magic – Page 56 – Cannonball Read 17

Tricked Into a YA Romance

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Lainie Taylor

August 1, 2020 by Ale 2 Comments

In trying to find an agent for my own novel, I asked my friends to suggest some of their favorite books that closely resembled my fantasy so that I could shamelessly query the agents of those books for my own devices. Faintingviolet lent me Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I had no idea going into this book what it was since I’d never heard of Lainie Taylor before. But faintingviolet knows I’m not a huge fan of YA, and I pretty much avoid romance at any […]

The Greatest Library that Never Was

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

August 1, 2020 by Ale Leave a Comment

I was a huge fan of the Night Circus, so I was ecstatic when the lovely faintingviolet shared her copy of the Starless Sea with me. To give too much of the plot away takes all the joy out of reading this story, but the baseline is that there’s a magical library hidden underground accessible by doorways above. The nature through which patrons find these doors varies to fate, and in recent years, someone’s been closing all the doors. At least until a grad student named Zachery stumbles […]

For a fantasy novel, these characters are a little too real

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

July 27, 2020 by Mobius_Walker Leave a Comment

The Magicians by Lev Grossman follows Quentin Coldwater through his education at Brakebills, a college for magic, and his post-graduation life. Quentin is a depressed, maladjusted jerk. He is not a wholly good person. No one at Brakebills or any magician seems to be a good person. Not Quentin’s best friend Alice and her family trauma that weighs her down to the point of never standing out, not Eliot and his ostentatious proclivity to exclude, not Janet and her razor-sharp tongue that inflicts lashes wherever […]

cbr12bingo – Debut

Boys of Alabama by Genevieve Hudson

July 26, 2020 by andtheIToldYouSos Leave a Comment

Oh dear. Boys of Alabama is a lot. In Genevieve Hudson’s debut novel we are introduced to small-town Delilah, Alabama through the eyes of Max- the new kid in town. Max and his family just moved to rural America from urban Germany, and we leap into the culture shock with them. Delilah has two religions: Christianity and football- and the two form a dangerous communion. Max is sensitive, quiet, and gay. He can also bring dead things back to life; one touch and wilted flowers bloom. […]

Not all Monsters are evil

Fire by Kristin Cashore

July 19, 2020 by Malin Leave a Comment

Official book description: It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men. This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her […]

And I think Nimmo the cat knows more than they are letting on

Lightfall: The Girl and the Galdurian by Tim Probert

July 13, 2020 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr12bingo Fresh Start I am not usually not a fan of huge open endings of first books in a series, but even with an open ending, Lightfall: The Girl and the Galdurian is a complete story of Bea and her new friend Cad. Tim Probert put fantasy staples throughout, with modern themes, hints of classic tales and wrapped it up all in a sparsely texted story that is beautifully done. This is a charming graphic novel. This fast-paced story is great for the 10 to […]

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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