Book Review: Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench by Lydia Lukidis, Juan Calle

Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench was written by Lydia Lukidis and illustrated by Juan Calle. Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been—the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth's deepest point. Deep, Deep Down shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet.

Deep, Deep Down is a beautifully illustrated book that captures the mysterious creatures and habitat deep in the ocean. The artwork is realistic, but still carries a touch of cartoonish edging. The words are few, but have a nice cadence and flow well. I also liked the boxes of detailed information of the creatures featured in the book, as well as the markers as to the depth and pictured creatures on just about every page. These pieces of information are great for the interested and curious, and might spark more interest in younger readers, while they do not distract those that are just interested in the artwork and narration. In the same vein, I like the additional information and glossary that are included at the end of the book. I think the only thing that was missing was a list of resources for further investigation of the subject matter. I think because of this the book will stand up well to multiple readings and a wider range of age groups. 

Book Review: Skin Deep (The Prescotts) by Tara Wyatt

Skin Deep is the eight book in The Prescotts series by Tara Wyatt. While having read the previous books will give readers an edge with character knowledge and backstory, I think newcomers to the series will still be able to fully enjoy the read. 

Violet MacAllister is no stranger to rejection. Growing up with dyslexia, she was bullied mercilessly, making her feel as though she would never be good enough. And she believed it—until she found art and a new way of expressing herself. But her wounds run deep, and even though she’s been pining over her best friend Hudson for years, he has no idea, and she intends to keep it that way. He’s everything she could ever want—sensitive, artistic, hard-working, smart, and so, so hot—but she knows they’ll only ever be friends. Hudson Prescott has been through a lot. He lost his father as a child, his fiancée jilted him, and six months ago, he was in a terrifying motorcycle accident that could’ve cost him his life. The one bright spot through the dark times has been his friend and co-worker Violet, who’s talented, driven to help others, and a total sweetheart. She’s his closest friend, and he’d be lost without her. But one emotional night, everything changes, and suddenly Hudson’s seeing Violet in a different light. One that has him questioning how he could’ve been so blind to what was in front of him this entire time: Violet, with her curls, and tattoos, and her laugh that feels like sunshine. So when Violet has a proposition for him—one that involves her painting a nude portrait of him—he agrees. Because now that his eyes are open, he’ll do anything to make her see she’s the one for him.

Skin Deep is a contemporary romance that does a good job of tackling some tough topics with honesty and sensitivity but still keeping humor and hope in the story. I thought the walls Violet had built for herself were realistic and well portrayed. I liked the dynamic between Violet and Hudson, and the support the rest of the circle of family and friend offers. I enjoyed the arch of the story, and thought it was engaging and entertaining. My only disappointment was with the ending. To be honest, I expected one more twist to the story and thought it all balanced too quickly and neatly. 

Skin Deep is a good edition to the series, and a well done friends to lovers romance. 

Early Book Review: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett is currently scheduled for release on January 10 2023. Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party—or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people. So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her. But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones—the most elusive of all faeries—lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all—her own heart.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a highly engaging and interesting tread. I could easily connect with Emily as a character. She is awkward and scholarly, which I related to very much. I loved her honest and curiosity, which did not always meet the expectations of those around her but matched my inner dialogue in many respects. I liked her dynamics with Bambleby, Shadow, and the villagers as she strives to both complete her book and help those around her as best she can. I really like that I have never read anything quite like this book before, there are elements of all of my favorite genres all mashed up together, and it created a wonderful thing. I will be looking for more from this author. 

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is an engaging and unique read. I really enjoyed it.

Early Book Review: Pusheen the Cat's Guide to Everything by Claire Belton

Pusheen the Cat's Guide to Everything by Claire Belton is a brand-new collection of comics, expert advice, and silly antics featuring Pusheen and all her friends. It is currently scheduled for release on January 10 2023. Whether you’re hoping to learn how to tell if your cat is a Vampurr or looking to study a comprehensive guide to being lazy—Pusheen has got you covered in this super cute guide to everything! This delightful collection of comics and illustrations features some of the most popular and purr-fectly adorable Pusheen comics you know and love, plus a healthy serving of never-before-seen material. 

