Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY WEEK to... Threat of the Spider by Michael P. Spradlin - REVIEW!

It's almost that time again.

Time for another BOOK BIRTHDAY celebration, and while this one actually takes place TOMORROW, I figured why not spark up the anticipation today.  😉  So, if you're a fan of Historical Fiction, and are looking for a story from a younger perspective that takes place during a heavy time in history, today's featured title is right up your alley.  Take a closer look between the pages of...

Threat of the Spider

The Web of the Spider series, Book 2

by

Michael P. Spradlin

9781665947213

Margaret K. McElderry Books

Release Date: 06/24/25

About the book...

Ansel has never been afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s always the first among his friends to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. When the Hitler Youth first set up shop in Heroldsberg the year before, Ansel quickly made enemies of the chapter’s arrogant leader, Hans. Of course, Ansel is also twelve years old, so he spends much of his time reading his favorite Dirk Goodly, Boy Detective novels and trying to make his friends laugh.

But more and more of his classmates have been swayed by Hans’s tactics and the Youth organization is growing throughout the city. Ansel knows that Hans and his group are spreading false information—after all, Ansel’s father is a journalist for the local paper and has been going toe to toe with Nazi propaganda for a long time.

Then Ansel’s father goes missing right before a prominent Nazi leader comes to town. With the local police in the Nazi’s pocket, can Ansel and his friends use their detective skills to find his father and thwart the Nazi’s plans to suppress the truth?

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This is the SECOND INSTALLMENT in The Web of the Spider series and picks up just where the first left off.  Does that mean you can't read them out of order?  No, I think it works as a standalone, but then again the length of the stories definitely lends more heft to reading them BOTH, you know?  😉  Anywho...

In this second installment, we are back with our friends, but this time, it's not Romer and Rolf who are the focus.  This time, we're seeing the story more so from the eyes of Ansel.  He's got a unique perspective as well because his father is a reporter and definitely not a sympathizer with the enemy, so the stakes are high for the whole family.  The Hitler Youth are taking a firmer hold in the area, and, with the impending visit of a higher up in command, so are bigger players in this violent "game".  While one can say to stick to your convictions, it's hard in the face of evil, and some succumb to the peer pressure.  Luckily, that's not the case for our friend group here, and extra lucky for Ansel's father who ends up an unexpected pawn in a game he wasn't even playing.  

The danger is high and the risks are real, but so is the history behind it all.  It's important to know the "ugly" that transpired to learn the lesson and carry forward the truth, so it's not repeated in another generation.  It's also important to know that even in the midst of darkness, light can be found.  Friendship can still blossom.  Hearts can still beat fast.  Justice can still be fought for.  Good can still triumph over evil...one instance at a time.  A great pick for fans of the genre, as well as kiddos trying to get a firmer grasp on the past.

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About the author...

Michael P. Spradlin is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author of the Spy Goddess series, The Youngest Templar series, and the Web of the Spider series, as well as several works of historical fiction, including the Western Heritage Award–winning Off Like the Wind: The Story of the Pony Express. He currently resides in Lapeer, Michigan, with his wife, daughter, and his schnoodle, Sequoia. Learn more at MichaelSpradlin.com

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Special thanks to Alex at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the series, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. So grab your TO DO list and make plans to snag your copy TOMORROW as it makes its bookstore and virtual shelf debut!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

My name is...No?: THAT'S NOT FUNNY, DAVID! by David Shannon - REVIEW!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Whether childhood was many many moons ago, or just the other day, we all have moments from those days where we might have mistaken our name for the word NO.  I mean, everyone gets into things sometimes, right?  Everyone let's temptation get the better of them?  Well, today's little lad gets into more than MOST!  Let's check out the latest addition to the No, David! series from author/illustrator David Shannon...

That's Not Funny, David!

