M.L. Little

It is not often I find fantasy books this well-written, laugh-out-loud humorous, fast-paced, atmospheric and vivid. The Book of Secrets makes use of clever wordplay, consistent world-building and an all-pervasive sense of wonder. This novel takes a headlong approach to fantasy, launching you into the world quickly and thoroughly. I found the characters engaging and the environment thick with imagery. I became so immersed in the story that the sense of place took over my awareness of my surroundings. This is a book where the details matter. An accumulation of precise detail, even during action scenes, shows the skill of the author, who has a rhythmic narration.
Right away, the reader will recognize many fantasy tropes, like magical creatures and magical books, far-fetched contraptions, and frolicsome communities of wizarding riff-raff, but as you read on, I think you will realize that the author puts her own spin on things. There is nothing wrong with fashioning a world resembling the ones we have seen elsewhere, in bits and pieces. It makes the setting relatable and approachable. It actually helps to visualize the facets quickly, knowing what a troll looks like, for instance, without having to be told.
The sentences are on the longer side, but the author’s command of language is such that there was never a lack of clarity or precision. The action flows smoothly, but there is enough dialogue to create organic scenes, unexpected intense sequences, and heartfelt moments. The sense of humor throughout is like nothing I’ve seen before. At first it reminded me of Terry Pratchett but it emanates from every inch of the page and isn’t quite as satirical. The world is illuminated by light-hearted touches, and the characters blend right in with it.
You can quote any paragraph from the book and immediately see that the varied sentence structure, rich plethora of nouns and action verbs combine for a rewarding reading experience. What is important for me is the experience of reading a story. The story can take all kinds of twists and turns, many of which I won’t be able to remember in the long run, but what sticks with me is how I felt while reading it. If it allowed me to escape the mundane everyday universe, I consider it a successful piece of writing.
Perhaps what is most relatable about this story are the characters. I’ve found that a lot of novels these days have boring children in them. Since when do kids sit still, quiet, only occasionally getting up to antics? The children characters in Book of Secrets are depicted like living, breathing kids, who gallop and fib, freak out and react to the enchanting world around them. In this way they are endearing and realistic.
I plan to read other books this author writes in the future.
… (mer)

Returning readers will recognize the author's playful, colorful prose for this follow up to her delightful Book of Secrets. The magic of this world is both charming and integral. Enchantment lurks in every crevice and the world is full of rich set pieces and detailed characters who possess forceful personalities and depth. I sank into the atmosphere of the book immediately and didn't want to leave it. Obviously, I'm on board for the third installment.

With her large cast of delightful characters and variety of magical creatures, the pacing offers a great deal of exploration and innocent fun at first. The conflicts of nations and the darker themes of war intrude as the plot progresses. Through integrated world-building that draws you into the story, our heroes meet their challenges with moving courage and teamwork. The relationship development and interactions are both charming and touching. The action is effective and relentless toward the end, making for a thrilling conclusion to the second part of the series. The stakes are high as ever, but since we've gotten to know the protagonists so well, the personal and larger stakes resonate with each other. Perhaps most impressive of all are the mouth-watering details, which do more than paint a picture - they place you in the world, in the middle of the conflict and create a riveting suspense throughout.

The book contains many worthy themes and messages about working together and encouraging each other in tough times, weathering the conflicts and strife society offers and prevailing with courage and perseverance. The variety of characters is often shown through idiosyncratic dialogue in which the personality, curiosity and motivation of the characters are present. You see them grow and interact while none of them hogs the attention too much. It makes for a balanced and entertaining read from a talented writer. I look forward to following the author's career in the future.… (mer)