Cannonball Read 17

“Because that’s how life tends to work in all its aspects. We try things out, and make mistakes, and recover, and learn from our experiences.”

Band Sinister by KJ Charles

November 4, 2025 by faintingviolet Leave a Comment

Band Sinister is what happens when an author writes their own version of Georgette Heyer book by throwing absolutely every socially progressive character type into a friend group and then letting them loose on the very suspecting neighbors. I’ve read exactly one Heyer book, Venetia, back in … [Read more]

faintingviolet's CBR17 Review No:49 · Genres: Romance · Tags: B, band sinister, cbr17bingo, historical romance, KJ Charles, queer romance, read harder challenge, Regency ·

The review I date myself by my pop culture references or Scooby Doo and the Not so Masked Villains

Toxic Summer by Derek Charm

November 4, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The cover of Toxic Summer by Derek Charm looks like it would be a fun, summer romance romp. Maybe it would have some misadventures or possibly a monster that is a masked one, or even one that has a “is it or isn’t it?” thought. But instead, it turned out to be a bit cartoonish and not always in a … [Read more]

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:494 · Genres: Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, Young Adult · Tags: Derek Charm, family, friendship, LGBTQ, paranormal, pollution, Summer employment, Teenagers ·

More Christmas and Yule please

The Legend of the Christmas Witch by Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza

November 4, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

With the book, The Legend of the Christmas Witch, I wanted more about Christmas and less, well, witch. I understand that Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza wanted to build up to the climax, but it made no real sense to me why things were called Christmas. First, she practices Yule celebrations. Second, we … [Read more]

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:493 · Genres: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, History, Mystery, Poetry, Religion, Young Adult · Tags: Aubrey Plaza, celebrations, christmas, Dan Murphy, Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza, family, holidays, Julia Iredale, siblings, Yule celebrtaion ·

When in a pinch use a banana

The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah by Laurel Snyder and Leanne Hatch

November 4, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

After reading the book, Shrinking Violet by Laurel Snyder, I wondered what else they had written. I found The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah (illustrated by Leanne Hatch). It is currently available (it came out mid September 2025) but I was able to find an online reader copy. I might … [Read more]

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:492 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Poetry, Religion · Tags: celebrations, faith, family, Hanukkah, Laurel Snyder, Laurel Snyder and Leanne Hatch, Leanne Hatch, Social Themes, values ·

When fear makes you small, friendship makes you tall

Shrinking Violet by Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham

November 4, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The book, Shrinking Violet by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by LeUyen Pham is a fun and sweet story dealing with the common themes of fear and bravery. We also have friendship and how that ties into overcoming the fear to be brave. While the themes are not new, the presentation gives things a fresh … [Read more]

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:491 · Genres: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Health, Poetry · Tags: bravery, emotions, Fear, Feelings, friendship, Laurel Snyder, Laurel Snyder and LeUyen Pham, LeUyen Pham, Social Themes ·

Should A Classic Be Discounted Because of the Racist Origins of its First Title?

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

November 4, 2025 by BigNerdes 17 Comments

As a teenager, I was a huge Agatha Christie fan. There's a reason she ranks among the most widely published authors of all time (behind only Shakespeare). The lady can spin a yarn! I'm proud to say I guessed the murderer in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd when I first read it, though I recently reread … [Read more]

BigNerdes's CBR17 Review No:1 · Genres: Featured, Fiction · Tags: agatha christie ·

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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