4 stars Another adorable adventure featuring Auggie, Fen, and Willa. In this one, the gang saves a town from a band of Tattle-Tails… and vice versa. I loved the message of helping others, even after they’ve caused trouble. Auggie promises to take care of all creatures, even those “hard-to-love” and he does just that. The…
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4 stars A fast-paced story that pulls the reader into a magical world of fascinating creatures. Auggie lives on an island and uses his talent to care for the wonderful animals who roam there. Though helped by Fen, Miss Bundt, and the unseen Professor Cake, what Auggie really wants is a friend. The artwork pairs…
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5 stars A fractured fairy tale featuring a new take on Rumpelstiltskin. I loved every word! I’m a sucker for fairy tale retellings, especially those featuring misunderstood villains. Shurtliff’s version was right up my alley. I loved the way she played with the power of names and destinies. Featuring magic, pixies, trolls, royalty, witches, gold,…
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4 stars A delightful read with some truly heartwarming moments. This book does a great job of blending the simple with the complex. There’s the obvious appeal of magic, dragons, and other mystical creatures, but it also pulls in some more mature themes and emotions including loss, guilt, and shame. This is a well-rounded read…
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5 stars I’ve found when I really like a book, it’s hard to put into words how great it is. Hence, this will be a relatively short review. Non-stop adventure. I was hooked from page 1. This gripping tale features fantastic artwork and a cast of characters that stick with you. A missing Pig Wizard,…
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3 stars A sweet, modern twist on Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, featuring a unicorn from the woods who attends school with other unicorns for the first time. Featuring a delightful cast of magical friends, including a fatherly troll and supportive goblin, fairy, cat, and minotaur, Haddish presents an engaging world. Though there’s plenty of…
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4 stars A wonderful reimagining of the City of Ys, revamping the legend of King Gradlon and his daughter, Dahut. Anderson’s tale intermixes other Breton themes and stories such as Saint Corentin and his miraculous fish. The city of pleasure hides dark secrets, seeped in grief, greed, and sin. Filled with sea monsters, murder, seduction,…
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3 stars Another fun, fast-paced adventure featuring Claudette, Marie, and Gaston (and Valiant, of course!). With all new villains and some return favorites, this was a great continuation of the series. I loved seeing how the side characters were progressing. It’s always fun to check in on the band of Marie-obsessed princes and the Apple…
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4 stars A fascinating collection that explores the would-bes and what-ifs of fairy tale villains. These stories provide alternate explanations and prequels to give insight into the thinking of some of the most notorious villains in the fairy tale world. From the troll under the bridge and the giantess in the sky to the woman…
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3 stars A fun, fast-paced adventure, filled with giants, magic, humor, and even some culinary tips. I was instantly pulled in by this cast of characters. Claudette dreams of being a monster slayer and isn’t afraid to bend the rules. Her brother, Gaston, isn’t quite as brave, but has a real talent in the culinary…
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