Cleverly Written Tale
582815
This story, written from the point of view of a medieval scribe gives a good picture of the violence and politics of those days. The characters are real and the plot is well-constructed. The battle sequences are suitably violent.
3078994
Whether the setting is a work shift at the convenience store or a banquet in the fairy realm, the author has a wonderfully descriptive writing style that puts the reader into the story right beside the characters.

Moving effortlessly across time & space, the author tells a tale that crosses centuries of overlap between Saffron, fairies Li & Ny, and the vampire Jethin.  The book is well-paced and hints about the overall relationship between the four main characters keep the reader hungrily reading to find out more as the story unfolds.  Tidbits of humor sprinkled throughout, from Saffron's promiscuous co-worker Coco to a delightfully angry married pair of gnomes, help to keep the story fun.

I don't usually read fantasy fiction and as a result wasn't sure how I would like this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised by Fairy Circle.  I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by Johanna Frappier.
1674416
I purchased this paperback originally to take to the beach with me over spring break. As I started the tale, I was immersed in the high-quality writing detailing a world similar in many respects to our own, yet slightly fantastical. In this setting, magic exists, as does steam technology, and so it is a blend of fantasy and steampunk, though the novel seems more familiar than overdone in either of these genres.

This type of story is not new. Think, The Name of the Wind, Harry Potter, and the Assassin's Apprentice, each of which involves a dejected, and orphaned boy about to come into power (of some type) The central character is a displaced, unwanted, unloved, and rejected "half-breed" heir to the empire, and the story is largely centered on him taking the throne and learning the ways of the court. However, the many interactions, and events that take place work together to create and wonderful and enjoyable read. The character development, the immersion in the setting, and the ability of the author to make you truly connect with, and care about, her characters makes this a book that I am happy to have read. I would love to see a sequel, but the novel is complete and done, on its own accord. The ending provides a resolution, and there are no dangling threads. However, one is left to wonder what will happen next in the world, and how the populace will adapt to their new ruler and the changes he is bringing forth.
4376868
The author took a clever conceit (Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky poem) and made it into a full story in its own right.  He also obviously had fun with the nonsense words in the poem while creating a 'glossary' that's at the end of this book (it should've been at the beginning, but that's a tiny quibble).

It's a coming-of-age story set in a fantasy world - NOT Carroll's - that is inhabited by humans in company with the fantastic creatures from the poem (and the Cheshire Cat).  The characters are likeable and are fairly 3-dimensional.  The world is well-drawn and very recognizeable.  The author's interpretation of Carroll's creatures is entertaining.  And like all coming-of-age stories, there's a love interest; a Quest; a battle won, a moral (very understated), and a hero's return.

Recommended.  This is probably a YA book more than anything, but it will also appeal to adults with its gentle fantasy.

Note on Kindle formatting:  Excellent.  I did not note any issues.
4919929
The writing, though some reviewers have called pompous and a drag, is actually, in my opinion, capturing and fun.  The story is enticing and the pathos in the writing is very effective.  Throughout, the author details what the character sees well enough that the reader can be immersed.  I would like it if there were a sequel, but I am more pleased with the ending of this story than for most stories.
2730608
This is a clever, absorbing, witty tale that deserves a large readership. Genuinely engaging from the first page. Brilliant prose
1124014
Given the time you know someone is going to die or be maimed.  The only question is who and when, and could I come up with the " a clever plot twist" before the author that would be believable and leave the most people surviving. In the background, you can see the English class system starting to dissolve, but not fast enough.  The author also takes on the lesbian and homosexual  issues of the day and the suffrage movement, and even "harm to animals".  Quite a lot for one book

The writing is witty, the pace is fast and the cast of characters performs marvelously. I really enjoyed the book and I have to admit the author's resolution was more satisfactory and maybe it could have happened. I like to think that it did.
3289534
Delightfully told ...a quick read and charming style
662442
This gripping short, set to be a series of venue shorts of the people in the town of Summerset is beautifully written with clever descriptions, common concerns and one overwhelming why. Jac Wright is obviously facile with words, and appreciates the rhythm that can be found in a poetically phrased sentence. While others see Hardy, I was pleased to not find the overwhelming foreshadowing as we followed Harry Duncan Wood through this quick read.

The scenery comes alive, as does Harry's overwhelming need for something apart from the hotel/guest house that he and his wife run, and his plans to move the family there is causing friction and making him question his relationship. From the biting wind to the views, the sense of tumult is omnipresent, even extending to Harry's thoughts. Truly a cleverly planned and plotted story that is the perfect diversionary read. Wright has a deft hand with the pen and plotting, and is this is a lovely start to a series of vignettes that explore the residents and their innermost struggles.

