"Winter" (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer

Hello fellow bibliophiles! What a last two weeks it has been. Sorry for the lapse the past couple of weeks. It seems like every book I have picked up recently has been taking FOREVER to finish. And then once I finished them, I then ran out of time and didn't get the reviews wrote up. So while I have been reading, albeit slowly, I now have a few reviews to get out to you!! To kick off, here is the latest, and last, installment in The Lunar Chronicles. Check out my review of Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress, the first three books in the series. Beware! If you haven't read the first three books, you may not want to read any further as it will give things away for those books!

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana. 

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend -- the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

When I read the first three books, they were easy and I was able to get through them fairly quickly. This book, though, took me forever. I was so looking forward to seeing how all four of the main characters and their stories came together. And yes, while that did happen, everything else you could ever possibly imagine happening, was thrown into this book. I mean everything. There were wayyyy too many things happening in this book. I felt like a big majority of these different things took away from the story and made it drag on and on and on. I understand why Meyer wrote it this way. She wanted to make sure all the strings were tied up nice and pretty. But often she was creating more and more issues for the band of misfits to solve, many that were unnecessary. One positive from the book is that she does a good job wrapping up all 4 of the storylines for Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter and I liked how they all ended. All in all, Winter wasn't what I was hoping for. I still gave it a 3 out of 5 solely because I have enjoyed the series overall.  Gorgeous cover once again! As always, feel free to share any thoughts comments or suggestions.

Happy reading fools :)

"Scarlet" & "Cress" - Marissa Meyer

Hello fellow bibliophiles! As part of February's theme, Unfinished Series, today's review continues with books #2 & #3 of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. You can find my review of book #1, Cinder, HERE! If you haven't read Cinder, you may want to skip this post and come back as the descriptions alone may give hints and spoilers for the first book. I'll try not to give anything away!

Scarlet
The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison -- even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information about her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner. 

Scarlet has, so far, been my favorite in the series. This book continues the fairytale theme, introducing Red Riding Hood and Big Bad Wolf characters. The story switches back and forth between the parallel stories of Scarlet (Red Riding) and Cinder. So many of my questions from the first book were answered in Scarlet which is probably why I liked it so well. Along with the story lines of Cinder and Scarlet, there is also more dialogue from Kai's point-of-view which I had hoped for after finishing the first book. All the characters are dealing with a lot, a continued theme from Cinder. Plague, an evil queen, a missing princess, mind controlling Lunars, and now hybred-werewolves wreaking havoc. Like Cinder, Scarlet has a slew of things thrown at her very quickly, all at once, completely turning her life inside out. She does all she can to put on a strong, resilient front while dealing with obstacle after obstacle.  She's another brave, independent, all around great female character. I felt this book really helped to set up the next book and give me a better idea where the story is headed leading into Cress.

Cress
In this third book in the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and Captain  Thorne are fugitives on the run, now with Scarlet and Wold in tow. Together, they're plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, a girl imprisoned on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue of Cress goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing prevent her marriage to Empreror Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only hope the world has. 

While this book was still great, I didn't feel it was as good as Scarlet. Rapunzel is the newest fairytale character to be introduced as Cress, a Lunar shell, who has been held captive for seven years on a satellite on her own, doing dirty work for Queen Levana. In Scarlet, questions were answered and things began to come together. In Cress, though, I felt more questions have come up yet it had great direction towards a solution. With Cress' hacking skills and Cinder's band of misfits, they finally start to formulate and carry out plans to take down Queen Levana.

This series, as a whole, has been great. The writing is well done and the characters are full of emotion and rhetoric. While the base of the story comes from classic fairytales, the plot line is completely re-imagined in a whole new light. I like the relationships that have formed, though typical in a classic fairytale way. The fourth, and final, book Winter, is already in my hands. Turning to page one will be a bittersweet moment. I'm anxious to see how everything comes together but sad to let the characters go. A great series for teens! Small amount of violence, PG romance, and a highly entertaining fantasy series! I highly recommend it! As always, feel free to share any thoughts, comments, or suggestions!

Happy reading fools :)

"Cinder" - Marissa Meyer

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I finally started The Lunar Chronicles, something I have been wanting to do for about 4 months now. I have book one, Cinder, finished for you today and I'm hoping to have books 2 & 3 ready for you at the beginning of the week in a combined post. I'm currently waiting for my request of book four from the library! Apparently, I've been swept into the YA science fiction/fantasy realm :)

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

First off, can we just talk about this cover. So gorgeous! And all the books in the series have covers just as amazing. Talk about some cover envy! Okay, back to the reason we're here. Review. What a great start to a series! This book is brimming to the core with new world orders (New Beijing, Luna), technology advancements (androids & cyborgs), and a futuristic spin on Cinderella. Meyer follows along with the classic fairytale but throws spins and twists throughout that kept me reading and begging for more. Cinderella as a cyborg (made of human and metal parts) living in a world being ravaged by a deadly plague with no cure. The Imperial Highness's health hangs in the balance as the Evil Queen from Luna continues to refuse to sign the peace treaty, threatening war with every step she takes. Cinder is stuck in a crappy situation with an evil stepmother and two stepsisters controlling her every move. But she is a strong, honest character, thinking about how her actions will affect others no matter how beneficial it may be for herself. And that goes for other characters in the book as well, always thinking of their actions will affect the rest of the people. I really liked Kai and reading from his point-of-view. I'm looking forward to seeing how his character grows and develops into the next book, Scarlet. 

Meyer is a great writer. While some parts of this new world are not always explained as soon as I would have liked them to be, Meyer does eventually get to it and explains everything clearly. She kept things intriguing and suspenseful throughout until the end. I am anxious to see where the next book picks up from as the end was fairly abrupt. This would be a great series for upper middle school aged kids and older to read. Some violence and a little foul language every so often but nothing too drastic. I will definitely be recommending this series! As always, feel free to share any thoughts, comments or recommendations! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading fools :) 

Blog Tour: "Shadows of Angels" - L.G. Rollins

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Welcome to my stop on the Shadows of Angels blog tour presented by author L.G. Rollins and Cedar Fort Publishing & Media. Huge shout out to both for the advanced copy and opportunity to review! Shadows of Angels is the first book in a the upcoming Zaad Stone triolgy by debut author L.G. Rollins. Check out my review, excerpt, and synopsis below!

After the forest dwellers destroy her home and kill her father, Aerbrin sets off on a journey to find the truth about her people, her kingdom, and the mysterious Zaad stone that contains a power she never imagined. Magic and mystery join forces in this intriguing fantasy world. Full of shifting alliances and twists you won't see coming, it's a can't-miss read.

This is a great start to the trilogy. The characters, settings, and plot line are all very imaginative and creative. While I did struggle with the first few chapters of the book, in terms of figuring out all of the characters (especially their names!) and what everything in the story was (creatures, places, settings), once I got past that part, I couldn't put the book down. The book flips back and forth between the different characters and their roles in the story. They are all connected yet have their own paths to go down to reach the end goal. I liked the back and forth; I liked reading the different perspectives. There are great messages within each character and their role. I saw similarities from other books that I enjoyed growing up. Narnia, Wizard of Oz, as well as strong and courageous female lead characters. It's fantasy. It's suspense. It's imaginative. Would be a great book for readers 14 and up. Great debut series! I'm going to be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see where things go from here!

Excerpt:
"Stay calm, her father’s words echoed in her head. When you find yourself in danger, above all, stay calm. Aerbrin took a deep, steady breath and leaned down, reaching for her bow. one of the Forest Dwellers charged. It collided with her and knocked her to the floor. Raising a knotted fist, he bashed her head. Sparks exploded across her vision. She tried to raise an arm, tried to call out. Her body wouldn’t respond. The Forest Dwellers grunted again. The creature above her raised its fist again. She looked up. This was the end, she knew. When these monsters attacked, they killed everything. Animals, plants, and particularly humans. No one survived. Closing her eyes, Aerbrin forced her body to relax. This time, there was no pain."

About the Author:
L. G. Rollins grew up in a far off land fighting dragons, stealing talismans, and traveling with dwarfs and elves. She is especially skilled at bribing giants with sweets. Currently, her husband and four kids live in Utah so that is where she spends most of her time. She may, or may not, have a Zaad Stone. To learn more about L. G. Rollins and her books visit LGRollins.com.

As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Click HERE to buy the book on Amazon!

