The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter

Today’s post is on The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss. It is 400 pages long and is published by Saga Press. It is the first in her The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club #1. The cover is dark green with different images like a pen a key, a woman with a gun and other things from the book itself. There is mild foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book - Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ death, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes.
But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.
When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.

Review – An interesting and inventive retelling of classic horror novels. We start with Mary Jekyll trying to discover what she is going to do to survive now that her mother is dead. As she goes through her mother’s things she discovers that her mother had a secret bankbook. Mary begins to investigate her mother and then her father’s past. We get to see lots of classic characters but see them in a very different light like Henry Jekyll, Sherlock Holmes, and others. The writing is good with one mild thing that just takes some getting used it, over the course of the chapters the narrative is interrupted with asides from the characters in real time. It can be jarring when first reading it but I got used to it as I read the novel. I really had fun with this novel, I liked the characters, the plot was interesting and fun, and the setting was good. If you are looking for an inventive retelling with classic stories and characters then you should give this novel a look.

I give this novel a Four of out Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given this book as a gift.

Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America

Today's post is on Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America by Nefertiti Austin. It is  304 pages long and is published by Sourcebooks. The cover is white with a black mother and her child on the bottom left corner. The intended reader is someone who is interested in adoption, race, equality, and feminism in America. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In America, Mother = White
That's what Nefertiti, a single African American woman, discovered when she decided she wanted to adopt a Black baby boy out of the foster care system. Eager to finally join the motherhood ranks, Nefertiti was shocked when people started asking her why she wanted to adopt a "crack baby" or said that she would never be able to raise a Black son on her own. She realized that American society saw motherhood through a white lens, and that there would be no easy understanding or acceptance of the kind of family she hoped to build.
Motherhood So White is the story of Nefertiti's fight to create the family she always knew she was meant to have and the story of motherhood that all American families need now. In this unflinching account of her parenting journey, Nefertiti examines the history of adoption in the African American community, faces off against stereotypes of single, Black motherhood, and confronts the reality of raising children of color in racially charged, modern-day America.
Honest, vulnerable, and uplifting, Motherhood So White reveals what Nefertiti knew all along―that the only requirement for a successful family is one raised with love.

Review- I really enjoyed this memoir. I found it moving, interesting, thought-provoking, well-written, and engaging with difficult topics excellently. I really cannot praise this book enough. Austin invites the reader into her life from her grandparents, parents, and her childhood then her adult life and then her children's. Austin is an excellent writer and she is very passionate about her topic. The chapters are short and that works well as I felt that Austin could talk about one thing like her parents or when she starting taking classes to be a foster parent and finish the thought per chapter as she builds a greater narrative of her life. Austin engages with race, gender, and personal expectations with grace and honesty that was refreshing and moving. If you like memoirs or are a fan of her other works then I highly recommend this memoir.

I give this memoir a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I was given a copy of this book by a friend.

Alichino, volume 2

Today's post is on Alichino, volume 2 by Kouyu Shurei. It is the second in her Alichino series. It is 143 pages long and was published by Tokyopop. The cover is a beautiful illustration of the cast. The intended reader is someone who likes beautiful manga and mysterious plots. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character Tsugiri. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Beautiful creatures called Alichino grow strong by eating the souls of humans. However, the Alichino's dominance\over humans may be at its end with Tsugiri, a quiet young man with the power to destroy their race. But the battle is just beginning- a mysterious  woman named Matsurika makes an appearance at Tsugiri's home, and she threatens to kill those close to him unless she gets what she wants!

Review- The plot picks up in this volume with Tsugiri learning more about what he is and what that means to Alichino. He can kill them but if an Alichino eats him the Alichino will become even more powerful. So he goes on a journey to discover more about himself and the world. The first place he comes to is ruled by an Alichino and the Alichino does protect the city and its humans but at the price of their souls. It is not clear where we are going in this story but I like it and the art is so beautiful. The plot is moving very slowly with not much being given to the reader about what Tsugiri really is, is he human or something else. What are the Alichino other than predators? Do they have some great goal or are they loner hunters? So many questions about this world but only more volume and I am not sure at all how the story is going to wrap up.

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

Prince in Disguise

Today’s post is on Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm. It is 320 pages long and published by Disney Book Group. The cover is an illustration with two pairs of hands and coffee on it. There is very mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes cute Christmas love stories, royal love stories, and YA love stories. The story is told from first person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the blurb on Hoopla- Someday I want to live in a place where I never hear "You're Dusty's sister?" ever again. Life is real enough for Dylan-especially as the ordinary younger sister of Dusty, former Miss Mississippi and the most perfect, popular girl in Tupelo. But when Dusty wins the hand of the handsome Scottish laird-to-be Ronan on the TRC television network's crown jewel, Prince in Disguise, Dylan has to face a different kind of reality: reality TV. As the camera crew whisks them off to Scotland to film the lead-up to the wedding, camera-shy Dylan is front and center as Dusty's maid of honor. The producers are full of surprises-including old family secrets, long-lost relatives, and a hostile future mother-in-law who thinks Dusty and Dylan's family isn't good enough for her only son. At least there's Jamie, an adorably bookish groomsman who might just be the perfect antidote to all Dylan's stress . . . if she just can keep TRC from turning her into the next reality show sensation.

Review- A very cute story about first love in the spotlight. Dylan just wants to get her sister’s wedding over with, she is so over the camera’s everywhere in her life. On the way to the castle for the wedding, Dylan gets forgotten then rescued by one of the men of honor Jamie. They have a connection in that they both hate camera’s and just want this over with. So there is our cute love story. Of course there are misunderstandings, hovering cameramen, and the baby surprise to make the plot really funny. Jamie is cute and he really likes her, so he goes a little over the top to try and impress her but it is cute. The plot is sweet, the writing is funny, the romance is cute and believable, princes included, so if you looking for a cute holiday love story then you should give this one a try.

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

If You Lived Here You’d Be Home By Now: Why We Traded the Commuting Life for a Little House on the Prairie

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

Today's post is on If You Lived Here You’d Be Home By Now: Why We Traded the Commuting Life for a Little House on the Prairie by Christopher Ingraham. It is 288 pages long and published by Harper Collins. The cover is illustrated country picture with a house, a dog, and a couple walking towards it. the intended reader is someone who likes personal memoirs. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The hilarious, charming, and candid story of writer Christopher Ingraham’s decision to uproot his life and move his family to Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, population 1,400—the community he made famous as “the worst place to live in America” in a story he wrote for the Washington Post.
Like so many young American couples, Chris Ingraham and his wife Briana were having a difficult time making ends meet as they tried to raise their twin boys in the East Coast suburbs. One day, Chris – in his role as a “data guy” reporter at the Washington Post – stumbled on a study that would change his life. It was a ranking of America’s 3,000+ counties from ugliest to most scenic. He quickly scrolled to the bottom of the list and gleefully wrote the words “The absolute worst place to live in America is (drumroll please) … Red Lake County, Minn.” The story went viral, to put it mildly.
Among the reactions were many from residents of Red Lake County. While they were unflappably polite – it’s not called “Minnesota Nice” for nothing – they challenged him to look beyond the spreadsheet and actually visit their community. Ingraham, with slight trepidation, accepted. Impressed by the locals’ warmth, humor and hospitality – and ever more aware of his financial situation and torturous commute – Chris and Briana eventually decided to relocate to the town he’d just dragged through the dirt on the Internet.
If You Lived Here You’d Be Home by Now is the story of making a decision that turns all your preconceptions – good and bad -- on their heads. In Red Lake County, Ingraham experiences the intensity and power of small-town gossip, struggles to find a decent cup of coffee, suffers through winters with temperatures dropping to forty below zero, and unearths some truths about small-town life that the coastal media usually miss. It’s a wry and charming tale – with data! -- of what happened to one family brave enough to move waaaay beyond its comfort zone.

Review- A charming memoir about a family that moves to the "worst place" in America and making a life there. Christopher Ingraham is a Washington Post reporter who writes stories about data in America. He comes across a ranking list from the government about where is the best to live and Red Lake Falls, Minnesota is the worst. Ingraham wrote a little story about the different places and their rankings and did not think anything more about it. But he opened a can of worms in Red Lake Falls. We get to go an this journey with Ingraham and his family as they decide to up-root their lives and move to the "worst place" in America. I really enjoyed this memoir, it was fun, funny, and an interesting look into way living outside of the big city is not a bad idea. Ingraham is open to learning and humble when he realizes that Red Lake Falls is not the worst place but the perfect place for him and his family. If you enjoy family memoirs then you should give this one a read.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars.

Skip Beat!, vol 7

Today's post is on Skip Beat!, vol 7 by Yoshiki Nakamura. It is the sixth in her long running series and you need to have read the six volumes to understand what is going on. It is 190 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Sho dressed up as a demon from his music video on it. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, strong heroines, and funny revenge stories. The story is told from third person close of Kyoko the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- All Kyoko's dreams are coming true! She's got a best friend (okay Moko still needs to come to terms with their bosom-buddyhood, but she's learning). She's finally going to high school (so what if a mean girl is picking on her- Kyoko knows how to deal with bullies). And she's landed a spot in Sho's new video (Yes! Revenge! Bwa haha ha!) Life doesn't get any better than this.

