Jessica Khoury

The Dark Refrain is a fun continuation of the The Mystwick School of Musicraft series. Amelia's Mystwick class heads to Salzburg, Austria on a class trip to learn some musical history and the kids get caught up in time magic that dumps Amelia, Jai, and Darby in the year 1765. Shenanigans ensue as they work to figure out a way home. It ended up being a more touching story than I thought it would be with strong themes about family. The audio narration kicks it up a notch with original orchestral music throughout the book which adds depth to the story and Suzy Jackson's narration. Hopefully there will be a fourth book forthcoming. This is currently available in the Audible Plus catalog.… (more)

Както вече отдавна ми писна да повтарям, т.н. книги "за млади възрастни", които всъщност всичките са за момиченца в пубертетна възраст, трябва надлежно да бъдат обозначавани като такива, а не да бъдат слагани в раздел "фентъзи" на книжарници и библиотеки, защото народонаселението се подлъгва, както аз за пореден път.

Малоумно романтично романче.… (more)

"shake hands with a jinni, and you shake hands with death."

Aladdin (at least the Disney version) has always had a special place in my heart. For the street rat thief and the sultan's daughter who has to marry a stuffed, horrid prince. The movie is wonderful and this idea that all your dreams coming true may not be the dream (or wish) you think it is!

So this story was especially fun for me. Full of Aladdin in a more flawed and human version just made me love him more. And jinni as a Girl?! I loved the twist to the story I knew and enjoyed every page!… (more)

"It's a hideous new world. And you are its architect."

An interesting dilemma - who do you blame when the science goes wrong. Do you blame the scientist for their crazy idea or the monster they create?? I want to blame the scientist, but so many of our advancements were made by people willing to step up and do the crazy things. But can we still support it when it involves kids??

Sophie was an okay character. It took a little time for her personality to get flushed out. Jim was great - comedy relief when needed but also a little dose of reality too (especially when things got ridiculously crazy).

The story kept me flipping pages but...something held me back from loving it. Maybe the obvious plot twist I guessed at the beginning. Or spotting the villain too soon as well. Ah well ,I did enjoy it.… (more)