Young Adult – Mia The Reader

Fantasy – The Wild West of the Book World

Posted on April 23, 2026

This post in my catching-up-on-reviews series was supposed to be called “Five Star Fantasy Reads.” Great title, right? Short, sweet, to the point. If only. As it turns out, the fantasy genre is *a bit trickier* than that. If you care to read on, I will explain. {Or you can scroll down to the reviews…no judgment from me!}

The Preamble

Let’s visit a bookstore, shall we? When you walk into a bookstore today, up front you will see three main displays.

The first display will have cover upon cover showing women walking away or gazing into the distance. Or possibly there will just be a seascape on the cover. This is the historical fiction display, a medium-ish table of books.

The second display will all have stickers with celebrities’ names on them who have claimed these titles for their book clubs. It’s like The Voice for books. Team Reese or Team Oprah! Team Jenna is having a good season. This is a fairly narrow selection of literary fiction for people who buy books they intend to read someday, perhaps on a flight or on vacation.

But the biggest display at the front of the bookstore will have covers showing all manner of silver swords and flowers, swirling fonts, maybe a gorgeous dress, and definitely some sort of feather – a wing, a quill, something like that. The edges of the display table will be adorned with special edition board games and impractical mugs. This is the fantasy genre. And it is a having a moment. Gone are the days when The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia were the only widely popular series in fantasy (though inarguably still the best, the-end-and-thank-you). Gone also are the days when small but scarily thick fantasy paperbacks with questionable cover art took up a small back corner of bookstores where only the nerdiest and bravest readers dared to go. The success of Harry Potter and The Game of Thrones has gradually but undeniably exploded the fantasy genre from obscurity to the front window display.

And why not? Castles, capes, magical abilities, fantastic beings, heroes and conflicts and spells…it is all highly imaginative, whimsical, captivating…everything a book lover reading for escapism or pleasure could hope for. In theory, I am all for it. The fantasy genre takes readers back to what reading was like when we were kids, when suspending belief in favor of a new world and a good story was easy and all-consuming.

And the potential this genre has for allegory or story telling that ultimately has a bedrock in truth and goodness? The sky is not even the limit.

And yet.

There are few fantasy books I can get in and out of cover-to-cover without finding at least one or two facets that don’t sit well with me. Often, darkness hovers in the pages of many of these fantasy books marketed to teens and adults. As my teenagers and I have delved into the genre lately, we’ve been faced with badly skewed versions of healthy reality, especially when romance is involved, and a mixed up sense of good and evil. So, as I bring some book reviews to you today, I’d also like to give a caveat: when it comes to fantasy, gentle readers, proceed with caution. It’s wild, and there are no rules– authors can put whatever the heck they want into their worlds…so. Yeah. Caution. As a reader who is most at home in books written between 1900-1950, there are very few fantasy books that don’t cause me some discomfort. But I won’t give up on it as a whole, because when it is good, it is very, very good.

[Side note: I am happy to say the children’s fantasy genre still produces gem after gem. We discovered some great ones in 2025-26 that will be featured in the next post!]

To the books!

Book Reviews – Adult and Y.A. Fantasy Books

{For my very favorite, top of the list, 5 star fantasy reads of the last year, check out this New Favorite Authors post and read Elizabeth Lowham and Elisabeth Aimee Brown}

Tress of the Emerald Sea – Don’t try to read a blurb describing this book, just dive in! The humor and world building in this stand-alone novel by fantasy legend Brandon Sanderson is next level. There’s barely a character you can truly root against. Tress is a new favorite in my book world. 4.25 stars. Content caution: Recommend for high school and up due to language and some gore.

Once a Queen – This book was gentle and beautiful, with tones of George Macdonald’s The Princess and the Goblin but in a more modern setting. It is a light read, possibly a little disappointingly light for a reader deeply committed to fantasy books with lots of world building and plot twists, but it was lovely and I will definitely read the second and third books. 4 stars. Content caution: I would hand this to anyone middle school and up, and would easily call it “wholesome.”

