Early Reader Review: The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

Source: From the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr  

Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date:  April 9, 2024

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

An extraordinary, gloriously uplifting novel about the power of friendship and the puzzling ties that bind us

Clayton Stumper might be twenty-six years old, but he dresses like your grandpa and drinks sherry like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by a group of eccentric enigmatologists and now finds himself among the last survivors of a fading institution.

When the esteemed crossword compiler and main maternal presence in Clayton's life, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle on him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for life beyond the walls of the commune. As Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve—and it's a secret that has the potential to change everything.

Review: 

I really like puzzles - jigsaw, crossword, searches, riddles. I wouldn't say that I am necessarily good at them but I do enjoy them. I almost always have a jigsaw puzzle on the table and I am a daily user of the New York Times mini games app. When I read about this book, it seemed like something that would be really interesting. 

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers alternates between the timeline of Pippa Allsbrook, creating her fellowship with likeminded- puzzlelovers and her adopted son, Clayton. Clayton was left on the stoop as a baby and after Pippa's death wants to learn more about who left him on the Fellowship's doorstep. 

There were a number of puzzles through the read, however the formatting on the review copy ebook was horrible and so I was unable to participate in that part of the book, and I think I would have loved this book all the more had I been able to solve out the clues in turn with Clayton. 

That said, I did enjoy this book. It was like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day -it just felt cozy. There was no big suspenseful bits, no shock and awe, but love and appreciation thoughout. I think that I enjoyed the Pippa story more than Clayton's more modern tale. I wanted more of the Fellowship group, the puzzles they worked on and the overall drama from their time together in the fellowship house. Clayton seemed too boring and blah for me. I read his sections to get to the Fellowship ones. 

Overall, this book was really rooted in found family and finding yourself. I liked that about it. Both stories were important in this depth and I think that others will enjoy it. Especially if you like puzzles. 

Early Reader Review: Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly

Source: From the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly  

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date:  May 7, 2024 

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

From New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Jennifer Donnelly comes a revolutionary, gender-swapped retelling of Beauty and the Beast that will forever change how you think about beauty, power, and what it really means to follow your heart.

What makes a girl "beastly?" Is it having too much ambition? Being too proud? Taking up too much space? Or is it just wanting something, anything , too badly?

That's the problem Arabella faces when she makes her debut in society. Her parents want her to be sweet and compliant so she can marry well, but try as she might, Arabella can't extinguish the fire burning inside her -- the source of her deepest wishes, her wildest dreams.

When an attempt to suppress her emotions tragically backfires, a mysterious figure punishes Arabella with a curse, dooming her and everyone she cares about, trapping them in the castle.

As the years pass, Arabella abandons hope. The curse is her fault -- after all, there's nothing more "beastly" than a girl who expresses her anger -- and the only way to break it is to find a boy who loves her for her true a cruel task for a girl who's been told she's impossible to love.

When a handsome thief named Beau makes his way into the castle, the captive servants are thrilled, convinced he is the one to break the curse. But Beau -- spooked by the castle's strange and forbidding ladies-in-waiting, and by the malevolent presence that stalks its corridors at night -- only wants to escape. He learned long ago that love is only an illusion.

If Beau and Arabella have any hope of breaking the curse, they must learn to trust their wounded hearts, and realize that the cruelest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves.

Review: 

I adore Beauty and the Beast and all retellings of the original tale. When I saw this adaptation pop up in my feeds I was very excited to pick it up and was graced with the ability to read it early. 

In this twisted retelling, Arabella is the beast and Beau is our weary traveler trapped in the castle without an understanding of the magic taking place there. Arabella and her court and staff have been trapped in a curse for a hundred years and their time is about to expire. 

The story is told from Beau's POV with a little bit of whimsical storyteller inserted in a few locations throughout the read. Beau is a thief, a poor kid just trying to make a life for himself but also have enough money to support his younger brother. His gang come across the castle on a dreary night while being chased for a job they pulled. Once across, they encounter a lovely spread of food and after indulging are chased off by a monster, most of the group makes it back across the rickety bridge but Beau is trapped and the bridge has collapsed. While trying to plot his escape, Beau learns more about the castle staff and their curse.

