Book 8 - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I finally joined the bandwagon and read this book!  I've been wanting to for a while now...way before I found out they were making it into a movie.  Bad thing is though...I probably won't be able to watch the movie.  I get super judgmental of movies after I've read the books...to the point I can't enjoy the movie!  Anyway....

We begin our journey with a young fellow named Jacob recounting stories told to him by his Grandpa Portman; a man of Polish decent who was fought in WWII and who's parents were killed prior to the war.  Grandpa Portman showed photographs of his friends from his childhood, some of whom were an invisible boy and a levitating girl.  Cut to many years later, Jacob is 16 and working at one of his family's drugstore chains...Smart Aid.  It is during one of his work days he receives a phone call from his Grandpa, freaking out, wanting the key to the weapons cabinet.  The family had long ago locked up the weapons cabinet because they feared Grandpa was losing his mind due to senility.  Grandpa had been claiming there were monsters but the family just assumed he was lapsing back into memories and days of the war.  Jacob would soon discover his grandfather was perfectly in his right mind.  By the time Jacob gets to his grandfather's house, he knows something isn't right.  After searching the house Jacob wanders out into the backyard and further into the bordering woods where he finds his grandfather...barely alive...chest bleeding from scratches that looked to have been made by an animal.  That's what the police said...animal attack.  Jacob, however, sees a different monster in the woods...one with tentacles for a tongue and sharp claws.  Jacob knows it is this creature that has killed his grandfather.  With his last breath, Grandpa Portman tells Jacob a few things that at the time make no sense to him, but eventually turn out to be clues.  After the death of his grandfather, and seeing the creature, Jacob slips into a depression and honestly believes he himself is going crazy.  It isn't until he goes to therapy that things kind of start improving.  

Finally, on Jacob's 16th birthday, his aunt gives him a book she found when cleaning out Grandpa Portman's things.  It is a book of Ralph Waldo Emerson's works and inside the cover it says For Jacob...Emerson was one of the clues provided to him from his grandfather's last words.  It's not so much the book though, but rather the letter found in the book.  Grandpa used to always talk about the children at Miss Peregrine's school and within the Emerson book, a letter from Miss Peregrine falls out.  Jacob starts to believe maybe his grandfather wasn't making it all up.  Maybe, just maybe, he needs to visit the place the letter was postmarked from to see if the school is still there.  Upon the encouragement of his psychiatrist, Jacob and his father go to the island...his father to bird watch and Jacob...well Jacob goes to see if he's lost his mind or not.  Once on the island, Jacob learns the location of the school and when he gets there all he finds is a ruined house with floors rotting and walls missing...not to mention part of the house completely gone from a bomb falling on it during the war.  It isn't until one day Jacob finds a trunk full of pictures like the ones his grandfather showed him that he thinks he may on to something.  It's also during the time he's going through these pictures that he starts to hear people talking to him.  He looks up to find several children around him but when he tries to explain himself or ask them anything, they all take off running.  He manages to give chase and follows one girl, Emma, into a cairn.  When he enters the cairn, there's no one there, but when he climbs back out, he has stepped back into time.  September 3, 1940 to be exact.  Of course he doesn't know he's entered a different time until he tries to go back to the one inn on the island and they have no idea who he is, nor does he see anything remotely modern.  Emma eventually finds him, holds a knife to him until he answers why he's following her, and takes him back to the school which now that he is back in 1940 is standing once again.  

Back at the house, he meets Miss Peregrine who begins to explain a few things.  When the war came, she created a time loop so basically they repeat the same day over and over again.  All of the children are indeed 'peculiar'.  Emma creates fire and light with her hands.  Miss Peregrine turns into a falcon and can manipulate time.  Hugh has bees that come from his mouth.  Bronwyn has super human strength.  Fiona can grow trees and flowers.  Millard is the invisible boy.  They all really do exist.  His grandfather wasn't lying.  The bad thing is though, if the children leave the loop and enter the present for an extended period of time, they will begin aging rapidly to their actual age so they must always remain in the loop.  But like everyone, the peculiars have enemies...other than humans.  They are known as the hollowghast...these subhuman creatures with sharp teeth and claws and tentacles for a mouth.  They feast on peculiars and after eating so many of them they can become somewhat human and become what is known as a wight.  Wights have no pupils and they try to find peculiars or really anyone for the hollowghast to feast on.  Jacob's grandfather could see the hollowghast...as not all peculiars can.  Monster sight was Grandpa Portman's peculiar talent...and he has passed it down to Jacob...

