The Midnight Show by Sarah Pennington (Review)

Where are my fellow fans of the Twelve Dancing Princesses fairytale? I’m here today with a review for a delightful retelling of that story, with a jazz-age twist, by one of my favorite up-and-coming fairytale authors!

Title: The Midnight Show

Author: Sarah Pennington

• Date read: September 27, 2020
• Rating: 5 stars
• Genre: Fantasy / Fairy Tale Retelling / Twelve Dancing Princesses
• Age: YA
• Year pub: 2020
• Pages: 152 (paperback)
• Fave character: Bastian
• Source: Amazon
• Notes: I received a free e-ARC of this book but ended up purchasing a paperback and reading that instead. XD All opinions are my own.
• Links: Goodreads • Amazon • Author’s Website

Sinister fey plots. The stage. Dreams. A clever detective. An exasperated singer. And a fabulous twist on my favorite fairytale.

I’ve loved this author’s previous fairytale retellings, so I was ecstatic to hear of a Twelve Dancing Princesses one! I loved this retelling! I love how it keeps to so many of the original tale’s features, but also makes it entirely its own thing. Making it a fantasy mystery was brilliant and I loved that take on it, with the detective and everything, so very much! It makes perfect sense. That was one of the neatest things about this story—how everything just made sense and fit so well together! (Always a fun thing when retellings do that.) Also, now I need more magical mysteries.

Set in a jazz-age setting, THE MIDNIGHT SHOW feels like the 1920s but in an invented world, which was so unique! I loved the “feel” so much. (There were also so many delicious foods and it made me hungry, so thanks for that. XD) I loved the mix of a ’20s-ish feel but also adding in magicalness and fey, all taken for granted as part of the world. So, so cool! I love somewhat-more-modern books where the magical part is just a part of the world.

No spoilers, but I also really loved the twist on the old woman and the invisibility cloak—Bastian’s helpfully magical items were awesome!

The mystery was deliciously creepy—again, hard to talk about without spoilers, but . . . *shivers* I almost didn’t want the book to end because I was afraid for my character friends and what might happen to them. XD Meep. The ending was fabulous, though! So many threads wrapping around to meet up and finish it off. Yesss. It was also sooo neat how dreams factored into the story! That was another thing, which I can’t get into much, that was super cool.

Dayo was a bit snappish (understandably) but she grew on me—one of my favorite scenes was her umbrella poking bit. XD (And I totally relate to her feeling of being at odds with Bastian’s morning self. XD) Bastian was fabulous and I loved his character. A great detective and a great guy, I loved his stick-to-it-ness (probably a real word for that, but anyhoo) and his ingenuity, and the occasional banter! They were both great leads.

I imagine people who are more into music, theater, jazz, etc., than I am, would probably enjoy it even more. ^_^

Since it was a short read, I almost wish there was more to this ’20s-ish world with its clubs and dashes of fey and barest hint of gangster-like stuff (and I would totally read more), but at the same time, this short book was like a perfect bite-sized window onto a rich world and it felt just right.

I totally recommend this as a quick, fun, intriguing read, with relatable characters and a delicious mystery, especially for anyone who loves the ’20s or the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Go read it! Go read it now!

---

More fairytale retellings by this author . . .

You may also like . . . (Fantasy Mysteries or Twelve Dancing Princesses)

---

Have you read any fantasy mysteries or Twelve Dancing Princesses retellings? Doesn’t this one sound intriguing? Let me know in a comment! Thanks for reading! 🙂

Advertisement

Happy Release Day! (Ahab & The Midnight Show)

Just want to give a quick shout-out to two books releasing today which I’m SUPER excited about!

Happy release day to AHAB (a Moby Dick retelling in space) by E.B. Dawson, and THE MIDNIGHT SHOW (a jazz-age Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling) by Sarah Pennington! ❤

I’ve been dying to read a novel-length version of E.B. Dawson’s space Moby Dick story ever since adoring The Voyage of Pequod and other sci-fi stories, and it’s finally here!

And I adore Sarah Pennington’s retellings, plus Twelve Dancing Princesses is my favorite fairy tale, so when I heard about this epic-sounding novella with mystery and fae and the jazz age, I got super excited!

I will hopefully be reviewing both of these books here when I get the chance, but I simply HAD to shriek about them and tell you all to go check them out! 😀

Ahab by E.B. Dawson

After a devastating interstellar war against the machines known as Mechanized Intelligence Cruisers, the Commonwealth is ready to return to normal life.