The Seven-and-a-half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – I listened to the audiobook of this one, got really lost in the middle, and by 75% wanted to know the end but mainly just wanted it to all be over. It was the worst kind of Groundhog Day story BUT I still ended up enjoying the novelty of it and the setting of an early 1900s crumbling mansion and houseful of guests. I appreciated the talent of the narrator in doing so many different voices and giving them all weight in the story. The whole plot idea was super original; I did not guess the end at all. However, I would have gotten through it a lot faster and a lot less scathed if I could’ve skimmed over some of the many, many violent parts by reading the hard copy instead. 3.75 stars. Content caution: heavy violence and the typical mature themes of murder mysteries.

What the River Knows – Technically a Y.A. book with teen main characters, but fun for anyone who thinks ancient Egyptian artifacts and double crossing treasure seekers with family mysteries to solve sounds intriguing. It has an Indiana Jones vibe, for sure. There is a sequel I haven’t gotten into yet, but I would like to know what happens to the characters, so I probably will sometime. Perhaps the author describes the characters’ emotions a little too often and too fully, and there is a juvenile, headstrong and impulsive quality to the main characters that is overblown, but it is still a fairly riveting story. I love the title…3.25 stars. Content caution: language.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries – This very popular book has a bit of a forced feel to some of the elements, but I really liked others. The creativity of the faerie world and the complexity of the two main characters kept me reading when it lagged at parts. What I didn’t like was the moral ambiguity between types of creatures. What is okay and what isn’t? Who is deciding? Who wants to do what is right and what isn’t and what are their reasons? As this is the first in the series, I’ll probably read the second book before giving up on the moral code of this particular world as a whole, but so far 3 stars. (Content caution: includes closed door romance, mild violence, some language – PG-13ish).

A Miss and An Almost

The Teller of Small Fortunes and The Spellshop both have beautiful covers and potentially refreshing settings and stories, but fell a bit flat for me. That being said, I think I will try the sequel to The Spellshop because there were several elements I liked, especially the setting. The slew of new creatures to keep track of and people groups and the flatness of a couple of the characters are what made it more of a “meh” for me, but I have to add that several of my friends really liked it, so maybe don’t just take my word for it! Content caution: Pretty mild overall for both of these, overall. Due to some romantic elements, high school and up, but I would also say there are some better options out there!

And that wraps up this catch-up post for fantasy reads of 2025-26! Come back for some much more wholehearted recommendations next time in the Children’s Fantasy department. Until then, happy reading!

Quick Lit, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Five Star Books (and a Few Others), Part 1

Posted on March 9, 2026

Hi friends! Last week I launched back into book reviews with a post about new favorite authors. Today, I bring you some quick reviews of books I read last year that are in the contemporary literary fiction and historical fiction categories. As I looked back on my 2025 reading, I was surprised to see so many in the fantasy or magic genre…so stay tuned for a round up of those next time!

Contemporary Fiction

The Correspondent – Listen, I know rave reviews of this book are everywhere, and you don’t need another one, but I have to say it: this book is everything. I loved it. It’s the most delightful modern book I’ve read in a long time. Fans of Fredrik Backman, Anne Tyler, or Ann Patchett should definitely try this book, but also anyone who likes reading fiction at all (and maybe even some of you who don’t). I read it way too fast the first time and am already looking forward to reading it again. 5 stars.

Theo of Golden – Rave reviews of this book are everywhere, too. And I get why so many readers adore it; the aura around the main character and everyone else is, well, golden. Still, I had a hard time getting into it, and an even harder time believing Mr. Theo and the characters could exist in any world, but especially not ours. However, with so many five star reviews, you probably shouldn’t take my word for it but read it yourself! (If you have already read it, we need to talk about the ending…) 3.5 stars.