Jacob spends his time on the island traveling between present day and 1940 until one day another peculiar from another time loop shows up frantic.  Her loop was infiltrated by a wight and the children were killed.  She barely managed to escape.  Turns out the wights are trying to find all peculiars who can alter time in hopes of creating a great peculiar species that could rule the world.  Isn't that everyone bad guy's goal?  Power?  It also just so happens a wight has showed up on the island in the present time.  Turns out the wight can take many disguises and has infiltrated himself in Jacob's life for basically his entire life...first as a school bus driver, then as his grandfather's neighbor, and then as his psychiatrist!  He knew if he persuaded Jacob to go to the island to find answers, he would be able to follow him, find the other peculiars, and get Miss Peregrine since she can manipulate time!  The children fight back though and are able to rescue Miss Peregrine...bad thing is though...she can't turn back into a human and the loop has broken.  At the end, for the first time in over 60 years, it is September 4, 1960.  The children, along with Miss Peregrine in falcon form, leave behind all they've ever known to go in search of other time loops and those who can manipulate time in order to form an army that can battle the hollowghast and the wights.  

Knowing he never really had much, Jacob goes with them.  He tells his father the truth, knowing his father may never believe him...but either way he leaves.  He has a new family now...one that understands him...and one that he somehow understands.  He finally has a purpose and an extraordinary life.  

It takes a while to get to Miss Peregrine and her peculiar children but to me the book needed the background stuff.  You needed to see Jacob struggle through his conflicts about his grandfather.  Was he crazy?  Was he cheating?  You needed to encounter all of that just so it restored your faith is his grandfather just as much as it restored Jacob's faith.  Even though we spend a lot of time getting to know Jacob's life, it was still fast paced to me.  I feel Riggs had an overall goal and he knew he wouldn't be able to tell Jacob's story with one book.  I look forward to following the peculiar children in their next adventure.       

Book 7 - Hexed: Book 2 of the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne

So if you read my blog on Hounded...you know how I feel about this series and that was after only the first book.  I still feel the same way...maybe even more so.  NERDGASM!  I still want to have babies with Atticus, I want to love all over his Irish Wolfhound, Oberon, and it really makes me want to visit Ireland even more than I already did. 

When we last left Atticus he was recuperating in his back yard after doing battle with demons and bad witches...he had also had part of his ear chewed off.  It's now the morning after and he awakes to find the Morrigan wanting his attention.  She proceeds to have her way with him, which heals his ear, but dear Lord...it was not rough sex in the good way.  She damn near kills him and I'm fairly certain he never wants to experience her again.  He gets his ear back though so I guess it's okay...?  Anyway, the ear thing is important because of his last shenanigans, the missing ear thing is the only thing the police have to go on.  So thanks Morrigan...but I think we could all do without the excessively rough sex next time.  

Now that Atticus has his ear back, hello trouble.  There's a band of Bacchants (followers of Bacchus aka Dionysus...click the link for a little Wikipedia knowledge on the subject if you wish) in the next town over causing problems for the witches...not to mention there are witches causing problems for the witches and Atticus.  Ugh...witches.  We do find out though that witches have no power over the werewolves which made me think yes, please...sign me up for werewolf.  If I have to choose, I don't want cold, pasty skin of a vampire, and Druid seems like a lot of hard work to develop something to help protect your ass for thousands of years so yeah...I'll be furry.  It's almost winter anyway and no woman likes shaving her legs in the winter.  I'm just sayin...  Anyway...ignore that tangent.  Also to contend with, Atticus' vampire attorney, Leif, is all yo Atticus when are you going to kill Thor for me??!!  It's seriously never a dull day for Atticus.  

First up on problems to deal with...Bacchants.  Alright...no big deal...consider it done.  Things get a little messy (lol on that unintentional joke if you actually read up on Bacchants and if you go and read this book) but eh...not a bad night's work (again lol...cracking myself up here...maybe it's because I should really be sleeping right now), especially since he had the help of Laksha for the Bacchant slaying.

Next up...psychotic witches trying to kill Atticus with a hex (thus the name of the book) that kills you from the inside out.  Luckily, Atticus has his handy necklace that protects his ass, and he is able to make a few amulets for Granuaile to protect her from the "boil you from the inside out" hex.  With the help of the witches he has made a peace treaty with, Atticus is able to figure out where the bad witches are stationed.  In order to get a bit more help with the situation, Atticus promises Leif he'll get Thor for him (well at least we know what sort of shenanigans will be attempted in the next book).  So of course, the band of brothers, and witches, go storming the baddy witch castle and a battle ensues.  I should say the reason these witches are such bitches is because they mate with demons from hell in order to produce demon offspring.  Ugh...women are psychotic, y'all.  

So yeah...some sex crazed maniacs die...some witches die...some demons die.  All is right with the universe again...at least until the next adventure of Atticus.  As usual, I can't wait to see what happens next up with Atticus.  Oberon is still there and still the comedic relief at all times.  There are several twists in this book that I didn't expect...some deaths that shocked me.  Obviously I've glossed over many, many details but that's for your benefit.  

