It's very refreshing to read a steampunk book that's not set in Victorian-ish England or America. I loved the rich world: the alternate history, the bIt's very refreshing to read a steampunk book that's not set in Victorian-ish England or America. I loved the rich world: the alternate history, the blending of cultures in early 20th century Cairo, the weaving of magic and myth in with the retro technology that never was. My only complaint was that the book was so short! I will have to find this author's other works and read more of his stories set in this world. If you love novella-length sci-fi/fantasy/steampunk, or non-Western European inspired fantasy, this little tale is for you....more
A simple, creative tale of magical adventure. This is a great book if you're looking for a quick easy fantasy read, or a "grown-up" feeling fantasy boA simple, creative tale of magical adventure. This is a great book if you're looking for a quick easy fantasy read, or a "grown-up" feeling fantasy book that's still appropriate for young teens or even middle grade age level. Also, the art is amazing! Looking forward to reading the next book!...more
This is the final Mary Poppins book, even though many more were published (including some published posthumously). All of those take place during the This is the final Mary Poppins book, even though many more were published (including some published posthumously). All of those take place during the first three books, I believe. This was clearly intended to be the end, as all the zany people and creatures from previous books show up to bid farewell to Mary Poppins. This book, like others, doesn't have so much of a plot - it's more just a series of vignettes of the children's magical adventures with Mary Poppins. A fun read. ...more
This had all the elements of a good fantasy tale: lavish descriptions and beautiful imagery, cool worldbuilding, engaging and entertaining characters,This had all the elements of a good fantasy tale: lavish descriptions and beautiful imagery, cool worldbuilding, engaging and entertaining characters, and a unique twist on the "fairy tale retelling" trope. All of these things were well done (although I felt the book was a little too heavy-handed and detailed with the worldbuilding at times. I could have understood the plot just as well with fewer in-depth details and backstory).
My biggest complaint, and the reason for only 3 stars, is the plot - or rather, the lack of it. Yes, this was a coming-of-age tale of a girl who learns all about her world and her place in it, so it was a character-driven story. But I couldn't really find a real antagonist (except for maybe the Tradition, the vague magical force that turns everything into a fairytale). The climax brought together characters and elements from earlier in the book, but I still found it rather anti-climactic.
Also, the second point-of-view character (spoiler: the love interest) wasn't introduced until at least halfway through the book. I found it jarring to suddenly be in someone else's head after 200 pages of just one POV. There was no head-hopping and the two POV characters were handled well, I just found it startling.
So, a great read for worldbuilding and characters, just rather thin in the actual plot department....more
I actually enjoyed this a bit more than the first book. The children are fun, and the story is filled with many zany adventures. I got a little tired I actually enjoyed this a bit more than the first book. The children are fun, and the story is filled with many zany adventures. I got a little tired of Mr. and Mrs. Banks and their clueless, shallow personalities - although I suppose that's the point. The entire family needs Mary Poppins, not just the children. A fun classic read, especially if you've seen the Disney film Mary Poppins Returns....more
This was an enjoyable adventure. I almost rated this book 3 stars, because I found several mistakes (not typos, just scenes where someone was sitting This was an enjoyable adventure. I almost rated this book 3 stars, because I found several mistakes (not typos, just scenes where someone was sitting down holding a cup and then suddenly they were walking around and gesturing without having moved). Minor things, really, in the overall scope of the story, but I tend to read like an editor, so I often pick up little things that the average reader wouldn't notice. I also found the story to be fairly predictable.
That being said, I did want to keep on reading, even though I was pretty confident in knowing what would happen. Aside from those tiny editorial nitpicks that I mentioned, the book was well written and told an engaging story. I enjoyed the details about Mediterranean history in the story, and the setting of Venice. Overall a nice blending of history, fantasy, and the real world....more
This was a pretty neat retelling of the classic fairy tale "East of the Sun West of the Moon." I enjoyed the rich world, and the many cultures and lanThis was a pretty neat retelling of the classic fairy tale "East of the Sun West of the Moon." I enjoyed the rich world, and the many cultures and languages that were sprinkled into the later part of the story.
This book is told in the first person by multiple different narrators. This took some getting used to at first, even though each POV shift is clearly marked with the character's name as the chapter title. My only real complaint, if I could call it that, was that the beginning was a little too slow. A lot of the backstory and the main character's young childhood could have been condensed. It felt like the story took too long to get going.
