Book Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

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The Escape Game  by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss  opens on the set of a reality television show called "The Escape Room" where one of the season four contestants, Alicia Angelos, is found in a coffin on set ... dead. Fast forward to season five where Sierra Angelos, the murder victim's younger sister and suspected killer, has been brought back to the show and paired up with Beck, Adi, and Carter. Sierra wants to find justice for her sister, but when Sierra and her teammates start uncovering clues about the true killer, they must figure out how to survive the game. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for approving my request and providing me with a digital copy of The Escape Game  for free in exchange for my honest review. I was immediately drawn to the title and cover of the young adult novel. Throw in the plot being about an escape room, and I was completely sold on the story before even reading it. The story is told from the perspective of fou...
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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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