The White Rose

Today’s post is on The White Rose by Amy Ewing. It is the second novel of The Lone City. It is 308 pages long and is published by Harper Teen. The cover is white with the main character standing in the center which looks like a rose. The intended reader is someone who has read the first novel and likes dystopian novels. There is mild foul language, talk of sexuality and violence in this book. The story is told from first person perspective of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.
But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.
But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?

Review- We pick up exactly where the last novel left off with Violet waiting for help and Ash in the dungeon below. Violet refuses to leave with him and then goes to save her friend Raven.  They travel throughout the Lone City and see the different ways that the people are suffering under the rule of the Royalty. Raven has been changed by what her mistress did to her and is now tormented by it. Ash is looked down on because of being a companion and is not trusted by anyone but Violet and Raven. When they leave the city we finally learn what is expected of Violet, she is the descendant of the original people who lived on the island and that is where her abilities come from. The Black Key, a resistance movement, wants her to destroy the walls that separate the city and protect the royals. We get some character development but this novel is mostly about developing the setting and backstory of the world. There was less tension in this novel for me because we are so far away from the villains in this book. But the ending is tight and I look forward to getting to read the final volume.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Christmas: A Biography

Today’s post is on Christmas: A Biography by Judith Flanders. It is 246 pages long and is published by Thomas Dunne Books. The cover is a Christmas scene with a red house, a family, and snow. The intended reader is someone is interested in the history of Christmas from ancient days to modern ones. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author explores the Christmas holiday, from the original festival through present day traditions.
Christmas has always been a magical time. Or has it? Thirty years after the first recorded Christmas, the Pope was already warning that too many people were spending the day, not in worship, but in partying and eating to excess. By 1616, the playwright Ben Jonson was nostalgically remembering Christmas in the old days, certain that it had been better then.
Other elements of Christmas are much newer - who would have thought gift-wrap is a novelty of the twentieth century? That the first holiday parade was neither at Macy's, nor even in the USA?
Some things, however, never change. The first known gag holiday gift book, The Boghouse Miscellany, was advertised in the 1760s 'for gay Gallants, and good companions', while in 1805, the leaders of the Lewis and Clark expedition exchanged - what else? - presents of underwear and socks.
Christmas is all things to all people: a religious festival, a family celebration, a period of eating and drinking. In Christmas: A Biography, bestselling author and acclaimed social historian Judith Flanders casts a sharp eye on myths, legends and history, deftly moving from the origins of the holiday in the Roman empire, through Christmas trees in central Europe, to what might be the first appearance of Santa Claus - in Switzerland - to draw a picture of the season as it has never been seen before.

Review- An interesting look at a very old holiday. Flanders does her best to deconstruct myths from reality about Christmas; like who made Christmas trees popular and traditional Christmas parties. Without overwhelming the reader with all details about every Christmas tradition Flanders gives the reader the core of Christmas once was, currently is, and even what it has always been. It is an interesting look at a holiday that really has never been religious by itself. It has always been about family, food, and gifts but not always about piety. Flanders walks the reader from the ancient party days to feudal lords getting gifts from their lessers to the modern child focused day we have now. A well written. interesting book that if you are interested in  traditions and holidays then I recommend it.

I give this a book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book. 

Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 6: Summoner

Today's post is on Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 6: Summoner by Yuu Watase. It is 191 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it facing the reader. The intended reader is someone who likes historical fantasy, high fantasy, romance, and shojo stories. There is mild foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this story. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Happiness is just a summoning away!
Now that she seems to have gathered all seven of her Celestial Warriors Miaka is ready to summon the god Suzaku, who will grant her three wishes. But Miaka's former best friend, Yui, has become her mortal enemy, and Yui's nefarious General Nakago has a secret plan...

