victoria schwab – GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Middle-Grade Paranormal
Length: 304 pages
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: March 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Where there are ghosts, Cassidy Blake follows … unless it’s the other way around?

Cass thinks she might have this ghost-hunting thing down. After all, she and her ghost best friend, Jacob, have survived two haunted cities while travelling for her parents’ TV show.

But nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city’s biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.

Cass takes on her most dangerous challenge yet.

FAV OF THE SERIES.

Really liked this one! A very quick audio read that I felt more invested in than the previous books. I attribute that mostly to the fact that I’ve really gotten to know and love all of these characters. Cassidy is such a great, younger main character. I love how strong she is and committed to her friends. Jacob is always there for Cassidy and I love that he started finding a common ground with Lara! The characters are the best part of the book.

The setting was fantastic!! Since I’ve visited New Orleans I felt it come even more alive through the writing. The depictions of The French Quarter and surrounding areas brought me there. All of the ghosts were creepy (and sometimes charming). A great spooky atmosphere without being over the top (since it is meant for a younger audience).

An enjoyable read as always. They make me smile and reaffirm that power of strong friendships.

Overall audience notes:

Middle grade paranormal
Language: none
Romance: none
Violence: being attacked by ghosts
Trigger/Content Warnings: slavery and racism (in reference to the history of some of the New Orleans locations)

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Book Review: Tunnel of Bones (Cassidy Blake #2) by Victoria Schwab

April 1, 2021October 9, 2020 GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Middle Grade Paranormal Horror
Length: 304 pages
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: September 3rd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Trouble is haunting Cassidy Blake . . . even more than usual.

She (plus her ghost best friend, Jacob, of course) are in Paris, where Cass’s parents are filming their TV show about the world’s most haunted cities. Sure, it’s fun eating croissants and seeing the Eiffel Tower, but there’s true ghostly danger lurking beneath Paris, in the creepy underground Catacombs.

When Cass accidentally awakens a frighteningly strong spirit, she must rely on her still-growing skills as a ghosthunter — and turn to friends both old and new to help her unravel a mystery. But time is running out, and the spirit is only growing stronger.

And if Cass fails, the force she’s unleashed could haunt the city forever.

CREEPY AND QUICK.

These books are so fun! I love the light layer of spooky ghosts and that have definitely creepy moments, but also the friendships and growth in characters makes these even better.

I loved getting a deeper dive into Cassidy and Jacob’s friendship. I’ve had many a question about Jacob from the beginning and it was nice getting some of that information. They have some deep conflicts to encounter in future book(s) that my heart worries for, but also really can’t wait to read.

This setting was perfect for a paranormal read. I love that history is mixed into the plot. Learning about the Paris catacombs, getting a few ghosts stories, and much more. I was freaked out myself from even imagining being stuck in those tombs.

The ending left plenty open and has me wondering what the next book will hold in New Orleans. I love that these focus on friendship and solving mysteries. Cassidy and Jacob are such a pair.

Overall audience notes:

Middle grade paranormal contemporary mystery
Language: none
Violence: physical altercations, uncovering deathly pasts of ghosts

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Book Review

Book Review: City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab

February 22, 2021September 15, 2020 GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Middle-Grade Paranormal
Length: 285 pages
Author: Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: August 28th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

They’re here.
They’re watching.

Cass can pull back the Veil that separates the living from the dead.

When Cass’s parents start hosting a TV show about the world’s most haunted places, the family heads off to Edinburgh. Here, graveyards, castles and secret passageways teem with restless phantoms.

But when Cass meets a girl who shares her “gift”, she realizes how much she still has to learn about the Veil—and herself. And she’ll have to learn fast. The city of ghosts is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

DELIGHTFUL AND SPOOKY.

And a fantastic audio book!! I really enjoyed this. I haven’t read a middle grade book in a long while and this reminded me why I like adding these into the mix. This was fun in a creepy way, and had cute friendship moments that I adored.

I thought Cass was a great main character. The writing was amazing in that I felt like she was definitely younger, but it never became annoying or drew me out of the story. I wanted to be her friend, cheer her on, and keep reading this story. The dynamic between her and Jacob was so sweet. I’m curious how that relationship will grow and evolve over the books (tears coming? MAYBE).

The plot was complex in its simplicity and I feel that really sways to middle grade. You knew exactly where things were going, but because of the writing and set-up, enjoyed the ride it took you on.

I just love Schwab’s books. And this is her first middle grade book I’ve read. After this, I have plans to read more of these!

Overall audience notes:

Middle grade paranormal contemporary
Language: none
Romance: none
Violence: a little physical, nothing intense

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Top 10 Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: The First Ten Books I Reviewed

April 23, 2019April 22, 2019 GoodeyReads

Once upon a time, before I started a blog and an Instagram, I began writing tiny reviews for books I had read.

And thus, my obsession began.

I scrolled back through my Goodreads to find these baby reviews and thought it’d be funny to show them along with the Top Ten Tuesday’s theme.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

My review: ☆☆☆☆

I liked this book! Definitely one of those “finish in a day” types. I thought the story was inventive and it took me awhile to grasp what exactly was going on. Not something I would normally choose, but glad I did for a change of pace. Would definitely recommend to a friend.

Little Women (Little Women #1) by Lousia May Alcott

My review: ☆☆☆

** spoiler alert ** I can’t get over the fact that I felt it should have been Jo and Laurie who ultimately ended up together. I didn’t think this book was anything spectacular. I enjoyed some of the funny quirks from the author through different characters, but I grew tired of the randomness of the stories and chapter and chapter of how they’ll do better next time!

A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

My review: ☆☆☆

While I LOVE all of the other Amy Harmon books I’ve read, I felt this one was almost too much drama. It was one thing after another and I could see each one coming. I’ll still read her books, but for this one I definitely wasn’t as big of a fan as I have been of her others!

Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2) by Victoria Schwab

My review: ☆☆☆☆

If there’s one thing you can count on from Schwab, it’s that she has no problem killing off characters. Which I actually like because it’s different from how most authors write. Now, I wouldn’t want it this way ALL the time, but it’s nice when there’s a dark side. 😉

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good ending to the duology. I will definitely continue to read Schwab’s books! It was evil, and filled with internal struggles that gave the characters more depth from the first book.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

My review: ☆☆☆☆

I really enjoyed this book! It as a good historical fiction novel. Kinda Great Gatsby-esque. I loved the way it was narrated (after I got use to it, haha). The characters were intriguing and unique.

Outliers: The Story of Success

My review: ☆☆☆☆☆

Phenomenal book! My husband and I both enjoyed reading this over the weekend and discussing all of the topics. It really makes you think.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

My review: ☆☆☆☆☆

I had originally shelved this book as ‘eh, I’ll read that eventually, but I’m not really feeling it right now…”. I’m so glad I finally picked it up because it was SO GOOD. It was heartbreaking, yes, but also told beautifully. I actually enjoyed the way it was narrated, it added an additional layer to the story. All should read!

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brenè Brown

My review:☆☆☆☆☆

I love reading Brene Brown’s books! I always think they’re insightful and current. She keeps me interested by adding stories to the data that helps drive the point home. I often think ‘oh goodness, that IS me!’ over and over when I’m reading. Definitely recommend!

The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne

My review:☆☆☆

I really just couldn’t get into this book. I did finish it still because I was intrigued enough to know what happens at the end, but I felt there were a lot of flaws. It drove me batty that she kept going back and forth incessantly about whether or not she loved her father. I get the author was trying to convey the struggle, but it just came off annoying to me. There’s more reasons I could list, but I definitely think I should have just borrowed this book rather than bought it. Oh well, on to the next!