Review- We finished the mini-arc with Ren and him seeing Kyoko is still the same person, just a little angrier than when he first knew her. Then we get to see Kyoko in high school dealing with normal high school stuff like mean girls but Kyoko's tough and she does not care. The rest of the volume is Kyoko trying to stop Sho from recognizing her and firing her. Sho does but he does not fire her, instead he gives her the chance to beat him on the camera in acting. At the end of the volume Sho realizes that Kyoko has some good acting skills and she could beat him. I liked seeing Kyoko and Sho enact in this volume with how much Kyoko has changed to Sho. Kyoko is still the same person but now she just does not care about how others feel. Sho does not know what to think about how Kyoko is now and it is confusing him. I like it. I look forward to seeing more of Kyoko and seeing her win in this little battle.

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

The Prince and The Dressmaker

Today’s post is on The Prince and The Dressmaker by Jen Wang. It is 277 pages long and is published by First Second Press. The cover is pink with the main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who likes comic books and stories about being true to yourself. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this comic. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride- or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia- the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion!
Sebastian’s secret weapon is his brilliant dressmaker, Frances- his best friend and one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon mean being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect to her friend?

Review- An interesting story about being honest with yourself and those around you. Sebastian is gender fluid and wants to be able to express himself in all ways. He discovers Frances when she makes a dress for another noble girl and is going to be fired because of it. Frances then makes dresses for Sebastian, as Lady Crystallia, and makes the Lady shine. Of course things get more complicated as time goes on and Sebastian wants to have it all even at the cost of Frances’ dreams. Overall the story is very well done with interesting characters and honest feeling about what is going on. The ending jumps the shark in my opinion with Sebastian’s father and the fashion show but that was my only complaint with the story. The art was good and I am interested in what the author Jen Wang is doing to do next.

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

The Survivors: A Story of War, Inheritance, and Healing

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

Today's post is on The Survivors: A Story of War, Inheritance, and Healing by Adam P. Frankel. it is 288 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is red with a leafless tree in the center. The intended reader is someone who is interested in family memoirs. There is mild foul language, discussions of sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Adam Frankel’s maternal grandparents survived the Holocaust and built new lives, with new names, in Connecticut. Though they tried to leave the horrors of their past behind, the pain they suffered crossed generational lines—a fact most apparent in the mental health of Adam’s mother. When Adam sat down with her to examine their family history in detail, he learned another shocking secret, this time one that unraveled Adam’s entire understanding of who he is.
In the midst of piecing together a story of inherited familial trauma, Adam discovered he was only half of who he thought he was, knowledge that raised essential questions of identity. Who was he, if not his father’s son? If not part of a rich heritage of writers and public servants? Does it matter? What defines a family’s bonds? What will he pass on to his own children? To rewrite his story in truth and to build a life for his own young family, Adam had to navigate his pain to find answers and a way forward.
Throughout this journey into the past, his family’s psyche, and his own understanding of identity, Adam comes to realize that while the nature of our families’ traumas may vary, each of us is faced with the same choice. We can turn away from what we’ve inherited—or, we can confront it, in the hopes of moving on and stopping that trauma from inflicting pain on future generations. The stories Adam shares with us in The Survivors are about the ways the past can haunt our future, the resilience that can be found on the other side of trauma, and the good that can come from things that are unspeakably bad.

Review- An memoir about a family, trauma, mental illness, and finding the people you love. The two sides of Adam Frankel's family are very different and the differences are extremely important to the story of his life. Frankel's mother's side of the family survived the Holocaust and of course were changed by it. But most of the story is not about the Holocaust but about Frankel discovering that the man who raised him was not his biological father. He is deeply affected by this and every relationship in his life is changed by the knowledge. Add in his mother's untreated mental illness and his life has so much chaos in it. Frankel is very honest about what happened in his life, his responsibility in it, and how his mother's mental illness affected him. It is very open but I had some trouble connecting with Frankel. I did not dislike him but I felt some distance between me the reader and Frankel is the writer. But it was still an interesting read and if you like family memoirs then you should give this one a look.

I give this book a Three out of Five stars.

Alichino, volume 1

Today's post is on Alichino, volume 1 by Kouyu Shurei. It is the first in her Alichino series. It is 138 pages long and was published by Tokyopop. The cover is a beautiful illustration of the cast. The intended reader is someone who likes beautiful manga and mysterious plots. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character Tsugiri. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Beautiful creatures called Alichino grant wishes to those in need- but at a price! A young lady searching for an Alichino wants to being her brother backs to life. She meets Tsugiri, a handsome young man who she thinks is an Alichino. Tsugiri turns out to be a mere mortal. but he does have a mysterious connection with these rare creatures- a connection that will bring danger to those around him.

Review- The art for this series is so incredibly beautiful that it steals the show from the story. The story is about Tsugiri and his quest for self and meaning in a world that wants to kill him. Tsugiri and the Alichino are connected in some way that does not seem good. But we the readers do not have a real clear idea about how or even why yet but I really enjoyed the story. Alichino's are not self-less wish granters, if you summon an Alichino and they grant your wish, you will pay with your soul. The story does not break the mold but the art certainly does. It is one of the prettiest manga I have ever read. I look forward to exploring more of this world and looking at some gorgeous art.

