Yesterday I went out Christmas shopping with a few of my siblings. We only went to a few stores, but ended up quite happy with all the bargains and good stuff we found. Anyway, as I was looking at some stuff a few aisles away from my other siblings, a woman I didn't know at all and only remembered seeing in passing earlier in the store spoke to me.
"I like how you look," she said. Surprised, I thanked her, and she continued speaking words that encouraged me.
Then, just before she walked away, she finished with, "Keep doing what you're doing."
I was caught off guard, and so surprised, that this complete stranger, someone I had never met, would stop me to say such encouraging, sweet words to me. It also made me realize something.
Our words have an effect on others. Whether for good, or for bad, that's what our choices decide. But God wants us to, as Toby Mac says in one of his songs, "speak life." We have the opportunity to make someone's day, encourage and uplift them, and while we can, we really should!
Too often, I may feel like, or want to, compliment someone and encourage them with my words, but I don't. Naturally shy (and a worrier) I think, What if they take my words the wrong way? or the selfish what will I do after I compliment her? Stand around awkwardly while she thanks me and then walk away? Obviously if that woman I encountered had these thoughts, she dismissed them and instead chose to bless me- and I am grateful that she did. I walked away with a smile on my face- and in my heart. It was one of the best Christmas gifts I could have received and honestly brightened my day.
If I have the opportunity to make someone else in my own life feel the same way that that woman made me feel, to bless them with my words, will I ignore it, or choose to "speak life"?
My sister Kara from Saved By Grace is doing a Blog of the Year Award (you can read all about it on her blog here- it's pretty cool, and you're more than welcome to participate!), and so today I'm going to nominate Emily from A Purpose and a Promise .
Rules:
•For the sake of spreading the word about the award, please include the host's link as well as the above picture
•Award ONE blogger and do a blog post dedicated to them, thanking them for being the amazing blogger you see them as
•Answer the following questions in the blog post ( feel free to delete any of the questions that aren't relevant to the blogger or the post and add some of your own to make it more personal)
•Let Kara know on Saved by Grace who you nominated
•Let the blogger know that you nominated them
•Award ONE blogger and do a blog post dedicated to them, thanking them for being the amazing blogger you see them as
•Answer the following questions in the blog post ( feel free to delete any of the questions that aren't relevant to the blogger or the post and add some of your own to make it more personal)
•Let Kara know on Saved by Grace who you nominated
•Let the blogger know that you nominated them
Image from Emily's blog |
1. Tell us why you think this blog should deserve an award as blogger of the year and what sets the blog apart in the blogging world:
I've only been reading Emily's blog for a short period of time, but from the first post I recognized through her writing her heart and desire to follow God and encourage others. It shines out through her words, and makes me want to get to know her more.
2. Just for fun: How did you find the blog?
She follows my sister's blog, and when I was looking for good blogs to follow, Kara mentioned her to me. From her comments and all Kara said about her, she sounded like such a sweet person, I wanted to know more about her, so I looked her blog up.
3. One word descriptor for both blog and blogger:
Heartfelt. Sweet would also work as well.
4. What is one of your favorite posts?
This one. This is actually the first post of hers I read, and I just love the sincerity and earnestness of her words. She encourages me.
Thank you for your heart, Emily. You are a blessing.
Anyone checking out my blog lately will notice the new design. I had felt like something new, and so here we are! Many thanks to Allie, from over at Allie's Blog Designs, who designed it for me.
So, what do you all think? Has anyone redesigned your blog lately?
So, what do you all think? Has anyone redesigned your blog lately?
Newton and Polly, by Jody Hedlund
Genre: Historical/Christian/Fiction
Rating: Five out of five hearts ♥♥♥♥♥
About:
Now remembered as the author of the world’s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father—until the night he hears Polly Catlett’s enchanting voice, caroling. He’s immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.
An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John’s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?
An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John’s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?
My Review:
Having watched the movie "Amazing Grace" and been read stories about John Newton since I was young, I already knew the basics of Newton's conversion and the life he lead before and after. So I was eager to find out more about him, and the woman he fell in love with. And I'm very happy to say, I wasn't disappointed!
