I listened to this book, and I think the only thing that would have made it better would have been if I had the illustrations and map as I li4.5 stars
I listened to this book, and I think the only thing that would have made it better would have been if I had the illustrations and map as I listened to the story of Wander's travels. The audiobook was narrated by Kirby Heybourne and he did an excellent job. There were many places where the story read more like verse and listening to Kirby's narration really brought it alive for me.
And its heart, this is a story of survival, as a wolf pup is born and then learns the ways of the wolves from his loving parents. However, during an invasion by another wolfpack, Wander loses his way and ends up traveling miles from where he was born. A wolf is not meant to be alone and we learn about what he has to do to survive, including teaming up with a Raven for a time. In the end, he ends up in an area that has not seen wolves for many years and is able to make his home there with another solitary wolf.
I love that this story was inspired by a real wolf who ended up traveling miles from where he was born (he was tracked by biologists, I believe). He and another wolf ended up starting a new pack in an area that had not seen wolves in generations.
I think this would be an awesome book for fans of The One and Only Ivan, or Pax. This definitely makes me want to read Perry's other books, probably starting with Into the Wild. I discovered this book because one of my students recommended it, so I'm so glad he did! Highly recommended!...more
What can I say, but that I'm a sucker for these books. I've been following this author since I discovered her in November 2020 on Book Sirens. The firWhat can I say, but that I'm a sucker for these books. I've been following this author since I discovered her in November 2020 on Book Sirens. The first book and series I ever read was written under the name L. E. Horn, and was the Nightshifter series, set in Ottawa, Canada. It's been years since I've read that series, so I don't remember if it has any connection to this Warrior Hearts series, even if from a peripheral standpoint, but it definitely involves Dires and Sabers, which are found in this series. I have this vague memory that Cara might have been in that series, but I could be wrong. There is also a series that takes place in space (Darkon Rising) that involves alien abduction and Gryphons.
In any case, if you haven't read any of these books, each series can be read completely alone, although within each series you have to read them in order because the earlier books tend to end on a cliffhanger. But there is a bigger story that is woven through each of the series, so if you want the full experience, you should begin with the Warrior Hearts series and then the Warrior Hearts Academy series one, and finally this series. Each of these books is a reverse harem book, with the female being the alpha and the males connected to each other through her. The males may or may not be romantically involved with each other (each grouping is unique to themselves). The other thing is that as each series has progressed, you've seen more harems with mixed species.
But no matter which series or book, these are books that I tend to binge in long spurts So that I tend to read them in one or two sittings. To me, this makes these books wonderful, because I clearly have a hard time putting them down. But I also love that despite the terror, pain, or trauma that these characters experience, we're guaranteed a "Happily Ever After" by the third book. This means that I am doubly appreciative that this author tends to mostly finish the trilogy before releasing the first book, with maybe 2-3 weeks before releasing the next book, and then the next. So I am never left completely hanging because I HAVE to find out what's going to happen to these characters.
This series focuses on Bree, who was a character in the previous trilogy who ended up choosing the wrong side, but for the right reasons. This trilogy is sort of her arc of redemption, although it is not an easy path. While the destined mates revolve around Bree, the story is told from various points of view as the other mates slowly make their way to Bree. Particularly unusual about this harem is Caliel, but I'll leave that story for when you read the book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Book Sirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
An excellent and satisfying conclusion as usual, with an ending that leaves us open for another trilogy or two!
I've said it in my review of the previAn excellent and satisfying conclusion as usual, with an ending that leaves us open for another trilogy or two!
I've said it in my review of the previous book, but I always find it hard to put these books down and I love that the author chooses to complete the majority of all the books in each series before she releases them one at a time, but within a short period of time. Every time I read these books, and it doesn't matter how long they are, I end up bingeing them, wanting to know how the author will give the main characters their HEA ending. I also love that she brings in beloved characters from previous books so that we can see how they are doing.
