Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror by Natasha Farrant, A Review

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Book Description

“Mirror, mirror on the wall . . . what makes a princess excellent?” When an enchantress flings her magic mirror into our universe, its reflection reveals princesses who refuse to be just pretty, polite, and obedient. These are girls determined to do the rescuing themselves. Princess Leila of the desert protects her people from the king with the black-and-gold banner; Princess Tica takes a crocodile for a pet; Princess Ellen explores the high seas; Princess Abayome puts empathy and kindness above being royal; and in a tower block, Princess saves her community’s beloved garden from the hands of urban developers.

Connecting these stories is the magic mirror, which reveals itself when each girl needs it most, illuminating how a princess’s power comes not from her title or beauty, but from her own inner strength. These beautifully imagined stories, complemented by vibrant and inviting artwork, offer the pleasure and familiarity of traditional tales with refreshingly modern themes.

Review

I received a dARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I did not finish the book entirely before my copy expired in Adobe Digital Reader but I did read three of the stories. I was first captivated by the beautiful illustrations in this book. They gave it a very Middle Ages, illustrated manuscript feel with a modern execution. They are definitely what makes this book special and perfect as a gift for a young girl.
I also appreciated that the book wove many elements of fairy tales throughout the stories. The three stories I read were very unique from each other but were all connected through the magic mirror. I think the stories not only have the adventure of a fairy tale but the moral character lessons as well that is important to the original genre.

I gave this book: ★★★★★
Based on the 3 that I stories that I read and if the rest of the book holds true to the beginning, it would be a 5 star read for me.

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews, A Review

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Book Description

New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Beach Reads Mary Kay Andrews delivers her next blockbuster, Hello Summer.

It’s a new season...

Conley Hawkins left her family’s small town newspaper, The Silver Bay Beacon, in the rearview mirror years ago. Now a star reporter for a big-city paper, Conley is exactly where she wants to be and is about to take a fancy new position in Washington, D.C. Or so she thinks.

For small town scandals...

When the new job goes up in smoke, Conley finds herself right back where she started, working for her sister, who is trying to keep The Silver Bay Beacon afloat—and she doesn’t exactly have warm feelings for Conley. Soon she is given the unenviable task of overseeing the local gossip column, “Hello, Summer.”

And big-time secrets.

Then Conley witnesses an accident that ends in the death of a local congressman—a beloved war hero with a shady past. The more she digs into the story, the more dangerous it gets. As an old heartbreaker causes trouble and a new flame ignites, it soon looks like their sleepy beach town is the most scandalous hotspot of the summer.

Review

I received an dARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

There is a reason Andrews novels consistently top the best seller list: she is a phenomenal story teller.  While I think her characters lean towards cliche rather than deep development, the story is full of twists and turns. This story not only has the main mystery (or is it) to be solved, but two other sinister plots develop alongside Conley's attempt to get answers. I'm not sure how they actually tied in to the story and helped the plot along to be honest. As a masterful twist, I'm left wondering if the truth about the congressman's death was actually revealed. I still have questions about events in the book - I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. 

All that being said, this is an engaging story with a bit of mystery and a bit of family dynamics and a bit of romance. 

I gave this book: ★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson, A Review

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Book Description

Facts are everything to eleven-year-old Freddie Yates: once you know a fact it’s yours to keep. After his grandmother dies and Freddie discovers his biological father might be alive and well in Wales, he decides to follow the facts. Together with his best friends Ben and Charlie, he sneaks off on the adventure of a lifetime (or at least, the summer holidays) to track down Freddie’s father.


Freddie doesn’t expect any miracles—they’re not real, after all. But when the three unwittingly set off a chain of inexplicable events via an onion-eating competition, a couple of superhero costumes, and some very angry antique thieves, Freddie discovers that some things can’t always be explained—and sometimes what you’re looking for has been with you the whole time.


Propulsive and hilarious, The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of family.

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

This is a tough book to review. As an adult, I enjoy middle grade fiction and overall, I liked this book. It did take some work to convince myself that these eleven year old boys could set off on an adventure of this magnitude. From an adult perspective, it's unbelievable. 
But this book isn't written for adults, it's written for kids, and if I review this book from the angle that it is for middle grade readers, it is much better. I do think older elementary readers would enjoy this book. They want to be taken seriously and the logistics of the adventure would not be an element that would throw them off. The wacky events are appealing and full of fun.
There were two things that I especially liked in this book: the friendship between the boys and the message about family.  In closing, The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates is a book that will leave you feeling good at the end.

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    ★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it