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Fabulous Fiction Firsts #625, Part 1

by muffy

I don't know any significance to January 17, but three of the most buzzed spring debut novels will be officially released on that date.

The Bear and the Nightingale * * * * by Katherine Arden is set in medieval Russia, steeped in history and myth.

At the edge of the wilderness where winters last forever, Princess Marina risked it all to bring Vasilisa “Vasya” Petrovna into the world, certain that she would inherit her royal grandmother’s gift of magic and knowledge of the spirit world. A stranger with piercing blue eyes presented the grieving father with a precious jewel meant for the child. Growing up wild and fearless, Vasya roamed the woods befriending sprites and household spirits until Konstantin, an exiled priest with golden hair, and Anna, her pious, and troubled stepmother became obsessed with Vasya’s salvation.

As two supernatural beings, Morozko and Medved, sought to harness Vasya’s powerful gifts by threatening the survival of their village, Vasya discovered that, armed only with the necklace and embracing the magic within, she might be the only one who could save them all.

"In a lush narrative with the cadence of a fairy tale, Arden weaves an immersive, earthy story of folk magic, faith, and hubris, peopled with vivid, dynamic characters, particularly clever, brave Vasya, who outsmarts men and demons alike to save her family. This beautifully written, auspicious first novel is utterly bewitching." (Booklist)

"Fleet and gorgeous as the firebird, a highly recommended exemplar of literary fantasy." (Library Journal)

Will appeal to fans of Naomi Novik; Neil Gaiman; and Eowyn Ivey.

* * * * = 4 starred reviews

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Enjoying and Understanding Outlander

by ballybeg

I just got around to reading Outlander. It is only the first long, complex book, of a long, complex series of books, loaded with characters, details, symbolism, history, and inter-weaving, multi-layered plots. The television series is another dimension of the Outlander phenomenon, also rich with period detail, language, folklore, and a dizzying array of settings and characters.

I was surprised and gratified, therefore, to discover these aids to appreciating the books and films, with some Scottish history and background, and lots of details to enhance the understanding of Gabaldon’s highly imaginative series.

For the television series, The Making of Outlander: The Official Guide to Seasons One & Two, adds interest and depth to the filmed version.

For the books, The Outlandish Companion Volume One is an elaboration of the first four books, and The Outlandish Companion Volume Two highlights details from books five through eight. Included are synopses of the plots, commentary by the author, glossaries of Gaelic language, bibliographies of books Gabaldon used when researching and writing the books, but also fiction series, by other authors, she recommends to enjoy and which complement hers (I got some good reading ideas here), and so much more.

For really fascinating detail about the rich world of Outlander, this book is a must: The Symbolism and Sources of Outlander: The Scottish Fairies, Folklore, Ballads, Magic, and Meanings That Inspired the Series. Here you can find: all about the mythologies of standing stones, sun and fire feasts; voodoo, Native American and Scottish folklore; the symbolism of plants, jewelry, animals, clothes, kilts and tartans (and what about that dragonfly in amber?); references to literature (the Bible, classics, Shakespeare and the English romantic poets) and music explained; and all about magic, witches, second sight, herbs, the sword dance, kelpies in the loch, La Dame Blanche, and more.

Then, just for fun, because everything ends with food, and who can resist oatmeal scones with clotted cream?, Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook.

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A watch with super powers...

by mansii

A watch with super powers, an underground gestapo, an expert climber, and a mysterious lighthouse...follow Reuben in this swashbuckling adventure as a very scared, ordinary boy fights evil with true friendship, hard choices, and a big dose of courage. Trenton Lee Stewart gave the world The Mysterious Benedict Society--one of the best things to happen to children's literature since Harry Potter. Now, Stewart's new stand alone novel The Secret Keepers has arrived to take fantasy lovers (or just lovers of great story!) by the pant-seat.

The writing is superb, the characters shine, the relationships sparkle, and the layers of story exude goodness from their pores. Stewart's characters wrestle with moral dilemmas that don't have easy answers, and come to understand the internal slavery of those who propagate evil, exercising compassion.

Both a powerful look at the sinister spiral of power's addictive nature and a bracing encouragement, the The Secret Keepers affirms that whatever battles we each must find the courage to fight, all will be well at last. When you rub your eyes to come back to reality, your heart will glow treasuring the life you have been gifted and the people in it that make it extraordinary.

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Just Added! New Genre Offerings from Teen Bestselling Authors

by nicole

If you're into Teen lit and looking for something new to obsess over, a couple of popular Teen authors have released (or will soon release!) some brand new titles:

Veronica Roth, author of the dystopian bestseller Divergent, will release Carve The Mark in January 2017, the first in a science fiction duology (because trilogies are so 2012) that calls itself a "stunning portrayal of the power of friendship—and love—in a galaxy filled with unexpected gifts." You'll have to check it out yourself to verify its "stunning"-ness, but readers of Roth's Divergent series will at least be in for something new--this title looks like it will be a much more epic, intergalactic brand of Science Fiction.

Fans of the Sci-Fi fairy tale Cinder will be excited to know that in November Marissa Meyer released Heartless, a story from Wonderland history, long before Alice fell down the rabbit hole in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. School Library Journal calls it "an unforgettable story of the evolution of the Red Queen from a young girl who dreamed of true love and freedom to a madwoman best remembered for the phrase 'Off with his head!'" Anyone who's read Meyer's Lunar Chronicles won't be surprised that the author is telling the semi-sympathetic story of another evil queen, but this title trades in the sprockets and cyborgs for some clean-cut Fantasy.

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Crafts

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Party!

Sunday November 20, 2016: 3:30pm to 5:00pm
Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner, Downtown Library: Secret Lab, Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
All Ages

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!

by PizzaPuppy

Calling all Harry Potter fans! The newest movie in the popular series hits theaters this weekend!

We'll be celebrating at the Downtown Library on Sunday, November 20th from 3:30-5 PM. Join us for a variety of Harry Potter-themed crafts and activities, including live owl presentations. Costumes are encouraged!

Obsessed with the new movie already? Satisfy your Fantastic Beasts craving with some of our brand new books. Learn about how the film was made with Inside the Magic: the Making of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. See the amazing concept art that helped shape the movie's aesthetic in Art of the Film, or maybe consult the movie's handbooks here and here. We even have the original screenplay for you to check out.

Looking for more Harry Potter fun? Catch up with the original series by reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Read about the artifacts, creatures and characters of the Harry Potter series in these specialty books. Or check out the beautiful illustrations in the newly released Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition

by krayla

Harry Potter fans rejoice- yet again! AADL now has copies of the illustrated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets!

Whether you're a loyal fan dating back to the first book in 1997 by J.K. Rowling or are just getting into the wizarding world now, the illustrated editions are pure magic! In the first illustrated edition, Jim Kay brought the world of Harry Potter to life with a hulking portrait of Hagrid, a hectic spread of the Hogwarts Express, and the hand-drawn delights of Diagon Alley. This second illustrated edition is sure to grip readers with the strength of a hippogriff, so check out this book, use Lumos on your lamp, and get reading!

Get even more exclusive Harry Potter content with this Jim Kay interview and try the newest title in the series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!

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Fabulous Fiction Firsts #613

by muffy

Following in her illustrious parents' footsteps, Irene is a professional spy for a shadowy organization called the The (Invisible) Library * * that collects important works of fiction from all of the different realities. After wrapping up a most difficult case, she finds herself immediately assigned a new mission - to retrieve a particularly dangerous book in an alternative London while shackled with a new trainee, Kai.

When they arrive, they find the city populated with vampires, werewolves, and Fair Folk, and the book they are after, has already been stolen. Soon they realize several parties are prepared to fight to the death for the tome, one of them a handsome detective named Peregrine Vale. It also becomes clear fo Irene that Kai is hiding secrets, secrets that could prove as deadly as the chaos-filled world they find themselves in.

"Bibliophiles will go wild for this engaging debut, as Genevieve Cogman hits all the high notes for enjoyable fantasy. Intriguing characters and fast-paced action are wrapped up in a spellbinding, well-built world." (Library Journal)

"Reminiscent of the works of Diana Wynne Jones and Neil Gaiman, Cogman's novel is a true treat to read." (Publishers Weekly)

I hope you are a fast reader. A much anticipated sequel The Masked City is on its way, and not a minute too soon.

* * = 2 starred reviews

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Blog Post

Books Made Into New Movies!

by manz

Three new movies that came out this year were based on books and are now coming out on DVD and just hit the catalog! They are all great adventures for kids and families to enjoy together.

The BFG
This new animated film is based on the novel by Roald Dahl. A young girl named Sophie accidentally sees a giant out her window, and he then whisks her away to the land of giants. At first afraid, she soon learns that he is a Big Friendly Giant and not one who eats children like the other giants do.

Alice Through the Looking Glass
Loosely based on the classic Lewis Carroll novel, and is the sequel to the 2010 film, Alice in Wonderland. The film is produced by Tim Burton and once again stars Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Alice slips through a looking glass and finds herself back in the Underland and on more wild and trippy adventures.

The Jungle Book
Based on Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 book The Jungle Book. There have been many adaptations and this newest animated film features voices of Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Sir Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, and Christopher Walken. It’s a continuing adventure of Mowgli deep in the jungle with a band of animals with personality.

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Heart-tugging Fantasy Book from Newberry Winning Author

by mansii

Fans of Karen Cushman--Newberry winner for The Midwife’s Apprentice, and author of a lifetime of other beloved historical fiction novels--will be absolutely enthralled by her latest novel, Grayling’s Song. Without leaving behind her usual depth and heart-tugging characters, Cushman brings a new world to life with a pinch of magic.

Confronted with a task far larger than she feels capable of managing, Grayling—an ordinary girl with a magical mother—grows in maturity and compassion through the choices she must make. Despite her sense of inadequacy, when an unknown evil steals the Grimoire (their book of spells) and roots her mother to the ground, Grayling must go out alone to rescue her mother and the book. With each new magical friend she meets along the way, Grayling’s hopes rise that they will be the one to conquer the evil. She meets a weather witch, a complaining helpless ward, an enchantress, and a diviner of cheese. But though each have “bits and pieces” of usefulness, making a team of unlikely heroes, only Grayling can lead the way. Only she can sing a song that beckons an answering tune from the Grimoire which they must find.

Through a series of circumstances that stretch her heart till she almost has nothing left to give, Grayling gradually becomes the hero she never imagined she could be. Rather than leaving us with the wish to escape to another reality where magic makes hardship better, Grayling’s world reminds us that in winning our battles what we need is not the extra talent of another that we so easily envy. Instead, what triumphs in our trials is the strength of character that builds itself by small choices in the right direction. This precious story inspires an overflowing heart, and hope in the journey that’s it’s adding up to something worth every scab.