This story was gripping, from the moment I picked it up, 'til I finished it. If I thought the story would turn out, or at least start out, to be a little dull, the first chapter set me to rights. It all began in a way that made me want to read more. Also, while this book is based on the lives of two real-life people, it doesn't read like a biography or informative novel, but a romantic, action-packed novel. And I really liked that- it was a joy to read.
While I knew John Newton would, eventually, become a follower of Christ, reading about the road he walked prier to his conversion was eye-opening and intriguing. The fact that I
already knew his story (although, I discovered, I didn't know as much as I thought I did), by no means hindered the novel or made it boring, but made me want to keep reading, find out how he changed. And reading about Polly, a usually ignored part of his story, was great, too. Finding out about the love of his life was cool, and I liked finding that I could relate somewhat to her.
Plus, isn't the cover just beautiful?
All in all, a beautiful, well-written, inspiring novel by Ms. Hedlund! I highly recommend it.
About the Author:
Jody Hedlund is a CBA best-selling and award-winning author of fourteen books. Among a variety of genres, she especially loves bringing long-forgotten women of history to life. She is the author of Luther and Katharina, which was awarded the ECPA Book of the Year Award in Fiction. Her other novels have won the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Christy Award. She resides in Midland, Michigan, with her husband and five busy children.
About author from waterbrookmultnomah.com
Note: I got this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for doing a review. All opinions are my own.
A Lady Unrivaled, by Roseanna M. White
Book 3 in the Ladies of the Manor series
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: Five out of five hearts ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
About:
Lady Ella is always the optimistic one, whether rain or shine- although her family thinks her a bit naive and disillusioned. Lord James Cayton is determined not to fall in love, sure he'll just break another heart- no matter that now he's changed, not the same man that he was a year ago. They're so different, yet are they perfect for each other?
Through all this comes, yet again, the mystery and danger of the Fire Eyes diamonds, and the ones who will do anything to get them.
My Review:
This has just become one of my new favorites. I loved it! In this last installment to the Ladies of the Manor series, Mrs. White combines faith and romance with action, suspense, and fun.
The characters were what I remembered from The Reluctant Duchess, (which I also had the pleasure of reviewing several months ago). Stafford easygoing; Brook a spitfire; Brice humorous; Rowena quiet but sweet; Cayton regretful, but not irredeemable; and Ella, our main character, optimistic and witty. I must admit, however, I liked this book much better than book 2. The tone didn't seem as dark as the previous one (probably due to the difference in the main characters of both's situations and personalities). Ella and Cayton were perfect for each other, and I loved the way they bantered. I had to smile -and laugh- several times as I read through.
However, no story is complete without its antagonists and problems, suspense and mystery, and this one is not without its share. While I wanted to read slowly to make the book last as long as possible, to savor and enjoy it, I also wished to speed up, find out how our heroes (and heroines) would save the day in the end. A few surprises were sprinkled throughout, as well, which (as a reader of the 2nd book) were a joy for me to read.
One warning, however- if you're going to read this book, read the first two in the series as well. They're meant to go together. While they can be read separately (as I read only books 2 and 3), it's more confusing that way and would have been, I think, even more enjoyable than it already was to read if I'd started at the beginning instead of reading first book 2 and then 3. As I now read the final installment to the series, I'm determined to read book 1 (The Lost Heiress) someday and complete the story!
I heard once that a good movie or TV show cannot be done well, seem like real life, without humor and seriousness, pain and hope. Because life's not just one big comedy or drama, it's multidimensional, and you've got to have that in a story if you want it to be real. I believe that's the same with books. I'm not going to enjoy a novel as much if there's no joy with the heartache, humor and wittiness with the mystery and danger. I'll still like it, but perhaps not connect with it and it's characters, love it as much as I could. And that's what I think this book does so well- it covers all the bases and creates a beautiful, multi-layered story. Fantastic job, Mrs. White!
Note: I got this book free from Bethany House in exchange for doing a review. All opinions are my own.
