Christmas Stories by L Frank Baum

Title: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus AND

A Kidnapped Santa Claus

Author: L Frank Baum (American, 1856-1919)
Originally published: 1902; 1904

Page count: 100; 12

Dates read: 11/27/23-11/16/23; 11/17/23-11/17/23

2023 book goal progress: 23 out of 23

Christmas!

Read my other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.



Description on back of book:
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus tells the captivating story of Claus, a child found and raised in the magical Forest of Burzee by a wood-nymph. Among the immortals, Claus grows into an innocent youth, until the day when he discovers the misery that rules the human world and hovers, like a shadow, above the heads of the children. Now, in an attempt to ease human suffering, he, with the help of his immortal friends, will work to bring joy to the children and teach them, for the sake of humanity, the importance of sharing and caring for each other.

A Kidnapped Santa Claus tells the story of Santa being kidnapped from the Laughing Valley by the five Daemons of the Caves (Selfishness, Envy, Hatred, Malice, and Repentance) on Christmas Eve. Can Christmas be saved?

First sentence:
"Have you heard of the great Forest of Burzee?" -Life

"Santa Claus lives in the Laughing Valley, where stands the big, rambling castle in which his toys are manufactured." -Kidnapped

Favorite quotes:
"Childhood is the time of man's greatest content. 'Tis during these years of innocent pleasure that the little ones are most often free from care. All seem equally fair and sweet while they are babes. Their joy is in being alive, and they do not stop to think. In after years, the doom of mankind overtakes them, and they find they must struggle and worry, work and fret, to gain the wealth that is so dear to the hearts of men." 

-Life

"A generous deed lives longer than a great battle or a king's decree or a scholar's essay because it spreads and leaves its mark on all nature and endures through many generations." 

-Life

"It is called the Laughing Valley because everything there is happy and gay. The brook chuckles to itself as it leaps rollicking between its green banks; the wind whistles merrily in the trees; the sunbeams dance lightly over the soft grass; and the violets and wild flowers look smilingly up from their green nests."

-Kidnapped

CAWPILE Rating (combined for both): Overall - 8/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 9
Atmosphere   - 9
Writing Style - 9
Plot                - 7
Intrigue          - 7
Logic             - 7
Enjoyment     - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus was written like a fairy tale and it's a mythology all about Santa Claus, broken into 3 parts: youth, manhood, and old age. You meet many characters including Jack Frost and a few select deer, 10 to be exact, who became reindeer to work for Santa, and the food they ate to give them special powers. Of which, flight is not one of their powers - they're just especially swift and agile (and beautiful). Their names are Glossie, Flossie, Racer, Pacer, Reckless, Speckless, Fearless, Peerless, Ready, and Steady.

The story also explains where Santa grew up, and who named and raised him. It tells where he lives now, who he works with, how and why he started making toys, why he travels in one night, why he goes down chimneys, how he delivers gifts to those without a chimney, how Christmas trees started, how he became immortal, and much more! I highly recommend this quick read into the lore of Santa Claus!

A Kidnapped Santa Claus was a short story about Santa Claus keeping his good spirits despite being tempted and tested by various personified vices. It was a fun story.

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let L Frank Baum have the last words:

"I have looked upon man, finding him doomed to live for a brief space upon earth, to toil for the things he needs, to fade into old age, and then to pass away as the leaves of autumn. Yet every man has his mission, which is to leave the world better, in some way, than he found it." 

-Claus in Life, Childhood

"Afterward, when a child was naughty or disobedient, its mother would say: 'You must pray to the good Santa Claus for forgiveness. He does not like naughty children, and, unless you repent, he will bring you no more pretty toys.' But Santa Claus himself would not have approved of this speech. He knew that the best of children were sometimes naughty, and that the naughty ones were often good." 

-Life, Manhood

"But when many years had rolled away, Santa Claus grew old. The long beard of golden brown that once covered his cheeks and chin gradually became gray, and finally turned to pure white. His hair was white, too, and there were wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, which showed plainly when he laughed. He had never been a very tall man, and now he became fat and waddled very much like a duck when he walked. But in spite of these things, he remained as lively as ever, and was just as jolly and gay, and his eyes sparkled as brightly as they did that first day when he came to the Laughing Valley."

-Life, Old Age

Project Hail Mary By Andy Weir

Title: Project Hail Mary

Author: Andy Weir (American, 1972- )
Originally published: 2021

Page count: 473

Dates read: 11/12/23-11/21/23

2023 book goal progress: 22 out of 23

Work Bookclub 

Read other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.




Description on back of book:

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. He’s just awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

With his crewmates dead, and his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. With the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he?

First sentence:
"What's two plus two?"

Favorite quotes:
"I scour the screens for more info. Mostly they seem to be the kinds of things you'd expect on a spaceship. Life support, navigation, that sort of thing. One screen is labeled 'Beetles.' The next screen over says... Wait, beetles? Okay, I don't know if it has anything to do with anything, but I need to find out if there are a bunch of beetles on this ship. That's the sort of thing a guy needs to know."

"It's a simple idea, but also stupid. The thing is, when stupid ideas work, they become genius ideas. We'll see which way this one falls."

"I cross my arms and slump into my pilot's seat. There's no gravity to properly slump with, so I have to make a conscious effort to push myself into the seat. I'm pouting, darn it, and I intend to do it right."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.7/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 8
Atmosphere   - 8
Writing Style - 8
Plot                - 8
Intrigue          - 8
Logic             - 6
Enjoyment     - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

I enjoyed this book. I can't say much here because I don't want to give anything away. I laughed, I cried, I got angry... I became invested in the book and the characters. It does get pretty sciency and some stuff went over my head, but it's still good overall. If you're into science fiction, I recommend this story. I actually would suggest this book over The Martian, by the same author, due to Hail Mary being less monotonous.

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Andy Weir have the last words. The below quote is early on in the book when he is still getting memory flashbacks and trying to remember who he is. I found it a nice taste of dark humor.

"I'm watching NASA on TV and my first thought is... I'm elated! I can't wait to tell the kids!

I have kids? I'm in a single man's apartment eating a single man's meal. I don't see anything feminine at all. There's nothing to suggest a woman in my life. Am I divorced? Gay? Either way, there's no sign that children live here. No toys, no pictures of kids on the wall or mantel, nothing. And the place is way too clean. Kids make a mess of everything. 

How do I know that? I like kids. Huh. Just a feeling. But I like them. They're cool. They're fun to hang out with. So I'm a single man in my thirties, who lives alone in a small apartment, I don't have any kids, but I like kids a lot. I don't like where this is going...

A teacher! I'm a schoolteacher! I remember it now! Oh, thank God. I'm a teacher."

Later on in the book:

"If I had a nickel for every time I wanted to smack a kid's parents for not teaching them even the most basic things... well... I'd have enough nickels to put in a sock and smack those parents with it."

Kingkiller Shorts by Patrick Rothfuss

Titles: 

-How Old Holly Came to Be

-The Lightning Tree (found in Rogues)

-The Slow Regard of Silent Things

-The Narrow Road Between Desire (expansion of Lightning Tree)

Author: Patrick Rothfuss (American, 1973- )
Originally published: 2013; 2014; 2014; 2023

Page count: 7; 59; 147; 208

Dates read: 

10/23/23-11/4/23; 11/10/23-11/28/23; 9/17/24-9/29/24

2023 book goal progress: 20, 21 out of 23; 21 out of 24

2024 book goal progress: 21 out of 24

Read my other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.
Read my other book reviews for my 2024 goals HERE.






How Old Holly Came to Be

This is a poetic short story about a Lady and an old holly tree and how it came to protect her. It's short, sweet, and poetic. You can read it at the link above. 

Description on back of book:
The Lightning Tree takes us to the iconic Waystone Inn to follow a typical day in the life of one of the Kingkiller Chronicle's most popular characters, the mysterious Bast, ostensibly an errand boy, who is much more than he seems to be - a day in which Bast learns many lessons, and teaches a few as well.

The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a brief, bittersweet glimpse of Auri’s life, a small adventure all her own. Deep below the University, there is a dark place. Few people know of it: a broken web of ancient passageways and abandoned rooms. Auri lives there, tucked among the sprawling tunnels of the Underthing, snug in the heart of this forgotten place. At once joyous and haunting, this story offers a chance to see the world through Auri’s eyes. And it gives the reader a chance to learn things that only Auri knows.

