Reviews written by Jan Farnworth, Staff Reviewer

I have not read this author's previous books, so this is my first experience reading one of her books about Lizzie and Darcy. I found this to be a refreshing read, and Lizzie and Darcy worked great as detectives working for separate firms. You can quickly tell that...

The Blood Orchid was everything I could have ever wanted in a sequel. The story starts with a bang, taking you straight back into Zilan’s adventures as she tries to find the mythical Penglai Island, the source of alchemy and a place where life can be restored to what it...

Shadow Fox tells the story of Bee, a young girl who lives in a motel by the lake with her mother and Nan, until one day, Nan isn’t there. The fox she was feeding isn’t happy that her fish supply has stopped and isn’t sure of this young girl who...

Crimson Twill Witch in the Spotlight is the third book in a chapter book series about a very creative young witch. In this book, we watch her take her lessons now with a full-length wand. While taking the wand lessons, she finds out a famous young witch, Miserabella Portentia, is...

Deathly Grimm is the sequel to Forest Grimm and is a captivating continuation that draws readers back into its enchanting yet eerie world. Clara and Axel return to the forest on a mission to uncover a way to break the dark enchantment that holds the village in its grip. Their...

Rhmying books are a delight for young readers and Jonty Gentoo by Julia Donaldson and Axle Scheffler is no exception. We have a Jonty Gentoo who lives in a zoo and hears a tale from his Aunt of a land far away where thousands of penguins live. Jonty...

Just One More Story is a delightful children’s story about Pip and Bun, who have very different ideas about reading. Pip finds books to be enjoyable and reads every chance she gets. At the same time, Bun wants to run, play, and be very active, so he considers books...

Diving back into the Inkheart series with a book set five after the events in Inkdeath was different as I am much older than I was when I read Inkheart for the first time. Cornelia Funke's writing style is as excellent as ever, with a nice mix of flowery,...

The tension between Rune and Gideon is on point as they are recovering from Gideon's discovery that Rune is the Crimson Moth, a witch who, in his job as a witch hunter, has been ordered to capture and end her life. The big problem is that Gideon is head...

What I liked: The Ancients Game is an inventive story involving alchemy, magic, and ancient spirits. Set in the 1920s, adding African dystopian elements with alchemical magic and magical trials gives you the ingredients for a creative tale. Our main character has lots of luck and can achieve opportunities that...

What I liked: Aris and Blythe are married and are off on their honeymoon, but soon, Blythe finds out that she is instead doomed to live in gloomy, not very fancy, Wisteria. The forced marriage of Aris and Blythe sets up lots of feisty, witty banter between the not-so-in-love newlywedded...

What I liked: This is a strange, if compelling, story set in a dystopian time and place that covers much territory. It is a story of those who need to force their opinions on others and shun those who don't, or worse. Where women are subjugated, and boys are trained...

What I liked: The Assassian's Guide to Babysitting had just what I expected: an unexpected society with special powers, surprising twists, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. When True and her friend go to babysit that they are expecting to watch an innocent baby sleep, drool, and poop. What unfolds...

What I Liked: Immortal Dark is a fresh debut novel that uses morally grey characters, dark academia, secret societies, lovers-to-enemies romance, and restless strife to find the truth on the edge of your seat. Kidan has grown up far away from all that we soon learn about in this book....

Glass: A Cinderella Tale is a prequel to the Cinderella tale, giving us a back story on the fairy godmother named Bess in this version. As a family of glassblowers that sell trinkets to the rich, their whole house is glass, and Bess prefers living with real animals and plants,...