Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They've enraptured her mind and spirit and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family's inn, Liesl can't help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away. But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds - and the mysterious man who rules it - she soon faces an impossible decision. With time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

This book was intriguing. I read it in about 5 days and it was a quick read. It was captivating in it's uniqueness but it definitely left me dissatisfied and maybe that was the idea. There's a strange "stockholm" syndrome introduced and it leaves you wondering how you actually feel about Liesl's choices in this story.

5 out of 10

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape and who have been searching for the chance to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee. Training to be a warrior - and desperately in love with her best friend and future king, Mather - she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again. So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore their magic, Meira decides to go after it, only to find herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics - and to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.


First of all, for those of you who follow this blog, I apologize for my absence. I have a feeling there will be more such absences in the future. I am 7 1/2 months pregnant and finding something to occupy my mind when my body requires so much energy and physical exertion can be frustrating. I've picked up book after book but thrown it down in boredom and lack of interest time and again. However, this book Snow Like Ashes captured me from the beginning glance. I had never heard of this story or author until I came across it at our local Barnes and Noble store. I plucked it off the shelf, intrigued by the cover art (which, to any avid reader is half the battle) and curious about the plot line. I gave it a go. It was difficult to understand at first. The author throws at you a big political theory involving 8 kingdoms and their boundaries, laying out the allies versus the enemies amongst the eight. Then she goes into trying to describe the magic of said kingdoms and its guidelines and it does take a bit to really understand. Halfway through I began to really get it and it was worth it in the end. Great story line. I'm excited to pick up the next book and continue Meira's adventure. Meira's character had great development. I'm anxious to see her grow. Also, this book is not the typical adventure/romance novel. It doesn't end like you think it will. Give it a chance. I dare you.

8 out of 10

Beautiful Child by Torey Hayden

A stunning and poignant account of an extraordinary teacher's determination never to abandon a child in need from the internationally bestselling author of One Child, The Tiger's Child and Twilight Children.Seven-year-old Venus Fox never spoke, never listened, never even acknowledged the presence of another human being in the room with her. Yet an accidental playground 'bump' would release a rage frightening to behold. The school year that followed would prove to be one of the most trying, perplexing, and ultimately rewarding of Torey's career, as she struggled to reach a silent child in obvious pain. It would be a strenuous journey beset by seemingly insurmountable obstacles and darkened by truly terrible revelations-yet encouraged by sometimes small, sometimes dazzling breakthroughs-as a dedicated teacher remained committed to helping a 'hopeless' girl, and patiently and lovingly leading her toward the light of a new day.

This book was fantastic. Hard to read, difficult to comprehend, a great cause to appreciate those around us who teach and take time out of their lives to spend time with special needs children. This book opened my eyes to the injustices of our world, of the "system", and to the cruelty existing where we least expect it. It made me more appreciative of my small amount of time in a homeschool classroom and more willing to get to know my students beyond their outward behaviors. Great read, rewarding storyline, worth the horror and frustration I felt in order to see the end result of someone willing to sacrifice their individual time and efforts to reach someone else.

10 out of 10