Robin Goodfellow's Blog, page 27

Book Review for Loving Lakyn by Charlotte Reagan

Loving Lakyn, by Charlotte Reagan, is a dark romance about recovering from suicide, and learning how to live life again.

Lakyn James had just tried to kill himself. After being released into the custody of his uncle, he has to struggle to survive, much less thrive. He unwittingly connects with a young man named Scott White, a star athlete, and a budding romance begins to blossom. However, Lakyn’s decision to take his life still haunts him, as well as his loved ones, and when the harsh realities of life begin to set in, Lakyn must understand that despite his pain and suffering, he must go on living.

It was innocent, the love Lakyn and Scott shared. Scott acted like a grade school kid, trying to talk to the person he liked. Lakyn was afraid to open up to people, but he still managed to form a relationship with Scott. I particularly enjoyed the tiny jabs that Lakyn said, all the while saying how cute Scott was. So it broke me when Scott tried downplaying their relationship at school. Then there was Juliet who, to some extent, did feel like Lakyn robbed her of her father. Though they’re best friends and cousins, her resentment was years in the making. Nevertheless, I loved these two, because it really does show that no matter how badly you screw up, family will always be there for you.

The story brings up the devastating topic of suicide. Lakyn’s attempt didn’t just affect him. The world might’ve seemed to go on without him, but they didn’t. Juliet, Ricki, and his uncle were still grieving with him. But it was through their support and Scott’s that Lakyn did manage to pull through, that he realized he was loved. It’s a truth that those with depression had to live with, and it’s a well-executed theme in the book. One thing Lakyn had said did stick with me, and one that I’ve carried since I was little, and that is that there’s a difference between merely surviving, and actually living.

To a lesser degree, the book also delves into LGBTQ issues. Scott wasn’t ashamed of Lakyn, but he was ashamed of being gay. He had to date Claire Yates just to hide behind that crumbling mask he made for himself. To be honest, I didn’t want Lakyn to be with him, if Scott was going to pull something like that. Nevertheless, Scott did show his loyalty in the end. As such, I will (begrudgingly) accept their relationship.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The very real issue of suicide was beautifully demonstrated by Lakyn, who managed to recover through the support of his friends and family. There were a few mistakes here and there, but they did nothing to detract from the book. I would give this story a rating of a 4.2 out of 5 stars, and would recommend this book to fans of LGBTQ romances, and young adult audiences in general.

Book Review for When You Love a Storm by Anshuman Dash

When You Love a Storm, by Anshuman Dash, is about falling in love with humanity’s inner turmoil, however devastating it could be.

The book is separated into five parts. The Silence Before the Storm describes the inner peace of self-reflection, as well as the beauty of the quiet surrounding you. In the Eye of the Storm emphasizes the eerie feeling that something is out there, something you can’t see or hear, but you know that it’s there. The Wrath of the Storm deals with the raw emotion of when you or someone you love becomes enraged, destroying themselves in the process. The Night After the Storm describes the stillness of what happens when these emotions suddenly dissipate. The Morning After the Storm reveals a certain beauty once these emotions fade. Something meaningful lingers, and soon, life moves on for the next storm. Anshuman Dash reveals just how powerful emotions can be, all the while continuing a cycle of happiness and sorrow.

Each poem illustrates the reality of loving something, or someone, that could potentially destroy you in your fullest being. Even after the storm is over and life goes on, that emotional storm will come again. One of the poems I enjoyed said, humorously bluntly I might add, that you’re responsible for your own feelings and no one else. If you happen to feel sad or distraught, that’s your own fault. This poem, alongside other poems in the collection, reflects what it means to love someone, even if it means dealing with their storms.

Overall, I enjoyed this collection. From the painful truth that emotions can build up and destroy, to the calmness of once the storm is gone, Dash illustrates just how complicated human feelings can be. Despite this, life continues on, only for us to keep going in again. As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.1 out of 5.0 stars, and recommend it to those who enjoy The Heart’s Lullaby by Natalie Ducey and The Words Between Us by C.J Blaise.

