Leah and Rhea (Spell #1) by Melissa Hines Helms | A Book Review

It's the fourth month since this pandemic has wreaked havoc and in a way, rearranged and disrupted our lives. I lost work for about two months and fortunately, I got reassigned to a another project about two weeks ago. That is something to be thankful for in this time of chaos in my country because of government officials doing a bad job. Instead of prioritizing the need to resolve and end Covid19, they are playing gods and flexing their powers to suppress freedom. It's a very sad reality. It's like another dictator is sitting in his throne and anyone who dares speak a wrong word will be thrown out to the dungeon or will forfeit  his life. 

In the midst of all these stressful events happening, I'd still like to think that good will always triumph over evil. That my country, no matter how horrible the situation its facing, is still a land of people who will fight for freedom, equality and end corruption. Like all the heroes who came before us, I believe this little archipelago in the Southeast is still home to a lot of men and women who will never ever let this country and our brave ancestors down. And I am one with that fight even if sometimes I want to just go and live somewhere else, if only migrating to another county is that easy. The events in my country are discouraging and you can't help but think about a very dim future. But as always, Filipinos are optimistic and we often look at the brighter side of things. We are also too forgiving which is also a curse because most of us tend to forget the wrongs done in the past and some of these perpetuators of those wrongs are again back in the government pillaging the country's coffers for personal gain. 

So, with the stress that's leeching all the positivity everywhere, I decide to just read books, listen to uplifting and relaxing music and watch K-dramas or movies that are projecting good vibes. Leah and Rhea is one. These two fairies will go against the mighty and powerful witch who put a spell on the whole forest. These two little beings will risk their lives to save the forest and their animal friends. Yes, this might be another David and Goliath story but it's a lot cuter and kid-friendly. 

Lea and Rhea are twin fairies who never discovered what their magic were. Their parents became stars in the sky when they were young. They never had anyone teach them about magic so all they have to do to survive is use their wits and of course, fly. That, at least, is something very useful for a fairy. 

This is a really good bedtime story for kids. It speaks of the bond of sisters, friendship, risking one's life for the good of the many and bravery. The story is not so unique but it got its point across. Good will always triumph over evil and nothing is really over until you stop trying. Our two friends, met very helpful and interesting characters along the way in their search to find the ingredients to reverse the spell of the evil witch Matilda. These characters are Khuno and Bunny who are rabbits; Win the Winking Willow Tree, Felda, Matilda's sister who is fortunately the good sister and the last older fairy; and finally, another fairy who can't talk - Troy. These characters helped the sisters make the reverse potion, bring back the whole forest to life and ended Matilda's reign of terror.

I actually enjoyed reading this book. I remember, I was a bit down and I wanted something to cheer me up. This book did it. It somehow uplift my spirit. It is so straightforward. It is so easy to read. It is also like a coming of age story for both of our fairies. These two fairies who don't know a single magic and has never left their forest has to reverse the curse that Matilda cast on the whole forest. As a consequence of ripping out the reverse spell from Matilda's book, Rhea was also affected by a curse. To save everyone and her sister, Leah and Rhea had to go separate ways to continue on their quest. These two had never been separated their whole lives so it was a very scary thing. But they each succeeded in their own task - Rhea to prepare the reverse spell and Leah to find the last and elusive ingredient for the spell to work. In the end, the evil is vanquished and the whole forest woke back to life. 

I give this book 4/5 pairs of colorful fairy wings. If I were a kid, I would surely love this book if I have read it when I was younger. It was very straightforward and all the language and tone of the story was very fitting for young audiences. If I have kids, which I still don't, but in the future, I would surely tell them of this tale. There were no very violent or gruesome scenes. It was filled with exciting adventures, if only the fairies were not pressed for time or fighting for their lives. I think this would make a good animation. I really had fun reading this book and it somehow made me forget about my worries, if only for the moment. I was rooting for the twin fairies to succeed and that only happened because these two refused to give up even if the odds they were up against were too much for them. This too applies in real life. You can't give up unless you give your all. You can't say you will fail if you haven't tried anything. And if by chance, you really fail, at least you gave your all. That alone speaks volumes. You won't look back with regret because the greatest tragedy is not moving an inch when you know you could have done something even if that does not guarantee the results. That's life. Nothing is guaranteed. You do your best and if you fail, you get up and try again. 

I could not find any quotable quotes in the story but I will let you in on how this story came about. This story came to Melissa when she was doing her undergraduate studies and was working part-time as a nanny for an adorable four-year old girl named Grace Farver Needlman. Grace had a terrific imagination as most kids do and Melissa needed to come up with engaging stories everyday for their drive home from preschool. And that's how Leah and Rhea's adventures started.

