Johnny repairs shoes all day in a fancy hotel in Florida. His dream to be a shoe designer flourishes when Princess Victoriana checks in. Johnny's best...moreJohnny repairs shoes all day in a fancy hotel in Florida. His dream to be a shoe designer flourishes when Princess Victoriana checks in. Johnny's best friend, Meg, convinces him to try and get the Princess to wear one of his shoe designs...but Princess Victoriana has her own proposition for Johnny. A quest.
Victoriana's older brother has was turned into a frog by a witch and has gone AWOL in Florida. In exchange for finding her brother, Victoriana offers Johnny something he never expected - her hand in marriage. With the aid of Victoriana's magic cloak Johnny sets out to find the frog prince, meeting plenty of other enchanted creatures along the way.
Can Johnny help Victoriana? Does he really want to marry her...or will his future take a different path? One thing is for certain - his life will never be the same.
After reconnecting with Alex Flinn's story telling in 'Lindy's Diary' (the companion novel to 'Beastly') I was keen to read more of her work. The author has a very clever way of taking fairy tales and weaving them into a modern day setting, so that it reads like something that could happen today but still has the magical feel of an authentic fairy tale.
'Cloaked' is unlike 'Beastly' in that it does not incorporate only one fairy tale into the plot. While I had heard of the story of The Frog Prince, there were six other stories weaved together which I was unfamiliar with. The way in which all these classic tales came together to make a new one was interesting, compelling and most of all, fun.
Despite knowing nothing about the fairy tales woven into the book, the modern day references to movies and Disney World made the experience even more tangible. There was even a nod to the chat room in 'Beastly.'
I was wrapped up in 'Cloaked' and I'm eager to read more books by Alex Flinn. Lucky for me, I have a copy of 'A Kiss in Time' on hand.
Determined to learn more about his curse of a gift, Braden sets out for Belle Dam, only to be caught in the middle of a feud between two rival witch f...moreDetermined to learn more about his curse of a gift, Braden sets out for Belle Dam, only to be caught in the middle of a feud between two rival witch families.
With the discovery that he has his own family ties wrapped up in the conflict, Braden is having a hard time keeping out of it. Things get even more complicated when he meets Trey, the son of one of the rival families.
Will Braden's growing feelings for Trey jeopardise his search to discover the truth about his witch eyes?
Someone wants him dead. Both families could use him as a powerful weapon for their cause. Who can Braden trust?
Ever since I saw those eyes on the cover art for this novel, I was intrigued but once I'd read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book. The release date came and I searched for it on shelves everywhere but with no luck. I was torn between supporting bookstores and getting this book now. Lucky for me, there seemed to be only a week delay in shipping copies and I snatched one up as soon as I found it. That night - last night - I started to read. I was up until ten to five in the morning.
There are a few things you should know about me. I do not stay up all night reading books, even really good ones. I yearn to be addicted to novels but it almost never happens. Also, I hate 'Romeo and Juliet' so the "rival house feud story" could have been a massive turn-off for me. Of course, I willingly lost sleep over this book, so you can tell it delivered.
Braden is an awesome character. I think that perhaps if this were someone else in his place, I wouldn't have felt as attached to the story. His wit was infectious and he was sympathetic, without being a character who seemed to be asking for sympathy, which a fair amount of protagonists in young adult novels are prone to do.
I never had my head quite wrapped around what was happening in Belle Dam. Just when I thought I had something figured out, something else came along and surprised me. The characters all intrigued me in their own way and I was fascinated to learn more about them all. There was no thoughts of, Oh no, not this chick. Next please! I'm interested to see more of the character developments in the next novels and witness the dynamics between the rival families and those around them progress.
I was most impressed by how the relationship between Braden and Trey was handled. I can be am very cynical about romantic aspects in novels. I loved seeing how they interacted and watching the relationship between them develop. It was nice to read about a pair of characters, where there is none of that, "Oh, I love you so much, please don't leave me, I would die for you..." nonsense (à la 'Romeo and Juliet') but the attraction is clear.