There's so many good books out there going to be released this Autumn- I seriously can't wait! Here are the top 5 I'm looking forward to:
#1: Can't Help Falling, by Kara Isaac
#1: Can't Help Falling, by Kara Isaac
So, I haven't read Ms. Isaac's first book (Close to You, about a LOTR fan), but I've heard it was good, and I'm hoping to be able to read it and this one someday. If you've read some of my earlier posts, you know how much I love Narnia, and so a book combining a romance story and lots of Narnia? Count me in! It's going to be released on October 11th.
#2: The Silent Songbird, by Melanie Dickerson
It seems like forever since I read one of Ms. Dickerson's books! I can't wait for this one to come out in November- it's based on the tale of Ariel, the mermaid, and looks like it's going to be good!
#3: For the Record, by Regina Jennings
I'm not sure if this one's coming out in November or December, but either way, I'm looking forward to it! I read and reviewed At Love's Bidding here last year, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading about Betsy, who played a part in At Love's Bidding, and whom this one's going to be about.
#4: A Royal Christmas Wedding, by Rachel Hauck
Ms. Hauck's books should be Hallmark movies, and I can definitely see this one becoming a new edition to all Hallmark Channel's Christmas girl-meets-prince movies. This one's coming out in October!
#5: The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill, by Julie Klassen
While technically this book isn't coming out 'til December, I thought I'd add it anyway. Can't wait to (hopefully) eventually read this one! I'm in the mood for a good, Regency-era romance.
So. What books are you looking forward to coming out this Fall?
I know, teen fiction can be pretty popular- and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, necessarily, I'm just not too fond of the genre. Here are 4 reasons why I don't like teen fiction.
#1. They seem to be mainly romances.
Or maybe I should say, most seem to be based on romance or have it in them. I know most teens are into romance, and it's a pretty popular subject, but I just get tired of reading about it in the YA genre. Sometimes I just feel like reading an adventure story, that is all about the adventure- I'm not reading it for the romance. And not everyone likes romance books anyway- my brothers, for instance. They have few books to read because they aren't really into many of the children's books at the library, yet they'd never read a romance. Therefore, the number of books they have to read are limited. Now, I'm not saying all romance should be taken out of YA fiction, just the focus shouldn't always be on it. And I also realize that there are a few gems out there that omit romance in their stories or don't have it as the story's main plot, and I'm grateful to their authors for this.
#2. The characters are immature.
As a teen myself, I realize I'm not the most mature person out there, and I won't have fully matured until I'm older. Yet I get tired of reading about characters in teen fiction that act more like ten-year-olds than the young adults that they are. This also makes their romantic relationships seem pointless and immature. In time periods past, and in other cultures of today, they would be considered full-fledged adults, and expected to act like it. This is the reason I like reading medieval or fantasy YA. Yes, there is romance. But the characters are already 16, 17, or 18 year-old adults. And, for the most part, they act like it.
#3. A lot of times, the stories are in first person.
I've noticed this more with the contemporary YA. This is not necessarily bad, I'm just not a fan of first-person, and can get into a book and it's characters more if it's in another point of view.
#4. There main characters aren't male
When I'm reading a book, I don't really think about this as much. However, trying to find decent novels that would interest male readers (namely, my brothers) has made me realize how few YA books have males as the main characters. And let's face it- what guy wants to read about crushes and makeup? I'm not really into those types of books so much myself. And I know for a fact that when my brothers are looking for a good book, they're not really going to be interested in trying the book unless the protagonist is a guy. Again, I realize there are some novels out there that have guys as main characters, I just think there's not enough of it.
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I'm not totally opposed to the young adult genre. If you go into my bedroom you'll see some Melanie Dickerson and Dina Sleiman on my shelves. Yet these are the reasons I groan when I hear the words 'teen fiction' and the things I think should be changed about it. So, what do you think? What do you like or dislike about teen fiction?
