Mini-Reviews

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

I read this quite some time ago, but thought it deserved a mention. I thought that the story was very compelling. I wasn't sure what to expect, because I had heard some mixed reviews, but I was did enjoy it. Tamsin was prophesied to be a great witch, yet she lacks any Talent at the start of the book. I twas interesting to see how she tried to compensate for that lack of magical ability. Still, when I finished the book, I thought something was missing. Hopefully I won't feel the same way about the sequel.

Published by Clarion Books

A Shepherd's Watch by David Kennard

Kennard is a great storyteller. I first discovered his farm via the short BBC series called Mist. It's a series meant for children, but I have a soft spot for it. His first book, on the other hand, talks about life on a sheep farm in England. It covers a year in the life of a farmer, and how he relies on his sheepdogs. Kennard paints a beautiful picture of his farm, and the animals on it. He also discusses how sheep farming is no longer enough to provide for a family. In one section, he even states that he doesn't encourage his children to take over the farm once he's ready to retire. I think it says a lot that a man who has dedicated his life to this farm doesn't want his children to take over because he's worried that they won't be able to support themselves.

Published by Headline

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

With all the hype surrounding this, it had high standards to live up to. While it didn't quite meet those expectations, it did hold my attention over the 465 pages. I will warn squeamish readers, it's violent, and rape does play a fairly large role in the book. That may turn off some people, but if you can get past that, it's an engaging mystery. The main characters were well developed, and the plot was very detailed. Overall, and interesting read. The one flaw, I'm not sure how I feel about Larsson's female characters.

Published by Knopf

Liar by Justin Larbalestier

Woo, this one was a big mindgame. by the end of the book I wasn't sure if I could figure out what was a lie, and what was actually true. I did like Micah, and found the lies she backtracked on to be really interesting. It was definitely an engaging read, even if the main character wasn't completely honest. I'm also glad that the publisher changed the cover to more accurately reflect Micah. I'm definitely interested in reading more by Larbalestier.

Published by Bloomsbury USA