Thanks again, Melissa Hines Helms for the review copy. Sorry the review took ages. 

Lineage (Elemental Ninjas #2) by Mon D. Rea | ARC | A Book Review

This is book two of the Elemental Ninjas. I had a paperback copy of book one given by the author and he also gave me an ebook copy of book two to review. Thanks again Mon D. Rea. 

This continues the adventure of Sakura and Temujin. This time, another one joins their crew- Sasha. This was the same Sasha who Sakura played with when they were younger. The same kid who helped Sakura broke through the vault for the scroll. This time, he's also grown, just like Sakura and wants to go on an adventure of his own and wants to prove much about himself. So, will this trio get more things done or just get into more trouble?

This could be summed up as Sasha's adventure. It's because it focused more on Sasha. It doesn't mean that Sakura and Temujin were left out but it's just that most of the story is spent on Sasha's school and here, Sasha has to face some of his fears. Before the story ends, the three have to fight for their lives which was what was expected when they embarked on this quest but hoping to not happen. Unfortunately, it happened just too soon. 

Even if this story had more Sasha in it than Sakura and Temujin, or all three of them, it was still very engaging and entertaining. I still enjoyed it. I guess, it's a good way to introduce Sasha and showcase what he can do and contribute to the team. And with how his adventure in the school went, there was a lot he can contribute. He, in some way, has mastered some of his skills and has mastered a part of himself. He has conquered one of his fears and proved to be the hero, instead of some loser who's joke was on him. 

In this story also, the tension between Sasha and Temujin to fight for Sakura's attention is a bit coming to the surface. Temujin is now feeling that Sasha might prove to be a very good rival for Sakura's heart. Not too mention, that these two- Sakura and Sasha, were best friends and now reunited. These two have a lot of history together and what would Temujin have to top that. So, I'm welcoming this growing tension and I am not sure yet who I will be rooting for, but I'm leaning towards Temujin because he's more of the underdog in this rivalry. At the same time, the thought of falling in love with your best friend from childhood who is very familiar and comfortable, is not a very bad thing also. Hmmm...who will likely end up with Sakura's heart? For now, Sakura is not showing any clues or signs as to who she is more partial with. It seems, for now, this two boys hold their own place in Sakura's affections because they both shared an experience(s) with Sakura. But who will eventually hold her heart in his hands is still a big question. For now, Sakura's focus is just on their quest and to make sure that the scroll will not fall into evil hands. 

Though, this showcased more on Sasha's character development, I am glad that the author did not lose sight of the whole story. This side adventure of Sasha actually has a connection to the trio's quest as a whole. They have found valuable information that might just actually be a key to helping them with defeating the enemy. I didn't expect to actually find out about that. It was done very cleverly that you won't be expecting that there was actually a bigger picture in that little pit stop on their way to their destination. Wow!

I give this book 5/5 hippocamps. Hippocamps meant sea horses but they're reptiles. Sasha's mastery of the blue ninja's technique to call out to marine animals is very impressive. This reminds me of Percy Jackson being able to ride Pegasus and his ability to command the sea and communicate to its creatures. I am looking forward to learning more what Sasha can do. He's hell-bent on proving everyone that he's grown and can stand his ground, especially his family and the people at his school. I also liked the special surprise at the end of the story. That was really special and it calms my heart to know that these trio will not be alone and unguided in their adventure. Someone is tracking their progress and is also rooting that these unassuming heroes will succeed in their quest. So, at this point, I don't know what to expect next. I am just excited to follow these three to where they will take me. So, onward to the next stop, adventure, lessons that await. 

Give hope to others even when you leave none for yourself. 

Most of us were just too shy to express our feelings to others, and it was human nature to take time for granted, thinking that keeping our feelings secret was a good thing. We would leave words of appreciation unspoken till it was too late. 

- Mon D. Rea, Lineage -  

 

Into the Moonless Night (Moonfall Mayhem #3) by A. E. Decker | ARC | A Book Review

I've been waiting for this book. This is the third installment in the Moonfall Mayhem series. As what the author confided in me, this story is about Catch. The second book hinted that this story might be about him. Thanks Miss Decker! So, I'll now be able to understand what makes Catch tick and the mystery that surrounds him.

I read the second book of this series in October 2016, so it's been almost a year. This has been truly a long wait but I don't mind because this story has a lot to tell. A lot of secrets that got unearthed. Old wounds that get reopened and old rivalries that got revived. Issues that were left unresolved were tackled here and new friendships and alliances were formed also. Yes, a host of new characters which are very very interesting are introduced. New enemies have come into the light too. This book is totally still a mayhem.

