The Night Circus by Erin Morgerstern is a adult literary fiction and fantasy novel that follows two main protagonists, Ceila and Marco, who are competing against one another at a magical circus and try not to fall in love.
It took me awhile to get through The Night Circus not because it bad at all but because its a fairly slow book and I needed things that were fast paced at the time. The book is beautifully written and would be a good book for those who might not be fantasy readers. The main story covers multiple characters and time frames but focuses on the circus that all the main character live and work at which is where all the magic is.
Though Ceila and Marco are being pitted against each other because of a challenge their magical teachers have constructed they don’t have much of a real conflict with each other. Their story is more of show casing their magic and through learning more about each other trying not to fall in love.
Though the plot revolves around the circus, its traveling and how this contest has trapped all those who work at the circus the real focus of the book is about the stories we tell and the power they have.
I absolutely loved the Night Circus but I think I would have loved it even more if I hadn’t been in a slump and I look forward to reading it again.
The first book I read was The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era by Gareth Russell. This book uses the lives and history of six first class passengers on Titanic to illustrate how society and the world worked in the era of Titanic and how the sinking is often seen as wake up call for the changes that are coming. Well researched and written but some parts were a little boring since I went into the book thinking it would be more about Titanic than the society that built her. However, still a good book and one I would recommend for those who have researched Titanic before.
The second book I read in February was the Sailor Moon manga Eternal Edition vol. 1. I have started to collect these editions of the series and I’m reading each volume as I get it. Sailor Moon is one of my favorite manga and anime series so I loved reading it again. My only criticism in this first volume is at time that story seem almost too fast paced. As a reader you don’t get a lot of time with each new character before another one is introduced but given where I know the series goes its not that big of an issue.
The last book I read was The Little Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. So I say I “read” this but really I watched a YouTube video where the story was read and the pictures where shone. I read it this way because the book is very hard to obtain copies of and I didn’t know I existed before. This is a little kids picture book that simplifies the story of Stormdancer the first book in the Lotus Wars series by Jay Kristoff. Its very cute and I would love to own a copy one day.
I won an advanced copy of this book through Goodreads.
The first book I read was Bad Blood by John Carreyrou. This book is the nonfiction account of Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes who scammed thousands of people with the idea that her technology and company was revolutionizing blood testing. A well written book about an int resting topic however, sometimes that writing got a little technical about science and how it was supposed to work so those sections were a little boring.
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher is the third book in the Dresden Files series. The series really picks up in this book and finds it footing. There is more information given about the world and how magic and the supernatural mix with the modern world. The story focuses on a ghost/demon who is trying to get revenge on Harry Dresden for defeating him several months ago. This plot is also connected to Harry’s godmother, a fairy, who he has made deals with in the past and the courts of the vampires. Jim Butcher’s writing gets much better in this book. I loved the new characters that are introduced and the higher stakes that the characters are involved in.
The last book I read in January was A Night to Remember by Walter Lord. A Night to Remember is one of the most famous accounts of the sinking of the Titanic. Using information from multiple sources Walter Lord puts the reader in the shoes of someone on the ship which is very powerful. This is a great book for anyone interested in the Titanic or the history of books written about the sinking.
The last book that I read in December was The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem by Stacy Schiff. This is a nonfiction book about the Salem witch trials and how the witch trials came to be. The author not only dicusses the actual witch trials but also the life of a Puritan adolescent and how the life style could lead to the events that took place. Not the best nonfiction book I’ve read because while the information is interesting sometimes the writing and how that information is given can be boring. Though it is a good resource for anyone interested in the Salem witch trials and those looking into the time period.
The first book I read was on audio. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher is the second book in the Dresden Files series. When I started the Dresden Files I didn’t plan on continuing with the series. The first book wasn’t bad but I didn’t love it. However, there is something about these books that I haven figured out yet that makes me keep thinking about the characters and the world. I found parts of the book very good but other part kind of boring though I do plan to continue with the series at this point. In this book Harry is investigating several murders that look like they could have been commited by a type of werewolf.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a graphic novel series following a young woman named Sabrina and her growing up as a witch. This is the series the Netflix show is based on and from what I’ve seen of the show I thought I would like the graphic novel but I just didn’t. I didn’t have any problem with the story but overall I found it a bit boring and a little more graphic than I was expecting. I don’t want to spoil anything but the implication at the end of the book with what Sabrina did to try and help Harvey I really had issues with. I don’t intend to continue with this series.
Apocalypse Scenario #683: The Box by Mira Grant is a short story about five friends that play the Apocalypse Game with each other. In this game each person creates a scenario where the world is going to end and the others decided what they would do and how they would survive. However, this time one of the friends is missing but still finds a way to play but this time the stakes might just be the world. I very good short story in line with Mira Grants other work. I do wish it was longer as I would love to know what all the characters decided at the end.