Pusheen the Cat's Guide to Everything is exactly what the title suggests. This is a cute and fun comic collection of the long loved Pusheen the Cat and her crew. The artwork and humor are consistent with what long time fans know, and it is equally enjoyable for readers that have no idea who Pusheen is and why they have another book. It is fun to flip though and enjoy in a single sitting or in smaller doses as the mood strikes. 

Book Review: Hidden Places: From Secret Shores to Sacred Shrines by Claudia Martin

Hidden Places: From Secret Shores to Sacred Shrines by Claudia Martin roams across the globe in search of hidden treasures and secret places off the beaten track. Explore the Silfra Deep Trench in Iceland, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet to create a remarkable rift and freshwater dive site; experience the weirdest of woodland walks through the Crooked Forest in Pomerania, Poland, where a grove of 400 pines are uniformly curved; marvel at the colorful, gold-plated temple of Doi Suthep in northern Thailand; or visit the world’s highest sand dune, Grande Dune du Pilat, on the Bordeaux coast. Each location is accompanied by a caption explaining the geography and history of the place. Illustrated with 180 color photographs, Hidden Places ranges from the sparse landscape of the Arctic Circle to the rich rainforests of the Amazon basin. Read this book and discover the special, hidden places that will come to define your bucket list – many of which are much closer to home than you think.

Hidden Places was a wonderful book to look through and enjoy. As someone that has travelled little, but often thinks about going to the less travelled places in the world, I really enjoyed getting a good look at the quiet places that I am likely never going to see. The photographs are wonderful, and for the most part show locations with few to zero people taking advantage of the locations (just how I'd like to see them). I liked the variety of locations and climates included. There were snow and ice covered locations, lush forests, deserts, as well as man made or altered locations from all over the world. The colors in each image are so vibrant and perfect that it feels almost like you are looking out a window rather than at a picture on a screen, or page in the case of a print version. Some of the colors and wonders included looked so perfect that I was squinted to make sure the image really was a photograph rather than a painting since they looked so fantastic.   I think this book offers readers exactly what they will be hoping for by the title and cover, weather they are regular travelers or those that prefer staying home and enjoying from afar. 

Book Review: Becoming Crone (The Crone Wars) by Lydia M. Hawke

Becoming Crone is the first book in The Crone Wars series by Lydia M. Hawke. She's unabashedly gray and destined to save the world. Meet Claire. On her 60th birthday, she got a cranky gargoyle, an overprotective wolf-shifter, and a magical calling she never saw coming. It’s not quite the retirement plan she had in mind!

Becoming Crone is a good start to an urban fantasy series, and I really enjoyed the read. I liked Claire, who is struggling with a fairly resent divorce and what life might look like now that she does not really feel needed and has spent her whole life following the rules set on her by others and society. I thought her thoughts and concerns were very realistic, and I liked that readers get to learn all about the magic and legends of her world right along side her. I also liked getting to have a more mature heroine as the main character of the story, but I have to admit it bothered me more than a little when everyone (including Claire herself) kept referring to her as so old. Sixty is older than the typical chosen one we get to read about, but sixty is not decrepit. I am still a bit away from it, but I still think of sixty as older, but not old. Although, that was really my only sticking point with this book. I really enjoyed the read and will be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series.

Becoming Crone is an engaging and enjoyable urban fantasy read. 

