What Light by: Jay Asher

Merry Christmas!

It is officially the Christmas season, unofficially its been the Christmas season has been here for several weeks. I personally have been listening to Christmas music for several weeks, let me tell you there isn't as much music as you think. Its the same songs being sung by different people. Since its the Christmas season, I have decided to review a Chrismasy book. This one is called What Light and its by Jay Asher, the same guy who wrote Thirteen Reasons Why. This book is not as dark as Thirteen Reasons Why, but it is still a teen book. Now on to my boring speech about that. This is a TEEN book, I repeat a TEEN book. Not an upper middle grade book but TEEN. It deals with some slightly more mature themes and ideas that are not necessarily what your parent(s) (unless you are a parent, in which case you (Or you're a teacher in which case the parents of your students)) would want you to read. If the authority figure which may be your parent(s), the parents, or you the parent says go for it, have fun, or if you have any questions come to me etc., then fine by me go ahead but as the friendly blogger behind the screen I feel the need to present this information before I delve into the nitty-gritty stuff. Now if you are my mom (Hi, Mom! *waves*) or a regular reader (those are the made up creatures I have in my mind) you probably have that memorized and its as tedious for you as it is me just skip it if you want too. That only goes for those of you who have it memorized, the rest of you READ it! 

Anyway, the characters. For once I can tell you about many and a little about them without spoiling things. Yay!

• Sierra- *Main-character alert* Her family owns a Christmas tree farm in Oregon. Every year they go to Southern California to sell trees in a lot there for a month before Christmas. For all her life these two places have been two separate but equal lives for her. She has friends in Oregon and in California and loves both places. But this year something special happens, she meets Caleb.
• Caleb- *Main-character alert* He's the social outcast in this town, several years ago he made a mistake and it has followed/haunted him since in more ways than one. Everyone in this small town has decided that he's a horrible person and won't let opinions founded by gossip go. Sierra meets him and discovers the truth. Cliff Hanger! If you wanna find out the truth read this book.
• Heather- She's Sierra's best friend in California.  Like everyone else in that small town she has heard and believes the rumors about Caleb. 
• Rachel and Elizabeth- Sierra's best friends in Oregon. They never want her to go to California, but they understand that it's an important part of her life. They really aren't important enough to get their own bullets.

There you have it folks, the characters that I find important enough to tell you about. Now the plot, so basically a beefed up version of the cover. Sierra lives on a Christmas tree farm that her family owns in Oregon. Every year they go to California right before Christmas to sell trees in a lot there. For along time these to places are basically two separate lives for Sierra, and they are harmonious. This year something changes. With the lot facing its end Sierra sets out to make this Christmas memorable, and she meets Caleb. A sweet guy who loves peppermint mochas, at least a little, and has a dark past. Sierra decides that she will push past the rumors and find out what really happened and who Caleb really is. This is the last line of the summary in my copy "But as disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra can't help but wonder if love really is enough to overcome every obstacle..." Sounds cool right? It is. I am going to award this book with my highest yet honor (only because I haven't yet reviewed Harry Potter, because I don't want to screw ya'll with my nerdyness) eleven out of ten paw-prints. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 That is how much I loved this book. It preaches forgiveness, which is a bit of a lost art now. I recommend for ages thirteen and up or twelve if you're mature because of some violent content. I want to say it again I loved this book and it put me in a Christmasy/forgiving mood when I first read it in the blazing heat.

Merry Christmas my bibliophiles,

Merlin:)

P.S. Remember, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

P.P.S. Yes, I did just quote ELF

Red Queen Victoria Aveyard

My dears,
I have been meaning to write this review for a very long time but I have yet to do it. So Today is the day! I shall finally review Red Queen by: Victoria Aveyard. I read this book awhile ago and really enjoyed it, after I got over the book its self. I honestly thought that my friend who made me read it made me read it just to mess with my head. Now I have her in the same position, I've read the other two and know what is to come. Anyway, I now have to give my tedious spiel about how this is a teen book and so on and so forth. Bear with me for a moment please. This is a TEEN book, I repeat a TEEN book. Not an upper middle grade book but TEEN. It deals with some slightly more mature themes and ideas that are not necessarily what your parent(s) (unless you are a parent, in which case you (Or you're a teacher in which case the parents of your students)) would want you to read. If the authority figure which may be your parent(s), the parents, or you the parent says go for it, have fun, or if you have any questions come to me etc., then fine by me go ahead but as the friendly blogger behind the screen I feel the need to present this information before I delve into the nitty-gritty stuff. By now if you are a dedicated reader *cough* my mamma *cough* you probably actually have this memorized but for those of you who are new (all of  y'all) that is my tedious PSA.
Moving on, the characters!!

