Rosh's Reviews

AUTHOR: Kelly Barnhill GENRE: Fantasy-horror. PUBLICATION DATE: February 28, 2023 RATING: 4.5 stars. In a Nutshell: A horror-fantasy with elements of surrealism. Retelling of the Japanese folktale ‘The Crane Wife’. Set in an imagined dystopian near-future. Understated yet mindblowing. Love how it handles the characters, the folktale, and even the dark theme. Suspension of disbelief required. Much recommended, but not to those who steer clear of weird stories. Check the triggers listed below if needed. Plot Preview: A fifteen-year-old girl is forced to be the support of her family after the death of her father, taking care of the household as well as of her six-year-old brother Michael, while her mom, a talented but somewhat oblivious artist, weaves stunning tapestries to pay the bills. The mother randomly brought “guests” home, but none stayed for long. Until now. Her latest guest is a tall crane who seems to have captivated her heart even though the daughter finds him manipulative and...

AUTHOR: Nick Spalding NARRATOR: Laurence Dobiesz GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2025 RATING: 2.5 stars. In a Nutshell: A contemporary fiction about a young man who claims he's totally fine, but clearly isn't. This could have been either a medical drama or a funny take on men being men. It ended up as neither, with a slightly boring plot, annoying lead character, and forced humour. The ending is decent enough, but I expected far better considering the author's earlier novel. Plot Preview: Charlie King has everything he wanted: a successful event-management business, two best friends who are always there for him, and a fabulous girlfriend who might be ‘the one’. He also has panic attacks and insomnia and an earworm that never stops playing in his head, but that's all normal, right? He's totally fine! His loved ones suggest that he visit a doctor, but Charlie knows that a good night's sleep is all that's needed. Is Charlie genuinely f...

AUTHOR: Raluca Sirbu GENRE: Children's Storybook. PUBLICATION DATE: October 7, 2025 RATING: 3 stars. In a Nutshell: An illustrated storybook about the power of storytelling and of dreaming. Enjoyed the thought and the moral, but the writing was way too lyrical for my reading preference. Perhaps kids (and parents) with a more poetic bent of mind might enjoy it better. The illustrations are stunning. Plot Preview: A young girl lives in a country filled with stories. However, when an evil king and his army of dragons invade the land, he forbids storytelling and cages all existing stories. But the little girl had three stories in her possession, and she uses these to provide hope to her people. Honestly, I love the intent and the deeper meaning of the story. There are so many layers to it that we can interpret them the way we want. The concept establishes the link between stories and dreams, hopes, action! It shows how tales from the past can spur rebellion in the present. It establish...

AUTHOR: Eliot Schrefer NARRATOR: Karissa Vacker GENRE: Children's Picture Book. PUBLICATION DATE: March 10, 2026 RATING: 3.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A picture book telling the true story of a bonobo who was released back into the wild. Good story, though somewhat bittersweet. Plot Preview: Lulu spent fifteen years in a human home. While she enjoyed flipping through magazines and comics, she also was lonely when they all left for work/school. One day, the humans decide that it's time to return Lulu to a bonobo community. Lulu takes some time to adjust to the "others" because all these years, she's been more human than bonobo. But the bonobos don't give up on her and soon, she assimilates herself with them. And when the time comes, she extends the same courtesy to newer members of the troop. Author Eliot Schrefer is a wildlife expert and award-winning author. During a visit to the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( the only country in ...

AUTHOR: Sumiko Yagawa ILLUSTRATOR: Suekichi Akaba TRANSLATOR: Katherine Paterson GENRE: Japanese Folktale PUBLICATION DATE: January 1, 1981 RATING: 3 stars. In a Nutshell: An English translation of a beloved Japanese folktale. A good story, as long as you keep in mind that it’s an old folktale and doesn’t necessarily fit into modern standards of propriety. Plot Preview: A poor peasant named Yohei lives in a faraway mountain village. One day, he comes across an injured crane and pulls out the arrow stuck in her wing. That night, a beautiful young woman knocks on his door, asking to be his wife. Yohei is overwhelmed by her beauty and welcomes her. They live a simple but impoverished life. One day, she asks Yohei for a loom, and making him promise not to take a peek, she weaves something behind closed doors. After three days, she comes out very skinny but holding a magnificent piece of cloth that Yohei is able to sell for a good price. This cycle continues two times more, each time result...