I loved how they were able to find a way for Caliel to be part of the group, but in a way that wasn't just in her head. I loved how each of them had their strengths to bring to the table and that Bree was the lynchpin that held them together. And I loved how Cara always seems to know more than she's letting on, but she lets things mostly move along naturally. Yes, she occasionally will give a nudge when needed, but for the most part, she's wise enough to know it's best to let Fate do what Fate will.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
A very solid start to another series in this universe!
I've read every series in this universe since Horn started releasing them. But my introduction tA very solid start to another series in this universe!
I've read every series in this universe since Horn started releasing them. But my introduction to the author (duo?) was her Nightshifter series, which is not directly connected to this universe. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I don't think the characters in original series shows up in any of the Warrior Hearts and Warrior Hearts Academy books, except maybe Cara. I'd have to go back and reread the series to see. In any case, I loved the idea of different kinds of shapeshifters in our world and the fact that there are other realms that we can travel to via gates.
The Warrior Hearts Academy series has come about because some of the dangers from the original Warrior Hearts series have grown and those in charge (the good guys) have recognized the need for a place that helps train people who would otherwise be a danger to themselves or society and give them a shared goal of fighting a threat to all the realms.
This trilogy takes place immediately after the previous Centaur trilogy and is also a reverse harem story. Bree, on the side of Isobel in the previous trilogy, is starting to question her place and reason for being. She regrets much of what happened, but also doesn't see a way out.
Without getting into spoiler territory, it seems she has a connection to several other characters, and Cara, as usual, knows a lot more than she is sharing.
Each of these books end in a cliffhanger, but you are guaranteed a HEA by the last book. I believe this will be a trilogy as well and I've already started the second book.
I've enjoyed every series by this author and have a tendency, as long as they are, to read them in long spurts because I don't want to put it down. I would definitely recommend all of these books, and while you have to read each trilogy in the correct order, you can read any of the subseries in whatever order you want. They are written so that you have enough understanding of the world to follow the current plotline. That said, I think it's definitely worth reading all of the series and in the order they were written.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own....more
Since I was a child, I have had trouble with history and politics for a few reasons. For one, the way history was taught to me was traditional, limiteSince I was a child, I have had trouble with history and politics for a few reasons. For one, the way history was taught to me was traditional, limited, and boring. For another, it seemed that politics tended to be polarizing, although not nearly as bad as it is now, and I was never sure who I could trust. And even if I trusted a politician, it didn't mean that they would be good at the job. Jimmy Carter comes to mind. Thankfully, he has done a ton of good since he left the presidency!
But back to this book. This is sort of a cliff notes primer about the US Political System and while it focuses a lot on more recent events and how we got to where we are today, he goes back into the history of the beginnings of our country and how the constitution with the amendments came to be. He does his best to be nonpartisan and points out times when both the Democrats and the Republicans did things that were not really for the best interests of our country, but rather for the gain of their party. For example, even though he is clear about the danger that Trump poses for our country, he also discusses the Democrats falsely accusing him of Russian collusion to help him win the election without the appropriate proof, and in the long run, that does not really help. Another example involves his argument about cancel culture, which I didn't entirely agree with.
By the end, I had the sense that the author was more left leaning, which is fine with me, but I think in an effort to remain nonpartisan, there were some things (like the cancel culture) that he pulled in that didn't feel very convincing to me. The previous example about the Democrats charging him without sufficient proof carried more weight for me, and some of the other examples he gave of how the Democrats did not help themselves by doing such and such made sense to me. Still, it was apparent to me that while he tried to keep the book nonpartisan, he definitely leans left, and perhaps he should have just stated that at the beginning. One can lean one way and still point out the shortcomings of one's own party.
I very much appreciated the history lessons he included about our political system because much of that I either didn't remember or was never taught. I liked how he connected certain decisions made decades ago to the current situation we find ourselves in, although obviously it has never been just one thing. I also am fully convinced that we need to find an alternative to the Electoral College although I have no idea how that would work. I would be interested in the author's thoughts about what he thinks would have to happen in order for such a thing to happen. I just recently listened to Congressman Jamie Raskin speak about the need to eliminate the Electoral college, but once again, I don't actually know what needs to happen to do such a thing (other than convince everyone in Congress that it has to happen?).
