Holiday Haul 2016!!

 Every good reader gets a few good books under the ol' tree and I am definitely no different! I'm thrilled that I didn't get any duplicates this year! My husband has bought me Divergent for 2 years in a row despite the fact that I had already read the book. BUT since I loved it, I kept the copies and decided to collect the series! This year my daughter went with my husband to the book store and I was finally able to get book 2 - INSURGENT!! Woo Hoo!! Can't wait to read it!!

Along with Insurgent, I got a biography on Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson. Walter Isaacson is PHENOMENAL when it comes to biographies!! He did a great job with Steve Jobs. Although the book was HUGE, it was captivating all the way to the end. He is completely unbiased, but entertaining without filler. Just good reading if you are interested in the person that you are reading about. I checked out the Benjamin Franklin bio from the library a couple years ago and read 2 chapters before I knew that I had to own a copy. There was just way too much that needed highlighting! Ben was an amazing man!!

The last book I got was City of Bones which is the first book in The Mortal Instruments series. I've been wanting to read this series. I really wanted the next book in the Endgame series, Sky Key, but my daughter and husband couldn't find it in paperback. City of Bones was a great second choice.

So what books did you get?

Library Larvae Now On YouTube!!

Before my computer dies (my phone is already there!)...I just wanted to let everyone know that The Library Larvae is now on YouTube!!! I just posted two new book trailers! Check out the trailers and don't forget to subscribe!!


PS - I'm still getting the channel together so please pardon the dust. Hopefully it'll be complete in a day or so, but enjoy the trailers! Thanks!

Amber Smoke: The Escaped

Ice Dogs By Terry Lynn Johnson

Amber Smoke: The Escaped by Kristin Cast

Amber Smoke by Kristin Cast
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One big problem with having a wildly successful series is trying to move on and move forward. This is how I feel about Amber Smoke. Kristin Cast co-wrote the wildly successful House of Night series with her mom, P. C. Cast. Being I'm a huge HoN fan, I had to give Kristin Cast's solo project a try. Although I enjoyed the book, I'm not truly committed...yet. Amber Smoke: The Escaped lays the groundwork for this new series. It begins in the depths of the Underworld known as Tartarus where the Furies watch over the souls of the worst of the worst. The Furies are represented as Maiden, Mother and Crone. Maiden falls for one of the convicted who is a good man taking the place of his not-so-good son. As love enters Tartarus, it leaves a curse and a child. As son of the Furies, it's Alek's task to collect all the souls the curse has freed from Tartarus and return them. He must find the descendant of the Oracle of Pythia and combine strengths to make this happen. How easy is it to find and convince a young mortal woman that she is needed to save the mortal realm? That's quite a task Alek has!

I thought Amber Smoke: The Escaped by Kristin Cast was a pretty good read. It didn't knock my socks off, but I am intrigued. I think the storyline gave a good foundation for further books. The characters were believable yet still needed more depth which will probably come in future books. I was a little confused with Alek. In some parts of the story he's definitely clued in to mortal life and then in other parts he seems rather confused. I really liked the plot twist with Bill. Not wanting to spoil anything, but it was way smooth how Eva's mom was concerned about his sudden changes and then we find out why! Although we did find out Bill's deal, the whole scene somehow was a bit odd. I'm not sure how to explain it. Nonetheless, I was captivated and never once had the desire to stop reading. I'm really looking forward to book two Scarlet Rain coming out May 2016.

Do I recommend Amber Smoke? Sure, if fantasy/paranormal is a genre you like. It's a pretty good mix of the modern world and Greek mythology. I really think that Amber Smoke has the makings for a highly enjoyable series. Get a copy today before book two comes out in May 2016!

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The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Advanced Readers Copy Review

I'm not sure if I've ever started a review with OMG, but OMG! What a great book! The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier is a Maryland Black-Eyed Susan nominee this year which is why I read it AND it's also an advanced readers copy that I had. The story begins with Molly and Kip who are two orphans from Ireland who are on their way to the Windsor home to work as servants. They lost their parents at sea after they fled Ireland during the Great Famine. Now Molly, 14, and Kip, 10, need a place to live. There was something strange about the house and the family from the very beginning, but things soon became more strange with the first visit from who the Windsor daughter, Penny, calls the night man. Things got stranger still when Molly borrowed the key to the green door at the top of the stairs. Inside the door Molly found letters from her parents hidden in the knot hole of the old tree that grew too close to the house. Molly wasn't alone. Everyone was getting something from the tree and tree was getting something in return.

I found The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier to be a classic thriller. There were parts that had me physically cringing and afraid to read on and then there were parts that had me crying which was weird since I was sitting in a gym waiting for my daughter. The story line was intricate and well thought out and as twisted as the tree itself. There were several poignant moments of wisdom and reality especially between Hestor Kettle and the kids. The characters in The Night Gardener were rich and developed. I really felt for Molly who spent so much energy protecting Kip from the truth through her stories that she forgot her own insecurities. It was amazing to see Kip grow from a naive kid to a young man able to handle the truths around him. Mr. Windsor reeked of desperation as much as Mrs. Windsor reeked of longing. The characters were believable which helped to create a rich story.

I highly recommend The Nigh Gardener by Jonathan Auxier to 12 years of age and older. Adults...you too! It's a thrilling story you're going to love!!!

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Happy Holiday!!

Happy Holidays from The Library Larvae!! Hope your day is filled with family, friends and brand new books! Mmmmmm, new book smell!!!!!