River Readers

This was a quick read. I knew the general plan, having seen tons of movie previews, but enjoyed it the same. I want to see the movie since the beasts are always worth viewing. I'm looking forward to see how Rowling is going to continue this story and reconcile it with what we know from the Harry Potter series.

When rogue packs of wolf-hybrid soldiers threaten the tenuous peace alliance between Earth and Luna, Iko takes it upon herself to hunt down the soldiers' leader. She is soon working with a handsome royal guard who forces her to question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and her own humanity.

(--Goodreads.com)

The Nameless City—held by the rogue Dao prince Erzi—is under siege by a coalition of Dao and Yisun forces who are determined to end the war for the Nameless City once and for all. And the people of the city—the "Named"—are caught in between.

Meanwhile, Rat and Kai must infiltrate Erzi's palace and steal back the ancient and deadly formula for napatha, the ancient weapon of mass destruction Erzi has unearthed—before he can use it to destroy everything Rat and Kai hold dear!

(--Goodreads.com)

Aster and his family are adjusting to his unconventional talent for witchery; unlike the other boys in his family, he isn't a shapeshifter. He's taking classes with his grandmother and helping to keep an eye on his great-uncle whose corrupted magic wreaked havoc on the family.

Meanwhile, Aster's friend from the non-magical part of town, Charlie, is having problems of her own -- a curse has tried to attach itself to her. She runs to Aster and escapes it, but now the friends must find the source of the curse before more people -- normal and magical alike -- get hurt.

When Lana and her father return to their seaside hometown to help clear the debris of a storm, the last thing she expects is to discover a colony of Aquicorns—magical seahorse-like residents of the coral reef. As she explores the damaged town and the fabled undersea palace, Lana learns that while she cannot always count on adults to be the guardians she needs, she herself is capable of finding the strength to protect both the ocean, and her own happiness.

(--Goodreads.com)

Marjorie Glatt feels like a ghost. A practical thirteen year old in charge of the family laundry business, her daily routine features unforgiving customers, unbearable P.E. classes, and the fastidious Mr. Saubertuck who is committed to destroying everything she’s worked for.

Wendell is a ghost. A boy who lost his life much too young, his daily routine features ineffective death therapy, a sheet-dependent identity, and a dangerous need to seek purpose in the forbidden human world.

Jetta and her family are the most talented shadow puppeteers in Chakrana, mainly due to Jetta's unique supernatural abilities. She is able to bind the souls of the dead to her puppets, creating spectacles never before seen. As impressive as her talents are, she must never let anyone outside of her family know what she can do since necromancy is illegal. Nevertheless, she and her family hope to parlay their increasing fame in shadow puppetry into a trip to Aquitan, the overseas seat of power.

This is just a fun romantic series that lets you leave your cares behind. I enjoy learning more about this cast of characters. Sometimes it's nice to think a wishing fountain could make a difference in someone's life.

There’s no such thing as a little in love…

One of the last things that the farm boy Worstley expects is to have a surly pixie bestow Chosen One status upon him. Although the pixie giving his goat the ability to speak was also unexpected. Worstley and the goat, Gustave, head off to meet their destiny at a nearby bramble-encased castle containing a sleeping princess and her equally unconcious court. It seems like as good a place as any to meet one's destiny.

This is one of my top books of the year. I really enjoyed how Jackson connected the past and the present. The fact that so many people, dealing with so many different things, end up connected basically through one wannabe star was so intriguing. I had no problem following the different plots and was not blind-sided by the ending. Character development was enough to keep you interested and involved without bogging you down. I listened to this and it was hard to stop,so I had to make sure I quit early sometimes or I would keep listening to the next chapter!

This award winning series was worth reading even though it was outside my comfort zone. In any world, friends are a good thing to have, no matter what or where.

Maika has spent most of her life learning how to fight, but how will she fare when the only way to save her life...is to make friends? Collects issues 13-18 of the Hugo Award and British Fantasy Award series.
Goodreads.

This was a good story that explores more about how Maika ended up on the run. It's never easy to evaluate the choices in life,whether it's ones you made or will make or ones others made for you. Trust is had to understand.

This was not my childhood Sabrina, the teenage witch! Very dark and a bit more horror than I usually like. Not sure I appreciate the very dark witches in this story. I always liked that most of the ones in Sabrina were likable and made me wish being a witch was an honest possibility. Not this group!

Another fun adventure with Florian and Margaret. This time we got the chance to get to know Marcus better. Also the strain between the kids is stretched to the breaking point over the truth behind Margaret's birth parents. Here's hoping this isn't the last story we get to read about this wonderful group of people.

After months of boring work in a bakery and being turned down by every medical school she's applied to, Felicity strikes upon an opportunity that she can't resist. Her estranged former friend Johanna is set to marry Felicity's idol, Dr. Platt, who might be willing to take a woman on as an apprentice. Felicity concocts a scheme to get to Germany, which requires the assistance of a lady pirate with an entirely different set of motives. One should never meet one's idols though; Dr. Platt turns out to be far from the enlightened physician that Felicity has made him out to be.