Disappointing Endings

Disappointing Endings

Have you ever been disappointed by a book or a series’ ending? Have you ever been left dumbfounded and flabbergasted by a book’s finale? Perhaps even angry, or grieving or upset? Of course, you have. We all have those endings that we like to pretend never happened. We all have those series that we pretend were standalones…or standalones we pretend were never written. This month, we’ve chosen to discuss such books. Painful as it is, we will rehash all these disappointing endings and bitter feelings. Why? Because we are humans and we love to vent when overcome with intense emotions. So join us but at your own risk…there will, obviously, be major spoilers. Here we go… ~K. K.’s Disappointing Endings The Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray was one of my earliest… Read more »

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The Goblin Emperor: Review

The Goblin Emperor: Review

What an intriguing and refreshing surprise this book was! I was hoping I would find a story special and worthy enough to be reviewed on my birthday and I succeeded. Steampunk, feminist elves (and goblin) for the win! This is not a fast paced, action adventure fantasy. There is no strong magical aspect. Rather, it is a fascinating character study, a meditation on subtle court politics and intrigue, and an examination of the relationships that make it all worthwhile. Much like the intricate clockwork in the story, the book itself is one of many details and pieces, some interconnected, some working separately but contributing their own importance, and all ticking steadily on to bring us one truly complex and captivating tale. First off, I will say that there is some… Read more »

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A Murderous Giveaway

A Murderous Giveaway

  We have murder and mayhem on our minds today! We’re giving away 3 YA thrillers that were just released this month, along with the first two books in a series that will get you ready for the series ender. All the links will take you to GoodReads, where you can learn more about the book. Don’t Look Back by Jennifer Armentrout (ARC) Fans of this author’s are sure to love this one, especially since the romance is a pretty big part of the story. Isn’t that a creepy cover? You can practically hear the plinky plunky crazy music box music when you look at it. Far From You by Tess Sharpe (ARC) This one has very high ratings from most of my friends. You should know that this is… Read more »

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A Photographic Tour of She Is Not Invisible + giveaway

A Photographic Tour of She Is Not Invisible + giveaway

Traveling a long distance can be confusing and stressful. Now imagine you’re a teenager trying to find someone in a strange city, with only your young brother to help you. Think that’s hard? Now imagine that you are blind. That’s the idea behind She is Not Invisible, the new book from the brilliant Marcus Sedgwick. He’s one of my favorite authors, and one whose books I wish I could buy for everyone because each one takes me to a place I’ve never been before. I’ve certainly never read a book from the POV of a blind person before.While it’s a marked departure from his usual dark, gothic style, it’s still feels like a Sedgwick novel because of its careful puzzle-piece plotting, fascinating characters, and sheer ingenuity. I also enjoyed seeing… Read more »

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Kim and Kate’s Adventures in Philadelphia

Kim and Kate’s Adventures in Philadelphia

It can be kind of weird to share a blog with a bunch of people you’ve never met in person, but that’s the situation here at The Midnight Garden. We are scattered all across North America, and several of us have never even met each other in person. It’s kind of like an odd combination of having a pen pal and dating someone long distance. So we were really excited last week when Kate had the opportunity to visit Kim in Philadelphia for a day. Here’s what happened.     Kate: I was nervous about missing my train (I’ve never taken Amtrak, but I’m always really confused when I try to take trains long distances in Europe, and I (correctly) assumed this had less to do with the language barrier… Read more »

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The Nethergrim: review

The Nethergrim: review

The Nethergrim is an enjoyable middle-grade fantasy by first time author Matthew Jobin. It tells of the adventure of three outsiders: Edmund, the son of an innkeeper, who spends what little money he saves on books of spells, legends, and histories; Katherine, the daughter and only child of the Lord’s master of horses, who should be learning how to be a lady but instead is riding horses and wielding swords; and Tom, an orphan slave, who serves as shepherd to an abusive farmer. They live in Moorvale, a village akin to one you might find in the medieval times. It’s all very primeval and gothic. Mysterious things have been happening: lost animals, missing children, and whispers of an old terrifying tale more suppressed than forgotten. You see, the town of… Read more »

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Dorothy Must Die: review

Dorothy Must Die: review

Well, color me surprised! These riffs on classic stories can go either way, but it turns out that Dorothy Must Die is an awesomely skewed Oz. There’s plenty to enjoy for all lovers of fairy tale-type fantasy whether you’re familiar with the books or film. Those who love the original stories will appreciate the nods to all the Oz inspirations, including a rescue from a pole, unsettling statues, a protective kiss, eye trauma, chamber maid disguises, and so on. Personally, I’d always thought Dorothy should have clicked her heels together and wished for something better than a trip back to Nowheresville. “You only heard half the story. She did go home,” Indigo said. “Turns out, home wasn’t so great after all…one way or another, when Dorothy got here, that’s when… Read more »

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