• Mare Barrow- she is the main-character here. Mare is a red, which means her blood is red not silver and she doesn't have any special powers. Well, she's not supposed to anyway. Her family consists of her sister Gisa, her brothers Bree, Tramy, and Shade, and her parents. Being unremarkable in most ways is usually good for Mare but not always. 
• Killorn Warren- he's Mare's best friend for the longest time. His blood is red too and he is just another dime a dozen Red. Like most Reds he hates the Silvers for how they treat the Reds.
• Gisa Barrow, Mares little sister and part of the reason any of this happened. I can't tell you more about her without spoiling it, other than she can sew really well and she is a Red. 
• Tiberius Calore VII- he's a Silver and goes by Cal. I really want to tell you more about him because I absolutely love him but I can't because it would spoil stuff. And if I spoil stuff my friends might just kill me
• Maven Calore- He's Cal's younger brother, Silver, and reminds me a bit of Loki. Shout out to anyone who reads this and then goes "Yes, he really is similar to Loki!"

Those are my major characters for this book. Don't get me wrong, there are many more semi major characters in this book, I mean what kind of book is it if you only ever hear about five characters, but these are the most major characters in this book. The plot on the other hand is ridikkulusly (get that reference anyone ( and that one too)) complicated and cannot be described in detail with out being spoiled but here I go. Mare and her sister go into the Silver city to deliver some of Gisa's sewing/goods/what ever the haymitch they are and get into some minor trouble. Later Mare meets Cal and gets a job at the Silver's palace. There she discovers that she does indeed have Silver like powers but her blood is Red. The book follows her adventures as she deals with the aftermath of her display of her powers. It gets really complicated and made me loose trust in everything that I knew. 

Personally I loved this book and give it ten of ten paw prints 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾. I recommend for ages thirteen and up. If your parents okay it and you are mature then twelve and up I go no lower on this for future reasons. I also advise that when acquiring a copy of this book you get the next two as well, you will want them. 

Farewell for now my bibliophiles,

Merlin:)

Happy Thanksgiving

Gobble Gobble oh most likely stuffed bibliophiles,
Today was Turkey Day! The day where tradition dictates that we give thanks for our blessings and stuff ourselves with enough tryptophan to sedate an elephant. I thought I would take the time, now when it won't interrupt that precious time with your families that we all look forward to (at least a little even if it can mean sensory overload or just plain old irritation) but instead another one of our revered traditions, football, to thank y'all for reading my reviews that tend to ramble and are few and far between and say how thankful I am for each and everyone of y'all. I also wanted to wish good fortune to all of you poor crazy souls who will be going Black Friday shopping tomorrow. In the words of 'the March of the Witch Hunters" (at least I think that's how you denote a son) from Wicked (though they were very different circumstance) "Good fortune Witch Hunters!"So that's my Thanksgiving Day rant/post/whatever that was for you. Have a pleasant rest of the holiday and shopping season.
arriverdverci my dears,
Merlin:)

Forever or a long long time

The past cannot be changed, the future is yet in your power. My dear bibliophiles, this is a quote by an unknown person but I find it so true.  I love quote but this one relates to the book I am reviewing today. This book is forever, or a long, long time by Caela Carter.
This book is about these people:

• Flora Baker- She's an orphan who was adopted by a loving couple, but she has some behavioral issues. These issues involve not being able to talk like a normal child and when she does talk it comes in out bursts. 
• Julian Baker- He's Flora's younger brother who was adopted with her and also has some issues. Instead of not talking he takes food and hides it. 
• Elena- She's Flora and Julian's adoptive father's child from his first marriage. She makes fun of Julian and Flora sometimes and gets in trouble some. 
• Person- She's Flora and Julian's adoptive mother. Flora narrates the story and calls her Person. She loves Flora and Julian very much and wants to help them get better. 