Review- Tamahome is still being controlled of the bad guys but Miaka's face is driving him crazy. So General Nakago tells him to go after her, kill her, and then she wouldn't haunt him any more.  Miaka is trying to put a brave face for the other warriors but they know that she's falling apart on the in the inside. But True Love saves the day. Tamahome comes to kill her, but of course he can't but the plot twists aren't done yet! One of the Celestial Warriors isn't who he claims to be and the ritual of summoning as been ruined now. A lot happens in way of plot but not much in character development. I want to know what is going on with General Nakago, he has some grand plan but we still have no idea what he is about or what he wants. It ends with Miaka and company going to have to try to fix the summoning and try again.

I give this volume a Five out Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 5: Like I'm the Only Squirrel in the World

Today’s post is on The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 5: Like I'm the Only Squirrel in the World by Ryan North (Writer), Erica Henderson (Artist), Will Murray (Writer). It is 128 pages long and is published by Marvel Comics. The cover is white with Doreen, tippy, and AntMan on it. The intended reader is someone who has read the first four volumes, likes comic books, humorous story-lines, and great heroines. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of Doreen and goes with her with funny asides from other characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Everyone gets a week-long break from class, and Squirrel Girl is taking Nancy to visit her parents up in Canada! WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG, RIGHT? Turns out, nothing! It's a great trip and nothing of note happens and our story is actually EXTREMELY DULL. Sorry everyone. No, just kidding! Our story is actually SUPER AWESOME and things get real crazy real quick once a certain super-powered villain nobody has heard of for over a decade reappears! That's right! This comic features mysteries AND Canadians AND camping, not to mention our ALREADY super-enticing focus on squirrel powers! Let's see Howard the Duck promise you THAT.

Review- Another great adventure with Doreen and company! We get good action, good humor, and of course more Doreen at her finest. Lots happen in this volume from Doreen, Nancy, and Mrs. Green going on a vacation and having it ruined by villainy. The villain has a mix of powers that make Doreen have to think outside the box to win and make him into a good guy. Add in AntMan and Brain Drain for some more flavor to round out this volume. The last part is Doreen talking about her past and how many lonely birthdays she had before she made friends with the other heroes. I love this comic and Doreen so much, it is not funny how much. She has it all humor, action, science programs, and of course the message of talking things out to try and find a middle ground. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next volume.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this comic from my local library.

The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters: The Tragic and Glamorous Loves of Jackie and Lee

I received a copy of this book by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.

Today's post is on The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters: The Tragic and Glamorous Loves of Jackie and Lee by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. It is 336 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is a picture of Jackie Onassia and Lee Radziwill. The intended reader is someone who is interested in the Bouvier family and its history. There is  mild foul language,  no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A poignant, evocative, and wonderfully gossipy account of the two sisters who represented style and class above all else—Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill—from the authors of Furious Love.
When sixty-four-year-old Jackie Kennedy Onassis died in her Fifth Avenue apartment, her younger sister Lee wept inconsolably. Then Jackie’s thirty-eight-page will was read. Lee discovered that substantial cash bequests were left to family members, friends, and employees—but nothing to her. "I have made no provision in this my Will for my sister, Lee B. Radziwill, for whom I have great affection, because I have already done so during my lifetime," read Jackie’s final testament. Drawing on the authors’ candid interviews with Lee Radziwill, The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters explores their complicated relationship, placing them at the center of twentieth-century fashion, design, and style.
In life, Jackie and Lee were alike in so many ways. Both women had a keen eye for beauty—in fashion, design, painting, music, dance, sculpture, poetry—and both were talented artists. Both loved pre-revolutionary Russian culture, and the blinding sunlight, calm seas, and ancient olive groves of Greece. Both loved the siren call of the Atlantic, sharing sweet, early memories of swimming with the rakish father they adored, Jack Vernou Bouvier, at his East Hampton retreat. But Jackie was her father’s favorite, and Lee, her mother’s. One would grow to become the most iconic woman of her time, while the other lived in her shadow. As they grew up, the two sisters developed an extremely close relationship threaded with rivalry, jealousy, and competition. Yet it was probably the most important relationship of their lives.
For the first time, Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner and acclaimed biographer Nancy Schoenberger tell the complete story of these larger-than-life sisters. Drawing on new information and extensive interviews with Lee, now eighty-four, this dual biography sheds light on the public and private lives of two extraordinary women who lived through immense tragedy in enormous glamour.

Review- If you are very into the history of the Kennedys, Jackie O, and their family then you should read this book. This book covers not just Jackie and Lee's lives but the lives of those around like close friends and family. With lots of first hand resources and interviews with those still living, this book gives great insight into this complex family and their secrets. The writing is engaging, the details are not too scandalous, and story moves quickly so we do not get stuck in the complications of their lives. The authors handle this history with respect to the women who lived these lives and the choices that they made right or wrong. At times this piece was very moving and at times I rolled my eyes at the petty behavior of the players involved but I was never bored.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars.

Wake up Sleeping Beauty: volume 1

Today's post is on Wake up Sleeping Beauty: volume 1 by Megumi Morino. It is 192 pages long and is published by Kodansha. The cover has to the two main characters on it with Tetsu looking at the reader and Shizu sleeping on his shoulder. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, romance, and a little spiritual subplot. There is no foul language, no sex, and no voilence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of Tetsu.

From the back of the book- The Awakening
High schooler Tetsu Misato is hardworking, frugal, and easily scared, but he commits to a part-time job at the mansion on the hill- the one that's rumored to be haunted. As he toils away, he notices a building separate from the estate, and the mysterious girl who lives with it: Shizu Karasawa. Tetsu slowly becomes enchanted by Shizu lonely smile, but by their second encounter, he quickly finds himself in over his head. There's an unsettling feeling he can't quite shake, but there's love there, too.

Review- This is an interesting start to a shojo series. Tetsu is working hard for some reason and does not want to go to college. His father wants him to and so they make a bet. If Tetsu can keep his spring break job, then he can work. He meets Shizu and he feels sorry for her. She is totally isolated from the world and something is odd about her. The plot did keep me guessing, I was not sure what was going on until the revel at the end of the volume. I liked the characters, I am on board with the plot now but until the big reveal I wasn't, the art is good, and I am very curious about how Tetsu is going to help Shizu because she has quite a problem. The volume ends with Tetsu starting to be her personal housekeeper and Shizu wanting him to be her friend. I am looking forward to seeing where Tetsu and Shizu are going.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Lois Lane: Triple Threat

Today's post is on Lois Lane: Triple Threat by Gwenda Bond. It is the last in her Lois Lane trilogy. It is 357 pages long and is published by Switch Press. The cover has Lois's profile three times in bold primary colors. The intended reader is someone who who has read the first two novels, likes Lois Lane, and excellent writing. There is foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of Lois. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- For the first time, Lois Lane had almost everything she wants. Non-temporary home? Check. Dream job? Double check. Incredible BFFs? The absolute best. And now, hew online crush, SmallvilleGuy, is coming to Metropolis. If all goes well, they'll turn their long-distance friendship into a some-kind-of-fairy-tale romance, But when foes all every go well? Before she can check boyfriend off her list, Lois must take down a mad scientist plus a trio of mutant teens, protect the elusive flying man from the feds (including her dad), and navigate her very first date with SmallvilleGuy. In the follow-up to FALLOUT and DOUBLE DOWN, Gwenda Bond's reimagination of DC Comics's first leading lady takes on her toughest challenge yet: Love.