In terms of the narration, I thought Jeff Harding did a solid job with the narration. I'm not familiar with his work, but his voice worked very well for this book.
Overall, I thought this was a clearly written, succinct account of our political system that I found very helpful in giving me perspective and better understanding. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to better understand our political system without getting bogged down in the weeds. It really is aptly subtitled, "A Brief Guide to the US Political System."...more
I've really enjoyed the progression of these books. Lucinda started out as an unconventional daughter of a sword master whose wife and Lucind4.5 stars
I've really enjoyed the progression of these books. Lucinda started out as an unconventional daughter of a sword master whose wife and Lucinda's twin died during childbirth. The story takes place in the early 1600's where women are not allowed to do anything other than what is prescribed by their fathers and then their husbands. In short, they are required to learn the gentle arts, get married and raise kids, and if their husbands are abusive or neglectful or cheaters, that's just the way it is. Moreover, men who are honorable, like her father or husband, do tend to struggle with being supportive and loving, but also wanting to keep them sheltered and safe. However, unlike most women of her time, Lucinda is well-versed in the sword arts because of her father. Not having a son to carry on the tradition, he ended up teaching her and she can wield a sword better than most men. Her grandmother, while traditional in some ways, is also unique in that she is a skilled midwife and knows much about the herbal arts, which is considered by some (King James, for one) as dabbling in witchcraft.
What I have loved about this series is seeing the big impact Lucinda has on the women (especially) who cross her path, although it's very clear that she wouldn't be where she is if her father or her grandmother had raised her any differently. They are both who I would go to if I needed advice, although some of her more earthy friends have a lot of practical advice as well.
Lord Cavendish is a perfect villain that you love to hate, and while King Christian is not exactly a great guy, even he has some redeeming traits. Not so with Cavendish. He is clearly up to no good and sees Lucinda, and even Robbie as a commodity or pieces on a chessboard. While he might have some love for his country, I get the sense he is really for power and what will benefit himself.
The Sisters of the Sword, by this time, have developed somewhat independently of Lucinda, but they have each other's backs at all times. Lucinda also makes a new friend, along with a furry pet with an almost human face. My favorite thing about Lucinda is that while she is a total trailblazer and champion, she still makes irresponsible choices at times, and I love that her friends love her enough to call her out on it and she is humble enough to know when she's screwed up.
As for Lucinda and Robbie together, I love their relationship. Even when he's not wanting her to make a particular choice, he trusts her enough to let her make her own choice.
I love the way this story ends and in some ways it's the end of a trilogy, but I believe the author has left an opening for further books (or another side series?) in this universe. I would definitely be interested in reading more!
The author's note at the end is also interesting in that she shares with us some of the people, places, or events that she incorporated from real history, letting us know which parts were completely made up. It would be cool if they had really existed, however, and it's fun to imagine it.
Overall, I would recommend this trilogy of books, and while you are given enough information in each of the second and third books, it's best to read them in order.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
This was such a heartwarming book that cheered me up immensely when I finished it. That's not to say there weren't some heartbreaking moments. But theThis was such a heartwarming book that cheered me up immensely when I finished it. That's not to say there weren't some heartbreaking moments. But there was something so delightful about the friendship between Arthur Truluv and Maddy that made me cheer for them. While I do love other books between grumpy old men and cheery young folks, this book is kind of the opposite. Despite the sadness that Arthur felt through the loss of his wife, there was something optimistic about his outlook on life that was contagious for Maddy, and later for Lucille. The book is told from the three different points of view and there is definitely some jumping around, but to me, it felt like a whole story told through snippets, and it was fun trying to piece them together. The audiobook was narrated by the author, and I thought she did a great job. I'm not sure how she would do as a general narrator for other books, but for her own book, it worked very well.
