kailey_luminouslibro's reviews
3762 reviews

Branwen is the daughter of a royal house on the edge of Saxon territory. When her brother is killed, she vows to get revenge on the evil Saxons who raided their lands. But her father sends her to the South to be married and strengthen their alliances with neighboring lords. On the way south, Branwen  is delayed at the grand castle of a much richer prince, and his sophisticated wife and daughters think Branwen is wild and uncouth. She wanders the forest around the castle and meets a mysterious woman with magical powers who promises to make Branwen into a formidable warrior. Branwen also stumbles across a boy who might or might not be a Saxon spy.

I liked this book pretty well. The story is interesting, and I liked Branwen's character. She is really fierce and courageous, but she has a soft heart as well. I thought it was a little silly how she could suddenly/magically fight really well after only a few days of training with a sword. But I guess that's the magic of her destiny and all that. 

The story is really really violent. Lots of descriptions of battle and blood and gore and corpses and severed heads and severed limbs and gouged eyes. Pretty gruesome. I probably would have given it three stars if the violence hadn't been quite so nasty. I'm sure it's historically accurate, but I didn't need quite so much description. 

To see exactly what violent content is in this book, check out the book on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/warrior-princess-warrior-princess-1-1060986

The best part of the plot was the intrigue between Branwen and the boy who might be a spy. The suspense was really good, because we can't quite figure out whether or not to trust this boy. Is he lying? Is he innocent? It was a really interesting story line!

I also liked Branwen's character development as she learns to deal with the snide remarks of the elegant princesses and their mother. Branwen thinks their prim court manners are silly, but they think Branwen is rude and uncivilized. Gradually Branwen begins to realize that they aren't really that different; they just have different expectations of what is normal.

I was content to read this book as a standalone and not continue with the rest of the series. It ends with Branwen riding off into the sunset to go on new magical adventures. There are still some unanswered questions, and the Saxons are still a threat, but it was a good enough resolution to the immediate crisis that I don't feel the need to keep reading.

Joan thinks she has found her true love when she meets Drew, and she readily agrees to an engagement. But Drew is selfish and jealous, and he laughs at what he calls her "prudish morality." Joan is so unhappy that she turns for advice to a new acquaintance, Giles, a young man who owns a bookshop in town. Giles quickly recognizes Joan's innocence and sweetness, and vows that he will help her get away from greedy high-society people like Drew. But Joan finds herself fascinated with Drew, despite his faults, and she can't make up her mind to leave him. At the same time, she trusts Giles' wisdom, and wishes that Drew could be so steady and faithful.

I loved all the ups and downs of this romance! Poor Joan is tossed about and lied to and fooled, because she is so innocent and trusting. She mingles in high society where they are all lying to each other and flirting and gambling, but she longs for a simple life. I loved seeing her character development as she realizes the truth about her own soul, and finds the courage to demand the truth from others.

Giles is absolutely delicious! He's strong and steady and honest. He's everything a hero should be! I fell in love with him immediately because he loves books, but then I fell in love with him again over and over in every chapter as he consistently shows courage and kindness and generosity to everyone around him. You can really feel his struggle as he agonizes over how to advise Joan without pushing forward his own dreams of love on her. He is the soul of honor, and he genuinely cares for her, even if it means she might be happier with another man.

The writing really grips your emotions and I was crying through half the book, and not just about the whole emotional romance, but also the many supporting characters who have struggles of their own. Giles has a friend who is suffering after his injuries in the war. Joan brings comfort to a lonely old housekeeper at the hotel. Joan befriends a widow lady with two children. Even Drew's sister is weary of society facades and longs for some real connection. So many lonely and grieving people who have given up on their dreams, but in the end they all find peace and happiness.

I really enjoyed the many Christian themes in this book. Joan and Giles both spend time on their knees in prayer, asking God for guidance and strength. This brought so much depth to the story, and gave more meaning to their character arcs as they grow and find courage.

