Thursday, February 6, 2014

Book Review: Harry Potter: A Guide to Hogwarts by H.P. Meredith

First of all, thank you to Harry Meredith and the fine folks at Tablo Publishing for sending this e-book my way. The Harry Potter series was the series that got me back into reading. It had been a long time since I had sat down and read a book and then in the summer of 2003 I cracked open this series and haven't looked back. So, I was excited to get a book regarding Harry Potter.

Harry Potter: A Guide to Hogwarts is an excellent resource material for any Harry Potter fan. This is one of the most in depth books that I have seen on the series. It covers characters, spells, creatures/beasts, potions, history of Hogwarts, and the list goes on. You will be astonished at how much you don't know about Harry Potter. For instance, do you remember what Murtlamp Essence is for? If not, then this book is for you.

I had a great time going back through and reacquainting myself with all things Harry Potter. This book is well written and has wonderful full color pictures. This is a must have for any Harry Potter enthusiast.

This book is available via ibooks.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Book Review: The Secret Seekers Society and the Beast of Bladenboro by J.L. Hickey

Secret Seekers Society and the Beast of BladenboroSecret Seekers Society and the Beast of Bladenboro by J.L. Hickey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The first thing that I love about it is the title. Who doesn't like secret societies and beasts? The author does a great job of hooking you before you even open the book. It's also a vague enough title that you have no idea what you are really getting into. I like the mystery and intrigue that that causes.

The plot of this book was wonderful. It wasn't predictable and and there weren't a ton of slow moving parts. He did a great job of moving the story along. At the same time, he didn't rush the story either. It's got great balance and enough twists and turns to keep you wanting more. This is the first book in quite a while where I was disappointed when I had to put it down to go do something else.

The characters in this book are relatable and not outlandish in their situations in life. Plus there are enough different characters that just about anyone can find someone to relate to in this book. I loved that the characters were so well developed. They weren't over-developed, which I hate. I didn't have to suffer through pages and pages of what the person wears or what they eat or what their favorite color is. Mr. Hickey does a fantastic job with his character building.

The readability of this book was great. As I said earlier, the pacing was good and the suspense building was wonderful. I think he really nailed it with this book. It's a page turner for sure.

As far as genre goes, anyone who likes fantasy and mystery would love this book. Also, fans of great writing will love this book as well. I can't wait to read the sequel.

Overall Rating: 5/5

View all my reviews