Audiobook Review: Haunted in America: True Ghost Stories From The Best of Leslie Rule Collection by Leslie Rule, Narrated by Lisa Flanagan

Haunted in America: True Ghost Stories From The Best of Leslie Rule Collection by Leslie Rule, narrated by Lisa Flanagan, is a compendium of the best of Leslie Rule’s ghost explorations and interviews. With the most-spine tingling stories from the author’s previous four books, Coast to Coast Ghosts, When the Ghost Screams, Ghosts Among Us, and Ghost in the Mirror, along with new and updated accounts and theories, Rule brings her original voice to this omnibus of chilling, fascinating tales.

Haunted in America is an interesting listen for believers and skeptics alike. I liked that while there are plenty of tales of encounters, some spooky and others hopeful, there was great importance placed on respect for the current owners of these locations, the people that have had the experiences, the souls of those that might be trying to communicate, and the families that are left behind. I thought that the focus on history, research, and respect was a bit gratifying and quite the change from attitude many ghost researchers and hunters seem to have in the field, and the way media presents it. I thought that the narrator did a great job of telling the stories with the respect and solemnity due the subject matter- especially when relating the details of tragedies and death that often come hand in hand with tales of hauntings. I did not always agree with the authors take of certain situations and stories, but I did appreciate the honest and well researched relating of both her experiences and those she discovered in interviews and through research. 

Book Review: Holding Space: Life and Love Through a Queer Lens by Ryan Pfluger

Holding Space: Life and Love Through a Queer Lens by Ryan Pfluger features 100 stunning color photographs of queer, interracial couples taken by a renowned photographer for the New York Times Magazine, Time, Rolling Stone, and more, this incredible photo and story collection depicts modern love and relationships in all their joy, vulnerability, and affection. Throughout 2020 and 2021, during a time of intense personal and political upheaval, artist, advocate, and photographer Ryan Pfluger set out to capture intimate images of queer, interracial couples, along with personal insight into their relationships in today’s world. Featured together for the first time in Holding Space, this unique collection of modern love in its many forms across the spectrum of race, sexuality, and gender identity and gives space to these couples to share short, revealing stories about their relationships.

Holding Space: Life and Love Through a Queer Lens is a wonderful collection of honest and frank interviews about the featured couples and their relationships and experiences. There is discussion on how they make their relationships work, and in some cases why they did not work out. But there is also discussion about the discriminations and challenges that come from society's expectations, bigotry, and the so much more. This is a great exploration of identity, diversity, and relationships that is accessible to anyone. It was lovely to get fresh and differing perspectives on the impact that family, race, gender identity and its fluid nature, and society can have on individuals and couples. 

Book Review: A Hard Day for a Hangover (Sunshine Vicram) by Darynda Jones

 A Hard Day for a Hangover is the third, and final, instalment of the Sunshine Vicram trilogy by Darynda Jones. Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

A Hard Day for a Hangover is a solid wrap up to this trilogy. I still love the crazy cast of characters and the development they have in the story. Even the secondary and less vital characters and moments added value and interest to the larger story. I like that we get multiple points of view, and that the sardonic humor that I have come to expect from the author continues to be in full effect. I will say that I saw one part of this puzzle coming a mile away, and had moments when I just wanted to scream the answer at the characters, but they all got there in the end. I felt like all the loose ends were tied up nicely, and the story was engaging throughout. I think this is a must read for those that have read the two previous books, as they will not be disappointed. I look forward to seeing what Jones has in store for readers next. 

Book Review: Going Places by Jody Hildreth

Going Places by Jody Hildreth is a cute picturebook for all ages. Do astronauts use the bathroom? What about Santa Claus? Can you go while on the go? Everyone's got to go to the bathroom. That's a fact of life! Readers will join whimsical acorn characters in hilarious scenarios in which people have to find a bathroom while out and about. With rollicking rhyme and plenty of humor, this story is sure to make young readers laugh out loud.

Going Places is exactly what you might expect from the cover. Cute acorn figures in a variety of places needing to 'go'. The text is cute and easily understood, and the images of the acorn figures are well staged and enteraining. I think this is an all around fun book that readers of all ages can enjoy.