Bookish Bron: August 2017

Review :: You Can't Win Them All, Rainbow Fish :: Marcus Pfister

My three year old daughter loves books - which is awesome, and means that kids' books have a huge (and cherished) place in our lives right now. So, I thought it might be fun to share some kids' books stuff here sometimes - current faves, new releases, and some reviews too.

Now, most of the books I get specifically for review are from NetGalley, which means they are ebooks. To start off with I was a little bit unsure about e-versions of picture books - how does that even work? But it turns out it's actually ok (although I think this is one case where actual books are definitely better).

So, today we read the newest adventure of the Rainbow Fish: You Can't Win Them All, Rainbow Fish. I was especially curious to see how this book translated to being read on the iPad, given part of the beauty of the Rainbow Fish is in the sparkly foil details in the illustrations. But I thought it came across pretty well anyway - those gorgeous watercolour illustrations are amazing. (The bright pink in the picture show us where the foil-y bits will be)

"Everyone loses once in a while. But being a good sport when you lose isn't always easy - not even for Rainbow Fish. A lighthearted look at accepting loss without losing your sparkle."

This little lesson from Rainbow Fish came at a perfect time for us - we're currently talking quite a bit about feelings, and how it's ok to be angry/jealous/sad/embarrassed sometimes. Rainbow Fish's outburst when playing with his friends - and the resolution - also gave us an opportunity to talk about how these feelings might make us behave and how to deal with having acted in a way we wished was different.

We thought this was a really sweet and fun book - just like I'd expect from Rainbow Fish! =)

Xo Bron

You Can't Win Them All, Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is out now from North South Books Inc.

I received an e-book copy in exchange for an honest review, but only chose to read it because it sounded like something my daughter and I would enjoy (life's too short to read books we don't think we'll enjoy). All opinions on my blog are my own, and I wouldn't tell you it was good if I didn't really think so. =)

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In cosy, mystery

Review :: Away with the Fairies :: Phryne Fisher

** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**

It’s 1928 in Melbourne and Phryne is asked to investigate the puzzling death of a famous author and illustrator of fairy stories. To do so, Phryne takes a job within the women’s magazine that employed the victim and finds herself enmeshed in her colleagues’ deceptions.
But while Phryne is learning the ins and outs of magazine publishing first hand, her personal life is thrown into chaos. Impatient for her lover Lin Chung’s imminent return from a silk-buying expedition to China, she instead receives an unusual summons from Lin Chung’s family, followed by a series of mysterious assaults and warnings.

So it turns out Phryne Fisher is really hard to 'review'. I mean, what is there to say? I picked it up because it's Phryne Fisher. It's good because it's Phryne Fisher. Haha. In any case, this latest (for me, I mean. It is actually book #11 in the series, which puts it around halfway in terms of the books so far) book was as good as ever.

So, let's talk Phryne in general. One of the things I love about this series is the way it gives us some insight into the struggle for women being expected to return to the 'ordinary' (ie the home) after the war, when many of them had been doing extraordinary things while the men were away. I felt like we got a really god look at that in this books, and I particularly liked the bits about Phryne's women's club, and the fact that they were trying to protect the stories of women, which they knew would otherwise be lost to men's version of history.

If you're a Phryne fan and haven't read this one yet, get on it. If you haven't read Phryne before, this is as good a place to start as any! (Well, kind of - the stories build on each other a little bit in the background, in terms of who are Phryne's friends and colleagues, how they met etc, but not is a way that means you truly have to read them in order).

I gave this one three stars.

xo Bron

Away With the Fairies (Phryne Fisher #11) by Kerry Greenwood is out now from Poisoned Pen.

I received an e-book copy in exchange for an honest review, but only chose to read it because it sounded like something I would enjoy (life's too short to read books we don't think we'll enjoy). All opinions on my blog are my own, and I wouldn't tell you it was good if I didn't really think so. =)

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In Australian author, events

Canberra Writers Festival 2017

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In covers, diversity

Review :: Daughter of the Burning City :: Amanda Foody

** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival's Freak Show...

Magic, and murder, and curses, and a travelling circus? Like many of the review copies I get through NetGalley, I requested Daughter of the Burning City because it sounded cool, and because the cover is beautiful (in fact, I was so enamoured of the cover that I asked Harlequin for a hard copy, and they were kind enough to send one to me) - it turned out to be one of my favourite books so far this year.

I loved this book! The characters were interesting and felt well developed and diverse (in terms of gender, sexuality, background/race, and appearance), and the story was weird and a bit creepy, which is my favourite. It felt original, and the twists were unexpected - I really had no idea what was going to happen next. I've tried to come up with a read-alike to give you, but nothing is coming to mind - which maybe gives an indication of how original it was.

One other very cool thing about this book was the illustrations throughout. Every few chapters we get to see a sketch of one member of Sorina's fantastic family of illusions - I was so glad to have a hard copy, so I could see them properly.

I gave this one four stars, and Amanda Foody's next book (she has one coming in April 2018!) will go straight onto my to be read list!

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody is out now from Harlequin.
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review, but only chose to read it because it sounded like something I would enjoy (life's too short to read books we don't think we'll enjoy). All opinions on my blog are my own, and I wouldn't tell you it was good if I didn't really think so. =)

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In dragons, fairies

Review :: Crowns of Croswald :: D.E. Night

** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own**

For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken.
Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems.
When Ivy’s magic - and her life - is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.

I originally picked this up mostly on account of the amazing cover, but it turned out to be honestly one of the best middle grade books I have read in a long time! The story isn't necessarily particularly unique in a lot of ways - magic school, fairies, spells, dragons etc, but what I feel sets this apart is the world building. From the very start of the book I felt like I was a part its world -there are so many fun little details included!

This felt a bit like the Medoran Chronicles, a bit like Sorcerer to the Crown, and a bit like Enid Blyton - with dragons thrown in too - so I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed those. I haven't read Harry Potter (I know, shhhh!) but I suspect this would probably be a pretty good fit for fans of that too.

One last thing on this one, D. E. Night's website has some really cool looking content, including a trailer and a sample you can read for free.

This one got four stars from me, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out!

The Crowns of Croswald is out now. I received an e-book copy in exchange for an honest review, but only chose to read it because it sounded like something I would enjoy (life's too short to read books we don't think we'll enjoy). All opinions on my blog are my own, and I wouldn't tell you it was good if I didn't really think so. =)

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In book box, kids books

Bookieboo box

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Pages

Review :: You Can't Win Them All, Rainbow Fish :: Marcus Pfister

Review :: Away with the Fairies :: Phryne Fisher

Canberra Writers Festival 2017

Review :: Daughter of the Burning City :: Amanda Foody

Review :: Crowns of Croswald :: D.E. Night

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Review :: You Can't Win Them All, Rainbow Fish :: Marcus Pfister

Review :: Away with the Fairies :: Phryne Fisher

Canberra Writers Festival 2017

Review :: Daughter of the Burning City :: Amanda Foody

Review :: Crowns of Croswald :: D.E. Night

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About me

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Get in touch with me

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