The Unmaking of June Farrow – I loved this book. It was like a mail-order bride plot mixed with a mystery of disappearing/reappearing memories. It’s set in the present day in mountainous North Carolina, and though it does have some magical realism elements, it’s going here with the contemporary fiction. The writing was amazing – I felt like I was right there alongside the main character. 5 stars. (Content warning for mature language)

Broken Country – DNF – I have plenty DNF’s throughout a reading year. It’s important to remember we aren’t required to read much of anything as adults, but get to be our own guides and filters! For this one, the writing was good, but I found that the plot included two themes I try to avoid for the most part.

Historical Fiction

Born of the Gilded Mountains – I have been meaning to read something by Amanda Dykes for years. Last fall, I got this on audio book and listened to it through a painting project. It kept me in great company! I found the plot and setting to be absolutely involving and the characters thoroughly likable. Though Dykes doesn’t shy away from some heavy themes, over all it is a lighthearted, gentle book, perfect for either literary fiction or historical fiction fans. 4.5 stars.

Isola – This fictional account of a real person was potent and striking. About a third of the way through, I thought I wouldn’t end up liking it with all its painful realities for the main character in that day and age, but by the end, I gave it 5 stars. As far as tone goes, I would liken it to a book like Kristin Lavransdatter, though shorter and not quite as dark. Isola has plenty of tragedy, but the resilience of the main character and themes of religion and friendship were really well done. I couldn’t stop thinking about The Count of Monte Cristo. It was also so neat to pick up this book right when we were studying the discovery and development of the islands off the coast of Canada in our homeschool history lessons (we were in Volume 2 of The Story of the World at the time). 5 stars.

The Hired Girl – I would really have loved this book as a teenager girl! And even as an adult, I still loved the setting and the surrounding characters. 4 stars.

The Frozen River – I don’t like to give hot takes but…I did not love this book. I do like Ariel Lawhon’s other books I’ve read, especially Code Name Helene, and I was prepared for some graphic subjects or descriptions. The darkness of human nature shows up very starkly in her books. Still! Still. The story arc of this book is…a lot. It was just too gruesome, right down to the ending (what in the world…if you have read this, could you actually believe that ending?). I did some research on the main character’s history, and yes, it was great to see such an amazing woman dramatized in a novel. I enjoyed learning about Martha Ballard (though I thought her husband was too perfect to be believable for that time period). Overall, this book was just not for me.

I hope you’ll find a great read for you in this list today, and that you’ll let me know if you’ve found an amazing book lately (or in the past, or just whenever). Come back next week for a venture into the fantastical!

Happy reading!

Nonfiction, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Measuring a Year – New Fave Author Reviews

Posted on March 2, 2026

“Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.
How do you measure- measure a year?” -Rent

The answer is, of course, in books read!

I was sorry to have paused on sharing books here in 2025, but I have changed my mind! As I look back on the whole year, I can see themes of authors and series emerge in a way I wouldn’t have if I were reviewing book-by-book every few weeks/months. Turns out, in 2025 I discovered some top-notch new-to-me or actually new authors. These are the kind of authors who write books I want to hug when I’m done reading. Here’s a rundown of who kept me company last year; I’ll start with the new current authors I loved and round out the list with some vintage authors that have won my reading heart.

New and Current Authors

Kristen Perrin – Perrin writes The Castle Knoll Files, and I cannot think of a more sparkling, witty, charming, and perfectly paced present-day mystery series than this one. The third book comes out in April and I cannot wait.

Elizabeth Lowham – I listened to the audio books of the Casters and Crowns series and I loved it. The first book was especially good on audio! I really appreciated the fully developed characters and the way Lowham put together a completely believable and realistic fantasy world that did not take much effort to feel at home in as a reader.

Elisabeth Aimee Brown – What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball was one of my favorite books of 2025. I adored the main characters, the setting, the twisty plot, all of it. It isn’t mind blowing and it isn’t going to make it onto a classics-everyone-should-read list, but it is a just-right, slightly fantastical novel to keep you company and in good spirits. You might have gathered that I like a gentle fantasy novel, but don’t want to commit to 500 years of reading a series OR get drug through a lot of gore or “spice,” AND if I have to memorize a complicated family tree, I am probably out. This book read more like a Dickensian setting novel with some magic thrown in. I am putting Brown on this favorite author list even though I only read one of her books because she was just that good and I am eagerly awaiting Brown’s second book coming out in April.