Book Review for Mists of Sense Require Fierce Poesy by Gloria D. Gonsalves

Mists of Sense Require Fierce Poesy, by Gloria D. Gonsalves, is a book of poetry that illustrates the beauty of social justice, and acts as a comforting prayer that someday, we’ll be able to accept the world around us.

The collection seems a little disorganized at first. The initial poems begin talking about herself and her experiences, and celebrates her uniqueness as an individual. However, as the collection continues on, the poems begin to explore more of the world around the poet. From her struggles with belonging to any one ethnic group, to the social and political issues around the world, to even how humanity has affected nature, Gonsalves embraces the world trough her words and phrases. She teaches the reader just how to fall in love with the earth and everything in it.

These poems often bring about the problems humanity faces; loving each other, accepting one another, and even caring for everyone, no matter how painful it can be. One of the poems that impacted me the most was “I am Rising Until You Love Me”, a poem dedicated to standing up for women, girls, and anyone else who had been sexually harassed. It’s a poem that supports others and makes us think about them in a way that serves to remind us of others.

This collection serves as a reminder tells us to love both each other and the world around us. Whether it be through falling in love with yourself, as well as your own experiences, to the environment and humanity in general, Gonsalves illustrates the comfort we can give to one another. While a bit repetitive at times, I enjoyed this collection. As such, I would give it a rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend it to those who enjoy The Heart’s Lullaby by Natalie Ducey and Meaningless Destruction by Shannan Mitchener.

5 Health Benefits of Rosemary

Rosemary is an ancient herb that’s often used for spices and health. Often called the “Dew of the Sea”, throughout history, rosemary has many properties that has improved the health of many individuals. Starting as an herb from the Mediterranean region, it has long since been used by pharmacy stores, herbal shops, and big chain stores such as Walmart.

So why is rosemary such a beloved herb? What exactly does it do for the body?

[image error]Image by marshallartsstudio
1. Improves memory

Dating back to Ancient Greece, rosemary has long since been known for improving memory. While there are multiple studies still being done based on how rosemary improves memory, there are still many correlations between this herb and improved cognitive function, so much so that it may even be able to stave off the effects of Alzheimer’s.

2. Reduces stress

Rosemary can also lower stress. In a study done by the University of Maryland Medical Center Medical center, rosemary lowered the level of cortisol in the body, a stress-related hormone. Not only this, but you can also use rosemary to improve your mood and decrease your anxiety. Because of this, rosemary is often a popular herb for aromatherapy.

3. Prevents Hair Loss

Rosemary oil, combined with thyme and lavender, has been used to help prevent hair loss. This is because rosemary has many different properties, some of which include anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial aspects, many of which are great for your hair. Not only this, but the anti-oxidants in your hair, as you may or may not know, help combat against free radicals, and thus reduces the cellular damage done to your hair. It also helps promote blood flow, which can help stimulate growth in your hair follicles. In addition to this, rosemary oil can help you with dandruff and other unwanted scalps in your scalp.

4. Improves Liver Function

As you may or may not know, the liver is responsible for detoxifying the body. If something happens to this function, our body will just build up with harmful wastes. Rosemary helps your liver by increasing the water that leaves your body. This, in turn, helps flush out different wastes, including fats, into your urine. It’s because of this function that it has been linked to many benefits such as quicker healing times for the liver, as well as lower rates of cirrhosis.

5. Promotes Brain Health

Because of the memory benefits that rosemary offers, it’s no wonder that rosemary has been proven to have other neurological benefits. In fact, according to an article from Medical News Today, rosemary may prevent brain aging, though more research is needed. What’s more, rosemary has also been shown to help protect your brain from free radicals through a compound called carnosic acid. It may even improve recovery for those who have had a stroke.

[image error]Image by ulleo
Conclusion

Rosemary is a time-honored herb known for its healing properties. From improving memory and concentration, to improving liver function, to preventing hair loss, rosemary is an herb that people are comfortable around. Because of this, it often makes a wonderful addition to your herbal garden.

