Review: The Hotel Between (Sean Easley)

Title: The Hotel Between
Series: The Hotel Between, Book 1
Author: Sean Easley
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BYR
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary Fantasy
Content Rating: Middle Grade (violence and scary situations)
Format Read: Paperback
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase:
Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

A magical hotel, a mysterious tree, and a cryptic story about their missing father leads twins Cam and Cass on a worldly adventure in this enchanting debut novel that’s perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Wildwood.

Twins Cam and Cass have never known their parents. They’ve been told their mother died, and Cass is certain their father abandoned them. Cam isn’t so sure. He wants to prove her wrong; he must.

Cam’s wish is soon granted in the form of a glistening, golden sign with elaborate flourishes that reads: The Hotel Between. With doors that open to countries all over the world, magical trollies, charmed corridors that can be altered on a whim, stone elephants that come to life, sweets made from rocks; everything is possible in the Hotel. Cam has a hunch his father is somehow connected to this magical place, and may even be lost within its hidden halls.

Every journey has its risks, and The Hotel Between is full of dangerous secrets. If Cam’s not careful, his stay may be over before his vacation has even started.

*          *          *

Series: This is the first book in The Hotel Between series. As of December 2019 there are two books in the series.

I haven't been much for Juvenile/Middle Grade as of late, but when I discovered this book while browsing at my local independent bookstore I was so intrigued by the colorful cover and magical summary that I impulse-purchased it for an immediate read. And I wasn't disappointed.

Determined that finding their missing father will somehow fix his struggling family, Cam stumbles across and infiltrates the mysterious and magical Hotel Between to locate its misplaced heart. Along the way he obtains interesting friends and sinister enemies, journeys to exotic places, and makes many, many mistakes, but he ultimately takes charge of the consequences and does what is right. Packed with enchanting action and relatable characters, it was an engaging adventure that both children and adults will enjoy.

Cam was perilously pigheaded and always afraid (he referred to his "Worst Ways To Die" list constantly), but he deeply cared about protecting his family, especially his sister Cass, and improving their situation. Although his actions were rarely prudent, in the end he mustered the courage to face his fears and root out the dark secrets of his past to help others. The rest of the cast was, thanks to Easley's distinctive descriptions, a unique and diverse bunch of children and adults in all manner of roles, and their presence added a deeper level of intrigue and color to the story. Nico was an especially complicated but playful character that you couldn't help but love while still being frustrated with him, and I look forward to seeing what he gets up to in the next book even more than Cam. The Hotel itself was highly imaginative and I loved exploring its many nooks, crannies, and doors. It felt like we really only scratched its surface in this story though, so I'm excited to delve even further into its secrets and wonders in the sequel.

Conclusion: A magical read with a fantastical setting, engaging action, and relatable characters. Highly recommend for reading aloud to younger people - adults will enjoy it just as much as children do. Will definitely be picking up the sequel, The Key of Lost Things.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

The Fog Diver by Joel Ross
Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson
School for Sidekicks by Kelly McCullough

Paragraph Manga Review: Twinkle Stars Series (Natsuki Takaya)

Title: Twinkle Stars
Author: Natsuki Takaya
Volumes Reviewed: 5 (omnibus editions, complete)
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: November 2016 - March 2018 (US release)
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Content Rating: Older Teen (bullying, child abuse, attempted suicide, some mild language and violence)
Format Read: Paperback
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound | RightStuf
Summary (from Volume 1):

Sakuya Shiina lives with Kanade, her male cousin and foster parent. In times of pain and sadness, she's always taken comfort in looking up at the stars. One day, a mysterious boy suddenly shows up at Sakuya's house for her birthday. He leaves her with kind words, but she has no idea who he is!

All she has to go on is his name--Chihiro! Not one to let that deter her, she sets out in search of him with the reluctant help of her two best friends, Yuuri and Sei. Everyone says that Sakuya should just forget him, but she's oddly drawn to the curious boy. Then, a twist of fate allows them to meet once more! Will this meeting bring them closer together...or will the feelings between these lone stars remain forever in the dark?

*          *          *

Trigger Warnings: bullying, child abuse, depression, attempted suicide

Series Note: The US edition consists of 5 omnibus editions. The series was originally released in Japan in 11 volumes (found on Goodreads here).