GO READ THE DAMN BOOKS!  :)           

Book 6 - The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I liked how it flipped back and forth between the present and flashbacks of Arden's life.  If you're not one for that sort of thing...get over it and read the damn book.  Also, before you read any further...it's a murder book...I tell you who died and who did it...so SPOILER ALERT.  

The story begins with a magic act of sawing a man in half...followed by a real man actually having been beaten and sawed in half...well that grabbed my attention from the get go.  I do love a good murder story after all.  The magician, it must be told, is a woman by the stage name of Arden.  We don't start out knowing the identify of the dead man, but given the magician is so skilled in seemingly knowing how to saw a man in half, she becomes the immediate suspect.  She is seen and captured by a small town police officer who has his own demons.  He was shot in the line of duty not too long ago and has just received some very disturbing news from the doctor about the bullet lodged in his back.  Not trusting Arden, but knowing if he can get her to confess his career will be set, officer Virgil Holt handcuffs her to a chair for the interrogation.  Arden is adamant that she is innocent and knows nothing about the murder, but Virgil insists on knowing what happened so Arden begins her story at the beginning.  

Once upon a time, Arden was known by her government name of Ada Bates and she lived with her mother and grandparents in quite the lap of luxury.  However, that all changed when her mother met a man of meager means and he promised her the world.  Like a typical woman in love, she left behind the riches of her family and moved with him to a farm...and on this farm was a boy named Ray.  Ray was the son of her new step-father's brother...yeah...follow that flow chart.  He was a cousin by marriage only.  Ray was a twisted sort who believed he had the magic to heal people...when really he was just a sadistic freak who liked to hurt animals and people.  Ada coped with the drastic changes her life had taken by taking up dancing...ballet in particular.  And she was good.  She was graceful and she worked hard.  She worked so hard and progressed so quickly her mother was able to get her an audition for a prestigious dance teacher that would be visiting the Biltmore Estate.  Her mother, Ada, and Ray set off to Biltmore for the audition.  Once they arrived at Biltmore, Ada went out to the barn to clear her head before her big audition and to work through her steps.  Ray found her and forced himself upon her.  When she fought back and would not succumb to her advances, he picked her up and threw her from the hay loft, crushing not only her leg but also her dreams of leaving the wretched farm and wretched Ray.  

After she recovered and once she was 16, Ada was out like a fat kid in dodge ball and went to Biltmore to try and find work.  She didn't know where else to go to find work but she knew how to clean house and she figured she could just sneak in.  It surprisingly worked and by that I mean the head cleaning lady let her stay.  Ada got along well and during her stay she met a gardener named Clyde who was 2 years older than her.  The two were immediately smitten with each other but when they were caught by Mr. Biltmore himself they decided to leave the estate and travel north.  At the same time, Ada got a letter that Ray was on his way so to continue outrunning him, she traveled with Clyde. Whilst staying with Clyde's relatives, unbeknownst to Ada, he proposed in order to get happy engagement money from the family.  He should have clued Ada in because she was legitimately heart broken when she learned he had only asked her for the purposes of milking money from his family and had no real interest in marrying her.  I say she's legit in being pissed.  Ada, being all up in her feelings, split from Clyde when they made it to New York.  She got a job as a dancer in a chorus line production and was approached by a woman, a female magician, to be in her show.  The money was too good and Ada decided to join the traveling magic show.  At first she was just a helper but more and more she was taken under the tutelage of Adelaide, the magician.  Eventually it was time for Adelaide to retire so she turned the show over to Ada, on the condition that she worked with the manager of her own choosing...that manager just so happened to be Clyde.  Well hello plot twist.  It takes some time but eventually the two just can't help themselves and they realize they are right for each other and the romance begins again.  

In the midst of things going well, both personally and professionally, Arden travels to Chicago to check out a theater for where her show could potentially be held when a fire breaks out.  Someone saves her but she wakes up in a basement surrounded by people covered by white sheets...obviously those that perished from the fire.  Upon waking, who's face does she see?  Ray.  Mother fucker.  Just die already.  Ray, always with his handy straight razor, does his psychotic routine but Arden, now older and stronger, gets his razor and slits his throat.  However, Arden is never really the same again because of the blood on her hands.  She never tells a soul of what happened but she has a hard time reconnecting with Clyde after the incident of the fire and the throat cutting.  She and Clyde eventually work through things and carry on with the traveling magic show...until Ray shows up once again in her life.  He threatens Clyde's life so she sends a telegram (he's still in New York) and tells him it's over.  For weeks Ray holds her prisoner in her own train car only letting her out to do the shows.  He beats her and does his usual psycho routine.  

Now...skipping a whole lot and a lot of detail that really is worth reading, that brings us up to her being handcuffed to a chair in the police station.  Turns out the dead guy is.....RAY!!  Holy shit balls...fucking finally!  Believe me...once you reading everything this fucker did, you'll feel like I did.  However, it really wasn't Arden who killed him......it was...DUN DUN DUNNNNNN....