First off, thank you so much to Kirsten Fichter for doing this interview with me! Her book (The Rose and the Balloon, which just came out!!!!) sounds amazing, as is her blog. You can find her...
on Twitter on her blog on GoodReads on Pinterest
About Kirsten Fichter:
Kirsten Fichter is a twenty-something Christian writer who is trying to find the balance between being one of six kids, a church pianist, a college student, a movie buff, a disaster in the kitchen, and a writing INFP. If you know what the secret is to balancing all of that, she’d be grateful to hear from you. Otherwise, don’t contact her unless you want to send her homemade gingerbread. Or a new piano book. Or an autographed Charles Dickens novel. In the meantime, she’ll be somewhere under a maple tree – trying very hard to finish the seventeen and half other stories she unwisely started all at once.
The awesome cover!
And now for the interview...
Would you mind giving us an overview of what your upcoming book is about?
The Rose and the Balloon is a slightly steampunk, upside-down version of Beauty and the Beast. It's not specifically a retelling, because I don't follow all the rules for that, but it's a fun adventure that began with roses and hot air balloons. Janelle is the daughter of a lord and is engaged on the spot to a prince when the queen ruins her father's beloved roses. Dmitri is a prince with a secret. And the kingdom goes nuts over roses.
What was the inspiration behind The Rose and the Balloon?
The first spark came from Rooglewood's Fairy Tale contest. In 2014, they announced the title for the Beauty and the Beast retelling, and I knew instantly I was going to write a story for it. While I did finish it in time to enter into the contest, I forgot to send the story in. But after the contest sparked it, the biggest thought in my mind was, "How backwards can I make this be?" I wanted it to be so different than all the other retellings out there.
Books can be hard work! How long did it take you to write it?
In truth? Only about 2 or 3 months. It's not an overly lengthy story (about 20,000 words), so it didn't take very long to write.
Is this novel going to be the first in a series?
That's my hope! *grins* I'd love to write a whole series of slightly steampunk, upside-down fairy tales. I've already been working on writing the second, which is a Sleeping Beauty story, and there are beginning plans for Rapunzel, Swan Lake, and Rumplestiltskin stories as well.
Which character of yours can you relate to the most- or do you see yourself a bit in each of your characters?
I probably relate most to Janelle. I'd consider that I have her loyalty to her family, though we're both really stubborn. Emphasis on really. Other than that, I'd say this was a difficult question to answer. I normally don't try to put myself into my characters. I just end up seeing bits of who I am and who I want to be coming out in all of my favorites.
Have you used any people you know as inspiration for different characters?
Another tough question. But these are really good to make me think. For RatB? I can't think of anyone in particular that I used as inspiration for a character. Queen Maeva was the result of a conglomeration of people that I used to know. My dad was a special education teacher when I was growing up, and after having interactions with the kids he taught, I'd always wanted to write a story that focused on a special needs person. I wanted to make them a real person, too, someone you could enjoy and root for, because essentially, that's who those kinds of people really are.
If your book was made into a movie, who would you like to play in it?
Ooh! The unavoidable question! What's my answer? I HAVE NO IDEA! I don't follow many actors that closely, so give me a minute to go search Pinterest.
...
I'm choosing these people based on their looks, so don't judge. Dakota Johnson for Janelle. Sebastian Stan for Dmitri. (Korin, I've attached pics of them below if you'd like to include them.)
How long have you enjoyed writing?
I've been writing ever since... well, I first learned to write. I have a story about a lost tooth that I wrote when I was six. But I didn't seriously start writing until I was about 15 years old when I began working on a novel set during the Civil War. It wasn't long after that point that I discovered fantasy and that's been my go-to ever since.
Do you like to listen to any soundtracks while writing, and if so, which ones?
Is the sky blue? I love listening to soundtracks while I write! Which ones? All sorts. Fun fact: I have over 95 hours of just soundtracks loaded onto my computer. Some of my current favorites are (and please note I don't endorse all these movies; I just like the music) HTTYD 1 & 2 by John Powell, Atlantis: The Lost Empire by James Newton Howard, 101 Dalmatians by Michael Kamen, Cinderella by Patrick Doyle, Ever After by George Fenton, Hook by John Williams, The Three Musketeers by Paul Haslinger, and Peter Pan by James Newton Howard. I could keep going. My favorite soundtracks change nearly daily. And for most of my favorite soundtracks, you could play the first 5-30 seconds of a song, and I could identify the track name, track number, album, and composer. Yes, it's a little overkill.