If you like fairy tales, and can get through the slow early parts, it's well worth a read....more
This is one of my favorite fantasy movies. While some "movie novelizations" are merely the shooting script in prose form, some actually include insighThis is one of my favorite fantasy movies. While some "movie novelizations" are merely the shooting script in prose form, some actually include insights, backstory, and full scenes that never made it to the screen. This book is the latter.
While the story and characters are the same as the movie, in some ways this novelization has a completely different vibe from the movie. While the movie is a family-friendly fantasy romp, bordering on campy at times, the book is a detailed fantasy world of formal language, deep myths, complex character backstories, and a lot more violence and gore than the film.
If you've ever seen "Willow," this book adds a deeper layer to the world, and explains some character motivations that may seem forced or flat in the film. It's well worth reading if you've seen the movie, or even just if you like epic fantasy. ...more
I've been enjoying this entire series, and this book is another fun entry. Like most of the previous books, I've figured out who-dun-it well before thI've been enjoying this entire series, and this book is another fun entry. Like most of the previous books, I've figured out who-dun-it well before the end, but the characters and other plot twists are engaging enough that I don't mind.
My main reason for rating this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the number of typos. I read the ebook, so I don't know about the formatting of a paperback edition, but the ebook had numerous formatting glitches and typos. I know that I tend to read with an editor's eye (not every reader does that, certainly), but even so, it seemed like a lot of mistakes. I still enjoyed the book, though....more
Classic Star Wars feel all over, and an excellent sequel to the Heir to the Empire trilogy. Complex plot, suspense, a little humor, all our favorite cClassic Star Wars feel all over, and an excellent sequel to the Heir to the Empire trilogy. Complex plot, suspense, a little humor, all our favorite characters plus some new ones. Loved it!...more
Classic Star Wars feel all over, and an excellent sequel to the Heir to the Empire trilogy. Complex plot, suspense, a little humor, all our favorite cClassic Star Wars feel all over, and an excellent sequel to the Heir to the Empire trilogy. Complex plot, suspense, a little humor, all our favorite characters plus some new ones. Loved it! ...more
A fun adventure about Victorian-era superheros. The main POV character and the supporting cast were all unique, memorable characters. The plot, while A fun adventure about Victorian-era superheros. The main POV character and the supporting cast were all unique, memorable characters. The plot, while sometimes predictable, was engaging and kept me turning the pages. The ending, while satisfying, left some questions open and definitely left the plot open for a sequel. An enjoyable read!...more
Overall I liked this book better than the first one. The pacing was better, and there was a new enjoyable supporting character. I also enjoyed the useOverall I liked this book better than the first one. The pacing was better, and there was a new enjoyable supporting character. I also enjoyed the use of Bulgarian mythology, although I felt like more could have been done with that, besides just using the Bulgarian names.
This book seemed to leave a number of unresolved plot holes and unanswered questions, and it felt like the story wrapped up too quickly and neatly. The amount of dangling plot threads (that did not appear to be dangling in order to lead into another sequel) made me want to rate this book three stars, but because I overall just enjoyed the story and characters, I went with four stars.
An adventurous and entertaining MG fantasy story, but not, perhaps, a good example to use in a writing class to show how plot threads should be resolved....more
A fun magical adventure, full of mystery and tension. Some parts felt a little slow, but interesting magic and memorable characters made it an enjoyabA fun magical adventure, full of mystery and tension. Some parts felt a little slow, but interesting magic and memorable characters made it an enjoyable read....more
This is a unique book (at least, among books I've read so far in my life). Plot-wise, it's just a basic murder mystery with some political machinationThis is a unique book (at least, among books I've read so far in my life). Plot-wise, it's just a basic murder mystery with some political machinations in the background. But it's so much more than that.
I'm not sure if this book qualifies as "magical realism," since there is obviously a supernatural element that enables the two cities to co-exist in the same physical space. Any supernatural element is downplayed in the story, though; and even the mysterious force/entity/group called Breach has a non-fantastical explanation by the end of the book.
While the plot is about a police detective trying to solve a murder, the author delves deeply and beautifully into anthropological history, the tensions between cultures and languages that may have a lot in common but are very separate, and the human psyche. The book is more about what we as individuals and societies choose to "see" or "unsee" than it is about the morality of murder.
I have never seen the movie, so I had no pre-conceived expectations going into this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It has a great classic fairI have never seen the movie, so I had no pre-conceived expectations going into this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It has a great classic fairy-tale feel, while being full of unexpected twists and turns. While I picked up on most of the foreshadowing throughout the book, there were still plenty of surprises. The characters are all unique and memorable. All in all, an excellent light-hearted yet surprisingly deep fantasy adventure!...more
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