the_castle_library's reviews
85 reviews

This is book 1 of 8 in "The Invisible Library" series. 
The Library keeps the balance between Order (Dragons) and Chaos (Fae) throughout infinite worlds by sending Librarians to these worlds when certain books need to be lifted from the Alternate they show up in.

The main character, Irene, is a Librarian-spy. She has been tasked with training a desk jockey, Kai, while also being sent on a very dangerous mission to go to an alternate London and retrieve their copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales. There is an extra story in this copy that would be consequential if it were read by the inhabitants. While she's there, she notices that the balance has been tipped in favor of Chaos as the world has been infiltrated by Fae and someone has stolen the book. She has to get to know and trust her new assistant while also trying to find allies in this Alternate to help her figure out who stole the book, how to maintain a low profile, and get the book back to the Library. She meets a fae, Lord Silver, who tries to persuade her into his agenda using his seduction magic and a reputable detective, Mr. Vale, who teams up with her, but requires background information on her in order to trust her and her intentions, which could end very badly for her if that information got into the wrong hands. Oh yeah, and did I mention there are werewolves chasing them and death of a vampire? 😅

A story of Medusa along with so many other Greek Gods and Goddesses. WARNING: It does touch on s***** a****** as that was apparently very big in the history and lore of these deities 😮‍💨

Throughout the story we follow Zeus, Hera, Athene, Calliope, Perseus, and Medusa through multiple narratives.

Athene struggles to find her place among the Gods. 

Calliope becomes vain and causes upset amongst the Nereids, which has severe consequences.

Perseus sets out on a quest to save his mother, which reveals his character as cowardly and arrogant. 

Medusa lives a very peaceful life with her immortal sisters, Euryale and Sthenno until it is disrupted when she visits Athene's temple alone and meets Poseidon.

It jumps right into what we're looking for in a mystery, the crime, though it isn't what it first appears to be! 
You'll grow to love the main characters, Keeley Cooper and Cecil Whitford, for their big hearts and endless thirst for truth and justice. There are so many twists and turns that you won't want to put it down. I would read it again and again.

This was beautifully written and very accurate to what it's like walking around with a secret that big. It is a hard task to talk about something that feels dirty on your skin, but it's a much better alternative than locking yourself in your head about it. You can save yourself and someone else. Speak until someone takes action. 1(800)656-4673 is a National help hotline. 

Melinda and her friend, Rachel, get invited to a high school party the summer before 9th grade and something big happens, so Melinda calls the cops and the party gets shut down. Melinda is caught being the "rat" and now everyone hates her, including Rachel. She can't say out loud to anyone what happened or why she called the cops and it's eating her alive. Melinda tries to move on and make new friends, but she's depressed and stuck. She stops talking, for the most part, because she's afraid if she does, it'll all come flowing out. Throughout the story, she goes through metamorphosis until she's finally able to speak up about what happened in order to save someone else.

What a great adventure this was to read! I wish there was more following this book, but it is an epic standalone! It was full of twists and turns: fun, romantic, thrilling, and sad.

Two best friends have a shared love for a book, "Moira". They have tried contacting the Author for book signings, meet and greets, or just for coffee to talk about the book and if there are plans for anything else from that world, but no one has been able to contact her and her address isn't listed anywhere, even though she lives in the same city, Boston.
Edelle is outgoing, a dreamer, and a romantic, whereas Connie plays it safe, a tomboy, and practical. Edelle has been hanging out at a local shop, Witch's Eye Emporium, more than usual lately and has become close with the proprietor. He has filled Adelle's dreamer head with promises that he can transport her into the world of "Moira" and she takes the bait hook, line, and sinker and drags Connie into it too.
Once they get there, everything is out of sorts. Nothing is blissful and romantic and the characters aren't who they appeared to be in the story either. They have to figure out what has happened to change their beloved book and try to set it right. 
My rating for romance is 💖

I'm trying to track down its sequel "Gone Rogue".

SPOILERS if you haven't read "The Lunar Chronicles"  Series!!!
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This story is set 7 months after the events in "Winter". Queen Selene is still trying to wrangle the wolf-hybrids that Levana sent to Earth. They are refusing to go back to Luna in fear of being controlled again and they won't listen to Cinder because they think she's just another Luna Monarch, out to control or destroy them.

An Echo Ridge Anthology - This is a 5 book romance series set in Echo Ridge, NY around a department store, Kenworth and its Hope Tree. Five different love stories all based at the same time involving various townspeople. My rating for romance for each is 💖💖💖

This is book 1 in the Death Games series. Book 2 comes out in September 2024 and I'm so excited to get my hands on it!

It's described as a Japanese Jumanji and I can agree with that description! It has an author's warning at the beginning for triggers and that automatically made it a good start for me. Five friends started a card game in a cave 4 years ago, only 4 went home, and they stopped talking to each other for 4 years until...... 😳🫣 They have to go back to the cave and finish the game that they started, together. Can they succeed in time?

A 13 year old boy, Conor, is struggling with coming to terms with the reality that he is going to lose his mom to cancer. He starts having nightmares before she's even diagnosed because his subconscious knew something was wrong and she wasn't going to survive it. He ends up accidentally calling upon a monster for help that he thinks is a new dream. He's forced to face the truth and come to terms with what is going to happen. I found the meaning to be very powerful and could relate as I lost my only brother to cancer in 2022.

A Tea Shop Mystery: Book #1

We are introduced to the main character, Theodosia Browning, who lives in Charleston, SC and owns a tea shop and her helpers, Haley and Drayton. Someone dies at an event Theo is catering and she suspects foul play. An investigator is brought in, but she decides to try to solve the case herself to clear her and her associate's names from being suspects.