Written and Illustrated by

David Shannon

9781546123187

Orchard Books

This is a series that kiddos can relate to and adults can sigh at while trying not to laugh!  If you've stepped into David's world before, this new adventure may not be as surprising because honestly, he gets up to A LOT, but for those newly brought into the circle (*raises hand*), you're in for a few gasps, giggles, and guffaws at the very least.  From artwork created by idle hands and an ill placed marker to finally understanding why cats have and USE their whiskers, there's a little something for everyone to either look fondly back at, or consider from a new angle (and age!) like never before.  Honestly, the joke in my house is that I was born an adult, so many of the antics I can totally say I haven't done first hand, but I mean I know a story about my mom (from her youth) and a screw that ended up somewhere it shouldn't, and who HASN'T reveled in the moment you managed to make someone jump out of their skin...even if it WAS unintentional...mostly.  *ahem*

A fun way to look at childhood through the child's eyes, and another way to take on the challenges that rearing up kiddos can bring...with patience, kindness, and a whole lot of smiles. 

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About the author...

David Shannon entertains us with young David's mischievous shenanigans in this lighthearted story that's sure to leave readers of all ages laughing. With millions of copies in print and five sequels, No, David! hit the ground running in 1998 and was a Caldecott Honor Book, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book, and a classic for over 25 years. Based on a book the author wrote and illustrated when he was five, David captures the timeless no-no's familiar to every child.

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Special thanks to the Scholastic Books team for the ARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the series, or the author, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now via Orchard Books.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?: Lia Park and the Heavenly Heirlooms by Jenna Yoon - REVIEW!

Today, we're spreading a little pre book birthday BUZZ about a new title COMING SOON from Aladdin/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing!  It's the second installment in the Lia Park series, and it does not disappoint!  I LOVED the first title (check out my review here), so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one for another dose of all the mystical, magical, cultural fun (and danger!) that await Lia and her friends.  This time around, we're heading off to IMS....that's International Magic School...but you'd be wrong if you thought it would be all schoolwork and no play (or danger!) because there is SO MUCH MORE AT WORK!  Ladies and gents, tuck in closer to the screen as we dive between the pages of today's book of choice...

Lia Park and the Heavenly Heirlooms

Lia Park series, Book 2

by

Jenna Yoon

9781534487963

Aladdin

About the book...

Twelve-year-old Lia Park and her best friend, Joon, are now full-time students at International Magic Academy after defeating corrupt diviner Gaya, and their first assignment is an ambitious one. The evil nine-headed monster and King of Darkness, Jihaedaegukjeok, wants to destroy the three Heavenly Heirlooms that create fire and light to plunge the world into darkness and destroy humanity.

The heirlooms can only be destroyed if they are all together, so over time, they have been hidden carefully with magic. Except now, one of them is missing. Lia, Joon, and their classmates have been tasked with recovering the lost heirloom and bringing it to IMA for safekeeping. They expected the task to be difficult, but the number of obstacles the magic trainees run into makes Lia start to wonder if the sabotage could be coming from someone inside the school.

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Oh my goodness...what has Lia gotten herself into?

I was all over the place with this one...not in my love of the book, because I loved it, but in my choice of the villain within!  At first I thought, yeah, that's the culprit, and then I would read a little more and think but that person is REALLY sketchy, and the pattern would repeat.  I did have a defining moment of triumph in my decision making process, but it comes at a CRUCIAL point if you're paying attention to the details, and...I'll let you discover it for yourself.  See if you spot it when you're reading and report back!  Moving forward...

I love there's just as much story as there is history, and culture immersion.  You get a history lesson without it feeling like a lesson.  You learn about Lia's Korean heritage as she's learning about her powers (and mayhap why they're malfunctioning!), making friends, keeping friends, and just whom she can REALLY trust.  She's faithful to her core, unless you give her a REALLY good reason to doubt you, and while that easy trust gets her into some jams here (especially one in particular...eek!), I wouldn't want her any other way.  She's real, she's authentic, she's easy to connect with, while being someone readers can learn from and grow with.  Her passion for learning, doing the right thing, and giving people a chance are heartwarming.  Her steadfastness in her friendships is inspiring.  The fact that she doesn't call it quits when it seems the world is pretty much against her is remarkable, and just goes to show you that inner strength definitely starts with belief in yourself and the infinite things you are capable of.

A great read for Middle Grade fans of all ages, and an exciting adventure to be had between the pages.  

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About the author...