Review- This was a prefect end to an incredible trilogy. Lois grows so much over the course of these books, she goes from directionless young woman with a great sense of justice to a young reporter with her values and dreams on the same page going into her future as one of the leading voices in the DCU. The story picks up about six months after the end of Double Down and Lois is getting antsy for her next scoop. When her next story runs into her, Lois knows that she to stop and help the teens who are being used by unknown adults. But why are they focusing on her? Bond takes the stakes that she placed in the previous books and brings them all together in this final novel. Clark is much more present in this novel as compared to the first two because he comes to Metropolis and is able to really be involved in the action. Bond did so much right with this series and with the character of Lois Lane, I just loved it so much. I would love it if Bond got to write more with Lois and maybe follow her through college and into the world as The Daily Planet's ace reporter.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Votes for Women!: American Suffragists and the Battle for the Ballot

I was given this book by Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

Today's Nonfiction post is on Votes for Women!: American Suffragists and the Battle for the Ballot by Winifred Conkling. It is 312 pages long and is published by Algonquin Young Readers. The cover is red with different pictures of different women over the course of the eighty-year battle for the vote. The intended reader is someone who is interested in women's history, voting rights, and American history. There is no foul language, no sex, and no voiceless in this book. Conkling using many first hand sources to tell this story and we read much of it from the hands of the women themselves. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The story of the tenacious American women who demanded, fought for, and finally won their right to vote.
On August 18, 1920, ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment was the culmination of an almost eighty-year fight in which some of the fiercest, most passionate women in history marhced, protested, and sometimes broke the law inorder to win the right to vote.
In this expansive yet personal volume, author Winifred Conkling covers not only the suffragists' achievements and politics but also the private journeys that fueled their passion and led them to become women's champions. From Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (who founded the women's suffrage movement at the 1848 Senecca Falls convention) to Victoria Woodhull (the first female candidate for president) to Sojourner Truth and her famous speech ("Ain't I a Woman?") to Alice Paul (who was arrested and force-fed in prison), Conkling combines thorough research with page-turning storytelling to bring the battle for women's suffrage to vivid life.

Review- We all know how the story ends but we don't all know how it was started, how it was won, and the sacrifices made by the women who made it happen. This is a great way to introduce the battle for women's rights to young readers. It is well-written, it is the interesting, it gives the information without overloading the reader with too much detail, and it is well researched. Conkling had a hard job in this book with so much information that she could include about this right movement that she had to choose carefully so as to not overwhelm the reader but also to not leave anything important out. I think that she did a very good job. I was invested in this book and its narrative. I learned new information about the women, men, and laws around the women's right movement. I was never bored as I read this. I recommend this not just for young adults learning about the women's rights movement but for all Americans to remember our history.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars.

Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 5: Rival

Today's post is on Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 5: Rival by Yuu Watase. It is 189 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it facing the reader. The intended reader is someone who likes historical fantasy, high fantasy, romance, and shojo stories. There is mild foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this story. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Honor among Thieves? Miaka Yuki is a ordinary teen suddenly transported into the world of a book. To save her newly adoptive country of Hong-Nan, she must scour the nation for the remaining three of  the seven Celestial Warriors who will help her in her quest. But the search takes Miaka into the lair of bandits and to a plague-cursed town where she has to die to survive!

Review- The blurb does not go into the real meat of this volume which is trying to get Tamahome back from Qu-Dong. He went there to wait until Miaka found the last of the seven warriors and she does in this volume. But because Yui, Miaka's best friend, has also fallen in love with Tamahome she does not want him to leave. Her general promises that she can make Tamahome love her instead of Miaka. So most of the volume is really about Miaka deciding what she is going to do now. There is good fight scenes in this volume with some of the newer warriors getting to show their power and Chichiri's brains are on show for this volume and I liked that a lot. I think that this love spell that Tamahome is under if going to slow the plot down but we will see in the next volume.

I give this volume a Five out Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Wesley James Ruined My Life

Today's post is on Wesley James Ruined My Life by Jennifer Honeybourn. It is 256 pages long and is published by Swoon reads. The cover is blue with a young woman on it giving the side eye to someone next to her. The intended reader is someone who likes young adult novel, romance, humor, and stories about growing up a little. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this novel. The story is told from  the first person perspective of the main character Quinn. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Sixteen-year-old Quinn Hardwick's having a rough summer. Her beloved grandmother has been put into a home, her dad's gambling addiction has flared back up and now her worst enemy is back in town: Wesley James, form childhood friend- until her ruined her life, that is.
So when Wesley is hired to work with her at Tudor Tymes, a medieval England themed restaurant, the last thing Quinn's going to do is forgive and forget. She's determined to remove him from her life and even the score all at once- by getting him fired.
But getting rid of Wesley isn't as easy as she'd hoped. When Quinn finds herself falling for him, she has to decide what she wants more: to get even, or to just get over it.

