like too much either. I think my kids would enjoy the audiobook version as well, since I have the Kindle version, I will probably just read this aloud to them when convenient. Kate did give me a great jumping-off point to guide my own inflection while reading aloud.

The book description tells you about all that I can when it comes to plot. Roz is a robot that wakes up on an island. Some robot pieces were scattered around where she wakes up, and she realizes that she's the only robot who survived. And survival is exactly what Roz needs. I love this concept. That's what most of us humans are doing as well. We're surviving. We have to survive in the basic sense of feeding and clothing ourselves. Of course, our society is more advanced in technology so we have many of our survival needs almost on autopilot. But there's still more we have to survive. We need other humans for survival. We need relationships. And so we have to manage, navigate, and sometimes survive our relationships. And how we survive becomes learned and ingrained. Roz does the same thing. She has to adapt to her environment to survive. She doesn't have basic needs as far as eating or sleeping. She can rest, but many of her instincts are about helping her not to die rather than needing xyz to survive. Either way, she sees that she needs to learn from the animals on the island if she's going to survive.

But life should go beyond mere survival. Of course, if we don't have our basic needs met, we can't look beyond that to relationships. But once we have the basics we can move from surviving to thriving. Roz shows us that the most satisfying "survival" we can have is to be helpful to others. We can create better relationships that allow us to both survive and thrive when we're living a life that helps and serves those around us. Roz goes from being viewed as a monster in the eyes of the animals on the island to being family. 

I'm always on the lookout for books with strong moral values--especially if those can be taught in a way that doesn't cram the message down the reader's throat. The Wild Robot succeeded in that area. When we get to the end of the book, the stakes are raised, and the adventure peaks. Some sensitive readers might find this to be too intense for them, but I think my kids would be just fine. They survived Cedric Diggory's murder as well as Charlotte's self-sacrifice from Charlotte's Web. So I think they will handle The Wild Robot without any issues. I'm not sure if we'll continue the series as I've heard less than stellar opinions about the subsequent books in this series. But for now, The Wild Robot gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) The Wild Robot? 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.

All Things Halloween Review - Serpent Sea

Serpent Sea (The Spice Road Trilogy, # 2)

By: Maiya Ibrahim

Publication: September 17, 2024 by Delacorte Press

512 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--As a Shield Immani is sworn to protect her land from the monsters across the city but as the Harrowlanders begin preparing supplies, horses and their greatest weapon—spice magic—she knows it is only a matter of time before the invasion begins…and it will be a losing battle. But Immani also knows that the only true way to fight magic is with monsters. If she can restore Qayn’s stolen powers, together they can summon an army to save Sahir. Forming an alliance with a former King turned monster might seem like the riskiest thing she can do but things are made even more dangerous by the fact that his magic is in the form of three jewels that once were encrusted in his crown but are now hidden beyond the dessert.

A forbidden quest to find the jewels might be the only way to combat the Harrowlanders but as Immani journeys across the sea, she will discover serpentines and other scaled creatures warriors have only heard about in myths…and that can strike at any moment. One wrong move could cost her life—and everyone she loves. But Immani may find there is more than meets the eye crossing the serpent sea…and betrayal cuts deeper than any dagger.

Imani and her crew are trying to make it home with the knowledge that the King of Harrowland is coming to the Sahir to take over the Spice Tree which is what gives people magic in this world. Harrowlanders have been given a taste of magic, and they want more. Unlike Imani's people, the Harrowlanders didn't grow up being preached about the harmful effects of taking too much spice. And their greed is beginning to take control of them. Unfortunately, Imani's crew suffers a terrible blow early on which separates the crew. Taha and Amira, Imani's sister, get captured, Atheer gets injured, and Imani and Qayn have a lead that he might be able to get his magic back nearby. They have to follow that lead to its end. 