The story follows Flora and Julian on their journey with Person to find out about their past. I give this book ten paw prints.🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 I loved this book and the way it made me think and the journey.
Arrivederci my bibliophiles,
Merlin:)

Hello Universe- Erin Entrada Kelly

Hello my dear bibliophiles,
Today you shall hear about the tale of a young, shy boy, a deaf girl, and a psychic girl and their adventure. This is not the kind of story I normally read and review but it is a really good story. It deals with some minor bullying and the effects of this.
Now the characters.

• Virgil- He would be the shy boy I was referring to earlier. He comes from a very active and loud family but is very quiet himself. His family calls him Turtle except for his grandmother who calls him by his given name: Virgilio. 
• Valencia- She would be our deaf girl. She has been deaf for as long as she can remember. Now she has nightmares about darkness and being left alone with nobody to hear her. She loves insects and adventuring 
• Kaori Tanaka- Our psychic has arrived. She believes she comes from a long line of psychics but her parents do not think so. Kaori is the person that Turtle and Valencia go to with their problems. 
• Chet- Our "villain". He bully's Virgil and try's to bully Valencia but it doesn't work. He creates one of the major problems. 

The story is this. Turtle lacks confidence but has a crush on a girl. He goes to Kaori about his confidence issues and his crush. She tells him to try and make contact with her and get to know her. Valencia wants to research incets and loves animals. She shows Chet up after he gets snakebit and accidentally gets Turtle trapped. She, Kanori, and Kanori's little sister then have to go and save him.
I really enjoyed this book and would reccomend it to children in 4-8 grades. I give this book 8 paw prints and a whisker. I loved how it made me think and contemplate my actions.  However, I didn't like some of the sadness
Farewell for now my bibliophiles,
Merlin:)

Goldeline by Jimmy Cajoleas

Hello my dear bibliophiles,
This was a fairly strange yet interesting book. Please note this is a mild horror middle grade book. That being said, it has scenes of mild horror which could cause nightmares in younger readers. Anyway, so this is the first book to even barely fall in the horror genre that I have reviewed so bear with me as I make one more PSA. This book falls I in the HORROR genre. If you don't like horror or even mildly scary things give you nightmares, read at your own risk. Please also note that in my opinion Edgar Allen Poe is suitable reading material for the upper grades this mot so much. That is also tedious, but it must be done. Now on to the fun part. The characters.

• Goldeline- she's a little girl who's Mama was burned for being a witch. Now she lives with a band of thieves in the woods to stay away from the Preacher who wants her dead. 
• Preacher- he is well a preacher. He wants to purify the town and world from evil things. unfortunately that can mean killing lots of people.
• Gruff- He's the leader of the band of the bandits and thieves that Goldeline lives with.

Now the even more fun part- the plot.

So basically Goldeline is hiding with a group of bandits, thieves and generally less desirable people from the Preacher who is out to get her. See the Preacher believe that she is a witch like her Mama who he burned to death for being a witch. Then something terrible happens and so she ends up in an "evil" forest. All Goldie want's to do is get to a place she can be with Gruff who is the leader of the bandits and her father figure.

I found this book super weird. Like almost at my max for weirdness I can handle, but I still enjoyed it. For it's weirdness and mil horror I give it seven paw prints. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾 I only gave it seven paw prints because horror just isn't my thing and like I said it was really weird. I recommend that you be at least twelve/thirteen before you read this and if you get scared or nightmares really easily read at your own risk.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Merlin:) 

Jane Unlimited

What if many timelines were possible? What if every choice you make has a different timeline to it? These are the questions that have some answers in Jane Unlimited by Kristin Cashore. Before we get into the plot or characters this PSA: This is a TEEN book, I repeat a TEEN book. Not an upper middle grade book but TEEN. It deals with some slightly more mature themes and ideas that are not necessarily what your parent(s) (unless you are a parent, in which case you (Or you're a teacher in which case the parents of your students)) would want you to read. If the authority figure which may be your parent(s), the parents, or you the parent says go for it, have fun, or if you have any questions come to me etc., then fine by me go ahead but as the friendly blogger behind the screen I feel the need to present this information before I delve into the nitty-gritty stuff.

Now that that's out of the way, on to the stuff. So we have a young adult novel on our hands for the first time in a while. That means that it gets a little weirder and more mature. This particular book is both weird a little more mature.
Now a brief description of the characters.