In The Narrow Road Between Desires, follow the Kingkiller Chronicle's most charming fae as he schemes his way through the small town of Newarre. While Bast cares nothing for the laws of man, he is beholden to older, deeper laws. And despite his cleverness and care, Bast finds himself forced to choose between betraying his master and helping a hated enemy.

First sentence:
"Bast almost made it out the backdoor of the Waystone Inn." (Lightning and Narrow Road)

"When Auri woke, she knew she had seven days." (Slow Regard)

Favorite quotes:
"Bast stood upright and grinned. His face was sweet and sly and wild. He looked like a naughty child who had managed to steal the moon and eat it. His smile was like the last sliver of remaining moon, sharp and white and dangerous." (Lightning)

"Bast stood to his full height and grinned, his face sweet and sly and wild. In that moment, he looks less like a rakish young man, and more a naughty child who had stolen the moon and planned to eat it like a thin, pale silver cake. His smile was like the final crescent of remaining moon, sharp and white and dangerous." (Narrow Road)

" 'Do you know about bees?'

'A fair bit,' Bast said softly. 'They aren't hard to handle. They just need patience and gentleness. They're the same as everything else, really. They just want to know they're safe.' " (Lightning, Narrow Road)

"And today he looked even bigger still 'cause he was furious. He was spittin' nails. I swear. He looked like someone had tied two angry bulls together and made them wear a shirt!" (Lightning, Narrow Road)

"Bast laughed again. He knew he shouldn't, but there were times when it was either laugh or break wide open because he was too full. It would have been like holding back a sneeze. Sometimes the world was so perfectly revealed to be a joke, a picture, and a puzzle all at once. Laughter was the true applause you offered to the world for being beautiful." (Narrow Road)

"There is a difference between the truth and what we wish were true." (Slow Regard)

"Some days simply lay on you like stones. Some were fickle as cats, sliding away when you needed comfort, then coming back later when you didn't want them, jostling at you, stealing your breath." (Slow Regard)

Lightning and Narrow Road CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 8/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 9
Atmosphere   - 8
Writing Style - 8
Plot                - 8
Intrigue          - 8
Logic             - 7
Enjoyment     - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Slow Regard CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 3.6/10 - ⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 6
Atmosphere   - 6
Writing Style - 3
Plot                - 1
Intrigue          - 2
Logic             - 3
Enjoyment     - 4

Review:

The Lightning Tree: This was a fun story that let the reader learn more about Bast and his antics. It also lets you know much more about the town. If this story represents a typical day in the life of Bast, he definitely interferes a lot with what goes on around town. The story leaves some parts up to interpretation, which I like.

The Slow Regard...: I imagine Auri as Autistic or at least someone with extreme OCD. She is always washing her face, hands, and feet. She always also personifies inanimate objects with emotions and opinions - to the point of anthropomorphizing, since for her all the objects really have emotions and opinions, though they don't talk or move on their own. She always senses if everything is in the proper place and spends most of her day moving bottles and other objects to a different shelf or other location because they would feel better somewhere else. If she doesn't move things to their proper place, she quickly becomes dysregulated.

There's a 3.5-page panic attack written from her perspective, which I think was spectacularly written, but I'm not going to write out a quote that long here. It's the last section of the Ash and Ember chapter if you're interested. This story was an interesting peek into Auri's head, but it doesn't have a plot or any point to it at all. Overall, probably not worth the read.

The Narrow Road...: This is an expanded version of The Lightning Tree and it's hard to tell where exactly the expansions were. Besides Bast, my favorite character is definitely Kostrel. I think the relationship between Bast and Rike was developed more, which I liked - they have a good story together.

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Patrick Rothfuss have the last words:

"Bast got to his feet and stretched, his body bending like a bow. Then he sprinted down the hill... except, in the fading light it didn't quite look like a sprint. If he were a boy of ten, it would have looked like he was skipping. But he was no boy. If he was a goat, it would have looked like he were prancing. But he was no goat. 

A man headed down the hill that quickly, it would have looked like he was running. But there was something odd about Bast's motion in the fading light. Something hard to describe. He almost looked like he were... what? Frolicking? Dancing? Small matter. Suffice to say that he quickly made his way to the edge of the clearing." (Lightning)

Bast explains reading embrils to Kostrel, which I take as being similar to runes, tarot, etc.:

"Names are fine. But if you know what something's called, it's hard to keep wondering what it is. The embrils aren't like names that pin things to a page. Their nature is to twist and change. They remind us that the world is vast and deep. They teach us the distance between catch and keep."

To me, Bast is saying that, though it may be good to know what the symbols mean, reading from intuition is more important. The passage continues and Bast reads a throw of embrils mostly through their textbook symbolism without meaning to. Kostrel then reads them but, since he doesn't really know the symbolism, he reads more intuitively - and you can see how his reading is more applicable/accurate.

Winds of Fury by Mercedes Lackey

Title: Winds of Fury (Mage Winds Trilogy #3)

Author: Mercedes Lackey (American, 1950- )
Originally published: 1993

Page count: 411

Dates read: 9/26/23-10/21/23

2023 book goal progress: 19 out of 23

Author Challenge: Mercedes Lackey

Read my other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.




Description on back of book:

Valdemar is once again in peril, threatened by Ancar of Hardorn, who has long sought to seize control of the kingdom by any means at his command. Yet this time Ancar may well achieve his goal, for by harnessing the power of a Dark Adept, he has set into motion a magical strike against Valdemar the like of which hasn’t been attempted in more than five hundred years.

With Valdemar’s ancient spell-generated protections finally breaking down, Queen Selenay, Herald-Princess Elspeth, and their people could soon be left defenseless against an enemy armed with spells no one in Valdemar has the knowledge to withstand. As the long-dormant magic of Valdemar begins to awaken, Elspeth finds that she too has a mysterious ally—a powerful spirit from the long-forgotten past.

First sentence:
"Ancar, King of Hardorn, slumped in the cushioned embrace of his throne and stared out into the empty Great Hall."

Favorite quotes:
"Remember, together you are far stronger than you are individually. 

I think that is something no enemy will be prepared for."

"The mage who knows how to use simple spells cleverly 

is just as effective as the Adept with no imagination."

"There is no such thing as perfection, or a 'perfect' love. 

I doubt there's even perfection in the Havens. 

Wouldn't perfection be a bore?"

"Tell a big enough lie, and everyone will believe it 

simply because it is too audacious not to be the truth."

"A brave man is simply someone who doesn't let his cowardice and fear stop him. 

Hellfires, boy, we're all cowards at some time or another."

"You're a Healing Adept, boy, but you don't need magic to Heal. 

Just words. And kindness, and care."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.3/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 8
Atmosphere   - 7
Writing Style - 7
Plot                - 8
Intrigue          - 8
Logic             - 6
Enjoyment     -  7
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This is a good story and a good conclusion to the trilogy. New, seemingly, significant characters were introduced in the beginning, but then they weren't in the rest of the story, which was a disappointment. They finally defeated all 3 BBEGs, 2 of which have been around since the first published trilogy. It was an entertaining and (mostly) satisfying end, but the victory almost seemed too easy for how powerful all 3 of these evil mages were written to be. The book wrapped things up nicely but also left a new cliffhanger for the next trilogy.

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Mercedes Lackey have the last words:

"A good, solid love is something infinitely rare and difficult to maintain because you don't know everything your partner is feeling. Love takes work. Love means being able to apologize and mean it when you blunder. Love is worth fighting for! One of the very things that made Van and I have a lovematch as well as a lifebonding was that we were so different. It is like a marriage - you marry who you think your beloved is, and then discover who they really are over the years. It's that discovery that makes a marriage work."

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs (American, 1979- )
Originally published: 2011

Page count: 341 (with many pages just being pictures)

Dates read: 9/14/23-10/8/23

2023 book goal progress: 18 out of 23

Oct. and Nov. Mindful Readers' Family Bookclub 

Read my other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.