Captain Ahab is not.

Tired of being paraded around the capital as a war hero, Ahab finally secures a commission to hunt down the last remaining MICs in the outer planets.

He gets more than he bargained for with Moby Dick.

Ahab’s first encounter with the massive white MIC leaves Ahab without a ship and without a leg. Plagued by fever during his recuperation, Ahab becomes convinced that Moby Dick is a threat to the Commonwealth’s newfound peace. But his willingness to do whatever it takes to destroy the MIC leads his best friend and first mate Starbuck to wonder if their captain is in his right mind.

Amazon | Goodreads | Author Website

---

The Midnight Show by Sarah Pennington

This mystery is the case of his dreams — and her nightmares.

By day, Dayo Temitrope is a swinging singer, an up-and-coming star with a shining career ahead of her. By night, she’s . . . well, she’s not sure, but whatever she does leaves her every morning with sore feet and worn-out shoes. And after six months, she’s had enough.

Enter Bastian Dennell, a private investigator just trying to get by. When Dayo hires him to find out where she goes at night, he’s sure it’s his big break: his chance to establish himself and get the funds to pay off his family’s debt. Plus, he gets to work with his favorite singer, even if she isn’t exactly what he expected. What could be better?

But first he has to solve the case — which means navigating a tangled web of strange dreams, fair folk schemes, and show business. It will take all Bastian’s wits, along with the shining talents of Dayo herself, to figure out the truth before the curtains close for good on Dayo’s career.

A jazz-age-inspired twist on the Twelve Dancing Princesses from the author of Blood in the Snow.

Amazon | Goodreads | Author Website

---

Guys, be sure to check these out! Thanks for reading. ^_^

The Fairy Tale Tag #FantasyMonth

Today I’m excited to join in on the Fairy Tale Tag created by The Fairy Tale Central! They’re having a month-long celebration of fairy tales this February, and Jenelle Schmidt is hosting February is Fantasy Month, so I’m all here for all the fairy tale and fantasy goodness. *grins* Be sure to check both of them out!

THE QUESTIONS

– What’s an obscure fairy tale you love?

Can I get away with calling The Twelve Dancing Princesses obscure? No? *cough* Maybe the Six Swans. 🙂 Or East of the Sun, West of the Moon? Or Tam Lin?

– If you got to choose Disney’s next animated princess movie, what fairy tale would you choose to be adapted?

Twelve Dancing Princesses because it needs to be a movie and it would be super fun! Although it would have to be more like Tangled than like most of Disney’s princess movies. 😉

– What is the first fairy tale you remember hearing when you were a child?

Wow, what an excellent question. I don’t really know?? I do remember a neat Cinderella picture book we had . . . so maybe that? Or Beauty and the Beast? Or Snow White and Rose Red? Or The Twelve Dancing Princesses . . . I just kind of don’t remember a time BEFORE I knew fairy tales. XD

– If you were to embark on a fairy tale quest, what necessities would you pack in your bag?

*rubs hands together* Okay. I would definitely bring some kind of magically re-filling water jug (especially if I ended up in a desert). And one of those table-cloths that provides you with food when you put it out. Next up, certainly a journal and several pens, so I could make sure to record everything that happens. A hairbrush or comb (though I would make sure I didn’t get it from Snow White’s stepmother). A pair of seven-league boots (because obviously). A map (of course!). A pouch of gold and silver coins (probably hidden so that bandits won’t find them). A knife or two. And a small dragon who can ride in my bag and stick his head out and keep me company. There. I think those are the necessities…

– What’s your favorite fairy tale trope?

Not sure if it’s necessarily fairy tale specific, but I do love me a good missing-heir or return-of-the-rightful-king trope.

– If you could be any fairy tale character archetype (the princess, the soldier, fairy godmother, talking animal, mischievous imp, wise old woman, evil stepmother/sister, etc.), who would you want to be and why?

Again, not sure if this is fairy tale specific, or more fantasy-in-general, but I would love to be the librarian or bard (or both!) — or maybe scribe — so that I can hang out in the libraries or tell stories or record things.

– What animal/mythical creature would be your sidekick for fairy tale adventures?

A gryphon! Because they are underappreciated (even though dragons are cool) and have feathers, and are AWESOME, and I could ride it. I named my cat after a gryphon (from Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones), so yes.

– What is your favorite historical era, and what fairy tale would you love to see in that setting?