Yet again, I have a few issues with this book. Without giving too much away, I felt Taha's response to Harrowland's takeover of the Sahir was weak. I understand he's a captive and he doesn't want to see unnecessary murder. I also know there was no way for the citizens of Qalia since they had no chance of winning. I guess there is a time and a place for biding your time to have a thought-out plan of attack. Yet, the surrender of village after village at Taha's urging didn't sit right with me. I also struggled with his feelings toward Imani. Taha deals with an extreme amount of guilt. He treated Imani poorly. He's lost members of his team to capture and even death. He takes both of those upon himself as personal failures. He disagreed with Atheer's desire to help the nations outside of the Sahir. Thus he wasted time and resources taking his time to come to the same conclusion that Atheer came to. And then, of course, the villages he's watched lay down their arms because he couldn't get home before being captured. He's a complex character with a lot going on below the surface.

One of the most successful parts of Spice Road for me was not knowing who to trust. And Maiya Ibrahim did a great job doing the same with Serpent Sea yet mostly different characters. Instead of unsure whether Qayn was trustworthy, I wondered if Taha was trustworthy. I pondered a little whether Qayn would switch sides when he got his magic back, but his stance solidified more and more as the book went on. 

A bonus for Maiya Ibrahim and Serpent Sea was the timing. I didn't love switching POVs in this case, but telling Taha's story and Imani's the way she chose played out well.

The ultimate conflict felt a little anticlimactic for me. Actually, a good portion of the conflict seemed to be handled way too easily overall. If I have a big complaint, that's probably it. Some pieces of the puzzle seemed to happen too easily for our characters who had been struggling for so long.

Favorite quotes:

-This is how you become strong: by knowing where you are weak first.

-"Hasty decisions hasten ruin."

-"...being afraid to make mistakes is petrifying. If you obey that fear, you never get anything done."

-"It's easier to dismiss those who hurt us as being senselessly evil than it is to accept that all our actions are trees, and all trees stem from roots, and all roots stem from seeds. No living being in any land propagates unaided."

-"My father loves me," he whispers; the words sound so hollow in his ears. A tear rolls down Reza's face. "Let someone else love you, Taha, the real you, as I always have."

-"It's an opportunity to foster trust between us..."

-"You cannot kill what doesn't die."

-"We make quite the alliance, wouldn't you agree?" "Enthusiastically." ... "What other clever lessons do you have hidden away, hmm?" His black eyes gleam; his smile widens. "The likes of which you can only dream of. Then again, anything that you dream of having, I could give you. And anything that you dream of becoming, I could make you."

-"And who knows--I suppose you could win my heart if you put in some effort."

-The sea is an excellent liar.

-"Don't send me away after you return my magic..."

-"I am a reasonable man by choice, not nature. Choose carefully which face of mine you wish to confront."

-"I see I've impressed you," I say, not bothering to hide my self-satisfaction. "You've left me wanting more."

-Remember to swing with your heart.

-"Better to die than to bow."

-"It's love, not loss, that endures forever."

-"There is no justice in seeking retribution on people who didn't wrong me,"...

Serpent Sea gets 4 Stars from me. I had a few issues with things, but overall, I enjoyed the messages. There's still plenty to come for a book 3, which I'm here for. Have you read Serpent Sea? 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.

Can't Wait for The Serpent and the Wolf

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.

The Serpent and the Wolf

By: Rebecca Robinson

Expected Publication: November 19, 2024 by S&S/Saga Press

352 pages

Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Magic

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy and Thea Guanzon, Rebecca Robinson’s thrilling romantasy debut combines high-stakes political intrigue and a steamy, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance.

All her life, Vaasa Kozár has been sharpened into a blade.

After losing her mother—her only remaining parent—to a mysterious dark magic that has since awakened within her, Vaasa is certain death looms. So is her merciless brother, who aims to eliminate Vaasa as a threat to his crown. In one last political scheme, he marries her off to Reid of Mireh, a ruthless foreign ruler, in hopes that he can use her death as a rallying cry to finally invade Reid’s nation. All Vaasa has to do is die.