Arabella is plagued with despair and longing and she knows her time is almost up, but it has been so long and no suitor has helped her solve the curses riddles. The company of characters in this book make it all the more whimsical, they are lovely and keep the story moving, because both Beau and Arabella are sadly really one-track minded. 

The overall story building was well done, and I really enjoyed the twisting of this tale. I wasn't sure how it was going to be done, with the MCs swapped but Donnelly does a really good job making the story her own and really diving into this new curse.

I think if you are looking for something true to tale just a M/F swap  - this is not for you. If you are relaly interesting a a good adaptation, retelling, I think you will enjoy this one. I really enjoyed the ending and the overall message - I won't spoil it though. 

Monthly Re-Cap & TBR Pile (May 24)

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Here is the progress from April 

April was so packed with birthday fun, a work trip, and the start of spring chores outside - so it was not a great reading month, but it was ok.

~~Books I Read in April 2024~~  

 

 TBR for MAY

• Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill - review
• The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
• Scarred by Emily McIntire
• Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
• Where the Dark Stands Still by AB Poranek
• continuing Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

How was your April reading?  

Feel free to share it in the comments below! I would love to know what you are reading! 

Building the Book Pile #448

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Hi there... after putting this post together and up, I am writing reviews LOADS of reviews... well at least a handful. I have 3 or 4 for this week - all new releases 😁

I will try to hold myself accountable in the list of 'coming up' below because I still owe you Butcher & Blackbird.

Coming up on the Blog

This Week:

Monthly Re-Cap and TBR Pile (May 24)

Early Reader Review: Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly (YA)

Early Reader Review: The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr (Adult)

Early Reader Review: Sunday Money by Maggie Hill (MG)

Next Week:

Early Reader Review: Fortune Tellers by Lisa Greenwald (YA)

Recent Reads: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver (Adult, 🌶)

Recent Reads: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree (Adult)

Books Received Recently...  

 

 

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson (YA) - BOTM pick April

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier (YA) - BOTM pick bday

Have you missed anything lately?

it has been a minute... so probably not much 😓😖

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  Leave a comment for me.

Happy Reading!

Building the Book Pile #447

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

April is my birthday month ... celebrations have begun!

Yesterday, I was given a dollar amount and time to book shop to my hearts content. I ended up grabbing 15 new books and the Kingfisher Lego set from B&N. 

Then we got home and I took a nap and then we had Lego time while watching MotoGP. 

Next week I am away at a conference... so I am not sure how much reading will get accomomplished. 

Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

TBD

Books Received Recently...  

 

Bday Gift Run

1. Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce (YA)
2. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas 
3. Heir of Fire by Srah J. Maas
4. Twisted by Emily McIntire
5. Scarred by Emily McIntire
6. Wretched by Emily McIntire
7. Crossed by Emily McIntire
8. Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
9. Door in the Dark by Scott Reintgen
10. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
11. The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman
12. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
13. That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
14. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (YA)
15. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Have you missed anything lately?

Recent Reads: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Adult) - 4 stars

Early Reader Review: Saving Delicia by Laura Gehl (Youth) -4 stars

Recent Reads: Bride by Ali Hazelwood (Adult) - 5 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  Leave a comment for me.

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Bride by Ali Hazelwood 2

Bride by Ali Hazelwood  

Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date:  February 6, 2024

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Review: 

This was one of my most anticipated books this year. I have loved all of Ali Hazelwoods other books and was excited for her to get into a paranormal/fantasy romance. I am also a big fan of books about vampires so this just fed into that as well. 

Misery Lark is no stranger to her father putting her in crap situations to maintain political ties. She was once the vampyre child held hostage by the humans, and now she is stuck in an arranged marriage to the Alpha of the werewolf pack. She just sees it all as her duty at this point but she has a missing friend that she might be able to find in were territory while she is there, so she is doing it. During their time together Misery and her Alpha, Lowe, learn more about each other and fall for one another. A great enemies to lovers romance. 