 

-Featured image by Hans

Book Review for Caroline and the Gilded Gauntlet by B.B Morgan

Caroline and the Gilded Gauntlet, by B.B. Morgan, is a fast-paced adventure about standing up for yourself, even if it means forsaking the world you once knew.

Caroline Eversole is the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who longs for freedom. One day, while visiting her friend Phineas, she encounters an old crone who screams that she will bring ruin. Shaken and disturbed, Caroline endeavors to move on with her life. However, before she knew it, she is thrust into a situation where she must save herself from becoming a scapegoat for her father’s crimes. Armed with only her intelligence, and with new allies appearing from amongst the darkest shadows, Caroline must find her father to make him pay for what he’s done. In this enchanting story, Morgan shows that despite what others may think of you, you must do what you have to to save your own self and salvage your pride.

I’ll admit, I was a bit annoyed with Caroline in the first half of the book. She allowed other people to decide who she was and who she will be; the only inkling of independence she had was through Phineas. But even then her notions of freedom were more than romanticized; after all, those women at the docks weren’t there because they wanted to be. But when she realized she was going to take the place of her father’s crimes, she decide to reclaim her fallen pride by finding him. She continued to earn my respect when she was forced to fight in the ring, and more so when she took down Talbot Ghost. She proved herself time and time again that she wasn’t some peacock waiting to be married off, that she didn’t need anyone to decide for her. I especially loved her relationship with Phineas. They were both expected to do things they didn’t want to do; they also bonded over their passions, Phineas with his inventions, and Caroline with her books. One particular moment I enjoyed was when Caroline was to receive her new spine. Because she was paralyzed, it would’ve been a crippling denunciation; she would’ve had to rely on others for the rest of her life, no longer able to dream about freedom. Still, Phineas managed to give her hope that she would walk again. It was endearing, to say the least.

A prominent theme in the story was that you have to decide your own fate. Caroline broken tradition, deciding that she would no longer be a victim of circumstance. Phineas wanted to follow his own path before he “retires” as king, and even then I don’t think he’ll completely let go of his inventions. The pirates in the story also represented a semblance of the freedom they were both looking for. Though the punishment for piracy was steeped, those pirates continued to live their lives without deferring to anyone. It was an aspect of the book that I liked.

As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.6 out of 5 stars. Caroline’s coming-of-age story was wonderful, and the fantastical narrative was also enjoyable. I did wish more of the details were fleshed out, but the characters more than made up for it. Thus, I would recommend this book to fans of Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George and I, Coriander by Sally Gardner.

Book Review for The Heart’s Lullaby by Natalie Ducey

The Heart’s Lullaby, by Natalie Ducey, is a beautiful book of poetry that describes the fragility, as well as the strength, of the human heart.

The book is separated into four parts. Embers of Love focuses on the bittersweet aspect of heartbreak, the pain of saying goodbye to someone you care about. Eternal love illustrates the beauty of love lasting forever, even after death. The Agony of Holding On & The Angst of Letting Go is about falling out of love, and that despite everything you do to try and hold onto that person, sometimes, it’s better to let go. Finally, The Journey of Becoming is about being comfortable with yourself, and knowing that both the heart and the mind need to work together to bring peace and comfort. Whether it be through pain, loss, or peace, Ducey shows us that love can comfort us in our time of need, and show us how human we really are.

The world is a funny place. Sometimes, we do so much to protect ourselves to the point we simply forget what it means to laugh or cry, or to even love our own selves again. This collection does, in fact, remind me of a lullaby you would sing to a small child at night, or even to a grown-up in need for comforting. For example, one of my most favorite poems in this collection comes from Eternal love, where the narrator promises to love their beloved for all time in the memories of their past, even if they’re gone. It’s wonderful, because oftentimes, we worry about if we’re missed, if we’re better off gone. It’s a question that’s haunted many people, but this poem answers it easily. In my mind, it shouldn’t be an easy question, but nevertheless, I;m shocked at how easy it is. It’s nostalgically iridescent, to say the least.

