Scan barcode
theenchantedlibrary's reviews
620 reviews
Robin Hood - Mark of the Black Arrow by James R. Tuck, Debbie Viguie
4.0
As an unabashed Robin Hood fan for as long as I can remember, I am very protective of this story. A while ago I came across this title and picked it up because it looked promising but I just couldn’t bring myself to read it for a couple years out of fear that it just wouldn’t live up to my expectations. Let me just say, this story was was EXACTLY what I had hoped it would be.
Filled with magic and myth and more than one nod to the Arthurian legend (which was a treat for me), this tale of Robin Hood was a non-stop ride that I didn’t want to end. We actually spend surprisingly little time with our title character throughout the book but I loved hearing from the many different POVs that make their way through the story. Each character drew from the original perfectly and they were all so distinct but still unique to Viguie & Tuck’s writing.
The plot had a brilliant way of building upon itself and giving you just enough information before bringing you on to the next point until everything came together in the end. Admittedly the ending was rather abrupt but the whole book is building up the pieces of a much bigger story that will continue on in the next one. There were so many details introduced in Mark of the Black Arrow that I am excited to see what will be in store next.
With a book filled with so many POVs, I was surprised that I did not feel overwhelmed. The transitions felt natural and the writing really gave each character a clear voice which is something I look for in multiple POV stories. There were a few standouts for me though in terms of just overall characters and those were Marian, Will Scarlett and, of course, Robin Hood. I’m a sucker for Team Good, ok?! Prince John and his henchman The Sheriff were wonderfully dastardly evil characters as well though!
I admit that I am a tad disappointed in myself for sitting on this book for so long but I am very happy to have FINALLY read it. The extra good news is that I can get the rest of the books in this series easily and not have to wait for release dates, haha!
Filled with magic and myth and more than one nod to the Arthurian legend (which was a treat for me), this tale of Robin Hood was a non-stop ride that I didn’t want to end. We actually spend surprisingly little time with our title character throughout the book but I loved hearing from the many different POVs that make their way through the story. Each character drew from the original perfectly and they were all so distinct but still unique to Viguie & Tuck’s writing.
The plot had a brilliant way of building upon itself and giving you just enough information before bringing you on to the next point until everything came together in the end. Admittedly the ending was rather abrupt but the whole book is building up the pieces of a much bigger story that will continue on in the next one. There were so many details introduced in Mark of the Black Arrow that I am excited to see what will be in store next.
With a book filled with so many POVs, I was surprised that I did not feel overwhelmed. The transitions felt natural and the writing really gave each character a clear voice which is something I look for in multiple POV stories. There were a few standouts for me though in terms of just overall characters and those were Marian, Will Scarlett and, of course, Robin Hood. I’m a sucker for Team Good, ok?! Prince John and his henchman The Sheriff were wonderfully dastardly evil characters as well though!
I admit that I am a tad disappointed in myself for sitting on this book for so long but I am very happy to have FINALLY read it. The extra good news is that I can get the rest of the books in this series easily and not have to wait for release dates, haha!
Stealing Home (The Sweet Magnolias #1) by Sherryl Woods
2.0
Oh how I wanted to like this book. I had so much fun watching the Netflix show but this is one of the rare times that the source material is worse than the adaptation. Where the show brought a layered, heartfelt lightness to the screen, the book was full of frustration and fearing that women have devolved.
I am going try and not make side-by-side comparisons to the show and will stick with my thoughts as the book was written. I will say though, the best part of this book was the relationship between Maddie and her kids. I felt that it was a very honest portrayal to the situation and the ages of the kids and it felt very… real. But that really is where my enjoyment ends. I wanted to root for her and her two best friends and have fun along side them in Serenity but even her friendships seemed to take a backseat to the relationship that is Cal and Maddie.
And when I mean things took a backseat… I mean, plot, character development, humanity… everything.
This book was full of what is being passed off as ‘small Southern town gossip’ but is really just a town of toxic child-like adults who clearly have nothing better to do with their time than talk about the relationship of Cal and Maddie. To the point where essentially a TOWN MEETING needs to be held to determine if it should be allowed or not. I’m from a small town in Canada but please tell me this is not an actual thing in the South, I beg you. I fear even more for mankind if that’s the case.
I couldn’t even tell you what the rest of the story covers anymore because of how horribly frustrated I was at reading about Maddie’s various relationships. I was hoping for a story about friendship and getting back on your feet when you’re 40 and divorced with 3 kids while your ex and his pregnant mistress tote about town. I was looking for empowerment but just got stuck in a plot of archaic stupidity.
I am going try and not make side-by-side comparisons to the show and will stick with my thoughts as the book was written. I will say though, the best part of this book was the relationship between Maddie and her kids. I felt that it was a very honest portrayal to the situation and the ages of the kids and it felt very… real. But that really is where my enjoyment ends. I wanted to root for her and her two best friends and have fun along side them in Serenity but even her friendships seemed to take a backseat to the relationship that is Cal and Maddie.