I really liked the overall plot of this book, Misery was so focused on duty that she failed to see the real politics happening around her. She was a very broken character that finds herself in her new ...freedom ... that isn't freedom. The characters overall were fun to read. I liked the way that Hazelwood built up their cultures and background in a modern-esq world. It felt kind of like Buffy for a bit there. 

I liked the characters for their honesty. I liked the plot for its mystery, twists and turns, and I liked the world because of the paranormal elements. Overall, this was a great read and I would love a sequel if it is offered up. 

I felt like this lived up to the hype, but I know it won't be everyone cup of team. I read it practically in a day because I coudln't stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading and I love a book that has that hold on me.

Early Reader Review: Saving Delicia by Laura Gehl

Source: From Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Saving Delicia: A Story about Small Seeds and Big Dreams by Laura
Gehl, Illustrated by Patricia Metola

Publisher: Flyaway Books
Publication Date:  April 9, 2024

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

When the last delicia tree is in danger of extinction, a young girl creates a seed bank as a surprise for Old Otis, whose stories have inspired her. Kari’s favorite parts of summer are eating juicy fruit from the delicia tree and listening to stories from Old Otis. But now the last remaining delicia is in danger. What if this beloved tree dies out? Is there anything one girl can do? With inspiration, information, and a pocketful of seeds, Kari sets out to craft a surprise for Otis―and for the future. This tender story celebrates the connections between generations, emphasizing that small steps can have a big impact when one looks beyond the present. An author’s note about seed banks around the world is included.

Review: 

Children's book are wrecking me lately... dang it. 

This book is all about seed saving and it is super cute, albeit a little sad. 

I love the title "Small Seeds and Big Dreams" it is lovely. 

The book is very colorful and is about Kari and Cookie, listening to Old Otis' stories about the wonderful Delicia trees, but there is only one now because of a disease. Kari takes it upon herslef to collect all sorts of seeds and wait until she can plant all the trees.

Super cute, super sustainable, I love this so much. The book will teach young readers about plant disease, seed storage and seed banks. That said the Delicia tree isn't a real tree, maybe the author could have found a real example, but either way it hits just right. The story was lovely, but we lose some trees and Old Otis along the way... the story honors them well but as a children's book is a bit quick to move on. 

I think that this would be a great addition to any library, so lovely. Great read for Spring.

Recent Reads: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer  

Series: Assistant to the Villian #1
Publisher:  Entangled Publishing: Red Tower Books
Publication Date:  August 29, 2023 

 

Format: Paperback
Source: Bought/Own

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

Review: 

I read this book after Bride and fully expected a weird book-hangover and that this one would not be a good next read - but it kept me reading. There were parts that were funny and others that were a bit cringe. Overall though, it was a good read.

Assistant to the Villain follows Evie a girl living in a small town of a kingdom plagued with a Villain who is always trying to best the King. One day she meets him, although she doesn't realize who it is, and he offers her a job to become his assitant.  Evie is sarcastic and blunt, and the Villain isn't used to people talking back to him, or anyone that isn't scared of him really, so Evie is refreshing. Together they work to thwart the King in a number of ways, leading to awkward encounters, and a budding romance.

This book is so confusing, it is supposed to be for adults, but does not read that way at all. It reads more Middle Grade/Young Adult than anything. It has a fair amount of violence, blood, and death, but I am not sure there are adult concepts outside of that. The romance was pretty meh on this front.

The overall plot focuses on the grumpy/sunshine romance trope. It is full of quirky dialogue and very chat-heavy but sets up a cozy world that the characters thrive in. The characters although funny and entertaining are pretty one note, there wasn't too much development of them and they feel pretty flat. Really, the dialogue kept this alive for me. The more I think about my reading experience with this book, the more I just focus on the banter and weird circumstances and I avoid thinking about the characters as a whole or the plot... so if you like some good chatty chat and a female main character that is always trying to go above and beyond for her job - this could be for you.

All that said - I did not realize this was a TikTok series at all that was made into a book... so strange, now I need to go find it.