The Chronicles of Ordi by Alex Zenk is a high fantasy novel. The story starts hundreds of years in the past, as we meet a dwarf who finds a rare and special gem. Then, we find ourselves thrust into the future as Ordi, a dwarf mage completes his schooling and finds himself up against the darkness his people thought they had destroyed. He then finds himself on a quest.

High fantasy is not something I tend to read, but I decided to stick with it because the premise was intriguing. Can we really eliminate the dark? Will light always win? And at what cost? Would I be willing to fight for the light or take a back seat and just hope it stuck around? These are all questions I considered while reading this story.

I would have liked to have gotten more into Ordi's head. And I really didn't care for the ending. It felt as if the story simply stopped moving forward with no resolution. I'm sure there will be a sequel, but I would have liked at least a bit of closure. Nonetheless, if high fantasy is your thing, consider The Chronicles of Ordi.

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The Star on the Grave by Linda Margolin Royal is a Holocaust historical fiction. I love historical fiction, especially those based on true family history and those that give me an insight into an aspect of history I didn't know.

The novel is a dual timeline showing Rachel's life in 1968 and her grandmother and father's life in 1940 - relatives of the author. We learn of a Polish Jewish family escaping the Nazis through Lithuania and a brave Japanese diplomat, unknown to me, named Chiune Sugihara who issued thousands of visas to save them. This novel hit both of my loves!

I also love great characters, and this novel doesn't disappoint. I immediately came to love Rachel and felt her despair, anger, grief, and eventual understanding as her world shattered around her. Her grandmother is a character who is deserving of her own book! Linda did such a great job describing her that I could both see and hear her in my head as I read. And even Rachel's father, though not a warm and fuzzy character, held me captive.

This is a great read. A definite must-read. Grab your copy today!

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A Bad Hand is a YA thriller by Harrison Jenkins - and this novel certainly kept me guessing. We quickly meet James, a loner teenager who isn't sure of himself or where he fits in the world. He is obsessed with all things Japanese and baseball. He doesn't really like school, isn't sure how he feels about religion, has a mom with mental health issues, and believes the coming year is going to be a bust.

However, he meets a girl and begins restoring a motorcycle - both of which help him begin to see things about himself he didn't know before. But before he can get comfortable, his world comes crashing down. As he works to figure life out again, he becomes embroiled in the Japanese Yakuza - a deadly criminal organization. The question becomes this - will he get involved at a risk to his own life? Will he become the person he was meant to be?

Although promoted as a thriller, it is also a coming of age story combined with a love story. I think you'll love it!
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Kindle: https://amzn.to/4rWJEZS

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