April Reading List \\ The Book of Time Adventures in Samarkand Gate

Hey! Long time no post. It's been an absolutely crazy few weeks, which is why my monthly book review(s) post is late. I combined both March and April's lists because I didn't read much either month. 

Wordsmithy 

by Douglas Wilson

A short book about writing and the writing lifestyle. I really enjoyed it (especially Douglas Wilson's humor. One of my favorite jokes ever is in this book :D ), and it is among the top of the list of books that have impacted my writing the most. He's down to earth, not afraid to tell aspiring writers they're doing it wrong, and uses that to make you motivated. It is also definitely the kind of book that you would get more out of reading it two or three times. I indubitably will. 5 stars. 

The Time Fetch 

by Amy Herrick

I WANT A SEQUEL NOW. Ahhhh. I loved this book so much. It left my heart feeling squeezed and sore and perfectly drooling for more. It's got time travel, fairy tales, magic, school drama and creepy villains--but that's not why I loved it. Actually, the plot was a little wonky, and the pacing odd. But as I was saying--I loved it for the characters. Edward, the main character, was awesome. I found a really original kind of spirit in him that really stuck with me. Feenix, second main character, was very cool, and not the typical "bad girl" or "good girl". She was unique, and a perfect foil to Eddie. I heard a rumor Amy Herrick may be working on a sequel and I REALLY REALLY HOPE THAT'S TRUE. 4 1/2 stars, only because the pacing was a little off, and Edward was a devout atheist, which was annoying (but also added to his character. It's complicated...)
(There were a few instances of taking the Lord's Name in vain, that was it.)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

by Mark Twain

Pure awesomesauce in 200 pages. This is one of the few classics I really enjoyed reading. I'm not usually one for just fiction--but this was an exquisite pleasure to read. And it's not just because I relate to Tom, living out in the country. :) Both fast paced and laid back, absolutely worth every minute. 5 stars, definitely! (They do take the Lord's Name in vain several times, and there is a scary murder involved.)

The Book of Time (Book of Time #1)

by Guillaume Prevost 

I picked this up at McKay's for $2. I started the book not at all impressed. It sounded like it was written for eight year olds. But the longer I read, the less rocky it got, and the author's voice finally settled in my head. It was still gut-churchingly juvenile (the dude used at least three exclamation marks in a single paragraph. No kidding.) but the story grew more and more intriguing, and I was starting to like the main character, Sam. Sam's father disappeared two weeks ago, and no one seems overly concerned. One day, Sam goes into their basement and finds a secret wall hiding a strange stone beyond. Next to the stone is a strange coin with a hole in the middle. Oddly enough, it fits exactly into a crevice in the stone. Instantly, Sam is thrown back in time, and, consequently, thrust head-first into a hunt for his father that involves monks, World-War I, mummies and Dracula. By the end of the book, I was intensely invested and immediately went and bought the sequel on Amazon. 3 1/2 stars, for various reasons, but still a very fun/short read. (They do take the Lord's name in vain a few times, and there is a minor curse word once or twice. Also, talk about drugs.)

The Gate of Days (Book of Time #2)

by Guillaume Prevost

Just as good as the first, if not better. This time, Sam has to battle Chicago mobsters, neanderthals and medieval soldiers while trying to discover the meaning behind the strange horn-and-sun symbol that has been following him through his time travels. It was a great follow-up to the first one, much better written, and Sam finally smartened up. 4 stars. (Again, a few minor curse words and taking the Lord's name in vain. Also more drug talk and descriptions of different kinds of medieval torture.)

The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy #1)

by Jonathan Stroud

I was not expecting much, so I was really surprised when I ended up absolutely loving this. I picked the series up on a whim, without any previous research, from the library. The titles caught my eye, and I decided to try them out. The writing is surprisingly well done, the author has a very extensive vocabulary, and it brings a high level of class. His character, a dijinn called Bartimaues is a witty, snappy demon summoned by a young magician, Nathaniel, to help him take revenge on a powerful magician who humiliated him two years ago. 
Despite the vengeance agenda of the book, I really liked it, and the plot. The characters were the best part, though, especially Nathaniel. He's original, he's got depth. A twelve-year-old cross between a psychopath, a mastermind, an awkward teenager and, in the end, a hero. He's selfish and insufferable and annoying, but in a surprisingly un-annoying way. I give it 4 1/2 stars. (There is two or three minor curse words, a few instances of taking the Lord's name in vain, and some rather... uh, shall we say, colorful sentences now and then.)
--And just a side note, I am extremely annoyed at the people who say that this series steals from Harry Potter. The only resemblance between the two is that the conflict revolves around magicians in England. The similarities end there. 

Have any of y'all read these? Let me know what you thought of them if you did.

I've been finding many more good books lately, which is very nice. If you have any suggestions, I'm always open! I love getting recommendations. 

Tiredly-Because-It's-Eleven-Thirty-At-Night,
~The Scribbler in the Attic