Gabrielle Meyer – The Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer was surprisingly absorbing from page one. Honestly, I was not expecting a five star read when I picked up When the Day Comes last January, but that is what I got! Books 2-4 were more like 3.5-4 star reads, but I still enjoyed them and was pleased with the depth of historical detail; the time periods involved came alive to me. I haven’t been so fully immersed in history since I read Meet Molly at age ten.

Joy Marie Clarkson – I gained a great deal of solid perspective from Aggressively Happy, and went on to enjoy the thoughtfulness of You are a Tree. Joy Marie Clarkson’s writing style makes her the friend I didn’t know I needed. It’s amazing how she can write about what she has learned in a conversational way, without sounding like she is trying to teach you something. I loved both her books.

New-to-me Vintage Authors

O. Douglas – Since I adore D.E. Stevenson, I am not sure how I ignored this writer who was her contemporary and close friend for so long, but what a delight that I am just now beginning to enjoy her books. I started with Penny Plain which was wonderful, but when I found The Proper Place and the other Rutherford Novels, I became a die-hard fan. They are full of the kind of bright and steady, Scottish (or border-country English), midcentury characters that I love, and the focus on home as the center of the world speaks to me.

Susan Scarlett – Try as I might, I always end up despising winter by the end of January, but last winter was one of the coziest, happiest I can remember and I credit Susan Scarlett and this puzzle for much of that. Together, they taught me I can almost enjoy winter. I now own three of these literary world puzzles and they are the best puzzles ever. But I digress! Susan Scarlett is actually a pen name for Noel Streatfeild of The Shoe Books fame (and many other books). Under the Rainbow hooked me as a fan forever, and though Scarlett’s books can be a tad formulaic, and you might know what you expect to occur by the last page, how the stories unfold is always entertaining and enjoyable. The characters and settings are so likable.

Margot Benary-Isbert – How to put into words the loveliness I found in Benary-Isbert’s accounts of the Lechow family in post-WWII Germany? Germany was a grim place at that time, and that is clear in The Ark and Rowan Farm, but these are gentle books full of kindness and courage. The tone and content gives The Sound of Music vibes. I liked how these books gave me a sense of what life was like for a middle-class German family. The shift in Germany to communism is just starting to make its effects felt in the form of laws and new government, and it’s not a huge part of the story, but those details stood out to me and stuck with me. There are two more books in the series I need to get my hands on!

Honorable mention goes to Molly Clavering – I liked Susan Settles Down and Touch Not the Nettle pretty well, and would definitely recommend if you are a D.E. Stevenson fan, but I will admit Clavering’s books are slower-paced and the dialogue a bit dated so possibly hard to connect to for modern readers. Still, I will read more of her works! Even if the titles seem like odd choices to me…

That rounds out the new favorite author discoveries of 2025. If you’ve read any of these or are adding them to your TBR, let me know! For authors whose works I just read one of last year, look for a post next week. Also upcoming will be a review of middle-grade novels, some I read to myself and some I did for read-alouds.

Happy reading!

Children's Books, Homeschooling, Quick Lit, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Reading Recap – Read-Alouds Up First!

Posted on December 15, 2022

Hi, bookish friends! It’s time for a reading recap. As promised in my last post, I’m starting off with the books we have read aloud so far this school year. For context, my kids I read to are 13, 11, 8, and 5. Below are books I have read myself in the last couple of months and some I’m in the middle of now.

Sweep – Most recently, we finished Sweep: A Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier, and wow, what a wonderful book. I loved the Victorian London setting, the perfect balance of magical realism, and the delightful characters. It is a little bit hard on the emotions, with child labor and terrible living conditions a very big part of the story, so ideally I’d recommend for eight or nine and up unless your younger children are used to drama and some sadness.