But she is desperate to live. Vaasa enters her new marriage with every intent to escape it, wielding the hard-won political prowess and combat abilities her late father instilled in her. But to her surprise, Reid offers her a deal: help him win the votes to rise in power, and she can walk free. In exchange, he will share his knowledge about the dark magic running through her veins—and help keep it at bay.

This proposal may be too good to refuse, yet Vaasa and Reid’s undeniable attraction threatens to break the rules of their arrangement. As her brother’s lethal machinations take form, everything is at stake: Vaasa must learn to trust her new husband, but how can she, especially when their perfect political marriage begins to feel like the real thing?

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

All Things Halloween - These Hollow Vows

These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows, # 1)

By: Lexi Ryan

Publication: July 20, 2021 by HMH

448 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fae

Source: Borrowed from the e-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 New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.

Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she'll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court.

Gaining unfettered access to the Seelie court is easier said than done. Brie's only choice is to pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. As Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she struggles to resist his seductive charm.

Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty. And with her heart.

I got Beneath These Cursed Stars for review before reading this book or series. And I loved it but felt like I was missing information. I knew immediately that I would go back and read These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds. So I got this from the e-library. I got the audio version which allowed me to dive into this book sooner than I normally would have.

Abriella is basically a servant for her aunt and cousins. She and her sister are basically orphans. Her mother left them uncharacteristically. Their uncle took them in, but he has since passed away leaving their aunt to care for them. They have a debt to pay off, but they are barely keeping their heads above water if not constantly getting behind. Abriella will do whatever it takes to keep her sister safe, but some things are just out of her hands. Their aunt sells Jasalyn to King Mordeus, a fairie king known for his cruelty. Aribella knows she must go get her back. 

Another fae court is opening the border between the realms in hopes of finding a human wife for a fairy prince. Fae have difficulty breeding, and children seem to come more easily for human women. Abriella uses this opportunity to find a way to stay in Fairie safely. It just so happens that the prince looking for a wife is none other than Sebastian, Abriella's best friend whom she's had a crush on for years. She is faced with Sebastian's lies for about two years. Finding her sister comes first, but Sebastian aka Prince Ronan has resources at his disposal that Abriella doesn't have. The only trouble is that she's made a deal with Mordeus. Her sister's life in exchange for returning some relics back to the Seelie court. 

On her first night in Fairie, Abriella runs into a friend of Finn who is the nephew of Mordeus. Finn is trying to remove Mordeus from the throne of the Seelie court as he isn't the rightful heir. Finn and Abriella have an instant connection that Brie doesn't understand. And she doesn't quite trust him. Since I've read Beneath These Cursed Stars I already know who Brie ends up with. I look forward to These Twisted Bonds knowing what must inevitably be coming.

There are twists and turns. Mostly I knew they had to be coming since I know where things stand as of the first book in the spinoff series. But getting there is just as confusing as if I didn't know what to expect. I kept wondering how what was happening would lead us to the end result I know is coming. I would recommend reading these books in the order they are published if you can.

These Hollow Vows easily gets 4 Stars. If I were reading this in order, I might have rated it even higher. I'm not sure if the frustration I felt was due to knowing how things should end in the series overall which is where Beneath These Cursed Stars starts or if I would have felt the same frustrations without knowing the intending ending. Either way, I recommend this book, and I can't wait to dive into book 2. Have you read (or listened to) These Hollow Vows? 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 - 10/06/24

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.