What/who are some of your favorite novels or authors?
I have way too many of both. Charles Dickens, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, Donita K. Paul, Jules Verne, Jaye L. Knight, E. Nesbit, Lloyd Alexander, Jack Lewis Balliot, Wayne Thomas Batson... there are so many, but there are a few of my favorite authors. Novels? The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Ilyon Chronicles, Peter Pan, Our Mutual Friend, Little Dorrit, Dombey and Son, Only a Novel, The Loyalty Trilogy, Left Behind, The Wingfeather Saga, Five Little Peppers, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, A Life of Faith: Millie Keith... okay, so most of these are series, but I still think they count.
Just wondering- which do you prefer, e-book, or a printed copy of a book?
PRINT! I mean, e-books are fine and all, but nothing can top a real-life, print book. You can't smell e-books anyway, and smelling them is the best part.
For fun, tell us some random facts about yourself.
I can quote most of the extended film version of The Lord of the Rings (my brother fills in the few parts I forget).
I love gingerbread. And philly cheesesteaks. And jello.
I have four sisters, and I've never ever had a room of my own.
Thanks again for the great interview, Miss Fichter! Check out her book, everyone!
Courageous, by Dina L. Sleiman
Book 3 in the Valiant Hearts series
Genre: Teen Fiction
Rating: Four out of five hearts ♥♥♥♥
About:
Inspired by the vision of the Young Lady Sapphira, Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of men, women, and children as a defender of the cross, seeking to free captives from prisons near Tripoli. She gladly gives herself to the cause, as she's haunted by a tragic mistake and no longer deserves such joys as marriage and family might bring.
Sir Randel Penigree was reared to serve in the church, but dreams of protecting the innocent as a knight. Joining a crusade to escape humiliation at home, he finds himself drawn to Rosalind as they partner to train and protect a group of young adolescents. When they face political machinations, danger, and an unknown enemy bent on their destruction, they are forced to reconsider their priorities and the very nature of the God they serve.
Description from Amazon.com
My Review:
While this latest (and last) installment in the "Valiant Hearts" series didn't capture my heart (no pun intended) the way the first one did, it still provided a great read and was a good last-novel for the series.
I liked how I could relate to the character's problems and feelings (especially Rosalind, although I don't have exactly the same problems she does in the story) . Rosalind's struggle with feeling that she is not going to be forgiven until she's lived a good life is what I struggle with at times. Randel wasn't as easy for me to relate to, but I did like reading his story and watching him progress. I also enjoyed Sapphira, whose lovely personality and strong faith in God made her one of my favorite characters. I also loved how there were so many kid characters in this story.
The writing was good, and although it wasn't as gripping as I might've liked, I still very highly enjoyed it! Plus, the story plot was good. I'll admit, there were some red herrings I did fall for... And while every good story needs a happy ending, as this one has, like real life, not everything turns out perfectly.
Another thing... while this is the third book in a series, it can be read alone, without reading the first two novels in advance. I kind of liked that, but also wished to see more of the previous characters whom I had grown to love from the other books.
All in all, an enjoyable read, and while perhaps not as intriguing or action-packed as the first book, I enjoyed reading it and also getting reacquainted with Rosalind and Randel.
Note: I got this book free from Bethany House in exchange for doing a review. All opinions are my own.
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, by Carol Wallace, and based on the 1880 novel by Lew Wallace
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts ♥♥♥♥♥
About:
As one of the bestselling stories of all time, Lew Wallace’s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ has captivated and enthralled millions around the world―both in print and on the big screen. Now Lew’s great-great-granddaughter has taken the old-fashioned prose of this classic novel and breathed new life into it for today’s audience.
Coming to theaters in August 2016 as Ben-Hur, a major motion picture from MGM and Paramount studios, the story follows Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman whose childhood friend Messala betrays him. Accused of trying to murder the new Roman governor in Jerusalem, Judah is sentenced to the galley ships and vows to seek revenge against the Romans and Messala. But a chance encounter with a carpenter from Nazareth sets Judah on a different path.