Review- I was expecting this to be a cute rom-com about two teens realizing that they still like each other after all the years. But it really about was dealing with family, misunderstandings, and growing up. Quinn believes that Wesley is the reason that her family broke up but of course that is not the case. But I did find Wesley annoying because Quinn does tell him over and over that she does not want to have anything to do with him and he ignores her. I get that he does not understand that Quinn blames him for or why but I still would have liked him to respect her when Quinn tells him to get lost. That said it was a cute love story in the background but the real meat is about dealing with loss and disappointment. Quinn's father cannot be a parent because of his addiction, her grandmother is dying of Alzheimer's disease ans she is just having a rough time of it. If you removed the love story background I think that this book could still stand on its own. So do not go into this just expecting a cute little rom-com because it deal with more serious issues than young love.

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this novel from my local library.

Bitter Blood: A True Story of Southern Family Pride, Madness, and Multiple Murder

Today’s Nonfiction post is on Bitter Blood: A True Story of Southern Family Pride, Madness, and Multiple Murder by Jerry Bledsoe. It is 423 pages long and is published by Diversion Books. The cover has a picture of a wedding day. The intended reader is someone who is interested in true crime. There is foul language, talk of sex, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- The terrifying #1 New York Times bestseller about the unbreakable ties of blood The first bodies found were those of a feisty millionaire widow and her daughter in their posh Louisville, Kentucky, home. Months later, another wealthy widow and her prominent son and daughter-in-law were found savagely slain in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Mystified police first suspected a professional in the bizarre gangland-style killings that shattered the quiet tranquility of two well-to-do southern communities. But soon a suspicion grew that turned their focus to family. The Sharps. The Newsoms. The Lynches. The only link between the three families was a beautiful and aristocratic young mother named Susie Sharp Newsom Lynch. Could this former child "princess" and fraternity sweetheart have committed such barbarous crimes? And what about her gun-loving first cousin and lover, Fritz Klenner, son of a nationally renowned doctor? In this powerful and riveting tale of three families connected by marriage and murder … of obsessive love and bitter custody battles, Jerry Bledsoe recounts the shocking events that ultimately took nine lives, building to a truly horrifying climax that will leave you stunned.

Review- This is a shocking true crime story. We get everything in this book; forbidden love, jealously, mental illness, and a lot of innocent people killed. We start at the first murder with little clues and no reasons for the murder. It is a brutal killing and the family is in shock. The police with no leads are doing their best but nothing is working. Then the second set of murders happen. The story moves strangely from the time of the murders to back into the far past the families, showing how events led to the murders and the ending conclusion. The end is truly shocking. I was very disturbed by how the story ended. It is not a satisfying conclusion with no fault to the author. Bledsoe just tells the story, he gives the reader the information, no matter how bad it is. The writing is good, Bledsoe gives just enough information without being too graphic, and he keeps the twists and turns coming.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Queen's Quality volume 2

Today's post is on Queen's Quality volume 2 by Kyousuke Motomi. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. It is the second in Kyousuke's new series, Queen's Quality, you need to have read the first volume and previous series in order to understand what is going on. The cover has the main male character on it looking at the reader. The intended reader is someone who has read QQ Sweeper, likes shojo manga, and supernatural love stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters moving as the story goes on. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Fumi Nishioka lives with Kyutaro Horikita and his family of 'Sweepers,' people who specialize in cleaning the minds of those overcome by negative energy and harmful spirits. Fumi has always displayed mysterious abilities, but will those powers be used for evil when she begins to truly awaken as a Queen?
In a bid to move forward,  Kyutaro and Fumi share a sweet secret! Later, when they go to The Inside with Secdai to cleanse Ms. Hayashi's Mind Vault, will they succeed in saving her? And what is Bug Handler Ataru plotting in order to turn Fumi into the Black Queen?