As I have said, this is Catch's story. This installment would take us to the birthplace of Catch, the Clawrags, and delve into his history. His friends, in order to rescue Catch, followed his steps to his home and along the way encountered their own set of adventures. There were some references to some famous fairy tales though, like the house of the witch in Hansel and Gretel. That was the most hilarious part of the story, especially with its very eccentric homeowner and cauliflowers. 

In this story, again Rags-n-Bones, Dmitri, Moony, and even Nipper, pitched in to get them to succeed in their adventures and quests. I think Rags again proved to be very impressive and he used what he had learned in Widget to help the team here. Moony also just keeps on getting funnier and wittier. I think I'd like to keep him as a pet. There would be no dull moments with him around and he's just so full of himself but in such a very cute way. Instead of being irritated because of his overconfidence, you will just be amused at his antics and witty comments. The "catch the flag" thing also was very fun. It's one of the highlights of the story and again, Team Ascot took the prize.

I really enjoyed this adventure although, it was slow going at first. Not a lot was happening until they got to the house of the witch. That house really cracked everything up, literally and figuratively. And then, after that, I think all hell broke loose because a lot was happening and a lot of developments were presented. I think, the last part of the book was loaded with everything- discoveries, fireworks, and all. And again, it sets me up for the excitement for the next installment. New characters are introduced which are going to play a vital part in the story. I can't wait to know what's going to happen next. This time, I'm not sure who's going to take center stage. I guess, if it's going to be the conclusion already, then there would be no need for that but to just tie up all the loose ends neatly and beautifully.  And that includes the love angle. Hopefully.

I give this book 4.5/5 cauliflowers. The same way as avocados make the second book memorable, this story is made hilarious and unforgettable because of cauliflowers. Oh, my goodness, I'm still amused every time I remember what this vegetable is doing in this story. Just simply hilarious. I think I can still smell it while typing this review. 

That was the trouble with being a dedicated liar: occasionally you fooled even yourself. 

Sarcasm. It was something that just blossomed with adolescence, like spots. 

- A. E. Decker, Into the Moonless Night - 

Thanks again, World Weaver Press and Miss A. E. Decker for the ARC. 

Other Books in the series:

The Falling of the Moon (Moonfall Mayhem #1)

The Meddlers of Moonshine (Moonfall Mayhem #2)

The Exploding Sky (Sons of the Sand #4) by Kimberly Loth | ARC | A Book Review

Mother of Goddesses! I can't believe this series is over. The adventures of Gabe and Liv are over. No more running, lies, and secrets. Everything has been revealed and laid out. Anyone that has been hiding a secret has confessed. And my goodness, they were all so shocking and so jaw-dropping. Until now, I am still shaking my head in disbelief. 

True that, this book concludes the four-book series of genies and adventures. If you haven't started this series, start it now. Right at this minute. You will definitely not be disappointed. If you love magic, love stories, mythical or magical creatures, then this is the story for you. It's so enjoyable that you will find yourself stepping into the shoes of Liv and get carried away by all her experiences, worries, and adventures. A lot of characters here may seem ordinary and not note-worthy, very unassuming characters that will definitely surprise you. 

I have read this from the first book and now, this last installment. I have accompanied Liv in all her confusion, her exhilaration, her doubts, and all her fears. If I did not want to be Liv, I'm her older sister who wanted her to succeed in all the challenges that have been thrown to her throughout this story. Her character had developed beautifully as the story progressed and had come to terms with the changes and revelations that were part of her identity. She had surprised all those who wanted to hurt her and had tried so hard to protect those she loved. Here is another teen heroine who took me to various adventures, made me fear for her life, and have made me cry with her. It's sad that this story is ending but it ended with a lot of fireworks that I almost had trouble keeping up because they just came out right after the other without the chance for me to even breathe or think through them. 

Again, classic Kimberly Loth with all her surprises coming from everywhere will bombard you endlessly. I did not see these surprises, especially in this last book coming. Never ever. I have no idea. They were totally out of the blue. They just came down raining faster than you can say "What?" Yes, you will end up saying the word "What" again and again because of the numerous secrets and people owning up to secrets right after the other, literally. That was the best part of this book and I want to relive those moments again. Very priceless. I've never been hit with these multiple revelations before. Totally a first and a one-for-the-books kind of experience. 

I only expected that the book will end happily ever after and that the villain will be extinguished. Those expectations were met but what blew me entirely was it was more than I could ask for. Freaking absolutely beyond my imagination. I never ever thought of those twists to come flying right out to me like Aladdin's magic carpet. It was super fantastic. Literally and figuratively, the sky has exploded in this story. 