And when I mean things took a backseat… I mean, plot, character development, humanity… everything.
This book was full of what is being passed off as ‘small Southern town gossip’ but is really just a town of toxic child-like adults who clearly have nothing better to do with their time than talk about the relationship of Cal and Maddie. To the point where essentially a TOWN MEETING needs to be held to determine if it should be allowed or not. I’m from a small town in Canada but please tell me this is not an actual thing in the South, I beg you. I fear even more for mankind if that’s the case.
I couldn’t even tell you what the rest of the story covers anymore because of how horribly frustrated I was at reading about Maddie’s various relationships. I was hoping for a story about friendship and getting back on your feet when you’re 40 and divorced with 3 kids while your ex and his pregnant mistress tote about town. I was looking for empowerment but just got stuck in a plot of archaic stupidity.
The Brideship Wife by Leslie Howard
2.0
As a Canadian, it is very interesting to hear about a side of your history that you hadn’t known about before and the story behind The Brideship Wife was what drew me to pick it up. I was unaware of the women who traveled from England to British Columbia in search of a new life whether it was for their benefit or not.
Within the first couple of chapters of this novel, I found myself appreciating the fact that Leslie Howard decided to write a heroine who abides by her ‘station’ as best to her ability and not making her a ‘modern woman’ who fights tooth and nail against her lot in life. Charlotte tries her best to be what her sister needs her to be and, even when she is put in a situation that will bring her reputation into question, she abides by the rules of the time and does everything she can to keep things swept under the rug. While I enjoyed this aspect, I could not help but curse the time period and how this was more commonly how women were expected to act.
It is made clear that Charlotte has aspirations for her life that would go against her life in England and I like that her character did have some drive in that regard. Her interests somewhat follow her through her journey in some form or another and you do hope that she gets to live her own life eventually.
Unfortunately, that was the height of my enjoyment while reading this book.
While there were some historical name-drops and some interesting potential plots, the execution was extremely lacking. It seemed that there were too few ideas and too much time to cover so the main points occurred randomly and it was hard to discern the passage of time. There was also a lack of subtlety in major plot points, the introduction of the doctor on the boat and Harriet’s issues, the romance, the landing in BC… it just wasn’t a well-woven story for me which was disappointing. I would have much preferred some nuance to be added along with more focus being placed on Charlotte’s growth and not simply her reactions to situations that drop in her lap.
It is clear that this is a debut novel and it would have been worthwhile for her to have been given more direction in terms of plotting but I do appreciate the idea.
Within the first couple of chapters of this novel, I found myself appreciating the fact that Leslie Howard decided to write a heroine who abides by her ‘station’ as best to her ability and not making her a ‘modern woman’ who fights tooth and nail against her lot in life. Charlotte tries her best to be what her sister needs her to be and, even when she is put in a situation that will bring her reputation into question, she abides by the rules of the time and does everything she can to keep things swept under the rug. While I enjoyed this aspect, I could not help but curse the time period and how this was more commonly how women were expected to act.
It is made clear that Charlotte has aspirations for her life that would go against her life in England and I like that her character did have some drive in that regard. Her interests somewhat follow her through her journey in some form or another and you do hope that she gets to live her own life eventually.
Unfortunately, that was the height of my enjoyment while reading this book.
While there were some historical name-drops and some interesting potential plots, the execution was extremely lacking. It seemed that there were too few ideas and too much time to cover so the main points occurred randomly and it was hard to discern the passage of time. There was also a lack of subtlety in major plot points, the introduction of the doctor on the boat and Harriet’s issues, the romance, the landing in BC… it just wasn’t a well-woven story for me which was disappointing. I would have much preferred some nuance to be added along with more focus being placed on Charlotte’s growth and not simply her reactions to situations that drop in her lap.
It is clear that this is a debut novel and it would have been worthwhile for her to have been given more direction in terms of plotting but I do appreciate the idea.
The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett
3.0
I am a sucker for an adventure book. Add in a feisty female lead in a semi-historical setting with a dash of angst and rekindling romance plus a pinch of Indiana Jones? Yes please.
The Lady Rogue is my first Jenn Bennett book which I don’t think is much of a surprise as I do not read as much Young Adult anymore, nor am I a fan of contemporary YA specifically so they were never ‘must buys’ for me. The idea behind this particular story though really intrigued me. First off, the cover is so detailed that it is hard to pass by and, secondly, the plot sounds like something teenage me would have wanted to be a part of.
We start off with Theodora causing a bit of mischief in a market and this alone is a great introduction to our main character. She is smart, curious and always up for an adventure. There are times throughout the book where she was a tad annoying but she has been given the short end of the stick for the last few years so I don’t fully blame her. The introduction to Huck was also fun and you knew right off the bat that these two characters are well matched.
The main plot of hunting down the ring of Vlad the Impaler was an interesting choice for a relic and ended up taking our characters to places that we don’t really see much of in literature. I liked how this story was unique and builds nicely towards it’s final showdown. The synopsis points out that the ring is magical but, for the majority of the book, that is hardly relevant however I did like how it eventually played out. It started subtly but then magical element really kicked in.
