Book Review - The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry

 

Smiths Hollow is a small quiet town. So, when two bodies of girls are found torn to shreds, Lauren is surprised. She feels that the police will never find the killer because her father's murder went unsolved. A year before, her beloved father was found dead with his heart missing. Everyone has been able to move on including, her mother. Lauren has a hard time coming to terms with her father's death and she struggles when her best friend, Miranda, is starting to move on too. Miranda and Lauren used to be two peas in a pod but, now Miranda wants to spend more time with boys than hanging out by the old ghost tree, like when they were kids.

One day, Lauren has a vision of a monster dragging the remains of the slain girls through the woods. She knows that she can't just sit there like everyone else and do nothing. She is determined to find the killer. As Lauren tries to find clues, she realizes someone is keeping a dark deadly secret. Will Lauren be able to solve the mystery behind the missing girls before it's too late?

I have read several books by the author and have enjoyed them. I thought the plot of this book was a unique and interesting. However, I don't think the book should have been so long. I felt like that there was unnecessarily long because the "plot" behind the murders was pretty straightforward. For example, when Lauren's grandmother told her story, the author spends pages where Lauren doesn't believe it. Even when, Lauren herself keeps mentioning evidence that her grandmother might be telling the truth. I felt like there could have been more action in the middle of the book because it was a bit slow action wise. Overall, it was a good book and I would read more books by the author.

Book Review - Looking Glass (The Chronicles of Alice) by Christina Henry

 

Elizabeth is a young girl who lives in New City who has a secret. She can do magic but, someone has learned her secret who has an hidden agenda of their own. They want to release a butterfly that was supposed to be locked away forever. That butterfly was once known as the Jabberwock.

Alice and Hatcher are looking for a place to call their own. They dream of their own place by the lake that is surrounded by a field of wildflowers. During their journey, they end up being caught in a severe snowstorm. Alice comes across a house that seems empty and abandoned.

Hatcher had a past life before he became known as Hatcher. He was once known as Nicholas. He was one of the best fighters in New City. He has never lost a match until, his boss wants him to fight a person who never left their opponent leave the ring alive.

As Alice and Hatcher continue looking for their new home, they come across a village in the mountains. The village inhabitants all fear and hate magic. Anyone who is caught practicing magic in the Village of Pure will be punished.

The book is composed of four novellas that are separate stories but, they are also interconnected. I didn't realize that this book was a part of a series. I felt that the book can be read as a standalone but, I felt like I was missing some nuances. I liked all four stories and found them entertaining. I think I might read the other books in the series to get the full story behind the characters.