And with that said, I give this book 4.5/5 voodoo dolls. I love the surprises in this story and the whole series in general, but I think it's slightly not as emotional as the Stella and Sol series. This is a very good series and I did enjoy it but I just love Stella and Sol even more. I think the Stella and Sol was a more mature story than this one with a lot of depth and drew a lot of difficult and complicated emotions from me. I know where the differences lie between this and the former series and it's also because the main character of this story, Liv, is a teenager and her experiences and what's expected of were totally different from that of Zwaantie, but I just can't help but compare the two. Stella and Sol is deep and complicated and this one is loads of fun, lighter. This did not mean that this story disappoints. No, far from it. I absolutely love this, though I did point out a few things that I would have wanted to be more on this series. Nevertheless, this book ended with major fireworks which is just beyond any I could ever imagine. And fireworks are always grand.

Mother of Goddesses!

- Kimberly Loth, The Exploding Sky - 

Thanks again, Kimberly Loth for the ARC. I'm looking forward for the next series that will again take us to another adventure and get me to meet new characters and creatures. Congratulations!

Other books in the series:

The Smoking Lamp (Sons and Sand #1)

The Blazing Glass (Sons and Sand #2)

The Glowing Sands (Sons and Sand #3)

The Limpet Syndrome by Tony Moyle | A Book Review

The whole world was shocked by the news last week of Anthony Bourdain's passing. I personally was very saddened by his death and more so with him taking his own life. it was a very devastating news. Anthony Bourdain was my favorite travel journalist or still is. There are but a few who are honest in front of the camera. Bourdain would tell you straight if he didn't like the food or the hotel was to cramped or the service was less than expected. He never sugarcoated and that brutal honesty was probably the reason why a lot of audiences had followed and watched his shows. It was such an unbelievable thing to hear that he ended his life. Yes, he had a wonderful job, probably one of the most coveted job in the world. It seemed like everything is going great for him, but that was just how it seemed. We don't know what it was like for him when the cameras stopped rolling. The news said that he battled with addiction and depression. I felt like Anthony Bourdain is the closest person that I knew that had felt like his life is no longer worth it. Honestly, I can't judge him for committing the act. I understand how it is to be in that dark hole. People who haven't been there or haven't experience a very devastating loss or failure or depression would not understand. I had a friend who laugh at the sign in the MRT that said to call the Hope hotline if you feel like you're in the brink. The sign was a reaction after someone jumped off the tracks of an incoming train. I was appalled by my friend's reaction but had kept quiet. She just laughed at the situation because she didn't know how difficult it is if you are trapped in that dark hole and you felt like there's no getting out and the only way has been taunting you. It's tempting you to end it all. I would say, I am also battling depression. Some days are easier and there are days that all I wanted to do is just sleep and wake up in the next century. Hopefully, things will be better by then. Depression doesn't just happen in one click. It slowly eats you up. I even did not realize that I was going through it until the last two years when a big disappointment happened to me. It's as if someone triggered all other things and an onslaught of very negative and overwhelming emotions attacked me. I was surrounded and it felt like that darkness is so intent in swallowing me whole. Until now, I can't seem to understand what happened. I did what I could during that time but circumstances were just beyond my control and I did what I think was best. I didn't regret anything or any of my decisions but rather I regret that the outcome was not very favorable for me. But at least, I maintained some semblance of self-respect for myself, even just a little because I felt like I was stripped off of my dignity. I don't know if my family is aware of what I'm going through. Maybe they thought I am just going through my moods. And I realize that in order to survive, I just have to help myself and reading books had been my greatest tool. When dark thoughts assault me from all directions, I turn to books to forget myself. To not focus on my suffering and they do help a lot. I don't know how long will I be able to keep this up or keep hanging on but I will keep trying. I have a lot of things to do still. I would still love to travel the world. 

Okay. Yes. I just had to say something about Anthony Bourdain. And I also learned about Kate Spade too. I don't know. There must be something about very creative and successful people and depression. I think, the common thing about Bourdain and Spade are they are both very successful in their field of work and I don't know if in a way, that somehow affected their personal lives. As they say, you can't have everything. And where am I in that equation? I am not sure. I know I have my creative side and like those two visionaries, I put my best in everything I do. That's probably why, when failure struck, it's such a bitter and hard pill to swallow. It's harder to accept and get over with. 

