Book Reviews

Graphic Novel Adaptation of Graceling | Graphic Novel Review

~ Kirstie Ellen ~ 3 Comments

【 GRACELING 】 ★★★★★ A beautiful rendering of the world in the Graceling Realm books. Genre: Fantasty, Young Adult, Graphic NovelAuthor: Kristin CashoreIllustrator: Gareth HindsPublished: November 2021Publisher: Etch/Clarion BooksPages: 272 (hardback) Quick thoughtsThis was absolutely stunning! I’m a long-time fan of Graceling and have been itching to revisit the story lately – and this beautiful … Continue reading Graphic Novel Adaptation of Graceling | Graphic Novel Review

Irish History in What the Wind Knows | Book Review

~ Kirstie Ellen ~ 1 Comment

【 WHAT THE WIND KNOWS 】 ★★★★★ This moved me to tears, I have no words for how beautiful this book was. Genre: Historical Fiction (+ time travel)Author: Amy HarmonPublished: March 2019Publisher: Lake Union PublishingPages: 411 (paperback) Content warning (click to see) death – grief – civil war – guns Quick thoughtsThis book is a … Continue reading Irish History in What the Wind Knows | Book Review

Seeking Refuge in The Beekeeper of Aleppo | Book Review

~ Kirstie Ellen ~ 3 Comments

【 THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO 】 ★★★★★ I don't even know what to do with myself after this book. Genre: FictionAuthor: Christy LefteriPublished: February 2020Publisher: Manilla PressPages: 377 (paperback) Content warning (click to see) war – refugee crisis – bombs – grief – death I listened to the audiobook version of this and it scrunched … Continue reading Seeking Refuge in The Beekeeper of Aleppo | Book Review

Mythological Intervention in Lovely War | Book Review

~ Kirstie Ellen ~ 1 Comment

【 LOVELY WAR 】 ★★★★ Heartbreaking in all the right places. Genre: Historical Fiction, MythologyAuthor: Julie BerryPublished: March 2019Publisher: VikingPages: 471 (hardback) Having been repeatedly recommended this book and knowing that this book is made for me - what with Mythology and WWI fiction bundled together - I'm so pleased to have finally read this. … Continue reading Mythological Intervention in Lovely War | Book Review

Arthurian Legends in Legendborn | Book Review

~ Kirstie Ellen ~ 1 Comment

【 LEGENDBORN 】 ★★★★★ A mind-blowing cocktail of exciting fantasy elements! Genre: Fantasy, Young AdultAuthor: Tracy DeonnPublished: September 2020Publisher: Simon & SchusterPages: 503 (paperback) Content warning (click to see) slavery mentions – death – severe injuries – grief – generational trauma (African American history) This book took me a hot second to get into (and … Continue reading Arthurian Legends in Legendborn | Book Review

A History of the Necktie in Fry’s Ties | Book Review

~ Kirstie Ellen ~ 1 Comment

【 FRY'S TIES 】 ★★★★★ Proof that Stephen Fry can write about anything and make it marvellous. Genre: Non-fiction, memoirAuthor: Stephen FryPublished: November 2021Publisher: Michael JosephPages: 320 (hardback) Review copy courtesy of Penguin Random House An entertaining history of the necktieThis was honestly such a great read! I love the way Fry writes and I … Continue reading A History of the Necktie in Fry’s Ties | Book Review

Excavating the Past in The Fossil Hunter | Book Review

~ Kirstie Ellen ~ 1 Comment

【 THE FOSSIL HUNTER 】 ★★★ A fun combination of the allure of dinosaurs and an uncertain murder mystery Genre: Historical FictionAuthor: Tea CooperPublished: October 2021Publisher: HarlequinPages: 384 (paperback) Huge thanks to Harlequin for a copy of this for review Content warning (click to see) death º skeletons º bullying Quick thoughtsThis book was quite … Continue reading Excavating the Past in The Fossil Hunter | Book Review

Converging Timelines in Cloud Cuckoo Land | Book Review

~ Kirstie Ellen ~ 3 Comments

【 CLOUD CUCKOO LAND 】 ★★★★★ Nothing short of the high-quality writing we expect from Doerr. Genre: Historical Fiction, Sci-FiAuthor: Anthony DoerrPublished: September 2021Publisher: 4th EstatePages: 626 (paperback) Content warning (click to see) climate change – hostage/shooting – war – prison camp (WWII) Quick thoughtsI don't think I can express clearly enough just how excited … Continue reading Converging Timelines in Cloud Cuckoo Land | Book Review

Fighting and Independence in Echoes of War | Book Review

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【 ECHOES OF WAR 】 ★★★★ Beautifully Italian and fiercely passionate. Genre: Historical FictionAuthor: Tania BlanchardPublished: September 2021Publisher: Simon & SchusterPages: 448 (paperback) Content warning (click to see) war — grief — death — pregnancy — natural disaster Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a review copy of this Quick thoughtsThis was … Continue reading Fighting and Independence in Echoes of War | Book Review

Cantankerous Goats in The Beatryce Prophery | Book Review

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【 THE BEATRYCE PRO】 Hilarious and brilliant, can't go wrong with a DiCamillo ★★★★★ Genre: Children's Fiction, FantasyAuthor: Kate DiCamilloIllustrator: Sophie BlackallPublished: September 2021Publisher: Walker Books AustraliaPages: 247 (hardback) Huge thanks to Walker Books Australia for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review Quick thoughtsI laughed my way through so much of … Continue reading Cantankerous Goats in The Beatryce Prophery | Book Review