Twinkle Stars is an emotionally charged teen romance of first love and familial angst from the author of the wildly popular series, Fruits Basket. In five omnibus editions, Takaya tells the story of two teens who are emotionally bullied and scarred by their classmates and family but after a mysterious meeting find hope and healing in each other. Theirs is a heavy journey of abuse, depression, and attempted suicide, but Takaya injects a lot of affection, eventual support, and a little of her signature humor into the otherwise dark story. While the romance was hesitant and heartbreaking with more downs than ups, it had its sweet and uplifting moments with consequent happiness for all involved. The art was simple and strong with soft smiles, painful tears, and a few trademark flails to lighten the somber content. Overall it was an emotional rollercoaster with dark turns but a happy finish that I highly recommend for romance readers who like their love stories full of tenderness and tissues. And if you're a fan of Fruits Basket, it is not to be missed.

For Fans Of: Fruits Basket

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

Fruits Basket Series by Natsuki Takaya
Strobe Edge Series by Io Sakisaka

The #FridayReads Review (12/13/19)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Kamisama Kiss vol. 3 by Julietta Suzuki (PBK)

I just can't seem to get interested in novels this month, so manga it is! This is a particularly favorite series by a particularly favorite manga author, and I'm excited to binge the entire thing straight through - I've previously only read it volume by volume as they released. Currently at the beginning and feeling so nostalgic. It's been nine years this month since I started reading it - almost a decade! Where does the time go...? Anyway, I'm hoping to generate a series review from the experience, so be on the lookout for it early next year!

The Writer's Guide to Creating a SF Universe by Ochoa & Osier (HBK)

Although this was written back in the '90s and is therefore rather out of date in some scientific areas, I'm learning a ton about logical space worldbuilding and generating mounds of ideas for several SF books I'm currently working on. It's also made me curious about what space science does look like nowadays, and I'm really enjoying the further research that curiosity has encouraged! Moral: never discount "out of date" reference materials.

>> ON HOLD <<

Cress by Marissa Meyer (PBK)

As thrilling as this book is, I think I burned out on the series trying to binge the entire thing and am seriously struggling to keep reading. (Apparently I am not the binge type when it comes to novels.) I'm two-thirds through though and determined to finish it soon!

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Twinkle Stars vol. 5 by Natsuki Takaya (PBK)

4 Stars. An emotionally charged teen romance of first love and familial angst from the author of the wildly popular series, Fruits Basket. It had lots of tears but ultimately hope and happiness, and despite all the used tissues I really quite enjoyed it. Review to come. 

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Emma Omnibus vol. 1 by Kaoru Mori (HBK)

I adore her Bride's Story series and discovering the omnibus editions of this older series at the library so it's finally time to binge it!

So what are you reading this week?

Waiting On Wednesday: Burn (Patrick Ness)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Burn

Author: Patrick Ness

Release Date: June 2, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary:

On a cold Sunday evening in early 1957, Sarah Dewhurst waited with her father in the parking lot of the Chevron gas station for the dragon he’d hired to help on the farm…

Sarah Dewhurst and her father, outcasts in their little town of Frome, Washington, are forced to hire a dragon to work their farm, something only the poorest of the poor ever have to resort to.

The dragon, Kazimir, has more to him than meets the eye, though. Sarah can’t help but be curious about him, an animal who supposedly doesn’t have a soul, but who is seemingly intent on keeping her safe.

Because the dragon knows something she doesn’t. He has arrived at the farm with a prophecy on his mind. A prophecy that involves a deadly assassin, a cult of dragon worshippers, two FBI agents in hot pursuit—and somehow, Sarah Dewhurst herself.

Add to Goodreads

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: I'm usually not one for dragons but I'm a sucker for protective creatures, and the story sounds uniquely fascinating! Add to it an assassin, a cult, and a Washington setting and I am seriously sold.

So what book are you waiting on this week?

Manga Review: Me & My Brothers Series (Hari Tokeino)

Title: Me & My Brothers
Author: Hari Tokeino
Volumes Reviewed: 11 (complete)
Publisher: Tokyopop
Release Date: July 2007 - March 2010
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Content Rating: Teen (kissing, thematic elements)
Format Read: Paperback
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | RightStuf *
Summary (from Volume 1):

One Lost Girl + Four Confused Brothers = A Whole Lotta Wackiness!