Description on back of book:
As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

First sentence:
"I had just come to accept that my life would be ordinary

when extraordinary things began to happen."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 6.9/10 - ⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 7
Atmosphere   - 7
Writing Style - 6
Plot                - 7
Intrigue          - 8
Logic             - 6
Enjoyment     - 7
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

I was intrigued by the story concept, but it was told in a 'younger' voice than I would've liked. Maybe if it was written to be geared more toward adults, I would've gotten more invested in the novel's characters (and monsters).

Book to movie review:

TBD

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Ransom Riggs have the last words:

"I really did believe him - for a few years, at least - though mostly because I wanted to, like other kids my age wanted to believe in Santa Claus. We cling to our fairy tales until the price for believing them becomes too high."

Winds of Change by Mercedes Lackey

Title: Winds of Change (Mage Winds Trilogy #2)

Author: Mercedes Lackey (American, 1950- )
Originally published: 1992

Page count: 460

Dates read: 9/10/23-9/25/23

2023 book goal progress: 17 out of 23

Author Challenge: Mercedes Lackey

Read my other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.




Description on back of book:
With Valdemar in dire peril, Elspeth, Herald and heir to the throne, has come to the Vale of the Teyledras Clan to seek mage training. Instead of finding a haven, the Vale's Heartstone, a source of mage power, is attacked by a mysterious, dark Adept Mage. Elspeth, still only a half-trained mage, and the Hawkbrother-Adept Darkwind must work together to tame the broken Heartstone.

First sentence:
"Elspeth rubbed her feather-adorned temples, hoping that her fears and tensions would mercifully go, and leave her mind in peace  for just once today."

Favorite quotes:
"There was a Tayledras saying: 'No arrow shot at a target  is ever wasted, no matter how many break.' It meant that no practice or lesson, however trivial it might seem, was a loss."

"She gathered her dignity about her like a robe, and walked off into the darkness, leaving him alone."

"Wintermoon stared at all of them with the impatient air of a man ready to strangle someone if he didn't get an explanation soon."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.4/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 7
Atmosphere   - 7
Writing Style - 8
Plot                - 8
Intrigue          - 8
Logic             - 6
Enjoyment     - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This was a great book! Elspeth continued to have a bad attitude and she also wasn't treating her Companion well. This was annoying, but Darkwind called her on her shit and her attitude improved. The book improved exponentially after that. I'm looking forward to the third book in this trilogy!

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Mercedes Lackey have the last words:

"All things could change. If he was the same person he was only a few years ago, he'd have already been sharpening knives and plotting revenge, but revenge seemed foolish somehow. How strange, that after a life like his, revenge seemed hollow compared to simple justice."

Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams

Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams (English, 1952-2001)
Originally published: 1979

Page count: 161

Dates read: 8/12/23-8/19/23

2023 book goal progress: 15 out of 23

An extra book for 2023!

Read my other book reviews from 2023 HERE.




Description on back of book:

It’s an ordinary Thursday morning for Arthur Dent . . . until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly after to make way for a new hyperspace express route, and Arthur’s best friend has just announced that he’s an alien. After that, things get much, much worse.

With just a towel, a small yellow fish, and a book, Arthur has to navigate through a very hostile universe in the company of a gang of unreliable aliens. Luckily the fish is quite good at languages. And the book is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy . . . which helpfully has the words DON’T PANIC inscribed in large, friendly letters on its cover.

This classic plays havoc with both time and physics, offers up pithy commentary on such things as ballpoint pens, potted plants, and digital watches . . . and, most importantly, reveals the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything. Now, if you could only figure out the question. . . .

First sentence:
"Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun."

Favorite quotes:
"The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don’t."

" 'You know, it’s at times like this, when I’m trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space that I really wish I’d listened to what my mother told me when I was young.”

'Why, what did she tell you?'

'I don’t know, I didn’t listen.' "

"He was staring at the instruments with the air of one who is trying to convert Fahrenheit to centigrade in his head while his house is burning down."

"Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws."

"All you really need to know for the moment is that the universe is a lot more complicated than you might think, even if you start from a position of thinking it’s pretty damn complicated in the first place."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 6.3/10 - ⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 8
Atmosphere   - 8
Writing Style - 6
Plot                - 5
Intrigue          - 6
Logic             - 4
Enjoyment     - 7
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This is a wacky, but hilarious book. You never know what's going to happen next.

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Douglas Adams have the last words:

"A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value - you can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a mini raft down the slow heavy river Moth; wet it for use in hand-to- hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or to avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (a mindboggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can't see it, it can't see you - daft as a bush, but very ravenous); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.

More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: non-hitchhiker) discovers that a hitchhiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, face flannel, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet weather gear, space suit, etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitchhiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitchhiker might accidentally have "lost". What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is clearly a man to be reckoned with."

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The 5th Wave

Author: Rick Yancey (American, 1962- )
Originally published: 2013

Page count: 457

Dates read: 8/21/23-9/2/23

2023 book goal progress: 16 out of 23

July/August Mindful Readers' Family Bookclub 

Read my other book reviews from 2023 HERE.




Description on back of book:

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets a mysterious stranger who may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother.

First sentence:
"Aliens are stupid."

Favorite quotes:
"That sounds crazy. Am I crazy? Have I lost my mind? You can only call someone crazy if there's someone else who's normal. Like good and evil. If everything was good, then nothing would be good. Whoa. That sounds, well... crazy. Crazy: the new normal."

"We were the lucky ones. We'd survived the EMP attack, the obliteration of the coasts, and the plague that wasted everyone we knew and loved. We'd beaten the odds. We'd stared into the face of Death, and Death blinked first. You'd think that would make us feel brave and invincible. It didn't."

"I've decided to trust him, but like somebody once said, you can't force yourself to trust. So you put all your doubts in a little box and bury it deep and then try to forget where you buried it. My problem is that buried box is like a scab I can't stop picking at."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 8/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 9
Atmosphere   - 7
Writing Style - 9
Plot                - 8
Intrigue          - 9
Logic             - 6
Enjoyment     - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

This was a great book that kept you guessing until the end. It was a blast to come up with different theories and possibilities as I was reading this. I highly suggest it!

Book to movie review:

I went into watching the movie disappointed because I knew so much of the book was going to have to be glossed over. I think if you haven't read the book, it was a good movie. As someone who has read the book, you didn't get to know (and love) the multitude of characters in the book. Some elements of the book were just skipped entirely. It was the characters that really made the book and they didn't get the opportunity to shine through in the movie.

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Rick Yancey have the last words:

"He looked at me and smiled reassuringly and said, "Everything's going to be okay," because that's what I wanted him to say and it's what he wanted to say and that's what you do when the curtain is falling - you give the line that the audience wants to hear."

Mini-Reviews of Fables

Fables (comics):

Mini-Reviews

Note: If you're just looking for the suggested reading order WITHOUT my mini-reviews, a running character list, and some pictures of the comics themselves, please see my other post - Fables: A Suggested Reading Order.

Description: Fables is a comic book series published by DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint beginning in 2002. The series deals with various people from fairy tales and folklore – referring to themselves as “Fables” – who have been forced out of their Homelands. The Fables have traveled to our mundane world and formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. Extended Fables Introduction/Description.

Publisher:  Vertigo

Publication Date:  2002-2015+

Genre:  Contemporary/Dark Fantasy

Creators:  Bill Willingham, Lan Medina

Printing Formats:

-Individual issues

-Trade paperbacks with textured matte paper (collects several issues)

-Deluxe hardcovers with smooth glossy paper (collects several issues)

-Compendiums, which collect all of Fables together into 4 books

All are comics with the below exceptions:

-A Wolf in the Fold (prose story, 2003)

-1001 Nights of Snowfall (graphic novel, 2006)

-Peter and Max (prose novel, 2009)

-Pinocchio's Army (prose story, 2011)

-Werewolves of the Heartland (graphic novel, 2012)

-The Wolf Among Us (video game, 2013)

-Fairest in All the Land (2013, graphic novel)

-Fables #150: Farewell (graphic novel, 2015)

Character List (alphabetically - some may be missing if I missed the reference):

A-B - 1883 historical characters, A-Number-One/King of Hobos, Abd Al Qadir, Aesop, Agent Mulder, Ali Baba and Aladdin, Alice and Hare, Anansi/Spider, Androids and Homunculi, Annie Oakley, Askeladden, Asuras and Shikha, Athena, Audrey Hepburn, Autumn Queen/Syksy, Baba Yaga and House, Bad Sam, Badger/Stinky/Brock Blueheart, Barbara Allen, Barleycorn Girls and Boys, Basilisk and Minitaur, Beach Boys, Beauty and Beast (and Bliss), Belle Boyd, Benedict Arnold, Beowulf and Hrothgar, Big Bad Wolf/Bigby and Cubs (and 6 brothers), Big Bob Under, Bigfoot/Sasquash, Bill Gates, Bill and Marty, Billy Goat, Black Caroline, Black Dog, Black Forest Witch/Frau Totenkinder/Bellflower/Mother Gothel, Black Sheep, Black Knight, Blind Mice, Bloody Mary, Blue Fairy, Bluebeard, Bo Peep and Lambs, Book Burner, Boy Blue (Jesus?), Boy Who Cried Wolf, Bragger, Brer Animals (Bear, Rabbit, Wolf, etc), Briar Rose/Sleeping Beauty, Britomart/Faerie Queen, Broken Toys (Nan, Mr. Wellstuffed, Rex, etc), Brump (goblin), Buffalo Bill, Bufkin and Lily Martagnion

C-D - C. Auguste Dupin, Captain Hook, Captain Oakheart, Cain, Cerberus, Changelings and Imps, Charles Dickens, Chernomer Knight, Cheshire Cat, Chicken (Run, Laundress, Little, etc), Chimera, Cinderella, Clark Kent/Superman, Clint Orangutan, Coalheart, Colonel Bearskin, Commander Arrow (hawk), Count Aucassin de Beaucaire, Count Dracula, Cow that Jumped Over the Moon, Croesus, Crooked Man, Crucible Characters, Cyclopses and Mermaids, Cynthia/Cindy Cendrillion, Daedalus, Dalmations, Dark Man (Bogeyman, Boggleman, Dullahan, Duladan, Khokkan, Buse, Morko, Dunganga, Lake Man, Abo Ragl Ma Stokha, Burned Man, Buback, Torbalan, etc), Deirdre, Demons and Incubi, Deus ex Machine (Dex), Devils and Angels, Dewanee, Dish and Spoon, Don Quixote, Donner Party, Donny and Marie, Dormouse, Dr. Frankenstein and Monster, Dr. Swineheart, Donkeyskin Girl and Prince Lawrence, Dorothy Gale/Silverslipper and Toto, Dwarves and Gnomes, Dragons (Illuyanka, Tiamat, etc), Dread Pirate Roberts and Princess Buttercup, Dryads and Nixies, Durga

E-G - Edgar Orangutan, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Edmond Dantes, Elementals and Revenants, Eliza/Fourth Wall, Elsa Fen, Elves and Shoemaker, Emily Post, Ephram, Ernest Lawrence Thayer, Evil Queen and her sister, Evil Stepmother, Fafnir, Fairy Godmother (Cinderella), Fairies and Sprites, False Bride, Farid, Farmer Giles, Fates, Flanders (cat), Firebird, Fisher King, Flintstones, Flying Carpets, Flying Monkeys, Forsworn Knight/Lancelot, Four Horseman, Freddy and Mouse (possibly Fafhrd and Gray Mouser), Friar Tuck and Little John, Frodo, Frog Prince/Ambrose, Frog and Toad (and son TJ), General Blug, General McClellan, Genies and Ifrits, George of the Jungle, George Soros, Georgie Porgie, Geppetto, Ghosts and Pharaohs, Giants, Gilgamesh, Gilligan and Skipper, Gingerbreadman (Sam), Goblins and Trolls, Godzilla, Golden Goose, Goldilocks and Bears, Gorgons, Grendal, Grim Reaper/Death, Grinder, Grumps and Gargoyles, Guinevere, Gulliver, Gunga Din

H-K - Hangy (living rope), Hansel and Gretel, Harp Family, Hawkeye/Natty Bumbo and Slue Foot Sue, Haint/Devil, Harbinger (horse), Headless Horseman, Hellfrost, Hello Kitty, Heracles, Hercule Poirot, Herman von Starkenfaust, Hickory Dickory Mouse, Hope, Huckleberry Finn and Jim, Humpty Dumpty, Ice Giants and Frostlings, Ichabod Crane, Incitatus the horse, Invisible Man, Irene Adler, Isengrim, Iskander, Ivan Durak, Ivan Tsarevich, Jack (all of them) and Jill, Jack London, Jean Grey and Red Sonja, Jean Luc Picard, Jekyll and Hyde, Jenny Wren, Jersey Devil, Jiminy Cricket, Jizo Bosatsu, John Hanning Speke, John Henry, Judy Garland, Jungle Book Animals (Baghera, Baloo, Kaa, King Louie, Shere Khan, Tabaqui), Kaidan, Kappa (Katagiri), Kay, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, Kevin Thorn (Story Teller), King Arthur, King (Roberon) Cole, King David and King Solomon, King Kong and Fay Ray, King Midas, King Pellinore, King Raedwald, Kitsume (Tomoko), Knave of hearts, Kondili, Kuchisake-onna/Slit-Mouthed Woman (Mayumi)

L-M - Lady Luck, Lady of the Lake, Lady Maeve, Lamia, Lauren Bacall, Leviathan, Lions (Aslan, and Mouse, Mufassa/Simba, Oz, Noble King, etc), Little Match Girl, Little Freddy, Little Mermaid, Little Red Hen, Live Objects (Beauty and the Beast), Lone Ranger and Tonto, Mad Hatter and White Rabbit, Maddy/Medea/Sycorax/Scythian Raven (black cat witch turns into a raven), Magic Mirror, Magilla Gorilla, Maharaja Sindhu Baba Singh, Maleficent/Hadeon the Destroyer, Man Friday, Manolo Blahnik, Mary and Little Lamb, Mary Mary, Max (Where the Wild Things Are), Men in Black, Meng Chiang-Nu, Merlin, Miss Muffet/Mrs. Web and Old Man Web, Mowgli, Mother Birdie (Ardelia, Bula, Cherish, etc), Morgan Le Fay/Green Witch (Arthurian), Mother Goose, Mother Rigby and Scarecrow, Mountbatten, Mouse Police, Mr. Broome, Mr. Click, Mr. Gandours, Mr. Ives, Mr. Pickles, Mr. Revise, Mr. Steampuddle, Mrs. Cornhusk, Mrs. Finch, Mr. Toomey, Mrs. Spratt/Leigh Duglas, Munchkins, Muppets, Mutant Vampire Space Pirates

N-P - Nalayani, Nathoo and Messua, Neko and Tanuki, Night Walkers, Nome King Rouat, North Wind and other 3 Great Winds, Ogres and Ghols, Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, Old Mother Hubbard, Old Women Who Lives in a Shoe and Children, Omar the camel, Oprah, Oz/Ev Characters (Bungle/Glass Cat, Chiss, Emperor Roqual, Jack Pumpkinhead/Skeleton, Kalidahs, Rumble Tumble Toms, Sawhorse, Spoon Brigande, Yoop), Ozma, Page Sisters (Robin, Priscilla, Hillary), Paladins of Hope, Pallas, Pathetic Fallacy (Gary), Paris Hilton, Paul Bunyon and Babe, Pecos Bill, Peter Cottontail, Peter Pan and Wendy Darling, Peter Piper, Peter Rabbit, Phantoms and Shades, Pied Piper, Pigs (Three, Babe, etc), Pineapple Man, Pinkertons, Pinocchio, Pishacha and Nandini, Pope, Porky Pine, Prince Aspen (Adam) and Princess Alder (Eve), Prince Brandish/Werian Holt, Prince Charming/Maharaja Shah Ah-Ming, Prince Lindworm, Priscilla, Professor X/F, Prospero and Mr. Kadabra/Sorcerer Karrant, Puss in Boots/Fiddler/Marquis De Carabas