This "found family" story was a perfect way to spend my time while donating Platelets and it makes me want to read the next book as well. That one focuses on Lucille, who is much more the grumpy one in this story. But if Elizabeth Berg has anything to say about it, I will probably fall in love with her as well.
Many thanks to my friend Cheri for bringing this book to my attention! It was time well spent!...more
I'm very much enjoying this series, which is perfect when I'm in the mood for something easy to read, but also fun and interesting. I think it would bI'm very much enjoying this series, which is perfect when I'm in the mood for something easy to read, but also fun and interesting. I think it would be perfect for kids who love the Lemony Snickett books, Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom, or perhaps Mr. Lemoncello's library. Olive is a likable protagonist who, while she doesn't always have the best decision-making skills, has plenty of courage and a willingness to put herself out for someone else in need. I never heard of this series when my kids were growing up, but I think they would have enjoyed it back then.
If you haven't read the first book, stop reading the reviews for this book because you'll probably run into spoilers for the first book! That said, I'll try to keep this as spoiler-free as possible. At the end of the last book, Olive had accomplished quite a bit in saving the world, so to speak, but her friend Morton still needed help. As she tries to get the cats to help her with his situation (they basically seem reluctant to help for reasons of their own), she ends up getting drawn into further adventures in the paintings. There is also a new (nerdy) kid next door who may or may not know more about what's going on.
I really enjoyed this adventure and look forward to continuing with the series!...more
Somehow, I ended up missing this series when my children were young. This was published when they were toddlers, and while they read a lot of books whSomehow, I ended up missing this series when my children were young. This was published when they were toddlers, and while they read a lot of books when they were growing up, fantasy was not always their first choice (except for Harry Potter). Still, if this series had crossed my path, I probably would have read it to them or borrowed it for them to read.
I really enjoyed this unique series about 11-year-old Olive, the only daughter of two extremely intelligent mathematicians who just so happens to be really bad at math. Still, while it's apparent that her parents love her, they spend most of the book lost in their math world. When they interact with her, they do talk to her like she's a responsible and thinking person, but they often think that her understanding of math will eventually come and in the meantime there's no need to force it.
Thus, this story is mostly about Olive and what she discovers in this house with talking cats (although her parents don't know they talk). I don't want to spoil this in case you haven't read it, but suffice it to say, she has a mystery to solve and talking cats and paintings are involved.
I enjoyed this introduction to this series and will be continuing. ...more
I really liked the way this started, with main protagonist not knowing who she was or what was happening to her. I liked the first-person nar3.5 stars
I really liked the way this started, with main protagonist not knowing who she was or what was happening to her. I liked the first-person narration for this short story, with Sable being a likable character. Even as Sable figures out who she is, you still don't know exactly what's going on, but you get to take that journey with her. I thought that overall, this worked well as a short story, but the way it ends makes me think there has to be a sequel. I'm wondering if it will be similar to the author's other series, like the Finn brother books, in that she'll write other novellas to continue the thread. I hope so. I feel like she could have made this novella into a full-length novel, and it would have been much more complex. Still, I think it's a story that teens will enjoy, so I would recommend it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
I am so happy with this ending! I have not read the Bad Luck Charlie books, but this is apparently the back story to Bawb who is part of the adventureI am so happy with this ending! I have not read the Bad Luck Charlie books, but this is apparently the back story to Bawb who is part of the adventures of Charlie in those books. I love how Bawb ends up being a connection between the Space Assassin series and the Bad Luck Charlie books. I have no idea if I will like the Bad Luck Charlie books, but I am all for continuing Bawb's adventures, so I will probably check out that series next.
Many years have passed since the third book, and Bawb has been working hard as the Geist, while continuing to keep feelers out about clues to Hozark's murder. Even while making quite the name for himself, he has also continued to do things his own way, which includes his strong friendships with his former classmates, teachers, and of course Henni and Bud, as well as the pirates. I have also loved his friendship with his Konus, and while I still wonder where it came from (I guess this is a mystery we'll never know?), we at least have some clues about its purpose and why Hozark gave it to him in the first place.
