This Raging Light

Title: This Raging Light
Author: Estelle Laure
Original Publication Date: December 22nd, 2015
Original Price: $17.99 (hardcover)
Number of Pages: 288
Starkiller Rating: ★★★★✫

Quick Synopsis: After a series of events that Lucille could not control, she is left to care for her younger sister and herself, all while juggling high school, and her first love.

I’m not sure how I feel about that synopsis but it’s what I came up with. I received and ARC edition of this book and instantly was drawn to it. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. Very simple but very eye-catching.

This is Estelle Laure’s debut novel and I must say that it’s quite a debut. It tackles some intensely deep themes and issues that people can sometimes gloss over. There are themes of abandonment and even mental health in not only adults but adolescents as well.

All of this was woven into a highly realistic love-story. I won’t give much detail but I must say, similar things have happened to me and I really felt for Lucille throughout the book. However, there isn’t just one “love-story” in this book. There is the “typical” romance, but then there is also a sisterly love story, and the love between best friends. All three of these stories are remarkable.

Laure has a wonderful way with words. I never full expect to highlight when I read but it always ends up happening. This book was exactly the same. There were so many absolutely lovely quotes that I just had to highlight and save for later.

How does a person go from being like a decorative component in the house that is your life — a nice table, perhaps–to being the pipes, the foundation, the center beam without which the entire structure falls apart? How does a barely noticeable star become your very own sun? (13-14)

(note, this quote was taken from an ARC edition of This Raging Light by Estelle Laure, published in 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

The Ice Dragon

Title: The Ice Dragon
Author: George R.R. Martin
Original Publication Date: 1980
Original Price: $14.99 (Hardcover)
Number of Pages: 121
Starkiller Rating: ★★★★✫

Quick Synopsis:The Ice Dragon is a tale of courage and sacrifice that follows young winter , Adara, and an unlikely ally. Set in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire.

I saw this gorgeous cover and was curious. I am one of the few people left in the world that neither read nor watches the Game of Thrones series. I’ve had countless people recommend it to me but a part of me is intimidated and a little put off by the length. When I saw this beautiful book and the short length of it, I wanted it.

Fast forward a while and I found it on good old, bookoutlet. Of course, I ordered it and read it the day it arrived. I’m so glad I did.

I loved George R.R. Martin’s writing style. I have no idea how it differs from the A Song of Ice and Fire series and the world building/writing style there. As this book was published with child readers as it’s target audience, adults will learn of few things from the multiple meanings and themes laced throughout this short tale.

When reading this, I had no idea it was a re-release of a book he had published in the 1980’s, but this re-release, is legitimately stunning. It has art by Luis Royo and let me tell you, each piece is as, if not more, gorgeous than the last. I have no idea if Royo was a part of the original publication but I hope he was.

I loved this book and truly believe everyone should read it, especially fans of Game of Thrones.

Monster High

Title: Monster High
Author: Lisi Harrison
Original Publication Date: September 1st, 2010
Original Price: $16.99 (Hardcover)
Number of Pages: 255
Starkiller Rating: ★★★★✫  (3.75/5)

Quick Synopsis: The descendants of famous horror film monsters are going to high school!

I’m actually a pretty big fan of the Monster High brand. I’ve always been into scary movies and monster make up so the movies and dolls are to die for.

I enjoyed the differences between the books and the world I already knew very well. However, I couldn’t find myself acclimating to the differences. I would find myself saying things like “He doesn’t look like that.” or “She would never say that.”

So it was different in those senses. After getting over that though, the book is perfect for Middle Grade readers and younger teens that are going into High School. It tackles some themes of feeling left out and coming into your own. And I loved those themes because I could totally relate to not feeling comfortable in my own skin.

It was an extremely fun read but at times felt a little too juvenile for me.

Nightmares!

Title: Nightmares!
Author: Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
Original Publication Date: September 9th, 2014
Original Price: $17.99 (Hardcover)
Number of Pages: 368
Starkiller Rating: ★★★★★

Quick Synopsis: A boy must face his fears to save those he loves.

Oh my gosh. I can’t fully express how much I really liked this book. I don’t usually shy away from celebrity authors, in fact, I seek them out. I just tend to always purchase celebrity authors because I’m just a naturally inquisitive person. I’m just curious to see what they can/would write about. I guess it’s just me being a judgmental B..anyway, I digress.

I’m so glad I got this. This is another book I regret not reading the second i got it. It’s absolutely perfect for middle grade readers. It attacks some very important and meaningful themes head on.

Throughout all the horror (that I found adorable, but some things were plain creepy) there was a very distinct core of family to the story. I would definitely suggest this to not only any child but any adult hat has lost a parent (in more ways than just death), because it is highly relatable.

There are very definite underlying themes that ill catch you right in the feels.

Love.

Coraline

I have a pic of this somewhere, I swear.

Title: Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
Original Publication Date: August 4th, 2002
Original Price: $6.99 (paperback)
Number of Pages: 162
Starkiller Rating: ★★★✫✫

 

Quick Synopsis: Coraline Jones goes through a tiny door in her new home, only to find out that there is another world so similar to hers, she can hardly tell the difference. However, there’s another Mother there who aims to keep Coraline in her world, all for herself.

Let’s take this second to marvel at my synopsis, yeah? Yeah

 

Coraline is a truly terrifying story for children, and honestly adults as well. It’s a wonderful book for all ages that delves into the themes of family and homecoming. This story touches on the feelings that everyone has about their lives. My life could be better. My mom sucks, I never get to have candy. And so on and so forth. So in that sense, this story is so highly relate-able, I regret not reading it as a youngster.

Coraline is an adventurous young girl who feels stuck with very bland (non-adventurous parents). So, when she has the chance to escape into a land much like her own, but FUN, she jumps at the chance. It’s very reminiscent of that cool aunt you had that would always give you ice cream and toys. But you know, not evil.

The art in this book, seems to be a staple, in the book world, but…I didn’t really like it. Dave McKean is the illustrator. He works with Gaiman on like every one of his projects. McKean also illustrated one of my favorite graphic novels: Arkham Asylum- A Serious House on Serious Earth. However, the art in Coraline seemed all too frantic to me. Don’t get me wrong, the art in Arkham is really frantic too but it’s more put together. In a way, it’s so much more terrifying. In Coraline, it just seemed like unfinished sketches of things that were potentially creepy. But yeah, I guess it had to be dialed down for the children.

Anyway, this is a great story for everyone and I entirely suggest reading it.