It was an interesting choice for Bennett to have Theodora and Huck be old friends/loves. It made for great banter and lend itself to adding more layers to their individual characters. I tend to do this thing when I read YA where I age up the characters in my mind to be in their early 20s and a lot of what is between Theodora and Huck works very well with that age in mind. This YA read could pass for New Adult.
The Lady Rogue is also not without its flaws in terms of convenience of events and smaller details but it was an overall enjoyable read. I would be interested if this ended up being a series to follow these characters on other adventures but it looks as though it will be a standalone… for now.
The Lady Rogue is my first Jenn Bennett book which I don’t think is much of a surprise as I do not read as much Young Adult anymore, nor am I a fan of contemporary YA specifically so they were never ‘must buys’ for me. The idea behind this particular story though really intrigued me. First off, the cover is so detailed that it is hard to pass by and, secondly, the plot sounds like something teenage me would have wanted to be a part of.
We start off with Theodora causing a bit of mischief in a market and this alone is a great introduction to our main character. She is smart, curious and always up for an adventure. There are times throughout the book where she was a tad annoying but she has been given the short end of the stick for the last few years so I don’t fully blame her. The introduction to Huck was also fun and you knew right off the bat that these two characters are well matched.
The main plot of hunting down the ring of Vlad the Impaler was an interesting choice for a relic and ended up taking our characters to places that we don’t really see much of in literature. I liked how this story was unique and builds nicely towards it’s final showdown. The synopsis points out that the ring is magical but, for the majority of the book, that is hardly relevant however I did like how it eventually played out. It started subtly but then magical element really kicked in.
It was an interesting choice for Bennett to have Theodora and Huck be old friends/loves. It made for great banter and lend itself to adding more layers to their individual characters. I tend to do this thing when I read YA where I age up the characters in my mind to be in their early 20s and a lot of what is between Theodora and Huck works very well with that age in mind. This YA read could pass for New Adult.
The Lady Rogue is also not without its flaws in terms of convenience of events and smaller details but it was an overall enjoyable read. I would be interested if this ended up being a series to follow these characters on other adventures but it looks as though it will be a standalone… for now.
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
4.0
To be honest, I’ve never read a Nicholas Sparks book before this one. I have seen some of the movie adaptations but never read the source material until now. This is very odd for me since I like to read the book before watching the movie but apparently this ‘rule’ doesn’t apply to Nicholas Sparks for some reason. I’m not really drawn to contemporary literature, there’s something about just following a regular modern person through their day to day life that doesn’t excite me so I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.
Safe Haven in book form far surpasses the movie (I don’t think anyone is really shocked at this lol). The relationships are stronger, the plot is more involved, and there are far more layers to the characters of Katie, Alex and Kevin. I really liked that we got to see the POVs of all 3 of them and how we are introduced to Kevin later on in the book.
Katie’s backstory and her journey that led her to Southport was very well thought out and told to the reader from a series of memories, her character sharing her story with others as well as from another characters POV. It was all done in a way that left anticipation while giving pertinent information but not having a huge info-dump and simultaneously moving the plot along. In addition to all of this, we get a gradual and natural growth of character from Katie which I always appreciate.
The relationships in Safe Haven are varied depending on the person where some are gritty and raw while others are tender and lighthearted and I feel that this book strikes a very good balance between character- and plot-driven story telling. I would just as happily follow Katie through her Southport life and getting to know the people just as much as I enjoyed watching the mystery/action unfold.
Overall I really enjoyed this contemporary read and am interested in venturing out to read some of his other works. I likely won’t read them any time soon but I think if I’m finding myself in the mood for some heartfelt dramatic stories, I will definitely keep them in mind.
Safe Haven in book form far surpasses the movie (I don’t think anyone is really shocked at this lol). The relationships are stronger, the plot is more involved, and there are far more layers to the characters of Katie, Alex and Kevin. I really liked that we got to see the POVs of all 3 of them and how we are introduced to Kevin later on in the book.
Katie’s backstory and her journey that led her to Southport was very well thought out and told to the reader from a series of memories, her character sharing her story with others as well as from another characters POV. It was all done in a way that left anticipation while giving pertinent information but not having a huge info-dump and simultaneously moving the plot along. In addition to all of this, we get a gradual and natural growth of character from Katie which I always appreciate.
The relationships in Safe Haven are varied depending on the person where some are gritty and raw while others are tender and lighthearted and I feel that this book strikes a very good balance between character- and plot-driven story telling. I would just as happily follow Katie through her Southport life and getting to know the people just as much as I enjoyed watching the mystery/action unfold.
Overall I really enjoyed this contemporary read and am interested in venturing out to read some of his other works. I likely won’t read them any time soon but I think if I’m finding myself in the mood for some heartfelt dramatic stories, I will definitely keep them in mind.
The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance – What Women Should Know by Katty Kay
2.0
There were some interesting women that we are introduced to but, other than that, the content wasn't really groundbreaking