CLYDE!  Yes!  He knew that mother fucker was hurting his woman and had been for some time.  He also knew they were in love and she wouldn't just send a telegram to break up with him.  The good news is too...they don't get caught by the police!  Which in all honesty, it was self defense that Ray ended up dead.  

Now...I have left a whole lot out because there are some things about Virgil that add to the story and make a little subplot going on with him.  He's a good man but he knows his career is over.  He eventually comes around to Ada's side though...he sympathizes with her after hearing her story.  I liked this story a lot and found switching between the past and present really helped keep the story from getting boring or from dragging on for too long at one particular time.  I would definitely read anything in the future from Greer Macallister.  Well done.          

Book 5 - Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

So...I'm back...finally.  The last 3 months have been a ridiculous whirlwind...in a good way.  I accepted a new job, quit my old job, started my new job, and moved to a different city all within 3 weeks.  I've been trying to get my feet back under me and I've finally made it out of my 90 day period so I think it's safe to say they're going to keep me.  I couldn't be happier with where I am now.  My professional life was a drag really and I can't keep the smile off my face now when I talk about work.  Legit, best decision I've made in years and I know it was all guided by God.  Anyway, now that the absence has been explained...on to the books!  I've been reading quite a bit but I'm just now getting around to blogging so hopefully there will be about 4 of these in the very near future...

I absolutely love everything by Janet Evanovich and it was incredibly refreshing to see a new series with a new set of characters.  I've been an avid reader of Evanovich for years starting with the Stephanie Plum series but I had to put it down for a bit.  I'm just a little over the fact that she can't make up her mind between the two men.  It was interesting for the first 17 books, but now I'm just frustrated.  Granted I'm only on book 18 and she's up to like book 22 or 23 of the series but still...I'm tired of that game.  Alas, I digress.

Curious Minds revolves around Riley Moon, a junior analyst at a prestigious bank that makes Goldman Sachs look puny, and she has been asked to contact one mysterious recluse, Emerson Knight, because he has not responded to the bank even though he recently inherited millions of dollars from his father's passing.  Riley grew up in Texas, the youngest of 5 children, she the only girl.  She's the daughter of the former sheriff and she left her small world in Texas to get her MBA and Law Degree from Harvard followed by accepting the junior analyst position at the bank of Blane-Grunwald.  She's now visiting Emerson Knight at his home also dubbed as Mysterioso Manor.  Emerson is an eccentric millionaire who is that awkward sort of intelligent, but he's also incredibly attractive...as all book men are.  Emerson inherited his father's estate and all of the money that goes along with that including a large sum of gold bars...and now he wants to see it.  He wants to visually see his own gold, and hey...who could fault him for that.  Riley tries to reassure Emerson that everything is fine...his gold is fine...everything is safe and secure; but Emerson wants to see it for himself.  It doesn't help that his usual bank contact, and Riley's mentor/boss, has been missing for a month.  Emerson tells Riley they're going to the bank to see the head honcho, Werner Grunwald, so he can see his gold.  And thus begins our journey into hijinks that Evanovich is known for.

During the meeting at the bank with Werner, Emerson eventually informs him he'll help look for his brother.  It's also worth noting that 2 international bankers for Blane-Grunwald have apparently committed suicide and another banker in the New York office was recently found dead.  Werner has Riley go along with Emerson so he can basically use her as a spy...along the way though, Riley changes sides...if she ever really on the side of the Grunwald's to begin with.  Through a series of hilarious hijinks and murder attempts...not to mention felonies, Emerson and Riley uncover a huge conspiracy to switch out the gold in the Federal Reserve with gold plated tungsten.  The thieves want to melt it down and make their own currency with it *eye roll*.  I don't want to ruin anything but when all is said and done, they find the thieves, out them to the world, and Emerson at last gets to see his gold.  He also hires Riley on and thus begins the real question of will they or won't they?  They of course have chemistry.  Emerson, being so intelligent, is not very good with people because he's so honest.  He misses the social cues that some things may be inappropriate to say.  Riley finds him both annoying and charming, and he finds her to be intelligent and amusing.  They balance each other out so I look forward to where Evanovich will take them.  I also look forward to the next set of hijinks she puts these two through.

I read this book over the course of 2 days with actually getting a few hours of sleep in between so for me that's about a day.  I always find I can fly through Evanovich's books and this one was no exception.  Her characters were refreshing and it was a different change of pace from the Stephanie Plum scene that I thoroughly enjoyed.  If you're looking for a light hearted, quick paced, page turner that will make you kind of chuckle to yourself, you can't go wrong with Curious Minds...plus it's the first one in a new series so you'll know you're starting at the beginning.

5 Stars for Evanovich...but that's nothing new.  :)