Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Book Review | Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Down Among the Sticks and Bones is the second book in the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.

This is the story of what happened first…

Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter—polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.

Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter—adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tom-boy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you've got.

They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted.

They were twelve when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.

Yeesss. Down Among the Sticks and Bones was quite different from Every Heart a Doorway. There was no second book slump happening here.

In Every Heart a Doorway, we met several kids who had returned from various fantasy worlds. Down Among the Sticks and Bones was the story of Jacqueline and Jillian's (Jack and Jill's) time spent in the Moors. I loved it! The Moors was such a dark fantasy world.

I'm planning to head straight into book three (Beneath a Sugar Sky). I have a feeling each book will be a unique experience, and I'm looking forward to it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Jennifer

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Sunday, January 27, 2019

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | January 27

I was a terrible blogger and reader last week. It was one of those weeks where I was so mentally exhausted, I just wanted to curl up and watch TV at the end of the day.

Currently Reading


Geek Love by Katherine Dunn Easy Spanish Reader: A Three-Part Text for Beginning Students by William T. Tardy Harry Potter y la cámara secreta (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling, Adolfo Muñoz García (Translator)

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn - This is such a unique read. I'm reading Geek Love with Bark, Cat, Emily, Toni, and Tracy. I love these ladies. If it wasn't for them, I'm not sure I would have read much of anything last week.

Easy Spanish Reader: A Three-Part Text for Beginning Students by William T. Tardy - This is the best Spanish reader I've come across so far. I read half of it last night, and I have easily understood everything so far. I highly recommend it if you are practicing your Spanish reading and want a confidence boost.

Harry Potter y la cámara secreta (Harry Potter #2) by J.K. Rowling, Adolfo Muñoz García (Translator) - I'm also reading and enjoying the Spanish edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Recent Acquisitions


The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz The Haunting of Henderson Close by Catherine Cavendish Black Wings by Megan Hart
Second Lives by P.D. Cacek Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk The Widening Gyre by Michael R. Johnston

A huge thank you to Flame Tree Press for sending me The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz, The Haunting of Henderson Close by Catherine Cavendish, Black Wings by Megan Hart, Second Lives by P.D. Cacek, Will Haunt You by Brian Kirk, and The Widening Gyre by Michael R. Johnston. They have been so amazing to reviewers.

Current Distractions



I'm hoping to rewatch all of Game of Thrones before the final season starts.

I finished watching season 3 of Daredevil this week. I'm sad. They made some mistakes, but overall I really liked the series. I would have liked to have seen more. My biggest complaints about season 3 were the use of tropes I'm tired of seeing and trying too hard to be Jessica Jones.

I'm now watching season 2 of The Punisher. So far it's a pretty gory show.

So what about you? Let me know what you're reading (or watching) this week or leave me some links!


This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Jennifer

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Sunday, January 20, 2019

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | January 20

Did you get snow this weekend? It doesn't snow here, but we did get some of that crazy wind! This past week was way too busy with a noticeable lack of reading, but my son had a slumber party Friday night and I spent my late night hours doing some much needed couch reading.

Posted Last Week


I posted my ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ review of Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire.

Finished Reading



Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children #2) by Seanan McGuire ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I'm really enjoying this series!

American Primitive by Mary Oliver ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I'm taking part in a poetry challenge on Instagram this year. This month's prompt is "Female Poet". Mary Oliver passed away this week. It was time for me to pull this from my shelf.

Currently Reading



Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3) by Seanan McGuire - Yep. I'm hooked.

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers - I've heard such amazing things about this one. I having trouble getting into it, but I'm not giving up yet.

Recent Acquisitions




Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for sending ARCS of Savage Species and The Nightmare Girl by Jonathan Janz. I'm excited to read these reprints of early Janz novels that I missed the first time around!

Many thanks to Dark Moon Books for sending copies of Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror edited by Eric J. Guignard and Exploring Dark Short Fiction #3: A Primer to Nisi Shawl edited by Eric J. Guignard. Pop the Clutch is a collection of horror stories based on the "cool side of the 50s". I'm obsessed with the Exploring Dark Short Fiction series. I can't wait to check out the stories by Nisi Shawl!

Thank you to Sonora Taylor for sending an ARC of her upcoming release Without Condition.

Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell - Vampires in the Lemon Grove is a collection of short stories from the author who wrote Swamplandia!.

So what about you? Let me know what you're reading this week or leave me some links!


This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Jennifer

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Monday, January 14, 2019

Book Review | Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Every Heart a Doorway is the first book in the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire.



Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.

No matter the cost.

My number one take away reading reviews of the Wayward Children series is that it gets pretty weird. I definitely see precursors to that in Every Heart a Doorway. This book had some strange moments.

Every Heart a Doorway was also pretty amazing. It's about what happens to kids who visit fantasy worlds (think Narnia or Alice) and then come back to our world. I absolutely loved the imaginative quality of Every Heart a Doorway.

I'm glad I decided to catch up on this series this year. I know it's going to get weird, but I'm here for it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jennifer

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Sunday, January 13, 2019

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | January 13

I'm still trying to get back to a normal routine after being off of work through the holidays. My brain is still in holiday mode. We've had gorgeous weather this weekend, though. I've been able to do a lot of work outside with the kids and the dogs running around.

Posted Last Week


I posted my ⭐⭐⭐⭐ review of Ghost Story by Peter Straub.

Finished Reading



Carrie by Stephen King ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This was such a fun buddy read. I think this was the first one ever with this group where we all liked the book. We are an opinionated bunch! Even though this was my fourth time to read it, I'm going to attempt to write a review this week.

Currently Reading



The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - I'm really excited to finally be reading this! I'm buddy reading it this week with Toni the Reader, and I have such high hopes.

Recent Acquisitions



A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines - This was a recommendation from Tracy. She made it sound so beautiful so I had to buy it.

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1) by Deborah Harkness - I didn't order this because the series is about to start, but I am excited there will be a series waiting for me once I read it!

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn - This has been on my wishlist for a while since it's Bark's favorite book. I'm looking forward to reading it with the Ladies of Horror Fiction team this month. (Let me know if you want to join in.)

Current Distractions



First Man sucked. It was the worst NASA related movie I've ever seen. It was too early to rent it so I have major buyers remorse right now.

Deadpool 2 was entertaining. I'm not big into Marvel, but I do enjoy Deadpool.

So what about you? Let me know what you're reading (or watching) this week or leave me some links!


This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Jennifer

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