This is definitely not my favorite Mercedes Lackey book, but it’s acceptable. FYI, I’m usually pretty biased towards fairy tale retellings in that I almost always like them, haha. The good thing about fairy tales is that there’s always a happily-ever-after, and this one is no different. This Beauty and the Beast retelling has both good points (smart, confident protagonist) and bad points (protagonist forced into a damsel-in-distress role), and it’s a quick and action-packed read.
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I’m in love with Gary Paulsen’s Brian’s Saga series right now, and I’m so glad that I had a chance to re-read the first book during Re-read January or else I probably wouldn’t have gotten a chance to read the other books in the series. Seriously, I’ve never salivated so much while reading a series! When you start mind-fusing with a character, you know that a book is getting to you.
A captivating sequel to Paulsen’s first book in the Brian Robeson series, The River tells the story of Brian’s second adventure in the Canadian wilderness a year after he survived in the first, this time with a psychologist from the government survival school tagging along. A shorter journey that holds the same amount of excitement and tension, The River effectively showcases the new Brian, who is now more mature and thoughtful in how he approaches the problems he encounters. And and he can cook now! swoons
I fell in love with the Canadian wilderness and Brian Robeson all over again in Brian’s Winter. This is like Hatchet, but with more evocative and breathtaking scenes of nature that left me awed and humbled. As an alternate sequel to the first book in the series, Brian’s Winter tackles the question of how Brian would survive through the winter if he hadn’t been rescued. Because Brian is more prepared than he was when he first crash-landed, this story has more fun elements amidst the danger; for example, Brian gets an unconventional pet, and moose encounter part two happens with better results. But the winter is a whole different animal, and it’s awesome to see how Brian uses the skills he learned in the fall and how he gains insight into the new problems that arise as the weather gets colder. And the imagery is more intense in Brian’s Winter – I was drooling throughout all the food scenes, and I froze along with Brian as he went outside into the snow to hunt. Overall, Brian’s Winter is a realistic and incredible journey that is another level up from Hatchet.
If you can stuff sunshine and flowers and chestnuts in a book, you basically get The Midwife’s Apprentice. Reading this book feels like watching a flower bloom – it brings to mind of a beauty in the making. The Midwife’s Apprentice is an effortlessly charming tale of a young, impoverished girl who slowly gains a sense of self-worth with the help of a cat, a cow, and a midwife, and Cushman has crafted a lovely story backed by plenty of research on medieval midwifery.Read More »
Paper Breathers 