1700s because of the pistols and costumes and things. I was going to fall back on my usual answer of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but it seems that many of the retellings I’ve read DO have some sort of pistols-era as the setting . . . So I’m not sure.

Oh! Cinderella.

I am totally planning to do one with Cinderella either in a steampunk or fictional 18th-century-esque setting, where there’s a sort of revolution, and pistols and things, and Cinderella is a spy sent to gather intel on the prince. *grins*

– If you could change a fairy tale’s villain into a hero, who would you choose and why?

I’m usually content to leave the heroes and villains in their proper place . . . Does the Huntsman from Snow White count? I know he’s more of a minion/anti-hero, and people often turn him into a good character, but he has a lot of potential for that. 😛

– Do you prefer fairy tales with happy endings or sad/tragic endings? why or why not?

HAPPY ALL THE WAY. I associate happy endings with fairy tales and while not all of them are, I think it’s an important part of them. See also J. R. R. Tolkien’s essay On Fairy Stories, which includes important thoughts on Eucatastrophe and myth and so forth. But I think that we need happy endings, to remind us that good wins in the end and that we can keep going, instead of despairing because there’s no hope left. Life is sad enough without having to have tragedy in our fiction too, which should show us the potential of heroism and happy endings and all good things we can strive toward, and lift a burden from our shoulders as we read, instead of heaping another one on. That’s why I loathe sad/tragic endings, and why, while everyone is obviously entitled to their own opinions, I don’t intend to change my stance on them. Happy endings forever! 🙂

---

There you are! I hope you enjoyed this, and feel free to join in on the tag and share your link in the linkup (open through February) at this post!

The Stealthmaster’s Shadow by Hope Ann

The Stealthmaster’s Shadow is finally here!

Yep, it’s release day and I’m excited to share my review with you! 😀

It’s been ten confounded years since the war ended.

Verus, a retired soldier, determines to enforce the peace the victory ought to have brought. His wanderings bring him to the city of Nerva, a sprawling riverside chaos no other Stealthmaster will touch.

Commandeering the task of a former comrade, Verus presents himself to the governor and promises to search out hidden Subverters. The true reason for his actions he keeps to himself. After all, the tyrannical governor will hardly approve of lending aid to those pitted against him, but the Subverters need information. Maybe even weapons.

The wishes of the Subverters themselves are immaterial. They weren’t there during the war. They didn’t see the horrors Tauscher spread.

Verus has.

So has the new ambassador from Zahavia who strides through the great doors of the feasting hall, bringing Verus face to face with nightmares from his past.

As the simple mission dissolves into confusion, Verus struggles to help those he’s plunged into danger, from a serving lad to the infuriating woman he’s taken to calling “Princess.” Fleeing will only make the enemy stronger. But staying…

Staying could doom them all.

Click here to order now!

Add to Goodreads

---

Title: The Stealthmaster’s Shadow

Author: Hope Ann

• Date read: May 27, 2018
• Rating: 5 stars
• Genre: Fantasy / Retelling / Christian Fantasy / Twelve Dancing Princesses / Novella
• Age: New Adult
• Year pub: 2018
• Pages: 129 (Kindle)
  
• Series: Legends of Light, #4
• Fave character: Verus
• Source: The author
• Notes: I received a free e-ARC of this book from the author (thanks!) and these opinions are entirely my own.

Well, that was great!

Meet Verus. Verus is without a doubt my favorite thing about this novella. 😀 He is SO epic! A retired soldier (at… like… in his twenties; what can we say—the war’s over), he’s a Stealthmaster (something which is never fully explained but we basically get the idea) and totally lives up to such a name. He’s constantly sneaking around, lurking in shadows and picking locks and jumping off balconies and being snarky to everybody, and… he’s just epic and so, so much fun! I don’t know how he manages to be kind of grumpy AND all dramatic and sassy, but he is. Everyone’s kind of afraid of Stealthmasters with their mysterious ways (and his awesome cloak! Want.) but Verus at least has a heart of gold, and I loved reading about him, even as he wrestles with his past and learns through mistakes. Anyway, he’s my favorite and so much fun to read. 😀 WHAT a character. ❤

Essentially, reading this is worth it just for Verus. 😉 But it’s an intriguing tale, too, AND (wait for it) it’s a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses! Kinda. There aren’t twelve, and it’s not so much a retelling as an “inspired by,” but the hints and nods to the original were so fun and some were brilliant. It was like picking up clues! And they all made total sense, too. I loved how it was totally different and yet you could recognize bits and pieces of the fairytale, which also mixed well with the Christian allegory parts, largely involved with parallels of the early persecuted Church.