Happy reading fools :)

"Orleans" - Sherri L. Smith

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Today's throwback review comes to you from an ARC I received from Goodreads giveaway a couple years back. Thanks Goodreads & Putnam Juvenile Publishing! At that time, this book was way outside my normal genre but has now become something I'm very interested in. Orleans by Sherri L. Smith was really different. A good different. I was transfixed with this book from the moment I received it. Here's why:

"First came the storms.
Then came the Fever.
And then the Wall.

After a string of devastating hurricanes and a severe outbreak of Delta Fever, the Gulf Coast has been quarantined. Years later, residents of the Outer States are under the assumption that life in the Delta is all but extinct... but in reality, a new primitive society has been born.

Fen de la Guerre is living with the O-Positive blood tribe in the Delta when they are ambushed. Left with her tribe leader's newborn, Fen is determined to get the baby a better life over the wall before her blood becomes tainted. Fen meets Daniel, a scientist from the Outer States who has snuck into the Delta illegally. Brought together by chance, kept together by danger, Fen and Daniel navigate the wasteland of Orleans. In the end, they are each other's last hope for survival. "

Needless to say, the book has an interesting concept to it. The beginning half was a little slow going for me, but I think that is entirely due to me learning about the different tribes and how Orleans and the world "now" operate. The book was something different than anything I had read at the time and I really liked the whole concept. To me, it was a fantastic idea and a little scary at the same time as some parts of the book are potentially possible. I liked the blood type/tribe aspect of the book which is how people are now classified and segregated. I thought it added a new angle and different direction than other dystopia books. The two main characters, Fen and Daniel, have well-written story lines and I liked how they interconnected throughout the book. Overall, it's a good story. I wish it had turned into a series. I would have liked to learn more and see how the world would progress! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations!

Happy reading fools :)

"Jackaby" - William Ritter

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Today's review comes with a bit of disappointment. I heard a lot of good things about Jackaby by William Ritter. I know it's been pretty big in Young Adult book clubs. I, unfortunately, wasn't able to get through it to the end. The writing was good and the characters are interesting. I, though, found the story line boring and dull. From the beginning, it failed to hold my attention. I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt but by halfway thru, I quit. Once again, I'm a quitter.

I think the plotline had potential. Sherlock meets paranormal. Maybe I'm just not in the mood for this genre right now. Either way, I just couldn't get into it. There are too many books in the world to waste time on one that isn't grabbing my interest. So onto the next! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations! I'd love to hear what you think!

Happy reading fools :)

"Carry On" - Rainbow Rowell

Hellow fellow bibliophiles! Today I have an intriguing review of Carry On by the bestselling New York Times author Rainbow Rowell to share with you. This is the first book in my upcoming newly joined FYA book club! Generally when I am reviewing/reading, I stay up later than I should reading the book and then write the review within the next couple days. But, as I finished Carry On, I felt a stroke of inspiration/brilliance/insanity to write, hence its almost 3 am and I'm scribbling away, pen to paper, West Wing reruns playing in the background. Shout out to Aaron Sorkin for being a literal G-O-D! Am I right?! And yes, I write everything out by hand and then type it. I'm old school.

First things first. Even though this book has ties to Rowell's book Fangirl (check out my review here!), it can easily be read as a stand alone novel. Rowell took Simon Snow, the fictional character from Fangirl, and gave him his own story.

"Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. 

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all of this, if he were here -- it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't bother to show up. 

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story -- but far, far more monsters."

The story is broke into four "books" or parts. I found it difficult to get started and drawn in with this book. It took me pretty much the entire "Book One," about 150 pages to get into it. After that, I was hooked and didn't put it down until I was finished. It's a typical Rainbow Rowell novel. Full of normal teen-romance-friendship drama that her loyal readers have come to love and expect. Even though it took me a while to get into it, I did still like the book. Rowell is a great writer. She fully develops her characters and gives them a multi-dimensional facet. The only thing that did turn me off a bit, and maybe this is why  I struggled with the beginning, are all the similarities to Harry Potter. I grew up with HP. He embodied my reading years from grade school through high school. It's extremely hard for me to consider anything else that closely resembles HP solely due to the place in my heart it will always hold. Now there is a lot more to Carry On that just magic and evil nemesis' and being "The Chosen One." It is still a great story besides all of that. I LOVED the ending. I almost wish I would have read Fangirl after Carry On. Parts of that book would have made more sense, in my opinion. I often felt the fan-fiction sections in Fangirl that talked about Simon Snow and friends were out of place and by reading it after Carry On, I would have had a better understanding of them and their story. Just something to consider if you haven't read either book! Make sure to check out my other book reviews by Rainbow Rowell. She's quite fantastic! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations!