Jenna Yoon studied Art History at Wellesley College and received her master’s degree in Korean art history from Ewha Womans University. She’s lived about half her life in both Korea and the United States. When she’s not writing, Jenna loves to travel, find yummy eats, play board games, and take skin care very seriously. Currently, she lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two kids.

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Special thanks to Lindsey at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is out today, so seek thee out a copy wherever books are sold.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Walden Pond Press presents... THE WITCH OF WOODLAND by Laurel Snyder - REVIEW!

It's an exciting BOOK BIRTHDAY week and today, we're focusing in on a NEW TITLE available now via Walden Pond Press!  It's a Middle Grade Fiction title that deals with so many issues that readers can relate to with a little dash of MAGIC.  Curious?  You should be...and I'm about to lift the proverbial veil on today's celebrant.  Ready, set, here we go!  All eyes on today's book of choice...

The Witch of Woodland

by

Laurel Snyder

Walden Pond Press

About the book...

Laurel Snyder, author of Orphan Island, returns with a story of one girl’s quest to answer the seemingly unanswerable questions about what makes us who we are.

Hi, whoever is reading this. I’m Zipporah Chava McConnell, but everyone calls me Zippy.

Things used to be simple—until a few weeks ago. Now my best friend, Bea, is acting funny; everyone at school thinks I’m weird; and my mom is making me start preparing for my bat mitzvah, even though we barely ever go to synagogue.

In fact, the only thing that still seems to make sense is magic.

See, the thing is, I’m a witch. I’ve been casting spells since I was little. And even if no one else wants to believe in magic anymore, it’s always made sense to me, always felt true. But I was still shocked the day I found a strange red book at the library and somehow...I conjured something. A girl, actually. A beautiful girl with no memory, and wings like an angel. You probably don’t believe me, but I swear it’s the truth.

Miriam is like no one else I’ve ever met. She’s proof that magic is real. And, it’s hard to explain this part, but I just know that we’re connected. That means it’s up to me to help Miriam figure out what she is and where she came from. If I can do that, maybe everything else in my life will start to make sense too.

Anyway, it’s worth a try.

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Okay, so a few things...

...no, the title is not missing a word; WOODLAND is the name of Zippy's street.

...no, you're not seeing double; the magical looking image just behind our leading little lady on the cover IS there!

...it's not a Fantasy novel despite having that dash of magic.

Now that that's all cleared up, let's get a little deeper....

Zippy is growing up, and aside from the normal biological changes, her world is practically turning upside down.  She doesn't feel like she fits in pretty much anywhere.  She's losing her best friend to another group of girls that are all the things she isn't.  She's being tasked with having a bat mitzvah, and, for someone who doesn't know if she even believes the stories and practices it preaches, that's a tall order.  Quite frankly, she's alone in a very large crowd, and just wants to find her way back to the safety of the familiar.  The thing is...change is inevitable.  It's a constant, and, just like time, marches on.  We either go with it, or watch it leave us behind, but there is always a choice.

In this case, Zippy's choice comes in the shape of a girl with wings, with no memories, no name, and no idea where she came from.  Could she be an angel?  Maybe something malicious?  Or is she simply a manifestation of the hopes and fears in one young girl come to life? Except, it's not so simple whatever the answer may be because now that Miriam IS...she can't bear to undo her into oblivion no matter the cost to herself.  But Zippy isn't a girl who gives up.  She may be scared, and unsure, but she'll find her way, and she's got a great support system waiting in the wings, once she's ready to let them in.

I loved how inclusive the story was!  There were so many backgrounds, such a large variety of characters, beliefs that ran the gambit from secular to more otherworldly, and so many things in-between.  All was treated with respect, while educating readers along the way.   It was refreshing to see the open-mindedness of others in accepting things that were outside of their own comfort zone, in lieu of simply condemning it or ignoring it completely.  I wasn't sure how Zippy's rabbi would go about navigating her pagan explorations, and yet the approach taken accepted her for who she was, shined a light on the fact that she belonged, and welcomed her with open arms.  It reminds readers that things outside our personal boxes aren't wrong, just different, and everyone is entitled to their beliefs.  The world would be a boring place if we were all the same, and, after all, variety is the spice of life.  I liked the variety, the spice that Zippy added to the story.  She wasn't afraid to be who she wanted to be, but by book's end, she owns that statement with confidence.  It shines like the glittery girl she aimed to save, and sparkled like the light shining from all those pieces that remained when the "God-light" was split asunder (a story shared within the story).  