Early Tuesday morning, Little Boy woke up and threw up about 3 times. Thankfully, he doesn't go to school on Tuesdays. The big kids and I had a shorter school day as usual on Tuesday. Tuesday night both older kids had ball games. I took Big Boy to his game, and my dad came to that one. Wednesday, I went ahead and kept Little Boy home from school. He was coughing pretty bad that day. All of us felt a little off. The big kids had a slight cough too. On Thursday, we had a "field day" with our homeschool co-op which really just means we went to a park and let the kids play and had a picnic. We grabbed some Italian Ice on the way home from that. Thursday night both big kids had ball games again. This time I went with Big Girl. It was also my dad's birthday. Friday, we finally had a normal school day. It was a challenging day behavior wise for one of our kiddos, but none of them were that great when we went out to eat with my parents for my dad's birthday. Saturday, we went to a local pumpkin patch. We got there shortly after they opened. The weather was so nice. And we had a good lunch. Then we had a big surprise. We told the kids we had an errand to run, but we really had to pick up our new puppy. He's a 12 week old cavachon (50/50 mix Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Bichon Frise). He came with the name Scout, and even though we've debated changing it, it looks like his name might stick. He is a family dog, but he's also an early birthday present for our oldest. She's been asking for a dog for about a year. He's a sweet boy and we're in love already.

THE PAST WEEK

Monday: September 2024 EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Bloodguard Old Erth, # 1) by Cecy Robson
Thursday: All Things Halloween Review of Iron Flame (The Empyrean, # 2) by Rebecca Yarros (4.5 Stars)
Friday: All Things Halloween/Homeschool Friday - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (4 Stars)
Saturday: All Things Halloween Review of The Death King (Death, # 1) by Penelope Barsetti (2 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows, # 1) by Lexi Ryan
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday?
Thursday: All Things Halloween Review of Serpent Sea (Spice Road Trilogy, # 2) by Maiya Ibrahim
Friday: All Things Halloween/Homeschool Friday - Review of The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, # 1) by Peter Brown

Don’t forget to link up for the 2024 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2024 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:

Blood of the Old Kings (Old Erth, # 1)

By: Sung-Il Kim

Expected Publication: October 8, 2024 by Tor Books

368 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--Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic adventure in which three strangers journey through a vast Empire that uses the power of dead wizards to conquer and subdue, from award-winning author Sung-il Kim and translated by the highly-acclaimed Anton Hur.

Powered by the corpses of sorcerers, the Empire has conquered the world. It claims to have brought peace and stability to its conquered lands, but some see that peace for what it is—a lie—and will give everything in the fight against it.

Loran is desperate for revenge after the Empire killed her family, so much so that the swordswoman climbs the volcano where the legends say an ancient dragon slumbers and leaps in. She finds that the legends are true, and Loran leaves the mountain with a sword made of dragon’s fang and a great purpose before her.

Cain arrived in the Imperial Capital lost and orphaned, and it’s only thanks to the kindness of a stranger-turned-mentor that he survived on the city’s streets. When his friend is found murdered, he will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible, even if it means starting a war.

Arienne’s future has never been in question—born a sorcerer, she’ll be a Power Generator for the Empire upon her death. But when she starts to hear the voice of a powerful necromancer in her head, she realizes the only thing more terrifying than dying for the Empire is never getting to truly live in the first place.

When peace is a lie, there is power in truth—and as Loran, Cain, and Arienne hunt for answers in their own lives, any one of their small rebellions could be the stone that brings the Empire toppling down.

Lady Helen's Misalliance (Seasons of Love, # 2)

By: Jessica Spencer

Expected Publication: October 9, 2024

256 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Clean Regency What is a lady to do when the man she loves is determined to sacrifice their love for honor?

Lady Helen is not overly concerned that she is only passably pretty and not likely to attract many suitors during her London Season. Only a shallow man would choose his wife for her looks. She wants a husband who is likable and worthy of respect, possesses a good character, and has a pleasant disposition.

Mr. Luke Turner is what the ton contemptuously refers to as a Cit. His wealth and upbringing can give him entry into London Society but not make a match with a young lady of birth.

Helen knows that Luke is the only man she can marry. He is kind and gentle and makes her feel comfortable about herself. He loves her, she knows he does, but is adamant about keeping away for fear of endangering her place in Society.

But when the notorious Lord Frampton fixes his sights on her, Luke is the only one she can trust. Will he put aside his scruples to keep her safe?

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!