Overall, I enjoyed this collection. Ducey provides a soothing, comforting atmosphere interlaced within her poetry. From the pain of losing a loved one, to the relief of finally finding yourself in the end, this book encourages those suffering from heartbreak, and mesmerizes others just by its messages of hope alone. As such, I would give this book a 4.9 out of 5.0 stars, and recommend it to fans of Feathers, Shades, Shadows and a Few Raindrops by Mandar Naik, and Catching a Dream by J.R. McRae.

Book Review for Meaningless Destruction by Shannan Mitchener

Meaningless Destruction, by Shannan Mitchener, is a touching collection of poetry that delves into the thoughts of individuals who have mental illness, and how it affects their thoughts and emotions.

The poems in the collection reflect the joys and sorrows of a person that struggles to cope with mental health. From the correlations made between perceptions and reality, to the relatable fact that humans can do more harm than even the most feared creatures, Meaningless Destruction shows the sharp contrast of how more vulnerable hearts perceive the world. Mitchener describes the pain of living with a mental illness, as well as the ways to deal with it, and the lessons learned from it, all of which is shown in a small, yet insightful book.

When I read the poems in this book, it gave me chills. I loved the soothing, yet sad voice that filled the pages, as well as the lessons I learn at the end of each poem. One of my most favorite poems out of this collection details the fact that when you’re drowning, you’ll seek out anything, even an anchor that further drags you down. It ties in with the fact that when we feel we’re lost, we’d seek comfort from anyone, even if it harms us in the long-run. This poem is just one of the few that I enjoyed dearly, and it’s something that I enjoyed.

What’s more, it does reflect the struggles that everyone, even the mentally ill, have to go through. When you’re more vulnerable, you don’t know who to trust. You may feel like you’re alone, and even when you’re doing everything you can, sometimes there are going to be days when you feel hopeless. There are going to people who don’t understand your condition and will isolate you for it. Even so, these poems serve as a reminder that you’re stronger than you seem.

I liked this collection. From learning to love someone, to comforting yourself, to dealing with harsh lessons in life, living with a mental illness is an eye opening experience, many of whom will have to deal with. Even so, this book offers comforting words, as well as hard truths, to live by. Because of this, I’ll give this collection a 4.7 out of 5.0 stars, and recommend it tot those suffering from mental illness.

 

 

 

Book Review for Into the Darkest Fire by Juliana Haygert

Into The Darkest Fire, by Juliana Haygert, is a tragic short story about how far persecution would go, with innocence burning away in the midst of death.

Arianna is being chased by a group of witch hunters known as the Brotherhood. Led by a soldier named Hugo, she endeavors to escape them, all the while pondering on the nightmares she will have to flee from. As they flee into the forest, an unspeakable evil finds her. She is then reminded of the insanity that had taken hold of her enemies, before finally breathing her last breath. Haygert introduces a gruesome tale where happy endings don’t exist, and the only heroes in this story are the ones broken by the dark.

As anyone may know, I am a sucker for fairytales. So when I read about this story, I fell in love with it. Arianna’s story was hauntingly beautiful. She depends on Prince Thales for help, and with the help of a soldier, she attempts to make it out alive. She was fierce, as well as intelligent, considering everything she’s done for her age. She wasn’t like the other fairytale heroines I read about when I was little; she was brave, but because she was a witch, she was put to death. Perhaps the only thing that her prince could give to her in the end was a promise to bring her back. It was like watching a black rose growing in the midst of weeds, its petals truly stunning.

I also enjoyed the dark, gothic atmosphere the story flourishes in. It’s disturbing as it is enchanting. It was a haunting recall to the European Witch Trials, in which the Catholic Church chased after innocent “witches”, many of whom confessed just so they wouldn’t have to go through the torture. Burned alive at the stake, hanged, quartered, and all for the sake of a higher cause that might not have been there to begin with; the centuries then truly were terrifying. The Brotherhood reminded me of the Inquisition, a group of hunters tasked with finding and killing the witches. Arianna was just one of the many unfortunate victims in this horrific nightmare, though in the end, there is still hope for her, albeit a very bittersweet one.

