Book Review: The Scrivener’s Bones (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #2) by Brandon Sanderson

March 7, 2025February 12, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 340 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Starscape
Release Date: November 1st, 2008
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

#1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn series Brandon Sanderson continues the epic adventure he began in Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians

So now you’ve read all about me, Alcatraz Smedry, and how I was swept out of my life in your normal world and into the fight against the Librarians (jerks!). After being all heroic and stuff in that tale, I didn’t expect to charge headlong into enemy territory: the Library of Alexandria, where I—and my grandpa and my grouchy bodyguard Bastille and her even grouchier mother and some weirdly gifted cousins—would face the Curators (ghosts who will gladly help you check out a book as long as you don’t mind giving up your mortal soul) and some new nasty Librarians who hate our guts…and would be happy to rip them out for us.

But none of that comes close to the horror we would have to face if we succeeded in finding what we were searching for…

MY DAD! (DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!)

The Scrivener’s Bones is the second book in this action-packed fantasy series for young readers.

STILL LAUGHING.

Oh my goodness, these books have me busting up and I love it. I love the cheek and sass and the wry humor of how this is narrated.

I liked how the story progressed and getting a fun change of location too. There’s a bit of growth starting to happen in Alcatraz and I love his friendship with Bastille.

A lot of fun here, really is a great for all type of read and I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where these characters go next.

Overall audience notes:

Middle Grade Fantasy
Language: none
Romance: none
Violence: low

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Book Review: The Will of the Many (Hierarchy #1) by James Islington

March 5, 2025February 9, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 630 pages
Author: James Islington
Publisher: S&S/Saga Press
Release Date: May 23rd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

At the elite Catenan Academy, a young fugitive uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets in this new fantasy series by internationally bestselling author of The Licanius Trilogy, James Islington.

AUDI. VIDE. TACE.

The Catenan Republic – the Hierarchy – may rule the world now, but they do not know everything.

I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus – what they call Will – to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.

I tell them that I belong, and they believe me.

But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart.

And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family.

To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me.

And if the Hierarchy finds out who I truly am, they will kill me.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Not reading this book clearly. I am glad this has been rectified. I loved it. If you’re a Red Rising fan, I think this a must to try out too. I saw some small similarities but it is very much its own story and I loved that. I loved the dark academia setting and the Roman influence throughout.

The magic system is really interesting and I love how it wove back into the world building. It’s intricate while being easy to consume and I can’t wait to explore this world more. There were a lot of good twists and reveals that had me on the edge of my seat and I thought the action was written incredibly well.

I loved the audiobook and I’m excited to see where this story continues to go.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: high

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2025

February 28, 2025February 28, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

The month of love. And a lot of good books! I love seeing all of the covers together at the end of the month.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
[ARC] You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
Here’s the Thing (The Seddledowne #4) by Susan Henshaw
[Short story] The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
[ALC] A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
Sweet Wicked Vows (A Wicked Dade Brothers Book #1) by Rachel Donnan
Kingdom of Claw (The Ashen #2) by Demi Winters
[ARC] If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley
A Crown So Silver (Fair Folk #2) by Lyra Selene
We Redeemed the Rain (Meadowbrook Ranch #1) by Ashley Dill
[Short story] Please Be Mine by K. Sinko
[ALC] Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
[ARC] One More Wish (Sugar Valley #2) by Lindsey Lanza
Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft
[Novella] A Churn in the Dark (Into the Churn #2.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
The Rose Bargain (The Rose Bargain #1) by Sasha Peyton Smith
Beautifully Broken Control (Sutter Lake #4) by Catherine Cowles
[ARC/ALC] The Scorpion and the Night Blossom (The Three Realms Duology #1) by Amelie Wen Zhao
Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke
Beautifully Broken Redemption (Sutter Lake #5) by Catherine Cowles
[ARC] The Emerald Alliance (The Otherworlds #3) by Courtney Millecam
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Volume #8) by Beth Brower
[ALC] The Dark Mirror (The Bone Season #5) by Samantha Shannon
[ARC] The Serendipity (Only Magic in the Building) by Emma St. Clair
The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson
[ARC] The Magic of Light by Jordan Abitz
[ALC] Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
[ARC] Secret or Shutout (D.C. Eagles #4) by Leah Brunner
Under Your Spell by Laura Wood
Taken With Trouble (Caught in Chaos #2) by Jenessa Fayeth
We Will Be Heroes (The Vigil & Ante Files #2) by Megan McCullough

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Book Review: The Dark Mirror (The Bone Season #5) by Samantha Shannon

February 28, 2025February 22, 2025 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Dystopian Fantasy
Length: 576 pages
Author: Samantha Shannon
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: February 25th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade – but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.

As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret – one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.

And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories – Arcturus Mesarthim – might also hold the key to saving Italy.

Lyrical and action-packed, The Dark Mirror drives the Bone Season series forward, showing Samantha Shannon at the height of her powers.

Thank you to LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

WORTH THE WAIT.

Do you ever start a new book and immediately know it’s going to be a five star? Because that’s this series for me. I’m obsessed with Samantha Shannon’s writing and crafting of this complicated dystopian novel. While dystopian I appreciate how fantasy it feels (because I don’t love dystopian books typically) and all of the magical points that make this series thrive.

It’s a beautiful continuation of the series that has me in a chokehold. The years waiting for this one delivered. THANK GOODNESS. Everything is still heavily action packed with mixes of political dynamics combined with a romance that I am HOOKED UPON. I had the best time listening to this audiobook. I am heavily invested in this series y’all and I need more to read it!!!

Overall audience notes: