Book Review: The Last Death of the Year (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries, #6) by Sophie Hannah

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The Last Death of the Year (New Hercule Poirot Mysteries, #6)  by Sophie Hannah and Agatha Christie  opens with Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool arriving on the island of Lamperos in Greece on New Year's Eve in 1932. Poirot has been requested by the leader of a religious community to investigate the threat against one of its members, but just a short while later, another resident is found dead after a New Year's game threatened this member's life. I'd like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this mystery. I've been a long time fan of Agatha Christie and her Hercule Poirot series, so learning I'd receive a copy of Sophie Hannah's new book based on this series made me absolutely giddy. A digital copy was provided to me in exchange for my honest review. Sophie Hannah has done a fabulous job of recreating Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series and keeping a similar style of writin...
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Book Review: There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner

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Book Review: There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner
NetGalley ARC of Book Review of There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner
There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner is a children’s picture book that encourages young readers to carefully examine each page to make sure there truly are no dragons hiding within the story. The expected publication date is March 5, 2024. I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

Going into this book, I was curious about how the story would play with the idea of searching for dragons, especially since interactive picture books can be a lot of fun for kids. Unfortunately, I found myself a bit disappointed overall. The story didn’t fully hold my attention, and it’s not one I would personally reach for when choosing a book to read aloud to a child. The pacing and narrative just didn’t quite work for me, and I didn’t feel particularly drawn into the experience as a reader.

One aspect that stood out to me in a negative way was the fact that the book does, in fact, contain dragons despite the title insisting otherwise. While this may be intended as a playful twist, I couldn’t help but think that some children might feel misled or confused by this contradiction. Younger readers, in particular, may take the title very literally and feel frustrated when the promise of “no dragons” doesn’t quite hold true. That said, I also recognize that humor and surprise land differently for children than they do for adults, and many kids may find this element funny rather than upsetting.

On a more positive note, the illustrations are vibrant, colorful, and full of detail. The artwork gives readers plenty to look at and explore on each page, which helps maintain interest even when the story itself didn’t fully work for me. The visuals are clearly a strong point of the book and will likely appeal to children who enjoy lively, eye-catching pictures in their stories.

Overall, while There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner wasn’t a standout read for me personally, it may still find an appreciative audience among its intended readers. For that reason, I ultimately rated the book three out of five stars.

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