Once a King (Clash of Kingdoms #3)

Once a King by Erin Summerill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, I enjoyed it.
Lirra is the daughter of a spy and traitor who finds herself helping an embattled new king. Lirra is able to use magic that has been outlawed in the kingdom for many years, and both she and Aodren must overcome prejudices, treachery, and political intrigue to find a way to help the kingdom rebuild and move into a better future.
I did not realize this was the third book in a series when I started it, and the first bit of the book was very hard for me to get through--I almost didn't finish it. I felt like there were too many people, places, cultures, and belief systems going on with not enough background information. This book already had very good reviews, however, so I decided to keep going, after skimming over a lot of the beginning of the story.
Once Lirra and Aodren began working together more, the book got better for me. It was nice to see them cooperate and help each other. The best part of the book was seeing their relationship grow and evolve. Once it really got going it was hard for me to put the book down, and I was glad I had persevered through the beginning of the story. The ending was a bit anti-climactic and felt a little abrupt, but matters were resolved, so that was just a personal preference for me.
If you have read the first two books in this series, I imagine you will love this book. If you have not read the other books, I would probably not read this one until you do so. There are A LOT of people, kingdoms, geography, "religions," and other things to wade through as part of the story. But otherwise, this was a good YA Fantasy with a good bit of Romance thrown in.


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Ladybug Girl

Ladybug Girl by David Soman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my youngest daughter's favorite book (she even dressed up like Ladybug Girl for Storybook Character Day at school). I decided to review it because I read it to a class of kindergarteners yesterday. Some of them had never heard it, and they loved it, too.
Ladybug Girl is a young girl who is faced with a day of trying to find something to do all by herself (well, she also has her trusty sidekick, Bingo the dog...). Her older brother won't let her play baseball with him, and since she cannot read yet, she goes outside and finds herself completing various "heroic" tasks. By the end of the day she has discovered that she can do anything, because she is Ladybug Girl.
I think this is a great book for young kids because it encourages creativity, using the imagination, and inspires confidence. It is better as a read-aloud than a book for K-2 to read themselves, because the words can be a bit challenging and the font can be confusing for emerging readers. I would encourage anyone to buy this book for a young child they know, however. The whole Ladybug Girl series is great!


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The Day the Crayons Quit

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love this super-cute picture book. I read it to a class of 1st-graders today, most of whom had never heard it before. They really enjoyed it, and it is fun to read out loud.
One day a boy opens his box of crayons to discover they have some grievances to air with him. They have written him letters describing their concerns and complaints (beige is never used, blue is used so much he is now short and stubby, grey is tired because he is used for very large animals, pink would like to be used more, and orange and yellow are no longer speaking over a fight about which is the rightful color of the sun). Kids will find these issues funny, as will parents, or anyone who has ever owned a coloring book.
This is a great read-aloud for younger elementary-aged kids (as is the sequel). I would definitely recommend it!


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The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen #1)

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would. I have always been an avid reader of Regency Romance, and I enjoyed this YA Fantasy take on the time period. It was interesting, unique, and I liked the characters.
Helen is a young girl ready to take on the London Season when strange occurrences lead her to The Dark Days Club and one of its enigmatic members, Lord Carlston. She discovers that she is also meant to be a member, and help rid London of evil beings who are bent on literally sucking the life-force out of the population. Helen must decide if she wants to fulfill her destiny and fight the terrible Deceivers, or try to find a way to maintain her socially acceptable life full of balls, suitors, and frivolity.
While this was a good book, I found it a bit sluggish in parts. It seemed that at least 2/3 of the book were expository, almost, like the whole thing was one big introduction for a big event. I kept waiting to get into the real meat of the story, even though I was well into the book. Although I did enjoy the first part of the book, I just kept getting the feeling it was all leading up to something bigger. Once I was 3/4 of the way through the book, I knew all the issues could not possibly be resolved in the remaining pages. While I like series and read them often, I still like for a satisfactory resolution to occur at the end of a book.
I also felt as though the author's focus on Regency-era details, while intended to enhance and help the reader, seemed to draw me out of the story. It could be because I was already very familiar with so many things from the Regency Period, and so other readers might find these things very useful and add to their enjoyment of the story. I felt as though it was a bit heavy-handed, however.
I did like the characters of Helen and Lord Carlston, and the secondary characters, including Darby and Lord Carlston's friends were well drawn. I could tell that each character had his or her own backstory and issues swirling beneath the surface, even if it was not expanded upon.
If the story had been a bit faster-paced, I would have given the book more stars. I did like the book, however, and will definitely read the next in the series. I would recommend it to any one who enjoys YA Fantasy, or anyone who is interested in a different take on historical and/or Regency Romance. It would be great for a fan of Georgette Heyer who is looking for something a little bit different.


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A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2)

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While I really enjoyed the first book in this series, I thought this book was even better. The characterizations, story, and setting completely drew me in and I did not want it to be over.
Although Feyre managed to survive her ordeal Under the Mountain, she did not come out unscathed, and her relationship with Tamlin has also been affected. Feyre finds herself caught up in the dealings of the Spring Court without any moorings, and is in danger of losing herself completely. Her one anchor is the bargain made with Rhysand, even though it was made while she was desperate and seemingly without hope. When Feyre is forced to join Rhysand at his court, she finds that her beliefs about Rhys, Tamlin, and the High Fae may be wrong. She must decided for herself how to forge her own future now that she has the power to do so.
I found the relationship that Feyre had with Tamlin to be believable, and I enjoyed with way the relationship the Rhysand grew in an organic way. The new secondary characters we were introduced to were very likable and well-thought-out. Maas expanded on the world she created in the first book of the series to completely envelop the reader in the various courts and landscapes of the book.
Feyre's experiences with Amarantha changed her in ways that were explored and explained very well, and made her even more real. The progress she made on her own, as well as with the patient help of Rhysand, really added dimension to the story.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this book even more than the first, and cannot wait to begin the third installment. I would recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys YA, Romance, and Fantasy.


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A Sorcery of Thorns

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret  Rogerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An orphan who was raised in a library, believing magic and sorcery were evil, must try to find her way when it seems the world is being threatened and the only ones who can help her are those she's been taught to fear.
Elisabeth, who has spent her whole life in a library taking care of malevolent grimoires, finds herself confronted one night by a grimoire gone rabid. The monstrous book attacks her and when she defeats it, instead of being praised for her actions she is held in contempt by her peers. Accompanied by a young sorcerer, Elisabeth makes the journey to the capital where she encounters demonic beings, magic, and sorcery everywhere. She must navigate her new environment, figure out who she can trust, and discover who she really is and how strong she can be.
I enjoyed this story and the originality of the plot. I have read other stories about "great libraries" and magic, etc., but this one was different and unique. While the pacing was a little roller-coaster-ish, I still liked it. It seemed like Elisabeth was plunged from horrific peril to furtive hiding to horrific peril over and over. I would have preferred a slower build to fewer climactic events, but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
I also liked Elisabeth's journey from a young trainee in her home library to a confident woman ready to fight for what she knew was right. She was a character to admire, and her choices and motivations felt believable and organic. Nathaniel was an interesting character, and I had a hard time pinning him down, exactly. Perhaps that's because the whole story was told from Elizabeth's perspective, so everything we know about Nathaniel comes from what Elisabeth observes and feels.
The setting and descriptions in this book are great, and really transported me inside the story. I felt like I could hear the grimoires muttering, smell the after-effects of incantations, and see the flashes of magical emerald light.
I enjoyed this book (as well as the author's previous book), and would recommend it to anyone who likes YA Fantasy.


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