• Jane- She makes umbrellas. Yes it sounds odd but she does. After her Aunt Magnolia died she makes a promise to go to Tu Reviens if she gets the change. A short while later she sees her old tutor and is invited. She goes and the book is about her shenanigans. 
• Kiran- She is Jane's old tutor and one of the children of the owners of Tu Reviens. She feels slightly out of place at Tu Reviens because she doesn't have a job and just drifts. She's dating Colin but has a thing for...
• Patrick- Yes, I know I shouldn't use character to introduce characters, but I do so oh well. He works for Kiran's family but he and Kiran are sort of in love, but he like most others at Tu Revines has secrets.
• Jasper- As impressive as the name might sound, it does not belong to a human. It belongs to a beagle. He falls in love with Jane upon meeting her but is...
• Ravi-'s dog. Yes, I did it again, but this book takes place in a house (it might be large but its still a house) so everyone is connected. Ravi is Kiran's twin. He's an art enthusiast and works with Kiran's boyfriend...
• Colin- Last time I swear, at least in this post. He is an art dealer working for his uncle. He takes interest in Jane's umbrellas.
• Mr. & Mrs. Vanders- They are the butler and housekeeper at Tu Revines respectively. They play a large part in several time lines but I cannot explain them and not spoil.
• Lucy- Ravi's on an off again girlfriend who plays a large part in at least one time line.
• Ivy- She's Patrick's little sister and ends up being Jane's best friend.

Now what all this timeline business is about. The second through last chapters of Jane Unlimited are all different timelines depending on one choice Jane makes, so it gets a little confusing. I would recommend for 13+ years of age. I give eight paw prints and a whisker for being a good book with a weird chapter, normally this isn't a big deal but there are only six chapters so, and being confusing.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾⚞⚟
Goodbye for now,
Merlin:)

Mask of Shaows by Linsey Miller

Hello my dear bibliophiles,
Today I shall review a book by the name of Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller. Before I start this review I want to make sure that this fact is put forward to the upmost extent possible. This is most definitely a TEEN book. You heard it first and foremost here. This is a TEEN book, I repeat a TEEN book. Not an upper middle grade book but TEEN. It deals with some slightly more mature themes and ideas that are not necessarily what your parent(s) (unless you are a parent, in which case you (Or you're a teacher in which case the parents of your students)) would want you to read. If the authority figure which may be your parent(s), the parents, or you the parent says go for it, have fun, or if you have any questions come to me etc., then fine by me go ahead but as the friendly blogger behind the screen I feel the need to present this information before I delve into the nitty-gritty stuff.

Now that that's out of the way, on to the stuff. So we have a young adult novel on our hands for the first time in a while. That means that it gets a little weirder and more mature. This particular book is both weird a little more mature. To start lets hear about our characters:

• Sal- Sal is in a word Sal. This character is what I believe the term for now is gender fluid, this mean that Sal feels like a he, she, and/or they on different days. I personally wasn't bothered by it and accepted it as a character quirk that belonged to Sal. In this review I will simply refer to Sal as Sal no pronouns at all (that will most certainly get annoying quick but I can't remember what Sal was at every moment so no pronouns). Anyway, Sal is roadside bandit in a country that used to be called Necea but is now part of a larger country that came into being after a war with mages and shadows which is an entirely different story (that I won't be telling BWAHAHAHA). Sal is robbing nobles of another former country called Erland, when Sal hears about a competition to become one of the Queen's personal assassins, The Left Hand. Sal decides to compete.
• Ruby, Emerald, and Amethyst- The remaining members of the Left Hand now that Opal has died. They oversee the competition to choose a new Opal which Sal takes part in.

So those are the main characters that I can tell you much of anything about without spoiling anything. Now to help you understand the countries that I was talking about a brief geography lesson.

• First and foremost Necea. It was a small country in the middle of the former countries of Erland and Alon. They were considered part of Erland by paying tribute but considered themselves their own country.
• Erland was a rich country that lay to the north and east of Necea. 
• Alon lay to the west and south and had fairly strong teas,

Now finally the plot. I basically described it in Sal's description but hear goes. A common thief called decides to audition as the replacement for the member of the Left Hand who was called Opal. He has ulterior motives for this other than infamy and fortune, but those are for you to discover. This book details the auditions and the goings on of them.

I loved this book even if it was a little weird. I give it nine paw prints and a whisker⋞ because it was strange and a little confusing. I recommend this book for either the end of eighth grade if your a teacher) and  ninth graders. 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Farewell my bibliophiles,

Merlin:)