River Readers

Zelie Adebola's mother was brutally murdered. Her father was savagely beaten, all by the reigning monarchy in an attempt to squelch the magic running through the land. Hundreds were executed in the kings attempt to kill the magic. Then, one day at the market, trying to sell a fish so they could pay the taxes, a girl approached Zelie and begged for her help. Little did Zelie know at the time that it was the princess and she had, in her possession, one of the three magic artifacts that could restore the magic in the land.

Salamandra is back in another story from Hopeless, Maine. She and her friend Owen become suspicious when people start dying. Sure people disappear all the time, but now they are becoming ill and dying. Could the doctor have something to do with it? We learn more about Hopeless's founding families and the islands history. We also meet Salamandra's grandfather and learn that at least one person has actually escaped the island. I would love to see more books set in this series. Not sure we will get them, but there would definitely be more stories to tell.

Hopeless, Maine lives up to its name. There is not a lot of hope, but there are a lot of orphans and missing persons. Where do they all go? Why are there never any bodies? What lurks in the fog? Salamandra is one such orphan. Her parents might have disappeared or they might have just gone away. Either way they are gone and her brother is missing so she ends up in the orphanage. She is not a witch like Miss Nightshade, but she does have some powers of her own. She can control fire and fight demons. Because of this, Salamandra doesn't fit in with the other orphans.

When Sophie spots a giant one night in the streets outside her orphanage window, he kidnaps her, and sets off on an adventure of mistaken assumptions, the delivery of dreams, and even a visit to the Queen of England.

It takes a writer like Dahl to successfully weave kidnapping into a tale like this. Add a few stitches of groan-worthy puns on the international flavors of humans, head-scratching giant speak, and social commentary, and the resulting tapestry is a children's classic.

This was a sad segment in this story. Losing characters is never easy, but these were new friends. Listening definitely allows me to learn new facts and remember old ones. Onward through the saga of the gods.

It's not everyday you find yourself in combat with a half-lion, half-human. But when you're the son of a Greek god, it happens. And now my friend Annabeth is missing, a goddess is in chains and only five half-blood heroes can join the quest to defeat the doomsday monster. Oh, and guess what? The Oracle has predicted that not all of us will survive...
Goodreads.

This imaginative tale is about Castle Glower and the royal family that lives there. The castle is alive, changing rooms, hallways and entrances and exits as it deems necessary for the needs to the royal family. When the King, Queen and eldest son are ambushed and come up missing, it is up to the castle and its favorite family member, Princess Celie to save the kingdom from being overtaken.

This book is delightful. It is fun and adventurous and keeps you guessing as to what will come next.

There were so many things I had forgotten when I listened to this book. I find new facts every step of this listening journey. I can't wait to start the next one.

Arthur is a young fox groundling at Ms. Carbunkle's Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures. It is a dreary place where the young half-human, half-animal children slave away. Arthur and his new friend Trinket make their escape one day and travel out into the world. Trinket is off to find her only relative, an uncle. Arthur is off to Lumentown to see if he can find out anything about his history. All he has is an address and hope. In Lumentown Arthur makes new friends, gets into trouble and uncovers a plot. Miss Carbunkle plans to steal the music of the world.

I am truly enjoying listening to the Harry Potter books. Jim Dale is amazing and I am finding all kinds of small details I didn't catch or didn't remember. Makes me want to have a movie marathon!

This graphic novel that is an adaption of the podcast of the same name is delightful. I am not a listener of the podcast but the creativity and humor of this novel may convert me. It is filled with beautiful artwork and plenty of snark as well as a inventive story line that is sure to delight.

It's bad enough being new on the job, but Teppic hasn't a clue as to what a pharaoh is supposed to do. After all, he's been trained at Ankh-Morpork's famed assassins' school, across the sea from the Kingdom of the Sun. First, there's the monumental task of building a suitable resting place for Dad -- a pyramid to end all pyramids. Then there are the myriad administrative duties, such as dealing with mad priests, sacred crocodiles, and marching mummies.

Neil Gaiman, long inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction, presents a bravura rendition of the Norse gods and their world from their origin though their upheaval in Ragnarok.

In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki—son of a giant—blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.

Toby is sent to investigate the trouble happening at a startup tech company run by the fae. One by one individuals are being killed, but no memories are left in their blood for Toby to read. Will she be able to save her liege's niece who runs this tech company? will she be able to save anyone? what about the cats that prowl the grounds.

An enjoyable read.

This is an almost satisfying conclusion to the Egyptian series. I would like to know how teenage life continues for the Kanes. The successfully juggle romance and life-and-death drama without breaking a nail, so I imagine high school will be a breeze. I like how they have to learn to rely on each other and that makes for a much stronger brother/sister relationship. Always a nice turn on those ancient myths that makes me wish magic was real.