I absolutely love Bawb and I think I might like this series even more than the original series with Hozark, but possibly because Bawb was introduced a world I already knew and had grown to love. I highly recommend this series, and while you can read this without reading the other series first, I would at least recommend you read the Hozark series first because it does a great job introducing us to the world.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
I absolutely loved this book, and it's one that I think I would have appreciated more if I had read it alongside people of the Jewish faith, 4.5 stars
I absolutely loved this book, and it's one that I think I would have appreciated more if I had read it alongside people of the Jewish faith, especially Orthodox Judaism. I listened to the book, but I also read parts of the book to a student who is a reluctant reader. The narration really enhanced the story for me because I could hear the proper pronunciation of words and the humor came through more clearly. The protagonist is young Yehuda "Hoodie" Rosen whose family has been made to move to Tregaron, which is a fictional town located near Philly (I think). His father is the head of a construction company that is supposed to build a high-rise building meant for Orthodox families, but the town is not exactly thrilled that his community has moved into the town. The town's mayor, Monica Diaz-O'Leary, is leading the opposition, but unfortunately, Hoodie develops first love feelings for her daughter, Anna-Marie, who, as you can tell from the name, is not Jewish, let alone Orthodox. As his forbidden (literally) friendship with Anna-Marie grows, antisemitism explodes in town, leading to tragedy. Despite not knowing many of the terms used in this book (and this is when I would have loved reading this story alongside a Jewish person), I loved learning about the challenges he faced trying to straddle two worlds. The Yeshiva scenes (his school) were both informative and humorous as the boys and the rebbe wrestled with different topics from the Talmud and the boys did their best to bring up every loophole they could think of. Hoodie's older and wiser sister Zippy was one of my favorite characters, and I loved how she loved him for who he was and supported him without betraying her own convictions. In many ways, she was the mentor he needed as he struggled with what he had always been taught, what he thought he believed, and what he might believe in the future. While Blum shares some of the struggles that one might have when your core beliefs don't quite fit with what the people around you think, I like that Hoodie's struggles don't lead to a rejection of the faith, but rather flexibility in thinking that allows him to keep his devotion to God, which so clearly means something to him, but also makes sense to him.
I read this book because my student was reading it, and he was completely bored by it, but that is not an indictment of this book because he finds all books to be boring. But I decided to read it so that I could at least have discussions with him and perhaps help him see some of the interesting aspects of this book. I honestly was blown away by how much Blum fit into 200 pages, and found this to be a moving, informative, and yes, humorous book, and think it would be an excellent book for class discussions as well as book clubs.
When this book showed up in “first reads” I absolutely had to get it. It’s sort of a riff on Romeo and Juliet except with a haThe cutest little story!
When this book showed up in “first reads” I absolutely had to get it. It’s sort of a riff on Romeo and Juliet except with a happy ending. This thing made me smile throughout and I think kids (and kids at heart) will love this story with its colorful and adorable illustrations. I also liked the little notes at the end about the different kinds of boobies. Highly recommended....more
This is one of those books that worms its way into your heart. On the one hand, it covers a lifetime, and things seem to move slowly and inevitably toThis is one of those books that worms its way into your heart. On the one hand, it covers a lifetime, and things seem to move slowly and inevitably to the end of the world as you know it. And yet--it gives you hope that no matter what we as humans do to screw things up, nature will find a way. The story follows the life of Wanda, a girl born in the middle of a hurricane in Florida, where each hurricane seems to be worse than the last one and each hurricane season seems to last longer every year. The story takes place in the near future and is a little bit of realistic fiction, science fiction, magical realism, and dystopian. It is filled with loss, pain, and guilt, but balanced with love, found family, and hope. There is much to reflect on as you read this novel and would be the perfect book for a book club. I think it would also be perfect for an AP Environmental Science class (maybe summer reading?). I highly recommend this book and can't wait to discuss this with my book club!...more
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