It was really refreshing to see a romance heroine falling in love, but then reconsidering and really thinking it through to discern what type of character and personality her fiancé has. She really analyzes whether or not she would be happy with Drew, and she has to face that question with courage, which is so hard to find when you are lonely and frightened and lost and that other person seems to have all the answers. I was inspired by her courage and discernment!

Flora loves playing classical music with her friends in their string quartet, but when she meets the new boy at school, that friendship is tested. Simon is the son of a famous rock star. Some people think he's stuck up and rude, but Flora thinks he's just having a hard time because his little sister died in a car accident. Flora feels awkward around Simon, unsure how to react if he mentions his sister, but they connect over discovering new styles of music. Can Flora balance her friendships the way she is learning to appreciate both classical music and rock'n'roll? When her elderly aunt is taken to the hospital with pneumonia, Flora is terrified that her aunt will die. Suddenly, she begins to understand Simon's grief a little better.

This was such a sweet book! I really liked the way that themes of death and grief are explored in a light way, perfect for this age group. Nothing too dark or gruesome, but finding hope and comfort and compassion in the midst of difficult loss.

As a musician, I was absolutely delighted with the descriptions of music and musicians. This story perfectly captures how musicians think and feel, and what it feels like to perform on stage. The relationships between the musicians are also perfectly described. There is a really special connection that forms between people who make music together; it's like a form of telepathy sometimes when you can perfectly match their energy in the music. This made the friendships between the characters even more meaningful, deep, and realistic. 

I loved Flora's complex character! I was completely fascinated to follow her inner thoughts as she is discovering more about her musical abilities, and exploring her feelings related to grief and compassion for other people. She is an overthinker, and she second guesses herself as the dynamic of her family life and friendships begin to change. 

There are so many great themes and aspects of this book that I really loved. I love that there are two caring parents in Flora's family who are involved in their kids lives, giving advice and support at every stage of the story. Such a strong family! 

There is a song that features heavily in the book since it is Flora's aunt's favorite song, and there is sheet music at the back of the book so that you can learn to play and sing the song yourself. It was composed by the author to include in the book! It's details like this that make this book really special.

To see the small amount of sensitive content around the subject of death, check out this book on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/after-the-wallpaper-music-2480683

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

The author reflects on what it means to truly listen to God's voice and seek Him in every little aspect of our lives. The reader is encouraged to spend time in prayer and listen for that small inner prompting from the Holy Spirit that leads you in one direction or another.

I liked the basic premise of this book, but I felt like the author took it a little too far. Yes, we should seek God's direction in all we do, but I don't need to ask God what to have for breakfast. Just choose a healthy breakfast and get on with your day. Yes, God cares about the little details of our lives, but I don't think I need to stop everything and pray to ask God for direction about each little detail. It's also true that no detail is too small to pray about, and God listens and guides us in everything. But this book really just makes mountains out of molehills.

Finally I got to page 52 where the author tells a story about how he was experiencing writer's block, and became convinced that it was a demonic attack. That just seems like overreacting to me. Maybe your writer's block is just coming from normal human patterns of creativity and rest. To assume that you are being spiritually attacked when something normal happens to you is absolutely ridiculous! Do spiritual attacks happen? Absolutely yes. We are in a spiritual battle every day of our lives. But when you hear hoofbeats, think horses. Not zebras. (Unless you're on an African safari.)

This book just seemed totally irrational to me. Does faith sometimes seem irrational? Yes, it can seem so at times when we put our faith in what is unseen. But I rely on the common sense and logical reasoning that God gave me to discern what is worthy of close attention and spiritual intervention, and what is simply a human pattern that can be dismissed as normal.

