If I could trace the popularity of contemporary young adult fairy tale retellings, I might start with Gail Carson Levine’s Ella Enchanted. It might not be precisely the first retelling of a popular fantasy, but it is certainly ranked among the most well known. Like I mentioned in my Geekerella review, it is ridiculously easy … Continue reading Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine →

Last summer, I made the acquaintance of Sarah Henning, who offered me some writing career advice, and in return for her kindness, I reviewed her debut book, Sea Witch. Little did I know that there was a sequel on the horizon, called Sea Witch Rising. I knew even less that I would be offered the … Continue reading Sea Witch Rising, by Sarah Henning →

In case I haven’t confessed it, I love Shakespeare—like, really love Shakespeare. I read for Juliet in my freshman English class, I worked behind the scenes in my high school’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I’ve been to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada twice, and I even performed as Prospero in a summer production of … Continue reading Saving Juliet, by Suzanne Selfors →

I fondly remember December 2012. And no, it wasn’t because the Mayan calendar allowed us to live another year. That was when I read Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer’s Between the Lines in one sitting, enthralled at the adventures of an ordinary girl falling in love with a prince from a fairy tale—a story … Continue reading Off the Page, by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer →

This one’s a little tricky, because it is not fiction, nor a memoir. I’m tempted to spend this whole review waxing nostalgic about perhaps the best sitcom ever produced (although I can’t really avoid doing that), but rather, I ought to articulate how another person did it first. But just the same, here is my … Continue reading I’ll Be There for You: The One about Friends, by Kelsey Miller →

I did not see Jim Henson’s Labyrinth until I was in my teens. I knew of its significance in pop culture and it somewhat intrigued me, but when an old friend insisted that I finally watch it, I decided it was…okay. Yep: I found one of the most famous cult films in history to be … Continue reading Labyrinth, by A.C.H. Smith →

These days, I’ve been hesitant to dedicate myself to a series. Because I consume so many new stories, I don’t always have time for them, especially series that start out small, but stretch themselves to their breaking point. But I’m more confident in my endeavors when a series is either already finished, or I know … Continue reading Three Dark Crowns, by Kendare Blake →

So I know I am nearly a month late, but The Library Key celebrated its one-year anniversary on May 18th! I’ve reviewed close to fifty titles over the course of this year, but I thought I would do something different to commemorate a whole year of reviews. My most recent review at that date was … Continue reading RoseBlood, Phantom of the Opera, and other Bloody Tales: A Conversation →

Junior high can be a magical time for reading. When you’re a preadolescent reading about kids becoming heroes and having grand, magical destinies, you honestly believe that anything is possible. Makes sense, considering that junior high is a heck of a confusing and awkward time. Looking back on these books, it is so easy to … Continue reading The Moon Key, by J.R. Stampfl →

I’ve mentioned before that I sometimes attend comic conventions. So I thought, in order to celebrate my third year attending Indiana Comic Con, I would review a book that hints at one of my cosplays for this year's convention--one of my most ambitious cosplay projects to date, I'll add. Wintersong is not a new read … Continue reading Wintersong, by S. Jae-Jones →