Reviews written by C.J. Redwine

This is a creepy, atmospheric tale with a delightfully unusual narrative style. So unusual and compelling. It's definitely a dark book from start to finish, so younger readers or those easily influenced by darker themes might be a bit uncomfortable. The characters are vividly portrayed (and so different from the...

Reading about the continuing adventures of Anne Shirley (and of course Gilbert!) is like settling in with an old friend for a long, lovely chat. The writing is beautiful, Anne and the cast of characters are vivid and memorable, and the reader's investment in the series continues to grow. A...

I love this book like WHOA. Gorgeous writing (this is the first book I ever read as a child where I could literally SEE the setting unfold in my mind) and unforgettable characters make this charming, magical book a familiar friend readers love to return to time and again. Anyone...

This is a tense, atmospheric tale that chills. I love the way the tension builds and builds until the reader almost can't stand any more. This is a nuanced, layered story of psychological suspense that perfectly combines boarding school drama with the haunting possibility of the kind of danger you...

A beautiful, poignant book full of imagination, heartbreak, and hope. I read and re-read this book so many times as a girl, my cover fell off. I loved the princess to pauper to princess theme, and the author is skilled at making the reader feel a part of the story...

This is a bedtime favorite in my house. The cadence of the prose is soothing and calm. The illustrations are beautiful and interesting to my toddler. I've read this book as a bedtime book to each of my four kids when they were young and they all love it....

A fantastic historical romance for younger readers (or older readers who enjoy sweet, satisfying stories). The world building is pitch perfect, the prose is clean, and the story is full of love, longing, and hope. I read and re-read this entire series while I was in middle school and recommend...

I enjoyed this modern twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. I despised the hero at the beginning (he was truly a beast inside!), but really liked him by the end. And I liked the heroine very much. The prose is clean and flows well, the story...

Do you love the Harry Potter series? Then this is a cookbook you MUST own. Full of treats from the Hogwart's tables to the trolley on the train, you can make a meal fit for a wizard. What a fun activity to do with your kids on a family HP...

What a way to finish the series! This book has everything I wanted: lush detail, relationship struggles, danger, plot twists, redemption, victory, and a happily ever after. It is AMAZING. I cried, cheered, cringed, cheered, and cried some more. So, so good. Thank you, J.K. Rowling, for a series that...

Oh, this book. THIS BOOK. I loved it, even though it broke my heart. I loved it because Dumbledore finally enlists Harry's help in unmasking Voldemort's past with an eye toward predicting the villain's next move. The history of both Voldemort and of the other characters I've come to love...

The Order of the Phoenix is a dark, intricately woven story. Voldemort is back, Harry has been labelled a liar by the Daily Prophet (and by the Ministry), Harry nearly gets kicked out of Hogwarts because the Ministry is determined to shut him up, and Dumbledore is staying away from...

Book 4 in the Harry Potter series is the lynch pin on which the series turns. Harry and his friends are growing up, noticing the opposite sex, and struggling to learn the ropes as they transition from children to young adults. The Goblet of Fire competition is another fabulously rendered...

The Harry Potter series keeps getting better. In book 3, the innocence of Harry's first two years at Hogwarts fades as threats from the outside world move in. Dementors are on the loose, an escaped convict is apparently searching for Harry, and a traitor roams the halls of Hogwarts. With...

I really loved the idea behind this book, but was disappointed overall in the story. The world building is fine, although the premise is about vampires and the vampires all act like pagan witches, which was confusing. I enjoyed many of the characters, I felt the drama and tension was...