Bird is a street orphan, stealing food and avoiding soldiers. Her only friends are Twist and Piper, a mother and daughter who also beg on the streets. When little Piper gets sick, Bird asks for help from Farwender who has a secret elixir from a long-dead tree that will heal any illness. Piper is healed, but now she is marked with the residue of the elixir. The soldiers will put a terrible mark on anyone who has been touched by the elixir and cart them off to prison. Farwender takes Bird to stay with the lady Soladin, where Bird learns about the history of the tree that produces the forbidden elixir, and she learns how her own history is entangled with that of the tree.

I really liked the imaginative world-building in this book, with all the history of the tree and how the death of the tree brought about the downfall of the entire nation of Wen. We uncover the story of the past little by little as Bird learns more about her heritage. 

There is so much adventure in this story as Bird and her friends go on a quest to restore the dead tree. They travel through mountains and rivers and valleys. They uncover hidden legends and meet magical creatures. Their journey is never easy and it's never quite what you expect, since they also have to avoid being captured by the enemy soldiers.

Bird has a very complex personality. She wants to be good, but she has grown to be tough on the streets. She has no manners. She bites people. She has anger issues. She attacks her friends and plays mean pranks on them for no reason. She rebels against those who want to help her, refusing to follow the most basic rules. She is greedy and steals from her friends. She's really horrible! But through the story, she learns to control her temper. She learns to be generous, instead of greedy. She learns some basic manners and respect. By the end of her journey, she is sweet and gentle. She has a really extreme character arc. 

The best thing about this book are the reflections of faith in God found in the story. The main characters pray to God, called the "Holder" since He creates and holds the universe together. They have a tradition of gathering each evening and thanking the Holder for their blessings. When the characters are in terrible situations, they pray to the Holder to bless them and give them strength to endure. This is the source of all Bird's character development as she begins to have faith in the Holder and her heart changes for the better.

There is a lot of violence in this book. People being killed by the evil soldiers, mutilated, hanged, and beheaded. There is a soldier that gets his throat ripped out by a chimera. Pretty nasty descriptions of blood and severed heads. 
There are is also some dark imagery surrounding the villain. He is described as having powers of darkness in his eyes, like a mouth absorbing your soul if you look into his eyes too long. I did not expect a book with a kitten on the cover to be quite this dark!

To see all the sensitive content in this book, including violence and dark imagery, check it out on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/the-treekeepers-813517

Dipper and Mabel are off on a new adventure searching for Time Pirate treasure with Blendin. In this choose-your-own-adventure story, you control where they go and what they do, hopefully leading to a happy ending. But if you choose the wrong path, the twins will end up lost in time.

This is such a fun addition to the Gravity Falls cartoon universe! I really loved all the wacky adventures. You can choose to go to the Old West, to a Medieval castle, or into the future to face off against the Time Baby. Whichever path you choose, you are sure to have a weird and wild adventure!

There were two places in this story where you are asked to make a moral choice, to seek vengeance or not, and to cheat in a race or not. But each time, if you choose the moral option, the narrative just laughs at your "silly" choice and forces you back into the storyline where you seek vengeance and cheat. I guess it was supposed to be funny, but it felt wrong to me. 

To see the sensitive content in this book, including violence and morally questionable choices, check out the book on Screen It First! https://screenitfirst.com/book/gravity-falls-dipper-and-mabel-and-the-curse-of-the-time-pirates-treasure-1185310

Mr. Jackaby and Miss Rook are finally closing in on the evil Dire King. They enlist the help of some of the fae from beyond the Veil, but they are not sure who to trust. Their friends in town rally around them for the coming battle, but nothing can stop the Dire King's plans once his evil machine is up and running. They know they will lose this fight, but they have to try anyway. It looks like they might have a slim chance of saving the world, until they are betrayed by one of their own.

I loved this book so much! I really liked the world-building and the way that the supernatural creatures and people are trying to mingle with ordinary humans. The police force is trying to keep track of all the rampant magic in the city, and the only way they can ever hope to defeat the Dire King is if humans and magical creatures work together.

