Voyages and travels – Cannonball Read 17

Second verse, same as the first with differences

Verse V02: The Second Gate by Sam Beck

March 8, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

After I finished Verse V02: The Second Gate I said, well, time to put in a request for book three Yet, Sam Beck’s next volume is not due until mid/late August 2024. I am not sure I can handle that as I really want to know what happens to everyone and most of us should probably read this (at least) trilogy back-to-back as there is a lot going on and unless you have a great memory, you might have forgotten a few things like I […]

The not so innocent is found by the innocent

Mage and the Endless Unknown by SJ Miller

October 26, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have had Mage and the Endless Unknown saved in my online reader copies folder since probably 2022 or at least early 2023. I am not sure why it was still available, but it was. And SJ Miller’s graphic novel is about a typical innocent who goes into the world only to find out how cruel and evil the story is. And of course, Mage, marvels how beautiful things are, but soon realizes everything in it wants to destroy them. Things are big, bad, scary […]

Lust and love

The Song of Aglaia by Anne Simon

March 7, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Possibly the most unsettling fairy tale you’ll read all year, The Song of Aglaia is as feminist as it is iconoclastic. Simon’s scritch-scratch textures and kids’-book-gone-awry character designs provide a perfect vehicle for her exploration of the ways lust and — more upsettingly — love destroy our ideals.– “Vulture” CBR15Passport Other country (from France) Having had read the Anne Simon trilogy out of order (book three first, now book one The Song of Aglaia) book three makes more sense. In three we see the son […]

Pride, culture and acceptance

The Blue Scarf by Mohamed Danawi

October 20, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I will start my review off with, there is absolutely nothing wrong with The Blue Scarf by Mohamed Danawi. Is it a bit saccharine-sweet? Sure. But that does not mean it cannot be good. It just means that a reader like me needs to be in the right frame of mind when reading it. And I was. Mostly. Okay, it was too cute for today. But ask me tomorrow. Or ask someone who likes emotion pulling tales and see what they think. Ask someone what […]

Couple of stinkers off on an adventure

Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World by Jacqueline Davies

November 4, 2020 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World is cute. Cute story about friendship, overcoming fears and not leaving your tuna sandwich laying around. Cute illustrations. Cute humor and cute presentation. Yes, Jacqueline Davies (author) and Deborah Hocking (illustration) created a cute overall new tale for the (read aloud/pick up a few words) 5 to 9 (solo reading). A young 10-year-old could also find a little something from this. Sydney and Taylor are two friends (hello Frog and Toad, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, Boris […]

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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