When all is said and done, we've got a story that makes us think, invites us to learn, and reminds us to grow.  It doesn't tell us that it'll be easy, but it does help us realize it's worth all the bumps in the road along the way...and those bumps make for some mighty good memories (or perhaps a story?) to be shared when the time is right.

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About the author...

Laurel Snyder is the beloved author of many picture books and novels for children, including the National Book Award nominee Orphan Island and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner Charlie & Mouse. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she teaches in Hamline University’s MFA in writing for children and young adults program. Laurel lives in Atlanta with her family and can be found online at www.laurelsnyder.com.

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Special thanks to Debbie and the Walden Pond Press team for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to snag your copy today, and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

May 16

Nerdy Book Club

@nerdybookclub

May 16

Unleashing Readers

@unleashreaders

May 17

Teachers Who Read

@teachers_read

May 18

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

@grgenius

May 22

StoryMamas

@storymamas

May 23

LitCoachLou

@litcoachlou

May 26

A Library Mama

@librarymama

May 30

A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

@bethshaum

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

PRE PUB BOOK BUZZ starring... The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester

Where are my Historical Fiction fans at?  Raise your hands HIGH so we can see them!  Now, add in the Historical Romance fans...yep, there we go.  If you could see across the world wide web, you'd be looking at a sea of hands in the air like we just don't care right about now, but in all honesty, we DO care.  We care because we LOVE this genre.  We care because reading about the past while relatively safe in our present, brings us comfort on some level, while moving our hearts with its profound stories filled to the brim with drama, intrigue, and moments that take your breath away.  Today's pre pub book birthday celebrant embodies all of that and more!

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre

by

Natasha Lester

9781538706930

Forever

About the book...

Alix St. Pierre. An unforgettable name for an unforgettable woman. She grew up surrounded by Hollywood glamor, but, as an orphan, never truly felt part of that world. In 1943, with WWII raging and men headed overseas to fight, she lands a publicity job to recruit women into the workforce. Her skills—persuasion, daring, quick-witted under pressure—catch the attention of the U.S. government and she finds herself with an even bigger assignment: sent to Switzerland as a spy. Soon Alix is on the precipice of something big, very big. But how far can she trust her German informant…?

After an Allied victory that didn’t come nearly soon enough, Alix moves to Paris, ready to immerse herself in a new position as director of publicity for the yet-to-be-launched House of Dior. In the glamorous halls of the French fashion house, she can nearly forget everything she lost and the dangerous secret she carries. But when a figure from the war reappears and threatens to destroy her future, Alix realizes that only she can right the wrongs of the past …and finally find justice.

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This is one of those stories you can't stop talking about.  Once I started, I was locked in for the duration.  There was no turning back, and despite how grim things may have looked time and time again, there was still magnificent beauty to be found, heartbreaking love to experience, and new beginnings worth fighting for.  

Alix St. Pierre...the only name a woman of her caliber should be saddled with because it was as stunning as the woman baring it.  It wasn't that she was beautiful, although she was.  It wasn't that she was smart, although she most definitely was.  It wasn't that she had overcome obstacles that would have beaten many down, or that she could reinvent herself when the time was right to step into a future just a bit more suited to her.  No, it was ALL of these things and more!  From the fashion savvy press manager to the owner of the bleeding heart, she is a multi-faceted woman who knows how to blend in, and when to stand out.  Her journey from orphan child to fashion connoisseur was astounding, but her time spent during the war is what really made her the remarkable woman we met between the pages.  The things she did, the events she stopped, the ways she found herself only to lose herself again, the moments of quiet solitude and the trials of fighting for what you believe in, all with the ultimate loss hanging right over her conscience.  She's not a person that takes things lightly.  She holds them tight, putting those feelings deep within her person, and making them her own until such a time she can resolve them for the greater good.

