Tag: competitions

REVIEW: The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

REVIEW: The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Viking Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Honora Holtzfall is considered the “Holtzfall Heiress,” but that’s not really true. It was her mother who was the true Heiress. But now she’s dead, and it’s time to choose a new heiress – and Nora is just one of the contenders in the Veritaz. The imortal Huldrekall will determine which candidate is most worthy of the fortune – and magic – at stake.

Lotte is the surprise contender – the Holtzfall cousin no one knew existed. The one with the highly prized magical gift of mindreading. Raised as a “cursed” orphan by cruel caretakers. And perhaps hunted by her biological family to keep her from the Veritaz.

While this generation of Holtzfalls – five cousins in all – take their turn at the Veritaz, Nora can’t help digging into her mother’s death and a missing knight, her mother’s protector. But Nora’s quest for answers begins to unravel everything.

Review

This description barely scratches the surface of what is going on in this book. There’s  a fairy tale element to the world building – the huntsman ancester of the Holtzfalls who created the world they now live in, the monsters in the woods, villains who wear masks like woodland creatures and beasts. There’s a fascinating family – magical, rich, ruthless, full of secrets. And there’s a land on the brink of rebellion.

And I loved every bit of it.

This was incredible! I couldn’t get enough of it. For the entire last quarter I watched the percent read creep up, wondering if there was any way this story would wrap up by the end of the book. And while we got to a stopping point, this story is not finished by far! According to Goodreads this is the first in a trilogy.

The author did not disappoint with the twists and reveals and new questions all the way to the last page.  And I am not at all ready to be done with these characters and this world. I can’t wait to read more! This is my top book of 2025 so far. This will be the book I will shout about for months to come – the book I will pat fondly every time I see it in the bookstore. I bought my own copy immediately after finishing the ARC, and I will absolutely be reading it again soon. I can’t recommend this one highly enough. (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

♥♥♥♥♥+++ = Best of the best

REVIEW: The Ambrose Deception by Emily Ecton

REVIEW: The Ambrose Deception by Emily Ecton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I recently discovered some unpublished reviews I wrote several years ago. I’m posting these now as they were originally written.]

Summary

Three kids from different schools have a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship. But they are not the kids you would expect to be chosen for a scholarship contest:

  • Melissa does homework for other kids for money so she and her little brother can have lunch at school. Her teacher assumes she is copying off of others. Her guidance counselor is convinced Melissa was included by mistake and assumes she will fail spectacularly.
  • Bondi is “Mr. Personality,” a guy who uses his people skills to help out kids in need at school and get a class pet elected school president.
  • Wilf has smooth moves, able to stealthily steal tardy slips. He’s not much of a go-getter at school or at home.

The scholarship coordinator, Mr. Smith, gives each of the kids a cell phone, a driver, a debit card for expenses, and three clues to solve. The first to correctly solve them wins the $10,000. As the kids work their own angles on the puzzle, though, they start to think there’s more going on than Mr. Smith has explained

Review

This fun, clever story feels like The Westing Game (♥♥♥♥♥). The puzzles are tricky and lead to various Chicago landmarks. There are fun twists that lead the kids to the truth of what’s really going on.

I enjoyed the three kids at the center of this story. I loved Melissa. Her guidance counselor was HORRIBLE. I loved that Melissa excelled beyond whatever pathetic assumptions and expectations her school personnel had for her. Bondi has the healthiest situation. His parents were great, and his situation was pretty normal. I didn’t get as good of a feel for Wilf as the other two. His relationship with his driver and the way Wilf approaches the contest does give some hints to his life.

This is a terrific, smart, and satisfying story! It will appeal to mystery fans as well as readers who enjoy clue and puzzle stories like The Puzzling World of Winston Breen or The Westing Game. This would be a fantastic class read aloud or a book club selection. You can find other reviews of terrific middle grade mystery and puzzle stories, including The Great Pet Heist by this same author, here.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Snazzy Cat Capers by Deanna Kent

REVIEW: Snazzy Cat Capers by Deanna Kent

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Ophelia Von Hairball V of Burglaria is the premiere cat burglar in the world. And she could prove it once again by winning the Furry Feline Burglary Institute’s (FFBI) 5th Annual Purr-fect Heist Competition – if she had any idea it was happening.

But Ophelia’s nemesis has gone all out to keep Ophelia out of the competition. Thanks to her new inventor/sidekick, Oscar F. Gold, though, Ophelia still has a chance. She just has to get all the way to Paris, sneak into the Belle Mew-seum, and steal the rare Himalayan Diamond without being seen by her nemesis. Then she has to get to Belgium with the diamond by the deadline which is in less than two days.

How hard could it be?

Review

This was fun! Lots of cat puns, but the overall story was solid. Ophelia is a bit of a diva when it comes to her cat burglaring (but she is still like-able). Her partner, Oscar, is earnest and clever. They make a great team when Ophelia deigns to let Oscar help.

The illustrations in the book – pictures, letters, comic panels – are integral to the story telling. You can’t skip past them. With the exception of a couple times when the integration or transition was clunky, this worked really nicely.

No worries that this book will turn readers into criminals. The cat burglars return the things they steal – at least, eventually. The heist is really more about the challenge than about the spoils.

The age range on this one is 7-10 which makes this either a transitional chapter book or a young middle grade. It’s over 200 pages, and while illustrated, there are fewer illustrations than say a Bad Kitty book. So I would lean towards a younger middle grade audience. (2nd-4th grade, and maybe higher) This fun book is the kick off of a new series. Book two – The Fast and the Furriest – will release in 2019.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