The Dark Artifices, Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare, a book review

The Dark Artifices, Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare is an interesting book. I did like a lot about it, but only recommend it with many reservations.

First, sex is represented in such a way as to suggest most, if not all, of the characters have loose morals where it is concerned, and low regard for the sanctity of it. This along is troubling enough for me to set this one in a pile of books my girls will not be allowed to read until much older. Because of other subjects and the manner in which they are handled, it is a story I will not really encourage my children to read. Any topics covered in a good way aren't worth the problems.

Another problem is the representation of sexuality… although I recognize that bisexuality and homosexuality are becoming more socially acceptable and are often visible, I find it troubling to find it represented as completely acceptable in youth literature. I know I'm on a very unpopular side of this subject.

There are a couple homosexual couples and one of the more major characters is bisexual.

Also, for many fundamentalist Christians (and some others), the amount of and representation of magic would be problematic. This is a lesser issue in my mind, honestly. Definitely something to be aware of, though!

So, the romance part of the story… basically, this girl and this guy are linked magically and forbidden by law to fall in love. They do anyway and are planning to just hide their relationship. But then the girl finds out why the law forbids it and takes matters into her own hands.

The rest of the story is all about how these two figure out who is behind a series of murders, including the girl's parents, and stopping the murderer from fulfilling an evil plan.

It is an interesting premise and story. I did like it. I do not think it is appropriately shelved in the area for teens and YA, though. I guess I'm a bit more conservative than many these days.

Have you read The Dark Artifices, Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare? What did you think of it?

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, a book review

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill is a good one. My two eldest daughters enjoyed it thoroughly as well. Definitely appropriate for readers from 10 (possibly younger if they read and comprehend well) and up.

Basically, this story is about a witch who saves babies because of a city that believes they must sacrifice them in order to stay safe as a result of lies they've been told by another powerful person who desires to maintain power. Normally, she saves them and feeds them magically as she brings them to their new home. Inadvertently, though, she feeds the main character with the light of the moon instead of the stars and the result is a magical little girl that the witch decides to raise since she, herself, knows that it's like to be magical and can teach the girl how to use the power she has. I want to share more, but it would be a bit of a spoiler to do so as far as the premise is concerned.

I appreciate how the main character is basically kept from self-knowledge until she's a teen and then begins to learn in a very fast and uncomfortable way who she really is. All set in a fantastic sort of reality with magic and dragons and other fantastic sorts of things.

This was an enjoyable read for me as well as my daughters. I do highly recommend it for any reader. Very good conversation starters herein as well.

Have you read The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill? What did you think?

Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass, a book review

Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass is not what I was expecting. I thought I'd checked out the story about the daughter of the couple who got together in The One, but it is not.  If you'd like to read my book reviews of that series, you can find them here, HERE, and here.

This is a compilation of stories from the perspective of others who were not really a focal point in the main series. Once I realized what it was (and wasn't), I really enjoyed it for what it was. Definitely interesting to see some of the same things from different characters' perspectives!

I particularly enjoyed knowing more about the thoughts, feelings, and interactions of those lesser characters represented in these short stories.

I do recommend this book, but really only for older teens and adults... and probably ladies.  I mean, if a guy likes romance, then he'll love this too!

Have you read Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass? What did you think of it?

Lyonesse, Dark Solstice by Sam Llewelllyn, a book review

Lyonesse, Dark Solstice by Sam Llewellyn is the continuation and conclusion of Idris Limpet's story, which is also loosely based on the King Arthur legend. In this book Idris gathers his knights of the table round. It's interesting to see a way that this iconic table may have come to be among the Arthurian knights.

Idris travels with his companions, his knights, to find and rescue his sister Morgan and bring her back to prove to other kings that they should help him reclaim his throne. He accomplishes his goal. His reclamation isn't quite what he had in mind, though. Saying more would really give away too much. It's a good enough story that you really should just read it yourself!

So, obviously, I recommend this book. My two eldest daughters read (at least once) it and love it!

Have you read Lyonesse, Dark Solstice by Sam Llewellyn? What did you think of it?

Lyonesse, Well Between The Worlds by Sam Llewellyn, a book review

Lyonesse, Well Between The Worlds by Sam Llewellyn is not what you may go in expecting if you knew this is loosely based on the King Arthur story. In fact, though, it is!

Idris Limpet is just a poor boy from a poor family in a city near the shore. He has grown up the son of a fisherwoman and a soldier. Nothing spectacular. Until you realize he has a pet seagull. And then you learn that he can see what the gull can see. Cool, right?

But completely unacceptable, in general, in his culture. Thankfully, right before he was killed for being different, he was saved and rushed away from everything and everyone he knew to begin a new life among complete strangers and learn new skills… to become a monstergroom.

Monsters are the fuel of the day and monstergrooms tend the monsters which move the gears of this world's machines. That's just the way it is.

Idris learns to question the way things are and begins to imagine a better way.

Thankfully, by nature of his true parentage, he may just be in a position to do something about it!

I enjoyed and recommend Lyonesse, Well Between the Worlds. It caught my attention and held it, even though at times it felt very much like I was in a dream world while reading. I enjoyed it. My two eldest daughters really love it, too. My second daughter said she liked it as much as another series that has been her favorite for a while now.

Have you read Lyonesse, Well Between the Worlds by Sam Llewellyn? What did you think of it?