Happy reading fools :)

"Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns" - Chris Colfer

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I hope everyone is kicking their week off on a positive note! Today I finally have  a review for you after what has been a long 6 weeks since my last post (sorry!). I ended my Sunday by finishing up the second book in the Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer. Don't worry, there are no spoilers if you haven't read the first book yet! You can find my review of that book, The Wishing Spell, HERE. The following quote is from the book, spoken by Old Mother Goose to Connor Bailey that I think does a great job at setting up the story:


"For years the world presumed she was dead -- her whereabouts were unknown and left unsaid. In the shadows she stayed, quietly plotting, a vengeful wrath she planned on igniting. Driven by rage and centuries of sorrows, a suppressed fear shall soon be tomorrow's. After failing to curse a princess's death, she's now set her sights on the world's last breath. 'Happily ever after' will be a thing of the past -- for the evil Enchantress has returned at last...." (page 111).  


One thing that is important to note is the audience this book is directed towards. Reading the book as an adult, I felt at times Colfer's writing fell short and was "elementary." Reading the book as a 10 year old, the audience that the book is wrote for, I wouldn't have notice something like that. That being said, kids will love this book and its characters. The way Colfer portrays classic fairy tales by taking the traditional and adding his own spin to them is hilarious, even as an adult. At the same time, I sometimes question if he went to far. Is it a good idea to portray Old Mother Goose as an alcoholic with a gambling addiction? Maybe not. Granted not all character descriptions are that drastic and that example is the most extreme out of all the characters in the story. You have to admit. It is pretty funny though. All that being said, the series still makes for great bedtime reading. The two main characters, twins Alex and Connor Bailey, give great messages throughout their time in the Land of Stories. They can teach the readers about bravery, courage, and standing up to bullies in a positive way. These, as well as many other themes, are presented throughout the stories and are great for all kids to read and learn about. Overall it's a good series. Great material for parents to read to their kids or for kids to read on their own. Currently there are four books in this New York Times Bestselling Series. I'm sure I'll get to the next two soon! I am quite curious to see how they progress!

As always, feel free to share any recommendations, comments, or suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!

Happy reading fools :)      

"The Heir" (Selection series #4) - Kiera Cass

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Today I bring to you the next book in the Selection series by Kiera Cass! The Heir is book number four written from Princess Eadlyn's perspective throughout the selection process. While I did thoroughly enjoy the first three books about America's journey, I was a little skeptical of this book as I thought the series was to be a trilogy only. As book three ended though, I was intrigued to see how the story was to continue. If you have not read the first three books or do not know anything about them, stop here. The description of this book gives away clues!!! You can find my reviews for those books here (book one), and here (book two & three).

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and wont the heart of Prince Maxon-- and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection--no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her... and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she;s always thought. 

What I have liked about this series is the way Cass writes the characters. She does a great job at presenting strong, female-lead characters who are not only opinionated and independent, but also show that they can be vulnerable and that's okay. In the first three books the reader meets America Singer who is led down a path that she thought was never something she could ever want. With this book we see a similar thing taking shape with her daughter, Eadlyn. I did feel that some of the situations and instances that have come up are similar to things that happen in the first books. Some of it felt like the same story just didn't characters. I am though looking forward to seeing how the series ends. Sure, some of it to me seems like I already know what will happen in a general sense, but other parts I cannot predict where they are to lead. Another great addition to the series. I'm sure young girls are eating this series up!

As always, feel free to share any recommendations, comments, or suggestions! I'd love to hear our feedback and thoughts on the book.

Happy reading fools :)

"An Ember In The Ashes" - Sabaa Tahir

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I hope everyone has had a great weekend. I have a page turner for you with "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir. This book was unbelievable! I originally had my doubts when I began hearing about this book on various outlets that provide advanced reader's copies to reviewers. Boy was I wrong! First off, let me just say that this book is the first book in a series. I, the ill-informed reader, did not know this until I was reading the last word and literally yelled. What. A. Cliffhanger. You've been forewarned fellow readers!

"Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free. Under Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Empire risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. 

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire's impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They've seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia's older brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from the rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire's greatest military academy. 

There, Laia meets Elias, the school's finest soldier - and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he's being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined - and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself. "

What a about a description! While I did find the beginning of the book a bit difficult to follow due to the amount of information given, (new worlds, caste, ranks, names) it was impossible to put down after the first 40 or so pages. Tahir writes the book from both Laia and Elias's perspectives, switching back and forth between the two. I liked being able to see the two different sides and while they were raised completely different, they have similar views and ideas. Tahir gives depth to all of the characters and does a great job of bringing their two stories together all the while keeping the reader holding on by a thread, grasping for more. Great start to a new young adult series. Perfect for ages 12 and up. I cannot wait for the next book!

As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations! I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts on the book!

Happy reading fools :)

"The Last Sacrifice" (Vampire Academy #6) - Richelle Mead

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I really wonder who those people are that get a nice, slow, relaxing summer. I feel like I have been going non stop since May!! No worries though. I have been making sure to set time aside for reading, it's just getting these reviews typed up for you that has been difficult! Excuse the slow pace. I type all day sometimes for my job so by the time I'm home, it's not quite what I feel like doing. But I keep you waiting no longer!

This next review is the FINAL book in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. If you have read any of my other reviews, you know all about my feelings towards this series and how desperately I have been trying to finish it. Well look no farther, I have! Make sure to check out my reviews on all 5 other books in the series. If you have not read them, skip the next section as it will have spoilers for those of you who have not read the first 5!!

The Last Sacrifice picks up right where Spirit Bound left off, Rose in jail, convicted of murdering Queen Tatiana. Now I do not want to ruin or give anything away about the book but needless to say if you have read the other books, it's safe to say you can guess a few things that are sure to happen but alas I will leave your mind to wander. There was plenty of disobeying of the rules, trysts and internal conflict between Rose, Dimitri, and Adrian, and little hidden secrets that all come out in the open. I will say this: no matter how much I have whined about this series from book 2-5, the ending was perfect. Mead did a fantastic job at wrapping up the series and bringing everything to a (somewhat) logical conclusion. I do think this book is probably the best in the series since book one. I thought she did a great job with the way things ended between Rose and Dimitri as well as bringing together all the questions surrounding Spirit. Did she leave any room for more books in the future? Absolutely. Do I hope there will be any? No. But Mead did leave the door cracked, just in case. Let's just say, I'm glad I'm done and on to the next quest!

Speaking of new books, I made the "mistake" of going to the library without a list this past Sunday. I'm normally one of those people who either has a set list of books with their call numbers when I walk into the library OR I request the books ahead of time and can walk right up to the counter and leave. Sunday that didn't happen. I went in with one book in mind and perused......and perused......and perused. The destruction that followed filled my entire bag plus me carrying one.

So now comes the task of choosing my next book. I have everything from spy and intrigue, mystery, and young adult to autobiography, children's, and cozy mystery! Get ready! I hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Happy reading fools :)

"The Wishing Spell" (Land of Stories #1) - Chris Colfer

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I've dipped into my inner child for this next review. I think Chris Colfer quoted it best at the start of this book with "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again" C.S. Lewis. Even though this is a "children's book" it was still daunting at 400+ pages. I think it would be suited towards kids 10 and older if they are reading it themselves.

The Land of Stories series is about twins, Alex and Conner, who are transported into their grandmother's fairy tale book. These aren't your normal "happily ever after" stories though. Most of the characters relate closer to the Hans Christen Andersen and Brothers Grimm versions along with a few other twists. The twins set out to find the wishing spell in order to get back to their real lives. They encounter many different characters along their quest throughout the different kingdoms. They befriend a man turned into a frog, cross paths with Snow White, run from the Big Bad Wolf Pack, burn down Red Riding Hood's castle, and try to collect all the items for the spell before The Evil Queen and her Huntress. There are many adult connotations written into the story, making it enjoyable for all ages. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see where the story goes from here. Great book for all ages. I would definitely recommend reading this to all kids at bedtime! As always, feel free to share any recommendations, suggestions, or comments!

Happy reading fools :)