So, this book, it's not necessarily about suicide but it's about death. Limpet syndrome means that the soul stays firmly stuck to the Earth, irrespective of how much force is applied by an external source. If you remember the movie Casper, Casper became a ghost because he had an unfinished business and that's what Limpet syndrome is. Limpet is actually a mollusk. So, when a soul is almost impossible to remove from Earth and be returned back to the afterlife.  It's like a limpet stuck to a rock after the tide has gone far out to the sea. That was how it was explained in the book. 

Now that we have that out of the way and you understand now what Limpet syndrome is, let's look at the story. The main character in the story is John Hewson. The story started with John's death and his trip to the underworld. He was given a special mission and was asked to go back to the land of the living and find two souls who are not supposed to be still on Earth. He was given instructions on how to spot these two and why it's apparent and important that he should retrieve these two souls with Limpet syndrome. The balance of the land of the living and the dead is precariously in danger if these two were left free to roam Earth after the summer solstice. These two souls that he has to bring back are Sandy Logan, the Mininster of Home Land Security for the UK and his assistant Ian Noble. 

I suspected that John's death was somehow weird or there was something that was suspicious. I think his death was not an accident. I think something unknown had a hand in his death. It might be something supernatural or someone wanted him dead. At the end of the story, it was somehow revealed that John was actually chosen for the special mission and so his being dead had to be a part of it. But I wasn't satisfied. I feel like there was some unexplored portion about this death and circumstances leading to it that were still unclear to me. So, that's one of the questions that's still plaguing me about the story.

The two limpet souls that John had to capture were very bad people when they were alive and a part of them becoming limpet is because an accident happened on their last outing which was just karma taking over and reversed the situation and they ended up having a taste of their medicine. Yes, it served them right. But on the later part of the story, as these two realized what happened to them and what's their current situation, they somehow turned around and actually used the remaining minutes of their borrowed life to do the right thing which I really liked. And it also revealed that there are two other persons in the story that are madder than these two. It's good that the story ended with these two being instrumental in saving London or the whole of UK from eventual doom. 

This is an entertaining read especially when it comes to Sandy and Ian. Ian is probably the dumbest and the most simple person in the whole universe. His antics are just hilarious to the point of irritating. I personally wanted to knock his head off. He was just too stupid. I feel for Sandy being always at the end of his patience when it comes to Ian. John, on the other hand is also a funny character at times. His monologues are in a way funny too. 

I give this book 3.5/5 pigeons. This is a good story about reincarnation and how people are so consumed by ambition and power that they would do anything to keep it. Even to the point of controlling people's minds just to keep them subdued and obedient. I think the intentions of the people in power here are darker than the levels and creatures described in John's tour in hell. Their selfishness just know no bonds and the sense of loyalty and dedication to the job was greatly misplaced. I think it's still selfishness, right? The great urge to do one's assignment and reach a goal, even if somehow you know that what you're pursuing is definitely wrong. I just hate that Agent 15 ignored his conscience because of his false sense of loyalty and duty. He just went on even if he knows that he's a pawn to an evil plan. I wished he could have turned around and had a change of heart.

There are some other important qualities about the solstice you may not know. When the sun is in its highest position in the northern hemisphere it literally stops. Its name comes from the Latin 'sol' and 'sistere'. Sistere means stand still and sol means sun. Yes, but it actually refers to the soul. The soul stands still. In medieval times, people would light huge bonfires to ward off evil spirits. Although stuff of pagan propaganda, it wasn't so far from the truth.

- Tony Moyle, The Limpet Syndrome - 

Thank you again, Tony Moyle for the copy.

Cecilia by Sandra Rostirolla | A Book Review

About a few days ago, I was able to watch the movie Goodbye Christopher Robin online. I did not grow up knowing Winnie the Pooh. I knew of this very famous character when I had my nephews. I did not know that Christopher Robin was actually based on an actual person with the same name. Watching the movie and learning about how the characters of Winnie the Pooh came to life was very enlightening. It was also an insight into the life of the real Christopher Robin. How it was for him growing up and how the war has affected his life. In fact, Pooh Bear, came from the effects of war. A. A. Milne, was supposed to write something about the war. Let the people and the government know about it's ill effects, but then things happen and he ended up writing this bedtime story about a bear. Great thing though because when the second world war broke out, many of the soldiers took strength from that children's story and thought of their homes. So, we are very lucky to have Pooh and his friends. Thanks to A. A. Milne and Christopher Robin, or Billy Moon as he preferred to be called.

