Puzzles Presents: Ultimate Reading Challenge 2015 discussion

Post the title, description, and your opinion of the book you read.

The Night Gardener bu Jonathan Auxier

This book is like reading a long lost manuscript from the Brothers Grimm. There are orphaned siblings, a haunted forest, a mysterious storyteller, an ill-fated family and one magical tree that grants your wildest wishes for the small cost of a piece of your soul. Magical, creepy, gothic and atmospheric are but a few words I would choose to describe this book. It is hauntingly and beautifully written and I never wanted it to end. By far, one of my favorite books I have read in a long time, and it is a middle grade book for ages 10 to 14.

The Night Gardener is about two siblings, Molly and Kip, who've lost their parents. Homeless and looking for work, they travel from Ireland to the English countryside, during the 1800s, in search of a better life and employment. Along their way, the two receive multiple warnings from stray villagers on the patch to turn around or it'll be their death. Knowning she has to take care of her younger brother, Molly forges ahead to the Windsor House, the only place she could get a job. Upon finding the house, the two immediately know something is wrong but there is no other choice. As the story progresses, readers meet the inhabitants of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Windsor and their son and daughter, and learn about why the house is feared but hard to leave behind. They come across spirits, a haunted tree and yes, there are quite a few deaths to be had throughout the novel.

Equal parts fairy tale and gothic story, this book is simply fantastic. I wish there were more children's books that mirrored the quality of this one and kept me on the edge if my seat. Again, this is children's book, but do not let that fool you. It is amazing!!

Can you tell I liked it??

Words of Radiance, by Brandon Sanderson - This is the second book of sanderson's Stormlight Archive series; both books are over 1000pgs long. The first book in this series too a while to get into, but after reading those first 1000+pgs of story, the second book made more sense and was great. The biggest drawback to reading an ongoing series like this, though, is that book #3 is not done yet, so it will be a long wait for the next book. Words of Radiance

Mermaids in Paradise While I didn't love it, I love mermaids. The narrator was a tad annoying and much of the story was a cop-out (either told and not shown, or rushed through, etc.) Interesting concept, poor execution.

The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell is an amusing blend of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty fairytales. When a sleep-like death sweeps over the lands, Snow White must put her wedding on hold and with the help of the dwarves find the source of the spell. To be honest, I was more enraptured by Riddell’s illustrations than Gaiman’s story, but it was a fascinating tale with a few interesting twists.