Tag Archives: reading

Amy Caudill’s Reviews : Twelve Months

Book Reviews, , , , , , , ,
Twelve Months by Jim Butcher

Twelve Months (The Dresden Files, #18) by Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author)

50275498

Amy Caudill‘s review

Jun 22, 2026

After six years of absence felt by his fans, author Jim Butcher is back with the latest installment-number 18-into the Dresden files series, featuring modern-day wizard Harry Dresden. Harry is attempting to pick up the pieces of his life following the events of the last book, Battleground, which concluded a supernatural war fought in and around Chicago.

The city is shattered from the aftermath of the final battle, and Harry is devastated by the death of the love of his life, Karrin Murphy, who fought in the final battle despite being severely injured previously in the conflict. The city is largely without power, shelter, medicine, etc.;in short, is a zone that has seemingly survived a “natural disaster” to those not in the know about the supernatural. The ordinary citizens have seen that the supernatural is real, and come together to protest their continued presence in “their” city.

Surrounding and assisting Harry, is a large group of both supernatural and human beings who are trying to recover and broker peace between discordant factions. Meanwhile, Harry relies on his friends to help him find the will to not only survive, but create a new life for himself and his daughter Maggie, a young and very precocious future wizard.


Twelve Months is the chronicle of a year in the life of Dresden and Chicago, as they recover together. There are ups and downs, there is sorrow and joy, there is magic and even some action though that is not the primary focus in this novel. What we see is a wizard eventually embracing the changes that will come as he settles more fully into his duty as the Winter Knight and as the future consort of Lara Raith, leader of the White Court of Vampires.


While this book is definitely different than many of the other novels in the series, I can see that it demonstrates necessary growth for its main character, and look forward to the direction the author seems to be growing for the future of his universe. The next novella is already out, and I look forward to getting a copy of Outlaw soon.


I award this novel four stars, and recommend it first to fans of the long time series, as well as in general fans of urban fantasy. There are enough explanations for newbies to enjoy the book, and perhaps pique their interest into other books of the series.

Amy Caudill’s Reviews : The Secret of Secrets

Book Reviews, Dan Brown, Robert Langdon, thriller stories, , , ,

Hello dear readers,

I realize I have been gone for quite some time, and can only say as an excuse that life is full. I was able to spend some time with both my children for the holidays, but as they are grown and have their own lives, I did have to travel to one of them this year. I considered the trip very worthwhile, but I have had countless demands on my time, so I haven’t had the luxury to sit and just write for far too long. Of course, I did manage to take a couple of books with me, and so I can finally sit down and offer my latest review.

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

The Secret of Secrets (Robert Langdon, #6) by Dan Brown (Goodreads Author)

Amy Caudill‘s review 

The sixth installment of author Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series features the globe-trotting Harvard symbologist attending a prestigious talk given by new girlfriend Katherine Solomon in Prague. Dr. Solomon, a long-time colleague, has written the definitive text on consciousness theory, a treatise which apparently is so explosive a splinter division from the CIA will stop at nothing to prevent her publishing it.


With Katherine in danger, Robert dives in, literally into an icy river, and figuratively, to protect her and discover who and what is targeting her work. The reader is treated to an exploration of the art and culture of Prague as clues are hidden all around, and under the city.


Meanwhile, others are also searching for answers, including an apparent figment out of local medieval lore. Will Robert be reunited with Katherine, and will they be able to salvage her manuscript, that has somehow been erased from the publisher’s server? And who or what is the mysterious Golem, who seems to be both stalking them and taking out their enemies?


This is certainly the longest novel in this series to date, at more than 670 pages, but the author includes enough action and depth of plot in the story that the word count feels justified. There are twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat for the long haul. Meanwhile, Robert Langdon continues to amaze as he puts together obscure clues with the efficiency of Sherlock Holmes.


The only criticism I have is that there seems to be so little continuity from his other stories; one would think that Langdon’s character would be more effected by some of his past experiences and relationships than his demeanor suggests. The only reference noted to past adventures is made by his editor, in an aside, that Robert is always in the middle of dangerous situations.


