A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor

About the Book

A Symphony of Echoes (The Chronicles of St. Mary's #2) by Jodi Taylor

Published October 18, 2013 by Accent Press

GoodReads Description

Book Two in the madcap time-travel series based at the St Mary's Institute of Historical Research that seems to be everyone's cup of tea.

In the second book in the Chronicles of St Mary's series, Max and the team visit Victorian London in search of Jack the Ripper, witness the murder of Archbishop Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, and discover that dodos make a grockling noise when eating cucumber sandwiches.

But they must also confront an enemy intent on destroying St Mary's - an enemy willing, if necessary, to destroy History itself to do it.

My Thoughts

If you read my review of Just One Damned Thing After Another, you are already aware that this book series is currently taking up all of my bookish thoughts and love.  Jodi Taylor definitely knows what she is doing!  

I was a little concerned that the second book wouldn't be as amazing as the first.  I mean, how do you top something as amazing as that?  Well, she didn't top it.  But she did meet its caliber.  

One of my favorite things about the first book was the excellently accomplished world-building.  Taylor did a superb job in this novel as well.  I absolutely adored all of the descriptions of scenery both in the different time periods as well as in St. Mary's itself.  No matter where she takes her characters, Taylor makes sure that she takes you with them.  She makes sure that the world you read about is as real to you as it is to her characters.  I love the way she turns this series into a movie in my mind.  It's been a long time since I've read one, let alone two, books that are this terrifically descriptive.

There were so many times throughout this novel that the relationship between Leon and Max almost killed me.  They are so realistic and they share a love that is so believable that their pain and strife is also believable.  These two are quickly becoming my all-time favorite couple. 

I am so in love with this series!  Whatever Jodi Taylor does, I have faith in her writing skills.

My Rating

Top Three Reasons I'd Buy from Literary Book Gifts Again

The Backstory

Recently, Melissa from Literary Book Gifts contacted me about their new store.  As an Etsy shop owner, I am always interested in discovering new businesses and helping them gain some exposure.  As I shopped through the items in the Literary Book Gifts shop, I found myself wishing I could afford to buy more than one item that day.  I finally chose an Edgar Allan Poe hoodie which I absolutely adore!

Without any further rambling....

My Three Reasons

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2. Their customer service is terrific!  Melissa was there to answer all of my questions about sizing, colors, and options throughout the entire ordering process.  She was phenomenal to work with!  I am so happy to see that her love of literature shines through to her items as well as her customer service.  She truly loves what she does and it is obvious!
3. The designs are gorgeous.  I love that there are so many options and so many ways that you can truly make your item your own!  

If You're Interested...

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Review: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman

About the Book

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

First published in May 1990

GoodReads Description

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

My Thoughts

I have to be honest here, I was a little wary of this book when I first started it.  Neil Gaiman is an amazing writer, but I'd never read anything by Terry Pratchett and I was concerned that his writing style would completely destroy Gaiman's.  Maybe I'm just crazy, but I didn't want to see Gaiman's wonderful style covered up by someone else.  I was so very happy that was not the case.

I loved this book!  It was absolutely hilarious and most definitely reminded me of something straight from the mind of Douglas Adams.  Why shouldn't we have frogs fall from the sky?  Why would we want to keep track the Antichrist?  All of that would simply make sense in our very nonsensical world!  

Throughout the entire novel, I was the happiest during the scenes with Crowley and Aziraphale.  These two should never have been "friends."  Naturally, therefore, they were.  Crowley's love of everything fast and furious balances out the large stick that Aziraphale keeps up his rear end.  These two are the most un-dynamic duo that ever worked together to fail at the Apocalypse.  I specifically loved the precise humor that Crowley brings to the story.

Much like any other book that Gaiman puts forth, the world is as realistic as the characters.  I absolutely loved the picturesque scenes that the authors created.  Each one was so filled with adverbs, adjectives, and prepositions that the world truly came to life before my eyes.

If you haven't read anything by either author, I definitely recommend this book as a fantastic place to start.

My Rating