We aim to please here at Lit Carnivale. You have the option to read the reviews below or scroll down to watch the review video (updated 6/24/20). In May 2020, Toi read 1 nonfiction book, 2 children’s book (1 was a picture book), 1 anthology about gods, 1 collection of short stories by 1 author (could also be considered an anthology), and 1 retelling contemporary featuring strong black characters. Check it out.
Grumpy Old Gods: Volume 1 by Various Authors
Rating 4.0.
Here is yet another series I’m reading out of order, but an anthology series can really be read in any order. For me, this first installment in the Grumpy Old Gods series was very entertaining, but it didn’t blow my mind the way the first one I read (which I think was the 3rd installment).
Near the start of my reading experience, I wondered if this installment had the specific theme of “trickster god” because many of the stories include some form of a trickster god. By the time I got near the end of the collection, I felt there was more variety and edge to the stories and I was hooked once again. If I had read this one first, it definitely would have me interested in reading more of the series.
Honestly, there wasn’t one story I wouldn’t give an individual rating of at least 4-stars. Still, here are my standout favorites (5-stars) from the collection: Zeus Really Needs to Go by Shawn Klimek, The New Chief Medical Executive by Tom Vetter, and Wither Athena? by Marshall J. Moore.
Highly recommended to fans of humor, short stories, and mythology.
Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author’s Guide … by K.M. Weiland
Actual rating 4.25.
This book was really good. From a writer’s point of view, the information within these pages is invaluable. From the reader’s perspective, I have a few small issues that kept me from loving it. Despite that, I will definitely read this book again and use it as a reference moving forward.
So, as a reader and writer, I try to take both perspectives into consideration even when reading nonfiction. As a reader, I expect to be entertained and educated at the same time, but perhaps I expect too much. Still, don’t let me paint the wrong picture for you. This book was not boring in any way. For me, it lacked entertainment value in that the author never really gets personal with her delivery. It would have been nice to see some of the author’s tips and tricks put into practice, using her own work as an example. I’ve read a few writing books, now, where the author has done this, and it’s made all the difference for me.
I really appreciated the depth and variety of examples provided to clearly explain the various steps to creating certain types of character ARCs, but I felt like a few more examples of “what not to do” could have been helpful too.
Being an extreme planner, myself, I have no idea how pantsers get through their first pages, let alone whole novels. Still, I think a few mentions and or tips specifically for pantsers would have been nice too; but, of course, now I just feel like I’m whining.
My next issue may sound a bit strange, and that’s because it is. I know this author is female, but for some reason, I kept feeling a male voice while I was reading it. Again, this may sound stereotypical and just bad on my part, but I think not making the book more personal, took away from the author’s own feminine voice. With that said, her voice isn’t critical to appreciate the knowledge and experience conveyed in this book.
If I was simply a reader who wanted to know about how writer’s create their stories and characters, I think I would enjoy the knowledge to be gained from this book, but it might feel like reading a textbook, which isn’t a bad thing.
I will definitely recommend this book to other writers.
Save the Ocean by Bethany Stahl
Rating 4.0
This is a cute conservation story about a mermaid and her turtle friend, Agwe, trying to eat some jellyfish and encountering plastic bags instead. Kaleisha, the mermaid, breaks the fourth wall to ask the reader to help clean up the ocean by using the 3R’s (as taught in school) to reduce, reuse, recycle.
While the book is cute, the illustrations are bright and inviting, the read-aloud video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1_37YGzXrc is what really sells this story.
I think the message of this book would be more profound if Kaleisha and Agwe could have interacted with the land people and some images of people actually helping to clean the ocean were included. Still, overall, this is a light and fun read. There’s a cute search and find activity at the end that really highlights the gorgeous illustrations.
For me, it was a plus to see a black mermaid. I liked that the color of the mermaid’s skin had nothing to do with the story and message at all. That’s just who she is.
Recommended for an adult who wants to start an environmental conversation with a kid or for any kids wanting to read something short and sweet for storytime.
Akta’s First Hunt by Russell Nohelty
Rating 4.0
This was a fun prequel to the Pixie Dust series. It was nice to see Akta before she became the one feared by so many. This story has a more tween feel than the first story released. It’s short and sweet; maybe a little too short, but I guess that’s a sign that it’s good.
I enjoyed it.
Recommended to fans of fairies/pixies, irreverent fantasy, and the works of Russell Nohelty.
A Quick Bite by Patricia Josephine
Rating 5.0
This is one of the most interesting paranormal/dark fantasy books I’ve read in a while. This is a collection of short stories, and I mean short as in 200 words, that packs a lot of punch.
This collection takes the central creature theme, focusing on Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies and blends it with elements of mystery, romance, humor, and more. While there are some humorous moments, overall, this feels like a very serious read. Not to be taken too seriously, but to get the reader really thinking about perception and expectation, what good fiction should do all the time.
Kudos to the author for putting so much depth into so few words. This was very entertaining.
Highly recommended to fans of paranormal, dark fantasy, creatures, and short stories.
Rating 5.0
I really liked this book. Not all retellings hit the mark, but this one does it for me.
First of all, I love the cover. That chocolate brown, almost metallic looking cover with intricated etchings and the two main characters facing each other really caught my eye. The spray-painted “Pride” across the elegant background is a delightful indicator of the culture clash featured throughout the story.
I love the interspersed poetry throughout the book. It really helped to connect with the narrator and main character, Zuri, on another level. At the beginning of the story, I didn’t like her very much, but I also didn’t dislike her. I was skeptical of her thoughts and opinions, seeming very narrow and one-sided, but reading her poetry and watching her grow as a character was a major part of the overall appeal of this story.
I felt sorry or Janae and Ainsley most of the book. One for not being strong enough to fight and the other for just sitting back and waiting for things to right themselves. I’m sure there’s a lesson there somewhere, but I missed it. I just wanted those two to do more about their situation.
As for Zuri and Darius, it took most of the book, watching them both evolve, for me to see how there could possibly be any romance there beyond physical attraction. In some ways, I’m still not sure what really brings these two together. It all seems very circumstantial. I guess, in hindsight, there’s nothing wrong with a story about first love or first mutual infatuation. I see this as one of those relationships that happens so when they do finally find the ones they are meant to be with, they’ll be mentally prepared to take part in a mature and caring long-term commitment. Then again, I may be overthinking it. YA is not my usual read and I sometimes miss the points.
Despite not seeing where this ship is going, I did like the way the characters interacted in the end. It was nice.
Overall, the cultural issues addressed in the book are great for starting conversations about race, but I do wish more had been said and or addressed about why the Darcy’s moved to the “hood” in the first place. I feel like the author missed an opportunity there, but at least she mentioned it at all. Not too many people want to address that; but for me, it’s the part that really hit home, and it was so minor.
I loved the way the Benitez family is depicted. They don’t have a lot of advantages but they have more love than most people will ever experience in their lives.
I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary retellings, and fans of culturally significant stories.
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So, did you read any good books in May? What did you think of the ones I read? Until next time, I hope you love books as much as #carnieluvsboox.
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