Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Author: V.E. Schwab

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance

Pages: 448

Publisher: Tor Books

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"A life no one will remember. A story you will never forget.

France, 1714: In a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever- and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name."

My Rating: 5/5

I have been waiting to read this book for some odd reason, so after a friend mentioned it again recently, I got my library hold in. This novel was more than I imagined it could be. The changing timeline, the plot points, the twists, the turns, and the characters were all amazing. I enjoyed the audiobook, but I would be curious to read it physically as well, so I could get a better grip on the timelines. The writing was amazing, and I look forward to reading other work by the author.

Sidny

Book Review: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Title: Starling House

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Gothic, Adult Fiction

Pages: 308

Publisher: Tor Books

Year Published: 2023

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"A grim and gothic new tale from Author Alix E. Harrow about a small town haunted by secrets that can't stay buried and the sinister house that sits at the crossroads of it all.

Eden, Kentucky, is just another dying, bad-luck town, known only for the legend of E. Starling, the reclusive nineteenth-century author and illustrator who wrote The Underland- and disappeared. Before she vanished, Starling House appeared. But everyone agrees that it's best to let the uncanny house- and its last lonely heir, Arthur Sterling- go to rot.

Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses or brooding men, but an unexpected job offer might be a chance to get ehr brother out of Eden. Too quickly, though, Starling House starts to feel dangerously like something she's never had: a home.

As sinister forces converge on Starling House, Opal and Arthur are going to have to make a dire choice to dig up the buried secrets of the past and confront their own fears, or let Eden be taken over by literal nightmares.

If Opal wants a home, she'll have to fight for it."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This tale follows Opal, who feels like an unreliable narrator, but is she? Her love for her brother pushes her to the extremes and makes the reader wonder, what would I do for the ones I love. It also follows Arthur and his trials and tribulations with the land he owns, and the nightmares that follow him. Overall, this is the tale of two people finding home in places they least expect, and confronting things one never thought possible, while maintaining the suspenseful and at time horror based elements. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

 

Title: Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Author: TJ Klune

Series/Standalone: Cerulean Chronicles (Book #2)

Genre: Fantasy, Adult Fiction, Cozy

Pages: 416

Publisher: Tor Books

Year Published: 2024

Format: Audiobook

"A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

He's the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: Joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. And there's the island's sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children. 

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home- one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from- Arthur knows they're at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart. 

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur's story."

My Rating: 5/5

This story follows Arthur as he revisits his past and looks at how the past can truly shape one's future. For better or for worse. Exploring so many different elements of our current, far less magical world, and seeing how TJ Klune makes direct comparisons, is incredibly well done. While the content matter may feel heavy, the writing keeps it fast-paced and loving at its heart. Overall, I adored this book. I laughed, cried and gasped. For me, those are all signs of a great read. That and the ability to have those characters live with us as we remember the stories that help affirm who we are. 

Thank you for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea

Author: TJ Klune

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Cozy Fantasy, Adult 

Pages: 394

Publisher: Tor Books

Year Published: 2020

Format: Hardcover (Library Copy)

First Line: "'Oh dear,' Linus Baker said, wiping the sweat from his brow."

"A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This was such a cozy read. The concepts were easy to understand so the fantasy element wasn't overwhelming. The plot was so character-driven that it was easy to pick up and feel immediately immersed. The only reason this wasn't a five-star was the heavy-handed symbolism. I both loved it but also felt annoyed by it at the same time. I think that it's an entertaining and beautiful read and I would strongly recommend it for fans of Lemony Snicket or those who liked Legends & Lattes but want something leaning more urban fantasy. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny