Welcome to "Off the Shelf", a book review blog for the rest of us.
What does that mean? Well, it means we're not professionals. We're everyday readers, just like you. To use the popular phrase, we don't know much about art, but we know what we like.
The contributors to this blog have been chosen because we each read a lot of different kinds of books, and at least one of us can offer something the others can't. Sure, sometimes we'll overlap -- sometimes you might even get two reviews of the same book, from two entirely different viewpoints. But this way, we can run the gamut from mystery to romance, literary to mainstream, fiction to nonfiction. To be thorough, we won't just review the new stuff -- we'll go back and review some of the books we've already read, some we liked, some we loved, and a few that we absolutely hated.
While we all reserve the right to read and review whatever we want, in general: Lizzie is our romance, mystery, and Christian fiction reviewer. Princess Ladybug is our mainstream and paranormal romance expert. Phineas is our resident teenager, computer guru and mystery buff. Cleggy tends to read the nonfiction and literary stuff. He also works for a library, so occasionally you'll see a repost of a review he did for their Teen blog. This is not an attempt to "pull a fast one"' -- we just see it as an opportunity to give you more books to choose from.
We are all excited to have this forum to share our thought and opinions, and we hope you'll enjoy the reviews, enjoy the books, and support the authors who make it all possible.
Just a quick note about the reviews: the actual review format was borrowed (with kind permission) from Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes, the talented, hilarious and humble folks behind UNSHELVED. Please show your support and appreciation by visiting their site, reading their comic strip... heck, order something if the spirit moves ya! These guys deserve it.
See you later!
Showing posts with label Princess Ladybug. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Princess Ladybug. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Neon Graveyard (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 6)
TITLE: The Neon Graveyard (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 6)
AUTHOR: Vicki Pettersson
REVIEWED BY: Princess LadyBug
BRIEF SUMMARY: Joanna Archer is now just another mortal even though she'd been born from an impossible union of Shadow and Light. Being stripped of her powers should have taken her out of the game for good, but both sides were still hunting her. She'd once been a soldier for the Light & the Kairos, the prophesied savior of whichever side she would finally choose. But now she was carrying the unborn child of another former soldier of Light who was being held captive by demon goddess. A goddess with a serious grudge against Joanna.
Ready to risk everything to free her lover from the desolate realm where the price of admission is the last piece of her soul, Joanna joins a rogue group of agents. To free the father of her child and survive long enough to live happily ever after, she'll have to take on not only the demon goddess with homicidal tendencies, but also her former troop leader and her evil father. All of whom are hell bent on her destruction.
WHY I PICKED IT UP: Several reasons. I'm a completist. I read the first five books so there was no way I'd miss this one. Also, the characters feel like old friends and I wanted to find out if they live happily ever after.
WHY I FINISHED IT: Just like the first five books, I was sucked into the story almost before I'd finished the first page.
WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who would enjoy a book that puts a unique twist on the usual superhero story. Keep in mind that it is book 6 of a series, so while it is a good, action-packed book you might find yourself a bit lost. Do yourself a favor and start with book 1 - The Scent of Shadows. And if anyone would like me to review other books in the series, leave a comment & let me know.
OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: There is some violence, language, and sexual situations.
AUTHOR: Vicki Pettersson
REVIEWED BY: Princess LadyBug
BRIEF SUMMARY: Joanna Archer is now just another mortal even though she'd been born from an impossible union of Shadow and Light. Being stripped of her powers should have taken her out of the game for good, but both sides were still hunting her. She'd once been a soldier for the Light & the Kairos, the prophesied savior of whichever side she would finally choose. But now she was carrying the unborn child of another former soldier of Light who was being held captive by demon goddess. A goddess with a serious grudge against Joanna.
Ready to risk everything to free her lover from the desolate realm where the price of admission is the last piece of her soul, Joanna joins a rogue group of agents. To free the father of her child and survive long enough to live happily ever after, she'll have to take on not only the demon goddess with homicidal tendencies, but also her former troop leader and her evil father. All of whom are hell bent on her destruction.
WHY I PICKED IT UP: Several reasons. I'm a completist. I read the first five books so there was no way I'd miss this one. Also, the characters feel like old friends and I wanted to find out if they live happily ever after.
WHY I FINISHED IT: Just like the first five books, I was sucked into the story almost before I'd finished the first page.
WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who would enjoy a book that puts a unique twist on the usual superhero story. Keep in mind that it is book 6 of a series, so while it is a good, action-packed book you might find yourself a bit lost. Do yourself a favor and start with book 1 - The Scent of Shadows. And if anyone would like me to review other books in the series, leave a comment & let me know.
OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: There is some violence, language, and sexual situations.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
TITLE: City of Bones
AUTHOR: Cassandra Clare
REVIEWED BY: Princess LadyBug
BRIEF SUMMARY: Fifteen-year-old Clary Fray & her best friend, Simon, are hanging out at the Pandemonium Club when Clary discovers strange people that Simon can't see. After her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster, she is suddenly drawn into their bizzare world of demons and the Shadowhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension.
WHY I PICKED IT UP: I'm always on the lookout for something new to read. When a friend said he'd heard good things about it, I rushed right down to the library to check it out.
WHY I FINISHED IT: I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Lots of action moves the plot along nicely as Clary learns to deal with the new world she's found herself in. Each character she meets is more interesting than the last one on her quest to find and rescue her mother.
WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My niece or anyone who likes books that turn our universe upside down.
OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: Contains some violence. They are fighting demons after all. :)
AUTHOR: Cassandra Clare
REVIEWED BY: Princess LadyBug
BRIEF SUMMARY: Fifteen-year-old Clary Fray & her best friend, Simon, are hanging out at the Pandemonium Club when Clary discovers strange people that Simon can't see. After her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster, she is suddenly drawn into their bizzare world of demons and the Shadowhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension.
WHY I PICKED IT UP: I'm always on the lookout for something new to read. When a friend said he'd heard good things about it, I rushed right down to the library to check it out.
WHY I FINISHED IT: I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Lots of action moves the plot along nicely as Clary learns to deal with the new world she's found herself in. Each character she meets is more interesting than the last one on her quest to find and rescue her mother.
WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My niece or anyone who likes books that turn our universe upside down.
OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: Contains some violence. They are fighting demons after all. :)
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