Moon and Back Pages

This book receives a full moon! Debbie Howells', The Beauty of the End,  is a masterful mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. Noah Calaway, an ex-lawyer turned author, has lived an isolated life until he gets a call that the woman he almost married is in trouble. Comatose in a hospital bed, the suspect of a murder investigation, and therefore unable to defend herself, April Moon is in need of his help. Noah is certain that April is innocent, so he dusts off his lawyer's credentials and skillset as he travels to begin an investigation of his own.  As Noah delves into both the present investigation as well as his memories of the past, Ella, a teenage girl is working through her own family troubles with her newest therapist. Initially, Ella's story seems irrelevant to the main arc of the novel, yet as the investigation grows more intense, the two stories become more apparently intertwined until the final revelation occurs.  The narrativ...

This book receives a waxing gibbous. Shadow Prowler  is the thrilling introduction to Shadow Harold’s quest to save the world from the Nameless One. A traditional high fantasy novel filled with wizards, elves, orcs, warriors, and other mythological creatures, this first installment of the Chronicles of Siala  Trilogy employs a lot of the common fantasy elements. Although it does not introduce a lot of revolutionary ideas or creatures, the novel still crafts an excellent story using the tried and true facets of fantasy literature.  Shadow Harold, the unwilling hero, is a master thief who only takes on the quest because his only alternative is life imprisonment. He is tasked with attempting to retrieve the Rainbow Horn from Hrad Spein, an underground burial labyrinth full of ancient magic and dangerous traps. This is a feat no wizard has returned from with their sanity intact, let alone their life.  Before the journey to Hrad Spein can begin, Harold...

This book receives a waxing gibbous. Ellie Everlasting  tells the compelling story of how an eighteen year old girl moves past her tragic murder. To her disbelief she awakens in Neverland, where she learns that her favorite childhood story and its characters are real. Meanwhile, her friends and family left behind on Earth now face their own struggles with overcoming Ellie's death. The tales from life and death intertwine to craft a spellbinding tale.  The novel starts off with an engaging bang, jumping right into the action of Ellie's story. Scheck does a good job of making Ellie's murderer seem trustworthy from Ellie and Olivia's, Ellie's girlfriend's, perspective while also giving the reader insight beyond what the characters possess. In addition, as the story progresses and more is revealed about all of the characters, it becomes easier to empathize with and understand the murderer. For some readers, he may never be truly likable, but he is a...