All being said, this is an excellent story full of thrills, suspense, and plot twists to satisfy most readers, along with some tender moments of romance that lead fans of the series to wonder if this is the one love that Langdon will keep for longer than the end of one novel. I give The Secret of Secrets 5 stars, and recommend it to fans of thrillers, mysteries and spy novels.

Reading is Good for You!

Reposts, ,

Good news for all the bookworms out there! Indulging in our favorite hobby is actually good for you. Check out this post from Janice at jemsbooks.wordpress.com

jjspina's avatarJEMSBOOKS

This is a post from 2017 that I wanted to share again. It is extremely important to know about the value of reading not only for your mind but for your general health. Read on…..

Jemsbooks.com 

Books for all ages!

When we read a book it is like traveling around the world, or to outer space, or to a land that only exists in a writer’s mind, or into the mind of a killer, or into the animal kingdom, or on a visit to an exotic location, or into the world of faeries or science fiction.

We can go wherever we choose to go! All we need to do is pick up a book about whatever interests us. There are millions of books available online, in book stores or libraries to choose from. We can escape for as long as we choose to read.

Did you know that reading…

View original post 350 more words

Why I Read (and Write) Fantasy Stories

Blog Posts, , ,

To certain individuals my penchant for reading stories about wizards, hobbits, and ghostly apparitions may seem to be an odd hobby for a woman in her mid-forties.  What would perhaps surprise those same individuals more is that I also have penned a number of fantasy stories where the characters include werewolves, banshees, and virtual reality monsters.  My literary tastes aside, I have found that fantasy stories as a genre offer a number of benefits for those with even the most casual interest in reading for pleasure.

reading couch pillow
This little one has discovered the joys of a good book.  Photo on Foter.com

Fantasy Stories Offer the Reader an Escape

Sometimes the easiest way to escape from the stresses of daily life is to take a mental vacation.  For me that may take the form of visiting an entirely new world, one populated by creatures from childhood dreams.  I find it’s rather difficult to worry about everyday things while reading tales of an epic quest to rescue a princess and slay a dragon.

Immersion in a completely alien landscape for a time can allow us to relax and recharge our minds, alleviating tension and allowing us to return to “real” life with a fresh perspective.  Numerous studies have been done which suggest reading for enjoyment, of any type, can even help alleviate or alleviate symptoms of ailments such as high blood pressure and depression. To find out more about the benefits reading can offer see the article here.

Fantasy Stories May Boost the Mind and Creativity

As the saying goes, if you can imagine it, you can do it.  Sometimes changing focus for a time, such as through reading a good book, can help to find a solution to a problem that seems insurmountable.  Indulging in leisure reading can help improve cognitive functions, increase vocabulary, and improve analytical skills.  I encourage all readers out there to allow your favorite book, or a new find, to inspire you to think, write, and problem-solve in ways you may not have considered before.

Fantasy Stories Can Help Forge Connections with Others

I’ve discovered one way to maintain connections with my adult children as well as my circle of friends is through a shared interest in literature.  Books make good discussion topics, sometimes even more so when we don’t all agree on a particular work or author!  Tip for family bonding: Don’t just read stories separately, if your children are young, take turns reading aloud with them.  If they are older, give everyone a chance to read a particular book and then talk to each other about it.

Fantasy Stories Can Contain Hidden Wisdom

While my favorite works of fiction may involve characters that are not always human, the writers who produce these works still frequently manage to insert nuggets of wisdom that can be applied universally.  Searching for these “truths” in the deeper meanings of a fantasy story can provide hours of entertainment, and thought-provoking discussions.

For instance, consider this philosophical truth from The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien: “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”  This quote from a novel published in 1954 contains just as much potential for controversy today as it did when the story was first written, despite the fact that it was part of a conversation between a wizard and a hobbit.  Have you ever considered Tolkien, best known for The Hobbit as well as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, as a philosopher?

No matter your favorite genre, here’s hoping you take the time to read a good book today!

Amy