As such, I would give this book an overall rating of a 4.8 out of 5 stars. The chilling fairytale-like air, as well as the references to the European Witch Trials, was what I loved most about this story. Because of this, I would recommend it to those who enjoy A Madness So Discrete by Mindy McGinnis and The Witches of Ravencrest by Thorne and Cross.

Book Review for Inside the Fire by Heather D. Glidewell

Inside the Fire, by Heather D. Glidewell, is a fantastical tale about saving your beloved, even if you have to let them go.

The book is separated into three parts. Prologue tells the story of how Dawn Weathers came to be, from when her mother had conceived her to her lonely, yet content, childhood. Inside the Fire details how Dawn meets a boy named Wesley, and how they fall in love. The final part, Betrayal, brings about the powerful lesson of losing the person you love, along with the harsh reality that you need to face the world, no matter what comes your way.

I enjoyed reading about Dawn. Despite the inhuman nature of her parents, she was able to live a relatively stable life. It’s clear she cares about her mother, and whenever I read about the tender moments between these two, it’s touching. It shows that though her mother had been barred from Heaven, not once did she blame her husband or daughter. Her father did what he had to do to support her as well. It’s a relief to know that Dawn has this support system behind her. And while the romance between Wesley and Dawn was fast, they do bring a certain wonder to the concept of love.

Needless to say, even that dream doesn’t last long. Glidewell shows that almost anything can shatter it, however abrupt it may be. It’s a call to grow up, to live in a world you might not necessarily find fair, whether it’s moving on from your first love, or dealing with two divorced parents who are still attracted to each other, to even fighting off an old, obsessed vampire. Still, it’s because no one abandoned her that Dawn didn’t lose her way. Heaven and Hell, after all, are still humanity’s; they’re the ones that can influence good and evil. These themes help ground the book to an otherwise unrelatable story.

Nonetheless, there was a point in the story where I, again, thought Dawn and Wesley’s relationship did progress a little too quickly, so much so that Dawn had even called it out. Still, other than that the book was a good read. Dawn’s demonic and angelic sides were well-written, as was her devotion to her loved ones. The characters brought a level of humanity to the book. Thus, I would give this book a rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it

Book for The Dead Arising by Jamie Campbell

The Dead Arising, by Jamie Campbell, is a novella that tells the horrific aftermath of a morbid apocalypse, in which all the adults have died, and the children are left behind.

One day, when their parents mysteriously die, Everly and her younger sister, Faith, are left behind in the world of the living. As time goes on, the world around them begins to degrade into a shadow of its former self. The ghosts of the adults haunt Everly, and when her sister suddenly disappears, she finds herself falling into despair. This dark story describes the degrading beauty of youth, as children struggle to grow up, with memories of love and hope fading away in the midst of time.

It saddened me to see Everly degrading. It seemed that throughout the book, she was only ever looking out for herself and Faith. She knows she’s too cowardly to do much of anything for anyone else, but she clings to her abilities to protect Faith, despite everything that’s happened. I thought that her gift to see ghosts was also well integrated into the story. When Faith disappears, Everly slowly begins to join the dead, even though she herself was still alive. It’s ironic, considering that the ghosts have a purpose, and act as though they are still living. Campbell drives home the fact that the boundary between life and death is fragile, and I enjoyed it.

I loved the premise of this story, and how it shows the differences between adults and children. I liked how little Faith looked at the world, the innocence radiating easily from her, like a tiny candle in a dark, winter night. I also loved Oliver, and how he chose to take charge and help the other kids try and find shelter and food. They provided a sharp contrast between the cruel realities of adulthood and the carefree happiness of childhood. Everly could neither become one or the other, only a shadow of what the dead should have been. She removed herself from the world, unable to grow up, or depend on anyone. It was beautifully intricate.

This story was well developed. I loved Evelyn’s character, as well as the concepts of a world without adults. As such, I would give this story a 4.5 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who enjoy The Wolves Within Our Walls by L.E. Finders and Velveteen by Daniel Marks.