When Sakura, a fourteen-year-old orphaned girl, discovers she has four half-brothers, her world is turned upside down as they're all forced to live under one roof...

From international manga-ka Hari Tokeino comes a manga series that shows you can't choose your family--even though sometimes you might want to!

*          *          *

Me & My Brothers is an 11-volume teen romance series about forbidden love and family drama that follows the junior high/high school life of a girl who goes to live with her surprise four older stepbrothers and falls for the late-twenties oldest. Despite the 11-year age gap and whole falling in love with your (albeit unrelated by blood) brother issues, it's a sweet, first-love romance with a little awkwardness but all the cuteness.

Although Sakura's petite form and innocent nature made it difficult to accept her teen age, she had a kind of maturity that somewhat balanced out brother/romantic interest Masashi's immaturity and narrowed the mental age gap to make them a more acceptable couple. Meanwhile, cross-dressing romance novelist Masashi had quite the smothering sister complex and a penchant for appearing and acting more like Sakura's young mother than a romantic interest, but he was highly responsible and looked after his siblings with a fierce if easily over-excitable passion that you couldn't help adoring him for. The other three brothers, while they did have one or two focal chapters each, were sadly mostly relegated to supportive background parts. Still, they played important emotional roles in Sakura's growth and reining in the (initially underage) romance, and what little time they did get to shine was some of the best. (I really would've liked more Takeshi, though.)

Despite heavier subjects of parental loss, sibling separation, and unknown/found birth fathers, Me & My Brothers is an uplifting story of love and family. As the author's first series the art is a little sketchy, but the characters are amusingly expressive and I enjoyed all the side and background doodles. Recommend for romance lovers who don't mind a wide age gap (as long as it's legal).

Bonus Stories: Many of the volumes include bonus stories - some about the holidays, some about blossoming love, all sweet and not to be missed!

*Purchase Note: This series is currently out of print, but as of December 2019 volumes are still available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble Marketplace, and RightStuf - links at top.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

Pearl Pink Series by Meca Tanaka
That Wolf-Boy is Mine! Series by Yoko Nogiri
Strobe Edge Series by Io Sakisaka

Waiting On Wednesday: Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch (Julie Abe)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blogging event in which one spotlights an upcoming release they are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title: Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch

Author: Julie Abe

Release Date: August 1, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR

Summary:

A charming new middle-grade fantasy adventure, about a young witch whose pinch of magic just might be more than enough, perfect for fans of Kiki's Delivery Service and Aru Shah and the End of Time.

Sometimes all you need is a pinch of magic...

Eva Evergreen is determined to earn the rank of Novice Witch before she turns thirteen years old. If she doesn't, she'll lose her magic forever. For most young witches and wizards, it's a simple enough test:

ONE: Help your town, do good all around.
TWO: Live there for one moon, don't leave too soon.
THREE: Fly home by broomstick, the easiest of tricks.

The only problem? Eva only has a pinch of magic. She summons heads of cabbage instead of flowers and gets a sunburn instead of calling down rain. And to add insult to injury, whenever she overuses her magic, she falls asleep.

When she lands on the tranquil coastal town of Auteri, the residents expect a powerful witch, not a semi-magical girl. So Eva comes up with a plan: set up a magical repair shop to aid Auteri and prove she's worthy. She may have more blood than magic, but her "semi-magical fixes" repair the lives of the townspeople in ways they never could have imagined. Only, Eva's bit of magic may not be enough when the biggest magical storm in history threatens the town she's grown to love. Eva must conjure up all of the magic, bravery, and cleverness she can muster or Auteri and her dreams of becoming a witch will wash away with the storm.

Add to Goodreads

Why I'm Looking Forward To It: Misbehaving magic is one of my favorite tropes, and I adored Kiki's Delivery Service - sounds like just my kind of read! 

So what book are you waiting on this week?

Review: I Love You So Mochi (Sarah Kuhn)

Title: I Love You So Mochi
Series: standalone
Author: Sarah Kuhn
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Content Rating: Teen (kissing, a few surprise words of language)
Format Read: ARC
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary:

Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Kasie West, I Love You So Mochi is a delightfully sweet and irrepressibly funny novel from accomplished author Sarah Kuhn.

"As sweet and satisfying as actual mochi... a tender love story wrapped up in food, fashion, and family. I gobbled it up." -- Maurene Goo, author of The Way You Make Me Feel

Kimi Nakamura loves a good fashion statement.

