I love this series so much, and I couldn't be more pleased that we are getting a third installment at some point. (Okay, well, I could be happier if A. I knew when we were getting it or the ultimate B. if it came out tomorrow.)

This was over 100 gorgeous pages longer than the first one, and I honestly can't decide which one I like more, because they're both so wonderful. This one is a bit different from the first, insofar as it is more plot-driven, with some backstory and scene changes, as opposed to the much quieter (ha) more picturesque life Delilah and Selim were living in the Turkish Lieutenant, and I know some people didn't like it as much because of that, but for me it worked because it felt like a natural organic change to the storytelling. Also it is awesome.

Couple things I didn't like: Wilder. Just...Wilder. I don't know if we were supposed to hate him or like him or moderately distrust him or what. I honestly don't know what Shannon was going for. I think she meant for us not to be sure how we felt about him, much like Maisie, and then at the end come to realize he's a trustworthy decent guy.

I still hated him.

And not just because he's the kind of guy who carries condoms in his back pocket for when the need arises "out of respect" for whoever he's hooking up with. *cue turtle slap to the face* He's also smarmy, thinks he's funny and isn't, rubs me wrong, and no amount of him trying to make Maisie think he's evil for the good of humanity changes that, because he's still horrible. Blah.

(spoiler show)

 

I also really didn't care for how Maisie treated Luther

after he kissed her. I think it was meant to be amusing, but it seemed more like being unnecessarily mean to Luther.

(spoiler show)

Originally posted at yAdult ReviewI’ve been on a middle grade/grade school book kick lately. I am in the final stretch of graduate school and the only way to not complain as much is to read books of my childhood, or books I wish I had in my childhood. Signed by Zelda is one of those books I had when I was a child.Lucy has moved to New York City from Savannah, GA. It’s a complete change to her. What helps her through this change is the fact that she has a love of handwriting, and her friends in Georgia sent her with a notebook dedicated to handwriting. She loves signatures and what they mean. As a child, I was on Lucy’s side. I found handwriting fascinating. A group of my classmates and I learned how to write together and yet our handwriting was completely different from one another’s.This book even gives a few lessons throughout the novel by telling the reader that different aspects of writing mean different things without making it seem like HEY LOOK YOU’RE LEARNING! Which is always awesome for a book of any reading level. Lucy moves into an apartment building, and above her lives Nicky, and above Nicky lives his Grandma, Zelda. One day Grandma Zelda goes missing. Nicky, with the help of Lucy (and her handwriting detective skills), and a talking pigeon (who has their opinions and plenty of them), go on the hunt for Grandma Zelda.I understand that it sounds weird, but it works. And it works extremely well. With many twists and turns it is an excellent grade school book with the right amount of history, learning and mystery in it.