AUTHOR: C.A. Wright NARRATOR: Olivia Darnley GENRE: Fantasy Retelling PUBLICATION DATE: November 1, 2024 RATING: 3.5 stars. In a Nutshell: A fantasy retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s short story, ‘The Nightingale’. A great concept that might have worked better at the hands of a more experienced writer. Good plot but the twists are guessable. Lyrical writing, cookie-cutter main characters, underdeveloped secondary characters. Recommended, but better suited to YA readers, though it’s not labelled as such. Plot Preview: Oriane is a skylark, the only one of her kind after the passing of her mother in childbirth. Every morning, she turns into a lark and sings the song that calls forth the dawn. But throughout her life, she has been so secluded by her overprotective father that she is lonely as well as curious about the larger world. One day, she goes against his wishes and flies beyond her usual boundaries, only to end up in the royal palace. Much to her surprise, at first she is trea...

AUTHOR: Donna Everhart GENRE: Historical Fiction. PUBLICATION DATE: RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A historical fiction based on true events. Excellent character and plot development. Fabulous atmosphere and research. Graphic abuse, though it’s never sensationalised. Compelling but also highly disturbing. Definitely recommended, but only when you are in a strong headspace. Plot Preview: 1941. Twenty-four-year-old Ruth Foster and fifteen-year-old Stella Temple find themselves enrolled at The State Industrial Farm Colony for Women in Kinston, North Carolina. Stella views it as a kind of escape while Ruth considers it a prison. Stella believes she did something wrong and hence needs to be redeemed during her stay at the Farm; Ruth is clear that she doesn’t deserve to be in the institution and wants to get out asap. Superintendent Dorothy Baker, convinced that she is transforming degenerates and ”mental defectives” into morally worthy citizens, oversees all the training and treatment ...

AUTHOR: Hans Christian Andersen GENRE: Fairytale, Classic. PUBLICATION DATE: May 8, 1835 RATING: 2 stars. In a Nutshell: A classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Hasn’t aged well, though the comic edition I read resolves many of the issues in the original story. I read this for nostalgia and came away questioning my younger self’s reading choices. 🤭 Reading ‘Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil’ reminded me of the existence of this story that I had read in my childhood. I didn’t recollect anything about the plot except that it had three dogs with huge eyes. So I decided to reread it again after all these years. Oh boy! Present-me is convinced that Past-me was so fascinated by the dogs that she ignored all the other red flags. 😏 This is the first story published by Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen in 1835, and it has some elements in common with Aladdin. Reading this tale made me realise why it is not more popular. It is not at all a happy story for anyone except the ...

AUTHOR: Marie-Fleur Borac ILLUSTRATOR: Sonny Lata Yiu GENRE: Children's Illustrated Story. PUBLICATION DATE: November 6, 2025 RATING: 2 stars. In a Nutshell: An illustrated storybook about three unlikely characters coming together for a quest. The story is sadly a bit flat and disjointed. The hand-painted illustrations are the best feature of this book. If parents can add some embellishments to the events, this indie offering might work as a decent readaloud option. Plot Preview: When a butterfly’s treasure is stolen by an evil witch, the distraught butterfly decides to go to her house deep in the forest to get it back. He doesn’t have a plan but hopes to make one soon. Along the way, an anxious chickadee and a vain unicorn join him on his quest, though both of them do it for their own selfish reasons. How can the three work together to outwit the witch and get the treasure back? At the surface level, this book shows a lot of promise. Fighting for what is rightfully yours even whe...

