Reviews written by Jan Farnworth, Staff Reviewer

Welcome to Peculiar is the Collection of the first four books in the Peculiar Witches Series. I review each one below. Book One Double, Double introduces the twin sisters Bella and Donna, who have just started attending Y.I.K.E.S.S. (Yvette...

What I liked: Kalothia is a female, soon to govern the world, which is a strike against her. Women are not meant to rule, not to travel alone, not educated. Kalothia has to overcome this once she learns she is to be queen, though they want...

What I liked: Celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Tales of Despereaux with a unique bonus story at the end of the book. The Tales of Despereaux special edition has excellent hand-drawn illustrations to accompany the tale of this mouse who should not have lived. Along...

What I liked: It is a riveting middle-grade novel perfect for October, as the witches of this family only get magic for one month. Our main character, Clemmie, is destined to break this curse entangled between two branches of the family, one from Merlin and the other...

What I liked: Lost Kingdom is a debut fantasy novel by Laurel Black, due out in January 2024. Lost Kingdom is told from two separate points of view. We have Raven, who is from a lost tribe taken prisoner to work in the rahthlan mines. She has no...

What I liked: Shakespeare's retelling at its finest, set in a covert world of 1930s Shanghai, has just the right amount of spy undercover intrigue and romance to make you swoon. I started the series with These Violent Delights and enjoyed every moment of the thrilling spy...

What I loved: Library of Shadows is the perfect paranormal spooky romance to read as the leaves change colors and the days grow darker as the seasons change. Library of Shadow is a paranormal romance fantasy debut novel, and Rachel Moore does a fantastic job setting...

What I liked: Wren is a formidable female lead who’s easy to route for. She’s not soft, but she has some emotional baggage and plenty of nobility. Without much choice, she teams up with Julian, an enemy Ironsmith and an equally complicated, likable guy. An enemies-to-friends romance, however,...

What I liked: Eoin Cofer is best known for his Artemis series, which has enthralled the middle-grade age group for years. He takes fantasy reading to the next level; in this one, he takes a fairy tale of sorts and weaves a story with twists that I...

What I liked: First Night of Howlergarten is a perfect story for children to read as they head off to school. All children are a bit nervous when they transition to school. They are not sure entirely what to expect. In this case, a lot is on the...

What I liked: The Penguin Huddle is a brilliant children's picture book with excellent illustrations that your child will want to spend time hunting out all the various animals and details on every page. Penguins huddle to keep warm at night, but one night, a nasty storm...

What I liked: Vampires, Witches, and Ghosts have a murder mystery to solve. The Scarlet Veil is a spin-off series set in the Serpent and Dove world. This book follows Celie Tremblay, who has defied tradition and taken her place as the first female huntswoman and is engaged...

What I liked: When I closed the final book of the Inheritance Games, I was sad as I did not feel we had gotten all we could from the Hawthornes. I wanted more puzzles, secrets, family, and an in-depth look at each brother, as they are like onions...

What I liked: Cage of Dreams is the final book in a two-book series about the City of Nightmares and Tess, our main character, taking down the evils that plague her home. We have the Nightmare Phantom, the evil mayor, Cy's corrupt dad, and the Friends of The...

What I liked: What would you do if you were learning to swim for the first time and when you entered the water, you turned into a mermaid? That is precisely what happens to our character, Emily Windsnap, and as a result, she will find the truth about...