It's no secret on this blog just how much I adore, I repeat, adore, the story of The Nutcracker. Seeing the ballet live onstage has become a holiday staple for me, and my memories of it go way, way back. My first exposure to the story was seeing a live Disney show where Mickey Mouse … Continue reading The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, by E.T.A. Hoffmann →

When I was in third grade, my teacher had a poster in our reading corner that featured a child's hand reaching out to touch a floating fairy, with the title Fairy Tale: A True Story below them. I always wondered what that poster represented, but I didn't find out until almost twenty years later that … Continue reading The Cottingley Secret, by Hazel Gaynor →

Every reader knows the joy of going to used book stores. Or in my case, the Half-Price Books Mega Book Sale that occurs every fall in my area, where you can find books for dirt cheap. I've forgotten a large chunk of the books I bought at my first shopping spree, but one that sticks … Continue reading Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, by Patrick Suskind →

Few series in the last year or so have held me as tight as the American Royals series has. I once again stumbled upon the next book in this story at a local bookstore, and I snatched that book up as if it were a treasure. I'm glad to have finally settled the tension as … Continue reading Reign: American Royals IV, by Katherine McGee →

Fantasy can be a very cozy genre. After all, you can escape to faraway lands and spend time with unique and fun characters you might have never encountered before. That said, a properly cozy fantasy story has to strike the right balance of engaging adventure and low-stakes conflict. Too much of either, and "cozy" may … Continue reading The House Witch #1, by Delemhach →