I was captivated by each page, every moment drawn deeper and deeper into the story.  Would Alix accomplish the seemingly impossible task before her?  How would she escape the dire end that seemed to be chasing her?  Could Anthony be anything more than a stuffed shirt, oversexed gent that swam in circles Alix never fit into?  Just who was Le Voce, and what ghastly plans did he have still unfolding?  So many questions, and so many paths to wander down to find the answers, but trust me, it's all worth it in the end for the chance to know and love Alix St. Pierre.

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About the author...

Natasha Lester worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal before penning the New York Times and internationally bestselling novel The Paris Orphan. She is also the author of the USA Today bestseller The Paris Seamstress. When she’s not writing, she loves collecting vintage fashion, traveling, reading, practicing yoga and playing with her three children. Natasha lives in Perth, Western Australia.

SITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

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Special thanks to Kayla of the Wunderkind PR team for the chance to bring this title to you and to Forever for the ARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available TOMORROW (01/10/23) via Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing / Hachette Book Group, so mark your calendar, or pre order your copy online today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?: The Shore by Katie Runde - REVIEW!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're spreading a little pre book birthday BUZZ about a new title COMING SOON from Scribner Books.  It's a work of Fiction that tackles the very real topic of life after the diagnosis.  What DOES happen after the never dreamed of nightmare happens...and not only to the patient, but the family?  Ready or not, fair readers, let's step between the epages of today's ebook of choice...

The Shore

by

Katie Runde

9781982180171

Scribner

Release Date:  05/24/22

About the book...

Brian and Margot Dunne live year-round in Seaside, just steps away from the bustling boardwalk, with their daughters Liz and Evy. The Dunnes run a real estate company, making their living by quickly turning over rental houses for tourists. But the family’s future becomes even more precarious when Brian develops a brain tumor, transforming into a bizarre, erratic version of himself. Amidst the chaos and new caretaking responsibilities, Liz still seeks out summer adventure and flirting with a guy she should know better than to pursue. Her younger sister Evy works in a candy shop, falls in love with her friend Olivia, and secretly adopts the persona of a middle-aged mom in an online support group, where she discovers her own mother’s most vulnerable confessions. Meanwhile, Margot faces an impossible choice driven by grief, impulse, and the ways that small-town life in Seaside has shaped her. Falling apart is not an option, but she can always pack up and leave the beach behind.

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As I said, it's much deeper than the cover might portray, taking you behind the scenes of the medical appointments and odd scenes in public, and putting you in the shoes of the family members themselves.  A scary diagnosis is not welcome by anyone, nor wished on another, but the reality of dealing with it is so much more than just the medical care.  It's in the every day decisions on how to deal with the changes in the person you've known and loved.  It's in the alternation of daily routines so that constant assistance is available to watch over the other.  It's in the thought that taking a moment to yourself is stealing time because, while in a way it is, no one should have to feel guilty for having a moment, nor would the person your caring for want you to feel that way, even if they can't relay that to you.  Speaking of them, what about the person afflicted with these changes?  I mean, we know the care and steps that are being taken are to benefit them, take care of them, provide for them, and make them more comfortable, but how debilitating it must be to feel that your freedom, your decisions have been taken from you.  

Don't get me wrong, Brian was by no means perfect, but neither was Margot.  They built a life together, for better or worse, but no one ever knows what that worst scenario may look like.  Their daughters, Liz and Evy, help take up the slack, never complaining, but never actually being able to sort out their lives without a constant timetable running in the background.  They're going through all of this just as much as their parents, while still trying to grow up and find themselves.  Bad choices are made, as are some good ones, but the stress it puts on them all is unfortunate.  Dealing with one or the other is more than enough for any person...but the strength of this family unit really shines through as they make their way towards an ending that's equally filled with new beginnings.

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About the author...

Photograph by Rebecca Sanabria

Katie Runde grew up on the Jersey Shore, where her family ran various boardwalk businesses. She holds an MFA from Warren Wilson College and lives in Iowa City with her husband and two daughters. The Shore is her first novel.

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Special thanks to Scribner Books for the eARC for review via the Shelf Awareness.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to release May 24th, 2022via Scribner Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Publishing, so mark your calendar or pre order your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Rockstar Book Tours presents... A DARKENING OF DRAGONS by S.A. Patrick - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Psst!

