book reviews – H.J. Swinford

ARC review: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars Indigenous MC, magic school, dragon riding, Viking-meets-Regency era society, poly romance….WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG!?! Not a lot, is the answer. Anequs is a breath of fresh air as a female YA protagonist. She had aContinue reading “ARC review: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath”

ARC review: Beau is Non-Binary of Everything

My Overall Thoughts – 3/5 “But if my life was shorter…perhaps angels might start picking a hammer and chisel to build something eternal. Perhaps there might have been a David with broad wings spreading wide at his back.” The writing in this book was poetic and beautiful, and that was its biggest draw. I enjoyedContinue reading “ARC review: Beau is Non-Binary of Everything”

Gary Paulsen: in memory

I was so sad to hear that Gary Paulsen died on Oct 13th. Hatchet and other middle grade survival novels like it were my favorite books when I was in elementary school. But I hadn’t read it in at least 25 years so in memory of Paulsen’s contribution to children’s literature, I decided to giveContinue reading “Gary Paulsen: in memory”

spook-tober reads: the hollow places

Imagine if you found the wardrobe to Narnia…only, instead of a wardrobe it was a hole in the drywall, and instead of a magical wonderland ruled by a Jesus-lion, it was a paper-thin nightmare world that trapped people in the “upside down.” Kara (lovingly referred to as Carrot by her quirky Uncle [who is mostContinue reading “spook-tober reads: the hollow places”

spook-tober reads: my best friend’s exorcism

My Best Friend’s Exorcism is a book about life in the 80s. It’s a book about demonic possession. It’s a book about classism. But more than absolutely anything, it’s a book about real, true, life-long friendship. Abby’s parents have fallen from high places and she’s the poor kid at a fancy private school on scholarship.Continue reading “spook-tober reads: my best friend’s exorcism”

characters to love

About two years ago, I casually turned on a television show I’d heard mentioned a few times. I was in a kind of gloomy mood and something set in the gloomy Scottish highlands sounded perfect. I turned on Outlander just to see if I’d be into it. I most definitely was. After watching the entireContinue reading “characters to love”

spooktober reads: the hike

To start off my reading this spooky season, I read a recommendation from my husband. All he told me was that it was really weird, but I otherwise knew NOTHING about it. I really like going into books totally blind when I have a solid recommendation for it. I listened to the audiobook for thisContinue reading “spooktober reads: the hike”