A New Realm of Exploration | Review of ‘After Alice’

By Cynthia Ayala

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‘After Alice‘ by Gregory Maguire
William Morrow

What happened after Alice fell down the rabbit hole? Ada, Alice’s closest friend, follows her friend down the rabbit hole in order to bring her home going on her own adventure through the nonsensical Wonderland where her own ideas and ideals are put in question and the world of Oxford England reacts to the disappearance of these two young girls.

After Alice is the newest novel by bestselling author Gregory Maguire. Published on October 27, 2015 by William Morrow, this new tale is a retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland.

Gregory Maguire is known for his retellings within the narrative world and for this novel he has tapped into the writing style of Lewis Carroll. For anyone who has ever read the original tale of Alice in Wonderland will see the resemblance in writing styles and how Maguire was able to tap into his technique of writing and tell this tale of Alice’s friend Ada who is briefly mentioned in the original. Continue reading “A New Realm of Exploration | Review of ‘After Alice’”

Vigorously Written with Dampening Dialogue | Review of ‘Double Dexter’ (Dexter, #6)

By Cynthia Ayala

'Double Dexter' by Jeff Lindsey Doubleday
‘Double Dexter’ by Jeff Lindsey
Doubleday

Someone has seen Dexter doing his Dangerous Delicious hobby and they have learned from him. Now he has made Dexter their prey. Taking another’s identity and haunting Dexter, this man takes his time, taking control of Dexter, following him, planting clues and framing him for murder. Now it’s up to Dexter to hunt him down and turn the tide while simultaneously handling his life as a husband and father and his day job as a blood splatter analysis.

Published on October 18, 2011 by Doubleday. Double Dexter is the sixth novel in the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsey that follows Dexter Morgan, blood splatter analysis by say and serial killer by night, as he kills other monsters like himself and tries to live a normal life. Continue reading “Vigorously Written with Dampening Dialogue | Review of ‘Double Dexter’ (Dexter, #6)”

Weekly Reading List #22

By Cynthia Ayala

Hello there avid readers! I hope that everyone had a wonderful week. I spent the week stress-writing a paper that I’m sure is going to get an F. God, I can’t believe I am hoping for a D. Research papers have always been my weak link.

But enough about that, I’m sure none of you readers want to hear about my writing struggles. Anyway, here are the books I have listed on my to-read for the upcoming week. I just finished reading The Fate of Ten (Lorien Legacies, #6) so I thought I would follow up with the Lorien Legacies novella to kick off my next week.

As always, all synopsis are provided via Goodreads. Happy reading folks. Continue reading “Weekly Reading List #22”

Review: Slow but Inventive, “Hood” Retells a Classic Tale (King Raven Trilogy, #1) – Emertainment Monthly

By Cynthia Ayala ’17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

www.myaudiobooklibrary-174x131Filled with Celtic mythology and medieval British beliefs, this new tale of Robin Hood focuses on characterization and narrative, making “Hood” a unique story. Continue reading “Review: Slow but Inventive, “Hood” Retells a Classic Tale (King Raven Trilogy, #1) – Emertainment Monthly”

Weekly Reading List #17

By Cynthia Ayala

Hey there readers! I hope that everyone had a wonderful week/weekend. It’s been pretty boring here in sunny Florida. Of course, here is some interesting news. My reviews have been favorited and retweeted Twitter by some authors! Isn’t that exciting! It may have only been two authors (Soman Chainani and Danielle Vega), but any sort of recognition is exciting in my book. They liked what I had to say about their novels. Then again, when I’m giving a book 4 or 5 stars, it’s hard to not like it, even if it may be poorly written. Oh God, now I’m going to be even more self-conscious about my reviews. However, if I stop now I won’t improve and sticking to it, analyzing and editing it certainly a way to make sure that I continue to improve.

So I finished the fourth novel in the Saga of Seven Suns series, Scattered Suns, and it was amazing! I’m in the middle of A Magic Dark and Bright right now and so far I like it. Can’t really complain, I did get the book for free after all via a Goodreads Giveaway. Anyway, here’s what’s on my reading list for the coming week. Happy reading folks.

But before I forget and ensue a lawsuit, all synopsis’ are provided by Goodreads.com. Continue reading “Weekly Reading List #17”

A Slow But Inventive Retelling | Review of Hood (King Raven Trilogy, #1)

By: Cynthia Ayala

Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead
WestBow Press

Bran ap Brychan was a prince, until the Franks invaded, taking his land, killing his father and their militia. Left for dead, Bran is healed by a witch of the Christian faith, a spiritual woman. Now he has to make good on his promise and save his people the only way he can: by robbing the rich invaders and helping his mistreated people as a raven in the night, a phantom of fear. Filled with Celtic mythology combined with that of medieval Britain, this is a new tale of Robin Hood.

Hood, published September 1, 2006 by WestBow Press is a retelling of the tale of Robin Hood, by Stephen R. Lawhead, that combines Celtic mythology with the Christian faith in a very interesting way. Continue reading “A Slow But Inventive Retelling | Review of Hood (King Raven Trilogy, #1)”

A Relevant, Frightening & Raw Story | Review of ‘Carrie’

By: Cynthia Ayala

Carrie White is the misfit, the outcast, the girl constantly bullied, broken by her religious and fanatical mother. But when push comes to shove, Carrie soon discovers that she holds powers, that she’s telekinetic, turning her Prom Night into a fiery bloody night of death.

Doubleday first published Carrie by notable bestselling author Stephen King on April 5, 1974. Set in Maine, this horrific and supernatural novel follows young outsider Carrie White who spends most of her time being bullied a school by everyone while she spends her time at home being abused by her religious and fanatical mother. But when push comes to shove, Carrie discovers that she has a deep power inside her.
Continue reading “A Relevant, Frightening & Raw Story | Review of ‘Carrie’”