So, Cecilia also talks about war. It's talks about a previous war and what happened to the citizens after the war. It's a dystopian story with fantasy and prophesies in it. It's has a lot of parallelism to real life. Also, it has a bedtime story or a children's fairy tale in it. It's not about a bear, but it's about The Flower Princess and a Wolf. I really like how this story actually is about a prophesy. And for it to be not lost or forgotten, it was cleverly turned into a harmless fairy tale that could be passed on onward, without the danger of anyone being persecuted because what can a fairy tale do? 

Yes, the title is the name of the most important character in this story--Cecilia. She grew up in a village in the forest with seventy other people. She has two older brothers--Eideard and Rabbie. They were living peacefully and happily in their own community in this little part of the forest when suddenly a group of black horsemen came to their village and killed everyone. They took the young men, including Cecilia's brothers. Cecilia ran and evaded the leader of the murderers but lost everything that she cared about. She's the only one left standing. What to do now? How can she go on?

I love how Cecilia's character developed in the story. She started out as a very protected girl who doesn't know anything of the realities outside of their little corner of the forest. She knew death because her father died but the tragedy that has befallen her entire village was worth the grief and suffering of a hundred people. It's more than her young heart can bear. She lost everything she ever holds dear. Her home, her family, and her friends. How she found her purpose and what she needs to do to fulfill that did not come easy. She had a lot of doubts. What can a teenager do against an army and powerful enemies? But she was not alone. She found help just as what was prophesied.

The host of other characters in this story was very unexpected. It's a totally good combination and very well thought out. A lot of surprises there in terms of how one character was actually connected to another. Characters that will definitely take their own space in your heart, if you will let them. There are a lot of very memorable and adorable characters here that will surely melt your heart. Very unassuming, yet very instrumental in making the whole story work. I admit, the story is mostly about Cecilia but it doesn't just revolve around her. The other supporting characters were given enough to make them also stand on their own. 

The romance angle was very unexpected. I certainly did not foresee that it was going to take that turn. But it was very very good. A guy having a change of heart because of a girl he met, does not get old. In real life, every girl wants to tame a bad boy, right? So, having included that element in the story which wasn't really obvious at first, was very nice. I did see that eventually Amalardh might fall for Cecilia because that's what happens when two people are thrown together in one place, right? When two people share the same experiences, especially difficult ones will definitely turn to each other. So, I expected that but I didn't expect that there was more. That's another good thing there. 

All other elements of the story were done with great care. A lot of unexpected turns and surprises that will surely make your heart stop beating for a moment. I really enjoyed those moments. You will become a believer in Cecilia and root for her to be what she is destined to be. And as I am a great fan of heroines, this story just hit the right spot. Heroines and underdogs. The young, looked down and underestimated. All neatly packaged in this book. I want a sequel for this story. And that ending, OMG! My heart literally stopped for about two seconds there. I definitely could not accept if it had turned sideways. I would definitely file a protest. I would surely be sour for the rest of the month.

So, short of singing Cecilia by The Vamps loudly, I pretty much finished this book in one reading. I couldn't put it down. I'm sure, you wouldn't. You could not just leave Cecilia and her friends. You would want to be with them each step of the way. You wouldn't want to miss the adventure after learning of all the plans, because it's as if you were part of the planning team. You're part of the inner circle of rebels. You can't turn back now. It would be against everything you believe that's right and just in the world.

So, I give this book 5/5 trees of life. And since it's going to be the barangay elections this Monday in the Philippines, this story also talked about leaders. How leaders can incite fear among the people and make them believe anything just because the people are deprived of the basic things. Out of necessity, the majority had to look after their own welfare and have forgotten about how it is to be concerned about their neighbor and the whole city or the world, in general. So, hopefully Filipinos would have learned by now and really elect into office those people who are honest and seek to only serve and look out for the good of the people they represent. I know the barangay is the most basic governing unit and hopefully, the aspiring officials or the elected officials will not just look after their needs. I know the barangay is given millions in budget. I hope this budget does not go into the pockets of those who have access to it. There are a lot of things to be improved and hopefully those would be given priority. 

Thank you Sandra Rostirolla for giving me an opportunity to read this story. It's a fantasy but it's really relevant in this modern world. We may not have prophesies or Flower Princesses or Wolf Knights to defend and save us, but we do have five-headed dragons. This dragon comes in any forms and it can be anything to anyone. This beast is our fears, our worries, our doubts, and our insecurities. Let us not let it devour us but rather fight it to the death with all our strength. We have all our own demons and it can't be defeated unless we do something. It would take a lot, just like Cecilia. She has to bury her whole village for two weeks. But no task is beyond a very strong and dedicated heart. Like Cecilia, we can be that Goddess of Light. Let our goodness, compassion, creativity, and kindness shine forth. We all have it in us.

