Read Year: 2019

First Time’s a Charm by Laura Greenwood

Posted on by DragonSusie

Lots of squee moments!!

The basis of my review for this book can probably be summarised so:

1. Cute kittens!!
2. Harry Potter references!!!
3. MORE cute kittens!!1! Squeeeee!!!11!!

OK, ahem, I’ll calm down a bit now, and try to write my thoughts in a more orderly manner.

This is the first book in a new series, which is roughly based in the broader Paranormal Council Universe. Of course, the whole paranormal school/college/university trope has been used a lot, but I’m lucky to not have read too much of it (aside from Harry Potter, but this was quite gleefully filled with HP references. And, of course, those cute kittens). Ooops, got a bit distracted again but, for me personally, this does bring something new to the table.

We have a young, eighteen-year-old witch, who has been relatively brilliant at magic, until one day, she isn’t. She’s been cursed to reproduce kittens with every spell. Except, she is completely clueless as to what’s going on with her magic. But, despite not really being a cat lover, falls completely in love with these balls of fur that keep appearing with every spell.

You have the class bitch, a “harem” of potential boyfriends, and a brilliant and quirky best friend. Plus, yes, those cute kittens…! Tell me – what more could you ask for?!

A nice, good, fun read, with plenty of mishaps and shenanigans. Considering the language used, it fits quite easily into the young-adult genre, yet I’m not so sure the sequels will be, if our young witch is going to get her men…!

Final rating: ★★★★★ – Loved it/couldn’t put it down

*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Amazon
Goodreads

Beyond the Northern Lights by Arizona Tape

Posted on by DragonSusie

A boy meets girl story with a twist

The boy is a terminally-ill human; the girl is an alien light being. Both are alone and lonely, until they meet by chance under the Northern Lights.

This I found slow to get in to, with the first couple of chapters with Ben and Y’me talking to themselves not really pulling me in. I had to wait until the middle of the book before it actually became interesting, when Ben and Y’me finally meet and start talking to each other.

The funniest part for me was their discussion about “silly human behaviour”, like (paraphrased), ‘why does paper beat rock?’ ‘It just does…’ And, my favourite one, ‘Isn’t ketchup technically a fruit smoothie?’ Haha!

Up until that point, I wasn’t so impressed with the story, but as it started to progress from there on, it slowly warmed to me. Then, the ending – it was probably one of the most profound things I’ve read in a long while. The last paragraph just took my breath away and gave the story such wonderful roundedness.

It’s a story that requires some patience, but once you’re in there, you will be hooked.

Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked

*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Amazon

Goodreads

If the Shoe Fits by Laura Greenwood

Posted on by DragonSusie

The shoe fit quite well, thank you!

I’m actually quite surprised that this book has a mediocre average rating, but I actually only tend to trust those who write full reviews rather than just slapping a couple of stars on a book. So, therefore, if you go on the basis of actual reviews, this book appears to be a hit.

And, if you come onto me, it was a hit with me as well!!

Now we must mention that there are some cheesy moments. I mean, “Fairy Gay Mother” just had me cringing! lol! But, as a retelling, of course you had to have the similarities in there, in some way, and that’s just one of them.

Sadie’s life has been compared to that of Cinderella by her best friend and I guess she moderately agrees, but she just has a stepmother who hates and would rather ignore her than one who submits her to drudgery. But when she sees a man she must have on the TV, she decides that she just has to get to the ball to meet him, even if her stepmother had forbidden it.

And there are familiar characters who come along, in the shape of Queen Amara and her consorts; I didn’t quite recognise them at first, but when I remembered that I’d read their story, too, it was a nice squidgy moment.

All in all, a good fun read.

Final rating: ★★★★☆ – Really liked

*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Amazon
Goodreads