The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

"The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley is the first of the Flavia de Luce British mystery series.This book was recommended by Steve's aunt Patsy and we were able to pick up the first three in the series from McKay's Nashville.

We wanted a non-television, low cost activity we could do together. We decided to read this book out loud together. Although it took us longer to read due to matching our schedules; however, we had fun. The language of this book was unique... say if Sherlock Holmes was an eleven year old girl.

Alan Bradley

There were times that we laughed aloud, other times held a gasp or two, and a lot of time googling what words mean. This was a solid and quirky mystery and we both enjoyed the adventure.  We both settled on 3.5 stars out of five stars as it was good; however, not quite our style. We have started the sequel, but have not gotten very far into it. I don't think we will read the entire series; however, we will certainly get through the ones that we purchased.

The Night Country by Melissa Albert

You know things are bad when you think about them for a week and remove stars from your rating. Firstly, this is nothing personal to anyone... this is just how these books affected me. Books? Yes, that's right... I read "The Night Country" and "The Boy Who Didn't Come Home" by Melissa Albert which is the sequel to "The Hazel Wood" and an inbetween the novels story.

I rated the initial book a four out of five, which I now have decided that that was far too generous. "The Night Country" comes in at a 1.5 out of five stars (demoted from 2.5 stars) and "The Boy Who Didn't Come Home" went from a four out of five to three.

What worked for me: The story concept is interesting. The writing is fairly solid.

What didn't work for me: Everything else. I've never read a book where the part of the story I wanted to learn more about barely gets touched. In the first novel, I wanted the hinterlands and the stories developed. Didn't get it. The same was with "The Night Country". We keep skirting around what's truly interesting and I don't understand why. I cannot be the only one.

I know I swore to myself that I wouldn't compare anything with "The Starless Sea" by Erin Morgenstern, but I can't help it... both stories had doors into magical worlds. The difference here, is that with Morgenstern, we got to walk through them and live and with Albert, we got jagged little peaks.

"The Boy Who Didn't Come Home" is an inbetween novels story that focuses on Ellery Finch and what happens to him in the Hinterlands. I was more interested in this story but it was incomplete to me. The author rushed here and there... and the entire second book could have been this journey and would have given us what we wanted to see into this magical world.

Will I read any more books that come out in the Hazel Wood universe? I don't think so. Life is too short to read books that don't speak to you. Will I read more from this author otherwise? Yes, I'd love to give her another chance.

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

I feel so fortunate that JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series in my lifetime. I obviously loved the books more than the movies, but I loved the movies too. Steve and I were very fortunate to go to Edinburgh, Scotland (among many other places) in November 2019, and we got to go to the Elephant House Cafe where Rowling wrote a large portion of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

It was evening when we were there, and we sat by a fire and had a coffee. It felt surreal being there knowing that years ago, an author that I greatly admired wrote one of her books there. There wasn't a huge display beyond some newspaper clippings and a framed set of photos of her actually writing there. That is, until you walk into the bathrooms. They are absolutely covered in word graffiti. Names, dates, thanks to JK, and quotes from the books. I'm tall, so I was able to snag a spot near the top, and kept my writing simple: "Always."

JK Rowling AKA Robert Galbraith

I've started and put down both "The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith (pseudonym for Rowling) and her "The Casual Vacancy" on multiple occasions but they never jived with me. It was not long ago, two solid years into my focused reading journey that I decided to give it a go again. I borrowed my copy from Alice (she's more my library than my library has been recently) and started reading.

I rated it 3.5 stars out of five. I liked it. The writing is solid. I connected with Strike and Robin quite a bit; however, the story progressed too slowly for me... and with too many words. The villain was a bit anti-climatic and I didn't feel satisfied when the story ended. Will I read more in the Strike series? According to the library of Alice, I will. I just don't know when I'll get to book two.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Erin Morgenstern

Y'all, I have been absolutely DREADING writing this review. It's not what you think... because really, how can you review perfection? How can you rate perfection? I'm not sure I know how to put into words everything this book made me feel as I read it. I don't know how to describe the doors that opened up to my dreams about this novel. I cannot complete how I feel, so I will just talk a little bit about my journey with this author.

I first met Erin Morgenstern (not actually) in September of 2011. Her debut novel, "The Night Circus" had released earlier that month, and I was excited. The cover was beautiful and mysterious. The synopsis had me curious and my excitement grew as I began reading the enchanting words.

And then, a chapter in, I was bored. The story left me depressed. Every page took all of my energy just to get through it. It wasn't a bad book... it just didn't have any of the magic I was hoping it would. It was well written. It was creative. It just wasn't for me at that time in my life. I'm still toying with the idea of reading it again just to see if my opinion has changed on the subject.

I don't read up on books. I don't typically track when they are getting released (aside from the latter part of Harry Potter, I've never pre-ordered a book). Where did I first see "The Starless Sea"? Steve and I were in Mr. B's Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath, England. It was our second day in the city, and the world made sense. The air was crisp, the sky was shining blue, autumn was in full swing and I was four days into my first European vacation. We had to take cobblestone alleys to find this store and it was an absolute delight. Four floors that turned into a maze of books.

