Category: fantasy

The First Bright Thing

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by J. R. Dawson

Full disclosure: it took me a couple of tries to get into this book, and by “tries,” I mean I only gave it a couple of pages before dismissing it for something else (and then something else and something else…I was in a bit of a slump with no patience and unrealistic expectations for amusement) but once I did het into it, I absolutely LOVED it.
Imagine, if you will, a selection of the population possessive of particular gifts or “sparks” as they are called in the narrative. Now, these sparks are anything from time jumping, location jumping, healing, and the power of persuasion, just to name a few. Some people choose to use their spark for good, and others, well, others use their power selfishly to manipulate the world around them to suit their desires.
The story centres around a circus, a circus made up of Sparks. The circus offers a safe haven for people who need to escape the trauma created by World War One and the anxiety brewing in the world with the murmurings of World War Two. Our main character is the Ringmaster herself, Rin, who, with her Spark family of circus performers, travel the country in their circus train, pitching their tent in locations where they are needed most. But the circus environment is less than ideal; even though the government (made up of non-sparks) tolerates them, Sparks are viewed as suspicious and are often victims of harassment and violence and referred to as freaks. Not only does the Ringmaster, Rin, have the responsibility of keeping her circus Sparks safe, but she is also running from her own nightmare, her abuser, the Circus Master.
On top of the fantastic plot and the intriguing characters, this book can also be considered a political narrative. If you had the power to change the past to alter the future with the intent to prevent a war, would you? To what extent would you get involved with the revelation of fate, or would you command destiny yourself? To what extent would you involve those you love in your commandeering of the future? Would you do so for their sake? Or for yours?
About midway through, I did have the ending figured out. Still, the writing was so engaging I didn’t mind the predictability.
This novel would be perfect for mentor text to teach foreshadowing, flashback, theme, characterization, and atmosphere. I would absolutely recommend this novel to high school students.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the free copy.

The Left Handed Book Sellers of London

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Garth Nix


Imagine living in a London, where an alternate dimension of goblins, zombies, and giant-sized wolves exist. You wouldn’t know this dimension exists except for the fact that you, yourself, may have some “magic” blood in you. But no worries, to help you navigate this peculiar London is a left-handed bookseller named Merlin, who you just happened to meet when he was saving your life from a Sipper, also known as a vampire.
Well, Susan Arkshaw is our protagonist who, at eighteen, has moved to London to go to art school. Still, the move isn’t going exactly according to plan.
This is a fast-paced novel with incredible world-building. I LOVED it and have already bought the sequel, The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, which you’ll want to buy because this first book has left you wanting to return not only to this wonderful fantasy world but to Susan’s story as well.
This novel would make an excellent read-aloud for any junior and senior high ELA class.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Sarah Maas

Well, this was a perfect summer read for me.

Easy to read ( like gulping a lemonade or a Corona on a hot summer day), escapist (who doesn’t like faerie realms?), romantic (who doesn’t like a bad boy…or two?), and a kick-ass female protagonist who does more saving than being saved herself.
A fast-paced, spicy fantasy. I will undoubtedly be reading the rest of the series.

Morgan is My Name

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Sophie Keetch

In High School, I loved Mary Stewart’s Arthurian Legend series. My favourite character was Morgan, sister to Arthur, apprentice to Merlin, sorcerous in her own right, but a minor character with the likes of Arthur and Merlin being the story’s focus. On the other hand, Sophie Keetch has written an entire book telling Morgan’s story. Yay!
The novel starts when Morgan is a young girl and her father, the king, is killed. King Uther comes to court and forces the Queen (her mother) to marry him and then pretty much dictates the lives of everyone in the land as most kings were wont to do in the middle ages. Ever the rebel, Morgan is sent to a convent where she is delighted to have the opportunity to study (her passion, anatomy and healing). But her stepfather king eventually interrupts her happiness and orders her back to court, where she has to stifle the powerful woman she is if she is to survive the politics of the land. But just how long will she be able to live a life dictated?
I loved and loved LOVED this book. I loved the characterization of Morgan. I loved the strong female characters presented. I loved the love story, the political intricacies and the elements of “Arthurian legend” woven throughout. What a great addition to my summer reading.
Keetch writes in prose that is accessible to every reader.
Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the free copy.

Citadel

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by C. M. Alongi

First of all, the cover of this novel is gorgeous. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, it’s perfectly safe to do so. There is so much to say about this book. Our main character is Olivia, a beautiful silver-haired young woman called a “freak” by her peers. In fact, when she was young, some adults suggested she be thrown in the rising water because she would be a “burden” for her family and for the Citadel in general.
The Citadel is a city encircled by a wall to protect it from the demons that lurk in the woods beyond.
It is a fascinating place, primarily medieval in its beliefs, be it religion, politics, or societal norms, especially when viewing someone who doesn’t fit in with what is deemed “normal”, which Oliva is not. Olivia is non-verbal autistic but also brilliant, artistic and intuitive. When she comes face to face with a demon on an expedition outside the walls of the Citadel (while she is foraging for medicinal plants), she realizes that demons are just as misunderstood as she is.
The world-building in this novel is impressive. Immersive and intriguing. I also loved the secondary story that weaves along with Olivia, the story of Riley, Olivia’s best friend, trying to forge his own path in a society that is suffocating his individuality.
Citadel is a story about identity, acceptance, friendship, family, and, most of all, having the strength to pursue the truth.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the free copy.

Bad Cree

~ Lisa Helm ~ Leave a comment

by Jessica Johns

I am fascinated by movies and books that use elements of horror as symbols of grief. The film Babadook is a perfect example of this; the Babadook monster is grief itself (and I’m NOT usually a horror fan). Bad Cree does something similar. Our protagonist is a young Cree woman named Mackenzie who is LITERALLY haunted by the unexpected deaths of her Kokum and sister. She has terrifying dreams of drowning and being stalked by crows, dreams that are beginning to cross into her real world. She wakes up drenched after dreaming of drowning, and another morning she wakes up clutching a bloody head of a crow after dreaming of aggressive crows.
The only people who understand what Mackenzie is experiencing are the only people who can save her; her family. Mackenzie heads home to High Prairie, Alberta, where she literally has to battle her grief “monsters” with the help of her powerful women relatives.
This book is an amazing story of resilience, grief, identity, and the importance of family. It is also beautifully written. Johns is a master of description and detail; I felt I was standing beside Mackenzie through everything she was going through…a place where, at times, was an extremely uncomfortable place to be.

I would definitely have a couple of copies of this novel in my classroom for an independent novel study, or as a book club option.