Minnette Meador

I won't lie, the blurb made me wonder if this was going to be incredibly memorable in a good or bad way. This was excellent. If you enjoy cheesy romantic comedies and campy "horror" like Daybreak or Ash vs Evil Dead, and ever wondered what would happen if they got mixed together, then this is your answer. It's funny, it's sweet, it's steamy. There are ghosts, demons, psychics, and a kind, sweet, ordinary human caught up in the madness. The first chapter is when I knew I was going to love this, and I honestly blew through the book quickly. The characters are all great, but Brianna's grandma is probably my favorite. I loved following the story from multiple POV, and there were quite a few moments that had me giggling. A must-read if you're looking for a new twist on the romantic comedy genre.… (mehr)

I’d read Minnette’s fantasy novel, Starsight, a while ago and really enjoyed it. But I wasn’t quite so sure what I’d think about historical romance, particularly not without the comfort of a nice warm bed and cup of hot cocoa, and particularly not when it’s set in the land of my birth. I’m kind of possessive about England and its history; I people its past with characters from the Rosemary Sutcliffe novels I read as a child. And the memories run deep because she always made me cry, much to my brothers’ amusement.

Minnette didn’t make me cry. But she did create a very plausible England with fine characters and intriguing background. The centurion is predictably heroic (should I put that in capitals?), but none-the-less interesting, particularly when Minnette begins to sketch in more of his background. And the queen projects a satisfying combination of power, education, impulsiveness and vulnerability. The other characters each arrive with fully realized histories and possibilities, giving them surprising depth. And Minnette paints an appealingly cosmopolitan picture of the culture of the time, with world travel, education, law, slavery and friendship all falling into place. The pages flew by.

Disclosure: I won a copy of an earlier edition and I'm thrilled to see it rereleased… (mehr)

There’s fairytale delight in this story, modern tale common sense, wise lessons, fun action and mystery, and a delightful little boy who just can’t resist the lure of adventure, or food, or a game with his toys. The words dance with an easy rhythm, and rhyme as if they were meant to be told that way. The illustrations are bright and fun, with wonderful expressions drawn on poor Jamie’s face. And the wizard… well, perhaps it would help if every child got to meet him, and in this book they can.

This fine little adventure may have changed Jamie’s life. Share it with a child, and change yours.… (mehr)

When I was small I used to love big books because you got more words for your pennies. These days I tend to go for more slender volumes—old age and dry rot, maybe, or else I’m acquiring a shorter attention span from my kids. Minnette Meador’s “Starsight” books aren’t the huge tomes of my youth, but neither are they short. They’re actually quite a satisfying length—long enough to draw you into Minnette’s well-realized world, and short enough to finish without strain.

When I saw that “Starsight II” was about the same length as “Starsight I,” I found myself hoping I wouldn’t have to reread the first book to understand the second. Not that I’d mind rereading it—it’s just that my to-read list is longer than my sons’ book list for college. But I needn’t have feared. Minnette has an uncanny skill at “showing” what I’m meant to remember, without actively re-educating me. Just as I realize I’m meant to remember someone, I’ll see them thinking how things used to be, or someone will ask why they did it, and all becomes clear.

Of course, the storyline itself was too intricate to be clear till the end. Setbacks piled on top of disasters, and poor tortured Joshan had me swinging from certainty to despair as he followed his path. Battles in one place effected changes in another, and slowly Minnette drew the many threads together, only to turn that gradually growing question of the gods into a startling dénouement that left me smiling and bemused.

A satisfying continuation to the story begun in “Starsight I;” an unpredictable, and thought-provoking conclusion; and another good book. But if you haven’t read “Starsight I” I’d strongly recommend you go there first. After all, why miss out?… (mehr)