"The Starless Sea" was on a display table near the door the first of the winding rooms. The cover was stunning. I can still remember reverently picking the book up, stroking its spine, and gently paging through the words. I read the synopsis and I was spell bound. I was spell bound; however, I managed to put the book down. We went back the next day. I did the same. The only reason I didn't walk out the door with a copy was because of how "The Night Circus" turned out for me. This was November 12-13, 2019.

There were several occasions when we were back in the states that I've seen this book. I've gone into stores and just hugged the book. I have never done that with any other book to my recollection. I ended up getting it around Valentine's Day but I didn't read it right away. I knew from Alice's experience that if I was going to read it, I needed to devote the time to finish the 512 pages. I didn't have the time yet.

A few weeks passed, and directly after Alice had finished reading it herself I picked the book up. I was instantly fascinated. I wanted to eat, breath, and sleep "The Starless Sea" until it was finished, and I also wanted to slow down to make it last forever. I have a feeling you know exactly what I am talking about.

I'm not going to try to describe the book or how it changed my life. My journey getting to the door that is "The Starless Sea" is the only important part. I got there, I turned the knob, and my life will forever be changed.

This book exists beyond a rating system, because five stars is not nearly enough. Maybe if I had them all (the stars) to give, then it would come close... maybe. I cannot count this book toward the comparison of others, because all would fall short.

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny

Louise Penny has done it again. "A Fatal Grace," book two in her Armand Gamache series has blown me away. There have only been a handful of authors that I have read that pull me into a world within a sentence or two and keep me there for the entire novel.

This is not your typical mystery series. Yes, there's murder but it's not the gruesome edge of your seat thriller. Penny's angle is from a human stance. Gamache is a listener. He sits back and lets the town of Three Pine's do the talking. It's slow, subtle, and psychological.

Louise Penny

With a five star rating, Penny writes books you want to tear through and slowly read at the same time. I don't recommend books on a whim. I must know you, and think about what I would recommend. Not with Louise Penny. You love a good mystery? She is the author I recommend without hesitation. Whether you buy the book, borrow from the library, or listen through your Libby App to the audio book version.

I am struggling with my own inner battle now. I've been trying to pace myself with her books; however, I think I'll be getting to book three (The Cruelest Month) much sooner than I did this one. I cannot help myself. Also because I recommended Louise Penny to my mom and now she is seven books ahead of me.

Tangled Webs by Anne Bishop

"Tangled Webs" is another book by Anne Bishop in the Black Jewels universe. This is considered a one off story in the universe but no where near as intense as the original trilogy. We learn more about Surreal and her life after she found her family, and Jaenelle and Marian decided to create a spook house for the landen's (non-blood people).

There is a little bit of everything that I love in this story. Saetan. Jaenelle being mischievous, and Jaenelle and Daemon together. Books. Book stores. Lucivar. Marian getting mad. And the list goes on.

Anne Bishop

The targeted invitations and people getting caught in a real spook house was written very well. I'm an easy scare, and I was terrified a lot of the time during this. My favorite part of the book; however, was Lucivar and a glimpse at his true potential.

It is so easy to get lost in this world, and I am so thankful I have so many more books to go. Four out of five stars for this book. "The Invisible Ring" is up next in the series. Bishop also has her newest book in this series coming out this Wednesday! I cannot wait to get current.

Hex Hall Series by Rachel Hawkins

Since February 20, 2020, I have finished nine books. Here's a little review about three of them. In February, I read book two in the Hex Hall series called "Demonglass". It continued the Sophie's story outside of school and over the summer with her vampire friend in England as the story develops with Archer Cross. Sophie struggles with trying to figure out if he is fighting for good or evil. Sophie gets to know her dad and what it means to be a demon in the modern world. I

I like author Rachel Hawkin's writing. She developed the story and the characters well; however, I felt as though she didn't leave enough time for the big reveal and wrap up. Both of her books felt rushed at the end. This scored a four out of five stars; however, the more I think about it, I wonder if that was just a touch too high.

"Spell Bound" is the final book in the Hex Hall trilogy. The tension has never been greater as Sophie discovers who she really is, how things turn out with Cal and the continued confusion where Archer Cross is concerned. Sophie not only battles for her school, but for all prodigium. Scoring another four out of five stars, I was glad to have read this series. My concerns in regards for the first two books were the same. The ending was rushed and could have used more fleshing out.

In my search for Hex Hall books, my Libby App suggested "School Spirits" by Rachel Hawkins. This is in Sophie and the prodigium world; however, the protagonist is Sophie's long lost cousin (on her mother's side), 15 year old Izzy Brannick.

I only rated this story 3.5 out of five stars. Not because it was bad, but mostly because I don't feel as though this story line was complete. Izzy is a monster hunter as every Brannick woman was before her. After her sister goes missing, she gets enrolled into public school and is on a case to solve a ghost problem. It certainly has a Buffy the Vampire Slayer feel to it; however, it is uniquely its own.

Rachel Hawkins

The story line between Izzy and Dex was interesting and left me wanting more. The fact that Izzy's sister was missing at the beginning of the book and remains missing at the end of the book leaves this story very incomplete.

I don't know why the series was ditched, because I certainly would have read more. These were books 37, 39, and 41 for the year. More to come on the others soon. I also have one or two others from Rachel Hawkins outside of the Hex Hall world that I am looking forward to checking out ("Prince Charming" and "Her Royal Highness").