I’m pretty sure there’s a law somewhere that says all Twelve Dancing Princesses retellings must be dark. XD There wasn’t a bunch of scary magic or anything for this one, but some of it was kinda brutal… so be aware of that, if that sort of thing bothers you. Despite the snark and humor, a lot of it’s very intense and deals with some tough themes. It was also interesting how some of the story was told in flashbacks about Verus in the war.

The story is set about a decade after the other three Legends of Light novellas. I think one could read this one and enjoy it without having read those, but I did enjoy it extra since I had. There was a cameo appearance from one of my favorites! 😀 (Hi, Evrard! *waves enthusiastically*) So that was awesome. Most of the characters (like the “princess” character, who’s pretty stealthy in her own right, and a cute little boy, etc.) are new, and even if you haven’t read the first three, this one pretty much stands alone. 🙂

A few times I felt like things could have been explained better than they were and I kind of tripped up and didn’t have a clue what was going on (possibly due to the short length; it is a novella, after all), but I figured things out eventually and I just wish it could have been longer! I’d love to explore this neat palace setting and hang out with Verus and Adreana longer, but I was just relieved things turned out better than it looked like it would for a bit. XD Whew! Quite intense and exciting! With all kinds of mysteries and sneaking about.

Overall, aside from a couple minor things, it’s a fantastic read. And really, with a snarky hero who is incredibly epic (like, how often are people TRULY epic, I ask you?), a lot of witty dialog (I love funny things, okay?), and a Twelve Dancing Princesses theme (my favorite!), what is not to love? You’re definitely going to want to check this one out—I know I’m glad I did! 🙂 (But Verus though. This guy!) A great tale! ^_^

Some Favorite Quotes

Verus flung himself over the banister in one easy motion and landed in a crouch in the gloom of the stairs. The shadows flickered rapid greetings, but no soldier appeared to challenge him.

***

“If you can’t read the meaning of a locked door—”

“It wasn’t locked,” Verus said. “There was merely an obstruction to opening it. A fault I fixed. Without charge, I might add.”

***

“He does have a chimney.” Her eyes twinkled. “Of course, it might smudge your cloak—the latest fashion from Zahavia, I believe? I’d have mentioned it before now, but—”

“Oh, shut up.” Verus stalked back onto the balcony. “Which way?”

“Left. The balcony there.” Adreana pointed to a wide slab of rock several dozen paces away. “I assume you can do it?”

Verus tucked his cloak into his belt. “I hope that’s not an honest question.”

She smirked. “I’ll be waiting.” She paused at the door. “And thanks.”

Verus smiled faintly, then shook his head and forced his face back into grim lines. Botheration take the girl and all the rest. They were more trouble than they were worth. Most people were, in the end.

***

“Did you have to kill the armor?”

“Do you have to make such a racket?” Verus shut the door hastily and glanced to where the helmet hung askew on the frame. “Besides, it’s just a concussion.” He strode over and spun it back in place. “See? He’s looking better already.”

“Still a nasty dent.” Adreana turned up the lamps. “How hard did you hit the poor thing?”

***

“Escape plan?”

“You /did/ have one in place in case the rebellion of yours failed?”

“Why would I ever,” Verus spluttered. “That is what you are counting on?”

“Well, do you have one or don’t you?”

Verus scowled, then hesitated. “Of course I have an escape plan.” Of a sort.

***

“Let’s find your lady.”

“We can probably slip around by—she’s not my lady.” Verus cut himself off.

Diomed smirked.

Verus scowled. “I can maim you and leave you behind.”

---

About the author of the Legends of Light Series

Hope Ann uses chocolate to bribe a wide ring of spies, from the realm leapers of Aslaria to the double agents of Elkbend, for their stories. Based in Indiana, she is the self-published author of the Legends of Light series, personal writing coach, and the Communications Coordinator for Story Embers. You can find out more about her at authorhopeann.com

---

Check out my review for the previous novellas in the Legends of Light series, collected in the single volume Burning Rose:

---

Well? Are you intrigued? Doesn’t it sound funnn? 😉 Let me know what you think in the comments!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

Dream away in those pages . . .