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

Independent Study

Today’s post is on Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau. It is 320 pages long and is published by Hmh Books for Young Readers. It is the second her The Testing series. The cover is green with emblems on it and the one highlighted has a lightning bolt and the scales of justice. The intended reader is someone who has read the first book, likes young adult novels, and dystopian stories. There is mild foul language, no sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from first person perspective of the main character Cia. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the blurb provided on Cloud Library- Seventeen-year-old Cia Vale survived The Testing, as has Tomas, the boy she loves, and they have both gained admission to the University. She has a promising future as a leader of the United Commonwealth and no memory of her bloody testing experience, thanks to a government-sanctioned memory wipe. Cia should be happy but is plagued by doubts about the past and future. Determined to find the truth, she embarks on a path of study forbidden by the government delving into the Commonwealth's darkest secrets. What she finds is the brutal reality lurking behind the friendly faces of her classmates and the unbearable realization that leaders chosen to protect us can be our greatest enemy.   The much-anticipated second book of the dystopian THE TESTING series is another blazing and intense story, packed with twists, romance, unexpected alliances, betrayal, and the heart-racing reality that your life is a test that begins right now.

Review- A strong second book in a trilogy that gives the reader more of the world but still leaves too many questions. Cia has no memories of the Testing just a recording she left herself of what happened. At the beginning of the book, she is not sure what she should believe but she knows that she cannot trust anyone anymore. The university is not a safe place either with student still being tested by the professors and now the older students are doing it too. Cia has nowhere to go but she is not going to back down. Charbonneau continues to use the world in a similar way that she set up in the first novel with students competing with each other for everything and sometimes killing each other to get to first place. But Cia is being watched very carefully by the head of the Testing. We get more of the same from the first novel so if you loved the survival and traps of the Testing, you will enjoy this novel. But if you wanted something else like more world building or different ways that the students are tested then you may be disappointed with this novel. I enjoyed it and I look forward to seeing how everything is going to play out.

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’s ebook service.

Skip Beat!, vol 6

Today's post is on Skip Beat!, vol 6 by Yoshiki Nakamura. It is the six in her long running series and you need to have read the five volumes to understand what is going on. It is 190 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has Kyoko and Ren on it with flowers and ribbons on it. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, strong heroines, and funny revenge stories. The story is told from third person close of Kyoko the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Ren's manager Yashiro comes down with a nasty cold in the middle of an important shoot, and dares Kyoko to take over his job! Of course Kyoko accepts, but shes in way over her head with a pack of new responsibilities and the scorn of everyone who thinks she's doing a bad job. But the more time Ren spend with Kyoko the more he sees her kind and gentle side. Will all her hassles be worth his change of heart?

Review- We have two stories in this volume with Kyoko and Kanae doing the shoot for their commercial and Kanae's enemy trying to hurt the girls to stop them from getting the shoot done. But Kyoko foils all those plans by just being herself. Then we get Ren and Kyoko for the rest of the volume. Ren does not want a temp manager but he needs one because he does not take care of himself and needs to be watched. Over the course of the volume Ren begins to see that Kyoko has not really changed, she is still the same person at her heart that he met so many years ago. Kyoko is getting more and more focused on herself and her wants for the future instead of hating Sho all the time. I am glad to see Kyoko being to focus on herself and what she needs and I look forward to continuing with her on her journey.

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

Sleepless volume 1

Today’ post is on Sleepless volume 1 by Sarah Vaugh, Leila del Duca (Artist), Alissa Sallah (Colorist), Deron Bennett (Letterer). It is 168 pages long and is published by Image Comics. The cover has the two main character, Poppy and Cyrenic, on it. The intended reader is someone who likes lite fantasy, court intrigue and mild romance sub-plot. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book - Lady "Poppy" Pyppenia is guarded by the Sleepless Knight Cyrenic, but becomes endangered when an assassin threatens her life in the new king's reign. As Poppy and Cyrenic try to discover who wants her dead, they must navigate the dangerous waters of life at court, and of their growing feelings for one another.

Review – A strong start to an interesting world. The story starts with Cyrenic, the Sleepless knight who protects Lady Pyppenia, as he waits for to wake up. It is a slow build with characters taking center stage and the plot building in the background. This is not a high fantasy story but there are some fantastical elements to the plot; like knights who are under a spell to stop them from sleeping. The main point of the story is trying to discover who wants to kill Poppy and why. There are many suspects to choose from but I am still not sure who it is. The art is great with lots of details in the clothes and the characters look amazing. I am curious about where the story is going to end up.

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.