Kari Maaren

I enjoyed most of this book. Though I didn't connect with the main character or her family in the first section of the book, the mystery presented in the second section had me coming back to it every chance I got. I also enjoyed the way the author looped the time traveling, especially when it related to "present time." My sense of foreboding grew along with the main character, as the time travel played itself out. However, the ending of the book didn't deliver quite the punch I was expecting. I didn't follow some of it, and for the rest of it, I was a little out of my element regarding the fantasy elements. There was one moment that I really liked, that called back to the very beginning, but I can't say more than that. I appreciate Kari's mind toward continuity within a story.

Overall, I'd say this book is worth a read, especially if you enjoy fantasy, fairy tales, and mythology.… (mehr)

OK. I thought my brain melted during the denouement of this book, but I was wrong. It melted when I discovered the author is also a musician and has an album called Beowulf Pulled My Arm Off and another called Everybody Hates Elves. Also, her Ph.D. dissertation, (I’m pretty sure it’s her—right location and theme) Darkness inside: The role of the half-monster hero in the Middle English Romance tradition is listed on Worldcat, and she has a web comic too. I may have just found my new favorite person.

I’m not a stalker.

This was very different from any other book with time travel I’ve read, and although the chunk dedicated to time travel wasn’t my favorite part of the book, I admired the originality in the rules she created.
I loved her writing style, and Cuerva Lachance and Josiah made me laugh a lot. After checking out the the author’s website—I’m not a stalker—I wonder if the author is, in fact, Cuerva Lachance. I should probably quit accusing authors of being their characters. I already did that in an earlier review this year. Well, maybe authors should stop being their characters. Did they ever think of that?

I may have been infected by Cuerva Lachance’s nonsense and whimsy.

Anyway. The book. I enjoyed it, especially when all the characters were together. The time travel interlude went long, but I can see why she included all that she did. I’d read more by this author, and I definitely plan to check out the web comic.… (mehr)