To see any sensitive content in this book, including violence and foul language, check out the book on Screen It First! https://screenitfirst.com/book/the-dire-king-jackaby-4-436423

I especially loved Jackaby and Miss Rook and their detective partnership. They are both full of witty remarks and flippant little quips. Jackaby kind of reminded me of Doctor Who in the way that he carelessly meets danger with no plan and silly grin.

I loved Miss Rook's character! She is very introspective, analyzing the clues and analyzing her relationships with people. We get to see her emotional turmoil as she tries to make peace with the fact that they might not survive the battle against the Dire King. Her relationship with Charlie is reaching a turning point as well, as they realize their true feelings for each other at the worse possible time.

The writing style is excellent. The plot is mysterious and fun! There are a lot of moving parts in the plot, and characters with different abilities and secret knowledge. It becomes like this weird game of chess with red herrings all over the place, until you realize that the red herrings are actually the center of the mystery. Such great plot twists!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Penguin is very nervous about trying any new winter sports, because she thinks she will get injured. But Panda helps her to find the fun in winter sports! They go to buy a Christmas tree together, but the best tree is really expensive, so they take on some extra jobs to make some more money. Penguin has a very long list of holiday activities to do, but Panda helps her to relax and let go of the busy holiday schedule.

This graphic novel is adorable! In each chapter, Penguin and Panda have some sort of cute little adventure and they discover the delights of friendship. They try out new sports together, buy and decorate a Christmas tree, and discover how to relax during the holidays.

At the back of the book there are some fun facts about real penguins and pandas. The art work is so cute and colorful! I love this sweet book!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/ publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

When the shepherds go to see the Baby Jesus, their sheep are left alone in the pasture wondering what is going on. The sheep hear rumors that a Baby has been born, and they decide to go see for themselves, but they are a little confused. They heard that the Baby is a girl! The sheep get into all kinds of silly situations on their way to Bethlehem, but no matter what happens they always stick together.

This book is really funny, and the sheep are hilariously stupid! They really have no clue what is going on most the time. But I don't know that the humor was exactly my style. It's a little bit too irreverent for me, I guess. 

There is this one scene where these drunk camels are telling the sheep that they didn't like the wine that was served because it was cheap wine. I don't know why that little bit had to be in a children's story. Very weird. 

The sheep decide at the end to lie to everyone about seeing the Baby Jesus, and there are no consequences for their deception. Not a good example to young children to encourage lying and getting away with it. Again, very weird to include lying in a story about the Incarnate Truth. 

The story doesn't follow the actual historic events, but reimagines history into a new silly story where the wise men show up on the very night that Jesus is born, and Mary and Joseph immediately take the Baby to Egypt. So the events of several years all happen on one night in this story. It's fine, because it's just a story to be funny, but I wonder if young children might get confused.

To see sensitive content in this book, check it out on the Screen It First website: https://screenitfirst.com/book/one-wise-sheep-an-untraditional-christmas-story-2480686

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Elodie decides to start a detective business, and she gets her first big case when some valuable earrings are stolen. She is joined by her dog, Carnegie, and her new neighbor, Oscar, who loves tumbling and acrobatics. Most adults don't take a child detective seriously, but Elodie is determined to prove herself. She follows the clues and regards everyone as a suspect, but all the neighbors are so nice. None of them would steal the jewels... would they?

This is such a fun mystery! I loved the cute characters, and all the varied personalities of the neighbors. The mystery takes many twists and turns as Elodie tries to investigate every possible avenue of inquiry. Most of the time she hits a dead end, until one clue finally becomes clear.

The writing is simple (just right for this age group), but it also has a charm and warmth that draws the reader into the story. Even reading as an adult, I really enjoyed it!


This book was marked as "Nothing Found" on the Screen It First website, indicating that there is no sensitive or objectionable content. https://screenitfirst.com/book/mystery-at-the-biltmore-the-vanderhoff-heist-mystery-at-the-biltmore-1-2480684

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.