How does one replace a lost heart?

The truth of man is that he does what he does based only on what he knows, and what he knows is warped by experiences, convoluted by fears, and deformed by perspective.

- Sandra Rostirolla, Cecilia -  

The Glowing Sands (Sons of the Sand #3) Kimberly Loth | ARC | A Book Review

I just found the tv series The Good Doctor and have binge watched it. Now, I'm caught up. I found that the series is an adaptation of the original Korean series. It's about a guy who has autism but at the same time is also savant. He has a photographic memory and is very functional that he actually became a doctor. Dr. Shaun Murphy is a very fascinating character. He has navigated his condition and is actually a smart doctor who has effectively proven that he can be more successful than most doctors who are normal. The series hits a close mark with me because I have a nephew who has mild autism. He's very functional and is actually almost normal now after a year in therapy and the dedicated support from my sister, his mom. My fervent hope is he will grew up to be really good in whatever career or field he chooses, just like Dr. Shaun Murphy who has proven everyone wrong that there's no way he can be a really good doctor. Dr. Murphy actually exceeded everyone's expectations.

The book I'm reviewing today is the third of the Sons of the Sand series. I have read books 1 and 2, so I'm very much attuned to the progress of the story. 

I actually thought that this might be the last book in the series. I should have known by now that with Kimberly Loth, no story ends with the third book. It has always been a fourth or a fifth one. With that knowledge, I should not have been surprised that this book ended again with a cliffhanger. It's a trademark of Miss Loth but I was still none-the-wiser. It still surprised me and I think she will always will. She never fails to come up with very interesting and unexpected twists to her stories. Even I, who is very familiar with her stories is still caught off guard every time. And I so love it.

So, in this installment, a new set of characters are introduced--the goddesses. And so is Liv. She is thrown into the midst of these goddesses, which she thought were just myth. She learned a lot about them and also the reason for their existence and for hiding. Liv also learned a lot about herself and the secret of her grandma. What's more fascinating is learning about her special abilities which definitely puts her above the rest of the goddesses and the goddesses-in-training.

I think this story was too short. I think I needed more. I wanted more to happen. The story just centered on the place where Liv is currently and where the goddesses are. Though, in a way, it gives the readers a better understanding of the relationship between the goddesses and the genies. It somehow explained everything and circles back to how the story started. But still, as to how the story will progress and how this will wrap up, I still have no idea. Anything can still happen and I would definitely want to be shocked and surprised as to how Liv and Gabe will end up.

I give this book 4/5 vintage rings. As I said, I felt like there should be more happening in this story. It felt short for me, but looking at it from Liv's point of view, a lot is happening. Especially, with her finding out more about her mom and her grandma and her abilities. I have no idea how this story will end up because it could go a number of ways. How this book ended presents a lot of possibilities which I am just so excited about. Now, I think with Liv's newfound abilities, it just levels the playing field. Or more likely gives her an advantage over Samir. Now, she's not a defenseless girl but rather a very formidable opponent. I would like to see Samir's face when he finds out what Liv can do. I know he will definitely prefer to hide in a bottle forever. 

Maybe this was love. Letting go when you desperately wanted to hang on.

- Kimberly Loth, The Glowing Sands - 

Thank you again, Kimberly Loth for the ARC.

Other books in the series:
The Smoking Lamp (Sons of the Sand #1)

The Blazing Glass (Sons of the Sand #2) 

The Exploding Sky (Sons of the Sand #4)

The Story Peddler (The Weaver Trilogy #1) by Lindsay A. Franklin | ARC | Blog Tour | A Book Review

“Selling stories is a deadly business.”

Title: The Story Peddler

Author: Lindsay A. Franklin

Published Date: May 1, 2018

Publisher: Enclave
Genre: Fantasy

Tanwen doesn’t just tell stories—she weaves them into crystalized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.

During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king’s guard hunts her down . . . and they’re not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she’s not the only outlaw in the empire. There’s a rebel group of weavers . . . and they’re after her too.

I got this book from Miss Laura Grace of Unicorn Quester. She's the blog tour coordinator for the tour of this book. She got my contact information from The Book Blogger List. Of course, I agreed to join the tour and review the book. 

The Story Peddler is the first of The Weaver Trilogy. The main character in the story is Tanwen. An orphan whose only memory of her parents are the trinkets, few furniture, and books left on the cottage in the farming village of Pembrone. She had to support herself in order to survive. Until she found a mentor who taught her to master her storytelling and started peddling stories from town to town. Her one dream is to become the Royal Storyteller. She didn't know that when that dream would come true, it wouldn't be the dream job as she thought it would be and that it would be at the cost of denying her true self.