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann is a historical nonfiction book about the murders in the Osage Indian Nation in the 1920s and the creation of the FBI. During this time multiple members of the Osage tribe where being killed without many people noticing or caring. When the death toll reached a certain point the newly created FBI got involved in the case that became their first major homicide investigation. These murders where carried out many people of the community in an attempt to gain access to the oil head rights owned by the tribe. The book contains information both on the events happening in Oklahoma with the tribes and the general creation of the FBI but puts more focus on what was happening in Oklahoma and the investigation here. A fairly quick read but is probably more interesting to those who already study this history or want to know more. 
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll is a graphic novel of creepy and scary short stories. None of the stories are incredibly scary but are very atmospheric and its a great read for October around Halloween. The illustrations are beautiful and the stories stick with you as they invoke images and stories from childhood.
The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller is a young adult historical fiction novel following the life of the Russian royal family the Romanov’s. The book is written from the perspective of the four daughters of the Tsar: Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. The book starts when their lives are great during their childhoods and progresses through World War I and the Russian Revolution. Though it is written for a young adult audience the book does not shy away from the tragedy that befell this family. Well written and researched for the right audience.. As an adult there where parts that felt a little too young and bored me at times.
Sadie by Courtney Summer is a young adult mystery novel about a girl named Sadie who disappeared after her sisters death. Sadie is attempting to bring her sisters killer to justice by finding him and killing him herself. When radio host West McCray hears about Sadie, he starts a podcast retracing Sadie’s steps to find out what happen and maybe find her. I read this as an audio book which is amazing. The story is incredibly gripping and makes you want to finish it but the topics the story handles makes it hard to read. As you see what Sadie did to try to protect her sister Mattie from a man who just wanted to hurt them. About two hours to the end of the audio book was the hardest part to finish, I wanted to know what would happen but I was worried about Sadie and I just wanted her to be okay. If you can, try the audio book as it is very well done.
The last book that I read this month was Doctor Who: The Secret Lives of Monsters by Justin Richards. This is a coffee table type book with information and pictures about the monsters in Doctor Who and how they were created. Its written in a way that both acts like these monsters are real but also talks about how they were created for the show with behind the scenes information. Good book for anyone who is a major fan of Doctor Who.
Empath: A Complete Guide for Developing Your Gift and Finding Your Sense of Self by Judy Dyer is a nonfiction book on Empaths and being empathetic. This was suggested to me by a friend who thought that I might see myself in this book and get something out of it. I read it as part of Amazon’s Prime Reading which I’m glad because I didn’t get much out of it but its a very fast read. It has interesting information but unless you believe that your are an empath the book is not that useful.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern follows two magicians competing in a competition at a magical traveling circus and the love story that must defy the odds. It book is beautifully written but very slow moving. I took me much longer that most books to finish but I think that was do to being in a slump as I loved the book. The story takes place over the course of many years and each chapter notes what year it is as the story is not told completely liner and there are section written in second person perspective to pull the reader into the magic of the story. The blurb on the back of the book makes it sound like a fast pace adventure but the story is really about magic and the magic of belief. This is one of my new favorite books.
101 Things You Though You Knew About the Titanic but Didn’t by Tim Maltin is a nonfiction book about the Titanic and the sinking of the ship. It was a very easy read with sections with major topics that all the information is connected to. The book is exactly what the title says its a list of information about the Titanic with explanations. Great for any one interested in learning more about the Titanic as the information is well presented and easy to understand. However, if you have researched the Titanic before you might know most of the information presented.
The first book I read was Harry Potter: A Journey Through A History of Magic. This book gives information on the history of magic in our real world and things that inspired J K Rowling. It beautifully illustrated and includes some new and interesting information that I didn’t know. However, this book specifically feels more geared to younger readers and includes activities for kids.
The next was Harry Potter: A History of Magic which is almost the same book as A Journey Through A History of Magic. However, this one is written for a older audience as there is more general information. Its better organized with wonderful photos and artwork to add to the experience of the book. Both of these books are more coffee table books designed for their aesthetics more than the information contained within. However, they are wonderful books for any Harry Potter fan.
The last book I read in August was Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I read this as an audio book which is not my preferred format for reading but works very well with this story. Daisy Jones and The Six is setup in an oral history/interview style of writing and follows the story of the rise of the band The Six and their album with Daisy Jones. Beautifully written the story feels like a real band from the 70’s and all the things associated with being in a rock band. The interview style allows the reader to get both the general information and story as well as deep insight of each of the band members feelings and how everyone perceives events differently. Daisy Jones is both an amazing and tragic character and I loved her interactions with the rest of the characters especially Billy Dunne and Karen.
Night Owl Reviews 