The Back Door of Midnight, by Elizabeth Chandler

I am not a fan of ghost stories but I manage to make exceptions when it comes to Elizabeth Chandler's books. Don't ask me why though; I'm still in the middle of figuring that out. This book followed the mold that Elizabeth Chandler's books usually fit into but knowing the mold is there gives me faith that I won't have nightmares that night. I don't make sense. Anyway, the mold that I'm talking about is how in the ghosts' lifetimes there was some scandal or tragedy and now they want revenge and the main character, a girl who is put into a situation she isn't accustomed to (usually she's visiting) must figure it all out, the boy next door who knows something, the mean girl who also knows something and either is suspected the whole time only to come out innocent or vice versa, the crazy person, the old person who knows all the secrets. Now that I think about it, Elizabeth Chandler is very predictable. And when it comes to scary stuff, I like predictable.

In this story, Anna is returning to her birth great aunt and uncle's home. When she arrives, she finds out that her great uncle is dead and now she must live with her crazy aunt while she figures out who murdered him. The boy next door is Zack who doesn't have much of a personality. Anna has clues flying at her from every direction pointing at a whole bunch of different suspects and thinks someone else is guilty on every other page.

All in all, it was a pretty good book. The story tied together nicely with all the loose ends tied together in neat little bows. Some of the bows were sad but after all, this is a ghost story. I'm getting bored so I'm going to stop now.

4 stars. I go with my gut.

I love the colors.

A Matter of Magic, by Patricia C. Wrede

One of the most ingenious authors ever, Patricia C. Wrede never ceases to dazzle me with her wild imagination that somehow makes sense. A Matter of Magic is two books put together: Mairelon the Magician, and its sequel, The Magician's Ward. In these two books, Wrede manages to stick magic into Regency England in such a natural way that in history class you might comment about the magicians' effect on the government. That would actually be quite funny. For everyone else, that is.

In Mairelon the Magician, Kim, a pickpocket on the streets of London, is taken in by Mairelon, a traveling magician who is a lot more than just a traveling magician. They go on an adventure to find a special magic dish. Sorry, but I can't describe it any better without giving something vital away. The Magician's Ward is the sequel which I also obviously can't talk about without ruining. But if you think a little you might be able to figure out what it's about.

Even if I tried, I couldn't describe to you just how delightful this book was. I read it a month ago (I didn't blog about it for a month because I was in a land far far far away from computers, internet, good showers, and working toilets although I don't know what the last two had to do with anything) and am still smiling when I think about it even though I only remember the basic plotline. The beginning is a little bit boring but I am recommending that you stick to it like I did. Trust me. It'll be worth it.

4.8 stars. As I mentioned before, the beginning was a bit boring.

Gorgeous dress, isn't it?