~ The Page Dreamer / Deborah O’Carroll

The Stealthmaster’s Shadow: Cover Reveal! (A Twelve Dancing Princesses Retelling by Hope Ann)

Hey everyone! I’m delighted today to be helping to share the exciting COVER REVEAL for the next book in the Legends of Light series by Hope Ann!

You may remember me reviewing Burning Rose, which was a collection of the first three novellas in this fairytale retelling series with a dash of Christian allegory.

Well, now the 4th one is coming out soon, and I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED, because it’s a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling! And… I mean… hello, this is me we’re talking about, and in case you didn’t know, this is my FAVORITE fairytale and I’m obsessed with retellings of it. XD

SO YEAH.

This novella is titled The Stealthmaster’s Shadow (*cue shrieking because I love this title*) and now it’s time to reveal the gorgeous cover designed by Kate Flournoy!

Oh, whoops, just another snarky quote.

NOT SORRY.

Ahem.

Okay, okay, you’re here to see the cover, so I will finally share it. 😉

Now for the actual cover.

*drumroll*

.

.

.

.

.

It’s ten confounded years since the war ended.

Ten years since the Prince won the war and pardoned the rebels.

And left.

The Prince left, but lasting peace never had a chance to begin.

As a Stealthmaster, Verus is determined to complete the task the Prince left, whatever the cost. Traitors, needlessly vague governors, and threatening rumors are all part of a standard mission. Verus will bring peace to what is left of the world, one city and village at a time. According to the governor’s daughter, the war was never about a physical peace in the first place, but what does she or any of the other Followers know? They weren’t there during the war.

They didn’t see the horrors Tauscher spread over the land or the scars that will never fade.

Commandeering the task of a former soldier, Verus presents himself to the governor of Nerva. Eventually he’ll need to undermine the man, but even Stealthmasters need money, and a mission to discover the owner of a misshapen slipper shouldn’t be difficult.

Until the ambassador from Zahavia appears.

Suddenly face to face with nightmares from the past, Verus struggles to help those plunged into danger, from the governor’s newest prisoner to a serving lad to an infuriating woman he’s taken to calling princess. Fleeing will only make the enemy stronger. But staying…

Staying could doom them all.

Coming June 1, 2018

Click here to preorder now!

Add to Goodreads!

EEP. I LOVE THE COVER. I’m really, really excited for this book. 😀

In the words of Hope Ann herself: “Seriously. Go preorder it before you forget. Unless you have doubts about sarcasm, danger, and a cover that cool. Or if you don’t have money. That might make preordering it a little difficult too.”

Hope Ann uses chocolate to bribe a wide ring of spies, from the realm leapers of Aslaria to the double agents of Elkbend, for their stories. Based in Indiana, she is the self-published author of the Legends of Light series, personal writing coach, and the Communications Coordinator for Story Embers. You can find out more about her at authorhopeann.com

So, what do you think? Thoughts on the cover, the TITLE, the blurb? The fact that it’s coming out sooon (*grabby hands*)? …The fact that it’s a TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES RETELLING?? HALP I’M SO EXCITED.

Talk to me in the comments! 😀

Thanks for reading! ^_^

Dream away in those pages . . .

~ The Page Dreamer / Deborah O’Carroll

Random News + Nightstand Books {September 2017}

Hey, my Pagelings! Time for some random news and September’s Nightstand Books! 🙂

RANDOM NEWS

It’s my Blogoversary + A Giveaway!

Yes indeed, I’m celebrating the 4th blogoversary of my other blog, The Road of a Writer, with an epic giveaway of a few fantasy books, so check it out if you haven’t! ^_^

Interviewed + Testing the Freelance Waters

I’m stepping into freelance copy-editing and web-designing, and was interviewed by Emily Ann Benedict! 🙂

Other News

So, you know those random news-bits that aren’t enough to actually POST about but you want people to know? I usually post such things on my Twitter so follow me there because I’m fun or sometimes my Goodreads… But a couple of fun things I wanted share here today…

Remember when I reviewed that modern fantasy book Masters and Beginners by Daley Downing? Well it has a shiny new cover by Kyle Shultz, and is now available on Barnes & Noble.

Also, I’d like to mention that one of the books listed below as next-to-read, is a collection of novellas, and you can get one of those as well as a novelette prequel, for free. 🙂

Free thing…

Rose of the Night by Hope Ann is a novelette prequel, available for free for signing up for her newsletter, here.