She's obsessed with transforming everyday ephemera into Kimi Originals: bold outfits that make her and her friends feel like the Ultimate versions of themselves. But her mother disapproves, and when they get into an explosive fight, Kimi's entire future seems on the verge of falling apart. So when a surprise letter comes in the mail from Kimi's estranged grandparents, inviting her to Kyoto for spring break, she seizes the opportunity to get away from the disaster of her life.

When she arrives in Japan, she's met with a culture both familiar and completely foreign to her. She loses herself in the city's outdoor markets, art installations, and cherry blossom festival -- and meets Akira, a cute aspiring med student who moonlights as a costumed mochi mascot. And what begins as a trip to escape her problems quickly becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies.

In I Love You So Mochi, author Sarah Kuhn has penned a delightfully sweet and irrepressibly funny novel that will make you squee at the cute, cringe at the awkward, and show that sometimes you have to lose yourself in something you love to find your Ultimate self.

*          *          *

Three Words: Fun. Flirty. Fashion.

I Love You So Mochi is a sweet teen contemporary romance about first love and finding your passion. When Kimi must face the realization that the artistic dream she's been expected to follow may not be what she wants, she visits her grandparents in Japan and with the help of a cute boy goes on a quest of self-discovery and romance.

Despite dealing with heavier subjects of estranged relatives, parental expectations, and determining one's future in a week, Kimi's awkward but relatable voice made for a light and fun read that I easily breezed through. Her parentally-conditioned obliviousness to her passion for fashion was a little frustrating but understandable, and for the most part I enjoyed following her journey to finally realize it.

Sincere and resolute Akira was the absolute sweetest, and although their mochi-flavored romance moved way too fast for me - kissing barely halfway through - given the short time-frame I acknowledge that it had to move quickly to fit in plenty of swoons. Japan is a favorite country so I loved seeing the sights and cultural comparisons in Kyoto, especially from Kimi's fashionista perspective, and it was nice to spend time somewhere other than the typically-used Tokyo.

Conclusion: Although the story and romance moved a bit too fast, I really enjoyed Kimi's passion quest and her colorful visit to favorite Japan! Recommend for travel romance lovers, especially those with a passion for fashion.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

Other Reviews That Might Interest: 

Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud
Maybe This Time by Kasie West
What You Always Wanted by Kristin Rae

NaNoWriMo 2019

It's that time of year again: National Novel Writing Month is upon us!

This will be my 14th consecutive year participating (wow), and I plan to make it my 10th win. I'll be writing the 2nd in my 5-book sci-fi adventure series (Project HA2), and with a partial outline at the ready this draft may actually come out decent the first time (fingers crossed).

Because I will be writing 1,667 words every day this month, my blog may go a bit quiet during November. But I'll still try to post as much as I can, and hope you'll stick with me for many more novel and manga reviews to come!

To those of you who are also participating in Nanowrimo: good luck to us all, & happy writing!

The #FridayReads Review (11/1/19)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Cress by Marissa Meyer (PBK)

After my next read didn't work out (see DNF below), I couldn't help but go straight into the next Lunar book. Even for a paperback it's so heavy it hurts my hands, but the story continues to be engrossing. So excited to finally be continuing this amazing series!

Wild Ones vol. 7 by Kiyo Fujiwara (PBK)

Needed a manga fix so I decided to re-read this favorite 10-volume series for enjoyment and review. Such a fun and sweet story of young adult love with a humorous yakuza twist. Look for my review later this year!

>> DNF <<

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud (PBK)

DNF at Page 62. In brief summary, I had 4 problems with this book: the writing, the setting, the lack of initial backstory, and the dull voice. Although I can enjoy a good ghost story, I had to push myself to read as far as I did and just couldn't muster any interest in continuing Lucy's ghostly adventures. For my full DNF review, see here.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (PBK)

4 Stars (re-read). This wasn't quite as enjoyable as Cinder since my dislike for 3+ POVs has only grown over the years and this one has at least 6 (I eventually lost count), but I was still reluctant to put it down and burned through it in just a few days. Still as original, vivid, and engrossing as the first time I read it, I can't recommend it and Cinder highly enough. You can read my full original review here.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Fairest by Marissa Meyer (PBK)

So I guess I'm supposed to read this one before Winter? I'm really not crazy about Levana, but I'll give it a try.