Half Magic and Magic by the Lake – We started the school year with these two books by Edward Eager and they were big hits. We particularly like this series for the old fashioned yet not dated settings and fun filled adventures, and also that the stories are about a brother and three sisters, which is the family dynamic we had going until 2020, and still feels very relatable since our little toddler brother isn’t part of all the fun and games around here quite yet. Recommend for all ages, with a content warning of a bit of cartoonish violence in book one.

The Moffats – Another family story but less magic adventure and more true to life in 1930s America, we loved being a part of the Moffats’ and getting to know their beloved yellow house and all the ups and downs of life inside it.

For the rest of the year, I am reading aloud selections of the 2-week curriculum Christmas Around the World by A Gentle Feast and doing some of the videos and crafts included instead of most of our normal school. I still have to pick a read-aloud for the coming New Year, so suggestions are very welcome!

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As for my own reading, I am currently in the middle of The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry, The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard, and The Dean’s Watch by Elizabeth Goudge. Reading four books at a time is pretty normal for me. I rotate them like this: early morning reading, Willard; after Willard, a bit of Goudge; then in the evening, a little bit of Obama, and then the Uriah Heep book for as long as I can keep my eyes open, which can be quite a while with such a page turner, much to my morning self’s chagrin. I get up about an hour or an hour and a half before my kids and spend way too much time in books to accomplish all the things I should, but there it is. Winter is for reading, amiright? ; )

A few others I finished since the last update:

The Witch of Blackbird Pond – Five stars! Not sure how I missed out on this as a kid or teen, maybe because it has “witch” in the title and that was not a popular topic at my house, but this Newberry winning book is amazing. I read that it is the only book to receive an unanimous vote for the medal. It’s assigned reading for my two oldest kids this spring at our homeschool academy, so it was high time I read this classic.

Miss Clare Remembers – Book 4 in the Fairacre Series by Miss Read was…a bit gloomy. I felt like impending doom settled into my thoughts during the duration of this reading. But, the strength of characters wins out, making it worth the read in the series; my longing for pictures of steadfastness and faithful hearts in literature is staying put!

That’s all for now! I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading lately, and hope you and yours have a very Christmas.

Children's Books, Quick Lit, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

My Favorite Reads of 2019

Posted on December 15, 2019

The year is coming to a close, cheerful Christmas lights are shining through the windows from the front porch garlands, and holiday busyness is carrying us along like Pooh sticks in a raging river. There are many more pressing things to think about at this time of year, but I’m going sit for a minute with the books I read in the past year and write up a quick list of highlights to share here. I hope you had a great reading year and will find a good book somewhere in this list to put on your 2020 reading list!

[Side Note: Links to books throughout this post are not affiliate links]

Best Novel Published in 2019

Where the Forest Meets the Stars – This novel by debut author was beautifully written, if a bit eerie, and handled serious subject matters well. The setting was enthralling and the characters drew me in right off the bat. This book has all that and a plot that will keep you turning pages. I’d recommend this if you like the exciting, page turning nature of Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train but don’t want to actually stomach the content. This one has some similar themes as far as crime goes, but is not as jarring and the themes are handled much more gently and with more purpose.

Runner Up

I’m Fine and Neither Are You – A clever, honest, sometimes humorous look at life in the middle years of a marriage. Though my worldview differs from the author’s on many things, the subjects brought up are worth thinking over, from friendships to comparisons women make between themselves to what a good marriage looks like. If you’re in a book club, especially a women’s book club, this would be a great pick.

Best Historical Fiction

The Gown – This book was so much better than I expected. First, I should state that I’m not the best one to ask about books in this category right now, because I didn’t pick up much historical fiction this year. Call me crazy, but I’m weary of The ______ ‘s Daughter or The _____’s Wife titles, just fill in the blank with whatever comes to mind, haha! I know some are absolute gems, and I’m not seriously knocking them, but I got a bit bored with the genre. I really liked The Gown, however, for it’s attention to character development and historical accuracy without feeling overwrought and contrived, or jumping from present day to past narratives. I would recommend it to any historical fiction fan. Also, this is a good one for readers who prefer minimal strong language, and except for one “scene” I would say puts it at the PG-13 level, it’s a gentler read than most current historical fiction.