I purchased an eBook copy of the book on the author's recommendation. I was not compensated for this review; all conclusions are my own responsibility.
4961361
"Hildie at the Ghost Shore" is a beautifully and cleverly written bit of fantasy and Norse mythology that teases the senses and sensibility to believe one thing while leading to a very different ending than you might expect. I am increasingly delighted to read the works of Paula Cappa because one piece does not predict another. Her ideas are fresh and her voice varied. Her consistency lies in her ability to write elegant and readable prose.

I really hate to provide spoilers, so all I will say is that this is a story well worth the short time it will take to read.

I was gifted a copy of this story by the author for the purpose of writing a review.
4502329
Let's see, what else can be said here that isn't already said?  Crispin is easily (and consistently) summarized as it is a simple story, clearly told, that hangs an intriguing and imaginative tale on a skeleton of a few basic facts.  The scene and scenary are actually quite foreign to the modern child, but Avi's delivery renders 14th century England in the times of Edward (sounds knowledgeable, doesn't it?), feudal rule, and the Black Death accessible.  Those days sucked.  Against this backdrop we are introduced to a sad and seemingly helpless orphan who meets his circumstances with a mix of terror, courage, cunning, and happenstance.  Crispin fights to stay alive and escape from those who would unjustly kill him, and he meets a friend and protector in the process.  The two journey to the city of Great Wexley for what turn out to be a showdown.  As can be expected, the plot builds to an exciting and "unbelieveable" climax, and keeps the reader entertained and engaged along the way.
I read this one aloud to my pre-teen kids and they loved it.  I don't know if they captured the sense of how miserable life at that time was, because the book sugar coats things a bit (although the observant reader's skin will crawl with the sensation of fleas and filth).
This is my first Avi book and I loved it.  Highly recommended.
3423561
This is not exactly my genre, but I know and love the illustrator's work, so made the purchase. I was pleasantly surprised by the clever and entertaining storyline, and the quality of writing.
2766774
I thought this novel might have been kind of dumb and simplistic, but I was hooked.  It's a complex story told through the lens of a five-year old boy which adds to the drama and confusion of the tale. I was addicted.  Anybody who enjoyed the unreliable narrator style of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Curious-Incident-of-the-Dog-in-the-Night-Time/dp/1400032717/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</a>, will enjoy this.
1278426
I bought this book on a whim with I admit rather low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is a very cleverly written story. This is not a P&P alternate story -- in other words, it doesn't take the plot in a new direction but rather follows the original P&P with the difference that it's written primarily from Darcy's point of view. The authors call it "an Addendum to Pride and Prejudice as told by Fitzwilliam Darcy to Jane Austen and and Katherine Woodbury" and includes a foreward purporting to be written by Darcy himself in which he says that he would like to set the record straight because he is not comfortable with how he is portrayed in much of the Austen fan fiction. Darcy's quite adamant that he's not as "gregarious as Tom Jones" nor "as licentious as a Restoration rake" to reiterate just a few of the many misconceptions.

Some stories like this are not much more than a series of quotations directly from the original which gets old very quickly. In this case, the Woodbury's have found creative ways to paraphrase original text and also add some of what was left out of the original story. We get first hand information about what Darcy was thinking at the Meryton Assembly and why he hates meeting people, how much he enjoyed verbally jousting with Elizabeth at Netherfield, and how he's frustrated because he doesn't understand what motivates women (especially his sister and Elizabeth) to behave the way they do. In addition, there are new scenes -- Darcy and Georgiana talking about Wickham,  Darcy discouraging Charles Bingley from pursuing Jane Bennett, and Darcy handling Wickham to convince him to marry Lydia. It seems that Austen left out some really great stuff!

Mostly, I found it quite interesting to watch Darcy struggle to understand his own feelings. From Meryton to Rosings to Pemberley and finally back to Meryton, we see a portrait of an intelligent young man who has no idea who he really is until he is rejected by the woman he thinks he loves. As he finds a way back into Elizabeth's life, he also finds himself.

Lots of fun, very enjoyable -- I recommend this for all Austen fans.
950165
A simple, yet intriguing story that will make you feel as though you have slipped into the past. The prose is excellent and the descriptions top notch. Whimsical dialogue draws you in, making the characters lively and familiar. My only complaint is the somewhat abrupt ending. I feel the story could have been longer to complete one of the character's arcs. Still a worthwhile read and perfect if you are in the mood for a haunting tale.
1008693
A great read with likeable characters and clever plot.
4482697
This is a delightful little treat of a story, both well concieved and well written. In a small amount of words, the author does a fantastic job of giving you a sense of the charactor and setting. Truly, my only regret is that it wasn't about a thousand words longer.