So what are you reading this week?

Review: The Mediator Series 1-6 (Meg Cabot)

Titles (in order): Shadowland, Ninth Key, Reunion, Darkest Hour, Haunted, Twilight
Series: The Mediator Series, Books 1-6
Author: Meg Cabot (some originally released under Jenny Carroll)
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: November 1, 2000 - February 1, 2005
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Suspense
Content Rating: Older Teen (some language, violence, scary situations, sensuality, innuendo)
Format Read: Mass Market Paperback
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase: Azon | B&N | BookDepo | Indiebound
Summary (of Book 1):

Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way.

*          *          *

Series: This is a review of the first six books in the series, which comprise Suze's teen years and were originally the entire Mediator series. Meg has since released a seventh book, Remembrance, about Suze as an adult.*

The Mediator series was a favorite of my youth, discovered while browsing library shelves and delightfully devoured through my teens. It was such a favorite that I own an entire set and occasionally re-read them when I'm feeling nostalgic and in need of some classic snark.

The Voice: Mediator is essentially all about the voice. Meg does an amazing job of writing the mind of a teen, young but jaded after a lifetime of dealing with ghosts, who moves across the country to a life of "new"s: new coast, new family, new school, new friends, new loves, and naturally new people trying to kill her. Suze's first person point of view is chatty and telling and her naive yet bad girl flare really brings her story to realistic life despite the paranormal elements. Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Veronica Mars (if Veronica took up ghost hunting).

The Characters: Still, despite Suze's snark and butt-kicking abilities, I must note that she is not a bright girl. Foolish at her best and suicidal at her worst, she's a hit and insult first, try to reason with later kind of gal, and she doesn't see how this is not the best mediation technique. Her communication skills, especially with the dead, are abominable, and only with luck (and typically a trip to the hospital) is she able to accomplish her job in some semblance of the word. But you don't read these books for her mad mediating skillz. You read them for her quick wit, her sweet romance with Jesse, and her ghostly albeit violent adventures. They aren't pretty, but they're entertaining.

As for Jesse, the hot ghost who shares Suze's bedroom, it must also be noted that he sadly has very little screen time. This is a grave disappointment since he is the highlight of the series, but you learn to look forward to his brief scenes and enjoy what time he graces the story. And if you make it to the final book, you are at least rewarded with a lively, Jesse-centric climax.

But then there's Paul. Conceited, creeper Paul is unfortunately as important to the last three books as Jesse (even more so, really) and therefore gets a lot of skin-crawling screen time. Meg did her job of making him unlikable way too well, and it's very easy to find the boy as repulsive as poor Suze does. If you care enough about Jesse's fate to finish the series then he's an antagonistic element you just have to accept and bear.

The Books: The first three books are classic mediator Suze, kicking butt and getting bloody. She takes on the suicidal and murderous ex-girlfriend of her first school crush in Shadowland (1), faces off with a vampire and psychotic businessman in Ninth Key (2), and the first two plots combine for a vengeful teen foursome and psychotic killer in Reunion (3). Spooky and violent, these are quick, thrilling reads that introduce Suze and her paranormal world as she struggles with her new life and confusing feelings for Jesse. (Just be ready to forgive an excess of commas.)

In the last three books, Suze's mediating world expands as she discovers there's more to her gift/curse than she ever knew. She faces deadly ghosts and a backyard body in Darkest Hour (4), meets a very different kind of mediator in Haunted (5), and exploits a newly discovered (if rather illogical) power in Twilight (6). While 4 had its moments, 5 & 6 weren't as enjoyable with their abundance of obnoxious Paul and questionable new powers. But Suze and Jesse's relationship finally reaches its romantic conclusion, and the series ends on a sweet and hopeful note for everyone's future.

Conclusion: Despite the violent undead and psychotic living out for her blood, as well as too little Jesse and way too much Paul, after nineteen years the six-book Mediator series still remains a quick and snarky teen classic for me. Suze can be a serious idiot most of the time, with the living and dead alike, but she and her life are certainly never boring. Definitely recommend for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Veronica Mars.

*A Note About Book 7: Book 7 sees the return of Paul in all his evil glory, so if you despise him in the teen years as much as I did, I recommend you skip Suze's adult stories as I am.

Scribble Rating: 

3.5 of 5 Scribbles