Runner Up:

The Spies of Shilling Lane

Also Read in this Genre:

The Flight Girls – 2 stars

The Lieutenant’s Nurse – 3 stars

Time After Time – 2 stars

Best Novel I Read in 2019

Hannah Coulter – What a gorgeous, moving wise novel. I should have read this a long time ago, but then, would I have appreciated it as much as I do now at this point in my life? Probably not. It’s a retrospective review of a woman’s life, with so much insight and wisdom about humanity and all kinds of love. It’s a classic, and I loved this book more than any other I read this year. I will be reading more Wendell Berry in 2020!

Best Non-Fiction

Boy Mom – I have one son and three daughters, and I come from a family with only sisters, so I seriously needed this book from Monica Swanson on raising boys. She has four of her own, two graduated from high school and two still homeschooling. I love her perspectives on relationships, chores, health, media use…she hits so many topics in her book and I will read it again and again. I truly can’t recommend it more highly, and actually think it’s unfair to moms with only daughters that this book is for “boy moms,” because there is a ton of wisdom here that applies to all parenting. Monica Swanson, I hope you write many more books!

Becoming and Beholding – This book ties for first place. I read anything Ruth Chou Simons writes, absolutely anything, from Instagram posts to published works. She is rooted in truth and is a refreshing voice for the value in patience, hard and unseen work, and growing in ways and times when no one can see it. Her art work is so soothing, and features more than just florals in this latest book.

Runner Up:

The Brave Learner – See my full review here for why I applaud this book.

Also read in Non-Fiction:

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – 4 stars – I learned a ton but the recipes are intense!

A Sane Woman’s Guide to Raising a Large Family – 3 stars

First We Have Coffee – 3 stars – A fun memoir of a preacher’s daughter in Northern U.S.A./Canada. It’s important for my generation to know how people lived before us.

Digital Minimalism – 4 stars – Convicting.

Becoming – 4 stars – Thoroughly interesting and eye opening, and I’m very glad I read it.

House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery – 4.5 stars – Most well balanced and readable account of Montgomery’s life I’ve seen so far, and the artwork was perfect.

Book Girl – 5 stars – I felt like I was reading my own thoughts at times, and found a kindred spirit in Sarah Clarkson. I also found a bunch of wonderful book recommendations!

Food Freedom Forever – 4.5 stars – A must read for fans of The Whole30.

The War of Art – 3.5 stars – Interesting concepts, inspiring and important in my personal life, though I didn’t truly enjoy reading it.

Writing Down the Bones – 2.5 stars

On Writing – 3 stars (got a lot out of it, didn’t enjoy it)

The Quotidian Mysteries – 3 stars…2 stars?? I still don’t understand most of what I read . But it seemed important and eye opening at the time, which means I probably read it too quickly.

Best Children’s Literature/Middle Grade Novel

The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue – All the Vanderbeeker books hit it out of the park when it comes to perfect middle grade novels (publishers aim this category at 8-12-year-olds). This third book in the series continues the warm setting and lovable characters from the previous books. If you or your children are fans of The Penderwicks, you must read The Vanderbeeker books! Think the Penderwick family but with two parents and a brother and an easy-to-follow plot. I’m reading the first in the series aloud right now and my 10, 8, and 5-year-olds beg for me to read another chapter every single time we finish one.

Runner Up

Astrid the Unstoppable – If you’ve ever enjoyed a book about an extraordinary girl (Harriet the Spy, Pippi Longstocking, Anne of Green Gables, the list could go on and on), you’ll enjoy this book. You’ll like it even more if you’ve read Heidi, as main character Astrid reads and refers to it in an important way in the book. Astrid is a lonely girl in an adult community with an unflappable spirit and a fiercely loving heart. Because of some themes about romantic relationships that didn’t work out (between grown ups, but still), I think this is more a 10 and up book. It is a lot of fun, though, and the characters Astrid meets along the way will make this book appeal to both boys and girls.