The cover alone of this book already had me. It's so beautiful. It's obvious that there's something magical within its pages. Something wonderful and mysterious awaits. And it didn't fail. My first question when I got this story was, "What's a story peddler?" And as simple as those two words, that's just what it is- selling stories. But the magic lies in how the stories are told. It's amazing. I can just imagine seeing it just as Tanwen narrates each of her stories. Then once the story is done, a crystal object materializes out of the ribbons of light from Tanwen's hand. Simply fascinating. It's like Dale Chihuly creating those colorful masterpieces out of blowing glass.

Tanwen En-Yestin is a character that you will definitely love. Her origin is a mystery at its best. A young woman with a very special talent which is very curious. I was asking myself the whole time where that special talent came from? How did Tanwen get it? She's one of the underdogs. Definitely made of the same stock of what most heroines of any stories are made of. Unyielding determination, unbelievable strength that comes forth when the situation demands it, a keen observer who speaks her mind and very smart. I think her strength is in speaking her mind. She's not afraid to ask the hard questions. Her honesty, which is sometimes brutal is refreshing. Not a lot of characters are like Tanwen, who calls out anyone without fear. Her being without filter is just what makes her character stand out. You either see her as one with a stupid mouth or one who's just too honest for her own good, depending on which of the two you are--one who likes to hear the truth or one who wants to keep it buried. 

There are a lot of interesting characters in this story with very colorful pasts and lives. One of the things that stood out for me was that each character had a prefix to his/her last name. Like Tanwen, there's an En before her last name. The men have Bo and married women have Ma. It's one of the interesting and unique elements in the story. 

Most of the important or relevant characters in the story were given enough background to get an understanding of the character. The story promises a mystery right from the start. It hooks you on that mystery and it dangles it in front of you. You know it's there but you can't put a finger on it. Not when the author isn't ready yet to reveal it. The story got me so curious that I started to formulate theories in my head. I know Tanwen is someone important or her parents are important. I know there is more to her gift. And all of those things that had me in its grip were slowly unravelled piece by piece with great timing. I can't let go of the story until I reached to the point where my questions were all answered and the mystery was finally unveiled. And it was all worth it. The waiting and anticipation was all greatly rewarded.

This is one very satisfying story. I gave it all my attention and never wavered. I can't lose my focus because as I progressed from one chapter to the next, the more I was drawn in and caught in it's web. I can't leave it unless I have unentangled all the knots. I give this book 5/5 colorful ribbons. I was helplessly caught in the story and I was totally relishing the journey. I shadowed Tanwen in every step of her adventure and I definitely wouldn't have missed it. This is a very very delightful start of a great adventure which I definitely wouldn't want to be left out. Tanwen's coming of age story and finally getting to know of her past and the story of her parents is a story you would want to be a part of. It's ripe with strong characters, villains that are cunning and so power-hungry like the characters in the Game of Thrones, and a lot of unexpected surprises. I am definitely a happy camper knowing that this story found me. I thought the mystery would have killed me, thankfully it only made me hang on tighter until I reached the end of the fantastic journey. Congratulations Miss Lindsay A. Franklin. This story is definitely selling.

I don't think my life's too keen on slipping by unnoticed. I seem to ping off one bank of the river, then bounce off the other. Then slam into a rock or two. Or twelve.

I was about ready to mind my own onions forevermore.

- Lindsay A. Franklin, The Story Peddler - 

Tuesday, April 24^th  

-       Book Spotlight – Tabitha Caplinger

-       Review – Jane Maree Author

-       Review – E. Kaiser Writes-A-Blog

 Wednesday, April 25^th  

-       Visual Post – Jebraun Clifford

-       Interview – H.L. Burke Author

 Thursday, April 26^th   

-       Review & Interview – Reality Reflected

-       Review – Lands Uncharted

-       Review – Scriblerians

 Friday, April 27^th  

-       Review – Ralene Burke

-       Book Spotlight – Morgan L. Busse, Author

 Saturday, April 28^th  

-       Interview – Liv K. Fisher

-       Review – C O Bonham

-       Interview – Quills and Inkblotts

 Monday, April 30^th  

-       Book Spotlight – New Authors Fellowship

-       Interview – Unicorn Quester

-       Interview – Singh with Books

 Tuesday, May 1^st  

-       Review – i am not a bookworm!

-       Review – Worthy2Read

-       Review – Lori’s Book Loft

-       The Story Peddler Facebook Launch Party

Thank you again, Laura and Miss Lindsay Franklin for the ARC.