Review- We pick up where the last novel left off with Fumi still trying to deal with having the Black Queen in the back of her mind. Kyutaro and the other Sweepers are trying their best to help her and to discover how to stop the Black Queen from reappearing. Kyutaro does his part to help Fumi by bonding more with her and helping her continue to learn as a Sweeper. But Fumi and us get to see some of Fumi's past and it is rough but Fumi will have to deal with it and so much more. Not as much character or plot development in this volume but the story is moving along and I am still fully invested into this series and the characters.

I give this volume Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

The Winner's Kiss

Today's post is on The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkopski. It is the last in her The Winner's Trilogy. it is 484 pages long and is published by Farrar Straus Giroux. The cover has a beautiful young woman in a red dress looking over her shoulder at the reader with a sword by her side making the I in Kiss. The intended reader is someone who has read the first two books, likes historical fantasy novels, and very light love stories. There is mild foul language, implied sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters moving as the story goes on. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Some kisses come at a price.
War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.
At least, that’s what he thinks.
In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.
But no one gets what they want just by wishing.
As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

Review- This was a perfect end to this series. I loved every minute of it. We pick up where the last novel left off with Kestrel being carted off to the sulfur mines far in the north. Arin is still being stupid and not trusting anything he feels. Kestrel trying to save herself but at the mine she dicovers how the empire keeps the slaves working and it is not pretty. But soon enough Arin gets his head out of his butt and goes to save her. Kestrel has changed because of what the empire did to her but Arin can still who she was in there. They go and the war truly begins. The war and the plot and the characters move very fast and before I knew it the book was over and it was beautiful. The world is still in trouble but Kestrel and Arin have a chance to make it better and be free. I loved everything about this trilogy and I cannot recommend it enough. I look forward to whatever Rutkoski writes next.

I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Marcel's Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man's Fate

Today's post is on Marcel's Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man's Fate by Carolyn Porter. It is 352 pages long and is is published by Skyhorse Publishing. The cover is like a postcard with the title in the font named after Marcel. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who is interested in World War 2 history and fonts. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A graphic designer’s search for inspiration leads to a cache of letters and the mystery of one man’s fate during World War II.
Seeking inspiration for a new font design in an antique store in small-town Stillwater, Minnesota, graphic designer Carolyn Porter stumbled across a bundle of letters and was immediately drawn to their beautifully expressive pen-and-ink handwriting. She could not read the letters—they were in French—but she noticed all of them had been signed by a man named Marcel and mailed from Berlin to his family in France during the middle of World War II.
As Carolyn grappled with designing the font, she decided to have one of Marcel’s letters translated. Reading it opened a portal to a different time, and what began as mere curiosity quickly became an obsession with finding out why the letter writer, Marcel Heuzé, had been in Berlin, how his letters came to be on sale in a store halfway around the world, and, most importantly, whether he ever returned to his beloved wife and daughters after the war.
Marcel’s Letters is the incredible story of Carolyn’s increasingly desperate search to uncover the mystery of one man’s fate during WWII, seeking answers across Germany, France, and the United States. Simultaneously, she continues to work on what would become the acclaimed P22 Marcel font, immortalizing the man and his letters that waited almost seventy years to be reunited with his family.

Review- This is a moving story about the past and present intersecting. Porter bought the letters at a flea market because the hand-writing was beautiful. For years she just studied the hand-writing without thinking about what was written on them. This the story about Porter's adventure into who Marcel was and what his life was like. The writing is good, the story is engaging, and the ending is gratifying in a way that rarely happens in the nonfiction. I teared up at times over the course of the narrative as we learned more about Marcel and his time working in a Nazi camp. When we discovered that he had lived, returned to France, and his loved ones I had tears. This is an up-lifting story about hope, surviving, and learning about others. I recommend this book.


I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.