'Witch Eyes' is a book I would be quick to recommend am recommending to you right now. I am more than eager for the sequel and can see myself rereading this book in the future. Scott Tracey is an excellent writer and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Translated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, with additional analysis by Albus Dumbledore and introduction and illustrations by J.K. Rowlin...moreTranslated from the original runes by Hermione Granger, with additional analysis by Albus Dumbledore and introduction and illustrations by J.K. Rowling, comes the five magical tales of Beedle the Bard.
When this book was released, I purchased two copies of it: the mass-produced edition and the collector's edition that was cloned from one of the five special hand-written copies.
It had been a while since I'd read it and after recently rereading and reviewing 'Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them,' I was compelled to explore more magical wonders of the Harry Potter realm.
I was pleased to discover that I couldn't recall all of the details for the stories, though I remembered them in part. Their unfoldings were as entertaining to me as when I first read them.
Beedle's tales are something akin to the writing style - or rather feel - that other well-known children's stories have but his are something outside the generic. They deal with such wonderful characters and inspiring morals.
Much as I loved the stories, half the contents of the book is Dumbledore's analysis on each individual tale. He gives us a further insight into the meanings behind the stories and how Beedle's writings have been received by witches and wizards since they were first penned.
Such as Muggle fairy tales have been reinterpreted by many throughout history - such as the Grimm brothers who ironically made their stories far less grim - Beedle's tales have been rewritten to tone down or abolish violent aspects or to suit the story to a more anti-Muggle agenda. I am pleased to be able to read the translated, non-censored version of Beedle's tales.
My favourite of the five tales are 'Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump' and 'The Tale of the Three Brothers.'
Babbitty is a character who possesses such humour and wit that she had much magic within her that is more than what can be summoned by her wand. I think that if I could have chosen a story of Beedle's to be read to me when I was a child, it would have been Babbitty's.
'The Tale of the Three Brothers' is the most well-known because of the final installment in the Harry Potter series. It deals with strong morals we can all consider on a personal level as it focuses on something which affects us all: death.
The story is brief but beautifully told. Dumbledore's notes on the urban legends that surround the items in the story are most interesting and give this tale more grounding in reality, since it has affected so many people throughout history.
Something I noticed with the three brothers was the mirrored symbolism they had with three characters in the Harry Potter series. While the first brother died for power, the second for love and the third greeted death, so did three of the men in the novels die in an akin manner.
While these three men in the Harry Potter books are not immediately related as the brothers are, there is only a generation that divides them from one to the next, with the eldest dieing in pursuit of power and the youngest taking the decision to greet death.
Throughout the book are several illustrations by J.K. Rowling which help bring the stories to life in the imagination of the readers. In the collector's edition of the book, there are plenty more illustrations included and even some larger prints. While the mass-produced edition of Beedle's stories is wonderful, the way in which the other is designed and presented is even more magical to read from, giving a feeling of authenticity.
'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' is a book that every lover of tales must read and every Harry Potter fan should own.
In accordance with the FTC, I would like to disclose that purchased this book. The opinions expressed are mine and no monetary compensation was offered to me by the author or publisher.(less)
I have never been much of a sports person and I wouldn't consider myself someone who reads up on the history of one but I was captivated by 'Quidditch...moreI have never been much of a sports person and I wouldn't consider myself someone who reads up on the history of one but I was captivated by 'Quidditch Through the Ages.'
From the history of the broom to the now-endangered species of bird that the Snitch is modeled on and the prominent teams throughout the UK and Ireland as well as the rest of the world, I read this book in almost one sitting, aloud to my mother.
I now feel far more informed about the sport of Quidditch and quite intrigued. Perhaps I shall pay closer attention to the sport in future. Now that I know more of the history, I find it a lot more exciting. They even had history of the evolution of the game in my own country, New Zealand.
I think that while I am living in the USA, I will look into the game of Quodpot. It seems like something worth seeing at least once.
I would recommend reading Kennilworthy Whisp's Quidditch Through the Ages and discovering its insights for yourself. I also implore you to check out the Comic Relief Website and to look into 'Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them' by Newt Scamander which is another brilliant book that gives a greater insight into the magical world.
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