And another…

Rose of the Oath is a Beauty and the Beast retelling by Hope Ann, available for free download on Amazon and elsewhere.

NIGHTSTAND BOOKS

Aaand on to Nightstand Books, a blogging meme created by Jenelle Schmidt and DJ Edwardson — to share and be excited about the books we’re reading each month!

It’s usually the first Wednesday of the month, but sometimes I’m late never late, Frodo Baggins, nor am I early; I arrive precisely when I mean to. *cough*

(Join in here if you want!)

The titles below link to Goodreads.

September Nightstand

Most of the books this month are digital ones, but here’s a few on the physical nightstand…

• The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Ellen Miles — I picked this up at a library sale recently and couldn’t resist reading it right away! Super short and cute read, an enjoyable mostly-traditional version of my favorite fairytale. I did like the couple of tweaks though! 🙂 And it was just generally… fun. *shrug* 4 stars
• Wanted: A Superhero to Save the World by Bryan Davis — Look for a review of this one next week as part of the blog tour! I’ve only read one other superhero novel, and I don’t read Middle-Grade too often, so I’m excited for this because it’s different for me and fun, plus Bryan Davis. 😀
• Mind Writer by Mike Lynch and Lisa Godfrees — I was given a copy of this and am trying to catch up on things I should review, so I’d like to read it soon. ^_^ It looks more sci-fi-y than my usual reading-zone, so that’s going to be interesting. Sometimes that’s enjoyable though, to try new things! 🙂

Digital Nightstand

• The Beast of Talesend by Kyle Robert Shultz (audiobook) — Re-reading (listening to?) this as an audiobook. SO GOOD! ❤ I absolutely LOVE the British accent of the narrator! 😀 Read my original review HERE — audiobook review coming soon. 5 stars
• Scars of War by Hazel B. West (Modern Tales of Na Fianna, #3) — I’ll be reviewing this one on my other blog in a few days as part of the blog tour, and I’m super excited! This book was so fun! 😀 *hugs it* 5 stars
• Ewan Pendle and the White Wraith by Shaun Hume — Fascinating and quite fun so far (over half through); expect a review once I finish! 🙂
• Burning Rose by Hope Ann — I shared the cover reveal for this one and will be reviewing it for the blog tour the first week of October. So excited to read this collection of fairytale retelling novellas! 🙂 (This is the collection of novellas in which the above listed free Rose of the Oath and Rose of the Night are collected.)
• Disowned by Sarah Addison-Fox — Another review book, this YA Christian non-magical-Fantasy book sounds quite intriguing, so I’m excited to try it. ^_^

Not pictured:

• And a couple of beta-read projects for friends, which I hope to finish this month, or next month at latest…

Don’t know if some of these will be moving to next month, as usual… But I do have a lofty goal to finish all my review and beta books before NaNo hits. So. Yes. Either way, hopefully I’ll have these all done eventually!

I do have another stack of books off to one side that I really, really want to read, if I catch up on review books… but I didn’t share those since I have no idea when I’ll get to them. XD

August Nightstand: Take 2

On that subject, August’s nightstand looked less like I thought it would be in my last Nightstand post, and more like this:

(Find them on Goodreads here.)

• The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien — LOVED this re-read! ❤
• Beren and Luthien by J.R.R. Tolkien — So enjoyable and awesome! ❤
• The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge — I adored this to BITS. ❤ Everyone needs to read it.

• Perception by Emily Ann Benedict — My Review. Now I need the next Vintage Jane Austen book! 🙂
• An Earthly King by Hazel B. West — This re-read was a delight! 😀 [Last year’s review.]
• Magicians’ Trial by H.L. Burke — My Review. Aaand now I need more Spellsmith & Carver…
• Yorien’s Hand by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt — I absolutely LOVED re-reading this, so I’m finally caught up on the series AND NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW. ❤ [Last year’s review.]

Not pictured:

• Plus the picture books listed in the original post. ^_^
• And beta-reading the sequel to Masters and Beginners by Daley Downing. I need it to be finished/published please… 😀

So sometimes I’m totally wrong about what I’ll be reading, but hey, all of those were awesome, so. 😉

ANYWAY. There’s some stuff that’s been up lately, an update on my August nightstand (whoops), and my projected September nightstand. So now you know ALL the bookish things in my life. XD

What are you reading these days? 🙂

Thanks for reading! ^_^

Dream away in those pages . . .

~ The Page Dreamer / Deborah O’Carroll