Q-S - Queen Beatrix, Queen of Hearts, Rama and Ganesha, Ranger Mike Danger, Ranger Rick, Rapunzel/Okiku, Ratmen, Raven, Ravens and Crows, Red Brigades, Red Cross Knight, Red Riding Hood/Red Hood, Reynard the Fox, Rex Libris, Ribbon Girl, Robert E Lee, Robert Frost, Robin Hood and Maid Marian, Rodney and June (and their daughter), Romeo, Rose Red, Rowan Tree King, Safiya and 2 sisters, Saint George, Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe, Sambo, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Satan/Adversary, Sauron, Sequana, Scarecrow (Oz), Scheherazade, Seii Taishogun Ryogan, Seven Chinese Brothers, Seven Fairy Godmothers (Briar Rose), Shakespeare (Hamlet, Father's Ghoat, Horatio, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Titania, MacDuff, etc.), Sherlock Holmes and Watson, Shiva, Sidi Nouman, Sinbad and Hakim, Sir Roland, Snow White/Lumi, Snow Queen/House of Sark, Sorcerors and Warlocks, Spooks and Spectres, Spring Queen/Kevat, Squire Squench and Sir Kelton, Star Wars (Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Storm Troopers), Sulyman, Summer Queen/Kesa, Swan Princess

T-Z - Tagarin Zmeyevich (dragon), Talking Animals, Tam Lin, Tarzan and Jane, Thelma and Louise, Three Knights (White/Bright Day, Radiant Sun, Dark Knight), Three Men in a Tub (Butcher, Baker, and Candlestick maker), Three Sisters, Thrushbeard, Thumbelina and Tom Thumb (and Elam), Tin Man, Tiny Tim, Tommy Taylor/Harry Potter, Tooth Fairy, Tortoise and Hare, Trotty Veck, Trusty John, Tweedle Dee and Dum, Twelve Good Men, Twelve Halk Brothers, Unicorn, Vritra, Waldemar, Walking Cards (Wonderland), Walris and Carpenter (and Oysters), Werewolves and Vampires, Weyland Smith, Witches and Witherlings, White-Bear-King-Valemon, White Deer, Wicked John, Widow Gudbrand, Wolfrum, Woodsman, World Turtle, Writer's Block, Yakuza and Funa Yurei, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Yokai and Kirin, Zephyrs and Clerics, Zombies and Skeletons, Zorgo Quoot and Wendigo

LEGEND (for the colored and bolded text below):

Fables

Jack of Fables spinoff

Fairest spinoff

Limited Series

One-Shots and non-comic formats

Comments/Mini-reviews

Mini-Reviews in the

Suggested Reading Order:

I read most of the series about 10 years ago for the first time.

Now I've read them:

6/29/23-8/21/23 - 13 and 14 out of 23

7/2/24-8/13/24 - 15 and 16 out of 24

6/19/25-present

Fables #1-5: Legends in Exile (2003)

Mini-review: This was a great introduction to the series, centered around a mystery. The main characters include Bigby Wolf, Snow White, and Jack.

Snow White and Bigby are featured in both images below.

    

Fables #6-10: Animal Farm (2003)

Mini-review: This one, as you can probably guess, is loosely based on Animal Farm by George Orwell. The main characters include Snow White, Rose Red, and Goldilocks. One of the revolutionary complaints was that their leader was a human, even though The Farm was for non-humans. In the end, they still replaced the previous leader with another humanoid, which I didn't like.

"The Farm" and a conversation between Snow White and Reynard the Fox.

A Wolf in the Fold (2003, prose story)

Mini-review: This is a prequel story of how Bigby and Snow White met. I enjoyed the story. Though it was prose, it included some black/white images.

Fables #11-13: Bag O' Bones, A Two-Part Caper (2004)

Mini-review: The first story was about Jack besting Death and the negative consequences that ensued. The other two stories are about how Bigby, Briar Rose, Bluebeard, and others handle a Mundy (a normal person, not of the Fable community) who knows that they are immortal. I think Bluebeard is too big for his breeches and something bad is going to happen because of him.

Jack and his mom; Prince Charming and the Frog Prince

Fables #14-18: Storybook Love (4), Barleycorn Brides (2004)

Mini-review: These are all cute stories centered around Bigby, Snow White, Bluebeard, Goldilocks, and Prince Charming.

Snow White and Bigby Wolf; Flying Monkey

Fables: The Last Castle (2004, one-shot)
Mini-review: This is a sad story about the last boat out of the Homelands into the safety of the Mundane world, focusing on Boy Blue and Red Riding Hood.

Red Riding Hood; Robin Hood and Britomart

The Wolf Among Us (2013, video game)
Note: This is a video game that was adapted later as a print comic. Another game will possibly be released in 2025. The game is a prequel to the comic series and can be played whenever, but I recommend playing it after #10: Animal Farm and before #51: Big and Small. More specifically, I suggest right before #22: Cinderella Libertine.

Mini-review: This was a visual novel, a choose-your-own-adventure. I enjoyed it, though I wish you could save whenever you want, rather than it being auto-save only. You play as Bigby and work to solve a murder case, which turns out to be much bigger than first thought. Some characters also include Snow White, Blackbeard, Ichabod Crane, Jack, Mr.Toad and his son, the pig Colin, Donkeyskin, The Little Mermaid, The White Deer, Georgie Porgie, Fly, the Crooked Man, Tweedle Dee and Dum, Bloody Mary, and many others.

Fables: The Wolf Among Us Vol. 1: #1-7 (2014) 

Mini-review: This story retells the 'canon' version of the beginning of the game. It was neat to see the result of different choices rather than the ones I made. I wish it was a choose-your-own-adventure comic, but it isn't. It would've been cool to see where a multitude of choices led. Honestly, you could skip this altogether if you've played the game - and I highly suggest the game over the comic. I skimmed it, paying attention to the choices different than mine. It embellishes the Donkeyskin Girl's story and gives a background story of The Woodsman (with Bigby and Red Riding Hood). What really makes this worth reading, if you so choose, is the retelling of The Crucible (the Salem Witch Trials) with Ichabod Crane, Bigby, and Abigail Williams.

Bigby and Faith;        Bigby and Abigail Williams

Fables: The Wolf Among Us Vol. 2: #8-16 (2014) 

Mini-review: This story retells the 'canon' version of the end of the game. I didn't like the ending and I wish, even if it wasn't a choose-your-own-adventure comic, that it had multiple endings to read. It follows the game and I skimmed through most of it. Again, there are embellishments, but the star of this volume is the background story of Bloody Mary which includes the Knave of Hearts. (Her story doesn't follow the actual urban legend as we know it.) Then the background story time jumps and the Crooked Man finds Bloody Mary. Much of the end of the comic is new material that follows parts of the Crooked Man's backstory, including how he got his gang together and why. It also mixes in characters from The Crucible and the Donkeyskin Girl told previously it was incredibly convoluted and unnecessary. It took away from Bloody Mary's story, which I liked... and, again, I didn't like the ending chosen for the comic.

Vol. 1;        Vol. 2

The Wolf Among Us

Overall review: Just play the game. The only parts worth reading in the comics are The Crucible in #1-7 and Bloody Mary's story in #8-16. When the Crooked Man meets Bloody Mary in the greenhouse, stop reading.

Fables #22: Cinderella Libertine (2005)

Mini-review: This is a spy story centered around Cinderella and Ichabod Crane. It can be read before, mid, or after March of the Wooden Soldiers.

Fables #19-21; #23-27: March of the Wooden Soldiers (2004)
Mini-review: This is a sad story where Fabletown is attacked and the reader learns a little more about the Adversary/Emperor. The main characters include Bigby, Snow White, Red Riding Hood, Boy Blue, Black Forest Witch, and others.

Jack and Wooden Soldiers; Wooden Soldiers and a Mundy Family

Fables #28-33: War Stories (2), The Long Year/The Mean Season (4) (2005)
Mini-review: The first 2 stories are a war story about Bigby's past. The rest of the stories are about Snow White and her babies. It's always fun to discover new Fable characters.

Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (2006, graphic novel)
Mini-review: This is a wonderful short story collection that gives us the background stories of some of the Fables including Snow White and Prince Charming, Reynard the Fox, the Frog Prince, Bigby, the Black Forest Witch, King Cole, and others. The Frog Prince is one of my favorite characters!

Bigby as a Baby; The full 3-page story of a Cursed Hare

Fables #34-35: Jack Be Nimble (2006)
Mini-review: Jack runs away with Jill to Hollywood and makes it big - but he's no longer welcome in Fabletown. This is a setup for Jack's own spin-off series.

Fables #36-41: Homelands (2006)

Mini-review: This story is based on Boy Blue's escapades in the Homelands, where it is discovered who The Adversary is. The main characters are Boy Blue, Snow Queen, Gepetto, and others.

Boy Blue fighting a Dragon; Boy Blue as a Bird

Fables #42-45: Arabian Nights and Days (2006)

Mini-review: This is a storyline about Arabian Fables coming to set up an alliance with Fabletown. The main characters include Sinbad, King Cole, Prince Charming, and others. This is a clever and humorous tale.

King Cole, Prince Charming, and Sinbad; Rose Red, Bagheera, and Boy Blue

Fables #46-47: Ballad of Rodney and June (2006)

Mini-review: This story is about Rodney and June, wooden soldiers who fall in love and request to be made into a 'real' man and woman.

Fables #48-51: Wolves (2), Happily Ever After, Big and Small (2006)

Mini-review: Wolves is about Mowgli finding Bigby. In Happily Ever After, Bigby goes on a multiple-part secret mission. Big and Small is about a secret mission Cinderella goes on. These are great, heartwarming stories.

Bigby and Cinderella in the Cloud Kingdom

Fables #52-55: Sons of Empire (4) and Mini One-Shots (4) (2007)

Mini-review: This story is about a meeting in The Homelands about how they can destroy Fabletown. The main characters include Snow Queen, Gepetto, Pinocchio, Hansel, and others. I was a little confused about the use of some of the characters in this story. The mini-stories focus on Rapunzel (pictured below), a porky pine (how it's spelled in the comic), Kevin Thorn, and the Three Blind Mice - respectively.

Gepetto and Pinocchio (and Rapunzel); A full 3-page story about Rapunzel

Fables #56-58: Jiminy Christmas, Father and Son (2) (2007)

Mini-review: The first story is about Santa and Ambrose (both Fly and the cub). The other two stories are about Bigby, Snow, and the cubs visiting North Wind. They are all cute, though bittersweet, tales.

Snow, Bigby, and cubs decorating a Christmas Tree; Santa and Ambrose (cub)

Fables #59 and #64: Burning Questions, The Birthday Secret (2008)

Mini-review: Burning Questions is a handful of short stories answering some questions that the readers had about various Fable characters (one is pictured below). The Birthday story tells how Snow and Bigby told the cubs their litter consists of 7 instead of 6 cubs.

Besides Fly, who else has asked questions of the magic mirror?

Fables #60-63; #65-69: The Good Prince (2008)

Mini-review: I didn't like how the story first started, but it turned into an incredible story! The timeline is starting to get a little wonky, but that's expected with so many issues. It's my favorite tale, by far, out of all of Fables I've already read. This is a great story about Ambrose/Fly, Lancelot, and many others.

Ambrose killing a Dragon (which represents the Empire); Amrose fighting a Troll

Jack of Fables #1-5: The (Nearly) Great Escape (2007)
Mini-review: We are introduced to many new characters in the first Jack spinoff story where he is imprisoned with a multitude of other Fables. The main characters include Jack (obviously), Goldilocks, Mr. Revise, and others. Note: Jack #1-16 should be read either directly before or after Fables' The Good Prince.

Jack leaving Fabletown; Wizard of Oz Characters escaping prison

Jack; Jack, Mother Goose, and Wicked John

Jack of Fables #6-11: Jack Frost (2), Jack of Hearts (4) (2007)

Mini-review: Jack Frost is the story about Jack's relationship with the Snow Queen. Jack of Hearts is about how Jack gets married in Vegas, how the Pathetic Fallacy (who goes by Gary and turns inanimate objects into living beings) becomes his sidekick, and how he becomes entangled with Lady Luck. Note: Jack #1-16 should be read either directly before or after Fables' The Good Prince.

Jack's Antics with the Soup Stone; Jack discovers the Snow Queen's castle

Gary and Lawn Flamingos; Jack and Gary at a diner

Jack of Fables #12-16: The Bad Prince (4), Jack O'Lantern (2008)

Mini-review: The Bad Prince tells the antics of Jack, Gary, Wicked John, and Kevin Thorn. Jack O'Lantern is about how Jack sells his soul to the Devil (edit: multiple devils) in order to live longer. Note: Jack #1-16 should be read either directly before or after Fables' The Good Prince.

Both pictures show banter between Jack and Gary

Fables #70-72: Kingdom Come, Skullduggery (2) (2008)

Mini-review: The first story focuses on Boy Blue and Rose Red, but there's also a bit with Prince Charming. Beauty is annoying in this tale. The next two-parter is another secret mission completed by Cinderella.

Boy Blue and Stinky the Badger; Cinderella

Fables #73-75: War and Pieces (2008)

Mini-review: This story is about the final war in the Homelands and overcoming the adversary. There are three war fronts: one led by Prince Charming and Sinbad, another by Bigby, and the last one by Briar Rose. At home, Snow White is in charge and Boy Blue is the messenger between them all. This is the end of the major story arc we've followed from the beginning. I wonder if they will start a whole new arc with a new enemy - or if they will go off of the enemies in the Jack Comics.

Flying Carpet powered Blimp attacked by Dragons; Adversary Warriors

Fables #76-81: Around the Town, The Dark Ages (5) (2009)

Mini-review: Around the town is Pinocchio showing Geppetto around Fabletown. The Dark Ages arc is about the aftermath of the war. It's sad. A new villain is introduced: Mr. Dark.

Hobbs, Beast, Grimble; Pinocchio, Ambrose, Blue

Fables #82: Return to the Jungle Book (mini story arc), Waiting on the Blues (2009)

Mini-review: In Return to the Jungle, Mowgli and a few animal friends return to the jungle for a recon mission. Waiting on the Blues is an epilogue to the Dark Ages and leads into the Great Crossover.

Black Forest Witch and Badger (who's possibly foreshadowing?)

Peter & Max: A Fables Novel (2009, prose)

Mini-review: This is a tragic story of how a young man became the hate-filled Pied Piper. His name is actually Max and I think it could be a reference to Where the Wild Things are. Other characters include Peter Piper (who picked a peck of pickled peppers), Bo Peep, and the Black Forest Witch. There was no Peter Pan cross-over, which was a bit of a disappointment to me. Overall, it was a great story with an unexpected ending. Quotes:

"Most of the farmhands were fable animals earning their keep; talking horses, who talked seldom unless they really had something to say, and talking dogs, who chattered constantly, believing that just about anything that was possible to say should be said, just in case it turned out to be important."

"The trouble with witch trials is that once in a great while you actually capture a real one. And then the spectacle never turns out the way you anticipate. Often the one who ends up hanged, or drowned, or burned, isn't the one in the docket."

"A sly smile began to grow upon her lips. It was the sort of smile from which devils and hauntings and deadly secrets are born."

Cinderella: From Fabletown With Love #1-6 (2010)

Mini-review: This is a secret mission that Cinderella goes on. She teams up with Aladdin and others. People are trying to take over as the ruler of the Homeland now that the Advisary has been defeated. We also get to see another small 'magical town' like Fabletown. I want to tell you who the villain is because it's wonderful, but I don't want to give too much away!

Cinderella being BA

Safiya and her sisters' story

Jack of Fables #17-21: Americana (4) and Gary Goes to Denmark (2008)

Mini-review: Americana is yet another get-rich-quick scheme by Jack, which also includes Gary, Humpty Dumpty, Paul Bunyan, and others in the land of American tales. It's humorous and there's a lot of... zombies. Gary's story is a one-off flashback to before the escape from the Golden Boughs Retirement Village. Gary tries to put on a Shakespearean play while Wicked John tries to escape the village.

Gary, Wicked John, Raven; Zombies, Jack, Gary, Raven, Babe, Hilary,

Humpty Dumpty

Raven, Bird Spirit, Jack, Gary, Babe, Hilary Page, Humpty Dumpty

Jack of Fables #22-27: 1883 (3) and Turning Pages (3) (2009)

Mini-review: 1883 was meh to me, but if you're into history, you'll probably like it! This is a flashback to the Wild West where Jack and two others work together and are chased by Bigby. In Turning Pages, you learn much more about the Page sisters and the Literals. Everyone is preparing for Book Burner to arrive at Golden Boughs to confront and attack Mr. Revise.

Raven, Gary, Jack, Robin, Babe the Ox; Same with Humpty Dumpty

Jack of Fables #28-32: Books of War (2009)

Mini-review: This tells the story of Book Burner attacking Mr. Revise at Golden Boughs. Jack, the Page sisters, Gary, Raven, and others help Mr. Revise. Eliza Wall is the narrator and has three brothers... which makes her the Fourth Wall!

Gary, Hilary, Gertrude, Ted; Gary and Animated Objects

The Great Fables Crossover (2010):
Fables #83; Jack of Fables #33; The Literals #1
Fables #84; Jack of Fables #34; The Literals #2
Fables #85; Jack of Fables #35; The Literals #3
Mini-review: I don't know what to say about this without giving anything away. There were many things I liked and the story arc was good overall. Some characters did things out of character, which felt off. I also wanted to enjoy the personification of the Genres (Western, Blockbuster, Mystery, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Noir, Superhero, War), but they were very dumbed down. I didn't like how they were written. Also, 'Blockbuster' (to me) refers to movies, not books - he should've been Action and/or Adventure.

I would say that Fables #82 finished off the main story arc since #1, The Great Fables Crossover is a silly in-between transition, and I predict Fables #86 will likely dive into the new overall story arc that has already been, minimally, introduced.

Favorite Quotes! (You'll have to figure out who is who for yourself.)

Jack of Fables #36-40: Jack 'n' Apes, New Adventures of Jack & Jack (4) (2010)

Mini-review: In Jack n' Apes, we discover that Jack is also Tarzan. In the New Adventures of Jack and Jack, I was hoping Jack Horner would be doing silly adventures with his son Jack Frost, but no. The story arc is just going back and forth between Jack Horner turning into a dragon and Jack Frost, who gave up his frost powers, trying to become a hero. It's a bit disappointing and, unfortunately, I'm looking forward to the end of the Jack of Fables comics. Also, Babe's one-pagers are becoming annoying and are utterly pointless.

Robin and Jack Frost; Gary and Jack Horner as a Dragon

Jack of Fables #41-45: The Kings of Earth and Sky / Fulminate Blade (2011)

Mini-review: This was another heroic story featuring Jack Frost and MacDuff the Owl, without Jack Horner involved. It was an OK story, except there all of a sudden are a whole bunch of sci-fi elements of androids, electrical beings, homunculi, laser guns, and even a space station. I enjoy sci-fi, but in the established context it felt very jarring and like it didn't belong. Again, unfortunately, I'm looking forward to the end of the Jack of Fables comics.

Jack Frost, MacDuff the owl, Deirdre the witch; Jack Frost and a princess

Jack of Fables #46-50: Jack Dragon and Gary (mini one-shots) and The End (2011)

Mini-review: It's funny. It's nostalgic. It's sad. You get to see many, many characters from throughout the Jack series... but then it's the end. I didn't like how they brought back Sam after what happened to him in The Crossover. I didn't like how a baby was randomly introduced for no reason and that the Page sisters hadn't learned to fit into and appreciate the Mundy world. Overall, it was OK. I really enjoyed that last 6 pages or so, but I was bummed how it ended overall.

Now the literals are done as well as most, if not all, of the Fables related to Jack, including Jack himself. We don't officially see what happens to Jack Frost, though. I guess we'll see who comes back because their stories are remembered. I hope the new Fable arc will bring back actual fables again instead of a whole bunch of original characters. The entire point of the comic series is to retell established fable characters' stories, not have a bunch of OCs.

Raven, Pope, Bird Spirit, Others; Jack Frost and Gary

Jack Frost and Jack the Dragon

Mini Blue Ox (various, one-pagers)

Note: These don't have a particular order due to being one-pagers in the middle of other Jack comics. I don't remember if there's any in the Fables' comics, maybe in The Crossover. There's enough of them that I wanted to call them out and count them as a one-shot collection. They're all a-page, 6-panel, internal silly stories by Babe. How is he still around with Paul Bunyan gone?

Fables #86-91: Boxing Days, Witches (5) (2010)

Mini-review: In Boxing Days, we flashback to learn of a special sect in the Empire that made boxes to capture those with powerful magic, and includes Baba Yaga, the Dark Man, and other OCs. In Witches, a plan is being formulated to handle the Dark Man. This is present-day and the reader gets the perspective of several different characters such as Bufkin, Magic Mirror, and Baba Yaga; Black Forest Witch, Ozma, and Geppetto; Snow, Bigby, Beast, Beauty, and King Cole; and many others. I really like that Bufkin got his own little story! There were many references to older works such as Peter and Max, The Crossover, Wooden Soldiers, Magic in Trees, Frankenstien's Monster, Cinderella, and more.

Bufkin, Jinni, Baba Yaga, Magic Mirror

Celebrity Burning Questions (2011, 4 mini one-shots)

Mini-review: These are short stories answering questions that celebrity readers have.

Fables #92-98: Out to the Ball Game (2), Rose Red (5) (2011)

Mini-review: Out to the Ball Game is a story set in Haven with King Ambrose! Fly is definitely one of my favorite characters! Weyland Smith, Red Riding Hood, Trusty John, and others were in the story. There are some really good parts, but some parts are sexist and the characters are dumbed down, which is a bummer. Rose Red is about getting Red out of her depression and telling her and Snow's backstory. Characters include Bellflower, Gepetto, Ozma, the 7 dwarves and their father, Evil Queen, past and current Fabletown leadership, and many others.

Red Riding Hood and King Amrose; Rose Red and Other Fables on the Farm

Mini-review:

Fables #99-100: Pinocchio's Army (prose story), Dark City, Single Combat (2011)

Mini-review: In Pinocchio's Army, Pinocchio tries to cheer up his father and accidentally arms him instead. I really enjoyed both of the other stories, though! In Dark City, the North Wind propositions Mr. Dark to single combat against a witch. In Single Combat, Mr. Dark and the Black Forest Witch fight, Beauty gives birth, and Fabletown/Farm evacuates to Haven. The two exceptions are the Black Forest Witch who goes off with a man and retires, and Nurse Spratt (who ends up helping Mr. Dark).

North Wind and Mr. Dark; Black Forest Witch and Mr. Dark

Nurse Spratt, Beast, and Others

After the Duels (2011, 2 mini one-shots)

Mini-review: One is an OK story of Thumbelina and Elam. The other is a funny story of the Three Blind Mice.

Cinderella: Fables are Forever #1-6 (2012)

Mini-review: This one's a little confusing chronologically. It goes back and forth between different past stories and the present. The main past story is about finding information on a 'Shadow Fabletown,' and the present story is about Cinderella facing off with her nemesis - Dorothy.

Dorothy, Cinderella, Toto

Werewolves of the Heartland (2012, graphic novel)

Mini-review: The story starts under the guise of Bigby looking for another Mundy town to move Fabletown to, but it doesn't really have anything to do with that, which is disappointing. The first half retells Bluebeard's backstory and the War Story with Frankenstien's Monster. The second half deals with a secret Werewolf town, related to those two stories. Sounds cool, but it was all just an automatic fight with excessive blood and nudity. I was not a fan of this one.

Fables #101-107: The Ascent, Super Team (5), Waking Beauty (2011)

Mini-review: In The Ascent, Bufkin goes up a never-ending tree to explore more of the business office and ends up in Ev, near Oz. Super Team is about making a group of superheroes out of the Fables characters to defeat Mr. Dark, but the North Wind sacrifices himself to kill Mr. Dark instead. Waking Beauty is a backstory of what happened to her kingdom when everyone was under the sleeping spell. Waking Beauty can be read here, or right before you start reading Fairest.

Bufkin, Magic Mirror, and Frankie; Pinocchio and Ozma

Super Team and Mr. Dark; Little Red Hen, Mr. Ginger, and Porky Pine

THE UNWRITTEN V9 #50-54 (2014) - non-canon crossover

Mini-review: This is an alternate history regarding a battle with Mister Dark. All the living Fables are in hiding in the Grove with Fly and trying to find a way to defeat Mister Dark. They get help from Tom/my Taylor and his two friends, all of whom are very much a Harry Potter reference. What's most disappointing is that several Fables, including Snow White and Fly, act way outside of their established characters. This can be read after Fables #100, #106, or #113. It doesn't really fit in anywhere quite right due to it being a non-canonical alternative history. I honestly would recommend just skipping this one.

Tom Taylor; Tommy Taylor and Pinnocchio

Fables #108-111: Inherit the Wind (2012)

Mini-review: Rose Red confirms that the Farm is safe to move back to, we see more of Bufkin in Ev where he's leading a revolution, and the 7 cubs are being tested to see who will be the next North Wind. Mrs. Spratt is pretty, training to fence, and preparing for when the Fables move back to Fabletown - she's also going by the name Leigh Duglas. It's revealed that Ozma had a prophecy regarding the cubs (pictured below), the other three Great Winds show up, and one of the girls is chosen as the King of the North - the new North Wind.

Ambrose (cub), Snow, and Biglby; Great West, South, and East Winds

Fables #124, 113: The Revolution in Oz (2013)

Mini-review: I put this story here because it follows right after #111. This is about how Bufkin, Lily, Hangy (a living rope), and others overthrew the Nome King and what they did afterward. It's very goofy and has a different art style than other Fables comics. Unfortunately, it says Bufkin never made it back to Fabletown.

Bufkin, Hangy, others; Nome King Raquat and others; King, Bufkin, others

Bufkin, Lily, Jack Pumpkinhead, others; Bufkin, Lily, Hangy, Wyrm

Fables #112-113: All in a Single Night, In Those Days (2012)

Mini-review: All in a Single Night is another Christmas story! It's 5 small chapters that are named and loosely based on the five Christmas stories of Charles Dickens: The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, The Haunted Man and the Ghosts Bargain, and A Christmas Carol. The Fables move back to the Farm and Rose has a crazy night where she meets the other three Paladins of Hope. She meets Santa Claus (the hope for justice and reward), the Little Match Girl (hope deferred), and the False Bride (the hope of revenge). Rose will need to choose what she's a Paladin of Hope for. I think there might be foreshadowing that Red will bring Blue back life - and Theresa gets an odd toy boat as a Christmas present. In Those Days, is a collection of backstories, including those of Mr. Kadabra and Porky Pine.

Rose Red, Santa, Jiminy Cricket, Reindeer

Fables #114-121: Cubs in Toyland (2013)

Mini-review: In this story arc, we learn more about Snow and Bigby's children. Winter is worried about becoming the North Wind, Theresa is tricked into going to Toyland, and Darian finds a way to save her. Other characters include Snow, Bigby, the other cubs, the other Winds, broken toys, Mr. Mountbatten, Bad Sam, Ranger Mike Danger, and others. The story is a bit sexist, with boats and swords apparently not being appropriate toys for girls. There are hints of Arthurian legend and the Holy Grail through the Fisher King.

Winter; Winter and Bigby; Therese and Mr. Steampuddle

Therese, Mr. Ives, etc.; Darian, Mr. Mountbatten, Ranger Mike Danger, etc.

Fairest #1-7: Wide Awake (6), Lamia (2012)

Mini-review: Before reading this, you may want to reread #107: Waking Beauty, but it's not necessary. This can be read anytime after Fables #107, but before Fables #125. Fairest #1-6 tells the backstory and present situation of Briar Rose. The story includes Ali Baba, 7 Fairy Godmothers, Snow Queen, and Hadeon the Destroyer (who is the fairy that fills the role of Maleficent), among others. Fairest #7 is Noir style and a story of its own. You learn about Beauty/Belle being possessed by Lamia, Beast searching for her, and the implication that their child may be 'infected.' (Though they don't say anything explicitly.)

Briar Rose's 7 Fairy Godmothers; Snow Queen and Hadeon the Destroyer

Fables #138: Root & Branch (2014)

Mini-review: edit

Fables #122-123, 125-129: The Destiny Game (2), Snow White (5) (2013)

Mini-review: In The Destiny Game, we get more of Bigby's backstory of when he is told his fate by the Lady of the Lake and becomes depressed. You also see into the future with a grown Ambrose Wolf, who is writing the Fable Stories he's lived and heard from Fables firsthand - there's also a hint at who he's married to and that they have a child named Bragger. In Snow White, Bigby goes in search of their 2 missing children, and Snow is kidnapped by Prince Brandish (whom she was betrothed to before Charming). Between the two, I would choose an arrogant, lazy, flirt like Charming over a manipulative, narcissistic, misogynist like Brandish any day. He is an absolutely disgusting slime of a thing that has the gall to call himself a man. There are many other Fables in this story, including the confirmation of who Ambrose Wolf's future wife will be.

Bigby and Lady of the Lake

Bigby, Stinky, others; Gepetto and Reynard the Fox

Fairest #8-14: Hidden Kingdom (6), Aldered States (2013)

Mini-review: This one's hard to pin down time-wise, but can be read anytime after Fables #98. Fairest #8-13 tells the backstory and 'present' situation of Rapunzel. It's not exactly 'present' since the present in this story is before the Adversary attacks, when Bigby is the Sheriff and Snow White is the Mayor. The story is set in Japan, and there are a lot of Japanese mythological references. Other characters include Yakoi, Kitsune, Kappa, Yakuza, Bigby, Joel Crow, and even Jack. We learn that the Black Forest Witch is also Mother Gothel. We also learn that Rapunzel had female twins who were taken from her at birth. She blames Mother Gothel, but it seems Mother Gothel has a powerful enemy that did it instead. Fairest #14 skips time and should be read right after Fables #129. It is set on the farm and is about Princess Alder and Reynard the Fox dating. Other characters include Peter Piper, Bo Peep, and Gepetto.

Rapunzel and Joel Crow; Mayumi in a crowd

Japanese see Western dragons for first time; Bigby

Fables #130-137: June Bug, Camelot (7) (2014)

Mini-review: June Bug is about June, Rodney, their daughter June/Splinter, and other Fables moving back into Dark's Castle, which is the new Fabletown. June/Splinter goes to explore the castle and finds some Ratmen. Camelot is about Rose Red being the hope of second chances and creating a new knights of the Round Table. After a competition, the 6 initial knights, with Red representing King Arthur, include a goblin, a stuffed cat, a man, two women, and a fox that turns into a man. Prince Brandish and Miss Duglas continue to be troublesome as the witches try to put Bigby back together. Snow and Rose are at odds with each other again, and Winter is gathering Powers to protect her family against Red if needed. There are hints that Snow and Red's mother had some sort of Power herself, but we don't know who she is yet. There seems to be more swearing than usual in these ones, and Rose makes some pretty stupid and irresponsible choices - which is annoying. Camelot is really 6 comics, and right in the middle (Fables #134) there's an interlude where Boy Blue, Bigby, and Darian meet in the After-World.

June and another Fable; Rose Red and Hope

Fates and another Fable; Winter and the other 3 Winds

Fables #139-140: The Boys in the Band (2014)

Mini-review: edit

June and another Fable; Rose Red and Hope

Fairest #15-20: The Return of the Maharaja (2014)

Mini-review: These 6 comics tell the story of how Nalayani met Prince Charming. This takes place sometime after Fables #82 and explains how Prince Charming has come back to life. I don't like the font choice, but I understand it's to show when the characters are speaking in Arabic. Other characters include Nathoo, Buldeo, Bibgy's brothers, and Sinbad.

Fairest in All the Land (2013, graphic novel)

Fairest #21-26: Of Men and Mice (2014)

Fairest #27-33: Clamour of Glamour (2015)

Fables #141-149: Happily Ever After (9) and Mini One-Shots (9) (2015)

Fables #150: Farewell (2015, graphic novel)

Everafter #1-6: The Pandora Protocol (2017)

Everafter #7-12: The Unsentimental Education (2017)

Fables #151-162: The Black Forest (2024)

Batman Vs. Bigby! A Wolf In Gotham #1-6 (2021)