Secrets & Stories, Truth & Lies

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, The Magic Misfits, or don't mind knowing spoilers for it. SPOILER ALERT

~The Second Story~
The Magic Misfits
Book 2
Written by Neil Patrick Harris Illustrated by Lissy Marlin & Kyle Hinton
Amazon ~ Powell's

Growing up in an orphanage, Leila was bullied for being different. But she turned her hardship into skill by becoming an escape artist—a valuable trait when belonging to a group of magical best friends. When a famous psychic comes to town, however, Leila and her pals won't be able to escape the big mystery heading their way. Whether chasing mad monkeys or banishing ghosts from haunted hotels, these six friends will do their best to keep Mineral Wells safe—but can they still protect themselves in the process?

Join the Magic Misfits as they discover adventure, friendship, and more than a few hidden secrets in this delightful new series. Whether you're a new fan of stage magic or a longtime expert at illusion, Magic Misfits is sure to delight even more than sawing your assistant in half!


I'm really getting to like this series. There are just so many clever aspects to love, starting with just the cover. First, the center character on each cover is the narrative focus of the story. Second, each upsidedown image is one of the members of the previous secret magic club, and serves as a major player in this book's story - though not always the antagonist (after all, the first book had Mr. Vernon on the cover, not Bosso).

The Beginning of a New Chapter

As if books, ebooks, and manga weren't enough, now I've discovered apps with interactive(ish) stories. Coming off the heels of Hallmark's Christmas Movie marathons, I first started looking when I was craving a little romance in December. I've downloaded a few "otome games", just looking for some paranormal fluff, but I've been pleasantly surprised at how much depth has been in a couple of these. I'll get into my other favorites shortly, but I wanted to start off with probably the most diverse I've tried so far: Chapters.

Chapters
By Crazy Maple Studio

Choose your story with Chapters, the interactive story game that lets you choose your path in every story. Read through pages and pages of fun interactive stories that fit your mood, from romance to suspense!

Choose your story from our top collection of romance, fantasy, sci-fi, young adult, comedy, and drama series! Chapters combines a unique style of choose your own story gameplay with fiction stories from our top authors that you simply can't put down!

YOU get to make the choices in each story. Decide on hard life choices such as falling in love, discovering secrets, or unraveling deep mysteries! Make your choices wisely; every ending is different!

Life Doesn’t Need Magic to be Magical (but a little bit sure doesn’t hurt)

~Night of Cake & Puppets~
Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Book 1.5
Written by Laini Taylor
Illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo
Amazon ~ Powell's

Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her "rabid fairy," her "voodoo eyes" are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or "Violin Boy," her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to make the first move, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It's a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter's night before leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy is not going to know what hit him.

I had no idea the author & artist of the book are married. That just makes me feel even warmer and fuzzier <3<3

Featuring one of my favorite characters of Laini Taylor's books, I was completely entranced by this adorable first date. Taking place during the last quarter/third of the previous book, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, while Karou is off hunting down stronger wishes, I think this should be considered 1.5 instead of 2.5. Then again, I think there's enough backstory that this could be read on its own...though there are a couple spoilers for the 1st book...

Still, if you're in the mood for the cutest YA/NA first date, set in the wintry wonderland of Prague, with puppets, music, and a little magic thrown in for good measure, then you MUST pick up this story. The artwork is new to me (having only read the text version before the print came out), but adds even more whimsy to the tale (though reading on my phone made the art a bit bulky). I absolutely love all of Laini Taylor's books (so far), and cannot recommend this one enough. Whether you've read Daughter of Smoke & Bone, or are just looking for a quick nibble of sweetness, I can't think of any reason not to read this wonderful novella.

The Case of the Fowl Twins’ First Magical Adventure

~The Fowl Twins~
Book 1
By Eoin Colfer
Amazon ~ Powell's

One week after their eleventh birthday, the Fowl twins--scientist Myles, and Beckett, the force of nature--are left in the care of house security (NANNI) for a single night. In that time they befriend a troll who has clawed his way through the earth's crust to the surface. Unfortunately for the troll, he is being chased by a nefarious nobleman and an interrogating nun, who both need the magical creature for their own gain, as well as a fairy-in-training who has been assigned to protect him. The boys and their new troll best friend escape and go on the run. Along the way they get shot at, kidnapped, buried, arrested, threatened, killed (temporarily), and discover that the strongest bond in the world is not the one forged by covalent electrons in adjacent atoms, but the one that exists between a pair of twins.

It seems I haven't yet reviewed most of Colfer's books on here yet, despite having read (nearly all of) and loved (most of) them. Seems I'll need to rectify that someday...

Picking up a few years after our last foray with the Fowl family, the more things change the more they stay the same. The Fowls are still involved with their own hobbies, operating mostly within the law but finding it best to ask forgiveness than permission. Artemis has turned his attention to space, and is actually on his way to Mars at the moment. But Myles and Beckett are about to discover that the bedtime stories he told them weren't as fictional as they assumed.