It's me again...and WELCOME BACK to post three here at...Satisfaction for INSATIABLE Readers.

For this post, I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the A DARKENING OF DRAGONS by S.A. Patrick Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my review a little further down past the intro, and make sure to enter the giveaway before you head off to visit the other sites on the tour!

A DARKENING OF DRAGONS 

(Songs of Magic #1)

by

S.A. Patrick

Pub. Date: April 1, 2022

Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 400

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, iBooks Audiobook, Kobo Audiobook, TBD, Bookshop.org

Three accidental heroes encounter one legendary villain in an epic dragon-filled adventure just right for young fans of Terry Pratchett, J.R.R. Tolkien, and How to Train Your Dragon!

13-year old piper Patch Brightwater is a boy in disgrace. Thrown in jail for playing a forbidden spell, he is no one's idea of a hero. But then he discovers a deadly truth – the evil Piper of Hamelyn is on the loose.

With the help of Wren, a girl cursed to live as a rat, and Barver, a fire-breathing dracogriff, Patch must stop the Piper from sparking the biggest battle of them all.

S.A. Patrick’s debut children’s novel is a vivid retelling of one of the darkest legends of all time – the Piper of Hamelyn. Combining fairy tale lore with the very best of modern storytelling and empowerment, A Darkening of Dragons takes fantasy fans on a journey filled with adventure, magic, and the delight of finding friends in unexpected places. Perfect for fans of The Hobbit, Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching books, and How to Train Your Dragon.

A Carnegie Medal nominee. 

 

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Think the tale of the pied piper, twisted, and amped up about a gazillion watts...

...and you might be touching the tip of the iceberg that is THIS BOOK!

Okay, so the original tale of the Pied Piper WAS sort of twisted on its own, I admit, but in this story, he's the one that is feared above all others.  His mastery over his craft was renowned, but the ways in which he used it were despicable. In this story, he was captured...eventually...and put away for all time.  So that's that.  The other pipers that remained put their skills to good use, well...mostly good...and helped achieve peace throughout the land.  The young piper-in-training, Patch Brightwater, is a kind soul that got off on the wrong foot.  He was so dedicated to his learning, so single minded in his pursuit of his goals, that when something lesser was offered, he snapped.  For him, there was no other acceptable means to an end.  He either achieved his dreams, or...well, essentially he burned them to the ground, minus the fire...although there was plenty of that later when he went from prisoner to escaped convict, but that's a tale for another time.  Suffice it to say that there is ADVENTURE, there is MAGIC, there is MYSTERY, and oh so much DANGER growing with every turn of the page as Patch and friends get closer to their goal...and when it comes down to the big reveal, you'll be on the edge of your seat!

I loved Patch for his true heart, despite his childish outburst that landed him on the wrong side of the piper law in the first place.  He was dedicated to his craft in its truest form.  He didn't want money and fame, he wanted to help people like in the old days, and by jove if I could have reached through the pages and made that happen for him, I would have.  I adored Wren for her smarts, quick whit, and dedication to seeing things through, not just for herself, but for the others too.  She could have sought an easier path, but she stuck with her newfound friends for better or worse.  Barver, our friendly dracogriff, had me in the mindset of Harry Potter for a while with his griffin half bringing to mind our dear friend Buckbeak, but I digress, he's also part DRAGON, so there's a definite difference in heritage, as in his overall character because he can talk, fly, sew...yes, sew...and despite having been off on his own for a time, is more than ready to see his young friends as safely as he can to the end of their quest.  

Does Patch find out just what the last words of the "madman" meant?  Will Wren return to her former human self?  Does Barver finish his mum's request then fly off into the sunset?  You'll have to read it to find out, but trust me, you're going to want to get in on this series before it grows...for the shear fact of its AWESOMENESS!

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About S.A. Patrick:

S. A. Patrick was born in Belfast. When he was a child, he wanted to write video games, become an author, and have magical powers. The first two came true. If he ever does get magical powers, he hopes people like dragons and griffins because there’ll suddenly be a lot of them around. He lives in England.

 

Twitter | Goodreads

 

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YOUR CHANCE TO WIN...