Description from Amazon.com
My Review:
I've known about a 2016 movie adaptation of "Ben-Hur" for some time, and have felt pretty excited to see how it will be. Thus, I was eager to read this novel and find out how (if the movie directors decide to stick to the book) what it would be like. Now, I've never read the original novel, and I've only seen the 1959 film with Charlton Heston once, but if the 2016 movie is anything like this newest book version of "Ben-Hur", it's going to be good!
At first, at receiving this book, I was a bit daunted at the amount of pages it contained (425 total)- perhaps because I hadn't looked beforehand and had been expecting a thin little movie adaptation. Turns out, that's not exactly the case- it's not even a movie adaptation- but I don't think it could have been done so well any other way.
While the book is slightly longer than some books, it didn't loose my interest for a moment. The climatic chariot race scene, which, in certain circumstances, could have turned out long, drawn-out, and even perhaps a little boring, was anything but- it was crafted in such a way that my eyes flew across the page in anticipation. And while some may not like the fact that the story switches between multiple character's points of views (more than five), it was that fact that intrigued me and made it so much more interesting. This is, I think, what made and didn't break the chariot scene I previously mentioned. A lot, I think, rode on that scene, and it was done beautifully.
The characters themselves, even the not-so-nice ones, were done beautifully, as well. I fell in love with all (or, mostly all) of them from the beginning. I had compassion for Judah, and though he isn't by any means a saint, that makes him more of a believable character. The other characters in the book were wonderful as well, making me wonder why some had never been in the 1959 movie version (and hoping they would be in this next one!).
One other plus for this movie is how they did portrayed Christ- He wasn't in it much, but I liked the way the incorporated Him into the story. I'm not really fond of Biblical-time-period books or movies that try to have Jesus in their story, but this one is an exception.
In anticipation for the movie, I also enjoyed looking through the full-color photos from the upcoming film that were at the center of the book.
One of the only downfalls with this book was the ending. It was good, but not quite what I was expecting.
Still, after reading such a great novel, I look forward to seeing the movie---only, I must confess, though I'm not normally a big book purist, I am for this one!
Note: I got this book free from Tyndale in exchange for doing a review. All opinions are my own.
(Sorry, I couldn't post a picture of the book- Blogger is't letting me)
No Other Will Do, by Karen Witemeyer
Genre: Historical Romance
Book One in the Ladies of Harper's Station series
Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts ♥♥♥♥♥
About:
"Men are optional." That's what Emma Chandler learned from her suffragette aunts---and the principle underlining their women's colony in Harper's Station, Texas. But when an unknown assailant tries repeatedly to drive them out, Emma admits that they might need a man after all...one who can fight. Will Malachi Shaw fit the bill?
Description from Christianbook.com
My Review:
Ms. Witemeyer does awesome books, combining a lighthearted feel, historical romance, and action or mystery in a great bundle. This latest book and first in her newest series is no different.
Malachi Shaw is one of my favorite heroes so far from her books, and I enjoyed Emma Chandler's impulsive, friendly personality as well. I also liked their interaction together, and really just enjoyed every moment of their romance. And the aunts, Bertie and Henry, really were some great, lovable (and loving) characters, making me smile at certain moments in the story. The characters were, all in all, just great.
I loved how the mystery played out, as well. I did guess the culprit right (at least somewhat) which was cool, although it didn't make the intensity seem less, as I still wasn't completely sure until the end. I really wanted the characters to succeed, and inwardly cheered them on until the last page.
Another thing I loved about this novel was the cover. I think I've said it before, but I love it when it matches the book's description of a character, and this one did to a T. The curls, dress, pocket watch... and I loved how they showed the town in the background. Not as playful or whimsical as previous covers, but still good. A good cover just makes a book seem more realistic.
One other thing I like about all (or most) of Mrs. Witemeyer's books is that she shows the character's backstory, she doesn't just tell you about it. It's just a small thing, but something I love about her writing.
This book, overall,deserves an A+. I loved every minute of it!