In the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein creates life out of death. He unknowing creates a monster that murders his brother and is considered a social outcast. The novel express the ideal that everyone can change. And imposes the thought of not judging a book by its cover in the character of the monster as all he wants to do is be loved and treated like a human being. Continue reading

In the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein creates life out of death. He unknowing creates a monster that murders his brother and is considered a social outcast. The novel express the ideal that everyone can change. And imposes the thought of not judging a book by its cover in the character of the monster as all he wants to do is be loved and treated like a human being. Continue reading

The Tin Star by Cecil Castellucci features a young human girl, Tula Bane, who is stranded by her colony leader, Brother Blue, on the Yertina Feray space station. On this station she befriends a Hort by the name of Heckleck. While on this space station she is introduced to the Imperium and intergalactic organization that oppresses the people under their jurisdiction. She also find love in Reza one of 3 of the other humans stranded on the space station. Through love and revenge Tula surges forward till she ultimately faces Brother Blue again... This move is a sci-fi novel with action places in the very beginning middle end and the end it will be enjoyable from 6th grade on, and if you have an interest in aliens as well epic hero genres. Continue reading

A Criminal Magic
Lee Kelly
A Criminal Magic takes the idea of Prohibition then adds magic. In this world a drug similar to alcohol called shine is made through magic. Its strength depends on that of the sorcerer who created. Like our Prohibition in the 1920s the sale and creation of shine is outlawed. Similarly to real life, many people choose to sell it illegally. Enter Joan and Alex. Joan is struggling to keep her family afloat, after the death of her mother a talented sorceress when she meets Harrison Gunn, a crime boss, who offers her an opportunity to make the money she needs as long as she make shine. Alex’s father was arrested for running a shine ring. What the police didn’t know is that Alex himself was involved. Or at least that’s what he thought until they offer him a deal. If he infiltrates a crime ring run and helps the cops shut it down, they’ll leave him alone and so he reluctantly agrees. As the story continues, Alex and Joan’s stories start to intertwine, leading to a conclusion that no one will see coming.
I liked the multiple POVs in this story. If only one of two told the story, it wouldn’t as much sense and the characters themselves would be more one-dimensional. This way we got to know both Joan and Alex and find out what they hid from each other and eventually what they hide from the reader. Both speak in the 1st person but there’s never any chance of the reader confusing their perspectives.
In terms of world building I thought the author did a good job of balancing between making a distinct world that was different from our world but at the same time keeping enough the same so that the reader isn’t overwhelmed. I liked the descriptions of magic and hearing about all the different things it could do based on who was wielding.
At times the plot moved a little slowly but overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend to fans of fantasy and/or historical fiction Continue reading