...1 winner will receive a finished copy of A DARKENING OF DRAGONS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to the Rockstar Book Tours team for the chance to bring this tour to you and to Scholastic Books for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, wherever books are sold.  Catch the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/28/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/28/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	Excerpt
3/29/2022	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review
3/29/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
3/30/2022	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
3/30/2022	Log Cabin Library	Review
3/31/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
3/31/2022	Onemused	IG Spotlight
4/1/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post
4/1/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review

Week Two:

4/4/2022	Ravenz Reviewz	Review/IG Post
4/4/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	Review
4/5/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
4/5/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
4/6/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
4/6/2022	BookHounds YA	Review
4/7/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
4/7/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
4/8/2022	Locks, Hooks and Books	Review
4/8/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY week to... NEW FROM HERE by Kelly Yang - REVIEW!

HI guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're celebrating the VERY recent BOOK BIRTHDAY of the latest title from author Kelly Yang out now via Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers!  It's a timely title that I was quite surprised to find out was inspired by her family's REAL LIFE struggle to find their way in this crazy, pandemic world...where the virus isn't the only thing we still need to overcome.  Ladies and gents, let's get between the pages of today's book of choice...

New From Here

by

Kelly Yang

9781534488304

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Release Date:  03/01/22

About the book...

When the coronavirus hits Hong Kong, ten-year-old Knox Wei-Evans’s mom makes the last-minute decision to move him and his siblings back to California, where they think they will be safe. Suddenly, Knox has two days to prepare for an international move—and for leaving his dad, who has to stay for work.

At his new school in California, Knox struggles with being the new kid. His classmates think that because he’s from Asia, he must have brought over the virus. At home, Mom just got fired and is panicking over the loss of health insurance, and Dad doesn’t even know when he’ll see them again, since the flights have been cancelled. And everyone struggles with Knox’s blurting-things-out problem.

As racism skyrockets during COVID-19, Knox tries to stand up to hate, while finding his place in his new country. Can you belong if you’re feared; can you protect if you’re new? And how do you keep a family together when you’re oceans apart? Sometimes when the world is spinning out of control, the best way to get through it is to embrace our own lovable uniqueness.

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It's funny.  Who would have thought that this many years later, we'd still be worried about a little old virus?  I mean, it started SO FAR AWAY from where most of you reading this are, and I bet you've all got your own stories about having to quarantine in place, or toilet paper shortages, or deep seated fears that you never knew you even had coming to the surface like a nervous laugh at a funereal.  Sorry to get a bit morbidly graphic there, but it's the truth...and the truth isn't always pretty, but it should be kind.

I was shocked to find out that this story was inspired by the author's real life experience of trying to outrun the virus and keep her family safe.  I mean, you realize as an adult that things like this happened, and working in what was/is considered an essential field, I got to see a lot of things unfold that I never thought I'd see, nor wish to again...but baring witness, even somewhat fictionally, to the outright hatred they faced, while struggling so hard to simply make it was a tough role.  I wanted to reach into the story and set the wrongs to right...or as Knox so eloquently put it, be the echo in their time of need.  That's something we all need to learn.  No matter our background or heritage, we all matter, and no one deserves to face down bullies on their own.  The author makes a great point...love IS the vaccine to hatred.  The old "can't we all just get along" line has a ring of truth.  If we invite love into our hearts and approach others the way we would want to be approached, the kindness we show and the smiles we share can go a long way in opening doors that were previously closed.

Whether fictional or factual, this is one family you'd definitely want to call you own.  They have ups and downs, including a garage sale gone awry and a BIG health scare, but despite it all, or perhaps in spite of it all, they love each other and would go to the ends of the earth to make sure they were together.  So open your minds, and your hearts to a story that we need during times that, while considerably brighter than before, are still ever changing, unknown, and littered with prejudices of the past that need to be buried with it.  It doesn't do any good to hide it, but learn from it...and you're GOLD.

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About the author...

Kelly Yang is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Front Desk, winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature, Three Keys, Room to Dream, and Parachutes. Visit her at KellyYang.com

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Special thanks to Antonella at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information about this title, the author, her other works, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so stop by your local brick and mortar or favorite online store today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!