Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

As a fan of this author and of the classic Pride and Prejudice, I began reading this one with pretty high expectations. However, I was disappointed.

While the writing was as good as expected, I found myself simply not enjoying the story.

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Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This collection of stories provides background on some of the darker history and aspects of the wizarding world. Delve into the history of Azkaban and the dementors. Learn about the successes and failures of the Ministers for Magic. Gain some insight into the ruthlessness of Professor Umbridge as well as Horace Slughorn’s history at Hogwarts and his acquaintance with Tom Riddle, the student destined to become Lord Voldemort.

Well written and informative, I very much enjoyed this glimpse into the history of Hogwarts and the wizarding world in which it resides.


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1,000,000 Pages in a Lifetime (2020)

Lifetime Total: 29,264

2020 Total:  530


1.  Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (Pottermore Presents #2) by J.K. Rowling (71 pages)
2.  Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz (abandoned after 58 pages)
3.  The Totally Most Original Worst Horrible Book of Poor Quality Cringe Worthy Dad Jokes by Arsidious The Great Writer (92 pages)
4.  Knife's Edge (the Primal Series #5) by Monique Singleton (309 pages)
 

Monsters Unleashed by John Kloepfer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Monsters unleashed is a fun story about bullies turned friends.

Freddie Liddle and his only friend Manny have a monster problem. After Freddie draws monsters based on the three meanest bullies in class, the boys use the school’s new 3D printer to create models of their monsters. But to their surprise, the monsters come alive. As if live monsters weren’t enough of a shock, things get even more complicated when the monsters get wet and just keep growing to colossal proportions.

Determined to stop the monsters, the boys recruit the bullies to help since they are the only ones who really know how the monsters think. While teaming up with his arch nemeses starts out as Freddie’s worst nightmare, before long he discovers they are more than meets the eye. These unlikely friends rally together to save not just their school, but the entire town.

The author, John Kloepfer, did a good job of creating a relatable middle school dynamic while at the same time putting his characters in a fantastical situation. With some fun characters and some silly ideas, this was a fun read.

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Our Brothers Grimmest by Eric C. Wilder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An absurd collection of tabloid-style articles that marries folklore, fairytales, and nursery rhymes with the issues of everyday life. From Rumplestiltskin being indicted for the straw-to-gold scandal to the sibling drama of the three little pigs, with headlines such as “Game-Changing Name Change for Rumplestiltskin” and “Wolf Suing Pigs for Injuries Sustained” you’re sure to be entertained.

As a lifelong fan of classic fairytales, I found myself laughing out loud as beloved characters were used to mock and poke fun at real-world issues.

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I'm Not Cinderella by Tarrah Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book as a gift from my best friend who insisted I read it. (Thanks, Krystal. Darn you!) I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would.

The story follows Brinlee, a 17-year-old girl from Idaho, as she accidentally switches places with Cinderella after finding a secret door in her attic bedroom. While stuck in this fairytale world, Brinlee threatens the happily ever after of this beloved tale; now with new mysteries surrounding the characters, Brinlee is determined to uncover those secrets. Along the way, she meets some new friends and finds unexpected love.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. Especially given the fact that I almost gave up on it. It started out slow and didn’t really hold my attention until about halfway through, at which point the story took off including an unexpected twist that had me hooked and anxious to see how it would play out.

Once the story picked up, I found it hard to put down. However, I was slightly disappointed with the ending and the introduction or revelation of the identities of characters that were only vaguely introduced to begin with.

Overall, I found it to be a good clean read that I would recommend to any fan of Cinderella.


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Animal Circus by Michael Batchelor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of the book through the Goodreads Giveaways program and voluntarily chose to review.

For the animals of Doe's Circus, life is hard. At the mercy of the ringmaster and his tyrannical gang of showmen, the petting zoo animals long to escape.

Written from the perspective of the animals, the story takes you through how they react to the abuse they suffer, their determination to survive, and their plan to escape.

With superb characterization, the story is well written. It's dark and suspenseful with a surprise ending that left somewhat disappointed and slightly traumatized.

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