AUTHOR: Susan Verde ILLUSTRATOR: Peter H. Reynolds SERIES: I Am Books GENRE: Children's Picture Book PUBLICATION DATE: September 15, 2020 RATING: 3 stars. A picture book that tackles a simple question: How can one person make a difference? "Beautiful things start with just one" - this is represented through the various examples presented at the start. As we all know, it does take one to make a difference, but in a world where the crazy seem to outnumber the sane, my pessimistic side struggles with such idealism. But for the sake of all little ones who are still innocent and still believe in humans and hope, I keep my fingers crossed that this book reinforces their strength and belief in themselves and their individual power. The illustrations are mostly cute, with lovely rainbow hues on every page. I wasn't a big fan of candle wax being dropped in a pond, but it was a trivial issue in an otherwise good book. A good option for the topic of positive action. Works for re...

AUTHOR: Susan Verde ILLUSTRATOR: Peter H. Reynolds SERIES: I Am Books GENRE: Children's Picture Book PUBLICATION DATE: September 7, 2021 RATING: 3.5 stars. A picture book about positive affirmation on the themes of courage and resilience. Written in first person, the simple lines are infused with mental reinforcements about going on in times of trouble. The tone fits the title, being more about strength and determination than blind hopefulness or idealism.  I appreciate how it highlights that the courageous can also have fear and failure, and that helping others is equally important on the journey towards success. The slow change from first person singular to plural is a good way of highlighting team efforts. The author's note at the end presents some simple yoga techniques that help build inner peace. A good option for kids who enjoy reading such topics. Not my kind of book, but I can see its benefit for the right reader. Works for kids aged 4+.

AUTHOR: Caitlin Rozakis NARRATOR: Megan Tusing GENRE: Dark Fantasy PUBLICATION DATE: May 27, 2025 RATING: 2.75 stars. In a Nutshell: A cozy fantasy garnishing a parent-school drama with cryptids and competitions and prophecies. Great concept, average execution, annoying adult characters. Think ‘Big Little Lies’ (PTA politics) plus ‘Gilmore Girls’ (mother-child drama) plus ‘Wednesday’ (cryptid magic), but without the charm. Might work better if you expect a parenting drama with mild fantastical vibes than a cozy fantasy featuring parents. Plot Preview: When five-year-old Aria was bitten by a werewolf, her parents Vivian and Daniel had no choice but to move to a hidden magical community in New England that has a special school for such children. Living in a new neighbourhood filled with mages and cryptids isn't easy, especially when you are a mere human. But Vivian is determined that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Aria gets the future she deserves, even if it means lear...

AUTHOR & NARRATOR: Oliver Darkshire SERIES: Household Gramarye #1 GENRE: Cozy Dark Fantasy PUBLICATION DATE: May 13, 2025 RATING: 2.5 stars. In a Nutshell: A darkish cozy fantasy. Quirky, but often feels forced in its humour. Minimal cozy vibes. Whimsical human and nonhuman characters. Mild Discworld vibes. I had to read it twice because the audio version just didn’t click with me. First of a planned series. Not a book that will work for all, but it might find a niche audience. Plot Preview: Isabella Nagg lives in the sad little village of East Grumsby. With an unappreciative husband, snide neighbours, and recalcitrant farm animals, Isabella has only a pot of basil to talk to (even if it doesn’t speak back) while she handles all her chores. One day, when the useless Farmer Nagg returns with a spell book he stole from the local wizard, Isabella wonders if she could use magic to ease at least a part of her life. As Isabella ventures on this new magical path with only a grouchy cat-l...

AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Rashin Kheiriyeh GENRE: Children's Picture Book PUBLICATION DATE: February 24, 2026 RATING: 4.5 stars. In a Nutshell: A cute little picture book about the celebration of the Persian New Year in Iran. Lovely folktale-style story, wonderful characters, nice touch of humour, amazing illustrations. Loved the authenticity of the portrayal. Recommended. Plot Preview: Nane Sarma, the grandmother of winter, lives in a small village in Iran. Every year, at the end of the cold season, she awaits her old friend Uncle Nowruz, the harbinger of spring. But somehow, she always seems to miss his arrival. This year, she's determined to be better prepared, so she calls her three grandchildren over and starts making Nowruz preparations well in advance. Do we get to meet Uncle Nowruz? We certainly do, and he's everything Grandma Nane was waiting for. Does she get to meet him? You need to read the book for that! A fun fact first: Several indigenous cultures across the ...