Laura Gilfillan's Blog - Posts Tagged "book-recommendation"

This book's title is similar to one of my books (Magic Thieves, by Laura Gilfillan), which is why I picked it up to read. Curiosity, you know. It's a way different story from mine, but still good. Actually, it is an excellent story, and I loved it and all the rest in the series. Sarah Prineas is on my favs list, and besides, she's a fellow Iowan.

The Magic Thief is about Conn, a pick pocket, who steals a wizard's magic stone and manages to survive the deed. The wizard is so intrigued that he decides to take Conn in, and the result is a story full of magic and intrigue. The thing I liked best about this story though are the characters. Especially Conn, who has to be one of my all time favorite literary characters. (Of course, my all time favorite real character is my husband--but he's not in the story). Anyway, give this delightful story a try. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


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This was such a delightful story. In the Urwald, people live in clearings, surrounded by forest and danger. The path is the only zone of relative safety. But when his step-parents decide to abandon him, they lead Jinx off the path and leave him there in the dangerous forest. Simon, the wizard, is powerful enough to be able to go into the forest at will, where he discovers Jinx, and decides to take him in, saying he has need of a boy. Jinx is never sure whether Simon's motivation is really in Jinx's best interest, even with his unique ability to see other peoples' thoughts. Simon's thoughts are sneaky and slip behind each other. I thought this story was original and intriguing, and that the characters were well developed and fun to be with, even when they behaved badly.




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Switch! The Lost Kingdoms of Karibu by Karen Prince

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Category: YA fantasy

I loved the characters in this book, and the way they were portrayed. Also the setting in the African bush, and the magic of Karibu. Gogo Maya and her leopard switch places with Ethan's cousin, Joe, to get out of a tight spot, and land Joe right in a dangerous situation instead. Ethan and friends have to go into the magical land of Karibu to rescue Joe. A fun story full of adventure, magic, and learning to behave responsively. Although I'm not sure Gogo Maya was really as repentant as she might have been by the end of the story...




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Goblin Secrets by William Alexander

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the town of Zombay, there is a witch named Graba who has clockwork chicken legs and moves her house around—much like the fairy tale figure of Baba Yaga. Graba takes in stray children, and Rownie is the youngest boy in her household. Rownie’s only real relative is his older brother Rowan, who is an actor. But acting is outlawed in Zombay, and Rowan has disappeared.

I very much enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, and found the creepy, sort of magic world it was set in alluring. I liked the ending too, although I felt a little sad by it. Still, it was in keeping with the tone of the story: no matter how rough things get, you have to keep finding ways to go on. Rownie is one of Graba's grandchildren, and he is at a loss because of the disappearance of his brother Rowan. He gets involved with the Goblins, who he isn't quite sure he can trust, but they can teach him stage craft, which he is fascinated with. Even more, he wants to find his brother, and the Goblins drop some very hopeful clues about how he might be able to do that. In the process, he gets caught up in a power struggle, and joins the effort to save his city from the floods. A rich, original story.



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A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I thoroughly enjoyed this story—a sort of fantasy who-done-it, that's also somewhat reminiscent of Puss in Boots, except all mixed up.

Elodie is seeking an apprenticeship but comes to the city woefully unprepared. Instead of getting to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, she finds herself destitute and alone. The dragon, Meenore, takes her in as its assistant, to help it solve mysteries and find lost objects. She ends up embroiled in a complex plot and needs to use all of her wits, and her acting talent, in order to sort out who is actually good, and who is the foe intent on murder. In the process, she finds friendship where she least expects it, and comes to realize that goodness and evil come in all shapes and sizes.


Category: YA Fantasy


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Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favorite authors. Her book, The Magicians of Caprona is a charming story. Two magical families are feuding, but an emergency threatens the whole city and it is up to the two youngest of the families to figure out how to work together, so that the city can stand against the real enemy. I especially liked Tonino, who has the ability to talk to cats. And like most of Diana Wynne Jones' stories, this one has a very satisfying ending. This is a great young adult fantasy good for anyone who loves an imaginative and magical tale.


Category: YA Fantasy



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I read this book recently, and I really enjoyed it.

The city of Bryre suffers under the magic of an evil wizard. Because of his curse, girls sicken and disappear without a trace, and Bryre’s inhabitants live in fear. No one is allowed outside after dark.

Yet night is the only time that Kymera can enter this dangerous city, for she must not be seen by humans. Her father says they would not understand her wings, the bolts in her neck, or her spiky tail—they would kill her. They would not understand that she was created for a purpose: to rescue the girls of Bryre.

Despite her caution, a boy named Ren sees Kym and begins to leave a perfect red rose for her every evening. As they become friends, Kym learns that Ren knows about the missing girls, the wizard, and the evil magic that haunts Bryre.

And what he knows will change Kym’s life.

Kym is such a good girl, but she is also a monster, patched together by her father from what was left of her after the wizard killed her. Or so she's been told. What never wavers is her undying love and devotion to Bryre, and how she would do anything to protect its people. Monstrous was a charming and engaging story with surprising twists.


Category: YA Fantasy



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Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This story is based on the old folktale of Beauty and the Beast, but with a fresh perspective, and with a greater, in-depth development of plot and character. It is a beautiful re-telling. One of the things I liked was how most of the things the characters did made sense. That is the difficult objection to the original story--trying to make sense of how a loving father could leave his beautiful daughter to such a cruel fate. This is handled well in Rose Daughter, and I also like the way Beauty is such an avid gardener. Partly because I like gardening myself, but also because it fits in so well to the flow of the story. I thought the ending was especially satisfying, but...enough said about that. I don't want to be guilty of any spoilers. If you like re-tellings of old folktales, and magic, and roses, and how one family is able to pull itself up from great misfortune, then I would recommend Rose Daughter to you. I know you'll love it.



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