The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

TITLE:  The House of Velvet and Glass

AUTHOR:  Howe, Katherine
GENRE:  Fiction

DATES READ:  4/8/2016 - 4/17/2016

MY RATING:  3/5

I got this book because I loved The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Howe.  So we'll see how this one goes... 

---

This book was based in Boston's Back Bay in the early 1900's.  It switches seamlessly back in time between colonial Shanghai, and the deck of the fated Titanic.  A mourning Sybil Allston must discover whether she's seeing the truth within the crystal ball, and just smoke and mirrors.

Overall, I loved the characters within The House of Velvet and Glass, but in a weird way, I felt it was lacking plot.

The settings and time periods were they saving grace, among unique characters that the ability to jump off of the pages.  Eulah and Sibyl were both intriguing.  But overall, I feel they don't go anywhere, and nothing changes.

I think my character arc was Lonnie.  I would love to read a whole story about him and his life.  This book was good but I will stick with Deliverance Dane.

Will read and write...

Book Cover Source

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

TITLE:  The Magicians (The Magicians #1)

AUTHOR:  Grossman, Lev
GENRE:  Fiction/Fantasy

DATES READ:  3/19/2016 - 4/8/2016

MY RATING:  2.5/5

I heard that this book series is actually going to be a series on the SyFy channel, and I'm really excited to read it.  I wanted to make sure to read it before I watch it, so my boyfriend bought it for me.  :-)

---

Quentin Coldwater is the predictable over-achiever, who ends up in the most unpredictable situation.  While figuring out what he wants to do with the rest of his life after high school, he stumbles onto an adventure and an admittance to a secret magical college.  This is no Harry Potter story...

I have to admit, I loved absolutely everything about this book, except for the main character!  What a jerk!!!

He was just another grumpy whiner.  "Wah... I have to do magic... wah... I get to go to a magical land... WAH!!!"  I mean, I get that he's a teenager, but come on.  Do they have to hate everything?!  Even mythical lands, and magic, and adventures?  Such a burden...  What a turd.

Overall, the story and descriptions were very cool.  If it weren't for Quentin, I might actually enjoy this book.  The magic methods seemed more realistic and raw than in other stories I've read.  The magical college, Brakebills, was fascinating.  But overall, there were too many "what's the point" passages that left my eyes rolling...

Recommended for someone who wants to try to feel bad for a whiny part-sociopath brat.

Will read and write soon!

***Photo by B. Bumble***